Review - - Operation Blackout

Operation Blackout

by Maria Lokken

Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Her identity is erased and replaced with a criminal record

A stranger is the only man she can turn to for help

When Jordan Logan infiltrates a company’s mainframe, the world-class hacker becomes the hunted—by the very people who hired her. Only by teaming up with Max Ramirez can she clear her name and restore her life. But convincing the cybersecurity expert that she’s the real Jordan Logan is as challenging as the attraction simmering between them. Max can’t trust Jordan…and Jordan doesn’t trust anyone. They’ll create a plan to bring down the culprit. But will their intimate, conflicted dynamic prevent justice from being served?

PJ's Thoughts:

One of the facets that makes this book so compelling is the frighteningly realistic premise. The advancement of cyber technology has brought with it many life improvements but with those improvements have also come a dark underbelly of criminal opportunity. It's that dark element that takes center stage in Operation Blackout, creating an intensely suspenseful story that reeled me in and held me in its grasp right up until the final page. 

Imagine waking one morning to discover your entire life (identity, money, possessions...all of it) has been given to someone else and you are now not only penniless but also have a criminal record and, even worse, are suspected of murder. Scary, right? And that's only the beginning. Maria Lokken grabbed me by the throat with that opening. There was no way I was putting this book down until every one of my questions had been answered. 

I really enjoyed the blend of suspense and romance in this book. The pace never lags and the intensity continues to build throughout. The characters are well drawn, with intriguing back stories and layers. I became emotionally invested in both Jordan and Max. Nothing brings two people together like running for your lives while attempting to save the world from a deviously brilliant villain. I was right there with them, cheering them on from the edge of my seat, enjoying their ever-growing closeness while trying to figure out how in the world they would ever defeat the villain and regain their lives. This well-crafted story kept me guessing right up until the end. 

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed the warm, loving Ramirez family and the roles they played in this story. I'm hoping the author has more stories planned for them. 

Tour Review - - Undercover K-9 Cowboy

Undercover K-9 Cowboy

by Addison Fox

Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 25, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

A by-the-book Fed…gone rogue for justice

To stop the drug epidemic ravaging Midnight Pass, FBI agent Ryder Durant reluctantly takes matters into his own hands. Poised to set a trap at Reynolds Station, he has to content with Arden Reynolds - who prefers Ryder's K-9 to the Fed protecting her family. As Ryder and Arden spar, embers spring into flame. And those flames are as dangerous as the crime ring lurking too close to home...

PJ's Thoughts:

It's been a while since I read a Harlequin Romantic Suspense book. Undercover K-9 Cowboy was a great one to re-introduce me to the line. It reeled me in quickly and held my attention right up to the breath-stealing conclusion. 

Fox skillfully blends romance, action, and suspense in this fourth book of her family-centric, Midnight Pass, Texas series. I was totally on board with the push and pull of the attraction and conflict between youngest Reynolds sibling, Arden and new FBI agent in town, Ryder. I loved how they challenged each other, how they opened one another to new viewpoints, unexpected feelings, and, in Arden's case, potential healing from emotional trauma that had directed her life choices. They are such a great match though it does take them a while to realize that. Of course, I fell head over heels for Ryder's K-9 partner, Murphy, his love for Arden, and his heroics. He's as much a hero as Ryder. 

The suspense portion of the book builds in intensity, with twists, turns, and a few surprises, until its climactic, edge-of-your-seat conclusion. It also brings the entire Reynolds family into the fray, including the three couples who were the focus of books one - three. Even though I haven't read those stories yet, I never felt confused or "out of the loop" while reading Undercover K-9 Cowboy. Instead, I found myself as intrigued by Arden's brothers and their wives as I was with Ryder and Arden. I've downloaded the earlier books and will be reading them soon. 

I don't know if Fox has plans to return to Midnight Pass but I really hope she does. There are some secondary characters begging for a story, drug runners who have yet to be brought to justice, and I'd be more than happy to check in with everyone at the Reynolds family ranch.

 

If you enjoy emotional romance, action-packed suspense, ranch settings, and close, meddling families, give this one a try. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Do you enjoy romantic suspense?

Do you read any of the authors writing for Harlequin's Romantic Suspense line?

Have you read Addison Fox?

~~~~~~~~~

Addison Fox is a lifelong romance reader, addicted to happy-ever-afters. She loves writing about romance as much as reading it. Addison lives in New York with an apartment full of books, a laptop that’s rarely out of sight and a wily beagle who keeps her running. You can find her at www.addisonfox.com, facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor or on Twitter (@addisonfox).

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335759597 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Cowboy-Midnight-Pass-Texas-ebook/dp/B099ZYXL8K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=UNDERCOVER+K-9+COWBOY+by+Addison+Fox&qid=1637001968&qsid=133-7575147-1798556&sr=8-1&sres=B099ZYXL8K%2C1335456260&srpt=ABIS_EBOOKS 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/undercover-k-9-cowboy-addison-fox/1139886440?ean=9781335759597 

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335759597_undercover-k-9-cowboy.html 

 

Review - - A Soldier's Honor

A Soldier's Honor
By Regan Black
The Riley Code - Book 1
Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 1, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

When a security snafu turns his world upside down, Major Matt Riley reunites with his long-lost son. And fourteen years later, the military man is still captivated by his ex, Bethany Trent. Matt must convince her that their new family bond is for keeps—but first, he must keep them alive.







My thoughts:

Black puts an interesting twist on the secret baby trope with this story of two West Point cadets who fell in love when they were barely out of their teens. The son of a well-respected Army General, Matt Riley was destined for a career in the military but fell in love with fellow cadet, Bethany Trent. When Bethany became pregnant, she dropped out of the academy, declined Matt's marriage proposals, and swore him to secrecy, determined to raise their baby on her own. At twenty, Bethany was certain that would be the only way to protect Matt's honor, his military future, and keep the two of them from eventually resenting each other. Though Matt disagreed, he reluctantly honored her wishes. Almost 15 years later, their son still knows nothing about his father and while Matt has provided monthly financial support since his birth, he's never seen his son in person, but with the actions of a madman bent on revenge against Matt's father, that's all about to change.

Regan Black launches her new The Riley Code series with a bang. I've been reading Black's romantic suspense novels for a few years now and have come to expect pulse-pounding action with complex characters, deep emotion, and a well-crafted mystery. A Soldier's Honor provides all that and more. From beginning to end, I was on the edge of my seat, anxious to discover what would happen next.

Bethany, Matt, and their son, Caleb are all well-developed characters with enough strengths, vulnerabilities, and flaws to make them interesting and relatable. Caleb grabbed my heart immediately though his parents required some reflection, forgiveness, and ownership of the consequences of their earlier decisions before they earned my affection. Once that happened, I was all in and racing with them toward what I hoped would be a happy ending for all. The secondary cast is rich with characters I want to know better, in particular, Matt's friend, Alex and the Riley family. The mystery of who the villain is and how his revenge plot against the Riley family plays out will unfold over the course of the series. I'll be there for every intense, emotional, and action-packed, twist and turn along the way. 

Today's Special - - Regan Black

It's my pleasure to welcome Regan Black back to the Dish today. I was introduced to Regan and her romantic suspense stories a couple years ago at Georgia Romance Writers' Moonlight and Magnolias Conference and I'm so very happy I was. Her action-packed, suspense-filled books, whether written individually or co-written with Debra Webb, never fail to take me on a heart-pounding ride. The USA Today Bestselling author also writes paranormal and urban fantasy. You can find more information about Regan and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Hi, Regan! It’s a pleasure to host you here at the Romance Dish. Congratulations on the release of SAFE IN HIS SIGHT, your debut novel for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. Please tell our readers what they should expect from this book.

Thanks, for having me PJ! It’s wonderful to be here. Readers should expect an exciting, action-packed ride with Mitch and Julia. There’s (naturally) a great deal of trouble in Julia’s life when she feels her only option is to visit the Escape Club for help fending off a stalker. Mitch, a firefighter on administrative leave, is tending bar at the club when Julia walks in. Sparks fly from the start.

SAFE IN HIS SIGHT launches your Escape Club Heroes series. Please tell us a bit about the overall series. How many books will there be? 

This series revolves around the Escape Club, established by a former Philadelphia, PA police officer who had to retire early after being shot in the line of duty. He set out to create an ideal hot spot for local bands, and the club became a refuge for first responders picking up work while on leave for various reasons. Because of the nature of the majority of the employees, the club also gets a reputation for assisting people who have trouble that slips through the cracks of typical law enforcement responses. In Julia’s case, she can’t wait for normal police procedure to resolve the issues the stalker is creating, so she goes to the Escape Club for help.

Right now, there are four books scheduled for the series. There is also the short prequel Escape Club that released in July and covers how the club was established on the pier on the Delaware River in Philly. It’s possible I will develop more short stories for release between the novel releases, but that will depend on several factors in my schedule.

You have some scary cyber criminality in this book. Did this come from your imagination or real-life crimes? What kind of research did you do for this facet of the book? 

Most of the premise for Safe In His Sight came from my imagination, although thanks to technology, we’re seeing cyber-stalking, cyber-bullying, and private data breaches more often. Because I’m blessed to have a husband and children who work with and understand cutting-edge computer and technical advances, my research usually starts with asking one of them a question about what might be plausible. Once I boil down that (often lengthy) answer, I go digging into various non-tech sides of the issue and go back with more questions, or track down another source or interview if necessary. Lather, rinse, repeat, and eventually the technical elements are clear enough to me that I can incorporate them into the story without detracting from the overall adventure and growth of the characters.

I can always count on your books to keep me glued to the pages from beginning to end. What authors do you turn to when you want a riveting, can’t-put-it-down, read? 

When I need bigger-than-life action, I turn to Clive Cussler. For romance and romantic suspense, I’ll pick up books by Debra Webb, Nora Roberts and Carla Cassidy. Historical romance novels are my weak spot and Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare, and Sabrina Jeffries are must reads for me. Of course I love paranormal romances too and often return to my favorite Jayne Castle, Kresley Cole, and Nora Roberts titles to satisfy that craving.

In addition to your romances, you’ve also authored non-fiction titles, including the Adopt a Greyhound Guide, about your experiences fostering and adopting retired greyhounds. Please tell us a bit about that experience as well as the groups that benefit from sales of this book. 

Oh, greyhounds are near and dear to my heart. So much in fact, that I’ve added greyhounds as characters in two fiction books (so far). When my husband and I got married a retired greyhound was our gift to each other. We both love dogs and the more we learned about this breed and their calm, couch-potato lifestyle after racing, the more we knew it was the right choice for us. They are sweet, funny, and expressive companions and they make excellent writing assistants. In our 25+ years of marriage there has only been one week when we didn’t have a greyhound in the house. As a family we’ve fostered somewhere around 30 greys and “failed” fostering (meaning we adopted greys intended as fosters) on five occasions.

Currently, with every sale of the Adopt a Greyhound Guide, our family donates $5 to our local greyhound adoption program. This helps group volunteers with transportation and fostering costs as well as ongoing local and regional outreach efforts.

What are you working on now? 

At the moment I’m wrapping up my portion of the next Debra Webb and Regan Black novel for Harlequin Intrigue. There is such a fun energy when I’m working on books with Deb! After that, my agenda shifts to my Knight Traveler series with Timeless Changes - the fourth book - coming out in October. Later this fall I’ll be returning to my fictional night club in Philly and the next Escape Club hero.

Thanks for visiting with us today, Regan! 

It’s always a delight to be here with you and your readers, PJ! 

Would you like to ask our readers a question? 

We’ve talked about how I live my adventure through my books and with my greyhounds. How do your readers live their adventure every day?

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment will receive a signed copy of Safe in His Sight. Deadline for giveaway is 11:00 pm, September 9, 2016.