Can I just start out with a big yay?! Bethany House Publishers have introduced me to many new authors, and Nancy Mehl is one of my top 3. When I saw that I got to review another book of hers again, I said yes immediately! (If you want to read my old review of the second book, its Deadly Echoes). Rising Darkness is an excellent book that incorporates faith, mystery and romance in a way that is touching, thrilling and inspiring. While Sophie, the main female in the book was fantastic, Jonathon was exceptional. His convictions were strong and his joyfulness was refreshing. I fell in love with both of them and it was set to see how Sophie and Jonathon interacted. While she battled a crippling fear, she eventually began overcoming it and I appreciated that it wasn't a cookie cutter finish. Nancy is fantastic as I have said before and I LOVE her books :) 5/5 stars.

P.S. while this is book 3, it can be read alone so have no fear!

This book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

For a girl who grew up reading strictly Christian romance, I'm thoroughly enjoying the genre of Christian suspense. Nancy Mehl's new book, "Rising Darkness" caught my eye, so even though I'd not read the first two books in the trilogy, I wanted to try this one. I'm new to Nancy's writing, and I found my introduction to her work thoroughly enjoyable.

The book tells the story of Sophie Wittenbauer, or Sophie Bauer as she is known in the journalism world. She came from a small, conservative Mennonite community but has spent the past several years putting her growing-up life behind her and establishing herself as the woman she wants to be. From losing weight to finding her fashion style to pursuing a degree, she's done all she can to become someone, but she feels she will finally fully arrive if she has a chance to break a big story.

That is what leads Sophie to a little town called Sanctuary - a place delightfully intimate and not as legalistic as her home community. She arrives under a false name and story to investigate a criminal tied to a murder years earlier, but quickly learns that she can't hide as much as she thought from the good people of the town. With her life in danger and the story on the line, Sophie pushes ahead, determined to uncover the truth.

As seems to be my pattern lately, I loved the small town setting of this book. I loved the people, and I loved the message of grace that was taught through the stories of their lives. I enjoyed the way Nancy made the story suspenseful without making me so edgy that I jumped every time I heard a noise while reading. I did not figure out the mystery before the end, which made me very happy {I like to be surprised}, and I loved the weaving of a romantic storyline in with the suspense.

The book was easy to read and made me go back to look up the other two books to see whose story I could learn more about by reading those books as well. It was tasteful in presentation {if you like mystery that's not so scary, this is a great choice} and the faith component wast strong without being overbearing.

I would absolutely look up more of Nancy's books and am glad Bethany House sent a copy of this one my way in exchange for an honest review.

Rising Darkness, Book 3 in the Finding Sanctuary series, by Nancy Mehl is an excellently written romantic novel full of suspense. The characters are well developed, and the storyline has enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested to the very end of the book. After changing her last name from Wittenbauer to Bauer, Sophie has been living and working as a reporter in St. Louis, Missouri trying to escape the painful memories of her neglectful and abusive Mennonite parents. All she wants to do is forget her past and the God who she doesnt see as a loving father since he didnt rescue her from her dysfunctional family. Sophie wants to write more than about food and obituaries and desires to become a crime writer. She discovers a lead to the possible life and whereabouts of a murderer who stole a large sum of money and had been presumed dead and decides to travel to the Mennonite town of Sanctuary to find him. Is this famous murderer finding his own sanctuary in this small town? If so, if Sophie can find him, she will have the story of the decade! Once there, this place reminding her of her childhood, Sophie must face the memories of her past. To beat it all, she runs right into a local pastor, a man whom she grew up with and had a crush on in her hometown. Will these two find the culprit together? With Sophies past, can there ever be hope for the two as a couple? The novel keeps you guessing right up to the conclusion of the book on the outcome. Can Sophie ever forgive God and accept His love? I definitely recommend this novel to anyone. I received a copy from the author and publisher of The Book Club Network in exchange for an honest review.

This is Mehl at her absolute best. Not only is it a stunning conclusion to her Finding Sanctuary series but there's the thrill of a crossover with her earlier Road to Kingdom series. It isn't necessary to have read all the books in both series to enjoy this one -- it's just a book nerdy bonus if you have. :-)

I always felt that Sophie Wittenbauer had a story to tell and I'm so glad she nagged the author until she was given the chance to shine as the heroine of her very own book. Way to go Sophie! Such a complex character -- terribly wounded by her past, she's still held captive by those demons. But she's pushing forward, determined to overcome her shame and guilt. A professional journalist now, she's hungry for success. And that hunger is the only thing that could bring her to another small Mennonite town. Where she certainly didn't expect to run into her former secret crush. But that was a lifetime ago. Sophie's changed so much that Jonathan doesn't recognize her and it's so easy to fall into a pattern of deceit.

An impossible romance, a delicious blend of mystery/suspense and compelling secondary characters all conspire to hold a reader enthralled.

This exciting novel is a Must Read for anyone who appreciates Christian suspense. It is third in the Finding Sanctuary series by Nancy Mehl. The mystery and suspense, compounded with what happens when one comes face-to-face with their past. This can be read as a standalone, and when you discover what a great story it is, you will want to read the first two.

Sophie Wittenbauer was raised in Kingdom, a strict Mennonite home and hometown. She probably would never consider returning to the Mennonite church, and would not have gone ever returned had she not had to go to nearby Sanctuary while trying to locate a murderer on the lam. If she could find him, based on information given to her by someone she used to know who is in prison, she would be able to write an article that would seal her future as an investigative reporter instead of an obituary writer.

Facts led her to Sanctuary with an alias, several days off from her newspaper and a shaky cover story. Sanctuary had been the kind of place where many people went because they needed a fresh start, and their backgrounds were not required to be known if they needed the privacy. On one hand it was the perfect place for a murderer to hide if he needed time to make a new plan. On the other hand, if one were trying to determine if one of the residents was a criminal, especially after living there for a few years, they townspeople typically didnt ask questions. Thats the way they were. Yet the very privacy afforded to the residents is what could bring harm to Sophie and the Mennonite pastor who has been helping her.

I really enjoyed the people, especially Sophie, her landlady Esther, and Jonathon, the preacher. Among everyone, these are the characters who are fully three-dimensional, people that one might want to count as friends. Others are as well-developed as their roles required. This author has a wonderful way of showing the folks in her books with lively personalities. At least one of the protagonists is typically someone with a past, with hurts that have changed them and resulted in them turning far away from the Lord. Watching them begin to take risks is part of what I enjoy, as well as sometimes re-learning the same lessons. Seeing Sophie find so much more than she planned reminds me that the Lord can do so much more than we can ask or imagine!

The plot is intriguing and captivating from the first page. Sophie is a protagonist who is very likable, who has dared to have hopes and dreams and work towards them. Finding the bad guy proves to be risky and harder than anticipated. Sophie has received several anonymous warnings, and she in danger if she doesnt pack up and return to St. Louis. Someone knows who she is or at least what she is there for. The deceptions in small towns and prisons runs high. There are plot twists that increase the intrigue, bringing a completely unexpected resolution. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who has enjoyed the authors previous novels, appreciate clean suspense novels, or learning a little about Mennonites from one of Christian fictions popular authors who is most knowledgeable in its faith.

With a grateful heart, I received a copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.