I’m so disappointed because I really enjoyed this author’s last book and was looking forward to this one. It even started at a solid 5-star level, but then it all went downhill.

The premise sounded fantastic: Melissa, a newcomer to town, is on the run from her abusive ex-husband with her five-year-old son. She quickly falls for Thomas, a charming doctor—except he was once accused of murdering his wife (who is still missing). The charges were dropped, but is Melissa putting herself in danger? Did he do it, or is someone else responsible? Determined to clear his name, she starts her own investigation. It sounded like a thrilling setup, and I was eager to dive in.

The story hooked me right away with a strong start, but things unraveled quickly. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with any of the characters—especially Melissa. She was written with such broad strokes that it left a really bad taste. It’s completely unbelievable that a woman who just escaped an abusive relationship—especially a mother of a young child—would get swept away in an intense romance like this. Her motivations and decisions felt frustratingly naive, making it impossible for me to root for her.

I also struggle with instant love in books, and this one took it to another level. Melissa and Thomas were making serious, life-altering commitments within 24 hours of meeting—it was cringeworthy and hard to take seriously.

Then there were the plot holes. I found myself questioning whether I had misread parts of the story because some characters and subplots seemed to just... disappear. And while I love a thriller with a solid twist, this one fell flat—I guessed the outcome at the halfway mark, which was disappointing.

That said, I did enjoy the mixed media chapters. The transcripts between Thomas and his therapist best friend, as well as journal entries from Rose (his presumed dead wife), were the highlights for me. Those sections added depth and intrigue that I wish the rest of the book had matched.

Overall, the unbelievable romance overshadowed the thriller aspects, making this one a miss for me. If the love story had been toned down, I might have enjoyed it more.