To protect innocent targets… he will risk his life.
When his scared neighbor appears on his doorstep seeking refuge from a gunman, former police officer Maxwell Prescott is determined to shield the single mother and her toddler daughter.
With Brenda Granger’s witness-protection location compromised and her late husband’s ties to a drug-trafficking ring placing a target on her back, Maxwell is the only person she can trust.
But with threats at every turn, Maxwell’s protection skills are put to the ultimate test, and outrunning danger could be beyond their reach. Can they evade lethal assailants determined to silence Brenda, or will their pursuers lead them straight into an inescapable trap?
~Standalone~
This is a no-spice romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved.
Title: Ambushed in the Night
Series: Standalone
Author: Rhonda Starnes
Published: January 27, 2026
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Ambushed in the Night is a standalone title, a fast-paced, at times, intense Romantic Suspense. Being in the Witness Protection Program didn’t exactly alleviate all of Brenda’s concerns for her and her daughter’s safety, but she was trying to adjust to a new life. Unfortunately, those who wish her harm are determined, and as she relaxes outside one evening after putting Rose down for the night, she hears a noise that definitely shouldn’t be there. Grabbing her daughter, Brenda will dash to a hopefully safe place with her next-door neighbor. She never could have imagined how that simple flight to safety would change her life.
At Brenda’s frantic pounding on his door, Maxwell’s instincts kicked in. As a former police officer, he and his K9 Gus were used to facing danger, yet what he faced when that door opened was a terrified woman clutching her daughter, begging for help. He didn’t hesitate and set in motion changes to his life that he never could have expected. Once, solitude was his only goal; now, protecting Brenda and the adorable little Rose was his life’s mission. And it wasn’t going to be easy, as those who are after them are determined and deadly.
I enjoyed Ambushed in the Night so much. Brenda and Maxwell fit so well together, and Rose simply stole my heart, not to mention a very protective pup, Gus, who would stand between the toddler and danger without hesitation. Their story is intense, faith-based, well-written, and so emotional. The villain is vile, and I was almost through the story before puzzle pieces began to fit in my mind. I like not knowing everything until the reveal, that’s what a Romantic Suspense is supposed to feel like, at least to me. If that sounds like your kind of romance, then you’re going to love Brenda and Maxwell – and Rose and Gus’ story.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
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