Shattered Secrets: A thrilling romantic suspense novel (Cold Creek Book 1)

This is published by Harlequin MIRA, so even before you open the cover, you can safely assume the following: there will be a happy ending, the heroine will be more resourceful than the average woman, and the hero will be better-looking then the average man. He will also love the heroine more than the average man loves his mate, but that's true of any book set in Romanceland.In this romantic suspense, the sheriff of a small town (who happens to be the son of the previous sheriff) has to deal with the disappearance of a young girl. This isn't his first encounter with a disappearing child; when he was a teenager, he was supposed to look after a few kids, and one of them hid from him and was kidnapped. She escaped her captor(s) eight months later, but couldn't recall what had happened during her ordeal. Now she's back.Two decades have passed. Tess is ready to sell the family home and plans to open a day care center in Michigan. Gabe and Tess naturally fall for each other. For a small town, there are any number of odd things about Cold Creek, including an abandoned insane asylum and a mysterious religious cult. But the big horror is the disappearance of another little girl. Will Tess become a victim again?I have a problem with this book. I read a lot of romantic suspense, and in order to get the romance balanced, I feel that it needs a deft hand and a light touch. This book is almost unrelievedly grim. It's a thriller that seems to throw in a love interest more as a sop to Harlequin readers than because there's any deep and abiding love to be had. I don't know whether Harlequin demanded that a love interest be added, but I think this book would have worked better as a straight thriller - and even then, some humor would have helped. It's too serious for me. Unfortunately, this is the first book of a trilogy and I have the other two entries to read.

It was well written and had surprises in the story. I will be reading the other books . It was a clean story.

I have access to book #2 in this series but wanted to read book # 1 first. I enjoyed it quite a bit primarily as a murder mystery and far less as a romance. I thought the Author captured the southern Ohio region very well. I really enjoyed the cultural shift from agriculture to upscale living and how that brings conflict to an established community. The plot lines weaved together well and I found the mystery satisfying. I wasn't nearly as pleased with the romance angle; that seemed a bit juvenile and flat to me. I thought the recovered memory aspects were dealt with competently.I do think this book would be far better served as a mystery genre book as opposed to a romance. I found it to be a fast read (one day, on vacation) and nicely textured as to locale.

Decent. Suspenseful, didn't expect the outcome. Would recommend this book. Karen is a great author!!!! I couldn't put it down!!!

This is a story of a women trying to get her memory of her kidnapping as a child back. This is not only important for her but also for other girls who have been kidnapped recently. I learned many factual information, which I have learned is true including amnesia medicines. I love Karen Harpers suspense books and this book was no exception, although I worried about how I would do with the subject matter. You are given so many suspects and it's hard to narrow them down. Karen Harper also has a small romance that blooms during the suspense. It's a great book, a little disturbing, but also enjoyable. I look forward to the next book in this series. Read this author she is an excellent story teller.

This was a good book, the charachters were interesting and you didn't get bogged down in the plot. The main charachter had strength and fear and was able to overcome to find the truth. The book did lead you down several paths as to who was the bad guy. I have alreaady gotten the 2nd of this seriers and looking forward to it. I really enjoy books that after you put it down, you can't wait to get back into reading, this one fit the bill.

This is one of those you don’t want to put down. You will be glad you begin this great read.

Love this story! Good mystery with a little love involved.

I found this terribly long winded and just a bit formulaic. (Falls in love with leading detective/solicitor/private eye -- or whoever). Nor did I find any twists, but red herrings galore! Lots of mention of a church sect - girl heard screaming - no more mention of this sect,nor of her close family who strangely had decided to live there. I only continued to read because I thught there would be a clever link to this and the kidnapping years ago. But no - nothing!! the mayor yet another total filler and red herring. And of course I suspected the perpetrator faster than the cops!

...but not for me. Feels like a book written at the beginning of a career before a good editor has sent it back for multiple re-writes. The female 'lead' lurches from one bad decision to another, makes impulsive and obviously unwise decision so that, of course, makes her quite adorable in the eyes of the male lead sheriff. Save your money. Buy something else.

A mystery that just kept me reading......I recommend this book to anyone who likes a gentle psychological mystery that is well written

This story was quite scary but also so interesting and very readable, one you can't put down a great story.

Looking forward to reading the next two books in this trilogy and hope I enjoy them as much as this one