The last thing Halle Jefferson expects is to receive a chilling threat at her high school reunion—or the gunshot that follows. It’s been fifteen years since her sister’s unsolved homicide, and now her twin’s killer is back. They want something from Halle, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it. And the only thing standing between her and certain death is her former high school sweetheart, Sheriff Kyle Briscoe. Can Halle and Kyle outwit a ruthless murderer and uncover the truth…before they’re silenced for good?
Lacey Baker, a Maryland native, is a wife, mother, Nana and an author. Family cookouts, reunion vacations and growing up in church have all encouraged Lacey to write heartwarming and inspirational stories about the endurance of family and finding love. She is the author of the Sweetland series and Hallmark Channel Original Movies: A Gingerbread Romance and Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing.
“Don’t make me any more promises. You don’t keep them.” Her words, though spoken softly, were like daggers shooting straight through his clothes to slice at him.
This quote from Lacey Baker’s Lethal Reunion perfectly encapsulates Halle Jefferson’s resolve against giving Sheriff Kyle Briscoe another chance, and I loved it. I gravitate toward second chance romances: the emotional turmoil and the last-minute hesitation before someone decides to risk their heart again on the same person.
The story had some really great romance elements and I’d call it an Rs instead of your standard RS for those who love the same amount of romance and suspense. But even though I lean closer to enjoying more suspense than romance, I really enjoyed how this story story began. The tension. Halle’s attempt to get through a high school reunion and a killer hiding behind my all time favorite trope—cold cases—all worked together to make this a great read.
Great faith/ inspiration development. Here’s a quote from the story that resonated with me. “And as if the moment he’d made that decision was widely known, Ms. Joan had grabbed his hand at the end of one Sunday service and walked him down to the altar for special prayer. His thoughts, his actions, his life, were changed after that. If only he’d known then that it was just the beginning of the changes in store.”
A few things that could’ve been different: Marcia and Freddie seemed a tad one-note. Also, although a trendy trope, “small town sheriff” is a common misconception. In actually, Sheriff’s protect an entire county and police forces oversee cities or towns. All in all this was a great read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.
This was definitely a page-turner, featuring a second chance romance and a mystery surrounding an unsolved murder.
When Halle returns to her class reunion to help with the time capsule, danger returns to the town as well. Fifteen years ago, Halle’s twin sister Stella was murdered. Stella was the one who originally arranged the time capsule, and now, as it is being revealed at the reunion, it seems someone feels threatened by the event. Is Halle the target, or is it the time capsule they are after?
As threats begin to surface around the reunion and Halle appears to be in danger, Kyle, her ex-boyfriend, steps in to protect her. He is now the town’s sheriff, and she was the love of his life. Just like when Halle lost her sister all those years ago, their future dreams were also lost. Now, as Kyle works to keep her safe, old feelings begin to return.
But Halle is not looking for a relationship anymore. What she needs is closure, answers about who killed her sister and why someone may be targeting her now.
This story kept me hooked as I tried to figure out who was behind the murder. The second chance romance was sweet, and the epilogue delivered an ending I did not expect, but still found super sweet.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
This was my first book read by Lacey Baker. Between the characters and Lacey’s phenomenal story, Lethal Reunion knocked my socks off. I’m excited to read more from Lacey.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from Harlequin and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.
Halle Jefferson has returned to her hometown for her fifteen-class reunion. She never wanted to return to town. Her twin sister was murdered after graduation and the killer never was found. Sheriff Kyle Briscoe is Halle's old boyfriend, and she doesn't know he lives there now. When she gets a text about getting the key to the time capsule her sister did for her class, she is stunned to see a fellow classmate shot as she is making her way over to get the key. It seems there is still someone out to keep the secret about her sister's death and puts Halle in the crosshairs. As Kyle works on the case, he brings in two of his former FBI agents to help.
Lethal Reunion was so exciting. It kept me reading, and I finished in a couple of days. Cold Case stories are one of my favorites. I can't wait for the next one.
Lethal Reunion by Lacey Baker Will a class reunion hold the answers to her sister’s cold case murder? The last thing Halle Jefferson expects is to receive a chilling threat at her high school reunion—or the gunshot that follows. It’s been fifteen years since her sister’s unsolved homicide, and now her twin’s killer is back. They want something from Halle, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it. And the only thing standing between her and certain death is her former high school sweetheart, Sheriff Kyle Briscoe. Can Halle and Kyle outwit a ruthless murderer and uncover the truth…before they’re silenced for good? This is Halle Jefferson's story. This is Stella Jefferson's story. This is Kyle Briscoe's story. “Lord, give me strength,” Halle Jefferson whispered as she walked into the room filled with former classmates who’d graduated with her fifteen years ago. If coming back to Blueridge was a mistake, it was too late to do anything about it now. She took another step, just to prove she could do something other than contemplate and doubt—which had been her go-tos for the past few weeks. Clasping her purse in front of her, she forced in a breath, holding it a few seconds before releasing it slowly. They wouldn’t know Halle Jefferson standing alone with a death grip on her purse. Not when they would’ve always seen Halle and Stella together—“ The Twins” as they’d often been called. While they’d never dressed alike, she and Stella were identical twins, born two and a half minutes apart. And they’d done everything together. “Who texted you?” Kyle asked. He could at least get a trace going. But this was Halle’s first time back in Blueridge in fifteen years— a fact he’d been grappling with for weeks now. And he doubted she’d kept in touch with anyone here. She hadn’t kept in touch with him. Still, he continued with “Did you recognize the number?” She looked around, then tilted her head back and closed her eyes. “I dropped my phone when you tackled me to the floor.” “Or when I saved your life, but you can thank me later.” He was already on his way to the door. “I have to get back downstairs. I want you to stay here, lock the door behind me and—” The rest of his directive— which Kyle wasn’t even certain Halle was going to follow— was lost as a loud blaring sound pierced the air. Halle jumped, and her gaze landed back on him. “Fire alarm,” he said as a fresh ball of worry filled his gut. “We have to get outta here!” I recommend this book. Lethal Reunion by Lacey Baker is a 4 star book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own. I am looking forward to reading more books by Lacey Baker. Homecoming (A Sweetland Novel) Book 1 of 3: Sweetland Just Like Heaven : A Sweetland Novel (LARGE PRINT) Book 2 of 3: Sweetland
This book started with an absolute bang sending our main characters scrambling quickly for their lives. Our main couple, Halle and Kyle, were once in love but deathand building a future tore them apart. A "lethal" reunion and a time capsule mystery hold the clues for them to find each other again. You had to feel for Halle, it was clear loosing her parents and then going to live with a unfeeling uncle had strengthened the bond further with her sister. Then to loose her sister and to loose the man she loves would be a lot for anyone to bear. Coming back to the town where all that pain happened was a challenge laid out for us. However, the author raised the stakes quickly. The author also gave us one central clue that kept us guessing. That built the premise for a decent romantic suspense story with characters who drew strength from their relationship with God. However, there were times you had to suspend disbelief a bit to understand the actions of the characters. For example, I did not understand Kyle racing through the woods to save Halle at the expense of all the others. It just did not feel right to me. I'm sure it was done to increase the drama but fell flat instead. Don't let my last comment deter you. It was a good romantic suspense, it just wasn't for me. I understood that sometimes we need to confront the past even when it hurts and yes, it is helpful to believe in a higher power. The characters off putting decisions made it tough for me to connect with them. I would rate this book between 3 and 4 stars and would lean toward maybe 3.3-3.4. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin - Romance | Love Inspired Suspense for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from Harlequin - Romance via NetGalley.
The stakes are high in this thriller as Halle Jefferson faces chilling threats and a gunshot at her high school reunion, marking the return of her twin sister’s killer after 15 years. Thrust back into danger, Halle must confront her past while teaming up with her former high school sweetheart, Sheriff Kyle Briscoe, to uncover the truth and stop a relentless murderer before they both become the next victims.
While the premise promises nail-biting suspense and emotional stakes, the execution falls short. The story kicks off at breakneck speed, but the rushed pacing leaves much of the plot feeling underdeveloped and the events forced rather than organic. The central characters, Halle and Kyle, also lack the depth needed to carry such a high-stakes story. Their dynamic feels underwhelming, and neither has the charisma or complexity to truly pull the reader into their journey. As a result, the emotional tension that should elevate the romance and mystery falls flat.
While the book does deliver moments of intrigue and suspense, it ultimately struggles to live up to its thrilling premise. For those looking for a fast-paced, light read with a dash of romance and danger, this might hit the spot—but don’t expect it to leave a lasting impression.
Halle Jefferson would rather be anywhere than at her high school reunion. This town holds nothing but bad memories for her. Her twin sister was murdered, and her case has never been solved. Halle's heart was broken by Kyle Briscoe, who is now the sheriff. So, though she does not want to be here, she has been invited to open up the time capsule from 15 years ago, which is a project her sister spearheaded. She intends to do her part and put this town in her rearview mirror, along with everyone in it.
She receives a threatening text which chills her to the bone. Apparently her sister's killer has something to hide and is afraid that Halle is about to reveal the secret. The action gets pretty hairy at first as Kyle tries to keep her safe. This cold case case just got hot again.
These characters were very emotional in so many different ways. I felt such empathy for Halle as she was having to relive the nightmare of losing her sister. Her deep faith is the only thing that has kept her centered all of these years. Kyle still carries a torch for Halle, although he broke her heart years ago. He had his reasons. Throw in a mean girl, who has obviously never grown up and you have the perfect storm.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Lethal Reunion" is a Christian romantic suspense. While there was some suspense at the beginning and end, the middle was basically Halle and Kyle trying to figure out what the bad guy wanted with the time capsule. I found it a bit odd that they knew this probably had something to do with her twin sister's murder yet they never looked at the old case file. It's almost like no one ever tried to solve that murder.
They spent time together as they tried to figure out what her sister did that could have lead to her death. Halle and Kyle had dated previously, and they still cared for one another. They liked the more mature versions of each other. Halle wanted to be free of her sister's shadow, so solving whodunit helped her move into her own future instead of the future she'd envisioned with her twin. Kyle's ended up living the life his father wanted for him, so he needed to rethink what he really wanted out of life. The characters were likable and grew as people throughout the story.
Both Halle and Kyle relied on God to help them through difficulties. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this romance with a mystery and suspense.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The last place Halle wanted to be was back in this town at her high school reunion without her twin sister. 15 years ago they had graduated from high school. The day after graduation, her twin, Stella, was found dead. Her only purpose for being here was to open the time capsule that her sister had put together and maybe find out what happened to her. She decides to attend the welcome mixer as the first in a series of events and shots are fired. Her ex happens to be the town’s sheriff and he whisks Halle away to safety. Kyle came back to town after completing his time in the military and the FBI. He’s making it his mission to find out what really happened with Halle’s sister and who did it. This book is a light read with a touch of romance and lots of mystery/suspense. Very well written with complex characters. I was expecting a bit more romance, but enjoyed the banter between Kyle and Halle. The back story was revealed at the appropriate times and didn’t feel like constant flashbacks. *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
Lethal Reunion by Lacey Baker started off with a bang. I like stories that start off with action because they draw me in, and it makes me curious to see what will happen next. Hallie is being targeted, and she needs to rely on her former high school boyfriend, Sheriff Kyle Briscoe, to keep her safe. I enjoyed the suspense and action which kept the story moving. I did, though, find certain elements to be lacking and I was required to suspend my disbelief at times. There were scant clues. Despite this, the guilty party can be identified long before the reveal (actions speak volumes). The faith aspect was prevalent in the story, and that it was at the center of each of the main characters’ lives as well. I would have liked the main characters to have been more developed. I also did not feel the chemistry between Hallie and Kyle. Hallie seemed focused on getting out of the town than on renewing her relationship with Kyle. There was too much repetition (I got it the first time). Lethal Reunion had moments that I enjoyed, but, overall, it is a forgettable story.
Halle is at her high school reunion when she gets a cryptic message and gunshots ensue towards her. Thankfully her high school sweetheart Sheriff Kyle was able to help her out and now they are trying to figure out who was behind this and if it's the same people who murdered her sister are trying to get at her as well and why.
I really enjoyed this book it was decently fast-paced which really kept me going and hooked. Haley and Kyle were high school sweetheart and it's clear that that feeling hasn't really gone away and it was interesting seeing how they work together to uncover secrets of the past. I mean clearly someone didn't want her back in the hometown and is looking to take her out before she gets too close to whatever they are trying to keep hidden. I like that this book did remain clean so if you appreciate that you are probably going to like this one. Overall this is a pretty good book I enjoyed it.
This was an intriguing, clean Love Inspired Suspense with light romance story. Halle returns to her hometown after 15 years without her twin sister to attend their class reunion. She immediately runs into Kyle an old friend who helps her try to solve the death of her twin sister their senior year. Although Halle experienced the death of both her parents and twin sister; she was still able to find healing, faith and love in her life. As Halle and Kyle both try and figure out who is behind her sister's death all those years ago, they find themselves the target of possibly another murder. I loved this on the edge of your seat drama and suspense story! Easy reading, great characters and story line. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.
This was a new to me author and her first suspense novel. It was a bit of a mixed bag for me, between really engaging and likable characters, but a plot that didn’t always make sense. The suspense part was great, with event after event that kept the story moving along. The police-procedural aspect that I expect in a story marked cold case was lacking; we see little more of the investigators than them chatting about things, but only a clue or two discussed in a forensic context.
I particularly enjoyed the strong faith aspect of the story and how central that is to each of the good-guy characters.
Definitely a promising author to try again, though.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
I enjoyed this second chance romantic suspense and it was a quick and easy read. Halle left her hometown years ago with a mountain of grief because of the loss of her sister. Her boyfriend, Kyle, also broke off their relationship and didn't follow her to New York. Halle returns for a reunion and is opening their time capsule in the absence of her sister but she doesn't expect the chaos that breaks out.
Halle, with the help of her former love Kyle, hit the ground running from someone trying to kill Halle like they did her sister. Kyle, his Deputies, and his former FBI profile team are investigating and trying to uncover who wanted Halle dead and why. Lots of twists and turns in this book and a quick read.
Who done it? Who killed Stella? This was a slow-paced mystery- suspense, 2nd chance "Love" story." Class Reunions are supposed to be fun, reminiscing about the good times of high school. Whew, Halle, with her whining, was catching my nerves. Fifteen yrs and neither had gotten over the other. Now, as we move on, we learned that Halle and Kyle had to face their denial of love. However, that will have to wait until they solve the mystery of who killed Stella and who/why is someone possibly after both or one of them.
This story keeps you in the pages from start to finish, especially since the reveal was kept hidden until near the end. None of whom I picked as the murderer or stalker were correct.
This was the perfect setting for a romantic suspense--a high school class reunion!
I really enjoyed how this novel was realistic in terms of how many bad things happened to the characters. There were many twists and turns in the book. I had some guesses on who was behind all of the trouble but didn't learn the truth until the end.
Halle had been through so much in her life but she continues to show up and have such resilience.
Kyle was a strong character who worked hard as the sheriff and tried to protect everyone!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
This was a good read. It was my first by this author. I was challenged to read a book by a BIPOC and I found this new author to read from in the Love Inspired Suspense series. I enjoyed this small town set in winter with a second chance. Our heroine is back in town for the first time since her twin died a decade and a half ago. Our hero has returned to town and become the sheriff. When things go wrong at the reunion, they work together to figure out who the perpetrator could be. It was a nice read and I’d try more by this author.
I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Returning to her hometown for a class reunion finds Halle Jefferson in the crosshairs of a dangerous killer. While she has no intentions of staying around once the time capsule is opened in honor of her murdered twin, she suddenly is trapped until the killer is brought to justice. Enter Kyle Briscoe, her old boyfriend, now the town sheriff. He will stop at nothing to uncover who is behind the current crimes - and possibly who murdered Halle's twin 15 years ago. Can they lay aside their differences and work together before it's too late?
Lethal Reunion - what a crazy wild ride! Halle returns home for a class reunion to open a time capsule, also opening up memories of her deceased twin. When suddenly, Halle becomes the target of his next victim. I had my suspicions of who had done it, and ended up being correct but Baker kept me guessing the entire way through. Kyle & Halle's love story was a sweet added touch. This was a great Love Inspired Suspense book!
I never try to guess or figure out who did what etc but this really did surprise me. There were lots of twists and turns because it was a class reunion and they are always full of drama. All the drama in high school continues thru the years into a class reunion. This also had a young woman of faith who encouraged others around her but never preached. I so much enjoyed this book by Lacey Baker
I really enjoyed this quick and easy read. This was the first novel I’ve read by Lacey Baker. She delivered the suspense and character development. I will definitely read more books by her. I highly recommend this novella.
I received this from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.
This is a new to me author and I enjoyed the suspense and mystery throughout. A lot of twists and turns throughout, it definitely kept me engaged. This book is part of the Love Inspired Series and is scheduled to be released February 25, 2025.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.
A fifteen year old cold case, A never forgotten love, and the return to where it all started. This who done it, second chance romance, faith based story was a page turner. The romance was challenging, the who done it kept me guessing and had me changing characters. Faith was real. My favorite Lacey Baker story.
Ms. Baker has done it again!! This story is about death, life, love lost, love won, a true “whodunit” thriller while trusting in God along the way!! Whew!!
I enjoy this author’s work and this story was just everything!! I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it!! Grab your copy today and enjoy the ride!! Kudos, Lacey!! 💜
Another fast paced story about Halle who returns to her home town 15 years after leaving and after her twin sisters murder. Her ex Kyle is now the sheriff and is committed to solving the crime especially since now Halle is the target. Not quite so every 16 minutes they are being chased and a logical reason for the crime .