Trying to balance her new job as sheriff with grief and taking care of her niece and nephew, Bree barely has time to pursue her fledgling relationship with Matt let alone a new murder for them to solve. I rubbed my hands in anticipation when I was able to dive into this latest Bree Taggert mystery by an author whose books regularly make my annual favorites lists.

Drown Her Sorrows is the third of the Bree Taggert series that could be read standalone in a pinch, but definitely works best when read in order.

Bree gets a call from one of her deputies who responded to an abandoned car out by an old bridge, but when a body is found, things turn more sinister. Bree and Matt start investigating after the cause of death and victim is determined. A domestic gone wrong? Bad business on the job? Jealous spouse? and the motives pile up as evidence is sifted through. Meanwhile, someone is leaving nasty surprises and has deadly aim with a gun.

Bree and Matt both are forced to see their partner in danger and realize that they may be closer to deeper feelings than their secret occasional dates have had them realizing. Meanwhile, as Mother's Day approaches Bree feels at a loss to be what her grieving niece and nephew need, but she is determined to open up to a stronger relationship with them and her brother. She's never had a family come home to including retired fellow cop Dana and it feels good especially when Matt is there with them. They just need to follow the twisting trail to a killer who is both cunning and ruthless.

Drown Her Sorrows was as electrifying a read as the books that proceeded it. I lost myself in this book and I didn't even notice when three-quarters of it were gone in a flash. I love the way the author develops her characters, their relationships, and the mystery they have to solve. The romance is strong and has a simmering slow-burn that each book carries the relationship just a little further along making it easy to see why the couple will endure and last.

The mystery in this one seems cut and dry until it isn't. This one totally did a Gotcha on me. I had no idea who did it or why. I had guesses, but I didn't even come close. I'll say here that the attention to accuracy about police procedures and crime investigating is a highlight of the mystery side. It was great having Matt's sister play a strong role in this one and of course I got excited over the little crossover moment with characters from the Morgan Dane series to see how they are doing these days.

I don't think I've mentioned this in previous series reviews, but I've also appreciated the way Bree's work situation has been developing as she settles into her role as sheriff dealing with her staff, learning to delegate, and figuring out how to balance work and family.

And so, it was fabulous and I was riveted from cover to cover and must now impatiently wait for the next installment. Those who love a good solid mystery with well-developed characters and slow-burn romance should definitely check out this series.

I rec'd this book from Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.

*Puedes encontrar esta reseña en español al final.*

This is the third installment in the series so it doesn't make much sense to start here, if you can read the previous two, which are just as interesting as this one. And so you won't miss anything.

At this point in the story there is little to add. If you are a fan of Bree (like I am) this story follows the pattern of its predecessors: interesting and good prose, complicated and crafted plot that does not disappoint and we continue to see how the characters mature and establish new relationships (or strengthen the ones they already have).

The suspense has been particularly good, one of those that you don't see coming and surprises you. Until the very end, the author kept me on edge, waiting to see who the bad guy was.

I can't really find a fault in it. I am a huge fan of this series and so far it has met my expectations (and then some). Besides entertaining me immensely. And that is something.

Highly recommended.

**e-ARC kindly provided by Montlake via Netgalley.**

Esta es la tercera entrega de la serie. No tiene mucho sentido empezar por aquí pudiendo leer primero las dos anteriores que son igual de interesantes que esta. Y así no te pierdes nada.

A estas alturas de la historia poco hay que añadir. Si eres fan de Bree (como yo) esta historia sigue la pauta de sus antecesoras: prosa interesante y buena, trama complicada y trabajada que no defrauda y seguimos viendo cómo los personajes maduran y establecen nuevas relaciones (o afianzan las que ya tienen).

El suspense ha sido particularmente bueno, de esos que no te ves venir y te sorprenden. Hasta el mismísimo final me tuvo la autora en vilo esperando a ver quién era el malo.

No puedo ponerle pegas, la verdad. Soy muy fan de esta serie y, hasta ahora, ha cumplido con creces mis expectativas. Además de entretenerme inmensamente que ya es decir.

Muy recomendable.

With every book in this series, Melinda Leigh just keeps upping the game of her writing and her plots get even more twisted and evil as she takes Bree Taggert and Matt Flynn into another vortex of secrets and danger. Her narration is crisp and intense, and as always love her subtle sense of developing characters in a series, as a professional partnership or a romantic one.

Any thriller or.a mystery has to be read to fully enjoy it! And with Melinda Leigh, you absolutely cannot go wrong!!!

I was looking forward to the next story in Melinda Leigh’s Bree Taggert series and I wasn’t disappointed. A solid plot with the right amount of action made it entertaining.

Bree’s extended family was most important to her and she was still learning how to cope with her sister’s death. I was glad to see the author did not let that issue slide by. I was hoping more speed would be applied to her personal relationship with Matt, but I recognize Ms. Leigh moves at a slower romantic pace with her stories and this was fine.

In regards to the suspense, connections were revealed and secrets were exposed. In the end there were just enough unanswered questions I had about Bree’s past, her fairly new position as sheriff and her relationship with Matt to continue the series with another adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the Sherriff Bree Taggart series and can be read as a standalone , although reading the previous books would give a better understanding of the characters .

Bree is on her way home , tired after a long day , when she is called to investigate an empty car
on a bridge overlooking the river .
On finding missing Holly Thorpe downstream , Bree suspects murder , borne out by the autopsy
results - Holly was dead before she entered the water .
Who is guilty - her husband has an alibi - is someone helping him ?

This is a fast paced thriller , full of twists and turns - with Bree's personal , home and family life adding to an
enjoyable story .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the chance to read Drown her sorrows by Melinda Leigh. This is the 3rd book in the Bree Taggert mystery series, and another great addition. Bree Taggert is the sheriff, and while conducting a search she discovers a young women's body near the banks of a river. The note found in the women's car suggest suicide, but the coroner disagrees. Holly Thorpe was dead long before she dropped off the bridge and hit the water. I found this book to be fast-paced, with lots of suspenseful twists, and romantic sizzle. I recommend this series and will be looking forward to the next book in the series!

Another edition of the bad ass woman that is Bree Taggert, with plenty of twists and turns and the best part is none of this story is even predictable. Some cheeky character crossovers too, once again making me feel like I know these people. It's so easy to become immersed in the story as it keeps you guessing constantly. Melinda Leigh once again writes a book that once you start to read, you cannot put down! Highly recommend!

A possible suicide, a maybe corrupt business man, a deathly ill mother and a bunch of suspects are involved in Sheriff Bree Taggerts new case. Be prepared for not wanting to put the book down, not getting your work done and a twist you never saw coming!

Drown Her Sorrows picks up shortly after the previous books left off. Bree Taggert has barely settled in after the adventures of the previous novel when she responds to a call about an empty car and finds not only the empty car, but the body of an unidentified woman floating in the river. Though a note suggests suicide, the investigation and autopsy reveals that she didn't die by suicide and that she was dead before she ended up in the river. That sets up the mystery and investigation for Drown Her Sorrows, and I'm not going to go into any more of the major plot points as not to spoil anything.

I loved returning to this world and these characters. Bree has been a likable character for me from the beginning of the series, and I still love her strength, dedication, and personality. Matt Flynn is back as well, and I love him, his relationship with his animals, and the further glimpses we get into his relationships with his family in this book. This book was listed as a Romance book, but it was a mild romance where the romantic relationship is often set to the side in favor of the main investigation. I was expecting more from the romantic relationship, given the description of it as Romantic Suspense, but it was just as slow burn as the previous books.

I enjoyed this read, and Leigh's writing style still shines through as easy and quick to read. I think this is my least favorite book in the series so far, but I am no less excited to continue the series and see what happens next for Bree, Matt, and their families.

Warning: This book discusses some sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers including murder, discussions of suicide, autopsies, loss of a loved one, and traumatic injury.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Interesting, engrossing read! Very engaging writing style. Writing is descriptive, and yet the story seemed fast-paced.

The story has been told from three points of view: Bree, Matt and Cady (Matt's sister). I felt Cady's pov a bit unnecessary. The story is a murder mystery, that Bree and Matt solve together, but it also tells about Bree and Matt's personal life and their own relationship. There was certain kind of coziness, which I really liked.

Although, the case was predictable (I guessed it right, I mean), there are many twists and turns that made me question my prediction.

And I loved Bree-Matt chemistry!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. And I'd like to read another Bree-Matt mystery.

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.

After reading and loving the first two books in the Bree Taggert series I had high hopes for this one and while I did enjoy it, it was not my favorite in the series.

Bree Taggert is called out to a suspected suicide but when she begins to investigate things are not as they seem. With the help of her investigator Matt Flynn, she begins to uncover the truth but will it be in time? I feel like this one barely includes her family which was such a big part in the last two books. Additionally we are starting to see more of Matt and Bree's relationship and something about it just felt off to me. In the mystery side of the story I did feel like the conclusion was a bit of a stretch but maybe I am just over thinking things. I do plan to continue reading the series and I hope we get more of the kids in the next book.

Complex thriller with great characters and lots of suspense. Secrets to uncover,moving quickly and major surprises.

Another great book by Melinda Leigh!! All of her books are fast paced and suspenseful! This is the 3rd installment of the Bree Taggert series. Bree is the sheriff and she's investigating what appears to be a suicide suddenly turns into a murder investigation. This book will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat! Full of intrigue and suspense!!

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

The book weaves its' plot with Bree assuming the job of Sheriff and integrating a new family into what had been her life of work. A proper work/life balance is a tough balancing act especially when the kids are suffering from the loss of their mother. Trying to add a love live makes it even tougher and when you throw in murder, well it can get complicated. Lots of suspense, a sweet, slow romance and a surprise baddie at the end.

An abandoned car is reported and when Sheriff Bree Taggert investigates she finds the body of a young woman along the banks of the Scarlet River. At first glance, it looks like suicide, but Bree is all about procedure and as the ME report comes in and Bree delves into Holly Thorpe's life, it's murder.

Matt Flynn is acting as a civilian consultant for Bree, but he is more her partner in all but title. As they interview the people in Holly's live, they find more than one person with a reason to kill her. A marriage on the rocks, a dying mother and contentious sister, and a covert relationship with her boss. Plenty of suspects, but no one quite fits.

This is the third book in the series and well written.
Bree Taggert remains a strong, likable main character and her relationship with Matt is progressing, although slowly.

When a woman's murdered body is discovered, the investigation fills Bree's days and nights. WHo could have killed her? The drunkard husband? The philandering boss? the jealous sister? Or someone else.
Even though I figured out the ending long before the denouement, Leigh did a good job with the plot line and the clues.

There was only one part that confused me and to state it here would involve spoilers, which I never give. I will say a daughter's phone call to her dying mother made no sense once the ending was revealed.
Thanks to Netgalley for a sneak peek. 4 stars from me.

This series just keeps getting better with every installment. I love all the characters and it actually kept you guessing until the end. I would recommend this book to everyone!

This is a great addition to a great series. While I really enjoyed this story, I thought it moved a little slow in places. That being said the characters are amazing and the plot is fabulous. The plot twist was great and suspenseful. I personally would like Bree & Matt to hurry up and couple up because I really like them together. All in all, another successful Bree Taggert story!

Drown her sorrows is book 3 in the Bree Taggert series. Bree is the local sheriff of Scarlett River and is called out as a woman's car is found abandoned on a bridge. Bree suspects it's more than an abandoned car and goes on the haunt for Holly she is found dead 8n the river question is was it suicide or murder? Bree illicits the help of retired officer and boyfriend Matt yo help her uncover the truth.

I found this was a slow starter and I really struggled to engage with it to begin with, I think starting on book 3 gave me a clear disadvantage even with elements of previous novels being entwined. Once I got invested I was waiting for whatever the big reveal was and I did not see it coming a mile off. It was mind boggling !!

The investigation is followed closely throughout the book, even with the clear love story maybe because they are older 🤔

I do really like Matt and in all honesty he was my favourite character whitty and to the point. Bree was a tad uptight but that does soften through through. oh story she is completely blind to what's going on.

The crime is quite basic yet the investigation is longer than j I'd assumed it would be but it was quite nice to go on the journey solving the crime I guessed about 10 seconds before the reveal i couldn't believe I wastright its so random.

The personal life of Bree is an interesting one. For those dealing with loss or struggling at parenting I think this book really highlights unrealistic expectations on women esp those in high powered careers.

Would I recommend ?
Yeah why not. I will say go back read books one and two ad they sound great and I dish I had read them first but I enjoyed the latter half of the book more and that's why I am scoring this book e.5 stars rounded down to 3.


Thank you for netgalley the publishers and author for the ARC in exchange for my fait and honest opinions Drown her sorrows is book 3 in the Bree Taggert series. Bree is the local sheriff of Scarlett River and is called out as a woman's car is found abandoned on a bridge. Bree suspects it's more than an abandoned car and goes on the haunt for Holly she is found dead 8n the river question is was it suicide or murder? Bree illicits the help of retired officer and boyfriend Matt yo help her uncover the truth.

I found this was a slow starter and I really struggled to engage with it to begin with, I think starting on book 3 gave me a clear disadvantage even with elements of previous novels being entwined. Once I got invested I was waiting for whatever the big reveal was and I did not see it coming a mile off. It was mind boggling !!

The investigation is followed closely throughout the book, even with the clear love story maybe because they are older 🤔

I do really like Matt and in all honesty he was my favourite character whitty and to the point. Bree was a tad uptight but that does soften through through. oh story she is completely blind to what's going on.

The crime is quite basic yet the investigation is longer than j I'd assumed it would be but it was quite nice to go on the journey solving the crime I guessed about 10 seconds before the reveal i couldn't believe I wastright its so random.

The personal life of Bree is an interesting one. For those dealing with loss or struggling at parenting I think this book really highlights unrealistic expectations on women esp those in high powered careers.

Would I recommend ?
Yeah why not. I will say go back read books one and two ad they sound great and I dish I had read them first but I enjoyed the latter half of the book more and that's why I am scoring this book e.5 stars rounded down to 3.


Thank you for netgalley the publishers and author for the ARC in exchange for my fait and honest opinions

This third book in Melinda Leigh’s series of romantic suspense novels featuring former detective-turned-Sheriff Bree Taggert is another entertaining read that boasts a cleverly constructed mystery and a set of strongly-defined characters. Bree is becoming more settled into her new life and responsibilities, and she’s trying to deal with some of her long-standing trust issues; I like the way the author dovetails Bree’s work and home life into her stories. But while the mystery is nice and twisty, I didn’t find it quite as compelling as those in the first two books in the series.

When Drown Her Sorrows opens, Bree is heading home after a long day and is looking forward to eating with her family and reading her young niece Kayla a bedtime story. She’s in sight of her late sister’s farmhouse when she gets a call from one of her deputies advising her there’s an abandoned car by the river, and although there’s a purse and phone inside, there’s no sign of the driver. It transpires that the car is registered to Holly Thorpe, a resident of Gray’s Hollow – and it’s been there for around three days. Holly’s husband says he hasn’t seen Holly since she stormed out after they had a fight three nights earlier, and Bree walks down to the river while waiting for the search and rescue team to arrive. She’s not gone far along the riverbank when she finds the body of a woman matching Holly’s description. The presence, in the boot of the car, of a note that says “I can’t anymore. It’s too hard.” would seem to point towards Holly’s death being suicide – but the ME’s findings indicate that Holly was dead before she hit the water, and that she died as a result of compression to the neck. Bree is looking for a murderer.

Former K9 handler Matt Flynn – who was invalided out of the department after he was shot in the line – now works as an investigator and consultant to the sheriff’s department. He and Bree have been slowly working their way around to exploring the attraction that sparked between them when they first met, and by the time this book opens, they’re in a relationship and have decided to see where things might go. He and Bree work together very well and I really enjoy their working dynamic; Bree admits that her focus can be too narrow, and she needs someone like Matt at her back, someone who can see things she might have missed and more than anything, someone she can trust implicitly.

Bree and Matt open their investigation by questioning Holly’s husband; the Thorpe’s marriage was incredibly volatile, with frequent rows that often saw Holly storming out to go and stay with her sister, and their financial situation was precarious owing to their living beyond their means as well as having to pay towards the medical costs for Holly’s mother, who has Stage 4 cancer. These costs are split with Holly’s sister Shannon, although, as Owen Thorpe sees it, not fairly, given that Shannon lives in a much bigger house and has a much nicer lifestyle than he and Holly did. More digging reveals that Holly may have been having an affair with her boss at the construction company she worked for, and also that the firm was in serious financial trouble. Bree and Matt follow up with Holly’s boss, who is obnoxious and uncooperative, which raises all sorts of red flags. But when he’s gunned down outside his own home shortly after, another avenue of investigation into Holly’s death is closed off – and Bree has to consider the fact that the two murders may be linked.

The mystery is intriguing and the investigation is well-paced with a skilful twist near the end I didn’t see coming until I was on top of it. Bree is coming into her own and has gained the trust of those around her, especially her chief deputy with whom she had a bit of a rocky relationship for a while. I like her a lot; she’s hardworking, strong-willed and intuitive, and she’s slowly starting to realise that she can’t go it alone all the time and learning to trust the team she’s building around her.

And then there are Bree’s personal relationships; her past trauma (she was just eight years old when her father shot her mother and then himself; she protected her younger siblings, but grew up apart from them when they went to live with one relative and Bree another) isn’t something she’s dealt with all that well, and growing up apart from her siblings has left a mark, meaning she has to work hard at maintaining personal relationships and learn not to run from them, especially if they could expose her vulnerability. She learned early on that the only person she could rely on was herself, but she’s trying hard to put the past behind her now, for her own sake and for that of her new found family; her sister’s death has left her guardian to her two children, Luke and Kayla, and has also enabled her to reconnect with her younger brother, Adam. And then there’s Matt; lovely, solid, dependable (and sexy) Matt, who has Bree’s back without question and who is falling for her, hard. He respects her professionalism and he’s a calming presence, quietly reminding Bree that she’s allowed to be human rather than a full-time hero. Their relationship is progressing slowly, partly because Bree doesn’t want to be the subject of yet more gossip (she’s had enough of that to last a lifetime), and partly because she’s still adjusting to the massive changes her life has gone through over the past few months. I enjoy these insights into Bree as a person as much as I enjoy her as investigator, and Ms. Leigh strikes a good balance between the two; the mystery is undoubtedly the main focus of the book, but Bree’s home life is richly detailed, the characters are rounded and the relationships are well-written.

Even though the mystery in Drown Her Sorrows isn’t quite as enthralling as those in previous books, it’s clever and well-written, and I really enjoyed the continuing development of Bree’s character and relationships. At a pinch, it could probably be read as a standalone, but I’d strongly suggest going back to book one, Cross Her Heart, so as to gain a fuller understanding of Bree and her situation. In any case, Drown Her Sorrows earns a solid recommendation, and fans of the author and the series are sure to find much to enjoy within its pages.

Sheriff Bree Taggert has been attempting to mange her new job and new role as caretaker to her murders sister’s two children. With a tragic past of her own she knows what it’s like to lose a parent to murder. So she’s doing everything she can to help the children move forward. Which is often complicated by the fact that her job takes her away from them. It’s not easy taking charge of a formerly corrupt police department but she does have at least one person she can always trust. Matt Flynn former detective and K9 handler now investigator for Bree’s office and kinda sorta her boyfriend.

This time around an abandoned car is the beginning of one crazy case. When they find the owner of the car they first suspect the woman committed suicide but it turns out that it was only what they were meant to think and not what actually happened. The dead woman has a husband, a sister and a boss that paint different pictures of her. Is she the bratty wife? The selfish sister? Is something going on with her boss?

With a break in, another murder and a kidnapping added to the mix and a false confession things get pretty crazy very quickly. So who killed Holly and why?

To be honest I didn’t immediately guess who the killer was which I actually like you are definitely kept guessing. It was a very interesting plot and... yeah just crazy is all I’ll say and very enjoyable.


So I like Bree but she’s annoying she has this aggravating guilt complex she HAS to always be the one to jumó straight in no matter if she could get killed or not. I get it that her job is dangerous but she seems to never consider the fact that if something happens to her then what about the kids? I also get they shed use to taking care of just herself and relying on just herself and all her tragic past stuff.. I get it still she annoys me. And people who feel irrational guilt all the time especially annoy me. My own personal problem not so much the story itself. However I will say that Bree is willing to make changes and learn how to depend on others so I can’t fault her for that. She is flawed as humans tend to be.

Can’t wait till the next book!