Mari and her foster son, Ian, are staying at a place in the mountains when an armed man targets them. Escaping, she and Ian flee into the Camp Cabin that are in the off season. In fact, Mari and Ian are in the middle of a snowstorm! In their pajamas!
This starts the first 1/3 of the book with cat and mouse action. The scenes are expertly written, documenting each movement and punch that camp dweller Graham takes/delivers to the unknown man. It's a high adrenaline scenario!
This second chance suspense/romance also talks about the trauma a child faces following a shocking event. The focus is on living through this ordeal. Mari and Graham, who were engaged when they were younger, seem to table their emotions until all this is through. And then they have to face their emotions and decisions for the future. Entertaining and you want to know how they make it out of this situation!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for letting me read the e-book ARC. This honest review contains my own thoughts about the book.

Child Psychologist Marielle Coleman and her foster son find themselves caught in a winter storm, while on the run from his mother's killers, where they run into Marielle's ex in a remote camp.

An engaging suspense, with great characters and high stakes in this second chance romance. I liked how Marielle reconnected with Graham, as well as how he is willing to jump in and help Marielle and Ian.

Overall, it was an entertaining read with a lot going on, and it kept me guessing. I liked the great relationship building, and second chances. Ian is a sweet child, who has been through so much! Wonderful read, with a satisfying ending!

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

In this fast paced romantic suspense Marielle and Graham most put aside their past in order to protect the child now in Marielle's care. I'm not normally a fan of second chance romances but the reason Graham had for leaving her actually made sense and were understandable.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author did such an amazing job with both the characters and the story line. This was a well written quick romance read that I would do again. I can't wait to read more from this author. I definitely recommend this novel to other romance readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin, and Sharon Dunn

Marielle is a foster parent doing everything she can to protect her foster son who witnessed something he shouldn't have leaving him mute. When it appears someone is after it she runs to her ex-fiance Graham, who is a undercover DEA agent, to help protect protect to child. It appears the person after the child is becoming more desperate to get the child and there are some similarities to people popping up that could be connected to Grahams case making things possibly all the more dangerous.

I was looking for good mystery suspense thriller type of book and I got it. I loved following along as the two worked together to help keep this boy safe. Plus there was the added tension of them being a thing in the past. Overall it as a pretty good book I had a hard time putting it down with so much going on I didn't want to miss a thing.

She's taken on the responsibility for a little boy who's witnessed a horrific crime until a family member can be found. Unfortunately, he's not speaking. Does the unsub know there is a witness? Who does she run into while trying to find safety? Will they find those responsible and the boys missing relatives? This is a very fast paced action romantic suspense with a lot of tragedy before the HEA becomes possible.

I received a copy of this book from the author. Review voluntarily given.

Sharon Dunn has gifted readers with non-stop action in Defending the Child. Marielle Coleman, a child psychologist, encounters her former fiance and DEA agent, Graham Flynn, as she strives to protect her foster son from the man who murdered his mother. Chaos ensues. The themes of God's timing and the ways He uses suffering and loss are woven into this story, leaving readers to ponder their own response to these themes within their own lives. On a personal note, I was also reading Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp as I read this book. It was amazing how the themes of these two books, one fiction and one non-fiction, interplayed with one another, enriching the impact of the fictional tale.

I recommend Defending the Child for fans of romantic suspense in need of a quick read. By giving the male and female protagonists a past relationship, the author is able to speed up the relationship building process without sacrificing the authenticity or integrity of the characters. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Fast paced roller coaster ride with hardly any time to catch your breath! Suspense, second chance and faith. I enjoy a book that not only provides suspense, but shows how one is reaching out praying for loved ones, asking for help. It makes faith and belief so relatable to ones life. Marielle is fostering Ian who saw his mom murdered and stopped talking. Defending the Child starts out from the get go with action. Grant is a DEA agent. Marielle and Grant met at Bible Camp when they were teenagers. They are trying to keep Ian safe and catch the bad guys. I recommend going somewhere that you can read this in one sitting. Thank you for the advanced copy. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. #DefendingtheChild #SharonDunn #Harelquinn #LoveInspiredSuspense #NetGalley

Defending the Child by Sharon Dunn is an action-packed tale. The story starts off with a bang and the pace continues throughout. Marielle Coleman is determined to protect little Ian from the people who killed his mother. She did not expect to run into her ex-fiancée, Graham Flynn, who is with the DEA. Of course, Graham’s skills are just what Marielle and Ian need. I cannot imagine fleeing into a snowstorm in a bathrobe and slippers (brr). I think Marielle should have put more thought into her to go bag. I wish the author had spent a little more time on character development. I would have liked to know more about Marielle and Graham. I enjoy second chance romances, but I felt this one was rushed at the end. I would have liked to see them discuss their feelings (when not on the run or fighting bad guys). I loved how Graham connected with Ian. It was sweet. I like how faith was incorporated into the story. We see that that everything happens in God’s own timing. Defending the Child is a gripping tale with swift snowfall, a scared child, a protective DEA agent, a compassionate woman, a resolute killer, and a second chance romance.

I enjoyed this crime/mystery fiction book, Defending the Child, by Christian author, Sharon Dunn. Ian is a young boy who witnessed the murder of his mother and his father disappeared. The police believe it to be drug related. He is placed in foster care to Marielle Coleman and she becomes a single mom to him. Ian was so traumatized by the murder that he refuses to speak.

One evening Marielle hears a noise in her home and to protect Ian, she wakes him, they flee the house, and drive off in her car. Marielle has now become the next target. Are they after Ian because he may know too much or be able to identify the killer? It's Montana and there is a big snowstorm. The man follows her and her only thought was to lose him in the chase. She remembers the Bible camp she attended in her youth and because she knows the back route in, she takes it thinking he won't find her. Her ex-fiance', Graham, happens to be in town and he is an undercover DEA agent. They hook up and the suspense begins to do anything to protect Ian. Will they capture the man that is pursuing them? How does this affect Ian? Do they find his father?

The story is action packed, suspenseful, and a page-turner to find out what happens to everyone. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Sharon Dunn's books.

Thank you the NetGalley for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy

I still remember the first book I read by Sharon Dunn, Zero Visibility back in 2012 so when I had a chance to read this book I jumped at it. Right from page one I was hooked. It had the same gripping start that made me want to keep reading. Even reading during a heatwave I could feel the blizzard conditions. The suspense is nonstop in this action packed book.

We meet Marielle hearing a noise in her house leading to her fleeing with her foster child. Someone is after Ian the little boy who witnessed a crime. having the Bizzard like conditions as they are fleeing adds to the drama. With the bad guy following she needs to find somewhere to hide.

In the meantime Graham is taking a break from working as a DEA agent and just happens to be where she goes to hide. Graham is in a bit of a career crisis due to his last case. Their paths cross and are now both defending Ian from the bad guys after him. We also find out Graham and Marielle have a past, which adds to the drama.

If you are looking for a suspenseful book this won't disappoint. It has all the hallmarks of a Love Inspired Suspense but on the more suspenseful side. I am sure this will be up in my top reads for the year.

This Christian romantic suspense moved along well. I don’t normally like suspense where kids are in danger (my mom heart), but this one was handled very well. Fast paced, I sped through this read. Our characters are getting a second chance in a small town in the midst of a winter storm. Our hero is a DEA agent and our heroine is a foster mom. From the first sentence the action was nonstop and high stakes. This was a good read.

This book is full of action, suspense, drama and a sweet second chance romance. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages to see what happens next. It's a great read and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy from Harlequin - Romance | Love Inspired Suspense via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Defending the Child by Sharon Dunn
Caught in a mountain blizzard
with a child to protect.
After Marielle Coleman’s foster son witnesses his mother’s murder, he becomes a killer’s next target. Escaping into a raging Montana snowstorm, Marielle and her little boy hide at a remote camp—and unexpectedly reunite with her ex-fiancé, Graham Flynn, an undercover DEA agent. Now Graham and Marielle must put aside their distrust to save the child from dangerous pursuers. But Graham’s still hiding secrets from Marielle…ones that could tie them all to a conspiracy that will end their lives.
This is Marielle Coleman and foster son Ian's story.
This is Graham Flynn's story.
She flung the window open. It was a short drop down. Ian lifted his head, round brown eyes watching her. “I’ll let you down, and then I’ll come out right after you. Okay?” Ian nodded. A voice came from outside the window. “Hand him down to me.” Graham. He had figured out what was going on.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
I recommend this book.
Defending the Child by Sharon Dunn is a 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Sharon Dunn
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher. All words are my own.
More books by Sharon Dunn
Kidnapped in Montana
by Sharon Dunn
Tracing a Killer (Mountain Country K-9 Unit Book 7)
Book 7 of 9: Mountain Country K-9 Unit, 1
Courage Under Fire: Faith in the Face of Crime (True Blue K-9 Unit Book 8)
Part of: True Blue K-9 Unit (10 books)

Marielle heard someone moving around her house and it did not sound like her four year old foster son Ian.
Ian was the only witness to his mother Kristens' murder, his father David had fled the scene at the same time.
Marielle ran out of the house with a go bag and Ian.
The intruder chased them as they drove out of her driveway in the frigid Montana winter night.
She drove to the back entrance of the Bridger Bible Camp and looked for shelter, she saw lights in a small house and ran into Graham Flynn, a former boyfriend and DEA agent.
Mirelle, Ian and Graham begin a chase that will take them into a drug cartels' vicious search - who will win?

If you want a story to read that moves at warp speed, this book is for you. Every thing kept happening so fast, that I felt like I started the book in the middle and had no idea who these people were. It definitely needed more character development. It just didn’t make a lot of sense without knowing what the people were like. I was given this book to review.

As a foster parent myself, this was interesting to read. A little far fetched at times but interesting none. It wasn't quite as suspenseful as other Love Inspired Susepnse books but I enjoyed it. Marielle & Graham were a cute pair, given a second chance at life together, if they can dodge the people out to get them.

A second-chance romance while running from the bad guys. The action never stops. The story centers around a young boy that witnessed his mother's murder and is now mute. Admirable main characters. Exciting and heartwarming tale. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

"Defending the Child" is a romantic suspense. Marielle and Graham were engaged ten years ago but broke up when Graham chose a job that Marielle didn't like. He just happened to be at the camp they met at when she fled an attacker during a heavy snowstorm. The bad guy walked into the camp through the deep snow, but somehow they can't get out even with a snowmobile. The bad guy followed their footprints in the snow to find them, again and again. Graham never thought to use this to set an ambush for the bad guy. Graham was so obvious when he tried attacking the bad guy that he was the one who got surprise-attacked.

All of the good guys seemed inept. For example, the good guys kept leaving their keys in their car ignition so the bad guys could easily hop in and drive off. Though Graham is a DEA agent, he seemed unable to shoot anyone, didn't think to pack some spare bullets for his several guns, and was super-easy to disarm (thus arming the bad guys). At the end, Marielle's hands were loosely tied with a bungee cord but she couldn't get free. And the cops looking for her nearly missed finding her because they glanced inside the building, didn't see her, and didn't bother to search any further. And so on.

At least Marielle and Graham will probably be happy in their marriage. Graham fell in love with the boy, decided he'd like to be a father after all, and Marielle fell in love with the way he bonded with the boy. She had confidence throughout that Graham could handle the bad guys so followed his directions, and he never thought twice about her driving during some tough situations. He gave her his extra gun so she could defend herself. She admired his courage in going after the bad guys to protect her, risking his safety for hers. Anyway, they're a good fit, they just needed to see that by spending time together again.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I couldn't get past how unrealistic the whole thing was, but it was suspenseful.

The story begins with Marielle and her foster son running for their lives. Ian is four years old and saw his mother murdered. The killers are after him to silence him. Marielle goes to a deserted summer camp and runs into her former fiancé, Graham, who is a DEA agent. He helps her and Ian keep one step ahead of the killers. The story keeps you guessing as to what will happen next and how will they escape. I enjoyed reading this book.

I was given this book by Love Inspired Suspense via Net/Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.