Annoyed.

This book is well written. The characters and the descriptions are rich. The problem? Its bait. Oh, you thought you were reading a complete story? Surprise! You’ll have to tune in to in to the next installment. I would have given this a resounding five stars and glowing review had it actually concluded. instead, I’m annoyed and will not be suckered into another unsatisfying conclusion. I got all the answers I needed without pursuing the real killer.

My fondest wish is that Kristan Higgins would go back to writing romance with quirky characters filled with heart and humor. This is something altogether different, and what she seems to have switched to. Fans of Nicholas Sparks will appreciate the change.

For my part, I don't really appreciate all the angst, the bonding over shared deadbeat dads, the quick forgiveness for years of mistreatment. She does a brilliant job of justifying all of it, and giving it a therapist twist (and funny how they all become therapists all of a sudden). I wasn't really pulling for anyone, and a lot of the characters were overdrawn for me. Exaggerated. A perfect mom? A perfect daughter? Call out the therapists, because there are certain life stages we all have to go through. The three-year-old terror? There's a lot going on.

The writing is solid, as always. The POV is deep, so we get to see inside everyone's mind and thought processes. As far as story goes, I miss the old Kristan Higgins.

all the feels

I loved how these two people who are always taking care of everyone else find their way together and I especially LOVED that there was no “black moment.” Even with the antagonists working against them, nothing got in the way of this happily ever after. Will definitely be reading more from this author.

The first half of this book takes the reader on a cruise of the Adriatic, around Croatia, as PI Dante goes in search of the missing nephew of Horace Blackthorne. Only one problem - the nephew isn't aboard the cruise he was reported to be taking. Belinda is on the cruise after surviving cancer. Time to leave the sick and mistreated old persona behind as she embraces her new life to rediscover her strength and confidence. Her quirky imagination and sense of adventure appeal to Dante, but he's on the job. As the cruise comes to an end, Dante asks her to dinner in Dubrovnik before he tries to figure out where his elusive target might have gone. He finds out sooner than he expects when both he and Belinda are taken captive. The second half of the book is more familiar territory to Ms. Odell's Blackthorne fans. Fast paced and on the edge as the covert ops team becomes involved in the action.