This is only the second book I’ve ever read that’s been called a “romantic suspense/thriller” and apparently it’s a genre I’m about! It kept me on the edge of my seat from the start right up until the end.

About the Book

Fans of Hidden Pictures and The Lovely Bones will enjoy this unconventional love story with a harrowing mystery and a bond that transcends time…

In the year 1986, 12-year-old Jackie Tanner leads a desolate existence alongside a flighty older sister and an absent mother. It isn’t until Jackie meets an older boy on the banks of the river that she understands the value of love and the bonds of friendship. But J.R. is only in southern Minnesota because his father, a detective with the FBI, is aiding local authorities in the search for missing girls. After the community goes into lockdown to protect their children, Jackie and J.R. navigate through the highs and lows of their complicated lives as close confidants.

In the year 2018, 32-year-old Sterling Pruitt is inexplicably lured from Los Angeles to a small Midwestern city where her lifelong dreams involving a little girl become even more vivid…tangible, even. When Sterling learns of the city’s haunting secrets, she confides in Theo, the handsome yet sullen carpenter hired to renovate her new home. Together, Sterling and Theo will question both their destinies and their grips on reality.

Once Sterling begins to understand the gravity of her dreams, she’ll do everything in her power to unlock the mystery behind the abductions in 1986. This enchanting, heartfelt, and often agonizing tale of friendship and tragedy reminds us the bonds of true love can etch a permanent place into our hearts.

My Thoughts

At first, this was a really weird book to read because I’d never read a book set in the year I was born. So that was interesting to experience. Plus all the weird feelings of that kind of recent historical fiction context. But it was a thrilling read from start to finish. This is my first book by this author, but apparently, she’s written more than 40! And I will definitely be checking out some of her backlist. This was such a great read. I was very shocked by some of the twists and turns along the way, which is what you want from a crime fiction/thriller book. If you can guess every single turn, it’s very boring. I guessed some of them, but having been a lifelong reader and writer, I’m better at foreshadowing than some – so I always guess some of the twists. I didn’t realize this weird skill until recently. If anything it’s one of those annoying ones because I can’t just enjoy a book/movie without guessing.

I enjoyed the characters, both past and present. Both main female characters – young Jackie and adult Sterling were strong, independent, and beautiful souls. The blending of their characters was interesting and beautiful, and the slightly paranormal bent to the story was an interesting way to take the story. I was a little shocked by it, just not expecting it, but once I recovered it was a lovely story. It reminded me of deep South, Louisiana stories like True Detective or similar. Magical realism blended into a thriller was a unique take and I enjoyed it.

This is only my second book billed as a romantic suspense thriller. The first was one of my favorite reads of the year, and I think this is among those as well. There’s something about adding suspense and thrills to the romance that takes it to that next level. I don’t think I’ll be converting to stalker romances or bully romances any time soon, but this is a level of excitement I can handle. Kind of like mixing romance into action movies. I will say, that Theo seemed a little too good to be true sometimes, but as someone with a husband who’s like that, sometimes men can be like that.

The writing was fast-paced and kept me engaged. No pacing problems or anything like that. I enjoyed the switching point of view and timelines. Those can be confusing for some, but they were clear and well done in this book. I really enjoyed the relationships developed between the two couples. And seeing into Jackie’s mind was an exciting, sometimes terrifying, experience. I also really enjoyed the narrator. Since this was an audiobook, that should be mentioned. She did a great job of presenting the book and not distracting from it. A good narrator is an asset, and this one highlighted the great aspects of the book.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and am grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me in this tour.

Who’s It For?

If you enjoy romance and thrilling mysteries, this is a great read for you. This book will keep you engaged from chapter one and you will need to know what is going to happen next. I was hooked from the beginning. However, it contains a lot of potential triggers, especially related to children, so please consider that and your mental health before engaging.

Content Warning: Child Abuse, Corrupt Officials, Kidnapping, Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Religious Ideations, Child Death, Parent Death, Divorce, Violence, and more.

Question of the Day

Have you ever had a dream that turned out to be true? OR Have you ever known a psychic?

About the Author

Quinn Avery is a bestselling author under various pen names of 40+ novels. As Quinn, she writes romantic suspense thrillers, some of which are set in her favorite haunts (i.e. Mankato and Lake Shetek). She’s also the author of the Bexley Squires series, led by a “great leading lady who, with a little sass, just enough self-doubt to make her relatable, and plenty of intelligence, will have readers coming back for more” (InD’tale magazine).

When not involved in the madness of their 4 children’s lives, Quinn and her husband divide their time between their farmstead and lake home in Minnesota. Her favorite pastimes include trips to the ocean, riding on the back of her husband’s Harley, attending rock concerts, and watching murder documentaries. She’s a massive fan of anything created by John Hughes, Steven Spielberg, or M. Night Shyamalan. Her favorite TV series include Ozark, Big Little Lies, Animal Kingdom, Dexter, Ted Lasso, and Stranger Things. She’s a sucker for any story involving romance, horror, or suspense.

Quinn also writes steamy romantic suspense, YA paranormal, middle school fiction, and children’s picture books.

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