Marie's Hidden Refuge

Safe Haven Women's Shelter #2

by Danielle M. Haas

Protecting her family could cost her life

On the run and afraid for her life and the life of her child, Marie Robinson accepts refuge from a stranger, but her troubles are far from over. She may have finally fled from her abusive ex, but he won’t stop hunting her. Not when she’s the only person who can put him where he belongs—in a jail cell.

Detective Owen Wells suspects murder when a woman’s body washes ashore near his grandpa’s cabin. His day only gets stranger when a visit to his grandpa’s reveals a beautiful woman and little girl in hiding. The bruise on the woman’s cheek suggests trouble. When Marie confesses everything, Owen quickly learns the raven-haired beauty isn’t a simple pawn in this game—she’s the key to convicting a murderer.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Suspense

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2024

About the author

Danielle M Haas is a stay-at-home mom turned author. When she isn’t writing fast-paced romantic suspense novels with mysteries to live for and romance to die for, she’s busy being a taxi driver to her two busy kids and forcing her introverted self to talk to other soccer moms. Her kids and husband are her world, which is also shared with her hyper Bernie doodle, two sassy cats, and one leopard gecko who’s happy to chill on a rock all day. Her days are packed with cuddles, kisses, and a brain constantly thinking of new ways to create danger and romance for her next book.

Reviews

[Karen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Marie & Owen’s story. Both the mystery and romance are well developed and keep you engaged but the strongest aspect of the book is the character development even the side characters. I’m hoping for Tommy and Kathleen to each have a book in the future. While this is part of a series it truly can be read standalone. I did receive this book as an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

YOU CANNOT OVERDOSE JUST FROM TOUCHING FENTANYL!!!
Also I’m pretty sure Bill would need teleportation abilities for this plot to work.
2.5 stars

[Glenda Bettin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Julie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This are quick reads with engaging characters. This one is probably my favorite of the series thus far. Something about the characters really spoke to me.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story. Danielle M Haas has created an exciting, complex plot that includes non-stop action and lots of riveting suspense. Its many unexpected twists will leave readers on the edge of their seat. Readers will also be captivated by the multilayer, interesting characters.

Marie lives a very difficult life. She is responsible for her mother who has been a drug addict for year and for and her sister who is still in high school. Even though her sister helps with her mother and the expenses, life is not easy for either of them.

Unfortunately, Marie’s life gets even more difficult when Bill, her ex-boyfriend, exploits her mother’s addiction and threatens the life of her sister’s safety to demand Marie to go away with him. He immediately whisks Marie away from her family, and forces her to live in an isolated cabin in the woods. Without a phone, a car or any neighbors, Marie has no way to escape from Bill’s physical and emotional abuse. Plus, while in captivity, Marie becomes pregnant with Bill’s baby.

When Marie and her baby are finally able to escape, she meets Owen Robinson and his family who all work for the local police. Owen is a detective, his father and brother are sheriffs and his widowed grandfather is a retired policeman. Besides having the entire local police force behind them, the family members are sympathetic, caring, and kind-hearted people who are more than willing to help a petrified unknown woman who shows obvious signs of abuse.

Owen and Marie realize that, unless they arrest Bill, she and her daughter will never be free. Thus, Marie ignores her terror and puts her trust to Owen so that she can help him locate Bill. However, they must overcome many dangerous obstacles before they can Marie can be free again.

Readers will become captivated by the romance of these multilayer characters and their dangerous journey to capture her abuser!

[Reading Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie's Hidden Refuge was a good addition to the Safe Haven Women's Shelter series. Marie Robinson has been living in Water's Edge, Tennessee with her infant daughter and her child's father. She didn't want this life for herself or for her child but she has nowhere else to turn and limited choices in her life. When her child's father brings trouble to her doorstep, she grabs her baby and runs. An elderly neighbor comes to her aid and that leads her to Officer Owen Wells. Owen has a dead body on his hands, a battered, terrified young mother, a cranky grandfather, inexperienced younger fellow officer who also happens to be his brother and a storm on the horizon. To say that his hands are full is an understatement. Yet somehow Marie and her daughter Nora captures his attention and a bit of his buried heart. If these two are going to have a chance at anything more, then there are crimes to be solved and Marie's baby's father is at the center of them. Can Owen keep them safe? Will Marie be able to find the future that she has always wished for despite her beginnings? Read on to find out the answers. Marie's Hidden Refuge was written from dual POV and has no explicit scenes. If it were a movie it would be rated PG or PG13. It stands alone in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explosive romance and suspense from the very first page! Marie Robinson is between a rock and a hard place. If she stays with her abusive ex, he will hurt her or her baby, Nora. If she leaves him, he has threatened her mother and sister. When her ex brings a woman home with him, this might be her only chance to escape, so she flees. He chases after her and she is rescued by a man who lives in the area; a man who is the father and grandfather of the local sheriff and deputy. Deputy Owen Wells meets Marie when he arrives to investigate the death of a woman whose body was found in the river behind his grandfather’s cabin. There is something about Marie that makes him want to protect her and her baby while he continues investigating a threat at the Safe Haven Women’s Shelter, the shooting of a local man and the increase of drugs in the area. Marie only feels safe when she is with Owen and when the attraction between them flares out of control, will they ever have a chance at a future, together? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this new series and while I loved it and it was fast paced with plenty of danger twists and turns It was also a little unrealistic as there is no way she would have been aloud to tag along and be involved in the investigation.

Marie Robinson signed away her happiness and freedom to protect her mother and younger sister by tying herself to Bill her ex He has been treating her bad ever since but now she has a young daughter and she is determined to get away from him This introduces her to the Robinson family First Lewis the maternal grandfather who has never recovered from the hit run of his daughter Then the he meets Owen Local detective and his brother and father. But Bill is involved in far more than anyone realises and the tentacles are through the town Can Owen keep her safe will he act on the deep attachment he is forming for not only Marie but also her daughter Nora and can Marie finally get the future and family she has always wanted You will have to read to see

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg Danielle Haas did an amazing job writing this book. I absolutely adored everything about it.

This was about Marie who escaped from an abusive ex with her baby daughter Nora, when deputy Owen found her and took the case.

This was dramatic, full of suspense and danger, loads of action, and such a brilliant romance.

The connection between Owen and Marie was there from the very second they met. The very attraction between them was obvious but they would not, couldn't do anything until the danger passed.

I really liked all the extra characters such as Renee, Lewis, Mike and Tommy and even little Nora. They all added to the story which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Danielle Haas gives us a brilliant book with heart felt emotion, that gallops along at a cracking pace and never lets up till the feel good ending. I honestly could not put it done, reading in one sitting.

Extremely well done!!

[Denise H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book! The storyline was engaging and the characters extremely likeable. I have to say that Pappy was just awesome – definitely a favorite character! There was plenty of family drama, action, and the suspense/mystery aspect carried all the way through the story. The twists and turns taken as new evidence appeared and case leads followed were great. There were also a few side threads that popped in and out that added extra suspense and more depth. The family dynamics and drama also intertwined with the case and added an additional layer of anticipation at how everything would work out. Marie and Owen had an instant connection that grew the more time they spent together – Owen was drawn to her beauty, strength, and resilience and Marie was drawn to his gentle demeanor (despite being a law official), protective presence, and dimples. She saw him as her safe place and he wanted to be that and more for both her and her daughter Nora. All in all, a great read!

[Karon Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the FMC Maria, who had suffered a lot but was willing to do anything for her family. This is a woman who seemed to have nothing, but in reality was smart and empathetic. Yes, there was a bit of insta-love here, but I didn't care in the least. Owen and Marie were in a situation where they were thrown together more often than not due to the situation and they both got to see what they other was like in some crazy situations. Marie seemed to be drawn to him not just by his looks, but also his demeanor, a man who didn't react in a violent way to situations. Owen on the other hand was attracted to Marie's intelligence and strength of character as well as her looks. The suspense/mystery in this one was a large part of the story so it was a bit of a slow burn in the romance department, but I felt as if it made sense for the circumstances. Great HEA.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even when crippled by fear, Marie shows so much bravery

It is not possible for you to resist falling for Marie and Owen, they are both a little dinted and damaged, with more emotional baggage than is healthy. They are thrown together by an awful, heartbreaking and dangerous case, but together they find acceptance, healing and hope, they find a future they never dared to hope for but deserve every moment of. As much as I love Marie and Owen, I adore Pappy - such a grumpy old man but he has the biggest heart. And then there's the love between Owen and Nora...so beautiful, from the first moment he holds her you can feel the love and protection fall into place.
This is such a good series, it tackles difficult subjects head on but with the care and compassion they deserve, I really liked the first book in the series, but this one is better!
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie's hidden refuge.

Romance suspense.

Loved this story.
Read this book in one day. It a story about a girl living in fear. And so much more.

This authors stories are absolutely thrilling. And Leave you wanting more.


The characters in this story make. You just want to crawl inside the book and live the life they have. In this small town.

Detective owen wells,
Out to Get the bad guy. Won't stop until he's completed his job.

Marie robinson,
The girl on the run, From life and everyone in the past. Who's not been quite right.


And I must say that detective owens grandpa. What's absolutely one of my favorite characters in this book.. He didn't take no flack off of nobody.. He was just a good old guy..

[Neeru Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to dive into this story after reading the blurb. Danielle delivered everything I expected and more. I am in awe with her writing and this amazing world she has created. Marie and Owen had my heart from the start and my heart ached for Marie after knowing everything she went through. Despite everything that's going on they find love. I was on the edge throughout the read wanting to know what would happen next. I had to finish the read in a single sitting as I couldn't put it away and by the end I was wanting more. I am eager to know what's to come next by Danielle and thanks to her for the advanced copy of this mesmerizing read.

[MimiL · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st thing, the writing has gotten even better. I enjoyed the suspense of the entire story, and how Owen and Marie fell for one another. The parts where Own interacted and cared for baby Nora bout broke me and Pappy, I adored him, he made me laugh! It was nice seeing Laura, but I would have loved to see her and Cade both make a cameo her and there, that's why it's got four stars because I really wanted to see Cade and Laura together, but the story was great, I do feel like the ending was somewhat anti-climatic, but it was still pretty good. I absolutely loved the epilogue too, super sweet, had me cheesing so hard! 💕

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Haas has done it again. Oh I loved this book. The heart pounding feeling for what Marie was going through with her baby Nora. The overwhelming love she received from Lewis Sinclair other known as Pappy. I adored Pappy. He was a good man, and so sweet. What she didn’t expect was Deputy Owen Wells. Her life was a mess, and so very complicated. He helped her every step of the way. It was his job, yes, but it soon became so much more.

Highly recommend this book, and the first one as well. Laura’s Safe Haven.
I also recommend the Crossroads Series..so so good.

[Gazelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie has Nora and her family to protect but she needs some protection herself. Owen and his family are law enforcement and protectors at heart. I fell in love with a lot of the secondary characters and I hope they will be in future books in the series. Marie and Owen were thrown together while dealing with danger/case but they both felt like there was more there but they weren’t sure if they should act on it. I really enjoyed the mystery and how things unfolded. I am really enjoying this series but I feel this could be read as a standalone as well.

[Carina Hales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gentle romance from Danielle in this 2nd book in the series. This book featured Marie and Owen. This started well and grabbed my attention and I was keen to see what was happening. This for me was an enjoyable quick read with interesting characters and a story with a hint of suspense. As with Danielle’s books the romance was sweet and not spicy, focusing more on the story and people. An overall entertaining read and an enjoyable book. The suspense was written well and Owen and Marie worked well together to solve the case.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle has done it again!! This is an excellent addition to the world she has created in this series. I love that it's an offshoot of her previous series as well. As always the action blasts off from the very beginning and carries through this fast paced book. The Romance is always a nice added bonus as well. Just like me, I have zero doubt you won't be able to put it down once you begin. The author does a fantastic job of creating characters you wish you could meet in real life and locations you will want to visit. I can't wait for the next book in this series!!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action packed.

This story is filled with twists and turns every step of the way. I really liked Owen in the 1st book but fell a little short in this one. There were many times he left questions out when investigating and a lot was down to Marie to figure things out. I found a lot of lose ends were left u answered as to who killed who and what part each of them played in the crimes individually.
I have a sneaky feeling I have read these stories before. Regardless, I have enjoyed it and look forward to book3.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Build a better future for you and your daughter

Yet another absolutely engrossing read from this author! Action packed, with high stakes that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. My only complaint was we heard all about the unsolved case that haunts Pappy and the rest of the Wells’ family and would have loved if we’d gotten some answers, however unlikely, for them as well.

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of this story puts you on the edge of your seat as Marie flees to save her and her baby Nora's lives and doesn't let up to the end. Marie is in plenty of danger from her ex-boyfriend Bill but as the story progresses, Deputy Owen Wells finds there is more going on. This is an emotional read and there are some twists that I didn't see coming. Loved these two characters together and also loved the side character Pappy, Owen's grandfather.

[Miranda Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good clean romance with suspense!

I liked the premise of the story. I love how Pappy who was an old man could rescue a young woman and her baby. Getting to watch Owen and Marie find their true love was exciting.

The only thing I didn’t enjoy about the book was the fact that it was not quite realistic. Parts of the story made no sense and didn’t connect with other pieces to the story. There was definitely some disconnect there. But I would still recommend this book.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

Owen is so sweet to Marie and Nora and I love seeing more of the shelter. Marie is such a wonderful mom and sister, and I loved her fierce protective side. I also adored her and Owen's grandfather little friendship.

There were so many people involved and so many clues along the way that I was trying to figure out the mystery the whole time. Really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to getting to know more of the people in these towns.

[BecReadReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe Haven is an another series that I look forward to reading. Danielle has created yet another community to love & hold. Owen & Marie had my attention from get go. The twist & turns, the emotions, the pain, love, they all will resonate with readers. What a brilliant 2nd book & hoping for more to come. Honest review.

[Liz Sadowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful series, Owen and Marie’s story is another winner. Owen is trying to solve a grizzly murder and Marie and her baby are running from her abusive ex when their worlds collide. There is definitely a spark between them but his job and her ex keep putting obstacles in front of them. How it all works out is a page turning, action packed read!

[Joy Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book will grab you from the very beginning and keep you reading until the very end. It moves along at a pace that is perfect for the flow of the story, it has interesting characters that you will love no mater what and a story that will not disappoint. This book is a must read, there is no doubt about it.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story focuses on what happens to family when they think there is no hope or help in sight. Marie and her baby needed help out of a bad situation. There's a lot going on in Owen's hometown, bodies dropping everywhere. Plenty of danger, suspense, deaths and who done that it. Great read. HEA.

[Flo Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep and forever love

A great story of happiness coming out of a traumatic situation. Marie was forced into an abused relationship and it took all her strength and bravery to get away. Luckily she met Deputy Sheriff Owen and they had chemistry right from first meeting. As they battled to find the suspects Owen and Marie forged a loving relationship together.

[Kylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the first two books in this series and just wow.

This is my first time reading this author and I am impressed with her writing ability and her characters. She knows how to bring out the worst and the best in each character as they pull on your heartstrings. I highly recommend this series and am getting ready to read the third one now. Good work.