Possible content warnings for Buried Deception:

Sexual assault
Sexual violence
Rape
Violence
Stalking
Trauma
PTSD
Anxiety/panic attacks
Snakes

This is a dark crime thriller with romantic elements between the main female character, Mia Frost a psychiatrist at a fairly new Dragonfly Clinic specialising in trauma and hypnotherapy, and Easton Crew a retired Marine who opened a search and rescue business and training school called LYNX. We meet Easton at the beginning of a search operation for teenager Courtney Hayes who has been missing for around 24 hours. After being found in the swamps of Black Cat trail, it appears Courtney has been seriously assaulted and Mia is recruited to aid in her mental recovery.

It appears the suspect is nicknamed the Black Cat Stalker as other victims have previously come forward. We soon find out that Mia was attacked in a similar way over a decade before Courtney so managing to separate her trauma from Courtney's is extremely difficult.

It is hard to discuss this book in detail without spoiling it. Easton and Mia find comfort in each other, although it is tense at first.

At points, reading this book was extremely difficult due to the graphic descriptions of events. At some points, I didn't feel it was necessary and that's why I have included a list of content warnings as, although violence is expected due to the nature of the book, the topics mentioned are intense.
I would read more by this author for sure. I had not suspected the Black Cat Stalker to be the person revealed and that makes for a good mystery!

Thank you!

4.5⭐️

Let me star with that I’M OBSESSED with crime and any other mystery shows and I did not know what this book was about. I just liked the cover and I wanted to read it. And I was HOOKED.

Yes, there are HUGE trigger warnings and I totally get it that so many people not into those. But I loved reading about this, I loved the concept, the mystery, the psychology part and writing style.

My only problem was the romance between the main characters. Let’s skip the part that the guy was stalking Mia like a creep and the case was ‘looking for a stalker’ so that was not a great first impression for me. And yeah, the ‘love’ happened so quickly and I did not like that, but the other things were absolutely brilliant.

Definitely will read the author’s other books. Thanks for the arc🤍

A big thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for approving me of a copy of an e-arc of this book!
Couldn't put this book down! I was so engrossed in the story, that I'd willingly offer myself into that world time and time again.

Right, this was my introduction to this author and it was not my cup of tea.

We were immediately thrown into the POV and headspace of the male lead, a *clears throat, checks notes* man wearing unwashed-for-days khakis and a t-shirt with pit stains. SEXY. This is supposed to be a romantic thriller? Ha. Hygiene is my bare minimum. I don't care if it's real-to-life, this is a romance novel, lmao. The three men we immediately meet are all painfully cishet alpha male Texan Men. I now get why this was available as Read Now on Netgalley.

There is then a completely nonsensical passage as our lead guy and his multiple guns-toting buddy arrive at the search area for the book's opening crime. A toddler is running around, pantless, and one of the men refers to "her", because of their long hair, and the other says no, it's a boy because it has a penis. Lmfao. This enby reader isn't doing this.

We’re in Skull Hollow a teenage girl has gone missing and Sheriff McNamara has called in the “Chief” (Easton) who runs a search and rescue/combat tracking company. When a girl
Goes missing!.

I really enjoyed this book and I’ve already downloaded another book by this author.

Buried Deception was incredible in so many ways, starting with its characters. The way that Mia described not only her own trauma but trauma in general, was so beautiful and raw. Amanda McKinney writes with so much truth woven into her characters and story that it would be difficult not to get sucked in. Add in the mystery and the genuine intrigue of the story and you had me completely lost in the pages.
Easton was so reserved with others, I expected him to have a long and difficult road when it came to trusting Mia. But there seemed to be something about her that pulled him in and took all his defenses out. And I love when the tough guy gets deep! Especially when it's someone he's attracted to. Mia certainly smashed through all Easton's walls. He was also a natural hero. But one who didn't realize how much of a hero he was. There were some jaded feelings from his own past. But he was also naturally protective over those he felt responsible for. And Mia was most one of those people quickly. More than that, he had a firm belief in right and wrong. And no one was going to sway him. So his job as CEO of a tactical tracking company made sense. As did his past as a marine.
The fact that Mia took her own trauma and situation and turned them into a way to help others was admirable. But it was also relatable. Because so many people take what they've been through and turn it into a career of helping others. Making sure they don't go through the same types of situations. Or helping them recover once they have. It made Mia an admirable character and a very memorable one too. Because when you read a lot of novels, it can be hard to remember all the characters you've read about. But Mia is going to be one I always remember. Because she is fierce, professional, and tough. But also allowed herself to be vulnerable and open with someone else. And I think that's pretty impressive. It was also clear she was a very talented psychologist and natural profiler. 
The mystery and setting of the novel were creepy as hell. A stalker in the woods is a terrifying premise, to begin with. But add in that it's happening in the foggy and naturally eerie setting of the swamplands in East Texas? Yeah, that made for a pretty terrifying mystery. But in the best way possible, because I'm a sucker for a mystery that gives me chills, and this one provided that in spades. Every moment had me getting into it deeper and deeper. You know an author has a true gift when the real world around you fades away and you find yourself completely immersed in the world they have presented to you. That's what happened with this book and it made for an even better experience. I was lost within these pages and did not want to be found.
Easton and Mia have both had traumas in their lives and while they did their best not to be affected by the case while investigating, that's easier said than done. Especially for Mia who was feeling her past blend into the situation in front of her in the present. It was understandable why Easton was concerned about things in that case. But Mia was also an extremely capable and strong character. So when the two of them teamed up, I knew there was going to be some intense sparks flying. And I was so happy to be right. Their interactions were bursting at the seams with tension. It was clear pretty much from the moment they teamed up to work on the case, that things between them were going to go way beyond professional. 
This novel checked all of my boxes and then some when it comes to finding a good book. It had a beautiful romance intertwined with an intriguing and terrifying mystery. But it also had so much depth and emotion on every page. The mystery kept me riveted to the pages for the entire length of the novel and the ending was satisfying. This is listed as book one and I cannot wait for there to be more books in this series. Because I absolutely will be reading all of them. And while this is the first book by Amanda McKinney I have ever read, it most certainly is not going to be the last. She has found another fan in me and is absolutely being added to my favorite author list. 
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Buried Deception by Amanda McKinney is a romantic thriller. The novel is the first book in a new series called On The Edge. The book revolves around a small town in Skull Hollow, East Texas where there is a killer on the loose. Mia is a local psychologist who is asked to give a profile of the killer. Easton Crew leads a group of men who are known as a technical tracking company. Together they are thrown together to help discover a missing person that may have been hurt by the killer.

Everything is a bit topsy turvy, which is figured out as you read more about the various peoples and the situation. There are secrets, which explain more about what is happening, as they are shared.

I liked the characters of Mia and Easton, even as they are not good at sharing information with each other right away. I found the story interesting and hopefully there are going to be more interactions between Easton’s company and the group of psychologists that Mia works with.

Buried Deceptions by Amanda McKinney is a good read that kept me reading late into the night.

4.5⭐

Buried Deception is my first book by author Amanda McKinney, and it's an intriguing and beautifully descriptive one. That enticed me in and kept me engaged throughout.

As Easton a former marine and owner of LYNX. A tracking company that teaches law enforcement and the military how to track predators of all kinds in the swamp ridden terrain of East Texas. Joins forces with local psychologist Dr Mia Frost. To hunt for a man nicknamed the Black Cat Stalker after a teenage girl is brutally raped on the Black Cat Trail.

But when one of Mia's clients disappears, Easton begins to wonder what is going on. As this guy doesn't fit Mia's profile and Mia seems oddly and overly concerned for a man she claims is just a client.

Yet, as a spark ignites between the pair, secrets swallow them whole and Mia is pushed to the edge both physically and mentally.

But do Mia and Easton believe in each other enough to not merely find this elusive man in black but build a future together?

And with heat, tension, intrigue, suspense and lots of luscious detail. This was a captivating introduction to both series and author, and I'll definitely be looking out for more.

I would also enthusiastically recommend Buried Deception to others.

Since I enjoyed her novel 'Cabin 1', I picked up a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I didn't like her writing style in this book. I read and reread the first chapter trying to connect with the character and understand what was being said. I continued on, but the writing style and the characters turned me off. I didn't finish the book.

I got absorbed in this book quickly. It was honestly hard to put this book down. I enjoyed the suspense and needed to know what happened. I loved the technical jargon spread throughout and feel it lent itself to a more believable thought process of someone in that situation. I also loved the fact that it was a military/search-and-rescue hero rather than a typical cop; it was unique. However, I wish there was more romance between the two characters. The relationship felt rushed and could have been highlighted more in the book. I also thought it was super weird that Chief had been watching Mia for so long and just didn’t tell her. I felt this was something that shouldn’t have been glossed over. It was super creepy and would have liked it addressed before the happily ever after in the end. Overall, I did like this book and think it is a great book if you are into investigations.

I am blown away by this story! I almost don't have the proper words to write a review that does this story justice. It's a blend that is very dark, suspenseful, heartbreaking, romantic, and hopeful all at once. The characters are fantastic. Mia and Easton's chemistry is through the roof. The other men of LYNX and women of Dragonfly have me intrigued and excited for this series. The plot is full of twists and surprises. My jaw kept dropping as the reveals kept hitting. This is Amanda McKinney at her best and you don't want to miss it!

Mia and Easton team up to find a missing woman and discover that the bigger issue is the Black Cat Stalker, who proves to be very triggering for Mia. She's a psychologist with a difficult backstory. While this is billed as a romance, it's more a thriller with a. lot of subplots, one of which is the romantic tension between these two. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fast read.

This is a good romantic suspense, but be warned that it's pretty brutal (see trigger warnings at the very end). It follows PTSD expert psychologist/hypnotherapist Mia and search and rescue guru Easton as they try to figure out the truth behind a horrific assault against a local teenager, an assault that triggers Mia's own PTSD.

The romantic parts are bittersweet--Mia and Easton open up to each other in ways they hadn't to anyone else--though their connection seems rushed. There doesn't seem to be much buildup to justify the trust they feel to ultimately confide in each other, especially on Mia's part. For his, Easton has spent a rather disturbingly long time obsessed with Mia (before ever meeting her). He sort of admits to himself it's stalkerish, but because it stems from a protectiveness he feels, we're supposed to be okay with it. And while I hate to admit it, I sort of was.

Mia is tragic in so many ways, with what to me seems like an unhealthy obsession with birds. In spite of what becomes a therapeutic relationship with Easton, I can't help but feel like she needs more help. I suspect there will be more in this series though, and maybe the author will drop a nugget to that regard.

The birds--the sheer quantity--kind of creep me out.

But the story reads well--I finished it in a few hours--and it's hard to put down. It's a good choice if you like romantic suspense or suspenseful romance. If you are in the fence, maybe take a pass.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Trigger warnings: Rape, sodomy, child sexual abuse, PTSD, death, violence

Creepy but engaging. It had many disgusting moments, but I had to keep reading. Rape is not a fun topic. Strange romance, but it worked for them. Favorite character was the nosy neighbor. I look forward to reading the next one in this series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Mia is a psychologist who also has a plethora of psychological issues. She has devoted her life to helping people just as broken as she is. When a local predator begins attacking people, it heightens her issues. Then Mia meets a handsome stranger and falls for him. Will they be able to solve the mystery of the Black Cat Stalker? This was a good plot that just fell flat some of the time.

Wow!
Gripping and suspenseful right from the beginning!
This is certainly a story filled with so many twists and turns! Talk about a gruesome, dark and totally intense read! I was constantly thinking where is this going.
The two main characters, Mia and Easton, kept me engaged throughout the story. What they both have been through is unfathomable. Loved their relationship from the beginning to the end.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC copy - I happily give my honest opinion - Mia is a psychologist who seems to have more issues than her patients. Easton is a man with his own issues and their work brings them both together. A young woman was missing and Easton and his search and rescue team where called in to help with the search. Mia is called in when the girl is found and has been assaulted. While they both try to find the Black Cat Stalker for their own reasons they start to to find out a bit more about each other.As the story grows it looks like Mia may be more troubled than we first thought. There is a lot going on in this story and I didn’t really understand the initial connection between Easton & Mia, but as they got to know each other I was glad they were there for each other. Mia’s past has the biggest effect on the story and you definitely feel for her. I would have liked a bit more of Easton’s back story, I think it would have made his actions more understandable.

I downloaded this book because I thought it would be up the alleys of Laura Griffin and Sandra Brown.

Boy was I wring. And disappointed.

I love a good book that has a lot going on which ends up being interwoven all together. This author tried that, but she just didn't succeed.

I got whiplash with the subplots. I got bored with the main plots. Too much happening and not enough cohesiveness. Everything felt.forced and flat.

The writing style for this book definitely wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley for thr ARC.

It was my first time reading a mystery romance and I really enjoyed it so much. I loved how I grew suspisous of everybody and how they gave clues again and again.

At the end it was such a suprise to see who the Black Cat Stalker was. I didn't think it would be that person but eventually everything works out and they caught him.

Easton came off a bit stalkerish but later in the book we realize that he just wanted to protect her and how much he cares about her.

Mia has a lot of internal conflict which was really good and I loved how she handles the way she needs to forget her trauma and how she finds a way to work through it so she can help other people

Really loved this book and am looking forward to more mystery romance books.

I don't think this was really a romance, despite it's classification on this website as one. It was more of a thriller with a romantic subplot- which is fine. There's nothing wrong with that in general, it's just a problem for me, a romance-only reader and makes it hard to review. I think the designation should be updated to accurately reflect that it's not a romance.

I was underwhelmed while reading, but again, not really a thriller reader so it's hard to tell.