Romantic Suspense/Edgy Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Dost Island (fictional) off the coast of Massachusetts
Publisher : Independently Published
Publication date : April 24, 2025
About the Book
At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor.
What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets.
One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead.
But can she trust her instincts before it’s too late?
Review
Gabby is dealing with her daughter Val moving across the country for college when she gets a call that her mother fell. Gabby rushes home to help her mother while still trying to keep her own work afloat. A second incident, with Gabby and her mother saved because of the cat, Gabby is at her wits end. There's an opening at ACHE, a senior rehab facility and her mother could recover there with the best of care. At least that's the promise.
ACHE has taken over the King Manor, with all it's glam, history, and tales of secret treasure. The director of ACHE, Beth, is her mother's neighbor and her mother is recovering there as well. The two men edging into her life? Rick and Jay. Rick has secrets and Jay is a little too smooth.
When first a tornado and then hurricane hits the area, two residents are injured among other strange occurrences and the discovery of tunnels, the tension mounts. Both Rick and Jay are constant companions to Gabby but she's not sure she can trust either of them.
This is an interesting and engaging tale, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. What secrets is Rick hiding? What's Jay's endgame? The pacing is strong and the reader is carried along to the final conclusion. This is a great start to what should be an interesting series.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor:
An inside look (Mysteries of a Heart Series)
Meet the unforgettable residents—from the sharp-witted Jay Laird and enigmatic Rick Payne, to the wise and mysterious women of the Heart family—each with their own stories, scars, and secrets.
This companion is your invitation behind the curtain.
But be warned…
On Dost Island, even the quietest corners have something to hide.
About the Author
I have an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and have worked in higher education for over thirty-years. A former educator and lifelong reader, I began writing seriously at age 60. No one is more surprised than me, that in retirement, I found reward and occupation as an author.
When I’m not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.
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Purchase Links
Companion Guide Purchase Link
Thank you, Christa, for such a thoughtful review! You made my day—and maybe even my week. I’m so glad Gabby’s story kept you turning the pages.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!
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