I have not read any of the previous books in The Smoky Mountain series & I have to say this was a “thrilling” read 🤭
It had me hooked from the very first page. I loved the suspense/mystery. Just when you thought you had it figured out along came another twist!

I am very much looking forward to going back & reading the rest of the series.

I love this series. The relationship between the families and their friends/partners is so wonderful to read about.
Close knit and each will fight to the death for the other.

This story is sad, frightening and disturbing all together.
Mental health is real and with there being so many different types of mental health issues it’s difficult to pin point at times.
When an author decides to write in their stories about mental health a lot of readers won’t truly understand. But those of us who do see that the author is not going to shy away from the issues we as a society face today.

So thank you for taking your story down the path that so many won’t go down.

Rileigh Bishop sets out to help Mitch find who killed an old man at a bus stop. It turns out that a young woman named MIckey, was also stabbed, though not fatally. Rileigh learns that the young stabbing victim is looking for family in the area, and that family includes her own mother, Lily Bishop. In a complex series of events, Rileigh seeks to learn the truth about who Mickey is, who attacked her, and whether or not Mickey is her niece.

Though this book is eleventh in a series, and I have not read the previous ten, it stands alone fine. The characters are well developed and the book maintains suspense on every page, with a heart-stopping conclusion. It's easy to see why the series has maintained its longevity, and I hope there are more titles to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This latest book in the Rileigh Bishop Smoky Mountain series starts with yet another disruption to
Rileigh and Mitch's attempts at a date - an old man has been found dead in the bus station
and the young woman who helped him get off the bus is nowhere to be seen - that is
until her badly stabbed body is found in nearby woods - she manages to say "Uncle Dan" is
after her . Remarkably as she recovers in hospital she tells Rileigh that she is searching for
her birth mother , Jillian Bishop - who just happens to be Rileigh's . traumatised and recently
returned from captivity . sister .
It appears there is more to Jillian's captivity for all those years than has been previously revealed .
Jillian's past has come back to haunt her and those who trafficked her are determined that not only
Jillian but Michaela also must be silenced no matter the collateral damage .
It becomes a race against time to keep the women safe along with those who would help guard them
............. for those in the trafficking gang are even more determined to ensure their deaths at all costs

This is yet another fast paced , action packed thriller by the Author with held my attention from the
first page to the last - will we ever discover who is sending the parcels and why ?? I look forward
to finding out in the next book(s) .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Come Back to Me is part of a series I have not yet read. There is a lot of time spent on background, so it was not a problem to get all caught up. I wish that the book hadn't been so predictable. It was predictable to the point that I couldn't understand what was taking the characters so long to catch up. Even the ending, which was meant to be a twist, was something that seemed obvious from very early on. The first chapter as a matter of fact. I was disappointed because this sounded like it could be a good series. Instead I was just waiting for the book to get to its inevitable conclusion. I don't want to read without any discovery.

I have to say there are a number of books in this series I have not read but that did not hamper my enjoyment of this book. The writing did take me on a journey and the descriptions made me feels as if I was there. Great mystery yet there are light-hearted moments so it isn't overly intense. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed them in this book.

Twists and turns, mystery and a great setting make this a good book and now I will have to go find some of the earlier books in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Rileigh Bishop and Sheriff Mitch are on another date when it is interrupted by a call to investigate a murder and a survivor of a violent attack. The deceased is a poor man who was riding a bus that makes a quick stop for the passengers to use the facilities. He has been stabbed to death. Then, a young woman is found wandering about with stab wounds. She claims to know nothing about the murder or her attacker. As Rileigh and Mitch investigate the crimes, clues come to light that lead them to believe the young woman is the daughter Rileigh's sister, Jillian, gave birth to while she was a sex slave and was forced to give away. It's an intense chase to keep Rileigh's family safe and get rid of the men sent by the man who owned Jillian. I love these books and can't wait for the next one.

This latest is a pulse pounder in more ways then one. While we have Rileigh and Mitch, I feel like this really is Jillian's book. I figured out in the first few chapters what was going on and while I was right, I was still engaged and invested in the story. The last chapter left me excited for the next book!

Wonderful, descriptive language used to really place the reader at the scene. I preferred the lighter touch romance angle in this instalment of the series as the mystery is what appeals to me. The procedural information is fascinating and I think this series gets better with every book.

THE BISHOP SMOKY MOUNTAIN THRILLERS:
COME BACK TO ME, #11 - Interesting but sad, with good characters and good story lines. Proper editing needed. Source: Netgalley. 4*

BECAUSE ONE OF US WAS WRONG, Novella - This is a funny, interesting, intriguing and entertaining introduction to the Bishop Smokey Mountains series. Likeable characters, crimes like crazy, good story lines, and good humor. A must read first. Basic editing would have been nice. Source: Download through Hide Me Away, book one of the series. 5*

HIDE ME AWAY, #1 - Interesting. Intriguing. Good pacing. Hard to put down with all the happenings, the variety of characters, and some intense story lines. It was easy to figure out the murders, even with all the suspects. Good team work between the acting sheriff and the veteran in solving the crimes. I like the writing style of the author. Basic editing would have been nice. Source: the author. 5*

FUEL TO THE FLAME, #2 - This story picks up four months after Hide Me Away ends. I'm not sure why the author though it was important to rehash HMA in the first four chapters, and others, which made it difficult for me to keep reading since I read HMA. The story kicks into gear and turns out full of gory but not graphic crimes, mixed with more crimes and plenty of action. Thar's a bit of crazy going on in those mountains. Intense story lines. Basic editing would have been nice. Source: BookSprout. 4*

CLOSER BY THE HOUR, #3 - Rather intriguing and a bit gory, but not graphically detailed, and definitely difficult to put down, the interesting, well written story lines and good characters made for an immersing, entertaining read. A good pace, terrible crimes and poor ole Rileigh getting herself into plenty of "Oh, snap" situations. Some humor, and Lily and Daisy are hoots. A little predictable but well worth reading. Now, a little bit of editing .... Source: BookSprout. 5*

A GAMBLE EITHER WAY, #4 - Interesting and hard to put down with all kinds of happenings, and on a paddlewheel steamboat. Hairy story lines with good characters and a constant pace. Intense. Intriguing. Editing is better. Source: The author, ARC. 5*

HERE YOU COME AGAIN, #7 - Very interesting and intriguing and too easy to solve, but still a good read. Enjoyable characters with a dark story line balanced with a possible romance brewing. I enjoy this series, eventhough I do not understand the lack of basic editing; closing a sentence before a partial quote, Bible Belt and such in lowercase, etc. Source: NetGalley. 4*
THE BISHOP SMOKY MOUNTAIN THRILLERS end.

This one was a real heartbreaker for this series! I’ve been reading Rileigh and Mitch from the beginning. Their relationship has really leveled up and it has been wonderful to watch, especially for someone who isn’t into romance. (There’s very little romance in these books, but it’s a point that I wanted to make). But this time, their relationship sort of takes a back seat to Jillian’s story. This is where I come in to warn other readers. While not graphic at all, there is mention of sex trafficking, rape, and child sexual assault in this story. It’s absolutely heart wrenching, and the worst of the worst happens in this newest story. And while I knew from the beginning what was going on, it still tore me up watching it all play out. I’m aware these characters are not real people, but I’ve grown very attached to them over the last couple of years. In any case, parts of the ending did bum me out, but I sort of expected it. Like previous stories in the series, there is a nice set up for the next story, and it looks like we might be getting closer to figuring out who is sending Rileigh those packages!

Huge thanks to Sterling & Stone and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

First book that I have read in this series. It was mysterious and immersive with good character development.

Come Back to Me by Lauren Street
Bishop Smoky Mountain Thriller #11

Intense, emotional, and immersive ~ Couldn’t put it down

What I Liked:
* Rileigh Bishop: retired military, ex-police sergeant, consults with local sheriff, lives with her mother and sister, loves Mitch, bright, capable, caring, lethal, survivor, strategic thinker
* Mitchell Webster: sheriff, intelligent, good at his job, intriguing, has scars and history that were shared in book six, is in love with Rileigh, calm under pressure, capable caring, good leader
* Jillian: Rileigh’s older sister, survivor, returned home after decades as a slave, has PTSD, is in therapy, is back with her fiancé David after 30 years apart, more of her past revealed, really hope she finds happiness
* David: Jillian’s fiancé now and in the past, strong, dedicated, never stopped loving Jillian, karate expert, protective, caring, seems a good man
* Lily: Rileigh’s mother, wise, caring, has dementia, quirky, big personality, well-known in the community
* Whit Nash: admirable, strong, married, integral to a plan Rileigh and Mitch create to keep her family safe
* The camaraderie of the police department and Mitch’s request to them when he and Rileigh had dinner out the last time
* Being able to dislike the bad guys and wish Karma smites them
* That I could feel sorry for the abuse suffered by more than one character without losing sight of some evil done by at least one who was abused
* The theme that finds Mitch and Rileigh always ending up having to work when out on a date
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Knowing there is another book to look forward to and wondering what the package that was found will lead to next

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how rough Jillian’s, Micky’s and Farah’s lives must have been
* The idea that slavery still exists in the world and slaves have no recourse

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

Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars

Come Back to Me by Lauren Street is a thrilling and suspenseful tale that blends mystery, family secrets, and danger into one fast-paced narrative. The story follows Rileigh Bishop and Mitch as they investigate the murder of an elderly man at a bus station—an investigation that takes an unexpected turn when a woman named Michaela survives the attack. Michaela is on a mission to find her birth mother, Jillian Bishop, Rileigh’s estranged sister.

However, as Michaela delves deeper into her search for Jillian, it becomes clear that someone else is hunting Michaela—someone with deadly intentions. As Rileigh and Michaela navigate a perilous path filled with long-buried family secrets, they quickly realize that the past might be more dangerous than they ever anticipated.

Street weaves a gripping narrative full of twists, and the intense, high-stakes atmosphere keeps the tension high throughout. The characters are layered and complex, with Rileigh’s complicated relationship with her sister adding emotional depth to the plot. The setting of a remote cabin creates a claustrophobic and ominous backdrop that heightens the suspense.

With its unexpected plot twists and relentless pace, Come Back to Me keeps readers on the edge of their seats. This is a perfect read for fans of tense, action-packed thrillers where the stakes are life or death.

this book wasnt that good. I think the story was dull, and overdone. I did not enjoy the way the author wrote. I think the synopsis was much better than the actual book

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Come Back To Me is book 11 in the Bishop Smoky Mountain series by Lauren Street. Rileigh and Mitch are on a date when they get a call about a dead man at a bus stop restroom. They decide to go as the department is short staffed due to sickness and vacation. When they arrive on scene, the man is elderly and got off the bus to use the restroom. A young woman helped him get off the bus with his walker. That's the last anyone saw him. While interviewing people from the bus, another victim is found in the surrounding woods. A young woman has been stabbed several times, but is alive. She's rushed to the hospital. No one knows what happened or who could've done this.

The young woman is recovering in the hospital and will recover. When Rileigh and Mitch try to talk to her about what happened, they find out her name is Micaela. She says she's in town to find the woman who gave her up after giving birth to her. The woman she's looking for is Jillian Bishop, Rileigh's sister! She tells them someone has been following her and that's who stabbed her. She calls him Uncle Dan. Why would someone want to hurt Micaela? Does Jillian really have a daughter? Things get complicated and danger moves much to close to home in this book. Will Rileigh and Mitch be able to keep everyone safe? When they offer Micaela a place to stay and recover surrounded by family, is that a good idea? Did they just invite danger into their home?

I read this book in one sitting and the suspense builds and builds until the frantic end. Like all books in this series you will have trouble putting Come Back To Me down. If you're a fan of thrillers this is the book for you. This book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone if you haven't read any other books in the series. The author does a nice job of filling the reader in on important information from past books. Come Back To Me comes out on February 4 so add it to your TBR pile. I rate Come Back To Me 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for an advanced copy of Come Back To Me in exchange for a fair review.

Really, really good book! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review!

The book started of strong and sassy. But once I found out she has a personality disorder, I couldn't help but wonder if what was being told was truth or not. My own brain didn't let me enjoy the story.

I loved getting to read about Mitch, Rileigh, Momma, and others in this installment of the series. Street did a great job with this book. It flows well, and the main characters are endearing. I like how everything came to her and how the parts all wove together.
I look forward to reading the next adventure that Mitch and Rileigh go on in the future.

Mitch and Rileigh are back to solve another mystery. I really enjoyed reading this book and I think this is the best one so far even though I like the other books in this series too. Just when you think you figured it all out there's a twist. I recommend it, the entire series by the way.
I received an advance review via NetGalley/Sterling & Stone and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.