About the Book

Book: Watch Your Back (Crossroads Suspense Book Three. It can be read as a standalone).

Author: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 5, 2025

You can’t watch your own back.

Private Investigator Avery Reynolds leads the charge to expose Tampa’s supposedly “extinct” mob. The crime boss responsible for her foster brother’s death is within her grasp—until she hits a wall in the form of Ethan Bridger, a Coast Guard veteran who unknowingly derails her sting operation. When the elusive “Big Eddie” comes out of hiding, he targets their mutual friends about to tie the knot.

Avery sets aside her angst toward Ethan to focus on ending the crime boss’s reign of terror. But working together exposes her trust issues and his PTSD stemming from a comrade’s tragedy. When Avery goes solo into a prisoner exchange operation, she discovers her vulnerability too late—and must lean on Ethan and the God she thought had abandoned her. But will that help reach her in time?

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About the Author

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective. Her books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. She lives in the Tampa, Florida area with her husband and son.

More from Kristen

Finding God in Our Fears and Failures

Whenever I write a heroine’s character, I generally see a small piece of myself in her. Although I relate to some characters more than others, I can usually spot some shared quality that helps me empathize with her early on in my writing.

Writing private investigator Avery Reynolds in Watch Your Back was different. I liked her, despite all her sharp edges, but I didn’t see myself in her at first. As time went on, I found our shared similarity: a fear of failure.

While our situations are wildly different, this fear is not. She fears failing to take down Tampa’s elusive mob boss and letting down the few people close to her that she cares about. The stakes are so high at the end of the story that failure is worse than death to her.

While I was writing her story, I was raising a one-year-old, working online, trying to keep up with my home, and barely holding my head above water. Fears of missing my deadline—or worse, fears of letting down my family—ate away at my confidence. I couldn’t do it all. I wasn’t cut out for it.

That revelation was in fact the most freeing discovery I could make. I couldn’t do it all on my own, because I was never meant to. God provided a supportive husband, grace for each day, and the inspiration I needed to finish this story. Most importantly, He provided His never-failing presence. “For not, for I am with you,” the prophet Isaiah writes (Isaiah 41:10a NKJV). Ultimately, the reason we should not fear is Immanuel, “God with us.” (See Matthew 1:23.) He will never leave or forsake His children (Hebrews 13:5).

I don’t want to give away any spoilers in Avery’s story, but I will say she has her own moment of self-revelation as well. But will she recognize God’s hand reaching out to her in time?

When was the last time you found yourself in a situation you couldn’t handle on your own? How did God show up in your story?

Interview with Kristen

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

My brothers, some of our friends, and I wrote chapter books together when I was in middle school. They grew tired of the project after a while, but I kept writing. That’s when I discovered my love for writing, and I’ve been writing ever since.

What is your real-life work schedule like when writing?

In full transparency, it’s a bit crazy! I’m a full-time mom to our toddler, and I also design curriculum part-time for an online Christian school. My writing takes place either during week nights or on weekends. With some figuring and prayer, I plan how many words I can realistically write a week and map out a timeline. By God’s grace, I’ve made my deadlines.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

When I’m not writing, I’m spending time with my toddler. I love seeing the world through his eyes. Some of our favorite activities include fruit picking (strawberries and blueberries in the winter and spring), zoo time, play dates with friends, and a midweek story and music time at church. On weekends, we enjoy adventures as a family, biking together, hiking, going to the beach, spending time on the water, or seeing family.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

I enjoy connecting with readers through my website KristenHogrefeParnell.com and monthly newsletter. I also contribute to the Suspense Sisters, and readers can join our community where we talk about new releases and host giveaways: https://suspensesisters.blogspot.com/

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

I’m excited to be part of a Christian romantic suspense anthology releasing this summer. My novella follows a young widow who returns to her hometown to start over with her daughter, only to uncover a covert drug ring at her alma mater and cross paths with old classmates harboring scars and secrets of their own. I’ll be sharing more about it in my newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/g8f8x7. I’d love for readers to connect with me there.

Review

I love a good redemption story, and Watch Your Back was just that, combined with a sweet love story and a wild ride through Tampa’s underworld. Books that mention human trafficking are always a little hard to stomach, but Watch Your Back treats this subject with taste and class.

Neither character is a Christian in most of the book, so there are a few “words” used to help with that perception of their character. I love the change shown in Ethan after he accepts Christ—it’s realistic and hopeful. Avery is a little more hard-headed and it takes her a while longer to fully grasp God’s love.

Watch Your Back is book 3 in the Crossroads Suspense trilogy, and the first two books would add so much to the story and getting the full picture. This group of friends thrown together by “fate,” each take a personal journey that leads them home.

I loved that Watch Your Back begins at a wedding. It’s a unique setting and had some suspenseful twists connected to it.  The story begins with a bang, then builds in suspense as you move through it until you get to the heart-pounding, edge of your seat climax. I couldn’t read fast enough!

Watch Your Back is a shorter novel, perfect if you need something that takes less time, but it still has all the things readers love about the romantic suspense genre. Watch Your Back is the perfect wrap up for this series.

I recommend this novel for readers of Christian romantic suspense. The faith element is prevalent in the story and God’s love is felt on every page.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 11

A Reader’s Brain , March 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 12

Texas Book-aholic, March 13

Betti Mace, March 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 17

For Him and My Family, March 18

Holly’s Book Corner, March 19

Book Looks by Lisa, March 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 21

Stories By Gina, March 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 22

Books Less Travelled, March 23

Artistic Nobody, March 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kristen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54170