Commander Daddy - Lizzie Sparks

Commander Daddy by Lizzie Sparks

Author: Lizzie Sparks
Format: eARC
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Romantic Suspense | Forced Proximity
Length: 156 pages
Publication Date: February 11, 2026
Rating: ⭐ 3.5/5

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Synopsis

After the death of her sister, Kayley is on the run with her baby, desperately trying to stay ahead of the dangerous people hunting them. When her car breaks down during a snowstorm in Timber Creek, help arrives in the rather intimidating form of Gavin Messer, an ex-Navy SEAL living on Wedding Cake Mountain.

Gavin takes Kayley and her sick baby into his home, offering them protection and somewhere safe to recover. Between forced proximity, one very large bed, and Gavin unexpectedly slipping into caretaker mode, their attraction doesn't take long to develop.

But the danger Kayley has been running from isn't far behind, and Gavin has no intention of letting anyone harm the woman and baby now under his protection.

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My Thoughts

Commander Daddy is pretty much exactly what the title and blurb promise.

About 150 pages of a smutty smut world... with just enough plot and danger thrown in so we know what's going on. :D

After losing her sister, Kayley is desperately trying to protect her baby while staying ahead of some very dangerous people. Then, because apparently this woman hasn't experienced enough problems already, her car breaks down in Timber Creek.

Luckily (or VERY luckily, depending on your perspective) she's rescued by Gavin, a rather sexy stranger-danger ex-Navy SEAL who takes her in, gives her somewhere safe to stay, and even helps care for her sick baby.

And from there?

Hot cocoa. Hot.
Massive bed. Double hot.
Forced proximity. x3 hot.
Protective mountain man. x4 hot.

Cough...

Things progress pretty much EXACTLY how you're imagining. :D

There is an actual plot happening between all the yummy times, though. The people hunting Kayley and her baby haven't disappeared, the danger continues getting closer, and eventually Gavin gets his opportunity to fully activate Daddy Protection Mode™.

Thank goodness Daddy Gavin is around to save the day.

Everything develops incredibly quickly, but with only around 150 pages, I expected that going in. This isn't trying to be an elaborate slow-burn romance or an intricately developed suspense novel. It's here to deliver forced proximity, danger, a protective hero, found-family vibes, plenty of spice, and some action along the way.

And ofc, who am I to say no to all of that? Hihi.

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Final Thoughts

Commander Daddy knows exactly what kind of book it wants to be and doesn't waste much time getting there.

It's short, fast, spicy, a little dangerous, and packed with protective mountain-man energy. If you picked it up because the title and premise made you think, “Well... this could be fun,” you're getting pretty much exactly what was advertised.

And I had fun with it.

⭐ 3.5/5

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ARC Disclaimer

I received an advance reader copy of Commander Daddy directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this copy did not influence my opinion of the book.

Thank you to Lizzie Sparks for the opportunity to read and review Commander Daddy. All opinions are my own.

 

The One Who Walked Away - Karen Rose

 

The One Who Walked Away

Author: Karen Rose
Series: Romantic Suspense #34
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Romantic Suspense | Mystery | Thriller
Format: eBook (ARC)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 stars rounded up)

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Synopsis

Three years ago, bounty hunter Elle Randolph survived a car accident that killed her husband and two other people. Although she was cleared of any wrongdoing, the guilt never really left her, and she has spent the years since throwing herself into work and solving other people's problems.

But when Elle arrives in Mendocino County and suddenly becomes a person of interest in a murder investigation, running from her past is no longer an option.

Detective Ronan Clarke has spent fifteen years balancing his career with raising his daughter as a single father. When Elle enters his investigation surrounded by secrets and suspicious circumstances, he's determined to figure out exactly how she is involved.

The more Ronan uncovers, however, the more convinced he becomes that Elle isn't the killer; and the harder it becomes to ignore the attraction growing between them.

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My Thoughts

First things first: if you know Karen Rose, you probably know that her Romantic Suspense series has been running for a very long time. The One Who Walked Away may technically be book #34, but don't let that number scare you! This story begins a new arc and works as a standalone, so you don't need to read thirty-three books before picking this one up.

And I'm glad I did, because I really enjoyed it.

One of the biggest strengths for me was the balance between the romance and suspense. Neither side felt like an afterthought. There was enough investigation and danger to keep the mystery reader in me interested, while Elle and Ronan's developing relationship gave me the romantic element I wanted.

I liked both main characters a lot.

Elle is still carrying an enormous amount of guilt surrounding the accident that killed her husband and two others, despite being cleared of wrongdoing. You can see how deeply that experience continues to affect her and how she channels those feelings into her work as a bounty hunter. There were times when I wished she had a little more confidence in herself, especially because she'd already survived so much.

Then there's Ronan.

Single dad? Check.

Dedicated detective? Check.

Trying very hard to remain professional around Elle and occasionally not doing quite as good a job as he'd probably like? Also check. 😂

I really enjoyed him, both as a romantic lead and as an investigator. I also appreciated how the investigation surrounding Elle was handled. The characters didn't simply decide she must be guilty because the circumstances looked suspicious. The case was approached thoughtfully, with evidence actually mattering.

I did figure out the culprit fairly early, but surprisingly, that didn't bother me very much. I was still invested in watching the investigation unfold and seeing how all the pieces eventually came together.

Compared with some of the darker thrillers I normally gravitate toward, this one also felt relatively chill. Murder and violence are obviously part of the story, but it never became excessively graphic or brutal. At the time I read it, that was exactly the kind of suspense I was in the mood for.

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Final Thoughts

Romance, murder, investigation, a little stalking and two main characters I genuinely enjoyed?

Yes, please.

The One Who Walked Away delivered a satisfying combination of romantic suspense and character-driven mystery. Although I predicted part of the mystery fairly early, the strong character dynamics and well-balanced romance kept me invested until the end.

And if the intimidating #34 on Goodreads has you wondering whether you can start here: yes! This begins a new arc, making it an accessible entry point for readers who haven't worked their way through Karen Rose's extensive backlist.

⭐ 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5

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ARC Disclaimer

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Enigma Challenge - S C Godfrey / Sierra Godfrey

 

The Enigma Challenge

Author: S.C. Godfrey / Sierra Godfrey
Publisher: Viking
Genre: Mystery Thriller | Romantic Suspense | Adventure
Format: eBook (ARC)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Synopsis

Zoe Wilder is an academic with a particular talent for ciphers and puzzles. While attending a cryptology conference in Madrid, her curiosity leads her straight into the Enigma Challenge, a secretive competition with extraordinarily high stakes.

What begins with one seemingly simple cipher quickly becomes a six-day race across Europe.

Enter Dane Seaver, a mysterious hacker and fellow player who convinces Zoe that their best chance of surviving (and winning) is to work together. Dane has something Zoe desperately needs: experience. He's already won the Challenge twice.

Unfortunately, he also has secrets.

With five puzzles to solve, millions of dollars at stake, ruthless competitors on their trail, and an attraction neither of them planned for, Zoe and Dane have very little time to figure out whom they can trust.

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My Thoughts

Well, this was right up my alley.

Give me puzzles, ciphers, escape-room vibes, dangerous challenges, European travel, twists, romance and a healthy dose of chaos, and apparently I'm a very happy reader.

As someone who loves puzzles, escape rooms, detective games and basically anything that gives me a mystery to solve, the Enigma Challenge itself was easily one of my favorite aspects of the book. I especially enjoyed the focus on ciphers. Puzzle-based thrillers aren't necessarily unusual, but I don't often encounter stories that make cryptology such an important part of the adventure, and that helped this one stand out for me.

The competition also keeps the story moving at an incredibly fast pace. Zoe and Dane have only six days to solve five puzzles, which means they're constantly racing from one clue and location to the next while trying not to get themselves killed in the process.

And I loved that the race took us across Europe.

Madrid, Barcelona, France and beyond; the changing locations gave the story an adventurous quality that perfectly complemented the competition. There was always somewhere new to go, another clue to decipher, or another problem waiting for them when they arrived.

Then we have Zoe and Dane.

The banter? There.

The chemistry? Definitely there.

I really enjoyed their dynamic, and the romance was much more substantial than I initially expected. Personally, I'd consider this romantic suspense, or even a romantic adventure thriller, rather than a straightforward mystery/thriller with a small romantic subplot. Their developing relationship is an important part of the experience.

Dane did, however, test me a little.

Let's just say he wasn't entirely forthcoming about everything, and by the end I was ready for a proper groveling tour. Sir, I had expectations! Unfortunately for me, there was also a rather urgent life-or-death situation happening, so apparently my groveling requirements weren't everyone's top priority.

The final portion of the book became especially intense. The twists, danger and revelations kept piling up, and I flew through those chapters wanting to know how everything would end.

The general concept of contestants solving puzzles while being chased through increasingly dangerous situations isn't completely new, and I was occasionally reminded of escape-room style movies and games. But that never bothered me. The emphasis on ciphers, European setting, characters, romance and overall execution gave The Enigma Challenge its own identity.

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Final Thoughts

I ate this one up.

The Enigma Challenge combined so many things I personally love: puzzles, ciphers, suspense, travel, romance, danger, twists, and absolute chaos. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and genuinely fun from beginning to end.

If you enjoy escape rooms, puzzle-based thrillers, international adventures, and romances forged while everyone is potentially trying to kill you, this one is absolutely worth checking out.

And after that ending, I have only one important question:

ARE WE GETTING A SEQUEL???

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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ARC Disclaimer

Thank you to Sierra Godfrey, Viking, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Breathe Me In - J L Drake

Breathe Me In

Author: J.L. Drake
Series: Wired to Kill #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 stars)
Release Date: June 30, 2026

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Synopsis

Thirteen years ago, Bree Jaminson and Brad Stone witnessed something that changed their lives forever.

As teenagers, they saw a murderer disposing of two bodies, an experience that left lasting scars and ultimately drove Bree to leave her hometown behind.

Now a private investigator, Bree is forced to return when a new series of mysterious deaths rocks the small community.

Brad, now a detective, is leading the investigation.

As old feelings resurface and new victims continue to appear, the two must work together to uncover the truth before history repeats itself.

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My Thoughts

This book honestly had all the ingredients to become a 5-star read for me.

Unfortunately...

One particular aspect kept getting in the way.

The story opens in the past, giving readers a glimpse into Bree and Brad's shared history and the traumatic event that changed both of their lives.

From there, the narrative jumps forward thirteen years as Bree returns home to assist with a new murder investigation.

Right from the start, I was hooked.

I loved the setup.

The small-town atmosphere worked really well, the mystery immediately caught my attention, and the lingering tension between Bree and Brad made their reunion feel believable after so many years apart.

The investigation itself kept me engaged throughout.

Each new discovery added another layer to the mystery, and I genuinely wanted to know what was happening and how everything connected to the events of the past.

Then...

The romance happened.

Or, more accurately...

The romance became frustrating.

Brad...

My guy.

Please make up your mind.

The ongoing situation with his ex, the constant back-and-forth, and the mixed signals became increasingly difficult to overlook. Instead of adding emotional tension, it often felt unnecessarily messy, and there were several moments where I found myself sympathizing with Bree's growing frustration.

Honestly...

She handled it better than I would have.

And then there's Sherry.

Let's just say...

She wasn't exactly my favorite character.

Not even close, but... anyway... 

Despite my issues with the romance, I never lost interest in the mystery itself.

That was what kept me turning the pages.

And then came the ending.

Without giving anything away, it definitely succeeded in making me curious about where this series is heading next.

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Final Thoughts

While Breathe Me In didn't quite become the five-star read I initially thought it might be, it still delivered an engaging mystery, an intriguing small-town setting, and a solid foundation for what could become a very entertaining series.

My biggest frustration came from the romantic subplot, which felt more complicated than compelling at times, but the suspense and investigation easily carried the story whenever the relationship drama threatened to overshadow it.

I'm definitely interested in seeing where Bree and Brad's story goes next.

⭐️ 3.5 stars

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ARC Disclaimer

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Final Target - Nora Roberts

 

Title: The Final Target
Author: Nora Roberts
Genre: Thriller, Romantic Suspense, Mystery
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4★)
Release Date: May 26, 2026

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Synopsis

Arden Bowie is a debut author whose growing success attracts the attention of an obsessive fan named Dustin. At first, he seems harmless, awkward maybe, but harmless. Until he isn’t.

After a terrifying assault leaves Arden traumatized and fearful, she decides to leave her old life behind and start over in a quiet Oregon town. There, she slowly begins rebuilding herself and finds unexpected comfort in Gideon, a former LAPD detective with patience, understanding and his own quiet strength.

But while Arden tries to heal, Dustin’s obsession with her only continues to grow darker.

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My Thoughts

Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors, so naturally the moment I saw this ARC, I immediately requested it.

And honestly? This had all the ingredients for a thriller romance I’d enjoy:
obsession, stalking, suspense, trauma recovery, and a slow-building romance.

The story starts very strong. We meet Arden during her early success as an author, while Dustin initially appears to be just another overly eager fan. But little by little, things become increasingly uncomfortable and unsettling, until the situation escalates into something genuinely terrifying.

That entire opening section completely pulled me in.

Afterward, the story shifts focus as Arden relocates to a small town to rebuild her life and sense of safety. This is where we meet Gideon, and honestly, I really liked how their relationship developed throughout the story.

Nothing between them felt rushed. Gideon, especially, stood out because of how patient and respectful he was with Arden’s trauma and boundaries. He never tried to force closeness or “fix” her healing process, he simply gave her the space and support she needed while things naturally developed between them.

At the same time, we also continue following Dustin’s perspective throughout the novel, which made parts of the story even more disturbing. Watching him manipulate situations and spiral deeper into his obsession was genuinely unsettling at times.

Now… let’s talk pacing... ehhh

The book starts off incredibly strong, but somewhere around the 30% mark, the tension slows down quite a bit. There’s a lot of focus on Arden’s day-to-day life, settling into her new home, routines, renovations, and general healing. While I completely understand why those moments matter emotionally and thematically, they do pull away from the suspense side of the story for a while.

That said, this also feels very characteristic of Nora Roberts’ writing style. If you’ve read her before, especially her romantic suspense books, this blend of domestic life, healing, romance and danger slowly simmering in the background will probably feel very familiar.

Buuut, the ending made it worth it.

I was especially satisfied with how Arden’s story concluded and very glad she ultimately got the final say.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, The Final Target was a well-written romantic thriller with strong character work, an unsettling antagonist, and a romance that developed naturally over time.

While the pacing slowed a bit in the middle for me personally, the emotional healing journey and satisfying conclusion still made this an enjoyable read overall.

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ARC Disclaimer
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Spies, Lies, and Alibis - Natalie Walters

 Title: Spies, Lies, and Alibis

Author: Natalie Walters
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook ALC / eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4★)

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Synopsis
Cybil Langford has spent years secretly gathering intel on the criminal network tied to her powerful boss. Ben Bradley is working undercover for the FBI investigating the very same dangerous organization.

The problem? Neither of them knows the other is undercover too.

When the two childhood friends unexpectedly cross paths again during a high-stakes gala, they find themselves trying to navigate dangerous criminals, hidden agendas, and unresolved feelings from the past, all while desperately trying not to destroy each other’s cover.

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My Thoughts

This was honestly such a fun book.

I originally got the ebook ARC through NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction, but when the audiobook showed up as a “Listen Now” narrated by Andrew Eiden, aka Teddy Hamilton, there was absolutely no way I was skipping it :D. And honestly? I really think the audiobook made the experience even better.

As the blurb says, Cybil and Ben were childhood friends who spent summers together at the family farm pulling ridiculous pranks on each other. Frogs in boots, flour fights, complete chaos… and somehow that same playful energy still follows them into adulthood.

Now both of them are working undercover investigating the same dangerous criminal organization without realizing the other is involved too, which gave the entire story strong Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes at times.

The banter between them was genuinely one of the highlights of the book for me. This is not a spicy romance, but honestly, I didn’t even mind because the chemistry and humor between the characters carried the story so well on their own.

I also really liked Cybil as a main character. She’s resilient, smart and trying her best despite having a difficult childhood and complicated circumstances growing up. Ben was also a great match for her. Protective without becoming controlling and supportive without feeling insecure whenever Cybil handled situations better than him.

The pacing itself was really solid too. The story stayed entertaining throughout, and even when things became more serious toward the end, it still kept that lighter and fun atmosphere overall.

My only real complaint was the romance progression. Once they reunited, things emotionally escalated a little too quickly into “oh no, I still love them” territory without giving us much insight into what happened during the years they spent apart. I would have loved a bit more backstory about how both of them ended up working undercover in the first place.

That said, overall this was a really enjoyable and bingeable romantic suspense, and the audiobook narration absolutely elevated the experience for me.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, this was such an entertaining mix of undercover missions, childhood-friends-to-lovers energy, humor and suspense.

If you enjoy lighter romantic suspense with strong banter, fun chemistry and Mr. & Mrs. Smith vibes, this is definitely worth checking out, especially in audiobook format.

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ARC Disclaimer
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

You Can Tell Me - Melinda Leigh

 

Title: You Can Tell Me (Olivia Cruz #1)
Author: Melinda Leigh
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4★)

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Synopsis
On the anniversary of her own traumatic kidnapping, true crime writer Olivia Cruz is supposed to meet her friend Zoe March to revisit the crime scene for Zoe’s podcast. But Zoe never shows up.

When Zoe’s husband reports her missing, the police suspect she may have left voluntarily. Olivia disagrees and begins investigating on her own. As she digs deeper into Zoe’s life, it becomes clear that Zoe may have uncovered something dangerous through her true crime work.

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My Thoughts

I requested this one for a very specific reason: it’s connected to Save Your Breath (book six in the Morgan Dane series), which I absolutely binged last year and loved. I was really excited to see Olivia Cruz finally getting her own story.

And for anyone wondering, yes, you can absolutely read this without reading the Morgan Dane series first. The author gives enough context from the previous case without spoiling too much.

Now, onto the book itself.

The pacing was overall okay, but I did find myself taking a few breaks here and there. At times, it felt like the investigation was spinning in circles a little before moving things forward again, which made parts of the story drag for me.

The plot surrounding Zoe’s disappearance didn’t fully grab me either, mostly because I never really connected with Zoe herself. Between her messy house and some questionable decisions, she just wasn’t a character I became invested in.

On the other hand, seeing familiar faces from the Morgan Dane series was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book.

Olivia continues to be a strong and determined character, and I loved that she never gave up on finding Zoe no matter what. I also unexpectedly adored Nicki, Olivia’s niece. There was one moment where I genuinely thought something terrible was about to happen, so I was VERY relieved with how things turned out.

And of course, I was so happy seeing Olivia and Lincoln finally taking another step in their relationship.

At this point, I’m honestly not even sure if I’m rating the mystery itself or simply my happiness at seeing these characters again 😅 But either way, the returning cast easily carried this book for me more than the actual investigation did.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, this was a solid suspense read with familiar characters I already loved spending time with.

While the mystery itself wasn’t my favorite, the character dynamics and connections were more than enough to keep me engaged, and longtime Morgan Dane readers will probably appreciate this one even more.

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ARC Disclaimer
Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC. All opinions are my own.