Monday, November 21, 2022

About the Book

Book: Into the Fog

Author: Karen Randau

Genre: Romantic suspense

Release date: September 6, 2022

Love and danger spar in this thrilling romantic suspense novel.

Hands push Marie Jessica (“MJ”) Goodrich from a rural roadway into an icy creek. The clock is ticking for her pleading friend on the other side of the ravine.

Running from flashbacks of a life-altering attack in Afghanistan, MJ takes refuge with her mother, managing Peach Blossom Orchard. But peace is elusive in a rural Oklahoma town full of secrets.

After losing his wife and children in a fatal car crash, Josh Rivers doubts he deserves a second chance at love. He can’t believe his bad luck when MJ, the woman who plagues the nightmares of his military service in Afghanistan, shows up in his hometown. She claims a driver ran down and abducted her friend Kelsey. Frustrated with the county sheriff’s investigation, MJ and Josh partner to follow clues that lead to a kidnapper who demands a bizarre ransom.

With danger increasing for everyone MJ loves, will the clock run out before they solve the mystery? Find out how MJ and Josh—swirling in a whirlwind of mystery and suspense—lean on their mutual faith to find answers, courage, forgiveness, healing … and wholesome romance.

If you like to read Christy Barritt and Colleen Coble, you’ll love Into the Fog, a keep-you-up-at-night clean romantic suspense novel that launches the Peach Blossom Romantic Suspense series.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Karen Randau a best-seller author of fast-paced mystery, thriller, and suspense books from her home in the picturesque mountains of Arizona. She enjoys cooking, hiking, and hanging out with her family. In addition to the Peach Blossom Romantic Suspense series, her books include the Frankie Shep Mystery-Suspense Series, the Kayla Walsh Suspense Series, and Rim Country Mysteries.

More from Karen

Into the Fog is set in a farming community outside Tahlequah, Oklahoma, home of the Cherokee Nation, the largest of the 39 Native American tribes in Oklahoma.

If you’ve ever watched old Western movies, you may have heard a lot about the dangers of traveling through Indian Territory. Did you know that much of what is now Oklahoma was called the Indian Territory until Oklahoma became a state in 1907? Some of the tribes fought with the Confederacy during the Civil War, and some fought with the Union.

If those weren’t enough reasons for an identity crisis for the people of Oklahoma (who sometimes refer to themselves of Okies), the federal government lists Oklahoma in both the South and the Southwest regions of the United States. Many Okies claim their state is in Midwest region of the United States, but it is not listed that way in the federal census.

One thing is for sure: Oklahoma has a culture all its own, rightly earned by its confusing history. Many of these cultural oddities are explored in Into the Fog.

You’ll also enjoy the two main characters, MJ and Josh.

Marie Jessica “MJ” Goodrich served with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan until a bomb gave her a life-altering injury and a case of PTSD. She believes her injuries were so bad that no man will ever want to marry her. Besides, her mother’s failing memory and the peach orchard keep her too busy to embark on a romantic relationship.

Josh Rivers always wanted to be an artist, but he’s stuck running the auto shop he inherited. He’s dreamed of MJ ever since he pulled her from a bombed marketplace in Afghanistan, and it cost him his wife and children. He doesn’t believe he deserves another chance at love, but he prays for companionship anyway—and finds MJ unconscious in a ravine moments later. Could a guy’s luck get any worse?

The question answered in Into the Fog is: Will Josh die saving MJ again, or will they get out of the whirlwind of mystery and danger swirling around them in time to find their happily ever after?

MY REVIEW

I liked that the book is fast paced and kept me guessing throughout the story. MJ is a strong character who has seen her share of danger. She has come back home to help her mother run the business since she is showing early signs of dementia. The author does a good job of illustrating how this disease slowly takes away the ability to remember things. I’m not sure MJ was prepared for her mother’s decline in health but she never once wanted to leave her. Along with the business not doing well , MJ also deals with PTSD.

When MJ’s friend disappears into the fog while they are out running, MJ is determined to find out what happened. How could Kelsey just disappear right in front of her? Something is not adding up and MJ reaches out to the sheriff for help. I wasn’t too sure about the sheriff. He seems to be vague about things and not really in a rush to solve the crime.

Josh has lost his family, recovering from being in the service, and dealing with PTSD. I won’t go into how he and MJ get together to solve the mystery because that will be a treat for readers to discover. I liked how Josh was very protective of MJ and helped as the mystery involves illegal drugs, a missing person and something else I didn’t expect.

The author does throw in curve balls just when I think I have figured out what is going on. People growing illegal drugs on someone’s land is very bold and I have to wonder why they thought it would never be discovered. The story takes a dark turn as something sinister begins to happen in the town. Why are people having trouble remembering things? What has made someone completely surround themselves in a place that is fortified with cameras and traps to warn of people coming onto their property? The author really had me on the edge of my seat as the action becomes more dangerous as people start getting shot at. The faith element is good in the story and it shows how to overcome obstacles that keep you from trusting God and learning to forgive yourself of past sins.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.