Book Review and Giveaway

Canyon of Deceit
By DiAnn Mills

Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Pages: 338
Publication Date: September 9, 2025

*** SYNOPSIS***

A missing child. A deadly conspiracy. A race against time.

When survival expert Therese Palmer is called to find a kidnapped girl, she quickly realizes the truth is more dangerous than she imagined. Enlisting the help of Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, they track the girl’s last known location deep in the Guadalupe Mountains—where every clue leads to more deception. As Russian organized crime and a deadly assassination plot come to light, Therese and Blane must fight against ruthless enemies and their growing attraction. Will they find the girl before time runs out, or will she become a pawn in a much bigger game?

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*** REVIEW ***

Mills always tells a suspenseful, taut story with characters to root for all the way.

Therese is a strong character, fully capable of holding her own in any confrontation, whether a verbal or physical challenge. It’s always nice to see a woman who can take care of herself and not have to rely on the men to get her out of tough situations.

Right away we learn about her sister, Kate, who died some years ago and how that loss has affected Therese ever since. Her grief over the loss, as well as the guilt she feels because she couldn’t save her sister, plays a big part in the rest of the story. Those emotions drive her almost manically to save the child she is asked to find in her role as a Wilderness Survival expert.

That request comes from a former colleague, Rurik Ivanov, who is panicking because his young daughter, Alina, is missing, possibly kidnapped. Hearing the story and seeing his desperation, Therese doesn’t hesitate. She enlists the help of Blane Gardner a Texas Ranger she has worked with before. She knows she can rely on him and his survival skills, but she’s also well aware that their mutual attraction from that prior case is still strong. How they work out the romantic entanglements is as compelling as the race to find the child.

The search takes them deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location. Rurik has a tacking device in a necklace Alina wears all the time, so he has seen areas where she, or at least the necklace, has been. Mills does a great job in presenting the fear and anguish a father feels at a time like this, and those emotions compel Therese and Blane to do all they can, but there are times when they doubt Rurik has told them the truth. Then there is the mix of intel they are getting from Blane’s boss and some agents from the FBI. It soon becomes clear that there is possibly Russian organized crime involvement.

The tension and pace really ramp up at that point, as Therese and Blane work frantically to rescue Alina before she becomes a casualty to all the intrigue. One can always expect great drama and complicated plots in stories by Mills, and those are the parts of her books I enjoy the most. Characterization is always top-notch, too.

Blane is simply wonderful, especially in the way he’s so respectful of Therese and her abilities, which makes for such a strong partnership. It’s obvious that he cares deeply about her and is willing to do anything to convince her that he is more secure in faith than when they first met. The fact that they both care so much about rescuing Alina brings them even closer together, and in that closeness, they both wonder if they can have a future together. Mills handles the romantic angles as deftly as the dramatic ones.

Two-thirds of the way into the story Therese is issued a big ask by Professor Rurik and her acceptance comes too quickly. Literally not taking more than a few minutes to agree to something that would change her life immeasurably. That comes across as unrealistic as most people being asked to do something so monumental would at least take a day to consider all the ramifications. (Note: I’m not adding specifics as I don’t want to include any spoilers.) There are continuity issues in a few places, such as blood being thoroughly cleaned at a the site of a shooting, including on the victim. Then a little while later the victim is seen with “blood everywhere.”

Despite those blips in the narrative, I enjoyed tagging along with Therese and Blane on this harrowing journey, and the conclusion to all the various elements romantic and dramatic, was very satisfying. This is a perfect book for readers who like clean, action-packed romantic suspense.

*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR ***

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas.

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