When the Silence Breaks

Author: Elizabeth Goddard
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Mercy Ridge #1
Pages: 352
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Publisher: Revell

A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in.

When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.

After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.

Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.

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Reviewer: Anna Bottoms

If you like action, danger, and a little bit of romance this is the book for you. 

Sarah is a former operator who is convinced her brother was murdered, and she’s willing to walk through the flames to find the truth. I love her determination and focus, even when things get tough. 

Ryder is facing down the guilt of his past mistakes when he saves Sarah from a mudslide and finds himself embroiled in her search for answers. 

The action goes from zero to ten at the very beginning and never lets up. My heart was pounding as danger lurked around every corner. 

I loved the main characters in this book and their faith that moved throughout the story. The side characters are people I’d love to get to know better. They were interesting and real and made this book that much better. 

This is one I will return to again, and I highly recommend it. 

I was given a copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews and Reviews via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

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