Mistletoe and Malice

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Mistletoe and Malice
Series: Guarded Hearts Series #1
Author: Lori DeJong
Publisher: Scrivenings Press
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Genre: Romantic Suspense

My Review:

Mistletoe and Malice is the first book that I have read by Lori DeJong, but it won't be my last.

I loved Riley Hudson. I love how mission-minded she is, her charitable work, and her love for all people, especially those in need. I appreciated how strong her faith is, but I love the realistic portrayal when her faith is tested.

Colton is just coming off a long stint in London when he is tasked with being a bodyguard to Riley. Assuming he knows all about her and her type, he doesn't bother reading the file on her. I was so annoyed with his assumptions, but he quickly realized his mistake.

Colton's faith is struggling, which you can understand when it is revealed why. I loved the interactions between him and Riley. Neither one holds back, which means they speak hard truths that the other needs to hear. Spending all their time together builds a bond that neither is expecting.

There is so much I could say, but the bottom line is that this is a well-written, contemporary suspense novel, with likeable characters you will be rooting for. The suspense is not rushed, and the story progresses at a natural, believable pace. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the author and JustReads for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

★★★★★/5

BOOK 2 for Christmas challenge

About the Book

He’s sworn to protect her life … but guarding his heart may be his biggest challenge.

After barely escaping an attempted abduction, Houston attorney Riley Hudson is forced to accept her wealthy father's demand for private security. The last thing she wants is a bodyguard—especially one as maddeningly arrogant, bossy … and handsome as Colton Blankenship. Yet as the threat against her escalates, she begins to rely not only on his skills, but his steadfast presence.

Colton isn’t thrilled about giving up his hard-earned holiday vacation to protect a spoiled heiress. But he soon learns Riley is nothing like he expected. Fierce, independent, and unwavering in her faith, she’s everything he thought he’d left behind after tragedy shattered his own beliefs. As the unknown threat circles closer, the tension between them ignites into something deeper ... and far more perilous.

When a second attempt on Riley’s life nearly succeeds, Colton faces a terrifying truth. Protecting her means risking more than just his life. Haunted by a past he can't outrun, and a faith he’s all but lost, he must decide if he can trust God again ... before he loses Riley—and his heart—for good.