It follows much of the usual trope but the interesting part is how ‘macho’ the author shows the hero to be – ie he is a small town sheriff, tall and brawny – with a moustache – and very apt to use his strength and muscles. His lover is a photo journalist in social media with blogs etc. the background to Conner And what he was doing before he arrived by invitation into this very small town is not clear and I found this rather annoying. Also, there is a Hollywood film star thrown into the mix plus some stalking/threats to Conner.
The issue of course is that our bi-sexual sheriff had a previous relationship with his high school sweetheart which led to marriage and a child, of which he is very protective. Especially since his wife left him with the child after a noticeably short time, to bring her up on his own.
While this was a normal romance with a little suspense, I want to read the next story of these two as they cope with the surprise they are given right at the end of the book! Which I think will make a better and more humorous story.
I’m giving this one 3.5

I didn't like this book.
It has the sheriff, single father and he has to investigate who is death threatening his ex-boyfriend.
I initially thought it would be suspense with a police investigation, but it focuses more on the couple's romance, with many sex scenes and the investigation is almost forgotten and resolves very quickly and easily at the end of the book.
It has many good and touching phrases of wisdom, but that come out of the mouth of a 10 year old child, very unlikely.
It is a good book for those who want to read a novel about two ex-boyfriends.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to see how the the characters would develop as well as the town itself. While Stranded stood well on its own, Separated kind of just felt like a a bridge over to the next book. I enjoyed seeing Connor and Rocky’s relationship develop more, this was very satisfying, but the other elements of the book weren’t as entertaining.

Whenever this is some kind of mystery in a book I want the author to lay the groundwork for me to able to solve it myself, even if I don’t. The reason that Connor was receiving the death threats seem to come out of left field as the art contest wasn’t even mentioned until almost the end. If it had been teased up a bit a the beginning it would have felt more natural in the story.

I’m still going to read the third book, especially after that ending, but I wish I had enjoyed this one as much as the first book. Glad we got Rocky’s POV though! I hope we get both for the third.

3.75 stars

Separated is the second book in Frances' In Midsummer series, and even though I have not yet read the first entry in the series (though I would like to), enough background was integrated into this second book that I felt I was able to follow along just fine.

This book is the continuation of the story of Rocky and Conner. Rocky is the sheriff of Midsummer, who is a single father to a young daughter named River. Conner is in Midsummer to create a social media presence for a small town in need of more tourists to keep afloat.

Conner and Rocky were drawn together in the first book, but Rocky pulled away, saying he didn't want a relationship. Rocky feels he has to focus solely on his town and his daughter, and that Conner will only leave anyway when his job is done.

At least this is what Rocky tells himself.

But River has already formed a bond with Conner, and Rocky can't stop thinking about him. When Conner starts receiving attention from a famous actor who has a house nearby, and then starts receiving death threats, Rocky can't deny how he feels anymore. He becomes extremely protective of Conner, and they have a very sweet scene where Rocky goes over to where Conner is staying simply to wrap him in his arms and make him feel safe so he can finally get some sleep.

Rocky and Conner make a great couple, and Rocky, Conner, and River make a very sweet family unit. I found myself very invested in all three of them. The small town setting really comes alive, and there are some good supporting characters. As the death threats escalate, they bring a lot of tension to the story and make Rocky's protective side really come out.

The only thing I found lacking was the solution to the mystery of the death threats. It was so out of left field that it just didn't give me that satisfied feeling I was hoping for. That said, the relationships kept this book as a read I really did enjoy, and I would like to read the other books in the series as they come out to continue to see these relationships develop.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m obsessed with this series! I read the first book, Stranded, in one day and did the same thing with Separated! I just couldn’t put it down. I loved that this book is from Rocky’s POV, I so love this broody, stubborn man! I really feel invested in Conner and Rocky (and River too) and their story.

In this book Rocky is dealing with his feelings for Conner, regretting his decision to not give it a chance at ‘more’ with Conner. But once Conner starts receiving threats, he steps up big time and not just because he’s the town sheriff, he feels the need to protect Conner. Along the way, he also starts to realize what life would feel like without him and how important Conner is to him, and his daughter. He just has to decide if he’s willing to risk his heart.

There are some great twists and turns in this book, it definitely kept me on my toes. I loved seeing the vulnerable side of Rocky as he figures things out. He’s such a softy for his daughter, so protective and loving, it just melts my heart. I also love his protectiveness towards Conner, the whole sleeping situation thing just made me melt. I also love the mystery side of this story as well, trying to figure out who is after Conner and why! There’s also a great twist at the end that had me on the edge and wanting MORE RIGHT THIS MINUTE! I really love this story, as I said I’m completely invested in and rooting for Conner and Rocky. This series is definitely a favorite of mine so far this year!

A wonderful continuation of Rocky and Conner's story, I really enjoyed seeing their relationship continue to grow and develop. Seeing these wonderful characters again coupled with another mystery to delve into made for a very enjoyable read and that cliffy has me ready for book three ASAP.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*

This was just as good as the first book, with similar issues! I enjoyed the characters and the mystery but the resolution was weak. It was left on a big cliffhanger though, which means I'll definitely be looking out for book 3!

Rocky and Conner's story continues beautifully in Separated.

With fun and at times intense developments, twists that genuinely took me by surprise, and the blossoming relationship making me happy sigh, Separated is a really enjoyable read.

The character depth and relationship growth develops perfectly, and at a pace that suits this story so well. With suspense and mystery weaved through Rocky and Conner's romance, this series is really a refreshing read.

And that ending! Oh my! I cannot wait for book three. Way to keep me counting down the days until In Midsummer #3 is released.

I liked this book better than book one, but there are still a couple of factors from the first book that are lingering which will need to improve or go away for this series to fully improve. For example, the deputy who moved to the next town over is questioned in a scene and still being a jerk. This book picks up where book one left off and therefore should not be read as a standalone.

Rocky is better in this book…not as much of a jerk. He still waffles quite a bit on starting a relationship with Conner but thankfully he makes a decision quickly. We see a bit more of his personality, possibly because this is from his point of view, possibly because he’s opening up a bit for Conner. I like them together when all the BS is stripped away.

The threat against Conner was a bit of a stretch for me. The crimes committed far outweighed the payoff for the mastermind of the scheme and the accomplices gave up way too easily in my opinion.
Rocky’s best friend Ty has some weirdness left unanswered. Hopefully, we’ll get some resolution for his behavior in the next book.

We’re left with a major shock at the end of the book which is a little bit of a cliffhanger. I’m very interested to see how things unravel in book three.

Jessica Frances gives us another mystery to solve and I did not see the perpetrator in this one at all. I did not even get a hint. I want to reread the book and see what I missed (laugh). I can also see crumbs for possible future crimes as some people in Midsummer might have some issues and maybe Paxton too.

I will say that I did see one twist coming...or should more accurately say that I guessed a twist. It is a doozy too.

River’s situation is complicated and Frances is not taking the easy route and I am glad. This is not a situation that is cleared up in a book or even two as anyone who has been in this situation knows. I am glad that Frances is writing about this topic in a realistic fashion. I love River and find her hilarious. She is one of my favorite characters.

The heat between Rocky and Conner is another facet I love. It is undeniable and it is talked about with honesty. The conversation between Rocky and River about Connor was awesome. Conner and River’s relationship is great to read.

I hope this family becomes a continuous mystery series because I love reading about them!

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

Separated is the second book in the Midsummer series. Rocky is trying to figure out who is attempting to kill Conner. It's told from Rocky's point of view this time and we get a chance to see about his background. The book is funny, sweet, some intense moments, and these two finally get together. The book will have you on the edge of your seat from start finish and I loved it. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. The author is doing a great job with this series.

This was good follow up to Separated! We learn more about Rocky and why he feels the way he does. And we got jealousy sprinkled it in there which is always great! I love seeing Rock and Connor slowly get together. The ending was quite surprising so I cant wait to read the next series!

***eProof given by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review/reaction***

Like with when I read the first book in this series (Stranded), I can't decide whether to give this a two or a three star.

This feels very different as the POV is different (Rocky, the town's sheriff, is our POV and he internalizes his thoughts and feelings, very different to his love interest [and the POV of the first book in series] Conner) and the crime feels darker (we have a poison pen-letter writer who, half way through the book, burns down the house Conner and best friend, Love, live. And, oh yeah, they're inside!). But the crime was near impossible to solve (most readers I know want to be able to figure out who the villain is) and with the ending's final twist feeling as if it's added for drama's sake (we see this so often in TV and film, where drama is added for its own sake, rather than to further the story/character development/etc).

As for the M/M romance between our leads, I do like it but it is moving quite fast as the events at the start of book 1 did happen a matter of a few weeks/months ago.

I think this series main problem, for me, is that it can't decide whether to be a cosy mystery series or a darker, edgier mystery series. The romance and the family dynamic works, but the mystery side of the series can't decide. It keeps flip flopping and it needs to make a decision.

Jessica Frances's "Separated" is the second book in a trilogy of murder-mystery novels (In Midsummer) following sheriff Rocky. There have been death attempts on his ex Conner and he's in search of clues to figure out who is trying to kill the social media maven. The plot moves at a quick pace, keeping the momentum going. The only breaks are to contend with the relationship between the two men. If you liked the first book, this is a good follow-up. Yet, you really do need to read the first book in the series to fully follow some of the scenes.

I had already read and really liked Stranded and voiced how much I needed to see Rocky's POV. Boy am I glad I got it. He was such a great character to get inside his head. He really internalizes alot. Every thought and feeling had so much behind it that you can only see by being right in there with him. He is still the strong and silent type, but we got to see behind the curtain. It was a shame to miss the camaraderie of Love and Conner. However, that dinner scene OMG, brings back feels from the Love at First Crime series.

I loved how these two characters inched their way together without alot of drama, just honesty and patience. The ending was fantastic and I can't wait to see how they handle this.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Separated is book two in the Midsummer series by Jessica Frances. These books are set in the small town of Midsummer. In the first book, Connor was stranded in town when his car broke down. Connor is a vlogger so he decides that he will take a couple of days to showcase the town. He meets Sheriff Rocky Green in a pub and a one-night encounter leads to something more. But there's no HFN or HEA in book one... so get both books 1 and 2 to read if that's what you like!

In Separated... Connor starts off by trying to move on from Rocky. Rocky has been clear that he wants casual... he doesn't date people from the town. He's the Sheriff and he has a daughter so he feels as though he hasn't enough time for more from someone.

As the two characters struggle with. how they fit... or IF they fit into one another's lives Connor begins to experience some homophobia. It seems out-of-place in the small town and although there are a few suspects it's not clear what the motivation is.

This book is a fast-read, the romance is sweet even if the two men got off to a rocky (forgive the pun) start in book one. I really like the relationship between Connor and Rocky's daughter, River. (Yes, all the characters have great names, Rocky, River, Love... it's awesome).

The mystery of who is making Connor's life so dangerous becomes more and more clear as the novel progresses. Then just as the two men are beginning to understand how they might be able to be together, there's a new surprise.

Nope, not spoiling it! Fun, fast read... perfect for a summer beach read! Can't wait for the next book int he series.