This is a suspense romance, and this is the first book in the Desert Justice series. I found the suspense in this book very great, but I did guess who did it before it was revealed. It did not take anything from the story for me, and I still loved the ending. I enjoyed following the characters, and the setting was the right one for this story. I really enjoyed this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Love Inspired Suspense) or author (Dana Mentink) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Sorry, I did not get to read this book due to the date clashing with my final weeks of thesis work. Looks interesting so I will keep an eye out for the book.

Do you ever pick a book based on title alone? Knowing Framed in Death Valley by Dana Mentink took place in, well, Death Valley, I was immediately curious. The story turned out to be pleasantly unique, with a bad boy hero and a pregnant heroine.

Beckett Duke did not kill anyone, but only a technicality got him out of a prison sentence. Everyone believes he’s guilty, including the woman’s brother, who threatens to kill Beckett’s wife, Laney, in retaliation. Laney Holland has stood by her husband, so when he sends her divorce papers, she is stunned. Then he shows up with news that she’s in danger. She has news for him, too. She is expecting their child. If only Beckett can figure out who the real murderer is, perhaps he can clear his name, save his family, and get his happily ever after.

Framed in Death Valley felt like an unusual Love Inspired Suspense story to me. The timeline of when Laney and Beckett married and he was framed is a bit confusing. However, I loved how the author portrayed Laney in her early pregnancy stage. It made her relatable and showed her strength, and Beckett’s reaction is priceless.

If you enjoy romantic suspense featuring the possibility of renewed love and second chances, check out Framed in Death Valley.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

This is a brilliant romantic suspense that had me enthralled from the very beginning, a fantastic story to escape into – and the fact that it is the first book in a new series has me happily looking forward to reading more from this author in future!

Beckett Duke is such a wounded hero, desperate to protect those he loves whilst not feeling worthy of their love in return. He’d only been married to Laney for five weeks when he was wrongly accused of murdering the woman whose body he found on their property. Just days before he was released other inmates beat him up and told him the victim’s brother was out for revenge and going to murder both him and his wife. He’s determined to protect her and wants to prove his innocence. Can he bring the perpetrator to justice without endangering those he loves?

The author does a great job at bringing the locations, events and characters to life in this edge of your seat, suspense filled story. I found it to be a real page turner in which I was rooting for the Dukes to be able to clear his name and rekindle their romance. It is a fascinating read, with plenty of great secondary characters, multiple attacks to be thwarted and a heartwarming read, too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense stories.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

A high-stakes, against-all-odds, suspense that starts with a bang as newly married Laney finds herself pregnant, her husband falsely accused of murder and filing for divorce.

A fast-paced read with compelling characters, and plenty of action, with a plot that kept me guessing. Both characters are compelling protagonists, and I loved how protective Beckett is of Laney, willing to do anything to make sure she is safe. This book has a great balance of suspense, mystery, and relationship building--or rather relationship rebuilding. I liked the unique twist that they were already married.

Beckett is a solid guy, with the deck stacked against him. It was easy to see why he felt like he was all out of options, but wanted to do the best that he thought he could for Laney. I liked that Laney believed in Beckett, and was willing to fight alongside him as they fought for answers and their lives.

Overall, a highly entertaining read with great elements of faith, suspense, and relationship development, that is difficult to put down.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A very fast-paced story featuring a divorcing couple caught in the cross-hairs of a killer.

I love second-chance love stories and it’s even more fun when there’s a baby involved. The hero was leaving his wife to try to keep her safe but he never told her that—just served her with divorce papers after his wrongful arrest for a murder. She’s got to deal with a lot of emotions when the killer comes back and her almost-ex shows up to protect her from the new threat.

The killer was on my suspect list pretty early, but I had dismissed them until more clues showed up. I love it when a mystery has several truly viable suspects to chase down, because it keeps me guessing.

Overall, a story I’ll be buying in paperback to reread.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

This wasn't a bad story at all, it had it's sweet moments and wonderful elements of forgiveness and redemption, but I had a really hard time with the vacillation and condemning despite the earnestness of the apologies, efforts, and restitution being made. While the villain wasn't cut and dry, the mystery was interesting to follow. I enjoyed the story more for that than for the romance which seemed to talk about Christian values but there were quite a few times that the values weren't actually practiced, just given lip service. So not a bad story, just not something I'd re-read.

Beckett was framed for a murder he didn't commit but everyone feels like he did after his history. So he decided to give up his short lived marriage not wanting her to live though the pain of associating with him. Now he got an angry family member to the victim on his tail and now him and his soon to be ex wife is being targeted. Not only that another death is being pinned on him and he must find the person before he lands in jail or he and his wife get killed.

This was such a great book. Beckett was dealing with a lot of pent up issues especially with this past a honest mistake marked him and now the towns people see him as a bad person rather then someone who committed a mistake. Now with the death of the victim being blamed on him everyone is so ready to jump on the band wagon to blame him. His wife is on his side if only he'd see that but with how things are going with her now with feeling that abandonment of him wanting a divorce her past and the new life the might have she pretty conflicted about how things are. There was so much mystery surrounding what was going on and I loved that there was plenty of attempts and accidents to keep things interesting that I just couldn't put this book down. Overall great book I enjoyed it.

Framed in Death Valley
Desert Justice #1
By Dana Mentink

They were married for less than six months, and already their marriage was over. "For better or worse" went out the window when the worse happened, and Laney's heart has once again been broken by someone she trusted it with. Beckett Duke coming back is out of the question; she just wants him out of her life.

He needed to protect Laney no matter what it cost him personally. As long as she was tied to him, her life and livelihood were in danger. Divorce was the only answer. But before he disappears from her life forever, he needs to be sure she is safe from the threats to her life.

Beckett's life fell apart when he was framed for murder. He never did it, but almost everyone is convinced he did it. When you are tried and convicted in the court of public opinion, what chance do you have of changing anyone's judgment? Worse, the killer might be back determined to keep him from finding evidence that proves his innocence. And Laney might get caught in that determination to stop him.

Framed in Death Valley is a well-paced read that will keep the reader guessing at just who the guilty party truly is. There are suspects aplenty but no clear motive as to why Pauline was murdered or why Beckett was framed. This is a clean-read suspense, no graphic murder scenes, perfect if you want suspense that doesn't give you nightmares. And being a Love Inspired Suspense read you know there will be a satisfactory outcome or at least the promise of one.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

This first book in the series takes us to Death Valley and a couple that has been torn apart . The husband, Beckett Duke, was framed for murder he didn’t commit and his young wife, Laney, was left heartbroken while tending to the family hotel.
Beckett has been carrying a burden since HS and the townspeople have labeled him a monster and now a killer. This latest incident is about to break him. Desperate to keep his wife away from his life and his troubles, has her served with divorce paper, never expecting to get out of jail.
He returns home to a wife that felt abandoned and wants him gone, even though she is pregnant and still loves him. When Laney’s life is put in danger, Beckett will do anything to keep her and the baby safe.
This Christian romance was full of suspense, and whodunit , bad guys and suspicions.
Though for me there seemed too much going on, it was a good story.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I really enjoyed this book and it was an easy read. Unlike other romantic suspense stories I appreciated that the couple in this had a history together which made the romance more believable. The plot and mystery of it all made sense and kept it moving forward. This is one I would definitely recommend to readers who love reading the love inspired suspense stories.

"Framed in Death Valley" is a Christian suspense novel. After accidentally seriously injuring someone in high school, Beckett was labeled a monster by many of the town's folk. When he found a dead body and the evidence pointed towards him, little effort was made to look elsewhere. Wanting to free his wife from being married to a man with a horrible reputation, he sent her divorce papers. He's released on a technicality, but the relatives of the dead woman are determined to get their own revenge, starting with Beckett's wife and unborn child. Laney's heart was broken when she received the divorce papers, but she accepts Beckett's protection and begins to realize how deeply Beckett hates himself. Laney struggles to trust him with her love even as she helps him learn to forgive himself for past mistakes and to see his own worth.

The suspense came from the ongoing danger to both Beckett and Laney, the relationship tensions, and the mystery of who really did kill the murdered women. They must discover and prove the true murderer to clear Beckett's name and stop the attacks. The main characters were more developed than is typical for a short romantic suspense like this, and I enjoyed how the characters grew as people and learned to build each other up. The focus was on Beckett and Laney's relationship and their surviving the attacks while the mystery of whodunit was mostly solved by another character. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

What an awesome heart stopping book! I finished it in a couple of hours it was so good.
Action from the beginning and all the way through! Just wow!
Great characters also. In my opinion Laney and Mrs. Kitty are perfect examples of what Christians should be. It seems that no matter what situation was going on in the book Laney always trusted God. I love this quote because it's so very true.
" He will always find us in the middle of this mess." He has to.
God will find you no matter where you are. Especially if you love and trust Him like Laney did.
Lots of twists and turns that made this a fun and exciting read. I simply couldn't put the book down. This may be my favorite by Mentik.
Everyone deserves 2nd chances don't ya think? We all are a work in progress.
I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
5 stars!