This was a quick and entertaining read! I loved all of the suspense throughout and the romance sprinkled in. It kept my attention the whole time and was filled with intense and chilling moments that had me holding my breath. My mind was constantly spinning with questions and I loved how the suspense just continued to build. This book will make you want to double check that all of your doors and windows are locked.

This is a Romantic Suspense. I really love the characters in this book. I love the storage units and resale parts of this book. The little boy in this book was just too cute. I loved all the action and suspense in this book. I really enjoyed this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

An amazing and unique romantic suspense that kept me turning the pages until the thrilling end! Erin Reed is a dealer who rents a booth at an antique mall and supplies her area by purchasing items at estate sales and the contents of abandoned storage units. She makes a good living and is able to take her young son, Toby, with her when he is not at day care. During her recent purchase of a storage unit, an enraged man attacks the owner of the business and sets his office on fire. She is able to help the owner, but the man is gone before the police arrive. Detective Sam McKeige takes her statement and is concerned for her safety when he learns that the storage owner gave her name, and the names of others, to his attacker. Sam is soon spending quite a bit of time, at her home, as they search through her purchases for what is so important. As the man visits the other dealers, he leaves destruction in his wake. Sam knows that it’s only a matter of time before the man seeks out Erin, but can he keep her safe as she and Toby have become a very important part of his life? When she finds something disturbing in one of the bins, they believe the man is a killer, but can they find him before he finds Erin? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Storing Secrets is Janice Kay Johnson’s newest book in the Harlequin Intrigue line of romantic suspense novels. She consistently writes stories featuring strong realistic characters who find love while facing adversity. Her characters have the most authentic dialogue, especially for male characters in romances.

Erin Reed is a mother of an adorable three-year-old son who supports herself by buying the contents of mini-storage units and reselling the items at an antique booth. The father of her son is no longer in their lives so she is solely responsible for the boy. She has a good idea of the value of items, making her successful in her business. She is surprised when her latest storage unit purchase is a treasure trove of high-end antique furniture. When the storage facility is set on fire by an arsonist, the new owner is badly injured and Erin and her son, Toby, barely escape in time.

Erin meets Detective Sam McKeige, who is drawn to her and Toby and immediately feels protective of them. Sadly he is mourning the loss of his own child, so he presents a gruff exterior to the world. Erin and Sam fall for each other quickly while trying to stay one step ahead of the killer.

Storing Secrets is the best romantic suspense book that I have read so far in 2025. Erin is a smart, self-sufficient and loving mother who is determined to take care of her son on her own. Readers will identify with her resilience and dedication to Toby, hoping that she will survive this terrible ordeal. Sam is a good man who has dealt with tragedy and is still carrying around emotional baggage. His scenes with young Toby are especially poignant. The action is well-paced, with the suspense perfectly timed and the tension tightly stretched. Readers won't be able to put this story down! Storing Secrets is a must-read for fans of realistic romantic suspense.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from Harlequin Romance for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Storing Secrets is an intense romantic suspense story with single mom, Erin, and Sam, the detective who stands between her, her son, and a serial killer who will stop at nothing to get his possessions back from the storage unit that Erin is using for her business. With the attacks escalating, Sam will stay even closer to this little family, and along the way, open his heart to possibilities he never thought possible for him ever again.

Both Erin and Sam have issues, neither giving their trust easily. They protect their hearts to the point of closing themselves off from anything romantic… until more than protective feelings begin to surface, and keeping Erin and her son safe is more important than solving the case.

I enjoyed Storing Secrets by Janice Kay Johnson very much. There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and I was completely invested in discovering who was after Erin or was heartless enough to target a toddler. While the romantic aspect felt a little light, their slow-burn romance was believable, especially given their trust issues. If you crave a well-written romantic suspense that will keep you on edge from start to finish, then this one is perfect for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Erin Reed is exactly the kind of heroine you root for—resilient, smart, and fiercely protective of her son. She’s juggling motherhood and running an antique business when a seemingly routine storage unit purchase thrusts her into the path of a dangerous criminal. The threat is immediate and terrifying, but Erin’s strength never wavers—she’s not a damsel waiting to be saved.

Enter Detective Sam, whose protective instincts are triggered the moment he meets Erin and her son. He’s still grieving the loss of his own child, and the emotional baggage he carries adds depth to his gruff demeanor. His desire to keep Erin safe is professional at first, but quickly turns personal.

The suspense is well-paced, with the looming danger keeping the tension high. The romance, though gradual, feels earned—rooted in trust, shared vulnerability, and the realization that love doesn’t weaken you, it strengthens you. The connection between Sam and Erin’s son is especially poignant and adds emotional richness to the narrative. Overall, it is a satisfying romantic suspense with heart, grit, and emotional resonance.

Erin Reed and her little live a quiet life; she buys and sells items she purchases and resells. When her home is targeted, she takes help from Detective Sam McKeige. It seems she purchased items from a storage locker and the man wants his trophies back.
The more item spent together they realize they are dealing with a serial killer and Sam is her only help.
Wonderful suspense story.

🫣Suspense Mystery
🩷Single mom
💙Overworked Detective
😰Horrific find at a storage unit
🏡Small town
💘He falls first
🏥 Healing after trauma

This was refreshing to read and totally fit my need for a good mystery. While this is a romance novel, there was way more plot than spice and I’m okay with that. Both MCs come from a background where trusting someone to be close to them is really hard. All the while, they’re faced with a guy that’s doing anything possible to find what belonged to him, including threatening a 3-year old boy 😱 The suspense was just enough to keep me wanting to read more till the very end. The ending felt abrupt, but given that things were kinda slow built to that point, I think it couldn’t be helped. Heat of the moment situations usually end up like that so I’m cool with it. If this gets made into a movie thing, I need to know. I saw it just like I would have if it was on a screen, it was that kind of quality for me and I love me some suspense shows.

I had lots of emotions through this book. I'm glad she got out safely with her son. At least this story ended with a happy ending

3.5 ⭐️ This is my first Janice Kay Johnson read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! This story hits a lot of the bullet points I love in a book: romance, suspense, protective heroes, and a twisty ending. I kept thinking I had an idea on who could be behind the arson that happens at the beginning of the book, but I wasn't close! Overall, I think this is a great book if you're looking for a light mystery read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Janice Kay Johnson, and Harlequin - Romance for the opportunity to read this eARC for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love a single mom story, especially when it's told from the perspective of a strong mom doing everything and anything to take care of her child without needing help from a man. Wanting help and love is different, and that's precisely where we find Erin Reed as the book opens. She's doing everything she can to take care of her son and doing a great job at it until a purchase at a storage unit for her antique business puts them both in harm's way.

Enter Detective Sam, who catches the case of arson at the storage unit, only to learn that Erin and her adorable little boy are now on the radar of the killer. He's been around the block enough times to know that detective work takes time, and he doesn't have enough of that to wait, so he does the only thing he can do: position himself as the force between Erin and the man who will stop at nothing to get his items back. He doesn't expect to fall for Erin or her son, especially after suffering from grief all these years over his own son, but when push comes to shove, he'll have to decide if he can let down the walls around his heart and let them in.