“Why am I a therapist?”

“Because I’m broken.”

I have read a couple of Amanda McKinney’s books, but never reviewed them. This is the best I have read…so far.

Mia is a psychologist, who owns and runs The Dragonfly Clinic, specializing in Ptsd and criminal profiling.

Chief is the founder of the LYNX Group, a combat tracking facility and search and rescue team. He has been called out by Skull Country Sheriff McNamara to help find Courtney Hayes, who is lost in the swamp. Could the Black Cat Stalker have upped his game. Instead of raping and walking away, he now rapes and kills.

I laughed at the way Chief’s operatives scare trespassers off his land.

I did have issues with some of her characterizations of people in the beginning of the book. It doesn’t fit with anything I’ve seen on true crime and rescue shows on TV. BUT, it is fiction and artistic license does apply. Maybe there is a reason. I vacillated between a three and four rating, but because I could not put it down until I found out the ending, it earned that extra star.

Once the mystery got going, I was so into it, I could hardly stop to, well, you know. I love looking into the human psyche and reading about damaged characters dealing with extreme trauma, and villains who deserve every bad thing that comes their way.

Amanda dealt with delicate topics, like brutal trauma, PTSD, rape, grief, loss, and so much more.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Buried Deception by Amanda McKinney.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

🐚 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 🐚

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: mystery, strangers to lovers, forced proximity

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: mental illness, PSTD, s*xual assault, kidnapping

The beginning is a little slow, but it keeps you in suspense and makes you wonder who is the bad guy.

Easton is the owner of a company - Lynx, which trains soldiers in combat tracking and search rescue, while Mia is a therapist. Easton and his team are called when a teenager girl goes missing, suspecting the Black Cat Stalker who has attacked other women in the past. He meets Mia when she is called to help the police with creating a criminal profile. Both Mia and Easton are stubborn and have their traumas, but they can't deny the attraction between them.

At the end there is a plot twist, but it didn't leave me amazed because I already suspected something. And I was right!

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Amanda McKinney for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that this book really didn't click with me. I thought the mystery/suspense part was pretty good, but I read mainly for romance and in my opinion, that was seriously lacking. Still, if you are more interested in thrills and chills, it's worth a read.

Definitely a book you needed to read for a short while before making any decisions on because if I had stopped reading I would have missed out on this brilliant complexed thriller.
This was definitely a psychological crime thriller so why it’s put under romance I’m not sure as if you were wanting that, the content of this book is a little gruesome & could be upsetting.
This turned out to be such a brilliant read & so much of it I didn’t see coming as it kept me engrossed up to the last page.
Well written with plenty of suspense & intrigue it is definitely not predictable in any way.
Can be a difficult read at times as some of the graphic descriptions may make you wince, as it covers sexual assault, rape, violence, ptsd to name but a few.
So not for the feint hearted of you.
Yes there is an element of romance in the book but not enough to label it a romance.
Having said all that It was an exciting read with so much going on to keep you engrossed in this dark intriguing storyline.
This one had me on the edge of my seat as I got more into the story & I am so glad I didn’t stop reading at the beginning.
When a young woman is brutally attacked while out hiking all the evidence is pointing to the Black Cat Stalker.
Dr. Mia Frost is brought in on the case to do a psychological profile.
When another person goes missing Easton Crew a former U S marine is brought in to the case as he is CEO of a tactical tracking company.
It soon becomes evident that things aren’t as they seem & neither are the people for that matter.
This compelling read will have you glued to its pages once you start reading it.
Plenty of surprises I did not see what was coming & who the culprit turned out to be.
Love it when the author keeps you in suspense to the very end.
Brilliant exciting read.

I found the content matter of this story quite disturbing. Cue, graphic sexual assault scenes.

Narrated through the first person dual narrative of Mia, a psychologist, and Easton, owner of LYNX a tactical response company that trains soldiers in combat tracking and search & rescue.

Easton and his team are called in when a teenage girl goes missing on the infamous Black Cat Trail, a trail where women have previously been attacked by a person labelled as the Black Cat Stalker. He crosses paths with Mia Frost when she is called in to help police with criminal profiling.

There is a lot to unpack in this story. I was intrigued with the process of criminal profiling and also the search and rescue headed by Easton was interesting and seemed to be well researched.
What I couldn't come to grips with was the graphic sexual assault scenes and Easton's creepy stalking of Mia. (That's not love, that's just disturbing).

McKinney's themes of mental illness, PTSD and disassociate amnesia were interesting and well delivered.
I loved that I couldn't figure out who the Black Cat Stalker was. I changed my suspect three times during the book but never guessing right.

I didn't get into the story until abut the 60% mark but I feel it was wrapped up well with a satisfying ending.

A thrilling new romance or maybe a romantic thriller, anyway, a ton of feels in this.
This, the first of the new series "On The Edge", and I sure was, on the edge of my seat as I read this heart-wrenching, gut-clenching journey of Mia, and Easton. Their fascination with each other amps up the heat as does the horrific deeds of a person dubbed the Black Cat Stalker.
From start to finish it's filled with mystery, suspense and action, with a shivery twist or three, some snark and wit, along with funny bits, and a whole slew of new characters I hope to read more of.
First in series, but can stand alone with an HEA for these mains, and their FeatherBabies.
I received an advance reader copy through Netgalley.
I received an early paperback ARC from the author, and I purchased a Kindle edition. I am giving my own thoughts and opinions on Buried Deception.

Menace has come to the small town of Skull Hollow, Texas. Someone is attacking women, causing terror as the frequency of the attacks increase. The author has created a story that kept me reading when I should have been working. I really enjoy characters that have layers and edges, which Mia and Easton both do. The elements of drama, danger, suspense, and intensity into a well-paced and engaging story. Amidst it all Mia and Easton find the soulmate they didn't expect to find.

This is my first novel by this author and I’m a bit ambivalent, even days after finishing it. While marketed as a mystery romance, I viewed it more as a psychological thriller with a romantic element. And for me, that element left something to be desired, especially with the H secretly watching over the h long before they entered into a relationship. I understand his reasoning, but it was still somewhat unsettling.

The suspense element is done exceptionally well, with many, many jaw-dropping, WTH moments as Mia and Easton work to find the Black Cat Stalker. There are some excellent misdirects and the ending is a huge mind freak that left me reeling. The rural law enforcement seemed spot on and was entertaining, if frustrating, in their efforts to solve the case.

The writing style is not my favorite, with much more telling than showing and repetitive introspection. I know some readers love this, so I’m sure this won’t be an issue for those who do. I’m also not the smartest reader in the room, even with a master’s degree in education, but it felt like an ongoing vocabulary lesson with the words whose meanings I had to look up. Also not a problem, but it did interrupt my reading flow.

The dialog and action certainly kept my attention riveted to the story, and I was compelled to continue reading until the bad guy was finally revealed. I’m in awe of a mind that can craft a story with so many twists and surprises that keep the reader guessing until the very end. And what an ending it was! I’m still in shock.

As for my recommendation, if you’re they kind of reader who has no problem with the issues I’ve raised, you’ll love this one. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, reading eagerly until the dramatic conclusion.

I’m always seeking a new author to me and a when a book description as this one catches my interest, I’m all about reading it.

I enjoyed this first book in a new series.

Mia is a criminal psychologist investigating a brutal crime that leads nowhere in sight.

She teams up with a former marine that can help her and her team more than she could imagine. The banter between them was hilarious and swooning. The investigation is collecting new clues with each new chapter, and the twists are dropping out as well.

Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved we get a glimpse of her past and what made her who she is now.

It is an entertaining story that combines police procedural thriller with a romance story balancing the gruesome scenes.

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley

The non-stop suspense and the interactions between the main characters Dr. Mia Frost and Easton “Chief” Crew make this an exciting first mystery in this new series. Easton and his team of former combat trained men, known as the Lynx Group, have been asked to find a missing woman who was hiking the Black Cat trail. When the woman is found, having survived an attack, Dr. Mia Frost, a criminal psychologist and owner of Dragonfly Clinic, is called in to consult with law enforcement. This is the fourth known attack by the Black Cat Stalker and his victims have been able to identify him. Easton recognizes Mia as the woman who has caught his attention and he is becoming obsessed with her. Mia is attracted to Easton, but struggles daily with the emotions of her own attack years ago. When one of Mia’s clients is attacked, will they finally learn the identity of the Black Cat Stalker. Mia is no longer safe from the man who is targeting her. When she goes missing, will Easton be able to find her before it is too late? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation, from the author, for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Buried Deception by Amanda McKinney.
On the Edge.
In the swamps of East Texas, alligators aren’t the only danger lurking in the shadows.
After a young woman is brutally attacked on a popular hiking trail, the evidence points to the notorious Black Cat Stalker. The town of Skull Hollow enlists Dr. Mia Frost to provide a psychological profile and assist in the investigation.
I did enjoy this book. I liked Mia. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.

BURIED DECEPTION has a way of capturing your interest and holding you completely enthralled from start to finish. If it were possible to give it more than 5 stars, I would!! The descriptive narrative pulls you effortlessly into each scene, easily drawing out your emotions. While the complexity of Mia’s and Easton’s characters and the evocative drama surrounding their relationship is enough to keep you thoroughly engaged, when you throw in the suspense and inherent danger of a mysterious stalker and unknown threat, you have a combination that is sure to hold you enthralled throughout this compelling tale. This is a fast-paced read that will not only have you totally involved but will also make it nearly impossible to put down.

"There were too many pieces being added to the puzzle, and the problem was that none of them seemed to fit."

Are you looking for a book that will hook you from the very first line, one that will keep you guessing throughout and will make your mind race with the endless possibilities, that will make you the most suspicious person by second guessing literally everything that is happening, and all of that while simultaneously slowly falling in love with the main characters who start bonding and finding their safe haven in each other? Well, then look no further, because this book brings you everything I've just described.

Buried Deception is an amazingly thrilling romantic suspense novel set in the small town of Skull Hollow, that will try to make you answer the question the whole town is in uproar about: Who is the Black Cat stalker? Who has been stalking young girls while hiking, but seems to have suddenly changed his MO when a young girl goes missing in the swamps? But also, what does this all have to do with dr. Mia Frost, the towns rather unconventional psychologist, who keeps having strong trauma responses, including flashbacks and anxiety attacks, but gets called in by the police to interview the rescued girl and provide a psychological profile of the Black Cat Stalker, solely because the girl had booked an appointment at Dr. Frosts office the following week? And what is former military officer and CEO of a search and rescue unit, Easton Crew's role in all os this, apart from rescuing the missing girl and teaming up with Mia when another one of her patients goes missing?

These are just a few of the questions that kept raging through my mind while reading. The mysterious writing style succeeds at making you think you've figured it all out by throwing little bread crumbs of suspicious information at you, to then later on present you with new facts that will make you doubt everything once again... It all culminates in an ending you probably won't have seen coming, but may have suspected even though you were thrown off the scent right after (like me).

Amanda McKinney isn't only masterful at deceptive twists and turns, she also excels at incorporating the exact right amount of research she has done into various psychological and criminological subjects, such as PTSD, dissociative amnesia, sexual abuse, psychological profiling, hypnosis, etc. to further the story while holding your hand through it all. I must tip my hat at her for writing some excellent depictions of trauma responses, such as a triggered flashback and anxiety attacks.

Now, was this book perfect from a psychological standpoint? No, but there weren't any major disinformations that made my rating go down. However, I'll go over a few things that bothered me or that I would like to clarify for those of you that are interested. Mia is said to be an unconventional therapist as she uses hypnosis and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to treat PTSD, when CBT is actually still a mainstream treatment lots of psychologists use to treat PTSD (alongside EMDR and body-focused therapy treatments that are gaining in popularity). The chapters describing sessions between the therapist and client were amazing to add to the mystery aspect, but contained reactions from the therapist that weren't optimal. For example, I think we can all agree that begging someone to open up will likely not be very effective, especially in therapy. Therapists are firm believers in letting clients decide what they feel safe to share. We will not pressure people into opening up, because we believe they will open up when they feel safe enough to do so. Sometimes a few corners were cut in explanations or statements. The biggest one was an oversimplification of how to heal from trauma, which one of the characters said would be to just accept what had happened. While that is definitely an important part of the process, there's actually a lot more that goes into healing trauma, such as dealing with the effects it had on the body (which had been beautifully mentioned in the book). Another oversimplification was the scene at the tree at the end of the book (which I'll keep very vague to prevent spoiling it, but if you've read it, you'll know which one I'm talking about). Although it was certainly a beautifully romantic scene, from a psychological standpoint it was lacking as such a situation would have elicited a lot more trauma response in both characters. Also, it quite bothered me that one of them decided that they were ready to take the next step in their healing journey and kind of made the other join them in their journey, even though they may not have been ready. But hey, it's fiction and we can't expect everything to be perfect. I did appreciate that the diagnosis was more plausible than it was in Rattlesnake Road. And honestly, these were just small things in a book that was heavily infused with lots of psychological themes and information. I must credit the author for the amount of research she has done and put into this book to make the story work the way it did.

"Two imperfect disasters that somehow, when united, found absolute peace."

As this is a romantic suspense, the romance part needs to be discussed as well. I think the mystery aspect is the most prominent in the book, with the romance being more of a subplot. Also, do not go into this book expecting a fluffy romance story, or you'll be very disappointed. However, if you like slightly twisted romance stories between two traumatized and hurt people trying to figure out what is happening, trying desperately to keep it together and finding they can let down the defenses in the presence of the other solely because they make them feel safe, this will be your cup of tea. (ATTENTION SPOILER AHEAD) Something I would've liked to have seen, was how Mia would have responded to the knowledge that Easton had been observing her every night. I wonder if this would have taken away her sense of safety she felt when near him, or how they would've dealt with that.

I'd suggest you read this book if you like:
- Romantic suspense
- Twisted romance
- Heavy in psychology and criminology
- Lots of twists and turns, unforeseen events that will throw everything off course
- You're mine
- You're the only one who makes me feel safe
- Shows such as Criminal Minds, Perception and Lie To Me (or others that focus on solving a mystery by using profiling and psychological information/studies...)

Please beware of the following trigger warnings: sexual violence (past and present, descriptive), stalking, PTSD, trauma responses, anxiety attacks, attempt at murder, child abuse (descriptive, in the past)

Have you read this and you need more of it? Try Rattlesnake Road by Amanda McKinney, or Moonshot or Black Lies by Alessandra Torre. Both authors excel at writing twisty romances with lots of mystery and plot twists that will keep you guessing.

Buried Deception by Amanda McKinney
On The Edge #1

Excellent introduction to a new series by an author that has never let me down. Two tortured souls with difficult pasts shadowing their lives find a safe haven in one another after ups and downs that cement their connection and their love for one another.

What I liked:
* Mia: psychologist, works with three women who are also friends, suffered trauma in her teens, has anxiety attacks and PTSD, works with patients to alleviate similar symptoms to her own, uses birds as therapy animals, has chemistry with Easton
* Easton: ex-Marine, skilled tracker, owner of business with government affiliations, trains professionals in tracking and other skills, has a great team to work with, was smitten with Mia from first sight and has immediate chemistry with her
* Goldie: Parakeet, lives with Mia and other parakeets, vocalizes words , had me on YouTube listening to parakeets talk
* The plot, location in Texas, character development, supporting characters, and writing that drew me in
* Easton’s team: Dane, Beck, and Alex are intriguing and men that I would love to know more about
* Mia’s colleagues: Jo, Stella, and Luna are true friends and coworkers that are people I hope to hear more about as the series progresses
* The way the backstories of Mia and Easton finally came to light and how those backstories had an impact on their lives
* The thread dealing with the serial rapist-murderer and the way the criminal was eventually exposed
* That I was made to feel a part of the story and became fully invested in it
* Knowing that there will be another book to look forward to.

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that there are evil people in the world as bad as and even worse than the one in this book.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars

Initially, I struggled with this book. The plot of this book is very heavy and grim at it’s core, and whilst I was enjoying the writing style, I wasn’t sure I was in the right headspace to read it. But once I got into the story I was absolutely hooked. I’m a first-time reader of Amanda McKinney’s works, but I’ll definitely be reading more after this. Her writing style was very easy - engaging, with a lightness to it that made it easy to read. Her characters felt very fleshed out, even the minor ones, and there was a quirkiness to all of them that made them feel more believable to me. It’s also very fast-paced and action packed - there really isn’t a dull moment in this book at all.

The romantic side of this book worked well for me. The chemistry between Mia and Easton was good - the way he had been watching her for a while was a little weird to me, but I enjoyed the dynamic between them and I liked how their relationship developed. It definitely got better as the book went on, but I have to say as a whole the romance wasn’t the best thing about this book - it was good, but it definitely took a backseat to the mystery this book focused on.

The actual plot of this book outside of the romance is really strong. It was full of twists and turns; there was always a new development. I thought the construction of the mystery was very skilful - there were just enough hints at the solution that I felt like I was able to try and solve it alongside the characters. I did manage to guess part of the solve but not all of it - I was taken by surprise by how it ended.

Overall I just really enjoyed reading the book. The plot is definitely quite upsetting in parts, but I thought that Amanda McKinney really lightened it with an engaging, personable writing style. The plot moves at a great pace - there are no boring moments, nothing slow, the author used every page to get the most out of this story. The romance was ultimately a sweet and sexy complement to the harshness of the wider plotline, and combined they made for an exciting romantic suspense novel. I would recommend this to anyone who likes fast-paced romantic suspense novels full of twists and turns, but please check content warnings beforehand. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Rape, anal rape, anal rape with an inanimate object, violence, PTSD, panic attacks, vomit, blood, scenes of medical care, needles, death of a partner / loved one (in past), death of a parent (in past), child sexual abuse, imprisonment / incarceration, torture, traffic collision, stalking, on-page sex, unprotected sex (view spoiler), infidelity / cheating (in past).

My Review
I received an ARC from NetGalley. Book comes out September 20, 2022
My introduction to Dr. Mia Frost was interesting as it was the first time I’d heard or read that ‘the reason I became a psychologist was to fix myself.’ I instantly wanted to know what happened to have her thinking that way,
Easton, on the other hand, grossed me out. Why on earth would anyone wear stained, unwashed clothes in public? He also creeped me out because he watched her for a long time before approaching her.
As a thriller, this book was great. The romance, however, seemed to take a backseat in the story. Aside from that good book.
Would I read more from Amanda McKinney? Yes. Would I continue the series? Yes. It was a good thriller.

Until next time peace and happy reading.

This book takes you on a wild ride and keeps you guessing until the very end and was a great balance of suspense with a little romance thrown in.

I loved Mia. She was so resilient and strong. I love that she took an awful traumatic event in her own life and used the experience to help others. And while her visceral reactions in the book were hard to read they were very well written.

I loved Easton too. I loved how he was always the first to assist in a missing persons case. I loved how strong and protective he was.

The mystery in this book was so well written. I seriously never figured it out even though I had moments where I wondered. Everything was fed so carefully to the reader. I'm amazed at the level of suspense.

This book has tons of serious trigger warnings. Sexual assault, panic attacks, and car accidents are the worst. If you have questions DM me.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Amanda McKinney has the ability to keep you on edge throughout an entire book and this is no exception. Predictable it is not but intense and heart stopping it is! Each character has their owns flaws which make the story even more real. Emotional, a little violent, and as always, a fabulous read!

This was my first book by this author AND it certainly will not be my last.

I had no idea who the bad guy was. This was fast paced and I was in the dark for most of it. I really did enjoy it.

Subject matter was dark and hard. But a good read. I’m definitely interested in the other guys getting a book.

I wasn't going to give feedback on this book but honestly, it just wasn't for me i think that the romance and the mystery would be more balanced but it wasn't, it wasn't that bad, it was just more for other audience