Book: Shadowed Doubt

Author: Kathleen J. Robison

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 13, 2023

Is street smart enough to save a life and protect a family?

Finally recovering after the abduction of her mother by a human trafficking ring and the mysterious death of her father years ago, Lacey Thompson wants to live again. But things aren’t panning out. Exclusion from Fashion Design School leaves Lacey nursing rejection when a young stranger shows up in Bay Town. He’s brash but beautiful, and Lacey senses she shouldn’t get involved, but she can’t help it.

Wade Bodine Gardner is heir to Gardner Hotel Enterprises. As a long-lost family member discovered on the streets of New Orleans, Wade is living a second chance. Life is good, especially when he meets Lacey Thompson. But his past comes back to haunt him. The man who raised him is released from jail…the man who killed his mother. Beau Bodine wants a piece of the action and will stop at nothing to get Wade’s inheritance. Stalking Lacey is his first plan of action. How far will Beau go?

Instead of fighting their battles together, Lacey and Wade battle each other. Will Lacey draw on what got her through before? Can Wade learn to trust God and Lacey? It’s a race against time to save those whom he loves.

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I have read quite a few of Kathleen Robison's books and have enjoyed them. Shadowed Doubt by Kathleen J Robison is Book 3 in the Bay Town series. I have read a couple of books in this series and I have been anxiously awaiting this book.

Lacey Thompson is ready to live life to the fullest again. She has been through a lot in recent years, including her mother being kidnapped in a Human Trafficking ring and her father dying under mysterious circumstances. She is devasted when she doesn't get into Fashion Design School. Lacey questions life even more when a stranger comes to Bay Town. Wade Bodine Gardner has been given a Second Chance at life and he feels life is going good. He meets Lacey and is excited to be in Bay Town. Wade gets worried when he discovers that the man who spent many years in jail for murdering his mother, has been released from jail. Beau Bodine is determined to take control of Wade's inheritance from his mother, which his mother was part of the family of the Gardner Hotel Enterprises. Lacey and Wade need to work together to battle against Beau and make sure Wade's inheritance is secure, although they seem to be in battle against each other. Can Lacey and Wade find peace between the 2 and win the battle against Beau? Will Wade learn to Trust Lacey and more importantly God?

WOW, this book was captivating from the very beginning. The author does touch on some sensitive topics including Human Trafficking and Murder The author is very eloquent in how the topics are addressed. Lacey is probably my favorite Character in this book. She has regained her spunk for life after many devasting events in life. She is interested in the newcomer to town and then realizes he has a past. Wade is enjoying life and just wants to continue with his Second Chance at life. He has come to enjoy spending time with Lacey and then chaos ensues when Beau comes to stalk and haunt him and Lacey. This book is about LOVE, Faith, Mystery, and Second Chances. I really LOVE that the Faith message is strong in this book. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction with Romance and Mystery! WONDERFUL BOOK!

Kathleen is an Okinawan-American. Born in Okinawa, raised in California, Florida, Mississippi, and Singapore. Her travels lend themselves to the settings in her books, and her large family provides fun fodder for her characters. She and her Pastor husband have eight adult children. Seven are married, blessing them with sixteen grandchildren, and more on the way! Her ethnically diverse family of 33 plus personalities presents many opportunities to write about God’s amazing love amid trials, tragedies, and blessings. He is the one true inspiration and hope for us all.

More from Kathleen

Writing Shadowed Doubt took a different turn than my other books. I began writing a story about Lacey, Melanie Thompson’s young daughter. But since I write Romantic Suspense, she had to be old enough to be romanced! My husband says that would be age thirty for our youngest daughter, and he’s only half kidding.

But if you read the prequel, Revived Hope, and Book One, Shattered Guilt, you have a complete sketch of this delightful young girl. You don’t have to read those to enjoy Shadowed Doubt, but I hope you will. I think you’ll enjoy the small-town community of characters. Still, like all the Bay Town Series books, I aspire to make them stand-alone, and this book is no different. So you’ll meet Lacey as a young adult, ready to tackle the world.

I have three grown daughters (and five married sons), so watching them grow in their faith, and navigate college, relationships, and marriage, helped me to write Shadowed Doubt and Lacey’s story. Except for the fictional trauma in this story, I portrayed real-life heartache and doubts about what young women experience as they grow up in their faith in our almighty, sovereign God. Even those raised in a loving Christian home struggle with life, especially in today’s dark world. The important thing is to never give up. The Bible calls it perseverance. Trusting in our risen Savior for all things, even things out of our reach, until He gives a clear no.

Doubting is a big part of life. Wouldn’t you agree? We question ourselves, our family, friends and especially every life choices. But as a Christian, doubting God is the most difficult to admit. Without voicing those words out loud, I sometimes doubt that my prayers will be answered in the affirmative. In this book, Lacey definitely experienced this. She often felt like a yo-yo. It’s a lesson her love interest, Wade, also shared. His difficulty? He grew up in a very broken home and on the streets.

Relying on a solid foundation, Lacey trusted in God’s sovereignty and wanted His will above her desires. Something she also prayed for Wade, but sometimes she prayed, not really believing herself worthy of God’s best. But that’s the enemy at work. With spiritual mentors, Lacey came back around, knowing with all her mind and heart that she was worthy because of Jesus’ sacrifice. That she had no doubt. I pray that when doubts arise in your heart, you’ll go straight to God’s Word and be reminded of His height, depth, width and breadth of His love for you. It’s what Shadowed Doubt is all about.