For historical anthropologist Cara Tucker, the chance to spend a sabbatical semester on a remote country estate--with full access to its vast library and centuries-old journals--is a dream come true . . . until a series of strange incidents begin to turn her dream into a nightmare. Someone, it seems, does not want anyone diving into the past and unearthing old ghosts.
Sheriff Brad Adams has seen his share of suspicious activities during his law enforcement career, but what's happening at the isolated estate is out-of-pattern in his quiet, rural Missouri county. Beset by danger, Cara and Brad work together to try to untangle the clues. But when the peril turns lethal, the situation takes on a new urgency, and their mission is Find out who is behind the string of menacing incidents before the perpetrator strikes another deadly blow.
Hannon presents another page-turning thriller in Out of Time where danger lurks in every shadow.
Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 65 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers' Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers' Best, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.
Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.
A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.
This was such a unique read! Unique characters with different abilities and unique careers, as well as a unique setting with hundred-year-old journals written in a vanishing language!
The focus of this story is second chances and how it’s up to us to respond rather than react when things don’t go as planned.
Hannon kept me guessing, had my emotions on high alert with an intense read, and left me satisfied with a great story. Her characters always feel so real; it’s like I can imagine spending time with them. Readers will like Paul and be encouraged to look at the heart when considering love. Hannon writes romantic suspense well, this time, showcasing a slow-burning romance alongside a great mystery.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This is an action-packed, suspenseful finale of the Undaunted Courage series. I enjoyed Cara's story, the third of the adopted siblings. She is a professor working remotely with Natalie, an elderly woman. They are translating a set of journals of a long gone relative of Natalie's written in a local, dying language. Natalie is hoping to find answers to her relative's death and Cara is working on a paper. Strange incidents occur to make it look like Natalie is having mental problems. This is an interesting and intriguing story with different possible suspects with different motives. Brad, a handsome sheriff, keeps going to Natalie's when events merit but also because he wants to get to know Cara. Nice romantic suspense novel. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
In this third installment of the series Undaunted Courage by Irene Hannon, Tucker sibling Cara is Out Of Time as she helps translate old journals that could hold dangerous information. Lots of intrigue with just the right amount of romance for Cara and Sheriff Brad Mitchell as they ferret out a mystery that may or may not be connected to the journals. Ms. Hannon does a stellar job of ramping up the excitement and giving lots of possible suspects. For a thrilling read with great inspirational insights, try this book, and the whole series. I never miss a book by this author. * A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
I received a free copy of, Out of Time, by Irene Hannon, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in the Undaunted Courage series. Cara Tucker is a historical anthropologist, she is working in Missouri at a remote place, when things start to go wrong. The police officer Brad is happy to help her. This was a good read, Cara is a strong character and I liked her and Brad together.
Out of Time is another nail-biting tale of suspense and romance by Irene Hannon. This third installment of her Undaunted Courage series features Cara Tucker, an anthropologist working on a lost language journal with an elderly woman in Missouri. When strange incidents begin to unfold, the local sheriff takes an interest—not only in the mysterious happenings, but also in the intriguing anthropologist herself.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! *I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion
The main characters in the story were so interesting and each of them had such great characteristics about them. I loved that Cara had such a strength in her despite her years in foster care. The use of cochlear implants was also so intriguing as my nieces also use these. Brad had such a quiet determination to him. He fought for justice in the community that he worked but was able to balance it with compassion. My favorite character was Natalie. She was quick to give a second chance to those around her. Natalie also continued to remain calm despite the chaos that was happening around her. I did think at times that the book was a little slow moving.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
October is the perfect time to curl up with a suspense novel and a hot drink! Irene Hannon never disappoints me. While Out of Time is the third in her Undaunted Courage series, it works as a standalone, too.
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up one of her books, and reading this reminded me of why I enjoy them so much. Hannon always delivers a strong good-versus-evil storyline with no moral gray areas. Her romances are clean (think kisses only), and her mysteries carry just enough tension without being overly dark. I’d even call it a “gentle thriller”—perfect for readers who want suspense without sleepless nights.
As for this story, a secluded woodland estate gave me chills as I was actually camping in the woods. 😱 I also liked the unique touch of Cara’s hearing impairment and thought it added depth to her character. The POV from the murderer added just enough creepiness! 😳 I do feel like Cara & Brad’s romance moved a little quickly but I still enjoyed their relationship.
Thank you to @revellfict for sending me a complimentary copy to read and review!
⚠️ Content: murder (not described in detail), finding a body.
Unable to get ebook so completed reading (after GR preview) by audiobook. I am a better reader than listener so a bit problematic. Interesting story. Jack ( from bk 2) got accepted for 10 weeks training at Quantico. Brad & Cara. Lots of mystery. Nicely tied up conclusion.
I absolutely loved the first two books in this series. In fact, the second one is one of my favorite suspense/thriller books...EVER. So I was SO excited to read this one.
Unfortunately, this one didn't hit the mark with me. In fact, I got rather bored with it and had to force myself to finish. There were no surprises, and the MMC got over his guilt very quickly and easily. There were a few instances of talking about "vibes" rather than intuition or God-given sense. I'm not generally picky about that, but it struck me as wrong in a Christian fiction book.
The first two in the series, particularly the second, were great, but this one was just a miss for me.
2.5 stars
~I was given a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
I loved this! So many mysterious elements going on that left me with asking what was going to happen next, who is really responsible and what is motivating them. When it opened there are multiple characters who could be behind the mysterious events happening, but as the story progresses various suspects are ruled out however I was kept guessing the whole time until the actual culprit was revealed. I was genuinely concerned for the elderly woman, I liked her and did not want her to get hurt, but it sure seemed like she was in the crosshairs. I really enjoyed the way the romance slowly developed between Cara and the guy she ends up with. The romance was not jumped into they took time getting to know each other as friends. Both are hesitant to act on any feelings due to their situations and stuff from the past. Overall the mystery of what is going on and who is behind it takes center stage with a bit of action suspense and romance added in. I loved this. (I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
Out of Time, the compelling third installment in the Undaunted Courage Series by Irene Hannon, is a captivating blend of romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Hannon masterfully weaves a story packed with mystery, intrigue, and danger. Set against the backdrop of a remote Missouri estate, historical anthropologist Cara Tucker is enjoying her dream sabbatical, translating ancient journals written in Paw Paw French.
Hannon’s incredible choice of characters brings the story to life. Natalie, the sharp-minded estate owner who believes in second chances; Lydia, her seemingly nosy housekeeper with secret plans; Paul Coleman, the eager outsider seeking to display the journals; Stephen, Natalie’s increasingly concerned nephew; and Micah, her quiet, slightly eccentric caretaker who’s a hero to the wildlife he rescues.
Initially, Cara remains an innocent observer. But everything changes when she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, suddenly kidnapped by the villain lurking in the shadows. Hannon’s clever plot keeps you guessing, with several suspects and twists along the way. Enter Sheriff Brad Adams, the dedicated hero sworn to protect Cara. As their paths intertwine, both carry emotional baggage from the past, and Hannon beautifully unfolds their slow-burning romance amidst the suspense.
This novel is a thrilling ride from start to finish—a perfect mix of suspense and heartfelt romance. I wholeheartedly recommend Out of Time to anyone who loves a story full of mystery, well-drawn characters, and emotional depth!
Revell and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Do you follow authors who write in more than one genre? I have been reading and enjoying Irene Hannon's books for a long time. Out of Time is a romantic suspense book and the last book in her Undaunted Courage series. She also writes regular romantic fiction in her Hope Harbor series. This book has a preview of her next book in that series coming out next year. I loved that too!
Historical Anthropologist Cara Tucker is a professor on sabbatical at a remote country estate. She is also working with the estate's owner to translate journals that are written in an outdated language. Not long after she arrives, strange things are happening around the estate.
Sheriff Brad Adams investigates the strange happenings. Soon Cara and Brad feel an attraction towards one another. At the same time, more strange things are going on at the estate. Who is behind all of them? Is Cara in danger too?
I enjoyed Out of Time. This author writes clearly and the plot has good pacing. The "bad guy" was revealed as the book went on but I didn't guess that person right away. I enjoyed the developing plot and found this to be a satisfying conclusion to the series. I did feel the romance was a bit rushed towards the end but that often happens in suspense books, I think. As a whole, I enjoyed the plot and the characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Out of Time had me at ‘Irene Hannon wrote it’ but my attention was also quickly captured by the story itself, set at a remote estate with a sudden rash of mysterious goings-on and its own share of secrets. Historical anthropologist Cara Tucker certainly didn’t expect to be caught up in anything except delving into the 100-year-old journals critical to her research, but she’s in a Irene Hannon suspense novel so, really, she should have anticipated at least a little that her sabbatical would be more than she bargained for. Not only was I on the edge of my seat as the strange incidents begin to increase in frequency and dangerosity (new word I just invented), I was also fascinated by the long-held mysteries of the estate itself. Namely, one involving the writer of the journals that Cara and Natalie (the owner of the home) are transcribing/translating, entries written in a French dialect that’s vanishing from existence. I actually did my own research into Paw Paw after finishing Out of Time, because I was so curious about it, so I love that I learned a little something while being thoroughly entertained.
I also really loved getting to know Cara, Natalie, and Brad – all three characters are layered and engaging and exactly the kind of people I would want to hang out with in real life. Plus, Natalie is #oldagegoals. She’s such a fixture in the story (and in the town), still sharp and savvy and warmhearted. And her relationships with some of the side characters give us the opportunity to get their POVs in addition to those of the protagonists, a stylistic choice that I thought was perfect for this mysterious estate. It kept my mind busy trying to figure out if one of them is responsible for it all – or if the anonymous POV we’re also given is someone else altogether. Cara’s personality gels easily with Natalie’s, making their shared scenes that much more enjoyable, and both ladies are forces to be reckoned with in their own right as both have overcome significant challenges by the time we meet them. The swoony Sheriff Brad adds a layer of heart-wrenching emotion to the story, not to mention the delicious sparks (and kisses) that zing between him and Cara. So… basically all of that to say (lol) I loved the character dynamics in Out of Time as much as I did the intriguing suspense.
Bottom Line: Out of Time by Irene Hannon draws readers into an atmospheric setting where old secrets collide with present danger, making each new page a must-read. The three main characters – Cara, Natalie, and Brad – bring warmth, strength, and heart to the narrative, their connections deepening the stakes while also providing moments of tenderness and humor… and swoons … amid the simmering and suspenseful tension. A light faith thread supports the story without overpowering it, and Hannon once again proves her gift for weaving mystery, romance, and emotion into a tale you won’t want to put down. I’m always sad when a series by this author is finished, but I’m eager to read her next suspense series too! (And in the meantime, I’ll happily visit Hope Harbor while I wait.)
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Out of Time is the third book in the Undaunted Courage trilogy. The youngest Tucker sibling, Cara, is a historical anthropologist working on a translation of an almost dead language. Brad is the local sheriff of the small town where she is working and investigates the odd happenings where she is staying.
The relationships are sweet, and the characters are relatable, dealing with real life issues.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
This is Christian fiction so expect a few mentions of God and some prayers.
Family friendly.
Thanks to NetGalley and Revell. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
What a thrilling conclusion to a fantastic series! Suspense that grabs you from the opening pages and keeps you engaged throughout. This storyline is intriguing, action packed with lovable characters.
I found Cara’s story very interesting. Of the three siblings we have come to know and love, her career was the most fascinating to me. It was definitely one you would not expect to find yourself in the danger that surrounded her while helping translate a forgotten language with sweet Natalie. So many multi faceted characters that make this story rich.
This is another amazing story by Irene Hannon! While it can be read as a stand alone, do yourself a favor and read the entire series. Hannon’s books never disappoint!
I was given a complimentary copy of the book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
This is the first book I've read from the Undaunted Courage series. I would never have guessed it was the third book because it read so well as a standalone. Now I want to read the first two books in the series.
The story hooks you with suspense right from chapter one. There were several pieces to the mystery, and Red Herrings popped up in every chapter. Many people could be guilty of the murder and chaos.
The main setting is a secluded and mysterious woodland estate owned by an elderly woman, Natalie, whose family story is recorded in journals in a dying dialect. Historical anthropologist Cara Tucker is there to translate the journals while on sabbatical leave as a professor. Someone doesn't want the journals translated and will do anything to stop the work. Single Cara meets two men who stir her interest: Sheriff Brad, and Natalie's cousin Steve. I really liked Brad from the start and how he eventually opened up to Cara about his life.
A cool part in this novel is seeing the bad guy's side. We also get views from different people, which confuses readers about who's causing trouble at Natalie's place. No big spoilers here, but expect twists, several puzzles to solve, and tension that grows to the end. Love mysteries with suspense and a touch of faith? Out of Time is perfect for you.
Out of Time is captivating from the beginning and had me hooked from the first page. There are various twists, a few red herrings, and plenty of questions that keep the story moving. I’ve enjoyed this trilogy with its wonderful characters, the relationships between the siblings, and the budding romance between Cara and Brad. Irene Hannon is a master of romantic suspense, always a go-to for me.
Cara is an historical anthropologist on sabbatical to collaborate in the translation of some historical journals. Natalie's family has had the journals for years. Written in a vanishing language, Natalie is one of the only people left that can translate the journals into english. But will Cara's plan to translate be thwarted before they even start? When she arrives at Natalie's secluded home all kinds of emergency vehicles are there. What caused Natalie, who is normally healthy, to have a dizzy spell? With mysterious lights in the woods, a reclusive grounds keeper wandering around, will Cara be safe while on sabbatical? And what about Natalie's doting nephew Steven and the local Sheriff Brad? Will either of those men capture Cara's eye? Out Of Time was an exciting read! The pace was fast and the mystery was intriguing. The suspects were crawling out of the woodwork! I found it interesting that the author revealed who the bad guy was way before the book ended. But it gave the reader a look into the person's reasoning and showed how the others were duped into never suspecting who it was. I enjoyed the romance that developed. I also enjoyed the interaction that Cara had with her brother Jack and sister Bri. They still have their monthly get-togethers and still keep in close contact even though Jack and Bri have significant others of their own. Out Of Time was an exciting read and a great ending to the Undaunted Courage series.
I love an Irene Hannon book! She writes a mystery full of action and suspense with a little romance. There are several suspects, each with their own agenda. She has a well written book with a good storyline, well developed characters, and a climatic ending. This is the third and final book in the Undaunted Courage series. It can be read as a stand alone, but do yourself a favor and read them in order. Cara Tucker is a historical anthropologist and is spending her sabbatical on a country estate where she is working with the eighty-something owner, Natalie,that is one of the last to read and speak a certain language. There is a mysterious death from generations back that they are hoping the journals will explain, however there strange happenings going on that includes an unexplained death. Sheriff Brad Adams doesn’t believe in coincidence. Too many strange happenings have suddenly started occurring at Natalie Boyer’s estate. Has Natalie’s mind started to go? The pretty professor, Cara, insists that Natalie is as sharp as ever. So who is right?
This was a great finale to the Undaunted Courage series! So glad to get Cara's story in this installment. Her career as a historical anthropologist was super interesting (and one I feel like I could easily enjoy, too).
The multiple suspects with plausible motive kept me guessing throughout, and I felt Hannon--as ever--wrapped it up convincingly. Looking forward to seeing what's next in store for this author!
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Book 3 in this series is time for Cara's story. As a historical anthropologist, Cara's work takes her to a secluded area in Missouri. She hopes to work alongside an elderly woman, Natalie, whose family story is recorded in journals in a dying dialect. When a few mishaps occur and the local sheriff, Brad, is called to investigate, sparks fly. As the danger ramps up and murder occurs, can Brad figure out who the late night mysterious prowler is before Cara and Natalie come to harm? Will Cara share her personal struggles with hurting widower, Brad? Grab this romantic susoense novel and snuggle in!
This is one of those stories that kept you turning the pages because you needed to know who was the culprit! I must say that she had me going for a bit and them towards a quarter of the book I figured out whodunit but it definitely did not take away the enjoyment of reading because then I wanted to know how this person was going to get caught!
I won’t tell you too much so you can read it and find out for yourself, but I will tell you that although this is part of a series, they can be read as a stand alone. I read the first book, haven’t read the second but I had no issues with this one. In fact, it has been a while since I read the first book so I didn’t quite remember the siblings in the story until they all got together. There is romance in this and it was perfection!
Overall I really enjoyed this story and if you are looking for a new Romantic suspense story this is the series for you!
I received a copy of this book for review. All views expressed are my own.
Thank you to Revell, Author, Irene Hannon, and NetGalley for giving me access to this eARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Professor Cara Tucker is a historical anthropologist who takes a sabbatical to spend time helping an elderly lady translate diaries from a dead dialect of French. Sheriff Brad Adams is not interested in finding love after his wife and son died, and his constituent, Natalie, has quite a few strange things happening on her estate. All of these things start happening right before the beautiful professor shows up to help Natalie with the translation of the diaries. These two will have to work together to figure out what is going on.
Irene Hannon is one of my favorite Christian authors, and I enjoy her suspense books quite a bit, but I must say this one wasn’t my favorite. It wasn’t even a favorite of that trilogy. I have enjoyed Cara as supporting character in the other books, but as main character I found her a bit boring. I appreciated the fact that Irene Hannon chose to represent the hearing impaired community and that is Cara’s most interesting quality. I didn’t find Brad to be much more interesting. Both of them (and Natalie) seemed to be oblivious to the most obvious suspect of the mystery, but I think my biggest complaint with this book was that nothing happened quickly. It seemed to drag! I did enjoy the idea of almost dead dialect of French being translated, and I would be interested in knowing if Missouri really has little language pocket. Overall it was just mediocre for me.
If you are looking for a slower paced Christian Fiction book, then you will enjoy this book, but if you are looking for a high faith and high stakes book then this one is not the book for for you.
Cara Tucker is taking a sabbatical semester from her professorship to research the Old Mines area of Missouri and get a first hand account of a journal written in a dying language from the author's great-great-niece, who is among the last alive to be able to translate it. But she shows up to a police presence and that is just the beginning of unusual happenings in this small sleepy town during her stay. Filled with unusual happenings that kept me turning pages and a sweet romance between Cara and the local sheriff who keeps getting called to the property, this story had some good things going for it.
This is the 3rd book in Irene Hannon's Undaunted Courage series, but could easily be read as a stand-alone. Fans of the series will be glad to "see" Bri and Jack and their significant others again, but you don't need their stories to enjoy this one. The first book in the series was my top read for the year a couple of years back and book 2 was in my top 5-10, so I was super excited for this one, to get the story of the final Tucker sibling; however, this one fell a little flat for me. I enjoyed the overall story line and still give this one 3.5-4 stars, but the romance moved too quickly for my liking, and there were too many "villains" with too much going on. While it lent well to the overall plot, it felt a bit "sticky" in the telling and there was no big reveal on whodunit at the end. The suspense was in how things would be resolved. The faith thread also was very light and almost felt like an afterthought. While it was still a good story, to me it didn't live up to the expectation I had after reading the other books in the series. Fans of romantic suspense who enjoy a heavier romance element with less intensity in the suspense would enjoy this one (and probably favor this one over the other 2) though. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
Irene Hannon is one of my must read Christian suspense authors. Anytime I pick up one of her books, I know without a doubt I'm going to find a story that will keep me at the edge of my seat from start to finish. This one was absolutely no exception with it's perfect blend of romance and suspense. Cara and Brad were both such great characters, whose lives I couldn't help but be drawn into as strange things start happening as Cara works to translate some centuries old journals with secrets it seems someone doesn't want revealed. I loved that we also get to see inside the head of the bad guy, which adds another great layer to this already compelling story! With lots of twists and turns along the way, this is definitely a must read for readers who enjoy Christian romantic suspense!
Out of Time is the third book in the Undaunted Courage series. All the books are great and definitely recommended but I do believe that this could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Out of Time is a Christian Suspense novel and the third installment in the Undaunted Courage series. In Out of Time by Irene Hannon, readers are introduced to Cara Tucker, who has received a fellowship for the Fall as an Associate Professor. She’s working with Natalie Boyer, a woman in her eighties who has a collection of rare journals containing an ancient Paw Paw French dialect native to the old Missouri town. They work together to translate and transcribe history and open up a world about a young girl named Marie Boyer, who witnessed the highway construction between Old Mines and St. Louis in the 1920s. This piqued Cara’s curiosity even more as she transcribed and Natalie translated a centuries-old language that revealed a hundred-year mystery. But Natalie’s health is failing her, and she experiences a fainting spell that brings the EMT and Sheriff Brad Adams to her door. What seems like a fainting spell due to aging begins to trigger more sinister events happening at Natalie’s estate, and they all appear to be linked to what’s in the journals. This sets the stage for Cara and Brad to eventually work together to find out who is behind these strange and dangerous happenings.
There is a lot to unpack from the very beginning as readers are taken into this old French town of Missouri. Hannon does a great job painting the climate of this small, quiet town. The focal point is the journals because they reveal not only an ancient and dying language, but also some dangerous truths about the demise of Natalie’s aunt. Characters such as Paul Coleman are hoping that Natalie’s constant fainting spells will delay the completion of her and Cara’s translations of whatever is within those pages. He hopes that they will keep hitting enough snags for him to find a way to get the journals out of their hands and into the Historical Society. Then there’s Sheriff Brad Adams, who’s intrigued by Cara, but his interests turn into curiosity when all of the strange events begin to spiral at Natalie’s estate. They find themselves trying to piece this puzzle together that seems to be getting bigger and more dangerous as the clues unravel.
Hannon allows the story to breathe with every chapter. Readers will find this story unfolding at a nice and appropriately modest pace. They get to know the characters, such as Lydia, who’s come back to her brother penniless and with too little experience to get a decent job outside of house cleaning. But her escape plan is to convince Natalie that she needs a live-in housekeeper, which would put her in proximity to all of Natalie’s valuable merchandise. There are quite a few characters that ended up on my suspect list as the plot thickened. But as the suspicions grow, Hannon also shows readers just how human these characters are, in all their flaws and backstories. For instance, Natalie shares with Cara that Brad unfortunately lost his wife. We also get a peek inside Paul and his wife Becky’s conversations as they become more intense. For example, Paul dreads having to interview with the St. Louis paper about their son for fear that they will dig up a lot of scandalous information he wants to forget. Much like the ghosts Paul fears that Natalie and Cara will resurrect as they get deeper into their translating and transcribing of the journals.
Readers who will appreciate a book like Out of Time are those who enjoy similar works, such as Desolation Point by Lisa Phillips or Leigh Jones’ Look the Other Way. The suspense just keeps building, and Hannon knows when to turn all the screws.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley, for my honest opinion.
Wow! What an exciting ending to a fabulous series! Old journals, a decades old mystery, hidden treasure, & a sweet instant attraction romance made Out of Time one thrilling romantic suspense. Irene Hannon has such a brilliant way of creating characters you really become invested in. Over the course of the Undaunted Courage series, three adult foster children overcome their pasts, solve intriguing mysteries, & find love. This is Cara’s story & I loved learning more about her.
Cara Tucker’s an assistant historical anthropology professor who’s looking forward to spending several months on sabbatical at an isolated estate. She’s trying to preserve a dying language by translating old journals owned by Natalie Boyer. When Cara arrives, odd things begin happening. Though Natalie’s 83, she’s in perfect health, until she begins having unexplained dizzy spells & a series of accidents. When a man is found dead on the property, it’s clear someone doesn’t want the journals’ secrets revealed. But, Cara’s determined to finish the project & with the help of a handsome Sheriff, she hopes they can find whoever is threatening them before it’s too late.
I absolutely loved this story! Cara’s such an inspirational character. She’s one of the lucky foster children who found a loving family & is still close to her adopted siblings. She has cochlear implants which sometimes make communication a challenge as well as a troubled past that makes her leery of relationships. But, her instant attraction to the handsome Sheriff Brad Mitchell is undeniable. He has his own tragic past which made him vow never to marry again, until he meets Cara. He also feels that instant attraction & every time they’re together there’s an irresistible pull. I loved how Cara was very forthright about her feelings. Natalie’s such a delightful side character who’s overcome quite a lot herself. I enjoyed the lovely dynamic between her & Cara.
The mystery definitely kept me guessing until the end. There are multiple suspects with different motivations & I enjoyed having their POVs. The thrilling ending had me on the edge of my seat!
Highly recommend to inspirational romantic suspense fans! I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own & provided voluntarily. 4.5-5 stars!
** “If you have amends to make, make them with God and let the past go. Focus on today.” **
Irene Hannon wraps up her Tucker siblings series with “Out of Time.”
Historical anthropologist Cara Tucker is excited to be working with Natalie Boyer to write a paper about past French culture in Missouri, featuring journals written in Paw Paw French by one of Natalie’s relatives. Marie Boyer began her journals in 1924 at the age of 16, in a language that was typically only oral, so Natalie’s journals are extremely rare and unique and Cara hopes they will shed an intriguing light on the culture.
But when more and more strange occurrences begin happening, Sheriff Brad Mitchell is not only intrigued by the happenings, but by the pretty professor.
As they work together to figure out what is happening on Natalie’s property, they quickly realize they are becoming more and more attracted to each other. Can they each overcome past trauma and open themselves to a relationship? And can they figure out who is behind the troubling events?
Hannon always creates a plot filled with twist and turns, heart-thumping action, and just the right amount of romance, and “Out of Time” doesn’t disappoint. She creates real and relatable characters filled with courage and determination. She also fills her story with great themes, like dealing with a tsunami of guilt and grief; sometimes you have to ask where do you go from here; stop what-iffing; God has a special love for “gentle spirits who appreciate and nurture his creation”; showing remorse is courageous; and Ephesians 4:32, reminding us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.
Fans of authors like Lynette Eason, Terri Blackstock, Kelly Irvin and Colleen Coble will love “Out of Time,” which is due out Oct. 7.
Five stars out of five.
Revell provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
This is book three in the Undaunted Courage Series, but I truly believe it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. Readers who have followed the series from the beginning will certainly appreciate the added depth, since some of the secondary characters make reappearances, and their backstories are already familiar. That said, even new readers will be able to dive right in without feeling lost.
In this installment, we get to focus on historical anthropologist Cara Tucker, a character we’ve met before in earlier books. Now the spotlight is fully on her, and her journey quickly becomes captivating. She arrives in a quiet little town to research an extinct language, expecting her stay to be about work and discovery. What she doesn’t expect is just how much her life will be changed by what—and who—she encounters there.
When Cara crosses paths with Sheriff Brad Adams, sparks begin to fly. Their relationship is filled with both charm and complexity, as Brad is a man carrying his own burdens and unresolved issues from the past. Watching these two characters navigate both their personal struggles and their growing connection adds depth and emotion to the story.
What I especially enjoyed is how the author weaves together romance, drama, and suspense in such a seamless way. The pacing keeps you hooked from beginning to end, with just the right mix of tension and heartfelt moments. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their journeys.
Overall, this book has everything I look for in a great read—engaging characters, a touch of mystery, emotional depth, and a storyline that keeps you turning the pages. Whether you’re new to the series or already a fan, this novel will not disappoint.
I ws given a copy of this book for my honest opinion.