Dead in the water at 70%

This is the most boring book I have read in a very long time. It’s cliched, slow moving and flat as a Saskatchewan highway.

Both main characters are such weak, milquetoast and uninteresting sad sacks that I did not care if they ended up together or were brutally murdered by the villains.
The villains btw were one-dimensional and yawn inspiring.

This serves me right for picking up book #30 (!!!) in a series, however in my defence NetGalley does not list those details. This author is probably for people about forty years older than I am.

Also how is it possible that every single person in the book set in Louisiana was white and straight. I’ve come to expect at least a reasonable amount of diversity in my reads because that’s how the world actually looks.

Anyway I would rather eat a bowl a cold instant oatmeal in the plain flavour than read any more of this.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"...there was no shame in needing a service dog...in having PTSD....But he hadn't been able to accept that he deserved the assistance."

"...You want to protect her. You want her to find you useful. You want her to find you...worthy. Worthy of keeping. Worthy of wanting. Because you want her, too."

"He wanted her to trust him with more than her safety. He wanted her to trust him with her pleasure, because he didn't think she'd had nearly enough of that..."

Starting a Karen Rose book means not sleeping until the end; and the riveting murder mystery, Buried Too Deep, by this masterclass storyteller had me up until sunrise finishing a most satisfying romantic suspense.

Cora's been getting letters from her Dad since he deserted the family 23 years ago. She's shocked when his remains are found under a building after its demolition. He's been there 23 years with two bullets in his head. So who's been sending her letters, and why?

Seeking help from Broussard Private Investigations, she finds herself caught up in murders, assaults, stolen laptops, an attic filled with possible clues to the truth about her father and a fiercely protective loyal vulnerable PTSD former Army soldier with the best service dog, Sodapop.

Phin runs every time he has a PTSD episode fearing he might hurt someone. But keeping away from family and friends is not a way to survive. First he'll help Cora because he can, he wants to and he knows she's vulnerable too. Maybe they can heal together.

There's A LOT of secrets, twists, and WTF moments. We know the killer from the start but the whys are a mystery buried deeply in a killer's narcissism.

*Book 3 of the New Orleans series but a standalone.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Buried too Deep by Karen Rose is the 3rd book in her New Orleans series. As I have mentioned previously, I am a big fan of Karen Rose, as her suspense thrillers are amazing, and unputdownable. Buried Too Deep is another fabulous book, as Rose always creates fantastic heroes and wonderful secondary characters, as well as evil villains. Buried Too Deep is a tense, violent, exciting, non-stop action filled story that kept me on the edge of to my seat from start to finish.

Broussard Private Investigations is an elite security firm, in New Orleans. Phin Bishop, suffers from PTSD, and the team always looks out for him. Phin, now has a service dog, SodaPop, who follows him, and helps to make sure Phin is calm. Phin arrives at the office, only to discover their receptionist, Joy has been shot, and though the police suspect him, they realize that he was innocent, only arriving at the office after Joy was hurt. Phin also saw a woman run out of the office, when he arrived, with someone chasing her.

Cora Winslow had contacted Broussard Agency to help to discover who was sending letters to her over the years, as her father had been missing for twenty-three years. Cora is a librarian in the Garden District, and was talking to Joy, when she ran after someone shot Joy; she suspected that she may have been the target at the office. She does go to the police to give further information about the shooting, which cleared her name, especially since a body was discovered buried under some foundations and it turned out to be her missing father. Cora also is determined to find out who has sent letters pretending to be her father. The entire Broussard PI team will work together, which includes Burke, Molly, Val, Antoine and Phin to find the clues as to who is behind the attacks, as well as someone breaking into her home. Molly and Val take turns protecting Cora, with Phin also fixing up things in her home.

Phin will watch Cora, and soon the attraction between them escalates. Cora has a lot of empathy and compassion, as she always is able to calm Phin, as well as SodaPop. I really liked how both of them slowly found each other. Phin and Cora were great characters, but the entire Broussard team was equally fantastic.

We have another POV centered on the killer, as well as his grandson; with the grandson determined to discover the secrets of this grandfather. The grandson, discovers many things about terrible things his grandfather has done, and ultimately must decide who to trust.
What follows is an intriguing, tense, exciting, and edge of your seat suspense story line that had me unable to put the book down; also, with plenty of twists and turns. This was very tense from all the way through, especially with the evil villains constantly killing off many innocent people. I do not want to give spoilers, as you really need to read this book from start to finish.

Buried too Deep is an intense thriller, with non- stop action all the way. As I have said before, Karen Rose never fails to give a fantastic well written thriller that is intense, always on the edge, with fantastic characters, evil villains and a wonderful couple you care for. If you love suspense, with a touch of romance and a thriller all the way, then look no further then Karen Rose.

I absolutely loved this book! The story had me totally engaged, and I found the characters to be really interesting. The slow-burning romance between the main characters, Cora and Phin, who is a bodyguard, was sweet and well-developed. Their chemistry together was fantastic, and Cora's tender care of Phin really pulled at my heartstrings. The author also did a fantastic job of addressing Phin's PTSD, which was really well done.

Now, let's talk about the suspense in the story. It was a wild ride! The author kept me guessing right until the end, and the conclusion was completely unexpected. The plot was gripping and intense, and the characters were complex and engaging.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially if you're a fan of romance with a healthy dose of suspense. I highly recommend giving it a read!

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Karen Rose is the queen of romantic suspense!

Buried Too Deep is a fantastic addition to her New Orleans series. The plot is captivating and keeps you on your toes. The pacing is done well and everything has a purpose. I liked putting the pieces of the puzzle together in this book. I thought the mystery was gripping and very well plotted.

The romance is slow building. I loved the tension between them. It created so much angst and chemistry. The build up to the relationship was done well and made the romance grand and romantic. Phin and Cora were lovely together.

Phin is dealing with PTSD and a new service dog. Karen Rose always does a wonderful job handling tough topics and I think she did a great job with Phin's mental health. I think the topic was handled with a lot of care and you can tell Rose did her research. I thought the addition of the service dog was nice. It added a bit of reprieve from such a heavy topic. SodaPop was so cute!

I would say you can read this as a standalone if you wanted to. Rose does a good job of filling in the blanks when necessary.

A great mystery with a lovely romance. Would 100% recommend.

Readers who have enjoyed the first two books in the New Orleans series will not want to miss this one. Post traumatic stress syndrome plays an important part in this story as Phin, a veteran works through his issues. Love Soda Pop, the support dog. Cora, the center of all the mystery is awesome with her library skills as the team works to protects her. The twists and turns will have readers engaged until the end. Just how evil can people be? Highly recommended!

Filled with all of the diabolical tension of a typical Karen Rose novel plus a whole lot of heart! We are always guaranteed lots of twists and turns when picking up Rose's anxiously awaited new release and Buried Too Deep delivers on all of that, plus adds a great storyline on PTSD, healing and redemption. I loved the human aspect of living with change and adjusting expectations and I also enjoyed the familiar faces of Broussard Investigations as a touching stone. Great plot, intricate character development and mystery and a genuinely well thought out transition from good to evil without second thought.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a familiar cast of characters solving a new case and having each others backs through thick and thin as danger lurks in the least expected places.

Once again Karen Rose hooked me with a stimulating prologue that grabbed my interest. Buried Too Deep is the third book in her New Orleans romantic suspense series. It combines the activities of a private security firm with a romance and plenty of action. Phineas “Phin” Bishop, the nighttime security guard at Broussard Private Investigations has been working through post traumatic stress disorder episodes from his Army service. As he and a friend approach the office, a violent break-in occurs.

The only lead is a witness, Cora Winslow, a librarian who wants answers after her father’s body was discovered during the demolishment of a building built twenty-three years ago when he disappeared. As Cora, Phin, and several members of his firm work to keep Cora safe, they start unraveling secrets that have been hidden for years.

Phin has a service dog named SodaPop, loves old houses, and is somewhat vulnerable. While he feels broken, he is healing. He is loyal, smart, good at home repairs, wants to be useful, and likes to read. Cora is great at research, knows a lot of trivia, is kind and intelligent, and has a dog named Blue. However, she’s lonely, and grieving over several recent deaths in the family. Both are likeable and relatable characters with depth. It was also great to visit with other members of the security firm and catch up on their lives.

The storyline is gripped and immediately engaged me. I was invested in finding the answers to the hidden secrets. The writing is fluid with a deeply involved plot and a great setting. The story builds momentum with twists and turns and is well-plotted. There were a few surprises along the way and an action-filled conclusion. The epilogue was emotional. Woven into the story are threads of trust, secrets, betrayal, family, friendship, murder, grief, romance, and much more.

Overall, this was suspenseful, intriguing, and entertaining novel with characters that had great chemistry, a splendid setting, and a story that kept me turning the pages rapidly. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Berkley Publishing Group and Karen Rose provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be August 13, 2024.

Books set in New Orleans are personal favorites of mine. The mystic of the city seems to lend itself to a good story and this was a good story. Friends from previous books in the series popped back in to help just when one of their own truly needed them. Phin was a superb male lead in part because he was flawed and in that flaw he was real. The author did a nice job of handling Phin's PTSD. It wasn't merely a plot device mentioned and ignored. Phin struggled and the readers felt that struggle right along with him. Whether it was finding a friend covered in blood or dealing with accusations in the eyes of others, he struggled but at his heart he was a good man. And a good man need a good woman which we go in Cora. She brought the mystery as her live was thrown into disarray by a mystery stretching into the past and haunting those involved. Something about that felt very New Orleans to me. With action kicking off in this book and kicking off in both past and present, readers were left with no choice but to turn the page to see the tie in between past and present. Before I move on to what I didn't like, I would be remiss not mentioning SodaPop and her enormous contributions. She do and her role very real to anyone who has every cuddled their dog for comfort. One last should out to Dolores. She was a dynamo wrapped in a small package.
My biggest complaint is the length of the book. I think there is a sweet spot for romantic suspense of between 300 and 400 pages and this was more. Some readers said that they length was not a deterrent but for me it was. It took away from the flow a bit because at times it felt a little bogged down and it just wasn't as sharp as the early chapters when all the drama kicked off.
Overall, I enjoyed the book but just don't plan on this being a book you can finish in a single sitting. I have a feeling these characters will be back with the best friend starring in her own book. It felt like there was more story to tell for Tandy..
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am super thankful that I was able to read the first and second story in the series although you really don’t have to. Rose does a wonderful job blending in prior story parts so that you don’t feel left out and you get that cohesive experience. I recommend reading at least the second book because it was perfect too.

This plot was great. She has the best pacing in her stories, and even though her books are massive, they go quickly because she has it down to science.

The pages are flying. The story is tight and interesting. The characters are phenomenal and I love the budding romance between the two main characters.

We’re dealing with PTSD and the compassion and chemistry between these two are just beautiful. Plus, we get the added bonus of SodaPop, the K9, who is also a fabulous character.

I can’t say enough good things about the story. It is definitely a page-turner. Twists are coming from all over the place that you really don’t see or expect.

This series has been addictive and Buried Too Deep is another intriguing addition to it and I can’t wait to read more by Rose.

Fŕist off a big thank you to the publisher as well as to the author and NetGalley, for those who don't know it Karen Rose is one of my all time favorite suspense writers, and this series is one of my favorite series by her , especially since it's right up there wither her other 2 series I'm reading The San Diego Case Files Book and the New Orleans series, there's just something about her style that makes the atmosphere of her books one of the best to get lost in as well as falling in love wither her characters no matter who they are. And her plot always gets me with the twist and turns , and how it they play out with each turn of the pages. With her books I tend to stay up late reading until I have to go to bed and even then all I want to do is stay up and read .

I loved this book by Karen Rose. The author always writes such in depth characters and the plot is amazing with so many twists and turns. It is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 5 Stars!

Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose is a gripping suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This high-octane thrill ride had me staying up far too late at night, unable to put it down.

Buried Too Deep was an addicting story. I felt pulled in right from the start and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I loved how the romance and mystery were intertwined, I loved the characters, the found family, the drama, and watching the bad guys spiral. It was an exciting read and I was captivated!

I loved Phin and really getting to know him. He had such a big, caring heart. I felt for him about his past and loved his growth throughout the story. I adored Cora. She was a force of nature and I loved how she searched for the truth and wouldn’t let anyone push her around. Together they were so sweet and I loved their slow-burn romance developing in the middle of this intense situation. It was an easy romance with a touch of heat, but it was heartfelt and I couldn't help but root for them.

A lot was happening with the mystery and the build was incredible. I loved learning about what was going on in the present day and the details about the past and was anxious for all those dots to connect. There were bad guys in play and I loved getting all the different POVs. I always love how they try to make everything seem logical but then it all falls apart and they devolve. This wasn't a gritty suspense story but there were long-buried secrets being revealed and twists along the way that had me totally hooked. I had my guesses and the development of getting to those answers was phenomenal.

I felt invested in all the characters. I loved the found family with Broussard Investigations and how accepting they've always been of Phin and how they brought Cora into the fold. This is the third book in the New Orleans trilogy so people from the first two books are mentioned but not in a way that anything would be confusing.

Bottom line, this was an awesome read! I loved watching Phin and Cora come together. I loved how everyone rallied around them and were there for one another. Plus, there was an exceptional mystery and I couldn’t get enough. Loved this one!

The third romantic suspense title in the New Orleans series gives Phin Bishop a chance for his own romance. He suffers from PTSD and tends to disappear when he is overstressed. He's been gone from Brussard Investigations for five months this time. He returns just in time to go into the office and see a gunman running from the scene after shooting their receptionist Joy. Phin and his friend Stone manage to do CPR on Joy until the ambulance arrives but miss out on the chance to chase the shooter.

Phin's only clue to who might have shot Joy is that Cora Winslow had come in to consult with Broussards about the fact that the body of her father has been discovered in the demolition of a building. He was murdered 23 years earlier which is hard to understand since she's been receiving letters from him ever since he disappeared.

The people at Broussards want to know who shot Joy and believe it is related to Cora's problem. They decide to work with Cora to try to solve her case. As they are working together, Cora and Phin become close.

Meanwhile, we are also seeing the story from the viewpoint of Alan Beauchamp who is the pastor at a megachurch and a murderer. However, macular degeneration means that he has to depend on his grandson Sage when there are things to clean up, but Sage is tired of being his grandfather's flunky and tool.

This was both an entertaining thriller and an entertaining romance. I liked both Cora and Phin very much and liked their circle of friends. It was nice to catch up with characters who starred in earlier books in the series.

A typical romantic suspense novel that is one in a series by the author. It worked well as a standalone, but I believe I would have understood a lot more of the background if I had been reading the series from the beginning. As a veteran suffering from chronic PTSD, Phin had trouble with everyday life triggering events. When a close friend and co-worker is shot, he rises above it at first so that he can keep her alive, but later it deeply affects his behavior. Finding the one person who might know what happened becomes his focus. That person, a local librarian, also seems to be the one person who is able to understand his condition and assist him in working through it. Together, with the people of the Broussard Special Investigations, they are able to uncover the secrets that have brought more violence to the streets of New Orleans.

This is the 3rd book in the New Orleans series. This is Phin’s story and may be my favorite so far. I have been waiting for Phin’s story since his disappearance at the end of the last book. And, I was not disappointed.
When Phin, a former member of the military suffering from PTSD returns, he’s not alone. He now has a support dog named Sodapop with him. But, the return doesn’t go as smoothly as he hoped. He knows he has to earn back the trust of Burke and the others team members. He also finds himself a suspect in the recent shooting of a team member. He also finds himself very attracted to the agency’s newest client, Cora.
Cora is searching for answers in the disappearance of her father many years ago. Until recently she believed he might still be living, but her hope was dashed when his body was uncovered at a dig site for a new construction.
Rose is at the top of her game with this book. The plotting was perfect. The twists and turns kept me up way past my bedtime. The characters are developed wonderfully. Phin and Cora’s relationship was just what I needed.
Even though this is the 3rd book in the series, it most definitely can be read as a stand alone. But, i would recommend reading the others in the series they are also very good.
I was given an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review.

"Buried Too Deep" is a romantic suspense. Though a part of a series, it works as a stand alone. Phin feels like a failure because of his PTSD and how he runs away from his friends (and family) every time it gets bad. He now has a support dog who helps him a lot, but he's embarrassed to need a dog's help. After the initial confusion of the crime scene, no one really suspects him of shooting someone at Broussard Private Investigations. However, he saw a potential witness flee the scene, so he helps track her down to question her. Cora wanted help investigating who killed her father, why, and why someone tried so hard to make her think her father was still alive but abandoned her and her mother for another family. The PIs (including Phin) and Cora work together to figure it out.

Since we get the viewpoint of the bad guys, we know that a television evangelist had something to hide all those years ago. He uses his nephew now to help him keep that crime covered up. The nephew has helped his uncle in the past by digging up dirt on those who threaten his uncle's reputation. He decides to find out why his uncle's running scared now. In the process, more people are killed to hide past secrets.

The suspense was created by the known threat to Cora (and others). The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. Phin and Cora worked together well, and Cora encouraged and built Phin up. I grant that the TV evangelist wasn't really a Christian, so he's not into forgiveness. But when we finally found out the secret motivating so much killing, while it was certainly a bad situation, I had a hard time believing that Cora's father (a proven secret keeper) was killed to hide a part of it while others were left alive.

There was a fair amount of bad language. There was a detailed sex scene.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title.

This was so good! Karen Rose is such a master of the romantic suspense genre, with a perfect balance between a gripping plot, engaging characters, and palpable romantic chemistry. Buried Too Deep was probably my favorite of Rose’s New Orleans series, though I’ve read and loved them all. Rose will always be one of top recommendations for my romantic suspense-loving patrons, and I look forward to adding this one to my recommendation list! 5 stars/5.

Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead!
Welcome back to New Orleans and Burke Broussard Private Detective Agency, a personal security firm. Phineas Bishop, the night watchman at the firm has been accused of a break in of the office. His PTSD from the military kicks in and he spirals. During this time he meets Cora, a local librarian whose father's body has just been discovered. There is clearly more to his story and Cora wants to know and needs to be protected.

Welcome back to romantic suspense! Karen Rose does an excellent job of fanning flames of both. As a bodyguard to Cora, Phin is always nearby. As a service dog for Phin, the loyal SodaPop is also a feature. It's great fun and a must read for those who love a little more complicated love story.
Thank you to NetGalley! #buriedtoodeep #karenrose #sodapop
#berkley