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pendygal80's review
4.0
This book was a page-turner - I was rooting for Shane and Dakota's second chance romance from the start as well as feeling anxious to see how the suspense would play out. And both story arcs ended up being pretty satisfying. Shane and Dakota's romance had a sweetness to it and the fact that it was playing out while they were working on a gruesome case made for a compelling read. I'm glad I picked this one up.
kaydee_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A dark thriller with a romantic twist - I wanted to like this more than I did. Perhaps I’m just a little too squeamish but I found the explicit descriptions of the murders to be a little much, and the fact that it was all women targeted was treated like an afterthought in a way I didn’t really enjoy.
The romance was sweet but felt oddly paced/rushed. The author did a great job creating characters I rooted for, and I did enjoy some of the twists - I didn’t see the bad guy coming! But overall, Tal’s other romantic thrillers are stronger than this one.
The romance was sweet but felt oddly paced/rushed. The author did a great job creating characters I rooted for, and I did enjoy some of the twists - I didn’t see the bad guy coming! But overall, Tal’s other romantic thrillers are stronger than this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
rellimreads's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic book by Tal Bauer. I adore his mix of romance, mystery, and suspense in this one. A second chance romance between high school sweethearts now in their early 30s. I loved Dakota & Shane as characters. Their relationship as teens (so adorably sweet!), their lives apart, the angst of being thrown together in a high profile mass murder investigation, and their path back together as a couple.
The investigation had lots of twists and turns and the whodunnit was a complete surprise to me. I truly enjoyed that aspect as much as the love story. The ending and epilogue were amazing and brought a lot of resolution to complicated case as well as solidifying Shane & Dakota’s HEA.
The investigation had lots of twists and turns and the whodunnit was a complete surprise to me. I truly enjoyed that aspect as much as the love story. The ending and epilogue were amazing and brought a lot of resolution to complicated case as well as solidifying Shane & Dakota’s HEA.
eisbecherovka's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lukka2008's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
theoguinto's review against another edition
4.0
Very much enjoyed this one.
I like that the romance was mixed in with the murder investigation, though I feel like both parts of the book were underdeveloped in some way.
Dakota took Shane in way too easily imo. For someone who literally broke your heart, then announced that he was engaged, Dakota could've stood to be more angry. Shane deserved to grovel more for that, even if he did have an ok reason for ending things with Dakota.
The murder investigation also felt really sidelined. The majority of the developments happened in Dakota's thoughts as he basically solo solved the crime and realized that Drew was involved. West being in cahoots with the governor was a twist, but it felt very unearned since those two just weren't part of the story until it became convenient.
Despite my issues, I still give this four stars because the emotion in the relationship really carried this through for me.
If you're looking for something that has grittier murders and more grovel, then you should check out the Hazard and Somerset series, though be warned, that one is a very slow burn.
I like that the romance was mixed in with the murder investigation, though I feel like both parts of the book were underdeveloped in some way.
Dakota took Shane in way too easily imo. For someone who literally broke your heart, then announced that he was engaged, Dakota could've stood to be more angry. Shane deserved to grovel more for that, even if he did have an ok reason for ending things with Dakota.
The murder investigation also felt really sidelined. The majority of the developments happened in Dakota's thoughts as he basically solo solved the crime and realized that Drew was involved. West being in cahoots with the governor was a twist, but it felt very unearned since those two just weren't part of the story until it became convenient.
Despite my issues, I still give this four stars because the emotion in the relationship really carried this through for me.
If you're looking for something that has grittier murders and more grovel, then you should check out the Hazard and Somerset series, though be warned, that one is a very slow burn.
mousie's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
fae_princess_in_space's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Tal Bauer is a master author and I am just obsessed with his books. The raw feelings between characters, the stories with the twists and turns, the joy, the heartache. This book was just another one where my heart just melted and I fell in love with everything about it.
Shane and Dakota have been in love since high school. Teammates on the football team, they were always destined to be together… until they weren’t. Broken apart, both men have been coasting through life until a string of murders causes them to cross paths again, as a police deputy and Texas Ranger.
A mass grave of six women is found out in the Big Bend desert, with only tangential evidence trying them together - a drug runner, a waitress, a political staffer… what do these woman have in common that has caused them to be dumped in the middle of such a remote and hostile place?
Shane and Dakota have to work together to try and figure out who these women are and why they were targeted, all the while trying not ti break their own hearts all over again. This book has all of Tal’s signature writing - emotions, angst, beautiful descriptions of the Texas countryside, men who are deeply in love, an amazing array of side characters, and of course, all the twists and turns that you could want from a thriller.
I know this book is destined to be the first in a series (or maybe a duology like Noah & Cole?) so I cannot wait to see more of Dakota and Shane in the future!
Read this book for:
✨ Police x Texas Ranger
✨ Teenage sweethearts grown up
✨ Murder in West Texas
✨ So much pining
✨ Fast paced thriller
✨ All the emotions (I mean all of them, I was sobbing in places)
Shane and Dakota have been in love since high school. Teammates on the football team, they were always destined to be together… until they weren’t. Broken apart, both men have been coasting through life until a string of murders causes them to cross paths again, as a police deputy and Texas Ranger.
A mass grave of six women is found out in the Big Bend desert, with only tangential evidence trying them together - a drug runner, a waitress, a political staffer… what do these woman have in common that has caused them to be dumped in the middle of such a remote and hostile place?
Shane and Dakota have to work together to try and figure out who these women are and why they were targeted, all the while trying not ti break their own hearts all over again. This book has all of Tal’s signature writing - emotions, angst, beautiful descriptions of the Texas countryside, men who are deeply in love, an amazing array of side characters, and of course, all the twists and turns that you could want from a thriller.
I know this book is destined to be the first in a series (or maybe a duology like Noah & Cole?) so I cannot wait to see more of Dakota and Shane in the future!
Read this book for:
✨ Police x Texas Ranger
✨ Teenage sweethearts grown up
✨ Murder in West Texas
✨ So much pining
✨ Fast paced thriller
✨ All the emotions (I mean all of them, I was sobbing in places)
soozn's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0