3.5*

I’m an unabashed Kaylea Cross fangirl. Seriously, it’s almost embarrassing-- I have read every single one of her books more times than I am willing to admit publicly. Maybe it’s because I’m used to her high-octane, sexy-as-hell military RS books, but her ‘gentler’ Crimson Point RS series has felt a bit… unfulfilling… for me so far, and that was particularly clear with book #2 in the series, BURIED LIES. I typically love Ms. Cross’s storytelling, style, tone, and characters, mind, but both Noah and Poppy and their love story were rather unremarkable, and the suspense plot was a bit predictable and lacked the white-knuckle thrill-ride, must-stay-up-all-night-to-see-what-happens feeling of most of her other books, even with as depraved and deranged a villain as it had. But even middle-of-the-road Kaylea Cross is often better than some RS authors at their best, so BURIED LIES and the Crimson Point series is definitely still worth a read for anyone looking for some solid, heartfelt, RS, and I look forward to the next instalment in the series.

**ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second story in the Crimson Point series. Even though I had not read the first book I did not feel behind in the storyline. This one is about a different, but connected, couple than the first.

This is definitely more of a romance than a romantic suspense. There was some action and mystery in it, but it almost felt like it was not central to story. The guy falls hard and fast for the woman. I'm not sure how I felt about the female lead. She was just so squeaky clean and wholesome that it felt shoved at me.

There are several other characters that I feel we will see starring in future books. One future story was definitely highlighted in this book.

I received an advanced copy via NetGalley.

Why is his garden a secret? He obviously has PTSD, but he has a need for what?

Omigod.

Oh dear, poor thing.

On one hand, it's not Carter's fault that he has a brain injury. On the other, his wife should not be scared of him.

Mac is still funny.

I'm thinking it's Danny.

Since he hasn't seriously dated in six years, he might not be as over his ex as he thinks.

Wow, her mind is an interesting place. It's just a jealous witch!

Mean girls always get their comeuppance.

Wait, she got a threat and didn't report it to Noah? What's the point of dating a cop then?

That was scary. I'm afraid of housecats.

Nice name-dropping.

Jeezus. Poor Carter and Molly.

I'm traumatized just reading this.

I like that it is recognized that the kidnapped's family are as much victims as the kidnapped.

I'm sorry about the vegetables and the flowers the previous owner grew, but I can see her point that the garden is tainted now.

Buried Lies is the 2nd book in the Crimson Point series and it was amazing. I loved Fractured Honor and I remember how excited I was to read Noah’s story, and it was as good as I was hoping it was going to be.

Poppy was in Crimson Point hoping to start over after a pretty painful past. She purchased her own cottage, which she is renovating herself and she also bought a bookstore/bakery. She is finally making plans for herself and trying to leave the pain and chaos of her past behind. She is such a hard worker and it is noticed by the local sheriff, who also happens to be her neighbor. Noah is immediately attracted to her but he notices how skittish she is so he is very patient with her. As Poppy and Noah get to know each other, she starts to gain confidence and starts to feel comfortable around him and his friends and also to the local townspeople. When she finally starts to believe that she found where she was meant to be, a run-in with a part of her past almost ruins it all. But this was not the worst to come, there is a serial killer on the loose and he has set his sights on her.

Poppy and Noah’s relationship was more on the slow burn side, but the chemistry was definitely there. Noah was an amazing hero in this story, he was patient and just so sweet with her. And when she was hurt by someone from her past, he was right there to make sure she was okay. He felt protective over her and once the walls came down, the sparks were flying. Those steamy scenes were passionate and just plain hot.

The suspense portion of this book was heart pounding, the stalker/killer in this story was creepy and frightening. I do have to say I was a bit surprised on who it ended up being. I was horrified with what Poppy endured, especially with her past. He was one evil, evil man.

I loved all the characters in this book, I especially loved Poppy. She was vulnerable but she had such inner strength. Noah was just plain awesome. We also got to see more of Sierra and Beckett, Molly and Carter and Jace. Molly’s story is going hit me pretty hard.

I loved everything about this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and Kobo Writing Life for the complimentary copy of Buried Lies. All opinions are my own.

WOW! Filled with romance, suspense and an ending I didn't see coming and this book has it all. I must now read more by this author.

Poppy is new in town and Noah's new neighbor. He is immediately attracted to her but realizes that he has to proceed carefully because he senses that she is a little shy. Poppy becomes the hometown heroine when she joins the search for a missing girl and is the one to find her. Poppy then becomes the latest obsession of the area serial killer. Will Noah be able to figure out who the killer is and where he's taken Poppy before it's too late?

A stunningly beautiful romance wrapped in suspense, intrigue and lies. The lead characters leap from the page to wrap around your heart. Although, some characters urge you to track them down and wipe them from the page.

Kaylea Cross has produced some of the most superbly outstanding modern romances of all time, in my opinion. Now, that's an extremely high bar to write up to... but, I'd say the I would enjoy 's Cross' books as much as Nora Roberts, Sharon Salazar or Christine Feehan.

Brilliantly written with excellent characters, wonderful backdrops and nail biting situations. Obviously researched in detail to get such a comprehensive storyline to ping. A page Turner from the onset.

I love it when I find a new to me author who writes books that push all of my buttons. There were certain parts of this book that were difficult for me to read.....a little too gruesome maybe.... but gosh am I happy I discovered this author.
Kaylea Cross knows how to write romantic suspense. This book had healthy doses of drama, intensity, emotion and heat. Noah and Poppy were so beautifully depicted, and so beautiful in how they fell in love. I'm a sucker for older man/younger women romances and this one worked so well. Noah is a 38 year old sheriff.... strong, honest, dependable, protective and oh so sexy. Poppy is a 26 year old innocent, hardworking, sweet girl trying to overcome a difficult past.
I loved them together, and I can't wait to go back and read Beckett & Sierra's story.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I read the first book in this series and was looking forward to this book with Noah and Poppy. I like that both books give a little info about the other couples while mainly focusing on the main couple. So, we still get to see Sierra and Beckett and Molly and Carter.

Lots of sad parts in this book with Carter and Molly's situation, Poppy's treatment in the past, and a serial killer running around and the damage that he does.

It was great that Poppy could finally overcome her fear of being hurt by a man and not trusting any man. She and Noah just fit so great together even with the large age difference between them.

Looking forward to the next book as Molly and Jace deserve a chance at love. Hope that with the addition of Aiden, there will be a fourth book!

I love Kayley Cross as an author and was waiting for this second book in this wonderful series do yourself a favour and read fractured honor the first book in the Crimson Point Series

Poppy isn't your usual heroine she isn't a kick butt operative no she is a survivor in fact she has survived things that would break most. Noah is Poppy's next door neighbour he is also the local sheriff he doesn't believe in love after been jilted by his former fiance. When danger stalks Poppy Noah will step up to keep her safe from evil personified and in so doing that love isn't as bad as he believes if it is with the right person.

BURIED LIES is the second instalment in Kaylea Cross’ contemporary, adult CRIMSON POINT romantic suspense series focusing on the people of Crimson Point, Oregon, and a group of former Special Forces soldiers. This is thirty-eight year old Crimson Point Sheriff Noah Buchanan, and twenty-six year old café/book store owner Poppy Larsen’s story line. BURIED LIES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person points of view including Poppy and Noah BURIED LIES follows the building relationship between is thirty-eight year old Crimson Point Sheriff Noah Buchanan, and twenty-six year old café/book store owner Poppy Larsen. Crimson Point newcomer Poppy Larsen has caught the eye of Sheriff Noah Buchanan, her next door neighbour and the man who stirs something deep inside but Poppy left behind a heart breaking and emotional past, and was hoping to move forward without bringing unwanted attention in the small town of Crimson Point. But things don’t always go according to plans, when Sheriff Noah Buchanan insists on giving them a chance, a chance that may threaten Poppy’s hard fought independence. What ensues is the building relationship between Poppy and Noah, and the potential fall-out as Poppy is targeted by a serial killer determined to make Poppy his final target.

Poppy Larsen doesn’t like to be reminded of what she left behind but the past has a way of catching up and destroying any semblance of happiness and peace. As her café continues to thrive, small-town bullies continue to stalk our heroine ensuring everyone knows what happened and why. Noah Buchanan is desperate to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love but Poppy’s need for independence threatens all good sense including her own safety. When Poppy goes missing, Noah struggles to remain professional in spite of his job, a job that brings him up close and personal with a serial killer.

The relationship between Noah and Poppy is one of immediate attraction but Poppy believes she is in no place to start a relationship in the face of the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Sierra and Beckett (Fractured Honor #1), as well as Carter Boyd and his wife Molly, Jase Weaver, and the introduction of Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Aidan MacIntyre. The requisite evil has many faces, some more familiar than others.

The world building continues to focus on the crumbling relationship between Carter and Molly as the lingering affect of head injuries suffered during the war in Syria push Carter beyond any semblance of reason or control.

BURIED LIES is a story of discrimination, heartbreak, friendship and love. The premise is suspenseful and dramatic ; the characters are animated, courageous and spirited; the romance is spicy and sassy. BURIED LIES will capture your attention from the very start.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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This is the first book I've read by this author, and the second title in her Crimson Point series, but it worked perfectly as a standalone, and it was an exciting page-turner of romantic suspense, and it gets 4.5 stars from this reader.

The heroine in this novel is Poppy Larsen, who has recently moved to Crimson Point, Oregon from her former home in small-town South Dakota, trying for a fresh start, and leaving memories of her bullied childhood behind. She just headed to the coast, with no firm destination in mind, and when she got to Crimson Point she fell in love with the small seaside town. An added bonus is her new next-door neighbor, Sheriff Noah Buchanan, a handsome hunk of a man, and he's equally intrigued by and attracted to Poppy, who may be the only woman in town who hasn't made a pass at him. She's opened a bookstore and tea room in town, and is trying to attract customers to as many events as possible, and, in her spare time, is also trying fix up the old cottage she bought, and fit into small town life, making new friends along the way, although she's reluctant to reveal why she chose to move to Crimson Point, or much about her past, and with good reason. Noah recommends the gardener who maintained Poppy's cottage for the previous owner, and he has helped her with yard work, painting her store, and being an all-around good neighbor while respecting Poppy's boundaries with grace and kindness. I liked both main characters from the start, but I kept wishing for more of Noah's backstory, and more of Poppy's as well, although we do get a glimpse of it when an old acquaintance of Poppy's shows up at her bookstore.

Told in alternating points of view, we also know from the very first chapter that there's a serial killer at work in the area--and although his identity is a made tad too obvious from the beginning--he's hiding in plain sight, suspecting who the killer is really didn't hamper my enjoyment of the suspense in this novel. I was intrigued enough by this character to also want to know more about his past, and what made him the sick and twisted killer he now is. I was also intrigued by the secondary characters and the drama in their lives as well, and I plan to backtrack to the first novel and follow this series.

Although I think that this novel could have easily been expanded by at least a dozen chapters, to really flesh out the cast of characters, some of whom I assume were introduced in the first book in the series, and others whose stories haven't yet been written, I was still hooked on the slowly building romance between Noah and Poppy, and, when the killer sets his eyes on Poppy as his next victim, the suspense really does ramp up to a race against time, and made this novel impossible to put down. I also love it when a novel truly offers a sense of place, as in the Gold Valley series by Maisey Yates, and, if the HEA ending of this novel doesn't make you want to pack up your belongings and move to Crimson Point ASAP, it's clear that you're probably a city person, who thrives on the noise, the traffic and the anonymity of city life. As someone who escaped the aforementioned and moved to a small town, I was ready to pack my own bags.

Even though I wished for a longer novel, this was a truly enjoyable and exciting read, and although it does contain triggers for violence, rape and abduction, as well as a couple of somewhat graphic sex scenes, I found none of it was over the top, none of it was in bad taste, and all of it was well written, making Buried Lies one read I highly recommend.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

A fantastic story.
I volunteered to read and review a readers copy of Buried Lies thru Netgallery.
I will start by saying this story is absolutely fantastic.
It takes off from the start and it grabs your attention . I read it straight through .
It's full of suspense and intrigue . It had me on the edge of my seat . It has definitely some very dark moments .
The story is full of twists and turns . The characters are interesting and so real .
The story is intense with both dark and light moments . A very emotional storyline . Well written and all around outstanding story . I really enjoyed reading this story . I didn't want to put it down . Poppy is really a beautiful and kind soul very strong individual and Noah is her perfect match . Their growing relationship is so wonderful .They really compliment each other .
I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy this remarkable story .

Poppy was a great lead female character! she is strong and loyal and independent. Noah seems like a great man and men like that are so perfect! Poppy and Noah have a chemistry! This was good and took a turn I wasn't expecting. Not having read the first book in this series I was still able to keep up. Good one!

I received this ARC from the publisher at my request via Net Galley for my honest review. The opinions mentioned are soley my own. Thanks Net Galley!

There was nothing not to love about Noah and Poppy's story. A masterful blend of suspense and romance, Buried Lies is a must read

The is the second book in this series, the first book dealt with Noah’s sister, Sierra and best friend Beckett. This book deals with Noah and Poppy. She is new to the area, has her own business and is just sweet as her name implies. But dont let that fool you, when poppy needs to be tough, she can be. And who would think that having a name after a flower would catch a serial killer? Thankfully, she lives next door to a very sexy, capable sheriff, Noah. Who is wildly attracted to her. I really like how Ms. Cross doesn’t focus on the evil, but the good. The evil is real and you sense it, she just doesn’t stay focused on it. Cannot wait to read the third book in this series, it’s about Molly and Jace.

Wow, what a thriller! I've always enjoyed the Kaylea Cross books that I've read, and this one did not disappoint. Noah and Poppy are a terrific pair and you can't help but root for them. What impressed me was the climax; it went on for almost the last 1/4 of the book. Very intense, well written, and quite a bit nightmarish.

*****Copy received from NetGalley/Publisher*****

This was a quick, easy read, but I have to admit that I didn't love it. I really didn't see much chemistry between the hero and heroine. Also, it was pretty clear who the villain was very early on. That being said, I thought the heroine's storyline was interesting but she did something which really turned me off which affected my enjoyment of the book. It really wasn't necessary so I'm not sure why it was included in the first place.

I'm not sure if I'll read the next book in the series because I'm not a fan of stories in which the hero was in love with his best friend's wife/girlfriend, but the next book is about Angus and sounds interesting.

[TW: assault, rape mentions]

Having finished this, I now realized just how many of my favourite tropes are in this book: age gap (Noah is 38, Poppy is 26), neighbours/girl-next-door, found family...

and Noah's also the sheriff *checks off Men-in-Uniform*

Anyway, the story is fast-paced and the romance is cute, though we pretty much knew from the get-go who the baddie was (it really wasn't hard to guess lol). And I love the Pamela Clare mention! #friendshipgoals

Jase and Molly's book is gonna SLAY me.

I've just finished this suspenseful romance by Kaylea Cross and rather enjoyed it.

I picked it up based on the blurb - I love a good small town setting, and who doesn't find a dutiful, hardworking sheriff even more enticing than your regular, run-of-the-mill red-hot neighbour? What kept me reading was the sweet sweet build up between main characters Poppy and Noah, and the threads of sinister suspense woven into the story.

I have to confess, I did guess the ending, but I tend to do that a fair bit. I always like to theorise when I'm halfway through a book so invariably I'm going to guess correctly sometimes, aren't I? It didn't lessen my enjoyment, however, and those final scenes were still tense and exciting.

If I did have to nit-pick at something, It would be that I'd rather the romance had had a bit more time to develop before the finale. It had only just begun, to quote The Carpenters, and so when the "I love yous" came, I wasn't quite there with them.

I particularly enjoyed Poppy's character, she was a sweetheart, if a little timid, but so resilient and hardworking. You've got to admire that in a girl!

I haven't read any of the rest of this series but the subplots that were included in this story were excellent and I'll definitely pick up the next one if I spot it on the shelf.

★★★1/2