Discover Scent of Hope by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren in this heartfelt Christian romance spotlight. Packed with second-chance love, romantic suspense, faith-filled redemption, and rugged Alaskan wilderness, this story delivers the perfect mix of emotional depth, danger, and hope that Christian fiction fans crave. Whether you’re searching for Christian romance books with K9 heroes, childhood sweethearts reunited, or powerful messages of new beginnings in Christ, Susan May Warren’s latest is a must-read.
Meet Susan May Warren
I’m Susan May Warren, a USA Today bestselling author who splits my time between the snowy winters of Minnesota and the sunny beaches of Florida with my amazing hubby, four adult children, five grandchildren, and two wild and crazy labradoodles who think they run the show. I’ve written over 100 romantic suspense novels and founded both Novel.Academy and Sunrise Publishing because apparently I can’t sit still! When I’m not crafting stories of second chances and adventures in Alaska and Montana, you’ll find me with a good glass of wine, hosting friends, traveling to new places with a book in hand, and worshipping the Lord who makes all things possible!
Fun Fact: I’m adopted (just like my heroine in Track of Courage), which deeply influences the themes of belonging, identity, and chosen family that run through my stories. This personal connection to adoption and the search for home shows up in many of my characters’ journeys—it’s not just about finding where you fit, but discovering that sometimes the family you choose loves you exactly as you are.
About the Book: Scent of Hope (Call of the Wild Book 2)
Two broken hearts. One deadly mission. And just one avalanche dog standing between them and a killer.
Harley Tatum made a vow to never return to Copper Mountain, Alaska, where a drug dealer destroyed her family and the man she loved walked away. But when that same criminal escapes and justice calls her name, she has no choice but to face everything she buried.
Jericho Bowie remembers things differently. She left him. And he’s spent years wondering why. Now Harley needs his search-and-rescue dog, Orlando, to track a fugitive through treacherous mountain terrain–and Jericho refuses to let her go alone. Not again.
But as they push deep into the frozen wilderness, the hunter becomes the hunted. Old feelings resurface at the worst possible time, and survival depends on two people who don’t know if they can trust each other–or their own hearts.
Susan May Warren packs action and heart-pounding suspense from the rugged wilderness of Alaska into a nonstop adventure where the greatest danger might be opening your heart again.
This gripping suspense is filled with pulse-pounding action, second-chance romance, and a heroic K9 rescue dog from Alaska, sure to thrill fans of Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey, and Natalie Walters.
Tropes & Themes
- Childhood friends-to-lovers
- Second-chance romance
- Forced proximity
- Romantic suspense with K9 hero
- Themes of redemption, new hearts in Christ, surrender vs. control, belonging, and chosen family
- Alaskan wilderness adventure
Release Details
- Release Date: June 2, 2026
- Series: Call of the Wild (Book 2)
- Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense / Christian Romance
Why Scent of Hope is Must-Read Christian Romantic Suspense
Susan May Warren delivers another gripping tale of faith, courage, and second chances that will keep Christian romance readers turning pages late into the night. With authentic emotional wounds, a heroic avalanche dog, and breathtaking Alaskan settings, Scent of Hope blends high-stakes romantic suspense with deep spiritual truth. Fans of Christian fiction, clean romance with heart, and stories of redemption will find encouragement that God truly gives us new hearts and restores what was lost. Perfect for readers seeking hope-filled Christian romance books that point back to God’s faithfulness.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Susie: Harley Tatum returns to her small Alaskan hometown haunted by failure—she blames herself for not saving her brother from addiction before his death three years ago, and she carries the weight of her parents’ tragic plane crash. She’s driven by a desperate need to pursue justice and protect others, believing that if she can just catch the bad guys, she can somehow redeem her past failures. But when her presumed-dead brother Gabe reappears alive, having faked his death to work undercover, everything Harley believed about herself shatters. Her journey shifts from pursuing justice through her own strength to learning that true freedom comes from trusting God’s plan and accepting that she doesn’t have to carry the weight of the world alone—that surrender, not control, is the path to the life she’s been seeking.
Jericho Bowie, Harley’s childhood sweetheart, left town years ago, leaving behind Harley and his family, convinced he couldn’t protect the people he loved. He returns home believing he’s just helping his brother temporarily, but Harley’s reappearance forces him to face what he really ran from—the fear that he’s not enough to save anyone, especially the woman who has always owned his heart. His transformation comes through surrendering his need to control outcomes and accepting that God calls him to partnership, not solo heroism.
What is the heart of the romance?
Susie: The heart of this romance is the collision between two protectors who’ve spent years running from their pasts and each other. Harley and Jericho were childhood sweethearts, their love story written in secret signals—lights turned on in bedroom windows across the lake—until tragedy tore them apart. What brings them together now is a dangerous search for justice against the crime family that destroyed both their families, forcing them into proximity despite their unresolved hurt.
What stands in their way isn’t the external danger, but their shared wound: both believe they’re not enough to save the people they love. Harley fights to prove her worth through performance, while Jericho’s protective instincts push him to control every outcome. Their journey is learning to trust—not just each other, but God—and discovering that real love isn’t about being strong enough to protect someone, but vulnerable enough to need them.
This is a childhood friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance with forced proximity. It’s the story of two people who were “spark and fire” from the beginning, learning that coming home means accepting who God made them to be—together.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Susie: I hope readers carry the truth that God offers us new hearts—not repaired versions of our broken ones, but completely new. When we’ve hardened ourselves through hurt, grief, and the weight of trying to save everyone in our own strength, God’s love can transform us. The longer we hold onto old wounds and try to earn our worth through performance, the harder our hearts become. But when we surrender and accept God’s mercy, He removes those hearts of stone and gives us hearts capable of trust, hope, and the freedom to finally come home—both to the places we’ve fled and to the people we were always meant to love.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Susie: Ezekiel 36:26 has been central to this story: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
This verse captures the entire journey of both Harley and Jericho—two people whose hearts have turned to stone through grief, guilt, and self-protection. During a challenging season when I was wrestling with my own need to control outcomes and prove my worth, God gently reminded me through this passage that He doesn’t ask us to fix our broken hearts ourselves. He offers us something completely new.
I also leaned heavily on the reminder that the Bible says “do not fear” 365 times—once for every day of the year. God knows fear is our default, but His perfect love drives it out. When I felt afraid I couldn’t tell this story well enough, or worried about disappointing readers, I returned to this truth: God is big enough to protect us, and we don’t have to fight for ourselves. That freedom transformed not just my writing, but my faith.
About the Author
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of over 100 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, she’s the founder of Novel.Academy and Sunrise Publishing, where she coaches writers to craft stories that matter. When she’s not creating adventures in Alaska and Montana, she’s splitting her time between Minnesota and Florida with her hubby, four kids, five grandchildren, and two labradoodles who are convinced they’re the real stars of the show.
Website: www.susanmaywarren.com
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