The American Christian Fiction Writers recently announced the finalists for the 2026 CAROL Awards, and I was so excited to see Robin Patchen’s Protecting You shortlisted in the Romantic Suspense category!
If you’ve been around my blog long enough, you’ll know how much I’ve enjoyed Robin Patchen’s The Wright Heroes of Maine series. I’ve shared my thoughts on both the series so far and Protecting You, so if you haven’t stepped into the Wright family’s world of danger, faith, romance and page-turning suspense yet… please fix that immediately (here and here!). 😉
In honour of Ms Patchen and her extraordinary ability to make me read “just one more chapter” long past bedtime, I thought I’d spotlight another Christian suspense novel I recently enjoyed.
Hidden Refuge by Miriam Sloan is the first book in the Safe Harbor Files series and follows Anna, a woman who has spent so long running, she’s forgotten what it feels like to stop. Alongside a quietly faithful hero, Anna and her son embark on a treacherous journey as danger escalates around them.
While suspense without a heaping of romance isn’t my go-to genre, I still enjoy stories where faith, tension and emotional stakes intertwine well, and Hidden Refuge delivered that balance.
This is Miriam Sloan’s debut novel, and I appreciated the faster pacing and reflective prose style. The story leaned more into suspense and character reflection than the romance-heavy books I typically gravitate towards. Despite this, I was still invested in the outcome and eager to keep reading.
One thing I liked was the inclusion of her four-year-old son in the story. Adding a child into dangerous circumstances immediately raised the emotional stakes for me while also softening scenes with warmth and humanity. There were a few moments where I reread sections to absorb what was happening, but rather than pulling me out of the story, it made me pay closer attention to the unfolding danger and emotional layers.
Overall, Hidden Refuge was an engaging introduction to Miriam Sloan’s writing and a solid start to a new Christian suspense series.
Until next time,
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