"Sins of the Past" by Dee Henderson, et al.

Sins of the Past: A Romantic Suspense Novella Collection (May 3, 2016).*

After reading a novella collection back in January, I jumped at the opportunity to read another one this month. Three authors of Christian, romantic suspense fiction contributed novellas for this set. You’ve likely heard the saying, “Put the past behind you,” but in these stories, it’s hard to leave the past in the past when it comes back to bite.

I.      Missing by Dee Henderson. The police chief for Cheyenne, John Graham, is in Chicago. His very dear mother, Martha, has supposedly been abducted from Riverside Retirement Village, and all they have so far are theories, a wide timeline surrounding the time of her disappearance, and no witnesses. John’s best guess is that the unsub is someone from his past as an undercover cop. It’s fairly impossible to remain objective in such a personal case, which is why it’s not his case (nor his jurisdiction, not even close). It is in the highly capable hands of Lieutenant Sharon Noble with the Riverside PD. She has been working missing persons cases for years. As the hours progress with their lack of progress, John and Sharon will feel a connection to the other, but will God fashion something good out of a dark valley (p. 127)?

II.   Shadowed by Dani Pettrey. As if it isn’t shocking enough to find a dead body, Libby Jennings, a champion open-water swimmer, also recognizes her. The deceased, also a swimmer, has been murdered. The orca tour captain, Ben McKenna, actually spotted the body off Tingit Island. Libby retrieves the gal’s few personal items, and someone wants those possessions. Someone who is willing to torture and kill. Libby definitely plans on being involved in the case; she has set her mind to it. So, Ben has set his mind on Libby, especially when she swims in the upcoming competition in Yancey, Alaska, as planned. She’s out of her depth here – with the investigation, but also with her feelings for Ben. She’s “never felt more at home, not even in the water.” For those who’ve followed Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series, you’ll be pleased to note where the McKenna siblings’ sense of adventure comes from. It’s genetic! J

III.Blackout by Lynette Eason. She didn’t do it. But Macey Adams doesn’t fully remember the events of the night six years ago that George Benjamin and Collin Hart died and Tyler Norwood went to prison. The memories are coming, but in short, often painful bursts. Someone out there is trying to scare her, but she’s not sure if the motive is to make her remember the events of the night or to leave them forgotten. Either way, she isn’t safe. Chad Latham is Macey’s detective-neighbor right next door. He would love to date her, but Macey’s always seemed disinterested. It is quite obvious that someone means her harm (a Molotov cocktail is a good indicator), and his concern for her is only compounded by his feelings for her. She intrigues him, for “There’s a light in her that wants to shine, but the darkness won’t let it.” He wants to get her through the darkness and keep her safe. With Chad and his coworker, Lilly, on the case, surely they can help Macey find her way to safety. Right?

     Overall: From historical romance in the previous collection to romantic suspense in this novella collection, I enjoyed each story. Each author painted a picture with words that brought us strong characters – both main and supporting, protagonists and antagonists – sturdy plots and satisfying conclusions. This enabled each short story to contain a rich storyscape immersed in mystery, intrigue, suspense and faith.

           Unlike with the previous novella collection I read, I did rank the stories. My favorite was Dani Pettrey’s. She’s the one author of these three whose stories I’d read, but I didn’t choose her story as my favorite based on the author. No. I favored it because (1) I didn’t correctly guess who the bad guy was, but what catapulted it to the top for me was (2) that this is the pivotal story of how the McKenna siblings’ parents in her Alaskan Courage series met. Next in line was Lynette Eason’s. Hers was a fast-paced story as well, and I also incorrectly guessed who the bad guy was. But once I found out who it was, I was kicking myself for not realizing it sooner. Unfortunately, with Dee Henderson’s story, I guessed who the abductor was pretty early on, and that was disappointing to me. But that was the only disappointment of this 378-page book, so that’s not bad at all! Throughout all of the stories, certain themes are present. First, that God brings comfort and understanding. Also that, no matter how impossible it is to forget the sins of the past, they “… are just that. In the past. As far as the east is from the west. Gone.”

           “And forgiven.”

           “Forever.”

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. 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.”