Complicated Strangers - A Romantic Twisty Suspense Novel
Three government agencies. A missing husband’s dangerous secrets. And the one man hired to protect her—or betray her.
When a terrorist attack devastates the US Embassy in Brazil, Miakoda Nez’s husband vanishes into thin air. Her only lifeline is his final, cryptic instruction: pack up and run. With nothing but a suitcase, a weapon, and a trail of breadcrumbs, Miakoda takes to the highway. But the open road offers no freedom—only the suffocating realization that she is being hunted.
Undercover FBI agent Greyson is waiting at a desolate rest stop when Miakoda drives straight into a ambush. Intervening to save her, they barely escape with their lives. But just as they hit the asphalt, Greyson receives a chilling new mandate from his superiors: stay close to Miakoda, track her every move, and report her location daily.
Desperate and unaware of his true identity, Miakoda hires Greyson as her bodyguard. Together, they are plunged into a lethal web of international intrigue stretching from the CIA to the Oval Office. As Greyson is torn between his duty to his country and his fiercely brilliant Navajo client, the lines between protector and captor begin to blur.
With the government closing in, Miakoda must follow her husband's evidence trail to the bitter end. But in a game where everyone is lying, the most dangerous threat might be the man sitting right next to her.
What Readers Are Saying
Two shredded hearts overcome everything to rediscover their love of surfing and each other. A romance perfect for summer, Surf & Tour will win your heart. Ellis Summers has written a touching story about overcoming fear, falling in love, and taking chances. The characters are easy to connect with while the descriptive narration takes the reader inside the surfing world. The romance is unexpected and will move you. So, grab your favorite beach chair and see why I loved this book.
Let’s start with the characters. I connected with Nikki right away. Her fear is realistic and relatable. Her inner strength, though, is what I love most. When faced with her fear…well, I won’t spoil it for you. Needless to say, the ending is emotional. Julian is also a character worth cheering for. He’s an injured soul and one I also connected with.
The romance is expertly executed with a slow-burn vibe. This author normally writes romantic suspense. This is her first contemporary romance and I enjoyed it immensely. I especially like the interplay between Nikki and Julian. Their chemistry is off the charts.
If you’re looking for a beach read/summer romance, you’ll love Surf & Tour. If you’re a part of the surfing community, this book is for you.
My Rating: 5 stars
Short mystery with romance and a touch of age gap
If you like mystery with your romance, you will enjoy this book. Simone Taylor is 27yo, very independent, great photographer and only loves her motorcycle a little less than Cal and Nash. Calvin is her brother and his best friend is Nash Redmond. They are wealthy (I would have liked a little more about how they got that way) but each has chosen a different path. Cal has quit work and is obsessed with land that his family has owned a long time. Whereas Nash still works as owner and operator of an ad agency. Later you’ll find out why. Nash is 35yo and came into Simone’s life as a British foreign exchange student. Somehow, he never left. When Cal dies mysteriously, Simone and Nash go on the hunt to find out what is happening. Loved Nash’s dog, Venus!
I spent most of my adult life jumping into the fire, not as a smoke jumper, but as an agent working for one of those government agencies that does not exist, going places and doing things that we cannot talk about. I am not easily impressed and can be hard on writers who do not have a clue about what they are writing about.
Ellis may never have been a “smoke eater,” been in a drive-by shooting, or in a hostage situation, but she gets it right. She has done her research, maybe even interviewing people who have been there and done that. Her story ran true.
Jumping Into Fire is an action thriller with a touch of romance. The characters that she created for this short story—Melissa, Ryan, Logan, and Maria—have many stories to tell.
I think Ellis can expand Jumping Into Fire and turn it into a series prequel. It would be exciting to see the characters develop further and explore more of the world that has been introduced. I am sure many readers would be eager to continue following the story and seeing where it leads. I, for one, would love to read that series.
The conclusion to the Grant saga has come and it was worth the wait. This time, Maze is the feature and she is familiar to any who have read this crime family series. Now the family wants to ruin her life over something that is first mentioned in book one.
The familiar characters and bad pennies show up again. We have plenty of Quinn and Barrett in this work.
In this book, Maze finally gets on the right side of everything and exemplifies how a strong female good person can overcome the bad in life. A strong vindication in the power of a good person over evil.
This book is the fine conclusion to a powerful three-part series. If you have been a fan of this family since the start, you will love this book. If you just love Quinn and Barrett, you will enjoy this book. A solid addition to a great series that will not disappoint.
Two women, two friends, two cheating husbands, two exes, two pregnancies, two handsome military hunks on the run!! What more could you ask for?
It’s a wild, fast paced suspenseful thriller that catches your attention from page one! Not a dull moment in this book, who doesn’t love that?
Free & Iris devise a plan to catch their spouses, leave them and divorce them.
Olin is Free’s ex and true love of her life.
Free is still very much connected to Olin even though they are divorced.
I loved every minute of this book so much that I could Not put it down and read it in a day!
The story takes many twists and turns, some predictable and some that you never see coming. It was an exciting, fast paced story that really delivered in the end. I loved the excitement of trying to figure out what the outcome of the story was going to be. At points during the story, I honestly had no idea which way things were going to progress, which was awesome! This is the first book in the series, so there were so many characters to meet. At times, I felt a bit overwhelmed trying to keep up with the storylines and the multitude of characters, but by the end of the book, I was hooked. I can’t wait to read more in this series and uncover all the mysteries that surround the Grant family.
This Love Story that takes me to a world I’d LOVE to live in. One with a handsome chauffeur/bodyguard with a limo, a gorgeous white horse that loves and understands you, where money is so abundant it rarely needs talking about and enjoying the best of San Francisco. Both main characters are highly engaging, with heaps of twists and turns to figure out. This is story is a vacation in itself; you’ll go places you’ve never been, discover some Native Americans and delve into some lives (and mysteries) that you be eager to visit again … in the next book, I hope!
What would you do to rescue a soldier on the run? Would you give up your own freedom? Wow, this pulse-pounding romantic suspense is a masterpiece of writing. The complex plot, the full cast of characters, the action scenes, the danger, the romance, all blend together to make this book unrelenting until the last page.
It all starts with the descriptive narration and world-building. With meticulous precision, Ellis Summers crafts a modern-day romantic suspense. The descriptive narration is intricate which pulls the reader into the story. The setting and action sequences blend with the dialogue to bring out the emotions. Every thought, feeling, and movement is detailed.
The characters are varied as are the POVs. I connected with them all, well, except for the cheating husbands. Who cares about those jerks. I connected most with Freesia. She’s a strong, willful, woman who does what’s right, no matter the consequences.
The action scenes are brilliant and add just the right amount of suspense and tension to the story.
Ellis Summers has penned an unputdownable romantic suspense. I couldn’t get enough. If you love high-octane romantic suspense, pick up Rescuing Freedom.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Three cousins and three back stories that all link up and such great adventures. I really enjoyed first book A Smuggler’s Last Song as was exciting, intriguing and was great to meet Emma and her story. This time its her cousin Vanessa and what a story is unravelled. This trilogy was a joy to read as characters are engaging, exciting, vulnerable, humourous and connected with them all even from a very privileged and different world! Mystery, intrigue, love, romance and lots of twist and turns. The stories are definitely unique and take you on a rollercoaster and unexpected journey of adventure but that makes them exciting and hard to put down as once the book begins you are drawn in and want to see what happens next as you never know what is around the corner. Probably could be enjoyed as stand alone, but so much more if you read book 1 and definitely need finale in book 3. Wonderful, enjoyable and exciting, I really enjoyed the Grant series.
A thrilling romantic suspense that’ll leave you breathless. Ellis Summers has penned a nonstop addictive read which rivals the big names in thrillers/suspense aka Patterson, Robb, Clark, and more. Action-packed plot, riveting characters, a mystery to unravel, and an unexpected romance between strangers. Trust me when I tell you this is a must-read.
Normally I say it all starts with the world-building but in this case, it starts and ends with the heroine, Miakoda. She’s a woman who is put to the test over and over again. She has a couple of allies but she soon discovers they all betray her but one. Can she trust him? Her strength and courage shine like a beacon. I liked her right away and kept rooting for her. The story itself is well written with a fast plot progression. Ellis Summers foreshadows what’s to come with an expert hand. The action scenes are intense. The stakes are life and death at times. The suspense blends well with the dialogue.
If you’re like me and looking for an unputdownable romantic suspense, you’ll want to read this book. A brilliant book from start to finish. This author is one to keep on your radar.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Get your popcorn ready for this action-packed suspense-filled adventure! When you read this, you may believe you should keep your friends close and your family far away. With family like this, who needs enemies?
Right from the start, the conflict and intensity grows. The book simply races along at a fretful pace. There is no let down for the reader. The reader just wants more, and this book delivers it in spades!
A remarkable family is presented in great detail. The character building is fantastic. The book is a fast and easy read. I opened the book and didn’t stop until I had finished it. Now I can’t wait to read book two of the great series.
If you are a fan of really enjoyable romantic suspense, then this book is for you! You will want to put this on your to be read list right away. Set aside some quality reading time for taking on this series.
I loved this book!
Simone Taylor has had a crush on her brother’s best friend Nash since she was little. They are good friends, but she’d like to pursue a relationship. The only problem is Nash is a “serial” dater – he can’t or won’t commit to any of them. When a mystery ensues involving her brother Cal, Simone finds out there is a lot she doesn’t know, about Nash OR her brother. Highly recommend this book – it’s a short, quick read!
Loved this book, the many interesting characters, the plot, and subplots. The protagonist, Amazing Grant, who lives up to her name, was entrusted with a secret journal years ago when she was a child. Since then she has denied to all its existence but has it carefully hidden. She is threatened and under suspicion from many directions, particularly from her own family members. Agatha Christie couldn’t have written a more sinister group of characters or more diabolical interaction among them. The ending twists and turns are a great surprise as the body count increases and an underground vault with countless treasures is discovered. Just when you think you have the plot figured out…well, you don’t!
I enjoyed reading this suspenseful romance story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed from beginning to end. This is a well written story where the author combined suspense, mystery and romance into one hard to put down story. I enjoyed how relateable the characters were and how they pulled me into their story. Their twists and turns had me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what would happen next. I enjoyed how the author used details to make the story come to life and made me feel as if I was right there with the characters. I enjoyed the characters and what they brought to the story. There is great growth of the plot throughout which made the story easy and entertaining to read. I highly recommend this book.
The mystery and suspense in this book are first-rate. The reader is left to wonder exactly who is responsible for the things happening to Vanessa. Her relationship with Quinn carries the book as well.
It is something to say that the potential hazards of their relationship are really nothing compared to the day-to-day hazards she faces. The action scenes are powerful and gripping.
This is the second book in the Grant series, but it too works fine as a standalone. If you have had the pleasure of reading the first book, then this book will flow beautifully too.
I borrowed this great read on kindle-unlimited. I could not put it down. Like the title says, Mystery, Suspense, and Romance, what more could you ask. Except maybe anticipation and its got that too. I highly recommend this book.especially the wild unexpected ending.
This was a definite page turner! I have no words except to read it!! Twists and turns as well as passion, loyalty, tears among the many emotions this book brings out. I couldn’t put the book down until I knew the ending and how it resolved.
Mystery, romance, drama combine with Native American beliefs is a winning combination. Mia has a mystery to solve. Grayson has more then one job to do while falling in love with Mia. Story kept my interest and is well written and edited. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was quite the action thriller! I found myself getting entrenched in what was uncovered from Calvin’s past, all the while seeing the romance bloom between Calvin and Simone. I had an enjoyable time reading it this week as each chapter brought new surprises.
This is really a story that keeps you guessing! Man oh man…lots of intriguing craziness going around. The storyline is excellent; the characters pretty much entertaining; and the HEA is definitely a winner! There is so much going on from start to finish—you’ll need a score card. Don’t miss this one…grab your copy today! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and loved it!) ❤️❤️❤️
Two shredded hearts overcome everything to rediscover their love of surfing and each other. A romance perfect for summer, Surf & Tour will win your heart. Ellis Summers has written a touching story about overcoming fear, falling in love, and taking chances. The characters are easy to connect with while the descriptive narration takes the reader inside the surfing world. The romance is unexpected and will move you. So, grab your favorite beach chair and see why I loved this book.
Let’s start with the characters. I connected with Nikki right away. Her fear is realistic and relatable. Her inner strength, though, is what I love most. When faced with her fear…well, I won’t spoil it for you. Needless to say, the ending is emotional. Julian is also a character worth cheering for. He’s an injured soul and one I also connected with.
The romance is expertly executed with a slow-burn vibe. This author normally writes romantic suspense. This is her first contemporary romance and I enjoyed it immensely. I especially like the interplay between Nikki and Julian. Their chemistry is off the charts.
If you’re looking for a beach read/summer romance, you’ll love Surf & Tour. If you’re a part of the surfing community, this book is for you.
My Rating: 5 stars
Short mystery with romance and a touch of age gap
If you like mystery with your romance, you will enjoy this book. Simone Taylor is 27yo, very independent, great photographer and only loves her motorcycle a little less than Cal and Nash. Calvin is her brother and his best friend is Nash Redmond. They are wealthy (I would have liked a little more about how they got that way) but each has chosen a different path. Cal has quit work and is obsessed with land that his family has owned a long time. Whereas Nash still works as owner and operator of an ad agency. Later you’ll find out why. Nash is 35yo and came into Simone’s life as a British foreign exchange student. Somehow, he never left. When Cal dies mysteriously, Simone and Nash go on the hunt to find out what is happening. Loved Nash’s dog, Venus!
I spent most of my adult life jumping into the fire, not as a smoke jumper, but as an agent working for one of those government agencies that does not exist, going places and doing things that we cannot talk about. I am not easily impressed and can be hard on writers who do not have a clue about what they are writing about.
Ellis may never have been a “smoke eater,” been in a drive-by shooting, or in a hostage situation, but she gets it right. She has done her research, maybe even interviewing people who have been there and done that. Her story ran true.
Jumping Into Fire is an action thriller with a touch of romance. The characters that she created for this short story—Melissa, Ryan, Logan, and Maria—have many stories to tell.
I think Ellis can expand Jumping Into Fire and turn it into a series prequel. It would be exciting to see the characters develop further and explore more of the world that has been introduced. I am sure many readers would be eager to continue following the story and seeing where it leads. I, for one, would love to read that series.
The conclusion to the Grant saga has come and it was worth the wait. This time, Maze is the feature and she is familiar to any who have read this crime family series. Now the family wants to ruin her life over something that is first mentioned in book one.
The familiar characters and bad pennies show up again. We have plenty of Quinn and Barrett in this work.
In this book, Maze finally gets on the right side of everything and exemplifies how a strong female good person can overcome the bad in life. A strong vindication in the power of a good person over evil.
This book is the fine conclusion to a powerful three-part series. If you have been a fan of this family since the start, you will love this book. If you just love Quinn and Barrett, you will enjoy this book. A solid addition to a great series that will not disappoint.
Two women, two friends, two cheating husbands, two exes, two pregnancies, two handsome military hunks on the run!! What more could you ask for?
It’s a wild, fast paced suspenseful thriller that catches your attention from page one! Not a dull moment in this book, who doesn’t love that?
Free & Iris devise a plan to catch their spouses, leave them and divorce them.
Olin is Free’s ex and true love of her life.
Free is still very much connected to Olin even though they are divorced.
I loved every minute of this book so much that I could Not put it down and read it in a day!
The story takes many twists and turns, some predictable and some that you never see coming. It was an exciting, fast paced story that really delivered in the end. I loved the excitement of trying to figure out what the outcome of the story was going to be. At points during the story, I honestly had no idea which way things were going to progress, which was awesome! This is the first book in the series, so there were so many characters to meet. At times, I felt a bit overwhelmed trying to keep up with the storylines and the multitude of characters, but by the end of the book, I was hooked. I can’t wait to read more in this series and uncover all the mysteries that surround the Grant family.
This Love Story that takes me to a world I’d LOVE to live in. One with a handsome chauffeur/bodyguard with a limo, a gorgeous white horse that loves and understands you, where money is so abundant it rarely needs talking about and enjoying the best of San Francisco. Both main characters are highly engaging, with heaps of twists and turns to figure out. This is story is a vacation in itself; you’ll go places you’ve never been, discover some Native Americans and delve into some lives (and mysteries) that you be eager to visit again … in the next book, I hope!
What would you do to rescue a soldier on the run? Would you give up your own freedom? Wow, this pulse-pounding romantic suspense is a masterpiece of writing. The complex plot, the full cast of characters, the action scenes, the danger, the romance, all blend together to make this book unrelenting until the last page.
It all starts with the descriptive narration and world-building. With meticulous precision, Ellis Summers crafts a modern-day romantic suspense. The descriptive narration is intricate which pulls the reader into the story. The setting and action sequences blend with the dialogue to bring out the emotions. Every thought, feeling, and movement is detailed.
The characters are varied as are the POVs. I connected with them all, well, except for the cheating husbands. Who cares about those jerks. I connected most with Freesia. She’s a strong, willful, woman who does what’s right, no matter the consequences.
The action scenes are brilliant and add just the right amount of suspense and tension to the story.
Ellis Summers has penned an unputdownable romantic suspense. I couldn’t get enough. If you love high-octane romantic suspense, pick up Rescuing Freedom.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Three cousins and three back stories that all link up and such great adventures. I really enjoyed first book A Smuggler’s Last Song as was exciting, intriguing and was great to meet Emma and her story. This time its her cousin Vanessa and what a story is unravelled. This trilogy was a joy to read as characters are engaging, exciting, vulnerable, humourous and connected with them all even from a very privileged and different world! Mystery, intrigue, love, romance and lots of twist and turns. The stories are definitely unique and take you on a rollercoaster and unexpected journey of adventure but that makes them exciting and hard to put down as once the book begins you are drawn in and want to see what happens next as you never know what is around the corner. Probably could be enjoyed as stand alone, but so much more if you read book 1 and definitely need finale in book 3. Wonderful, enjoyable and exciting, I really enjoyed the Grant series.
A thrilling romantic suspense that’ll leave you breathless. Ellis Summers has penned a nonstop addictive read which rivals the big names in thrillers/suspense aka Patterson, Robb, Clark, and more. Action-packed plot, riveting characters, a mystery to unravel, and an unexpected romance between strangers. Trust me when I tell you this is a must-read.
Normally I say it all starts with the world-building but in this case, it starts and ends with the heroine, Miakoda. She’s a woman who is put to the test over and over again. She has a couple of allies but she soon discovers they all betray her but one. Can she trust him? Her strength and courage shine like a beacon. I liked her right away and kept rooting for her. The story itself is well written with a fast plot progression. Ellis Summers foreshadows what’s to come with an expert hand. The action scenes are intense. The stakes are life and death at times. The suspense blends well with the dialogue.
If you’re like me and looking for an unputdownable romantic suspense, you’ll want to read this book. A brilliant book from start to finish. This author is one to keep on your radar.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Get your popcorn ready for this action-packed suspense-filled adventure! When you read this, you may believe you should keep your friends close and your family far away. With family like this, who needs enemies?
Right from the start, the conflict and intensity grows. The book simply races along at a fretful pace. There is no let down for the reader. The reader just wants more, and this book delivers it in spades!
A remarkable family is presented in great detail. The character building is fantastic. The book is a fast and easy read. I opened the book and didn’t stop until I had finished it. Now I can’t wait to read book two of the great series.
If you are a fan of really enjoyable romantic suspense, then this book is for you! You will want to put this on your to be read list right away. Set aside some quality reading time for taking on this series.
I loved this book!
Simone Taylor has had a crush on her brother’s best friend Nash since she was little. They are good friends, but she’d like to pursue a relationship. The only problem is Nash is a “serial” dater – he can’t or won’t commit to any of them. When a mystery ensues involving her brother Cal, Simone finds out there is a lot she doesn’t know, about Nash OR her brother. Highly recommend this book – it’s a short, quick read!
Loved this book, the many interesting characters, the plot, and subplots. The protagonist, Amazing Grant, who lives up to her name, was entrusted with a secret journal years ago when she was a child. Since then she has denied to all its existence but has it carefully hidden. She is threatened and under suspicion from many directions, particularly from her own family members. Agatha Christie couldn’t have written a more sinister group of characters or more diabolical interaction among them. The ending twists and turns are a great surprise as the body count increases and an underground vault with countless treasures is discovered. Just when you think you have the plot figured out…well, you don’t!
I enjoyed reading this suspenseful romance story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed from beginning to end. This is a well written story where the author combined suspense, mystery and romance into one hard to put down story. I enjoyed how relateable the characters were and how they pulled me into their story. Their twists and turns had me sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what would happen next. I enjoyed how the author used details to make the story come to life and made me feel as if I was right there with the characters. I enjoyed the characters and what they brought to the story. There is great growth of the plot throughout which made the story easy and entertaining to read. I highly recommend this book.
The mystery and suspense in this book are first-rate. The reader is left to wonder exactly who is responsible for the things happening to Vanessa. Her relationship with Quinn carries the book as well.
It is something to say that the potential hazards of their relationship are really nothing compared to the day-to-day hazards she faces. The action scenes are powerful and gripping.
This is the second book in the Grant series, but it too works fine as a standalone. If you have had the pleasure of reading the first book, then this book will flow beautifully too.
I borrowed this great read on kindle-unlimited. I could not put it down. Like the title says, Mystery, Suspense, and Romance, what more could you ask. Except maybe anticipation and its got that too. I highly recommend this book.especially the wild unexpected ending.
This was a definite page turner! I have no words except to read it!! Twists and turns as well as passion, loyalty, tears among the many emotions this book brings out. I couldn’t put the book down until I knew the ending and how it resolved.
Mystery, romance, drama combine with Native American beliefs is a winning combination. Mia has a mystery to solve. Grayson has more then one job to do while falling in love with Mia. Story kept my interest and is well written and edited. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was quite the action thriller! I found myself getting entrenched in what was uncovered from Calvin’s past, all the while seeing the romance bloom between Calvin and Simone. I had an enjoyable time reading it this week as each chapter brought new surprises.
This is really a story that keeps you guessing! Man oh man…lots of intriguing craziness going around. The storyline is excellent; the characters pretty much entertaining; and the HEA is definitely a winner! There is so much going on from start to finish—you’ll need a score card. Don’t miss this one…grab your copy today! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and loved it!) ❤️❤️❤️
Two shredded hearts overcome everything to rediscover their love of surfing and each other. A romance perfect for summer, Surf & Tour will win your heart. Ellis Summers has written a touching story about overcoming fear, falling in love, and taking chances. The characters are easy to connect with while the descriptive narration takes the reader inside the surfing world. The romance is unexpected and will move you. So, grab your favorite beach chair and see why I loved this book.
Let’s start with the characters. I connected with Nikki right away. Her fear is realistic and relatable. Her inner strength, though, is what I love most. When faced with her fear…well, I won’t spoil it for you. Needless to say, the ending is emotional. Julian is also a character worth cheering for. He’s an injured soul and one I also connected with.
The romance is expertly executed with a slow-burn vibe. This author normally writes romantic suspense. This is her first contemporary romance and I enjoyed it immensely. I especially like the interplay between Nikki and Julian. Their chemistry is off the charts.
If you’re looking for a beach read/summer romance, you’ll love Surf & Tour. If you’re a part of the surfing community, this book is for you.
My Rating: 5 stars
Short mystery with romance and a touch of age gap
If you like mystery with your romance, you will enjoy this book. Simone Taylor is 27yo, very independent, great photographer and only loves her motorcycle a little less than Cal and Nash. Calvin is her brother and his best friend is Nash Redmond. They are wealthy (I would have liked a little more about how they got that way) but each has chosen a different path. Cal has quit work and is obsessed with land that his family has owned a long time. Whereas Nash still works as owner and operator of an ad agency. Later you’ll find out why. Nash is 35yo and came into Simone’s life as a British foreign exchange student. Somehow, he never left. When Cal dies mysteriously, Simone and Nash go on the hunt to find out what is happening. Loved Nash’s dog, Venus!
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