A page-turner story that got me nervous and jittery while reading it.

I thought it was a pretty good debut, though I thought the protagonists were underdogs for most of the book and didn't seem to be actively doing anything against the very serious murder threats.

I appreciate Corina's friends Bryce and Allye for literally putting themselves in danger just so she won't be alone. I love that we get multiple POVs (even with a disturbing one from the stalker/killer) because we get to see the situation from different angles.

As an anxious person, I don't think suspense/thriller novels are for me 🫣 But I appreciate the faith elements in this story, truly, God is always in control even though we might not always feel Him moving.

I received a complementary copy from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Secondary Target is full of suspense and keeps you on the edge of your seat. While entertaining, the violence does get a bit graphic and intense. I found the reveal of the serial killer to be rather unbelievable and not very satisfying in the end as I felt there were many plot holes.

BOOK REVIEW - Secondary Target - Angela Carlisle - 4/5 Stars

THE STORY
I'm happy to share a new author with you today, Angela Carlisle! Now I love suspense stories however I always feel a bit bad for the MCs because of everything they have to go through. Angela Carlisle takes this to a whole new level, poor Corina! That girl's entire life gets turned upside down by her stalker! I liked that I was as much in the dark as to who the killer was as the MCs and didn't find out until they did. It was like reading Criminal Minds or some other crime show. Corina is such a strong character but I liked how she still recognized her need for help, not that Bryce would've taken no for an answer, he had all those delicious protective vibes!

THE ROMANCE
This was one of those books that has a lot of romantic thoughts but not many romantic moments. In books, there's always a fine line between realistic and fiction, realistically romance under those circumstances is not the right time but fictionally it's what romance readers like me want. So I respected the author's more realistic take but personally would've preferred more romance, especially as second chance is one of my favourites!

THE TRUTHS
As much as we hate trouble, it is what tests our faith. When trouble cones, do we lean closer to God and trust in His strength and goodness? Or do we turn away and doubt His presence and promises? It's easy to trust God when things are good but it's when things are bad that we really need Him and have to really trust Him. We have to choose to believe in His goodness and presence despite what we see around us and trust in His promises, that He is in control.

Wow! This is a fantastic debut suspense novel.
Corina has been living with her dad while repairs are being done to her house. Then strange things bein to happen. Her dad, Will, is secretive about their past and why her mom and brother were murdered years ago. Old boyfriend, Bryce, and his sister Allye who is her best friend are there to help her. Corina is a determined and independent lady who tries her hardest to figure out who wants to kill her and wonders why God is silent.
So many surprises and twists to the story. And the author has penned a crafty, ruthless, and obstinate bad guy. But justice prevails and Corina learns to trust in God again, thanks to supportive Bryce who prays for her.
I am sure more exciting things are in store in the next book where we learn more about Allye.
Do not miss this well crafted start to a new series by Angela Carlisle.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author and an ecopy from NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

This is the best kind of romantic suspense as it is filled with so much danger. I found it hard to believe that this is a debut novel because it is so incredibly pacy and well written. Every single word of the dialogue adds to the suspenseful plotted mystery. Corina is in danger from a serial killer who is stalking her because of something in her detective father's past. Her ex Bryce is there to protect her but it may be a second chance at love for Corina and Bryce. I have to also mention my favourite character Houston who is the gorgeous dog of Corina. It's a clean and sweet romance with a stalker who you never know what they will plot to do next. It certainly got my heart racing as I devoured each page. I am excited for this series!

Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for the ARC and gifted copy of Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle. All opinions are my own.

This was an excellent debut novel!

Thrillers are not my typical genre because I can’t handle really scary stories. While there were a few scenes that freaked me out a bit, this book was thrilling without being gory.

The author did a great job of making me care about the characters and want the best for them. I felt so bad for them as they just had one bad thing after another happen to them.

I loved having the point of view of Carina and Bryce. It was so nice to know what both were thinking throughout the story. The POV of the killer was really hard to read from because it was so disturbing.

I thought the author executed the topic of grief well, and I loved seeing the characters grow (including the spiritual growth).

Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone looking to read a mystery thriller that has an interesting premise and a hard to guess mystery.

this was such a captivating read! it was a quick, page-turner full of suspense that i enjoyed overall. i really admired our main characters, Bryce and Corina, as they navigated problems that surfaced as well as their romance story. overall, this was a good read with high stakes! id recommend to anyone who loves Christian fiction with romantic/suspense elements 💖

After the death of her mother and brother, Corina Roberts made a new life with her father in Kincaid, KY. But when strange things start happening again, she must rely on her ex Bryce Jessup to stay one step ahead of the killer.

A well written debut, with wonderful characters and a chilling plot. There was a lot of tragedy in Corina and Bryce's lives, and I liked seeing them reconnect and work together to beat the killer at his game. There is a lot going on, and I liked how themes of faith were woven into the story.

Overall, it was a suspenseful read with a seriously creepy bad guy. I loved the strong themes of faith woven into the story, and am excited to read more in the series!

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

Mystery and suspense fiction readers will enjoy this story. After her mother and brother are brutally murdered twelve years ago, Corina's father moves with her to Kentucky. Now, the killer is after Corina and her father is missing. Corina having no knowledge of the ugly truth behind the murders desperately looks for answers along with her closest friends. Very surprised when the killer is revealed. Very impressed with this debut author and looking forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended!

A fast-paced, page-turner of a book. Filled with past longings and second chances and secrets from the past that are determined to explode into today.

Secondary Target is a faced-paced suspense story that features a former-lovers romance. The main character must solve a murder mystery in order to save herself--and those she loves most. Constant life-changing decisions put Corina, her friends, and her family in high-stakes positions. Will she make the right choices? Or destroy the lives of everyone she cares about?

This is a great book for anyone who likes gritty romantic suspense, books with strong female leads, and unexpected villains. And dogs!

Thanks to the publisher for a complementary ARC of this book.

Wow! I think I will give a review after all!
This book finally straightened itself out and become a really great story!
I ended up getting lost in it about 20% in.
Just wow! So very good! These characters have quite the story! They won't let you put it down until it is finished.
Lots of twists and turns I never saw coming and that's what made it great!

I enjoyed this debut suspense novel by Christian author Angela Carlisle. The writing was similar to Lynette Eason, and while these aren’t my go-to type of books, I do enjoy reading something like this every once in a while. The tension was high and there was a huge unknown throughout the entire book. The slight clues given to us about why this was happening were intriguing and enough to give me some idea of why this was all happening, but not enough to give it away. There was also one realization at the end that totally shocked me. If you enjoy a suspenseful read, grab this one.

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

WOW! This novel started out fast and never stopped! Corina Roberts and her father relocated to Kentucky after the brutal murder of her mother and brother. She has carved out a new life, new friends and has her own business. One day things take a dark turn, and she suddenly finds herself in the crosshairs of a murderer. Bryce Jessup, a former Army veteran and ex-boyfriend of Corina, has come back to his hometown to settle in and has no intention of crossing paths with Corina. But as Corina's safety becomes an issue, he can't let her struggle alone. Can the two of them figure out what is happening before it is too late? Gripping suspense, with twists and turns, had me on the edge of my seat throughout this novel. Debut author Angela Carlisle has hit a homerun! A must-read for 2024 for suspense fans.

I’m always intrigued with a romantic suspense. This one definitely leans to the suspense side and not a whole lot to the romance side.

I thought this book was well written and once I hit a few chapters I knew that I wouldn’t be putting it down until I knew how it ended.

This book is not for the faint of heart. I’m not sure what so expected with a serial killer stalker, but it was more intense than I imagined it would be.

This would be a great book for those who love true crime and books filled with murderous suspense and mystery.

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

Content: murder, stalking, serial killer, revenge, baited attacks, drugged attacks, and minimal romance.

Someone wants Corina Roberts dead. Twelve years ago her mother and brother were murdered. Corina and her father moved to Kentucky to build a new life. She is discovering there is more to the move than her Dad told her about.

Bryce is recently returned from the service and has been in love with Corina for years. They did not depart on good terms. Corina turns to Bryce for help when her life is threatened.

I found parts of this book to be slow. There was more telling than action. There also wasn't much information given on Bryce's background. I liked the premise of the story. But as I stated earlier, it was just a little slow. The ending was a complete surprise though.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

With a debut like this, I very much look forward to seeing more from Angela Carlisle in the future!

Corina's mother and brother were murdered 12 years before, but when things start going wrong in the present, she learns that there was more to that story than she had known... and she needs to find the answers before it's too late. Throw in an unexpected reunion with her ex-boyfriend who is helping her find those answers and you've definitely got all the makings of a very exciting story. Throughout the story, we are given glimpses into the POV of the killer, which always adds a really interesting and creepy element to a suspense story. This killer is beyond clever and always one step ahead, so those glimpses also really add a lot to the understand as to what it going on... while still keeping me guessing as to who this person could possibly be.

I really enjoyed the second-chance romance between Corina and Bryce as well. With everything that had happened in her past, Corina's faith took a hit, so we get to see that growth throughout the story as well. Overall, this was a really exciting story and one that fans of Christian romantic suspense are sure to want to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I was blown away by Secondary Target, one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read.

The backstory for Corina and Bryce gave extra depth to the overall flow of the relationship between them and strengthened the emotion behind their interactions. I couldn’t help rooting for a second chance in the midst of all the trouble they faced as Bryce helped Corina escape the plans of a demented and organized killer.

With her father in the hospital and threats against her escalating Corina has two choices; face things on her own, or trust her friend Allye and her brother Bryce-her ex boyfriend-to help her figure out what’s going on, and stay one step ahead of the person who’s threatening her. Easy choice, right?

As Bryce spends more time with Corina he is determined not to let the past determine the future of their relationship. His first priority must be keeping her safe but somewhere the lines are blurred and his emotions could get in the way. How can he focus on keeping her out of the hands of the person threatening her when she’s right in front of him stirring up feelings he thought he’d put aside?

The book is a testament to great writing, fleshed out characters, and suspense that is perfectly paced to draw the reader in and keep them there long into the night. I loved it.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle drew me in with the promise of an intriguing plot and a possible serial killer! Say less! This was my first read from this author so I went into this book open minded. I liked the overall concept of this story, but the pacing felt a little slow and it seemed to lack intensity. Moments that I anticipated having me on the edge of my seat felt a bit lacking. I struggled a bit with the fact that the father was hiding so much from his daughter that she was rifling through file drawers in her own home to find out what he was hiding. She was an adult and it seemed odd that the father wouldn’t prepare her for potential threats based on past events. The killer had the upper hand for the entire book and it just became such a source of irritation for me. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters. Corina was difficult to like, and didn’t seem at all grateful for her friends basically putting their lives on hold 24/7 to keep her safe. The romance was basically non-existent and when it did spark at close to 80% of the book, it was really out of no where. Sadly this was not the book for me, however someone else may really enjoy this story.

Although Secondary Target is Angela Carlisle's debut novel it definitely reads like she is and established author. The plot flows smoothly but sucks you in with plot twists and edge of your seat suspense. I love Corina and Bryce with Houston an added bonus. Ms. Carlisle paints the settings with her words the way an artist paints a picture. Her writing style reminds me of Lynn Blackburn or Lynette Eason. I will admit that I did guess the identity of the bad guy before the end of the book and was delighted to find I was right. I look forward to reading more of Angela Carlisle's books.

So curl up in a cozy reading chair and settle in for a great read!

I was given a copy of Secondary Target with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.