The Targeted by Cara C. Putman Series: Secrets to Keep #3
Published by Kregel Publications on May 1, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Suspense, Fiction / Christian / Suspense, Fiction / Thrillers / Legal
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
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Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up?
When Chloe Ainsworth's older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe's abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won't allow them to suffer the way she did, but she's desperate for an ally--one who can help her make her case.
Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can't get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe.
They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It's clear they're onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it's too late?
I loved this book the most out of the entire series. And honestly, as a rule, I love Cara Putman’s writing style. As much as I loved this book, I’m really struggling with a rating because I have issues. And, wait for it, the issues are all around the romance. Go figure. But the rest of the story was almost a chef kiss. I don’t want to say ripped from the headlines, but for real, this whole series builds on real things that have happened and taken that idea and built a story about someone with a similar experience with a lot of depth, a lot of research, a lot of faith, and a lot of heart. Touching on the Nazi art theft, to Amanda Knox, and now the Larry Nassar Scandal. She wrote these stories in a refreshing way that delved into the grit and impact these events have on those impacted and those around them.
Before I unpack and try to find words for the romance, let’s talk about a few smaller issues that have plagued me throughout the series. I’ve felt throughout all the books that threads were dropped. Now that we’ve finished, some threads were finished for me, and others were just assumed (looking at you Margeaux). I think it was assumed we’d all connect the dots, and hints were dropped, but it wasn’t really picked up and completed for me. And Ginny, I felt like that was another dropped thread that could have been powerful, but we never really get her story. But moving on. I feel like the romance between Dare and Chloe was just another thread of the thread that is her story. As a teen, she was taken advantage of, groomed, and then molested by someone in power over her. A coach. And now we have Dare, someone who is standing in to help Chloe and even, to a degree, protect her. I felt like their romance was more trauma bond meets she still has unresolved issues (and he too, honestly), and I don’t feel that this romance is healthy for all the reasons. I feel like she’s being taken advantage of, as she sees him as a savior. I can get behind a future romance, but there’s gotta be some working on those issues. And that really conflicts me. As much as I loved the rest of this story, I feel like this is keeping me from going all in.
Let me say the guy I thought was a skeeze throughout is finally outed as a skeeze. I wanted more out of it because I still have no idea what he actually does or why he’s such a skeeze, but I don’t care . . . he was outed! Overall, a great ending to this series, and I truly did love the suspense, the twists, the turns, and the ultimate outcome for all the ladies. Cara Putman did a great job really telling their stories. She’s a master of suspense with a legal angle. I have to disclaimer here: while there is nothing overt or in your face with detail, this book does deal with sexual abuse.
About Cara C. Putman
Since the time I could read Nancy Drew, I have wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, is history. There I met Colleen Coble. With prompting from my husband, I shared my dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, I’ve been writing books.
In addition to writing, I am an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband and my kids. I graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School (JD), and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management (MBA). You can learn more about my books at https://www.caraputman.com.
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