Is it possible to forgive the impossible?

This month’s featured guest is bestselling and award-winning romantic suspense author, Janice Cantore.

A former Long Beach, California, police officer of twenty-two years, Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, including patrol, administration, juvenile investigations, and training. She’s always enjoyed writing and published two short articles on faith at work for Cop and Christ and Today’s Christian Woman before tackling novels. She now lives in Hawaii, where she enjoys ocean swimming, golfing, spending time on the beach, and going on long walks with her Labrador retriever, Tilly.

Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. She has penned more than a dozen novels including the Line of Duty series, the Cold Case Justice series, and several standalones.

I’ve really enjoyed these books, but her latest release, Edge of Truth (Tyndale, 3/10/2026) really impacted me.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis:

Detective Lainie Jensen of the Long Beach Police Department thought she had seen the worst. But when her sister vanishes during a trip to Hawaii, everything changes. Lainie quickly realizes her brother-in-law is hiding something, and the story he tells law enforcement does not add up.

FBI special agent Ben Isaacs has spent months working to bring down a major money laundering ring. His partner has gone undercover and is now missing, and one of his key leads is Stan Moffitt—Lainie’s
brother-in-law. Days after Ben contacts Stan’s wife, she disappears. Now Ben is racing to put the pieces together before more lives are lost.

Lainie and Ben must join forces, despite the complicated history between them. As they search for
answers, Lainie begins to suspect her sister’s disappearance is no random crime. The clues point
back to a high-profile case from her past, one that nearly cost her everything. The closer they get to
the truth, the more dangerous the game becomes. Someone is seeking revenge, and they will stop at
nothing to see it through.

Janice, what inspired this story?

This book was inspired by a sad news story here in Hawaii. A woman and her husband were snorkeling, and the woman was lost in a shark attack. The way the story was initially reported, it sounded fishy, as if the husband had done something sinister. Later news reports clarified everything, but the seed was already planted in my brain: what if a husband murdered his wife and tried to pass it off as a shark attack? Would that be the perfect crime? After many ‘what if questions’ Edge of Truth was born.

How does faith play a role in this story?

Lanie’s faith is tested – first when a man she believes is a killer walks free – and second when her own sister is reported missing -presumed dead. Though her faith wavers, Lainie holds on despite the pain and setback and ends up stronger than ever.

What is something God taught you while you wrote Edge of Truth?

God is constantly teaching me in many different ways that He is sovereign. It is a lesson I seem to need to learn over and over again. Lately every time I sit down to write, something happens to remind me that is in control of ALL things. Nothing escapes his attention or is outside of his plan. While I was writing the story I was living in Florida and desperately wanted to move back to Hawaii. For a time, I didn’t think that I would ever make it. But God opened doors I never imagined would open and here I am, back in Hawaii.

What about this book excited you while writing it, and what do you hope
readers will learn?

The mystery aspect of the book. Will the killer be brought to justice? What happened to Lainie’s sister? Will everything be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction? It was great fun plotting this out and I hope people are surprised and gratified by how the story has been shaped.

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the writing process? What advice would you offer young writers?

The endings are always the hardest for me. Wrapping everything in the book up
without being the ending contrived is always a challenge.
What advice would you offer young writers? Don’t fear editing. Don’t fall so in
love with your prose that you can’t see when changes need to be made. Writing
is re-writing.

What is the best writing tip you ever received?

Don’t fall so in love with your prose that you can’t edit. Writing really is rewriting. You need to get something down on paper because a blank page cannot be edited. Once you have the story down, make the needed changes. No first draft is ever perfect, therefore, anything is subject to being rewritten.

What is the least helpful writing tip you ever received? Why wasn’t it helpful?

Anytime someone suggests that I need to write an outline. I have tried so many times to outline an idea, and it always trips me up. I am a pantser – I have to sit and just start writing. Sometimes maybe it is more work that way, but for some reason when I try to write an outline, I lose the story idea and flounder.

Check out Janice’s group page on Facebook to learn more writing tips and insights into authors and their publishing journeys.

January’s A2A Giveaway!

Yes! Thanks to Janice and Tyndale Publishing, this month’s giveaway winner will receive a softcover copy of her latest release, Edge of Truth. But that’s not all! Janice wants to personally gift to the winner a latte cup with the cover of her new book!

How? Well, by entering! Not just once, but up to SIX times– (see the YouTube interview)!* Leave a comment below and share this blog and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of this blog and receive a free gift from me — and an extra entry.

NOTE: WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THIS INCREDIBLE GIVEAWAY?*

Check out my YouTubeA2A interview with Janice. Because, in the video interview Janice answers different fun questions–and we have some funny and inspiring discussions! 

By Liking and Commenting on the video episode, you will have one more entry.* Sharing the video, another entry.* Subscribe, and you have TWO entries for a chance to win.* 

The Deadline is February 13th  

Watch our interview–

That means, my friends, if you comment and subscribe -– or are already a subscriber -– to my blog, then watch the video and LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on the VIDEO, then Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, your name will be entered SIX TIMES–SEVEN!*

Next month: Captain Connie Mann, USCG is next month’s featured guest. Not only is she a Coast Guard captain, but she is also a bestselling and award-winning international suspense and thriller novelist!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Janice–I certainly did! Until March, God bless and KEEP READING! 

*So sorry, entries from the contiguous US only.