I love a good second chance romance, holiday romance and small town romance stories. This one gives you all that and more! Amazing characters you fall in love with and the story flows smoothly from cover to cover. This is a perfect read for the upcoming holiday season.

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end! Awesome characters, great steady plot with suspense and romance. I love reading about the McKade family of lawman/cowboys!

Christmas Hideout is book 3 in the McKade Law series, but these books can be read as stand alone books.

I loved the main characters Nicole, her daughter, and Deputy Matt. Although readers know early on who is harassing Nicole, there are still several twists and surprises throughout. Highly recommend this Christian, clean suspense series! I can’t wait to read more!

Enjoyed reading and getting to know another member of this law abiding family. Thank you and can’t wait for another wonderful book in this series

Susan Sleeman certainly knows how to write a suspenseful, entertaining story. I loved the McKade family. After reading this book, I want to read the other books in this series. This one kept me turning pages to see if Matt could finally bring Nicole and Emilie to safety. Although I liked these characters, it was the whole McKade family that made this story a good one. The mystery took an interesting, unexpected turn, and that just added to the suspense. I very much enjoyed this story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Stalked by her ex-boyfriend, Nicole Dyer grabs her daughter and runs. A few hours on the road, and her car breaks down. Stranded in the middle of nowhere, she takes refuge in a remote guest cabin in the McKade ranch. Can she trust the local sheriff, when her police officer ex has given her major trust issues for all law enforcement?

Matt McKade discovers a woman and her daughter camping out in the dead of winter, her broken down car stranding them on his family's property. As he listens to her story, he can't help his skepticism. After all, her ex is a brother in blue. As the danger stalking her shows itself, he becomes a believer, willing to do what he must to stand between her and whatever is trying to kill her.

As they spend time together, Nicole loses her heart to both Matt and his family. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their path, to find a love for a lifetime?

This was book 3 in the McKade Law series by Susan Sleeman. If you like romantic suspense, you'll enjoy this one.

Christmas Hideout was an intense read and very entertaining! I loved the characters and found the suspense to be great. I thought the characters' actions were believable -- even one somewhat stupid decision, as that character was in a stressful situation and could easily have done what she did.

I loved how the hero was so protective of the heroine and her child right away...and yet he wasn't foolish to right away believe her; he was cautious.

This is the third book in the McKade Law series and the second that I've read. I absolutely love this family and hope to get the chance to read more books in this series soon. I highly recommend the series.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Rancher lawman finds woman and child hiding in one of his family's cabins. What follows is suspense, mistrust, and such adorable interaction with the woman's daughter Emilie.

Susan Sleeman is one of my favorite suspense/romance writers. I know that I will enjoy it, be biting my nails, have several sigh-worthy moments.

Rating 5
Content: suspense, kissing

Widowed, single mother, Nicole Dyer and her 3 yr old, Emilee, are on the run from her crazy ex-boyfriend who has been stalking her since their break-up. When she finds a knife stuck in the kitchen counter it sends her running for safety, her ex, Grady is a police officer and she knows from experience that going to the law will do her no good.



Deputy Sheriff Matt McKade finds Nicole and Emilie hiding in one of the cabins on the McKade land after their car breaks down. He offers them protection, taking them to stay up at the main house.



I love how Matt's family welcome Nicole and Emilie, and they all come together to keep them safe. Matt's mother and grandmother especially love having a little one in the house, and Emilie enjoys all of he attention. But her favorite is Matt, and she sits in his lap whenever she can, and quickly has him wrapped around her little finger.



Nicole is grateful to not be alone, and appreciates the McKades, but is also respectful and doesn't want to take advantage of their kindness. Nicole struggles with guilt for getting involved with Grady, her ex, and the McKades provide wise godly counsel.



Matt is dedicated to his job, and is great at what he does. He is there for Nicole, and the more he gets to know her the more he likes her, but he has a plan and is determined to stick to it--a plan that doesn't include a relationship.



Action packed, with well developed characters, I loved how close Matt's family is and how they welcome Nicole and Emilie so readily into their hearts and home. A satisfying read filled with faith, family, and love.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Christmas Hideout by Susan Sleeman is the third book in the McKade Law series. It can be read alone but I think you will fall in love with the McKade family as I have and want to read all of them.
Nicole has taken her daughter and ran away from her policeman boyfriend who has become to obsessive. Matt finds her hiding out in one of his family’s cabins.
The special scenes for me where the ones where Matt and his family totally fall for Emilie. Emilie was adorable. Matt’s grandfather was a character. He is a great addition to the story. I enjoyed that several family members were involved in solving the case. In addition, watching Matt wrestle with how to run for sheriff and do a good job while also wanting to have a personal life is something many of us can relate too.

Matt and his family try to keep them save and more attacks against her happen. The book has some twists and turns and some precious family moments. I would highly recommend.

Sexual content - a few kisses, feelings
violence - someone is threatening her, a couple deaths,

Nicole is on the run with her baby in tow from a stalker ex boyfriend who is also a cop. When her car breaks down she seeks shelter in a cabin owned by Deputy Matt McKade. After finding out that the women he needs help he offers his services after a few attempts on her life and find the guy thats after her.

Overall this was a pretty great suspenseful read. I kept wondering when would the ex try to get her. I kept wondering what would also happen between the two main characters, I loved the connection between the two and was rooting for them to find a way to be with eachother. There was so much going on in this book that'll leave the readers hooked from beginning to end, I really enjoyed reading this.

Nicole is in big danger when her ex- boyfriend starts stalking her. The author delivers a fast pace story with action that keeps up till the end. The beginning of the book starts with a bone chilling example of how far the ex-boyfriend will go. I would be running as fast as I could to get away from this crazy person.

Nicole has to think fast and her character is smart and determined. I loved how she bumps into Matt. If you have to hide out, being in Matt's place is where you should go. I just love his family and how welcome they are to Nicole and her daughter. The story is intense and I couldn't wait to read more about Matt and his family.

The author delivers another story rich in intrigue that had me on the edge of my seat. It sure is hard to figure out who to trust and Nicole is so determined to go back home and face danger alone. Her faith wavers at times which shows how we can doubt God when we are
in danger.

Matt is not sure Nicole is telling him the whole truth either and that causes friction between the two. It is a great story about trust and forgiveness. I can't forget to mention Nicole's daughter. If there ever was an adorable character, Emile is it. She had Matt and his family wrapped around her finger. There is no way Matt was going to let anything happen to Nicole and Emile. Get ready for an adventure with surprises and an ending with a twist.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

What an amazing, heartwarming story that will renew your faith.
Nicole runs away with her daughter Emilie in order to escape her stalker ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately, she has to break into a cabin in order to keep her daughter warm and the Sheriff catches her. Sheriff Matt decides to give her a break while investigating her claims. What ensues is an adventure into dangerous times for both Nicole’s life and her heart.
Wonderful gift the author has given readers this Christmas!

Plot: Into the close-knit McKade family comes a damsel in distress with a daughter to protect.

Holiday Cheer: Medium.

Verdict: War is over now.

This review appears in Romantic Intentions Quarterly #3 - October 2018

This was a great read. Loved the dynasty of a family of lawmen. The characters were realistic and provided interesting views of their circumstances. The book does mention their faith and Nicole does lament that her ex was not a man of faith.
I did enjoy the twists and turns that I did not expect. I will be looking at Susan Sleeman's other books to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free and give an honest review.

This is a tightly written romantic suspense that will keep you reading till the wee hours of the night. I found myself gripping my Kindle till my fingers cramped many times throughout this story. Having an adorable three year old tossed into the story definitely added to my enjoyment. The secondary characters were as engaging as the main characters and I loved the final twist in the story. Having read the earlier books in this series, it was nice to find out what this family had been up to since last visiting with them.

CHRISTMAS HIDEOUT - Susan Sleeman
McKade Law Series - Book 3
Love Inspired Suspense - Harlequin
ISBN-10: 1335490736
ISBN-13: 978-1335490735
ASIN: B07BM1G1T4
November 2018
Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Austin, Texas - The Present

Within minutes of coming home, school teacher Nicole Dyer finds a photo of herself with a knife stabbing it into place on the kitchen counter. She immediately thinks it is a warning from the man she dated, now her stalker, Grady Harmon. A widow, she thought Grady the type of man her husband had been, but he is not. He can ignore her restraining order because he is an Austin policeman, and her calls informing the department of Grady’s violations are ignored or dismissed. This threat is too much, though. Now she has lost faith in any man and in the police. She grabs some things for herself and her three-year old daughter, Emily, and rushes to her car. Unfortunately in her rush, she leaves her purse and wallet behind, but before she decides if it safe to return home to fetch it, she sees Grady. She rushes out of the city but her car quits about a hundred miles away.

Lake County Deputy Matt McKade is checking the cabins his parents rent at their Trail’s End Ranch as his parents and grandparents, who live on the ranch, are out of town. He sees lights in one of the cabins and finds a woman with a child. Although he wants to believe Nicole, he is an investigator and will first find proof of her identity. In the meantime he moves the mother and daughter into the house. What he doesn’t expect is to first fall in love with Emily and then to realize his strong attraction to Nicole. Then his parents and grandparents return home and their caring and loving ways embrace Nicole and Emily. He is dedicated to his job and running for Lake County sheriff and knows he has no time for a wife and family, or even a girlfriend.

All Nicole wants is to leave and get as far away from Grady as possible. Any attraction she feels is dangerous. All Matt wants is for the temptation of Nicole to be removed. It’s a few days before Christmas, and once Matt believes Nicole’s story things go from bad to worse.

The characters are all well-written, believable people; the suspense steadily builds with unexpected events taking place, and the hopeless but burgeoning romance builds in this fast-paced, easy-reading novel. A strong Christian ethic plays throughout the story, which goes great with the holiday theme and of a family who offers love and protection. The ending of the story is unexpected as is the reason Grady stalked Nicole.

I really enjoyed this book. Nicole is completely freaked out because her ex has become a stalker. I felt a kinship with her from the start because she had a daughter to protect and I understood that instinct. Matt is a wonderful man if a little focused on his career path. I love how close his family is!

The writing was good and I loved the characters. I was surprised a couple times through the book and loved that! Having read previous books about this family it was great to see the characters and what is going on with them now. Overall, it was a really good read.

It was a 4/5. I like this family of law enforcement officers!



Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.