Danger has a way of finding you—even when you run away to escape it.
I’ve always loved stories where danger and romance collide, and When the Wicked Fall brings both together in a tale of secrets, suspense, and two people who never expected to find each other—or fall for each other—along the way.
International bestselling author Meaghan Ryers travels to a remote Alaskan village hoping to disappear from the spotlight. Instead, she discovers a burning car, a possible murder, and a mystery that quickly becomes impossible to ignore.
Sheriff Donovan Kyndall knows the village is full of secrets, but this case hits dangerously close to home. When an anonymous caller begins revealing details about his tragic past, Donovan realizes someone is playing a deadly game—and Meaghan may be in more danger than either of them imagined.
As the two uncover a conspiracy buried in the Kyndall family’s history, suspicion, danger, and attraction collide. In a place where trust can be deadly, they’ll have to risk everything to uncover the truth before they become the next victims.
When the Wicked Fall is a standalone romantic suspense featuring a slow-burn romance, a strong heroine, a protective hero, and a multilayered mystery set against the wild beauty of Alaska.
If you love atmospheric romantic suspense, remote settings, dangerous secrets, and a romance that has to survive the storm, I hope you’ll step into Donovan and Meaghan’s story.
When the Wicked Fall is available now in e-book and paperback. I hope you enjoy getting lost in their story as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life.
Read When the Wicked Fall today and discover what happens when danger and romance collide in Alaska.
Reader content note: Features non-graphic violence, minimal mild language and moderate romantic intimacy (PG-13).
Sometimes a story begins with a murder.
Sometimes it begins with a woman who wants to disappear.
In When the Wicked Fall, it begins with both.
Meaghan Ryers has everything most people dream about. She's wealthy, successful, and an internationally bestselling author. But having everything doesn't mean she's happy. What she really wants is something money can't always buy:
Solitude.
So she heads to a remote village in Alaska, hoping to escape the noise, expectations, and relentless attention that have become part of her life.
Unfortunately, solitude isn't quite what she finds.
Instead, she finds a burning car.
And a mystery.
Enter Sheriff Donovan Kyndall.
When Donovan responds to the mysterious fire, he's stunned to find Meaghan at the scene. She insists someone was killed, but the evidence isn't adding up. And the more questions he asks, the more suspicious he becomes of the woman who seems to be hiding something.
Then someone begins revealing secrets from Donovan's own tragic past.
Secrets no stranger should know.
Now Meaghan and Donovan are caught in a deadly game.
So… are you ready to find out what happens?
If you enjoy romantic suspense, dangerous secrets, law-enforcement heroes, remote settings, and mysteries that refuse to stay buried, I hope you'll give When the Wicked Fall a try.
Just remember:
In the Alaskan wilderness, the cold isn't the only thing you need to fear.
Coming September 14, 2026!
When the Wicked Fall
A romantic suspense novel In this pulse-pounding romantic suspense, Sheriff Donovan Kyndall faces a deadly mystery in a remote Alaskan village, where secrets in the shadows could destroy anyone who gets too close.
A woman desperate for solitude.
International bestselling author Meaghan Ryers has it all—wealth, fame, success—but all she wants is to disappear. In When the Wicked Fall, her search for isolation leads her straight into danger.
A man with an enemy he can’t see.
Sheriff Donovan Kyndall responds to a mysterious car fire and is stunned to find Meaghan at the scene, claiming someone was killed. As clues emerge, he must ask himself how she’s connected—and how the caller knows details from his own tragic past.
A deadly game neither wants to play.
As lies, treachery, and secrets surface, Meaghan and Donovan must navigate a deadly puzzle before the darkness closes in—and survival is anything but guaranteed.
There's something special about releasing a new book into the world, and I'm excited to share Shadow of Betrayal with you.
Every story has a starting point, and this story started with a simple question: What would happen if an ordinary weekend suddenly turned dangerous?
For Heather York, what begins as a getaway to a Maine lakeside lodge quickly turns into something much more sinister. A threat she doesn't fully understand forces her into a situation where every answer seems to uncover even more questions.
Of course, every romantic suspense needs someone willing to step into the danger, and that's where Jordan Kyndall comes in. What starts as a weekend celebrating a friend's wedding quickly becomes something far more complicated. Jordan's determination to protect Heather—and Heather's struggle to decide who she can trust—became the heart of this story.
I loved writing the Maine setting (it's such a great place to visit), with its lakeside lodge, quiet woods, and the sense that something could be lurking just beyond the next bend in the trail. And of course, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, where a lot of action takes place. The settings became almost characters in themselves, adding another layer of tension as Heather and Jordan raced to uncover the truth.
One of the things I enjoy most about romantic suspense is balancing the growing relationship between two characters with the danger surrounding them. In Shadow of Betrayal, the threats keep escalating and the stakes become increasingly personal. Through it all, Heather and Jordan must decide whether leaning on each other is worth the risk.
As an author, there's always a little nervous excitement when a new book is released. After spending so much time with these characters, it's hard to let them go and send them out into readers' hands. But that's also the best part—knowing that readers will finally get to experience the story for themselves.
Thank you, as always, for your support, encouragement, and for spending your reading time with my stories.
Happy reading!
— Blaire Morgan
Keep scrolling for all the official info, and you can also read an excerpt here.
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll find inside:
A fast-paced romantic suspense story with shifting tension and twists
A strong, determined heroine pushed into impossible circumstances
A protective hero whose loyalty and choices come at a cost
Atmospheric settings across coastal Maine and the Blue Ridge Mountains shape the tone of the story
A blend of mystery, danger, and romance woven throughout
For readers who enjoy romantic suspense, emotional stakes, and relationships formed under pressure, I hope this story resonates.
Get your copy of Shadow of Betrayal.
Shadow of Betrayal by Blaire Morgan
In this chilling romantic suspense, U.S. Marshals investigator Heather York stumbles into danger at a Maine lakeside lodge, with Jordan Kyndall’s protective instincts as her only hope.
A woman hunted by corruption.
Heather York thought her life was ordinary—until a sudden threat pulls her into a deadly game. In Shadow of Betrayal, she’s forced to question whether she’s a target—or collateral damage.
A man who won’t walk away.
Jordan Kyndall planned a weekend celebrating his college roommate’s wedding. Instead, he finds a grisly scene in the woods—a woman’s lifeless body—and a surge of protective instinct binds him to Heather in ways he never expected.
A danger that could destroy them both.
As threats multiply and secrets surface, Heather and Jordan must navigate corruption, desire, and deadly stakes—trusting each other may be the only way to survive.
Join Jordan and Heather for a thrilling escape.
Title: Shadow of Betrayal
Author: Blaire Morgan
Publication Date: June 8, 2026
Series: Kyndall Family Suspense
Series Order: Book 2 (standalone)
Type: Novel
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reader content note: Features non-graphic violence, minimal mild language and moderate romantic intimacy (PG-13).
Originally published as Shadow of the Forgotten in 2016.
“THIS is how you do a second in series and keep a reader coming back for more! Romance, intrigue, mystery, suspense, and danger -- how can you go wrong with all of these elements combined? This story was interesting and engaging with likable characters and a fast-paced, unpredictable plot. Truly a joy to read!” —BookBub review
