I'm a fan of Nancy Bush's thrillers. The characters fit perfectly into the communities thay rea trying to protect while the killers are too often closer than thought. I've yet to figure out excatly who before the reveal, which is definitely a good thing in any mystery.

The Gossip did not work for me at all. The story and the writing were not very good. I enjoyed Ms. Bush's previous book in the series, but this one felt off.

A fast paced interesting psychological thriller made for an interesting read.

I would like to thank Kensington Books , Zebra and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

In Nancy Bush’s The Gossip, the 2nd installment in the River Glen romantic suspense series, this romantic suspense will have you at the edge of your seat. For former cop Mackenzie Laughlin, it all started for her when she was assigned to look for Rayne Sealy, who had been reportedly missing by her best friend Bibi. While she looked into her disappearance, she looked for clues in her life from her family and friends. Back at the Ridge Point Assisted Living facility, she’s been the latest gossip among the ladies including Emma Whelon, who might have a piece of the puzzle. But when her body was founds in the river weeds, she knew something sinister happened to her. And that’s when she hooked up with Jesse James Taft, a PI who’s working on a different angle on the same case with the same suspect in mind. While they worked together, someone lurked int he distance, keeping an eye on the investigation and the players involved with a watchful eye. He hated the pretty mean girls who made fun of him in high school. And now it was his time to pay them back with karma. During the investigation, they begin to connect the dots and piece the puzzle together while they’ve gotten underneath each other’s skin. When they’ve thought they had the right suspect to help out the RGPD, they guessed wrong when it hit come to home for Mackenzie as she fought for her life to bring him down in the end.


This twisted romantic suspense will send you goosebumps and take you on a wild ride. I cared for Mackenzie who wanted her job back at the police force and climb the ladder her own way. A woman on a mission, she cared for her mother and step-sister while she needed to find a place of her own. As for Taft, I’ve found him charming and amusing as a PI, and how he cared for her and Carnoff’s two pugs. They do make a helluva team and have great chemistry with each other. The dual locations of River Glen and Laurelton Oregon painted a vivid picture to the scene. The theme of the story is if you don’t have nothing nice to say, they don’t say it at all since what goes around comes around.

This spine-tingling romantic suspense has all the right ingredients splashed together for a recipe of a great read this summer. I did find one thing to nitpick on since most spots were repetitive in nature in some scenes. I rated this book, four out of five stars because of some dragged spots. If you love romantic suspense with spine-tingling suspense, a splash of romantic drama, and tons of non-stop breath-taking action, The Gossip is the one for you. This book is recommended for readers who love Lisa Jackson, Karen Rose, and other romantic suspense novels that make you want to read more.

Differcult to keep up with all the characters, Not really into stories with High school kids, but overall It was a alright book.

I LOVED this book.

The second installment in the series, The Gossip is very well written with characters you will grow to love and some to hate.

Mackenzie is back and this time she is investigating a local woman's disappearance. Heart-pounding thriller, this is a must-read!!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I love when the underdog comes out shining, but this book is a good example of what can happen when the underdog takes his bloody revenge. There's a lot of characters happening here and there's a bit of a lag in the middle, but Bush comes out of the gate strong, with a strong finish. 3.5 stars

"You want a picture," Chas said, reading her mind as he took a sip.
"I know you don't want them. It's okay."
"This is our secret. You know that."
"I do."
She just didn't know why it had be soooo secret. The thought that he could be married again made her heart jerk painfully. But even if that was true, she wasn't giving up. She couldn't.

But Rayne did give up. Because Chas was definitely not who she thought he was.

This story is a twisty tale of a psychopath who, once he starts killing, definitely doesn't want to stop.

It's a good story. I will definitely go back and read the first in the River Glen series.

We all know the saying about sticks and stones, but the truth is, words can hurt you. And sometimes, they can come back to haunt you, as they do in this case, when a twisted killer decides it’s time to take revenge on the popular girls who slighted him in high school… twenty years later.

The story follows the points of view of several characters, including Emma, a woman with mental damage from a long-ago trauma who is resident in a nursing home with much older people due to her special needs, and Mackenzie, a cop who recently quit the force due to harassment from her boss, now taking occasional investigative work to help out friends. When she’s asked to look into the disappearance of Rayne, who later turns up dead in circumstances which don’t feel right, Mac runs into Taft, an actual PI surveilling Rayne’s ex for different reasons entirely. Their two investigations collide and they decide to work together.

I wasn’t keen on the way Taft tried to cut Mac out of things ‘to protect her’. I did like how she very firmly set him straight on the matter. And it was really interesting to see a character like Emma with a significant mental disability as a principal character with a major role to play. Emma’s acquired brain injury makes her extremely literal and her understanding often limited, but her kindness still shone through and the things she saw and heard - when others dismissed her as irrelevant - ended up being crucial.

This feels like it’s aiming to be a romantic suspense, but to be honest the romance between Mac and Taft felt a bit grafted on and I thought it could have been dropped entirely and the story just played as a straight mystery suspense. The book starting off with a scene from the point of view of a cat also threw me as I wondered for a couple of chapters if it was going to be a cozy mystery! It’s like the author wasn’t quite sure what genre the book was meant to be. Although a good read, I’m marking it down a star for this slightly mixed messaging.

First things first: This is the second book in the River Glen series, but can definitely be read as a standalone.

When a local woman is found at the base of a popular overlook, the police assume it was an accident, but after a friend asks ex-cop Mackenzie “Mac” Laughlin to look into it, she begins to think it could be much more than that. Her investigation runs into the investigations of local P.I. Jesse Taft, himself a former cop, and the pair begin to look into a series of suspicious deaths and activities surrounding a group of people in the small community.

There was a lot going on in this book, but I really enjoyed it. The pieces all seemed to work together to create a really good story that drew me into the River Glen community. I was really sucked into the story from the very beginning. There were a couple of nice twists in there, but overall the story flowed smoothly, and I just enjoyed reading it. It was. Nice, quick long weekend read.

The characters were really great as well. Mac was great, and I really felt connected to her and was rooting for her. Her stepsister, Stephanie was also a great supporting character. There was also a second family unit with Emma, Harley, Jamie, etc. and they were great as well. I hope to see more of all of them in future River Glen books.

Also, several animals make up the supporting cast of this book and I loved that. They were some of my favorite characters, lol! I loved to see it!

Nancy Bush remains one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, I encourage anyone interested in the genre to check her out!

This book is not a favorite. I struggled to finish it and I don't think it's because I did not read Book 1 in the series. I truly did not know this was a second book in a series.
I was truly lost in the stories at the home where Emma now lives. The conversations regarding gossip, the cat who apparently kills people by sleeping with them and the sad truth of the fights between the two old ladies and the fact that they both have grandsons who apparently have a transient sexual relationship with this woman. I felt sorry for Rayne who imagines every man she meets is the one for her and she is willing to do whatever it takes to hold him. I could not reconcile her persona with the mean girl persona that Chas recalls. How life changes us.
Then Chas who almost seems to be a split personality has the same issue with every girl he sees imagining himself the perfect hero.
I found the story depressing and while the romance between Taft and Mac is a bright spot and Emma and her niece Harley are good for a few laughs it wasn't enough to salvage this one for me.

Whew! A lot going on in this one! I'm a sucker for the easy-to-read high school revenge stories and I enjoyed this, but there were a lot of characters to keep up with. Mac is searching for Rayne, a missing woman in her home town of River Glen. Rayne is found murdered and she enlists the help of PI Jesse James Taft. All in all, a nice read, just a little slow in places. I would recommend reading Book 1 in the River Glen series, as this is Book 2, but you do not absolutely have to.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Nancy Bush and Kensington Books for this ARC.

The Gossip by Nancy Bush
River Glen #2

Have you ever wondered if genetics, events, or some other elements determine the path a person takes? Why can one person be bullied and become a murderer and another a philanthropist and a third end up committing suicide? I did ponder that a bit as I read this book and even though I found out the “why” of what one person was up to…I didn’t feel what he chose to do could be justified by what he seemed to have experienced…at least in comparison to others. Anyway…

What I liked:
* Mac: a woman who left her profession for personal reasons and yet is not willing to give up on finding justice for others. A good sister, daughter and potentially a super sleuth.
* Taft: a PI who left policing as he did not fit the mold – he still wanted to seek justice so seeks truth through investigating privately.
* Emma: I knew and cared for people like her…people mentally alert but neurologically impaired. She could star in her own book and hope to see more of her in the future books of the series.
* Duchess: Emma’s canine companion, protector, and alarm system.
* Twink: very aware cat that had a special sense that some in the nursing home feared – hope she ends up okay.
* Emma’s and Mac’s families – they were supportive and good people…for the most part.
* The sleuthing and searching for answers and the path that Mac & Taft ended up following
* The way the information found lead to answers and tied up some cases.
* Getting to know the characters – had not read book one of the series and wonder if it would have given more backstory but was fine without having read the previous book.
* The potential for romance between Mac & Taft in the future.
* That the book ended without a cliffhanger but did set up for book three in the series.

What I didn’t like:
* The killer: a man who seemed more than a wee bit deranged and very into what he was doing if somewhat inept at times.
* Knowing that bullying does take place and can cause serious mental damage to those bullied.
* More than one characters in the story…but only those I was meant not to like.
* Not feeling that I really connected to the main characters…and that could be because I didn’t read book one?

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? I think so…

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

This story is fast paced with a lot going on. I didnt realize that it was the second book in a series. Emma is living in an assisted care home after the events of the first book, which I really want to read now. She is on the periphery of most of the main action of this story, which makes me want to learn her back story even more.
The main character in this mystery is Mackenzie 'Mac' Laughlin. A recently ex-cop, between jobs and between living situations trying g to figure out what she wants to do with her life now that her job didn't work out. An acquaintance, thinking Mac is still a cop, contacts her to find her missing friend. Though she isn't a cop anymore Mac decides to take on the job and it quickly becomes more complicated than she ever thought it would. It also ends up hitting closer to home than Mac could have ever anticipated.
I really hope that this series continues, because I would love to see where Mac goes from here. There is most definitely an opening for a next installment.
Thank you to Kensigton books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

The Gossip – Nancy Bush

MacKenzie ‘Mac’ Laughlin is a former police officer, who left the small River Glenn police force due to her mother’s cancer diagnosis and the constant, unwanted, advances from her boss, the Police Chief. Still drifting along, trying to decide where she wants her life to go, she finds herself intrigued when an acquaintance, Bibi, asks for her assistance in locating a missing friend. Rayne has been missing for a week, and while she’s been trying to dodge a rent payment, this disappearance is uncharacteristic for her. Bibi knows that Rayne was secretively seeing someone, and suspects that Rayne’s ex, a bad boy named Seth, may be responsible.

While on an initial stakeout of Seth, Mac runs into Jesse James Taft, a local PI, who also appears to be watching Seth. When Mac asks questions, Taft is evasive, but the two exchange numbers, meet for an impromptu dinner, and soon enter a partnership of sorts to assist one another. Jesse is well into discovering a drug running operation, and Mac’s assistance is invaluable.

Meanwhile, the killer, identified as Chas, decides that Bibi too, has to go. Fearful of that Rayne might have revealed about him, he ambushes her in her garage, beating her severely, before devising a way to make it look accidental. As the investigation into the deaths of the two friends continues, Chas sets his sights on some other potential victims – one of whom is Mac…

The premise of this book is good – a beleaguered teen who grows up exacting revenge on his tormentors, and in the spur of the moment, a killer is born. I struggled with a lot of the introductions and dialogue as characters were introduced – it didn’t flow all that well for me and at times I had a bit of trouble following the story and which character went where – the assisted living versus the fitness place, etc. I very much enjoyed the characters of Mac and Jesse and hope to see them together in future endeavors as they are quite likeable.

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from #Netgalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit Netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

Mackenzie Laughlin isn't quite sure what to do with herself once she leaves the River Glen police force. When she is approached to help find Rayne, a local woman who has disappeared, Mac decides to take on the case. In the course of the case, Mac comes across Private Investigator, Jesse James Taft, who has a case that may be connected to Rayne. The situation takes a deadly turn when Rayne is found dead. They aren’t sure if it was an awful accident or something more sinister. As they investigate, they come across information that could make a killer come out of hiding.

The Gossip by Nancy Bush is a suspenseful thriller with characters that stand out. Mac is a strong woman and Taft is a great match for her. The Gossip is the second book in the River Glen series. I did not realize that when I requested this book and I did feel as though I was missing character development. I would def recommend reading these books in order. With that side, I really enjoyed this story and the way it kept me hooked throughout. The atmosphere is thick and almost felt like another character. Nancy Bush has created a world that I would love to visit again (after I read the first book.)

Who would want to kill a young woman? Rayne can’t believe how lucky she is to have met Chas he is everything that she has ever wanted. But Chas has decided that it is time for her to go he has had fun with her but he needs to carry on with his plan.
Mackenzie knows that she shouldn’t get involved in looking for a missing woman but she was asked and she has some spare time. She still misses being a cop but she had no choice but to move on with her life. She knows that she shouldn’t get involved with Taft but she needs his help and he is so easy on the eye.
When her client is found murdered Mac knows that there is more to play here she just needs to find out the truth.
Will Mac & Taft be able to find the answers that they are both looking for?
A good read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a slow burn! I felt that I needed to read the first book before I read this one. I thought the characters were all over the place. I may go back and read the first one, and then come back to this one at a later time. This had potential, but this is my fault because I didn't follow the order of the book.

The Gossip is a mystery with a bit of romance thrown in.
The main character, Mac, has quit her job working with the police department and is at odds on what she wants to do with her life.
The amount of characters is a bit overwhelming but once you get that straightened out in your mind, it is manageable.
This is the second book in the series but I think it is ok to read as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.