Book Review of 'Waylaid' by Jerusha Agen

Hello Bookworms!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone is doing well and had a wonderful weekend. Mine was family-filled, and I enjoyed every moment, but I am also glad I got some quiet time, which meant I had my nose in a book. The novels that are coming out this spring have been wonderfully entertaining, and the book I am featuring today is no exception.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Christian Romantic Suspense and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Waylaid by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Waylaid
Series: Windy City Westons #1
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: March 27, 2025
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job.

Spring Weston will do anything to rise in the ranks of pro cycling and prove she isn’t the one failure of the five Weston siblings. Anything except cheat. When she learns of doping on her cycling team, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But she can’t if she’s dead.

Sergeant Torin Cotter may not be the hero the public thinks he is, but he recognizes fear when he sees it. When he takes over the investigation of the collision that landed Spring in the hospital, he’s compelled to protect her from whatever danger she’s in, even though he knows he might fail. Again.

Spring’s faith in God isn’t enough to help her face the living nightmare she awakened to after the accident. But neither she nor the handsome sergeant see the greater threat that’s coming until it’s too late.

If they’re going to survive, Spring and Torin will not only have to confront their worst fears—they’ll have to find a reason to live.

Waylaid is the first installment in the thrilling Windy City Westons series that features five siblings who encounter danger and love in the city of Chicago.

My Review

The mysteries start right out of the gate, and there is something immediately interesting and enticing about Waylaid. Spring’s entire world is shattered in an instant, and while she is trying to adjust to her new reality, an investigation brings Sergeant Torin into her life and changes everything.

The novel has a strong start, but I felt like there were parts that were a bit too drawn out, and the narrative got bogged down the further I read. Granted, they’re in a pretty tense situation, and that tension is felt, but I found myself craving more.

Spring’s siblings were a real bright spot in this story, and their scenes were some of my favorites to read. They are doing everything in their power to help out their sister, and I found myself looking forward to the scenes where the trio interacted. These are protagonists that are not hard to root for.

The whole time I read, I had my suspicions about who was behind the living nightmare Spring finds herself in, and it turns out I was right. There was a surprise twist that was pretty nice, though I would’ve preferred a more detailed downfall in the finale. I also had hoped for a tad more romance, but even without it, the conclusion was satisfying.

What I really took away from Waylaid was the message that you don’t have to fear the future and that God is here to help you through no matter what. It’s a great reminder not only for the characters but those of us who can get overwhelmed when fear of the future threatens to steal our peace.

My Rating: ★★★★

About the Author

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and Fear Warrior who sounds the call to battle against fear in our everyday lives. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.

Connect with Jerusha by visiting jerushaagen.com to follow her on social media, subscribe to email newsletter updates, find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting novels and get a free suspense story.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Waylaid, a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, and a Waylaid mug, notebook, and magnet!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 14, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 21, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!