The Targeted: Book review and JustRead Tour

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Targeted by Cara Putman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Targeted 

Series: Secrets to Keep #3 

Author: Cara Putman 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: May 19, 2026 

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up? 

When Chloe Ainsworth's older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe's abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won't allow them to suffer the way she did, but she's desperate for an ally—one who can help her make her case. 

 Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can't get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe. 

They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It's clear they're onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it's too late? 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop

My review:

Targeted handled a very difficult subject, which not everyone has the courage to tackle, but Cara Putman provided a story with the right amount of detail to give the reader an idea of what happened without giving too much to make readers uncomfortable.

The legal side of the story was also done in such a smooth way that you could understand the process but did not feel overwhelmed with all the legal jargon. The romance was also in the background which I appreciated considering the subject matter and the focus of the plot.

The mystery and suspense had a slow build with the intensity climaxing at the end.  The author also added twists and murder at the right moments. Some of the twists you sort of suspected as the story unfolds and details were provided to the reader, and others totally pulled your feet out from under you.

“....that didn’t matter. If people leave her or let her down. God never would. He promised that, and his promises were true. Always.”

I loved the remembrance that God is always with us and that no matter what challenges we face or seasons we are in, He is with us, always.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

More Books from this Series:

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About the Author

Cara Putman is a professor, an attorney, and an award-winning, best-selling author of more than forty novels, including the Cornhusker Dreams series, the Hidden Justice series, and The Vanished.

Connect with Cara by visiting caraputman.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Targeted and $20 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 20, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 27, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: Not Precisely Mr. Knightley

Not Precisely Mr. Knightley by Carolyn Miller
My rating: 💛💛💛

So, I have not read Emma, which I can gather is which this story is loosely based on. Maybe if I had, I would have had a better connection and appreciation for our lead lady EJ. But I really struggled to find any connection point with EJ. I just felt she was just too materialistically focused and too easily drawn into that world.

I totally felt Jordan’s frustration to help EJ keep her focus right. His realisation that he cannot do what only God can was his peace in his turmoil of feelings.

Emma-Jane did redeem herself and turn into a lovable character at the end. But maybe a little too late for this reader to form a connection with her.

I enjoyed the first book a lot more. I will read the last book in the series, but mostly because I want to see what will happen with Elinor and Katie!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Book 1: Not Exactly Mr. Darcy


View all my reviews

About the book:

Can the Matchmaker Find True Love?
Emma-Jane (EJ) Bennett and Jordan Knight are longtime best friends who codesigned the immensely successful dating app, Dream Match. Success starts to go to EJ's head when she gets caught up in the famous and money-hungry social circles and starts dating the son of a TV mogul. But Jordan's feelings have grown from friendship to more. He determines to protect her by exposing Eric Churchill for the two-timer he is, finally agreeing to attend a function with her at the Sydney Opera House. But his best intentions go awry when EJ is embarrassed and runs for the security of home, small-town roots, and The Silver Teapot Café, feeling like Jane Austen's chastised Emma--only without her Mr. Knightley.
Don't miss book 1 in The Silver Teapot series, Not Exactly Mr. Darcy

About the author:

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her bestselling, award-winning Regency and contemporary novels are stories that offer hope, heart, and a twist of Aussie humour. Connect with her at www.carolynmillerauthor.com where you can find our more about her books, and sign up for her newsletter to be the first to know her book news.

Review: Protector

Protector by Jennifer Pierce
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

This new-to-me-suspense author delivered a strong suspense plot with characters who brought chemistry, concerns and fear to wrap up the plot successfully.

Though this story is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone as this plot is not directly linked to the Shadow Syndicate plot which is an ongoing story line in this series.

Sam’s backstory in witness protection added to the high suspense with who is behind everything and what is actually going on. There were also twists included at just the right moment to question everything you think you knew.

The plot line with the teens also felt realistic with what teenagers face daily with wanting to fit in but also wanting to do what is right. I loved how Liam was able to talk to them and get to the truth.

I suspected the person behind it but did not want to be correct. Even though that reveal was not a surprise, there was enough action, suspense and questions which kept me reading to see what was going to happen.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Review book 1: Renegade

Review book 2: Warrior

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About the book:

★ Some fires can't be fought with water. Some battles require faith. ★

Firefighter Samantha Williams thought she knew who she could trust with her life.
For six years, she's fought fires alongside her crew in Renegade, Colorado, building the family she never had while hiding from a deadly past that forced her and her sister into witness protection. When a string of arsons threatens the community, the danger is only beginning…

Then walks in the one man who could save her... or break her heart.

Deputy US Marshal Liam Roberts has made it his mission to protect people whose lives are in danger. Newly named guardian to his niece, Liam battles the challenge of balancing his new role in Renegade with family responsibility. Professional duty quickly develops to more as both Sam and Liam navigate raising teens and the growing threat.

As their enemies close in, nowhere is safe.

When the final trap is set, and escape seems impossible, Sam will discover that sometimes the greatest rescue comes from the One she thought had abandoned her long ago.

When love means putting everything on the line, how far will they go?

As Sam and Liam race against time to unmask a killer hiding in plain sight, their partnership becomes something deeper, more dangerous than either expected. But when Sam's teenage sister Isabella and Liam's niece Sophia disappear, their growing feelings are put to the ultimate test. Someone is collecting the people they love most—and using them as bait for the final trap.

Caught between a killer who knows her every secret and a man whose love she never dared hope for, Sam must keep running from her past or fight for the future her heart is beginning to crave.

Perfect for fans Faith-based romantic suspenseFirefighter heroines with hidden pastsUS Marshal protective heroesFound family dynamicsWitness protection storylinesSmall-town settings with big secretsRedemption and forgiveness themes

Faith Under Fire Betrayal & Trust Found Family Forgiveness Second Chances God's Protection Healing from Trauma Choosing Love Over Fear Identity & Purpose

Book 3 in the Renegade County series, written by Jennifer Pierce, created by Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips. Complete story with swoon-worthy HEA that will leave you breathless!

Continue the series that readers can't put down—where faith, family, and love triumph over the deadliest odds.

Review: The Last Mile Between Us

The Last Mile Between Us by Heidi McCahan
My rating: 💛💛💛

Rating 3.5

The Last Mile Between Us was about characters who were their own worst critics. I connected with both characters because I am the same way - my own worst critic who will sometimes analyse mistakes a few different times to see if I could have done anything differently.

The connection between Jude and Caroline was strong but their drive for perfection set up a few high barriers to overcome. I loved how people important to them guided them to find the truth and to stop being so hard on themselves.

Though this was a sweet story, I did feel that there was a big plot around Jude’s career and his suspension which was not really resolved but just fizzled out. I would have loved a better resolution to that part of the story.

Looking forward to Megan’s story up next!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Review book 1: The other side of good-bye

Review book 2: The Long Way Back to You


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About the book:

Where broken hearts come to heal.

"You have to believe me, I would never do anything to hurt you."

"Too late, you already did."

Some hearts are worth the risk of breaking twice.

Caroline McGuire returns to Redemption, Alaska to prove herself as the town's new physician assistant. Haunted by a teenage mistake, she's determined to rebuild her reputation and keep her heart safely guarded.

Then Jude Mercer shows up injured at her family's resort.

Six months ago in Colorado, they shared an incredible night—and a kiss that made Caroline believe in possibilities. Then he ghosted her without explanation. Now the suspended biathlete needs her medical expertise, and Caroline must treat the man who already broke her trust once.

Jude came to Redemption to rehabilitate his scandal-wrecked career and avoid emotional complications. But facing Caroline again forces him to confront his pattern of running when things get real. This time, the stakes are higher—her professional reputation hangs in the balance, and his athletic future is slipping away.

When a medical crisis threatens everything they've both worked for, Caroline and Jude must Is protecting yourself worth losing the person who could heal all your wounds?

A story about second chances, professional redemption, and finding the courage to trust again.
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Perfect for readers who
• Second-chance romance with emotional depth
• Medical drama and small-town Alaska settings
• Heroes and heroines overcoming past mistakes
• High-stakes romance where everything is on the line
• Stories about forgiveness and professional redemption

Welcome to Redemption, Alaska
Book 1: The Other Side of Goodbye
Book 2: The Long Way Back to You
Book 3: The Last Mile Between Us
Book 4: The Hidden Light of Her

About the author:

Heidi McCahan writes uplifting inspirational romance novels set in small towns. She is a bestselling author of several books, including Her Alaskan Family and A Baby in Alaska. A perfect day for Heidi includes a huge cup of good coffee, dark chocolate, and reading stories with happy endings. She makes her home in North Carolina with her handsome husband, three amazing boys, and the world’s greatest Goldendoodle. Heidi is represented by Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency. A Winter of Sweet Secrets, Heidi’s next novel with Harlequin Love Inspired, releases on September 30, 2025.

Review: Handle with Care

Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
My rating: 💛💛💛

Handle with care started out with a suspenseful moment with a fragile broken man whose life intertwined with four ladies who all had their own struggles and issues and past who brought them to this moment.

There were suspenseful moments where you were not sure if something bad was going to happen, and some glimpses of heartbreaking moments and an understanding of where everything went wrong for Jason.

For each character - there was some closure, reconciliation of relationships and a better understanding of what the heart truly wanted.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*


View all my reviews

About the book:

Three women walk into a post office. No, this isn't the beginning of a joke. It's the beginning of a hostage situation.

On an ordinary spring afternoon in a small-town post office, a domestic dispute spirals out of control. The husband pulls a gun and barricades himself inside with four hostages--his wife, a young woman searching for her purpose in this world, a midlife mom facing her only daughter's graduation and imminent departure, and an elderly woman hiding a secret about her life at home. Outside, even the negotiator is forced to put aside her own personal baggage in order to find a peaceful resolution to a volatile situation . . . using exclusively words.

Each of the three women who walked into the post office is carrying something that, if mailed, would profoundly change her life. Through the course of the daylong siege, these strangers will forge unforeseen bonds and reveal things to each other they haven't even told those closest to them. And none of them will ever be the same.

About the author:

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of When We Were Worthy, The Things We Wish Were True and

five previous novels. She speaks to women's groups around the US. She is the co-founder of the popular women's fiction site, She Reads www.shereads.org. Marybeth and her husband Curt have been married for 26 years and are the parents of six children. The family lives in North Carolina. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She is always at work on her next novel. You can find her at www.marybethwhalen.com.

Review: Witness Protection

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow
My rating: 💛💛💛

Witness Protection was the perfect balance between legal procedures and suspense with the cartel plot and the spiritual wisdom from Aunt Carly.

Jon’s struggle to assist with his employee’s case with his shared experience while still trying to keep his past hidden caused for some frustrations, especially with Kelli who couldn’t understand his meddling.

The plot of the drugs, cartel and FBI added to suspense, since you did not know who to trust, what is going to happen and how everything will unfold. The legal details were also just added just at the correct moments, with not too much and not too little.

I loved how Aunt Carly impacted Max and Emma’s everyday life and how she made God and prayer life just a normal part of her day. I loved how Emma and Max understood the power of prayer and how they also started for things they were worried about, struggled with or just for others.

Another great legal suspense similar to John Grisham, but with an added layer of spiritual depth.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*


View all my reviews

About the book:

In seeking to help an employee charged with drug smuggling, a man in the federal witness protection program is drawn back into the criminal world he thought he'd left behind.

While in his early twenties, Jason Favreau went to work in the accounting department for a company he thought was in the import/export business. He was partly right. It was a front company for a cartel smuggling drugs into the US. Once he becomes aware of the illegal operation, he doesn't quit--he's making a lot of money and participates at various levels. When the cartel is raided, Jason is arrested and agrees to testify for the government. In return, Jason is ultimately placed in the Witness Protection Program, relocated to southeast Georgia, and given the name Jon Tremaine. He goes to work for a large commercial tree farm, and after eighteen years he is the manager of the operation. One of his employees, Pablo Mendez, has a side hustle importing exotic chocolate from his home village in Mexico for sale to high-end restaurants. But when one of his pallets of chocolate is seized at the port of Brunswick, drugs are found, and Pablo is arrested.

Jon helps Pablo hire Kelli Jackson, a former US Attorney in Atlanta who has moved to Brunswick with her two children after a divorce from her unfaithful husband. Kelli takes a job with a law school friend who has a growing practice in Brunswick. Based on her prior criminal law experience, Kelli agrees to represent Pablo. As the case is investigated, it becomes clear to Jon that the drug gang operates much like the group he was part of in Louisiana and Texas. Pablo agrees to cooperate with the government in return for dismissal of charges that will otherwise certainly result in a conviction and separate him from his young family for decades.

Life as a defense lawyer is much different from that of a US Attorney, and Kelli struggles to keep up. But as Pablo's case heats up, so do the dangers for all involved. It will take a great deal of courage and legal knowledge to protect Pablo and bring the criminals to justice.

About the author:

Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious

Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.