Canyon of Deceit

Author: Diann Mills
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 352
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

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Reviewer: Anna Bottoms

If you love adrenaline-fueled, fast-paced books with danger and intrigue around every corner, this book is one you have to read.

When a survival expert, a Texas Ranger, and a Russian professor team up to save a kidnapped child, will they get to her in time? Is there more at play than a simple kidnapping? Who can be trusted?

This book is perfectly plotted and paced in a way that grabs you from the start and carries you along at breakneck speed. When you think you’ve arrived at an answer, there’s a turn that takes you in another direction.

The main characters have a chemistry that draws them together like magnets. Each is real, raw, and have their own insecurities to deal with, one through faith and one through grit. I love the faith journey that flows through the book without being separate from the story itself.

This book is on my must read again list for suspense with a little romance.

I was given a copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers, by Interviews & Reviews through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book. I highly recommend it.

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Reviewer: Mindy Houng

“Tragedies don’t define us unless we give them permission.”

Therese and Blane’s first person voices were easy to follow and interesting. I loved learning about wilderness survival through Therese and about the Texas Rangers through Blane. The suspense was intense as they became targets of an unknown enemy, and nature often worked against them in their race to find a kidnapped child. As the intricate plot progressed, it was clear that the kidnapping involved more than just one family and one agenda. The plot was fast-paced, with lots of action and a few surprises. Those who love romantic suspense will enjoy this book.

As much as I love plot and action-driven books, I do enjoy character development and I felt that it was a bit lacking in this department. Therese and Blane were both likable, but I didn’t feel like I really got to know them by the end of the book. They both had tragedies in their pasts that they needed to let go and it was gratifying to see them move towards faith, but I still did not fully connect with them. Still, fans of DiAnn Mills would totally enjoy this story.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

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