The Lady Has A Past was a delightful edition to the Burning Cove series and quickly pulled me in with its mystery thread and romance between investigator apprentice Lyra Brazier, and antiquarian book dealer, Simon Cage as the two go undercover.

We also finally get answers and the relationship story of Luther Pell and Raina Kirk. I was ecstatic as I have been waiting for more about Raina’s past and hoping for a happily ever after. You’ll have to read it to find out.

When Raina leaves town unexpectedly, Lyra and Luther both suspect something is wrong. They set out to find answers, and it leads them to an exclusive hotel and spa. Luther would be instantly recognized and Lyra is a Jr investigator, so Simon Case, an antiquarian dealer/investigator with unique abilities, offers to pose as Lyra’s new husband. The two check into the honeymoon suite and its soon clear that something nefarious is happening.

I loved fake arrangement, and Simon and Lyra were quite the pair. Lyra has a way of getting people to open up, but has trouble figuring Simon out. It was fun seeing their relationship develop. As an investigative team, the two worked well together and Quick gave us an intense, dark storyline that kept me flipping the pages.

The Lady Has A Past offered so many elements I enjoy with the bonus of getting answers regarding Raina and seeing her romance develop. Burning Cove is the place to be and admit to being envious.

While each story contains its own mystery and romance, the 1930s costal setting, townfolk and linked threads have me recommending you read/listen to this series in the order of its release. While this felt like the ending of the series, I would certainly visit Burning Cove and these characters again.

Amanda Quick is always one of my go to authors when I am looking for something to read and she did not disappoint with this new title. Lyra and Simon are a great addition to the Burning Cove series. While it can be read as a standalone, if you have read the previous book you will have a little more background knowledge of Lyra.

All the ladies in this story have a past. Honestly, all the ladies in every Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle story have a past. It makes them all that much more interesting to read about – and just that much more fascinating for the heroes who oh-so-frequently come to rescue them – but generally end up fighting right alongside them.

Raina Kirk, who becomes the focus of the investigation rather than the heroine of this particular story, very definitely has a dark and dangerous past. A past that her lover Luther Pell – hotel and casino owner and occasional government secret agent – thought he knew about.

But when that past reaches out and snatches Raina, Luther discovers that he didn’t know as much as he thought he did. He is, however, smart enough to know that as much as he wants to rush in guns blazing, that he’s a bit too close to the case – and more than a bit too high profile – to investigate Raina’s disappearance without tipping all the cards.

That’s where Simon Cage and Lyra Brazier come in.

Raina’s last known location was a luxurious and exclusive – read that as expensive – deluxe hotel, health spa and over-the-top beauty emporium. All done up in shades – and scents – of the exclusive violet perfume that the beauty products maven Madam Guppy has created as her signature perfume.

But that nearly overpowering smell of violets is covering up something rotten. It’s up to Simon and Lyra to get to the bottom of the stink and rescue Raina – before the poison miasma that surrounds the entire enterprise drags them under.

Escape Rating B+: This is the fifth book in the author’s Burning Cove paranormal historical romantic suspense series. (I dare you to try and say THAT three times fast!)

While it does tie in a bit with the previous books in the series, (which begins with The Girl Who Knew Too Much), and offers plenty of hints that it is somewhere in the recesses of the Arcane Society that the author invented as Quick, continued into the 20th and 21st centuries as Krentz and shipped out to the stars as Castle.

However, those are hints only, providing a smile for the reader if you’re in the know but not spoiling the enjoyment if you don’t. Although the entire collective series is wonderful and would make a great reading binge if you have not already indulged.

This would also be a plausible place to begin in Burning Cove, as Simon and Lyra are new to the place and the series in this volume, while we haven’t ever exactly seen Raina and Luther’s romance and probably won’t see it in full. They are VERY private people with extremely murky pasts.

But this story is about the pasts of all of the “ladies” that it touches upon. The case begins with the unrevealed parts of Raina’s already shady past but the real focus is on Lyra’s past and her present.

It’s between the wars, the Roaring 20s, and a time when young women had a bit more freedom than previous generations – especially wealthy young women such as Lyra. She’s not exactly running away, more like walking away swiftly and deliberately from a purely decorative life that did not suit her – while heading towards a life filled with both purpose and adventure – if she can just figure out exactly what that would be.

And one of the things that I love about anything tied to the Arcane Society, however tangentially as Burning Cove seems to be, is the way that the heroines are either forced to or decide to ignore the restrictions placed on women in every time period – at least so far – and live the lives they choose – damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead – even with the not-so-occasionally forced step back.

Something that this particular story displays in abundance is the way that Lyra insists on taking charge of her own life and her own talents. Simon wants to protect her – increasingly so and in spite of himself – but ends up acknowledging that while she is differently talented she is equally talented. They make good partners – in investigation, in adventure and in romance.

It will take both of them, and both of their talents, to get to the bottom of this messy, misdirected and multi-layered case. It begins with a missing person, but the trail of bodies, living and dead, leads to some very dark places hidden in the shadows of the once – and future – war. Which is perfect, at least story-wise, because it means that there will be more to come in this terrific series!

As always author Amanda. Quick spins an amazing tale of the glamorous lifestyle of the rich and wicked, good vs. bad, romance and love, and THE LADY HAS A PAST will leave you impatiently waiting for more.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review:https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=73792

A solid addition to the Burning Cove series. Fans of Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz) will not be disappointed. The Lady Has a Past can be read as a standalone, although you won't know the back story of many of the characters. But the book focuses on Simon and Lyra and this is their first appearance in Burning Cove. It was fun, entertaining and a quick read. There are some mature audience scenes, but I was able to skip over without feeling like I was missing anything so if that's not your thing, you won't miss anything important.

The Lady Has a Past is the fifth installation in Amanda Quick’s Burning Cove series but can be read as a standalone. This is the first book by Amanda Quick that I have read, but I enjoyed it so much that I will be going back to the start of her Burning Cove series to get to know the other secondary characters a bit more.

This current novel introduces us to Lyra Brazier as she starts her first day on the job as an investigative apprentice. Lyra quickly gets introduced to the unpredictable world of private investigations when she is greeted at her first interview by a man trying to drown his wife. She escapes the situation due to her great golf swing and takes the evening off trying to decide if this is the career for her. As she goes into her second day of work, her boss and mentor, Raina Kirk, suddenly goes on a mysterious retreat to a spa and leaves her in charge of the business. Knowing something is not right, Lyra opens up an investigation into the disappearance of her boss.

Simon Cage, is a socially awkward book dealer with a mysterious ability to gather information out of thin age. He arrives at Burning Cove with the intention of spending his days at the hotel pool and his evenings frolicking. However, he soon meets up with his friend and occasional boss, Luther Pell (also Raina’s lover), and gets involved in Lyra’s investigation. Lyra and Simon pose as newlyweds at the spa and attempt to gather information on where and why Raina could have disappeared. They quickly realize there is more to the spa than meets the eye.

I loved this mystery I found myself thinking about the book and trying to solve the mystery as I went about my day and couldn’t wait to return to reading. I especially loved Lyra, she was an exceptional female lead – confident in herself, picks herself up when life throws her curveballs and disappointments, and has a positive attitude the whole time. I was not surprised that Simon, with his quiet strength, could not resist her charm. I found it so amusing how Simon tried so hard to keep up with Lyra and could not help but just stare at her in amazement. They really complimented each other well with their personalities and skills. Between the suspense of the mystery and the romantic tension, I could not stop reading.

One minor issue that I had with the book was that I found in some instances the characters really over explained their thoughts and feelings in their conversations. It just did not seem like the way normal people talk to each other, but then again this novel is set in the early 1900s so maybe people couldn’t read between the lines back then.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy a romantic mystery.

~ Harshita

After realizing her father will never let her run the family’s shipping business and a failed engagement, Lyra Brazier is trying her hand at private investigation in Burning Cove, California. It quickly becomes apparent that Lyra has a knack for investigating as she has an uncanny way of getting people to talk to her.

Lyra’s thrown into the thick of things when her boss, Raina Kirk, proclaims she must leave town to take care of some personal business. Raina disappears and Lyra knows she must find her. Luther Pell, Raina’s powerful and mysterious gentleman friend, insists on joining in the investigation and sending Simon Cage with Lyra to the fancy spa resort Raina has reportedly ran off to.

Simon has his own special abilities, even though officially he’s an antique book dealer, he secretly works with Luther in his clandestine investigation/solution business. Lyra and Simon pose as newlyweds and check in, noting right away things are not as they seem and Raina’s nowhere to be found.

At first Lyra and Simon knock heads and don’t get along, but they must put aside their differences to get to the bottom of Raina’s disappearance. Gradually, Simon and Lyra form a begrudging respect for each other’s talents and can’t help the irresistible pull of attraction they feel. Dodging danger, and the intense situation they find themselves thrown into mean they have to focus on finding Raina and trying to stay alive, but they do manage to steal away for a few steamy encounters!

There’s an undercurrent of danger and I was worried for both Lyra and Raina! I appreciated that the drama and conflict in the story didn’t come from the relationship woes, but instead the mystery Lyra and Simon are trying to solve. Luther and Raina’s (side characters that have shown up in previous books) relationship features prominently, too.

The Lady Has a Past is set in the town of Burning Cove in the 1930’s, where the rich and famous come to relax and be seen. I’ve enjoyed the beautiful coastal setting and peek into the glamorous past depicted here! Danger, thrills, mystery, and romance combine for an exciting story! It was easy to breeze right through while enjoying this by-gone era. While there are some returning characters, each story in the series can be read as a standalone.

This series set in the 1930s hints of a bygone elegance and glamor.  Each story is a standalone, though reading the series in order will provide relevant background and add to the reader's enjoyment. I typically can't wait for the next book  in the series to release but this one is by far the best in the series.  The plot is intricate and layered, the voice is caustic and the subjects are deep down romantic.  Once you get started you won't want to put the book down. 
Lyra Brazier has finally given up on proving to her father that girls are as good or better than boys. With a broken engagement behind her she's moved to Burning Cove and is apprenticing as an investigator working with Raina Kirk.  First she takes Raina's place at an intake with a new client and narrowly escapes being killed by the client's violent husband and then Raina disappears. Something fishy is going on and Lyra has a lot to prove by getting to the bottom of it. 
Teamed with expert investigator Simon Cage, Lyra goes in search of Raina who seems to have disappeared without a trace from an exclusive spa.  Clearly things are not as they should be and there are unexplained disappearances from the same room that Raina was occupying also many of the staff at the resort are acting suspiciously. 
Lyra and Simon are undercover as lovers but soon their cover becomes more real than make believe as they work towards finding answers. The story that emerges is so layered with plots and subplots so deep that it will keep you on your toes to figure out what's what and who's who. Did I forget to tell you that the body count is also growing.
Luther Pell is Raina's lover and he definitely comes hot foot down to the spa to support the investigation and push the buttons that need to be pushed to find and rescue his lady love before its too late. I absolutely loved this story and can't wait to see where the author will take us next.

1930s glamour meets deadly secrets in The Lady Has a Past. The world and characters Amanda Quick has created in the Burning Cove series never fails to entertain and this time is no exception. I had a difficult time putting this book down because I liked all four leads so much and I was absorbed in the mystery.

Lyra Brazier has been an apprentice investigator for four whole days when her boss, Raina Kirk, leaves town. Lyra and Raina’s lover, Luther Pell, know Raina must be in danger. Lyra is determined to investigate and Luther knows he’s too close to the case to be objective so he sends Simon Cage with Lyra to the luxury hotel and spa Raina was headed to. Simon is an antiquarian book dealer who is more than what he seems. His closed-off personality clashes with Lyra’s vibrant openness which means, of course, they’re meant to be together. I loved Lyra’s optimism; many mistake it for naïveté but she’s sharp, knows what she wants, and can get people to talk. Simon opens up with her – it helps that she doesn’t blink at his supernatural talents. They make a solid pair of investigators and I enjoyed watching them delve into the mystery of who kidnapped Raina and why. What’s more, I enjoyed their romance. Simon is only looking for a fling when he comes to Burning Cove and Lyra has no intention of getting married. Both find more than they bargained for in each other and it was easy to fall into their romance.

Raina Kirk and Luther Pell have been background characters for most of the Burning Cove series and I have been waiting to learn more about them. The Lady Has a Past delves into the background of the East Coast investigator with secrets and the shadowy businessman with ties to the government and the criminal underworld. I love Riana and Luther together and even if I hadn’t adored Lyra and Simon (which I did) I would be invested in this book because of them. Quick takes our protagonists for a ride in this story and there are multiple layers to the mystery that I won’t spoil. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed every part of The Lady Has a Past and I look forward to revisiting Lyra, Simon, Luther, and Raina again soon.

1930s Burning Cove, California, is a place to begin afresh. On the job for three whole days, Lyra Brazier, San Francisco socialite and apprentice private investigator, is surprised when her first call from a client has her practicing her golf swing on the client’s husband’s head. She is even more surprised when, arriving at work the following morning, her boss, Raina Kirk, puts her in charge of the agency until further notice and then disappears. When Raina’s sophisticated and dangerous nightclub-owning, mobster boyfriend discovers her gone, he calls upon Simon Cage, a previously delusional psychic investigator. Lyra teams up with Simon, posing as man and wife at a luxury hotel and spa, where they discover a kidnapping ring led by someone with rather kinky sexual proclivities. Lyra puts herself through a series of amusing “mangling-and-maiming” beauty treatments to further the investigation before things turn deadly. If all this sounds odd, it’s because it is, wonderfully so, and Quick smooth-talks her way through the peculiar circumstances with such finesse that nothing, no matter how strange, could put me off this book.

I dove into the first chapter with a ‘you have to be kidding’ grin. The novel swings from serious to far-fetched and back again without a ripple and comes with a ‘handle at your own risk’ label. But if you like quirky characters, dark pasts, mysterious secrets, faked deaths, glamour, danger, swanky settings, handsome mobsters, sexy investigators who emote when they touch doorknobs, and a fair share of hot romance, this book is right up your alley. The writing flows easily, and rather than slowing the story down with pages of description, Quick drops small hints to the setting, such as “the key is gone from the board behind the front desk.” This is historical escapism at its best. A really fun read. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

This is the fifth in the Burning Cove series and I don’t believe that you need to read all the books in order to follow along, I haven’t. PI Raina Kirk has hired an apprentice, one Lyra Brazier, and she’s had a doozy of a first day. Raina had sent her out for a first meeting with a client, only to have her come back and the client’s ex-husband is now dead. Lyra walked in on the ex-husband drowning his wife, then went after Lyra. Lyra grabbed a golf club and swung. She got the would-be client in the house, then called the police, but when the police arrived, the ex-husband had been hit more than once.
After dealing with that mess, Lyra went into the office the next morning only to find a note from Raina, stating that she was going out of town for the next few days. Knowing something was wrong, she contacts Raina’s friend Luther for assistance. Luther, who has known Raina for a long time, knows that Raina would not leave without a word. He immediately springs into action and uses his key to get into her house. Bringing with him a friend with a special talent who’s visiting Burning Cove on vacation, Luther and Simon both immediately set to work with Lyra to find out why Raina suddenly left. When they realize that she left to go to a brand-new spa, Lyra and Simon decide to go undercover to make sure that she is ok, but once they get there, they discover that she has gone missing, and now they need to find her and make sure that nothing has happened.
This is definitely a non-stop mystery. We’ve got strong females, psychics, and plenty of action to keep you reading until the last page, with a special twist at the end that wraps it all up nicely. There’s great writing, wonderful characters, and an intriguing plot. If you love mysteries, you’ll love this story.

**I was given an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

The latest from the Burning Cove series. Raina Kirk has taken on an apprentice just in time when she disappears suddenly. Lyra teams up with Simon to figure out what is going on. A fun 30s whodunnit. ARC from NetGalley.

The Lady Has a Past is the fifth book in the Burning Cove series by Amanda Quick. A captivating story with an old black and white 1930's movie vibe that all of the books in this series give. The series is so retro and fun yet suspenseful to read. If you haven't picked up this series, I highly suggest going and picking up all of the books and bingeing them from the start.

Lyra Brazier thinks she is interviewing a potential client for Kirk Investigations, when she walks in on an attempted murder. She arrives in the backyard of a home, and a man is in the process of drowning his wife in the swimming pool. She ends up using a golf club to bean the guy, and she knocks him out; however, when the police arrive, they discover that he is dead and the golf club is in a different location. Simon Cage is an antiquarian book dealer with a paranormal talent for reading crime scenes. He sometimes works with Luther Pell (who is in a relationship with Raina Kirk, of Kirk Investigations) on some cases, and travels to Burning Cove to enjoy a little vacation and stay at Luther Pell's resort. The day after the swimming pool incident, Raina unexpectedly leaves town for a bit, leaving Lyra in charge of Kirk Investigations. Simon and Lyra end up working together to try to solve the mystery of where and why Raina left so abruptly, and to determine if she is in danger. They end up working really well together and discover all sorts of crazy happenings.

This book is action-driven and tightly plotted. It grabbed the interest of this reader from the start. It was hard to put down! The level of tension is perfect for this book, and the pace is steady. The interactions don't seem forced, but seem to happen organically as part of the story. Occasionally, the bad characters get a little clichéd, but that seems to happen regularly in different books. This is a fun read with a lot of action and intensity. Simon and Lyra are both likeable characters and their dynamic is fun to read.

While this book can be read as a stand-alone, it is part of a series of books that all revolve around the same time period and the same locale. Characters from previous books in the series occasionally show up in the ensuing books, adding to the enjoyable reading experience.

New Girl in Little Cove is a good old fashioned novel about trying to acclimate oneself to a new, tiny town and an entirely new situation. It’s one part Under the Tuscan Sun, another part To Sir, With Love.

The population of Little Cove, Newfoundland,  is exactly 389 people in 1985 – 390 when recent college graduate Rachel O’Brien joins the community to teach French to a room of four ninth graders in a small Catholic school. She’s been hired to replace a woman who just ran off with the local priest. Everyone is – perhaps naturally – suspicious of Rachel’s motivations.

The Newfies she meets immediately peg her for the mainlander she is, but Rachel’s not about to be outdone – this is her first classroom, and she’s going to teach with an even hand, even if she gets nasty notes taped to her car window telling her to leave the community posthaste. Rachel knows how to win people over, from her dry-eyed landlady, Lucille, to science teacher Doug Bishop, with whom she is instantly smitten.

But what of Rachel’s past? What will the year hold for her students?  She only knows that she has a year to convince the school to renew her contract – or return to life on the mainland forever.

New Girl in Little Cove will likely appeal to folks who love Jenny Colgan and other cozy slice-of-life writers; it’s warm and charming without being saccharine, funny and emotional without being maudlin.  It does give in to a few moments of cliché, with an ending line that’s a bit of a groaner, but the book’s general charm manages to win out in the end.

There are the usual themes – new love after shattering romantic disappointment, children struggling to make the grade, some of who will make it to the next level and some of whom will not, he outsider becoming an insider, and new friendships springing from initial mistrust. Matters of linguistics and religion pop up, and eventually the townsfolk start to show their loyalty to Rachel and what she has meant to them, in spite of her outsider status.

Rachel herself is what makes the story interesting. I liked her sense of humor and her ability to see her own flaws combined with the way she triumphs over the sticks and stones thrown at her.  Her romance with the much more traditional Doug has to overcome some setbacks before they can finally allow themselves to love. Though the author’s handling of the  school-set material isn’t anything new, it’s still charming.  Which sums up the book at large - the entire process is sweet and well-written, though not especially exceptional in the field.

Nevertheless, if you’re in the mood for a cozy novel and you really want to bed down in the early spring with something that’s not too lighthearted but not too serious, New Girl in Little Cove will please you.

Note: The book deals frankly with a teenager’s suicide attempt and with matters of a botched abortion, parental grief and unwanted pregnancy.

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent retailer
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The Lady Has a Past is a thrilling tale of secrets and murder. From the very first scene you are pulled into a story of mystery and misdirection. This story reunites us with Raina Kirk, Luther Pell and other characters from the previous books but this book can be read standalone. In this installment we meet Simon Cage a book dealer and more and Lyra Brazier a woman fighting societal norms and expectations. Lyra is smart, bright and gifted at making people feel special. Perfect skills for an investigator. I really enjoyed watching Simon and Lyra discover the bad guys, their motives and most of all each other.

Lyra Brazier is barely a week into her new job as an investigative apprentice when her boss, Raina Kirk, leaves her in charge and disappears. Lyra and Raina's lover, Luther Pell, know instantly something is wrong and they aren't going to stop looking until they find her. When Luther calls in a specialist, Lyra finds herself working with Simon Cage to track down Raina. The trail leads them to Labyrinth Springs Hotel and Spa where they discover Raina isn't the only woman who has gone missing. Secrets, attempted murder, accomplished murder, blackmail, and more mean that Lyra's first big case may end up becoming her last.

Lyra is definitely not someone you would imagine as a private investigator. She's vibrant, optimistic, interested in everyone, and willing to listen to them talk. And everyone talks to her, sooner or later. But while she's easy to underestimate, the more cynical Simon, Luther, and Raina all learn that she has the instincts for the job, and the tenacity to see it through. She may be a glass-half-full optimist, but she is willing to face potentially unpleasant truths in order to get answers. She's a force of her own, and I loved how people would underestimate her one minute and then she'd stand up to them the next. She never thought twice about standing up to even Luther when it was required. Lyra also accepts people as they are, not judging them for actions they may have needed to take in the past or things they found hard to accept about themselves. Simon is a quieter presence, but a force in his own right. He accepted that Lyra was going to work the case even though he didn't want her to, and learned to acknowledge her contributions to the search. Lyra's acceptance of him and his unusual talent for reading hot energy allowed him to slowly begin accepting that part of himself in a way he hadn't before. The two are opposites, but complement each other instead of clash and develop an excellent partnership- both personally and professionally.

Book 5 in the Burning Cove series (Close Up, TightRope), Lady both stands alone and as part of the series. Cameos from past characters delight series readers without throwing off new readers. Series readers will enjoy Luther and Raina getting plenty of time as the main secondary characters while new readers won't feel like they are missing anything in the build up of Luther and Raina's development.

The glamorous and dangerous 1930s era is described brilliantly, plunging readers into the glitz and wonder of the Los Angeles get-away small town of Burning Cove. The seedier Labyrinth Springs is as much a character as any of the people and readers will delight in this mystery and romance. And, as always in this series, the Art Deco cover is amazing and deserves its own 5 star review.

Lyra Brazier recently moved to Burning Cove leaving behind her family and socialite past. As Raina Kirk’s new investigative apprentice at her detective agency, Lyra has a lot to learn; however, she gets thrown in the deep end very quickly. When her first assignment goes sideways, Lyra has to learn to get tough in a very short time as her boss, Raina, disappears after leaving a mysterious note. Raina was last seen at an exclusive hotel and spa in California. Raina’s dangerous lover, Luther, who has all kinds of connections, some legal and others decidedly not, sends Lyra on an undercover assignment to find her missing boss.

Luther enlists his associate Simon Cage who is among other things, an antiquarian book dealer. Simon has some very hidden talents including a psychic one. He can touch objects and get a reading on emotions and events related to the person or people who handled it last. Lyra and Simon pose as a newlywed couple to ferret out what happened to Raina, and find her if she is still alive. What Lyra lacks in experience she makes up for it with enthusiasm, a talent for reading people as well as getting them to talk having spent years as part of high society so she knows how to behave in a ritzy place where the rich, famous, and glamorous gather.

The hotel is famous for its beauty spa which turns out to have a variety of services that seem more like medieval torture with their bizarre contraptions and less than soothing health resort treatments. Apparently, women in the 1930’s also bought into the idea of “what price, beauty?” The spa treatments Lyra subjects herself to have little to do with relaxation and pampering; however, it is clear this is where important clues lie as to what happened to Raina.

Lyra and Simon have to get to know each other fast in order to convincingly play a loving couple. Each one has issues from their personal history, especially Simon whose psychic talent made him feel like a freak as a child. Lyra takes perky to a whole new level while Simon’s dour and serious demeanor keeps her feet on the ground but just barely. Raina’s secret past seems to have caught up with her making for more than one twisty path to be unraveled. This romantic suspense tale is fifth in the Burning Cove series; but it can be read as a standalone.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. I remember watching madcap movies from the 1930s growing up, and while slightly more serious than Bringing Up Baby, this book manages to perfectly evoke the feel of those films. Lyra is a spirited, intelligent woman who is trying to find her new place in life after some disappointments, and she lands in a position as an apprentice private investigator. She never expected to have to jump straight into the thick of things just a couple of days into her job, but she embraces it and her experiences.
I adored Lyra, and she and Simon made an excellent team. They quickly learned to respect each other, and they worked very well together. While I still want a whole book of just Raina and Luther, having a plot that centered on them was enough to sate my need. There is quite a bit of action and adventure as they search for Raina, and it keeps the pages turning quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and I could not put this down. There should be a few content warnings for allusions to assault suffered by other characters, but it is not on page. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a good romp with enjoyable characters.

This is a really solid romantic thriller with mild paranormal elements that delivers on both the thriller and the romantic aspects of the story. I really enjoyed reading it, but on reflection, I was troubled by the characterisation of domestic violence and violence against women in this story.