Survive the Night

Harmony Grove #3

by Carol J. Post

An edge-of-the-seat Christian romantic suspense novel by Publishers Weekly bestseller and award-winning author, Carol J. Post.Some grudges never die...Tracking a serial killer in Harmony Grove turns personal for Detective Lexi Simmons when her cousin becomes a victim. The situation goes from bad to worse when she’s teamed up with Officer Alan White whose heart she broke seven years earlier. But she won’t let their shared past interfere with finding justice for Kayla and the other women who were brutally murdered.Harmony Grove Police Officer Alan White has lost a good friend. He vows to help the Sheriff’s Department in any way he can, even if it means working alongside the woman who left him with a rejected ring and lots of excuses. Eventually, the investigation leads them to a decade-old incident on a college campus…and the realization that Lexi is a shoo-in for the killer’s next target.

Genres: Romance, Mystery Thriller, Christian Romance, Christian

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, my resume reads as if I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is my love for writing. I currently pen fun and fast-paced inspirational romance and romantic suspense stories. My books have won several awards and been nominated for two RITA® awards and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award.

After spending most of my life in Florida, a few years ago, I moved to the mountains of North Carolina, where I write my stories outside on the back deck in the summertime and inside in front of the fireplace in the wintertime. When I’m not writing or doing writerly things, I enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking—almost anything outdoors. My two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for my liking, so I now pour all that nurturing into taking care of two sassy black cats.

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survive the Night is another page turner set in the Central Florida town of Harmony Grove. Polk County Sheriff Department Detective Lexi Simmons arrives at the scene of the fifth young woman found around the county in the woods killed by a serial killer to see that her cousin is the victim. She had been about to spend a girls' night out with Kayla. The ten county detectives have been working the case over the last several months. Lexi has lead on this killing and doesn't want to lose it, so she stays professional. Kayla lived in Harmony Grove, Lexi's hometown, so Harmony Grove Police Officer Alan White works with Lexi to represent the city police department. The two were a couple seven years ago but Lexi's desire for a career made her call it quits. In addition to the intense nature of the case, Lexi and Alan have to work together to maintain a professional air. It is interesting to see how they are able to piece small clues to find a motive that hopefully will lead to the killer. it helped when one girl is able to get away and give some clues about not only what the guy looked liked but how he was able to get close to the victims. I did begin having an idea of who he was about halfway through the book but the characters did not know so the suspense and intensity was still there. These stories of suspense in the series have great characters with romance and faith threaded in. This fourth in the series is a great addition.
I received a complimentary ARC from the author for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Survive the Night was an exciting second chance at love story, packed with intrigue. What an emotional beginning to the novel! It really set the pace and helped make me feel the urgency of finding the killer. This serial murderer was killing girls who seemed to have no connection to each other.

I enjoyed watching as Lexi and Adam did all they could to find some kind of link or new information to give them an edge in the investigation. Even though Lexi and Adam had a painful history with the way things ended between them, they worked together and respected each other. I was so happy when these two finally began to talk about how things fell apart years ago and I was hopeful that they would be able to fall in love again. Lexi definitely did not make it easy. This was an exciting story from start to finish!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my owned.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this suspense book. I love most all of them that I read. I'm glad they have the Love Inspired Suspense books. I did figure out the killer in the middle of the book. I like how the killer was placed in the book!

[Kay Defreese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great suspenseful book. Alan White who we met in the first Harmony Grove book finally gets his story. He teams up with his first love that he let get away Lexi. They team up to solve a serial murderer. I had a suspicion who the person was early on. The clues were there. As with all of her books toward the end it gets really intense. You wonder how the damsel in distress is going to escape. I like her writing. I just discovered Carol Post and I hope she writes some more books in this series or starts another one that is just as good as this one.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan and Lexi are working on a case to catch a serial killer. Having had a prior personal relationship that ended badly, they have to brush it aside to work in a professional manner.

Through the chase as it becomes more intense, Lexi is forced to step down and turn it over to another dectective.

The storyline is engaging and it kept me trying to figure out who the killer was. It was a surprise at the ending and very exciting. Another great read from Carol. Highly recommended.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a thrilling read. The mystery is excellent, and I enjoyed reading about Lexi and Alan and the serial killer case they are desperately trying to solve. The chemistry between Lexi and Alan is good and you can't help but root for them to solve the case and rekindle their romance. The story moves well, with some twists and turns and the ending is exciting to say the least. A great Christian Suspense read!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

[John Hanscom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe a little more. Really good story, with a strong female protagonist.

I have read mysteries most of my 67 years, and in my opinion, the only drawback to this very enjoyable book was she broke one of 'Hanscom's Rules for Reading Mysteries." However, to explain, this requires a

SPOILER ALERT

One of the rules: if there is a character in the book who keeps showing up but seems to have no real purpose in furthering the story, pay very close attention.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can he stop a serial killer hot on her heels?

I truly think that Survive The Night just may be my favorite of all of the Harmony Grove books. Carol J. Post has amped it up, upped the ante, risen to new heights, you get the idea. This book was GOOD!

I've been anticipating Survive The Night since reading the first Harmony Grove novel. I've liked him throughout the entire series and I couldn't wait to find out what police officer Alan White's story was and would be. Lexi was new to me but she didn't stay that way for long. I knew Alan would need a special heroine and that's exactly what he got in Lexi, even if they are both reluctant to admit it.

Maybe I'm a little morbid or have never been touched by darkness, but I love serial killer stories, at least Christian fiction ones, anyway. Carol J. Post's decision to take this book in that direction was a good one. She ratcheted up the suspense in all of the best ways and I was kept glued to my Kindle and flipping digital pages as if it were to save my own life. It's chilling, definitely chilling.

So, if you are up for a little spine-tingling romantic suspense may I recommend Survive The Night and the rest of the Harmony Grove series as well. Each book can be read standalone, though, I'm glad I read them in order, and you won't want to miss any of them. Take my advice, escape the world for a little bit and check out some danger and romance from the talented pen of Carol J. Post...

(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this clean, Christian suspense romance, the female protagonist is Detective Lexi Simmons. She is determined to capture the serial killer who has been torturing and killing young women in the area . A connection between the victims has not been found and when one of the victims turns out to be her cousin, Lexi is more than ever determined to solve the case.
Harmony Grove police officer Alan White, is asked to help the Sheriff’s department investigation, a decision which Lexi is less than pleased about. Seven years ago they were an item but between her fears of losing her independence and incorrect assumptions that were made, the friendship and the relationship were severed.
But if it means they can help each other solve the problem, Lexi is all for it.
As the investigation continues and a truce is made, the revelations of their past come to light.
Still trust is an issue as is the fear Lexi has of losing her identity in a relationship.
In this engaging, suspense filled story, trust in God and each other is a priority.
Will they find the killer ? Will in the end Lexi open her heart to God ? Will she give Alan a second chance ?
This was another well written story in this series. A book that is definitely a stand alone in the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexi Simmons was planning a girl’s night with her cousin, Kyla, when she got the call. The serial killer she’s chasing has killed again … and the victim is Kyla. The case becomes even more personal when Lexi finds she’ll be working with Alan White, her college boyfriend.

Working with Alan isn’t bad. In fact, he comes up with some intelligence that provides a valuable clue. As they work the case, they also discover the truth behind their college breakup, which gives them the opportunity to consider their personal and professional relationship.

Meanwhile, they have a serial killer to catch. The problem with reading (and reviewing) a Carol J Post romantic suspense novel is that they’re hard to put down. I read this in a single day, and re-read good portions of it as I wrote my review.

Survive the Night is an enjoyable second-chance romance set against the backdrop of a hunt for a serial killer. The characters are strong, the plot has plenty of twists and turns, and there were enough red herrings that I was completely surprised by the identity of the evildoer.

I especially liked the Christian thread. Lexi isn’t a Christian, but Alan is. According to the unwritten rules of Christian romance, that means she needs to change. Some novels gloss over the change (perhaps because they don’t want a Damascus Road conversion experience). I thought Survive the Night addressed the issue well (which is something I expect from Carol J Post novels).

Recommended for Christian romantic suspense fans. Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book in this series! It's a standalone story, however, so you don't have to read the other books to know what's going on in this one, but you really should because they've all been fantastic! Serial killers are always scary reads for me! I applaud the law enforcement personnel that search for these terrible killers! Lexie is one of those tasked with finding the monster who is preying on young women in her Florida area. When one of the victims turns out to be her cousin, then it becomes personal for her. She also has to now work with the man whose heart she broke years before - talk about uncomfortable! Alan is the local police and he also knows the latest victim so it's personal for him as well. Working with Lexie won't be fun but they both have a job to do and perhaps he can find out why she did what she did to him years ago! When the killer sets his sights on Lexie, things get intense, fast! My only gripe is that Lexie is hurt pretty badly and she refuses to go to the hospital - like so many in books do. That just never rings true for me! Of course these people should get medical help! They don't just "bounce back" - they need medical help! However, I loved the book and the characters!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol J. Post is uniquely talented in the way she combines a nail-biting, edge-of-the seat, page turner with a sweet romance and a strong faith message. I always enjoy her books and eagerly look forward to the next one.

Survive the Night is a novel that will have the reader looking over her shoulder for awhile. The intensity builds as the heroine and hero work with other law enforcement to apprehend a serial killer before he can kill again. Lexi has been working on the case for awhile but this time it’s personal. The latest victim was a personal friend and it is quite possible that Lexi is in the killer’s sights as his next victim.

A second chance romance blends seamlessly into the plot as Lexi finds herself working with a man from her past. His strong faith is the encouragement that Lexi needs in order to keep going when circumstances seem virtually impossible.

Another riveting novel from this author, Survive the Night is filled with more than enough danger, action, and surprises to satisfy even the most discerning suspense fan. I give it two thumbs up.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot imagine what it would be like for a police detective to be called to the scene of a crime and discover that the victim is the very person that they were planning to meet for dinner in a short while. What a difficult situation! That would certainly make you forget about dinner rather quickly, I would think. Lexi has been working diligently for several months to find a serial killer, but it all becomes very personal with a short phone call. As a person of faith, I have no idea how Lexi or anyone else could ever deal with all that is required of a detective dealing with criminal activities on a regular basis. Fortunately for her, she is teamed up with another officer who has a strong faith. He makes no effort to preach at her but simply lives his faith day by day. Sometimes the loudest voice is not the one that is heard. For Lexi, the life she saw Alan living spoke to her at a much deeper level than anything he might have said. The action is fast-paced and exciting. The romance is rather low-key but still present. And the end of the story holds a surprise. I received an advance copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Zanese · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Survive the Night," Carol J. Post takes us on a fourth visit to Harmony Grove, FL, with yet another wonderful thriller involving law enforcement, and, of course, romance, and a faith journey. Lexi Simmons of the county sheriff's office and local police officer Alan White are assigned to work together to track down whoever has methodically tortured and killed five young adult women, including Kayla, who is Lexi's cousin and Alan's friend. But Lexi and Alan have history-- almost getting engaged seven years ago. As the two try to solve the crime while protecting Lexi as a potential victim, they renew at least a friendship. And once they discover that their break-up was based on mutual misunderstanding, Lexi and Alan must determine the commitment level of their new relationship, as they also close in on discovering the killer, and before he can successfully strike again. I particularly liked this story (and series) based in the area of central Florida where I grew up!
Note: I was provided with an Advance Reader's Copy of this book.

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts about this book:

• What triggers a serial killer? This book makes you want to evaluate your life and your past actions. Have you teased anyone that might be a powder keg?

• Lexi and Alan had a past love that had splintered apart. As professional law enforcement officers, can they come together to capture a serial killer? Will they capture each other's heart again in the process?

• I liked how the author embedded clues to who the murderer could be in this story. The author had you thinking one person was a killer and with the next clue you thought another person was the murderer. The author's red herrings were skillfully done.

• This story caught my interest right away. I wanted to know who killed Kayla?  My interest was definitely captured and my interest was held until the very end of this story.

I was given an advance copy of this book by the author. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. I highly recommend this Christian suspense and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survive the Night is excellent romantic suspense! Carol J. Post knows just how to balance the amount of romance and the amount of suspense to make a superb read.
The main characters are both a little broken from the way that their relationship ended years ago, but they are both very good at their jobs on the police forces in nearby towns. A shocking murder of a relative and friend causes a current case to cross jurisdictional lines so that Lexi and Alan end up working the serial killer case together. I found Both Lexi and Alan to be very likable.
The plot has twists and turns. Hold on tight, it's going to be a wild ride! The climax is electrifying! And the HEA is very sweet.
I received a complimentary copy and have written this review to share my opinion of this well-written book.

[Anna Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a world of horrifically badly written 'Love Inspired: Suspense' novels, I have found one I could make it more than one chapter thru. Yay!!!!

Carol Post actually *WROTE* in this one. Developed characters, had believable plotlines, managed some actual suspense, and even had dialogue to win over the reader (although there was *STILL* no chemistry between the H/h).

I enjoyed it as much as you can enjoy a serial killer book. Which is to say, she did a good job, but I'm not one who likes this storyline. They all feel the same to me. But the fact that the writing was solid bought it two whole stars, and that's something.

Good job, Carol.
If you have to read a LI Suspense? Go for this one.

[Natalya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Independence for love.
Is there a second chance for Alan and Lexi in this very captivating and suspenseful story?
“They had a killer to catch. She had no business thinking about captivating blue eyes.”
Beautifully written!
“The presence of darkness doesn’t negate the power of light. Light drives out darkness, but it doesn’t eliminate it entirely. This verse doesn’t say that God causes all things to be good. Instead, he orchestrates everything to work together for good in our lives if we love Him and walk the paths He’s laid out for us.”
“In case you’re wondering, everything includes the good, the bad and the ugly.”

[Mary Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good read in the Harmony Grove series by Carol J. Post. The plot of the book is developed well with lots of twists and turns as the detectives try to find the killer of four young women in central Florida. Some of the characters from previous books in the series reappear in this novel. There is a personal conflict between the two detectives from their past which is also resolved. The action moves very quickly so there is no time for the reader to become bored. I would recommend this book to other readers who enjoy a good mystery.

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A police officer whose cousin is murdered. And she is determined to find the killer. NO matter what!! And her old boyfriend really wants her off the case - but she refuses to allow him to dictate to her. And so she searches. She just needs him to make a mistake. THIS BOOK WILL HOOK YOU AND KEEP YOU GUESSING ALL THE WAY TO THE END!! And the best part? She finds God through it all!!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Carlien Peens · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nerve-wracking roller coaster action packed movie!! Edge of your seat stuff!! But wait it is a book not a movie. Even better!! We meet Alan and Lexi and join them on their quest to find a serial killer before . . . Expertly written. Be prepared to be sucked into the story and you won't want to come out untill the end! Carol has the gift to make you feel and see the characters. It is not just another "ahh I've read it" story it is a touch your heart story. Absolutely loved it!!

[D R Jobsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivated Again

Once again Carol J. Post captured and held my attention and imagination from beginning to end. I had no of the killer's identity until Post revealed it in the final chapters of the book. Well, maybe an inkling of an idea, but Post did not allow time for my thoughts to develop fully before plunging me headlong into the final fight for Lexi's life. Another nail biting marathon read for me.

[Jamie Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survive the Night

I really enjoyed this series. It was definitely a book that would keep you up at night to finish reading it because you just couldn’t put it down. I liked reading a book where the setting was very close to where I have lived my entire life. I understood the weather references as to rain then a cold front. The roads were familiar and so were the towns. It’s so nice reading books where the characters are Christian’s and uphold Christian values.

[Linda Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping finale to a suspenseful series

When I saw Carol Post's Harmony Grove series advertised I knew I had to read it!
Although the books are stand alone, I read them in order. I could barely pause between each one. Her characters come alive and the suspense builds to a crescendo in each one.
This book and the whole series will appeal to anyone who appreciates a clear redemptive message alongside gritty suspense and a surprise ending!

[Deena Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best of the series! Loved the characters, great backstory, and the perfect setting. It was nice to see some old friends appear briefly in this book.

My only regret? I've read so many suspense novels I was able to spot the killer very early in the story. But I had no clue about the why, so that was fun.

Thank you to the author for my advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Aks4avonyahoo.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harmony Grove Series

Wow! Just finished binge reading this series! Relatable characters with flaws just like me, heroic men and women, faith, love, suspense...all wrapped up in a small town setting. I definitely recommend this series and any of the books in it. You won't be disappointed!

[Carolyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embarrassment Leads To Murder

Unsuspecting victim of a prank lead to such embarrassment that "Gary" quit college after only three weeks. Justice is overly important. What is the connection between murder victims in their twenty and thirty ? There is riveting suspense to keep the reader involved.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the fourth book in this series. It pairs a female detective with an old flame, who’s an officer in Harmony Grove, to investigate a string of murders. It gets personal when the latest victim is related to and a friend of the investigators. Didn’t want to put this book down.

[Carolyn Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freshmen pranks in college can be very embarrassing but when women in their 20’s and 30’s are murdered by a serial killer ten years later, is there a connection. Romance is available for second chance live too

[Marilynn Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clean supense

I have been engrossed in each one of this series. Each is a standalone with common characters and locale. Each has its own mystery. I look forward to reading more by this author.