Whispers in the Dark

by Holly Bowne

She can’t stand him. He can’t leave her alone. Especially when a sinister force threatens her safety. As they unite to solve the mystery will their fiery connection lead to love or plunge them into even greater danger?

After a shattered engagement, the last thing Alex Fontaine wants is being forced to spend time with charismatic playboy, Jake Riley. But fate has its own designs when Alex is commissioned to paint a mural for a project close to Jake’s heart.

Their initial sparks ignite a powerful bond that defies their boundaries and unveils secret wounds. But as mysterious accidents plague the project and danger looms, Alex and Jake are forced to navigate the treacherous waters of love, trust, and the shadows of their pasts.

This enemies-to-lovers clean fiction Kindle Unlimited story is the first book in the romantic suspense series, the “Secrets of Whispering Pines.” Each of the romantic mystery Kindle books features a small-town romance with a guaranteed HEA, and a suspenseful mystery that will keep you turning pages well into the night.

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2024

About the author

I'm the author of the Secrets of Whispering Pines romantic suspense series. I'm currently working on a romantsy series that I can't wait to share with readers soon. My stories are perfect for those who love stories full of romance, mystery, adventure, and clean love stories with all of the heat but none of the steam. ;)

I've worked in advertising, journalism and freelance writing, and I find inspiration everywhere: movies, TV series, the news, conversations with friends, and yes, conversations I've eavesdropped on (shhh!).

I live on a beautiful lake in southeast Michigan where I dream up new stories, fall down research rabbit holes, and witness the beauty and song of God’s creation every single day. I'm happily married to my college sweetheart, mom of two grown children (plus, a daughter- and son-in-love), and passionate Gigi to three adorable grandchildren. And I'm not biased about this at all!

Want a free prequel to my Secrets of Whispering Pines series? Head to:

https://www.hollybownebooks.com/free-...

Reviews

[Tami Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I selected one word to describe this novel, it would be brilliant. This romance/mystery includes twists that contain exciting thrills in its pages, making your heart race. I enjoyed the vivid description of various characters and picturesque settings in northern Michigan. I can’t wait to see what Holly has in store for us in her next novel, Whispers of Redemption.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ What a fun little romance story to end the month on!

Alex is a muralist who has been hurt by a past relationship, leaving her unable to do the thing she knows how to do best: create art. Jake is a somewhat local to the small town of Whispering Pines, and has a charm that will woo *almost* anyone. This story follows the pair, and some lovable side characters, as Jake’s family company works to restore an old building in the town to be turned into beautiful new condos, which almost everyone in the town wants built… but not everyone.

This sweet romance, with a bit of mystery, will be the perfect way to start off your summer of reading. An easy, fun read with some hints of Michigan thrown in for locals to enjoy. Plus, who doesn’t love the addition of the sweet pet dog. Rex for mayor. 🤍

[Nancy Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite new author, Holly Bowne, did everything right when writing this sweet romance with a twist of mystery. You empathized with Alex and her troubled history only to root for her as she worked to solve the mysterious happenings in the small quaint town along Lake Michigan.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt the story was engaging, it had both mystery and romance with vivid descriptions of the settings and characters. I was caught up in the the story immediately! Looking forward to #2!

[Mi3sprouts · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a delight to read this book from new author Holly Bowne. I read the prequel (Whispers of the Heart) and was excited to learn what happened to the main character. The prologue was intriguing, but I had to read on to figure out that particular situation.

Alex Fontaine meets Jake Riley when his dog runs into her at the beach. First question that comes to mind is what happened to her fiancé from the previous book? The reader will need a bit of patience as this will be revealed later in the book. Will Alex’s opinion of Jake the flirt change as the book goes on? All will be revealed through some plot twists and turns with a bit of mystery thrown in to make the book quite enjoyable!

As you read this gem of a book, you will be greeted with some great visual details that help you feel you are there in Whispering Pines with the characters. You might even be tempted to go peruse Lake Michigan beach towns to determine the inspiration behind Whispering Pines.

I look forward to the next book in the series!

[Rachel Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet and fun romance with a bit of mystery! Great read!

[Marina Hertich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read set on the shores of Lake Michigan. Neither Alex nor Jake are searching for love. Alex has been burned by love and Jake likes playing the field. Will they be able to resist their chemistry?

You will instantly be pulled into the lives of the people of Whispering Pines, as the characters and the relationships are so thoughtfully developed.

Can't wait for the next book in the series!!!!

[Doris A. Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great First Read of Author!

First novel, and off to a great start! Good character development, kept my interest. All the MI references, especially how, "Whispering Pines," mimics our hometown😎

[Gwen Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you ever use your dog to meet a woman? That is what Jake Riley did. He intentionally had his dog go over, jump up on and knock down Alex Fontaine just so he could meet her. The dog a very friendly golden retriever named Rex was only too happy to oblige him as he knew he would get some kisses and petting from the nice lady. She might even throw his frisbee a few times for him. Jake is a true womanizer as every woman he sees he flirts with and talks to for a while. So, Alex wants nothing to do with him. She had just gotten out of a relationship where she caught her fiancée in bed with another woman and she sure was not going thru all of that heartache again. So, Jake you can just keep on walking as I want nothing to do with you.
Alex is in town to help her grandmother out since she broke her wrist. And she has been commissioned to paint a mural for a project that Jake is doing. He has taken an old building and using what of the old building he can and making it into apartments for the elderly. It will be a beautiful place and totally restored when he is done. He is already taking applications for some of the apartments. How will they both feel when they realize they will be working closely together until this project is done? I am sure Alex is not going to appreciate being thrown into having to work with a charismatic playboy all of the time. She does not like him or his ways of treating women!
On her second day there, her car decided to die on her, and it would have cost more than it was worth to get it fixed. So now she is without a car until she can buy another one. Jake comes to her rescue and loans her his little sports car for a while. Now that they are working together, they are learning to tolerate each other. One day working at the apartments a wall of bricks almost falls right on Alex's head, luckily Jake pushed her out of the way at the last minute. A few days later Alex is going to a neighboring town to get some supplies for the mural. On her way there a big truck is following her and keeps hitting the car until finally she is forced to go down a steep embankment and crashes the car. Luckily, she kept calm during the incident and called Jake to let him know what was going on. So, he came to her rescue again.
What is going on? Who is trying to hurt Alex? What did she do to make someone this upset? Well Jake is just going to have to take care of her until these freak accidents stop occurring. When will that be and what is going to happen next?
I got this book from Booksprout and will be happy to leave a review.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romance, a mystery, a dog, and some fearsomely lovable older ladies!

This book is a delight! As someone with a deep love for western Michigan, every little touch highlighting the unique joys and quirks of Great Lake life were a welcome aspect to this story.

I was so invested in Alex and Jake, their relationship, but also their individual pursuits of their passions and love for their family. Tilly is an elegant queen and deserves everything she gets and more. Gretchen and Margot are my spirit animals. And, as someone said in another review, Rex for mayor!

I can’t wait for Holly Bowne’s next book!

[Joanne T S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story that kept me guessing right to the end. Who did it and why? How will Alex and Jake reconcile their fears and long held beliefs? The unique and fascinating characters made this an interesting book. The author does a good job making some characters much more likeable than others. Throughout the story I ran a gamut of emotions such as sadness, joy, anger, fuming, laughter and surprise. If you enjoy an intriguing read with unexpected twists, surprises and interesting endings - this book is for you.

[Rhonda Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new to me author who did not dissappoint. This was a clean romance with some mystery. Alex has had a turbulent past and doesn't trust easy nor is she looking for love. Jake isn't looking for love, he likes to play the field. However when he meets Alex he is taken. Will they be able to get over their differences to work together and to fall in love? You'll have to pick up your copy to find out. I can't wait to delve into the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispers in the Dark is an easy to read and fast moving romantic suspense. There is plenty of romance, as Alex and Jake dance around their feelings for each other. The suspense starts slowly, with a smattering of incidents throughout the book, ramping up in intensity as we get to the end of the book. I very much enjoyed this intriguing story, with its various lovable and, in some cases, quirky characters. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Nancyduso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and plot - I love 'who done it' books - and the different struggles of life that don't come across as fake. The characters were relatable. I'm not fond of the romance side - but this one actually had some struggle to it. Story made me care about the characters. Getting ready to read the next one!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend reading. Loved the characters. Glad to hear she made the right choice in guys! Story line was good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jacqueline Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love it and I think if it had been more fleshed out, I probably would have. The characters are great, but the storyline seems a bit jumpy and rushed, though the plot is an intriguing one.

[Dorle A Boulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense well done

The characters were relatable. The romance was a slow burn just like I like it. Story made me care about the characters. Can't wait for the next one!

[Brenda McCloskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable, easy read, nice balance of clean romance and suspense, short chapters so easy to pause as needed but held my attention and kept my looking for time to finish it.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. Not Christian, but clean and no bad language. Great suspense and wonderful and colorful characters

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good first book

My first holly bowne book and book 1 of a series. This was a great story and I am looking forward to seeing if book two can continue the good reading.

[Beth Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet mystery romance. The story keeps you engaged to the very end, it was so easy to connect to the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and can’t wait to read the next one!

[Rosemary Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great escape read set in the tourist town of Whispering Pines on the shore of Lake Michigan. The lead character, Alex, is inexperienced with men and would prefer to focus on her career but Riley, the handsome commercial real estate developer, keeps popping up wherever Alex goes. They get involved with the suspense and intrigue to solve recent accidents involving the new construction site. I enjoyed following the characters as they faced danger while solving the mystery and the risk of opening their hearts to love. I also enjoyed the quirky and funny supporting cast of characters.

[Kaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this book as I've never read a romance before, and am not a fan of sickenly sweet Hallmark type movies. Well, this book blew all my expectations out of the water!

From the gorgeous setting, to the deep and loveable characters, breath taking descriptions and pulse pounding romance, I was hooked! Then throw in danger, mystery, and intrigue? I'm sold!

I adored the main character, Alex, and identified with a lot of her feelings. I loved the raw conversations, flirtation, intense passion, and cozy cute moments as well!

I found myself picking up this book every time I wanted to be transported to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, for some cozy relaxing romantic fun. Every place and every character had so much depth and description, I felt like I was transported to another world!

Then the mystery starts, and I find my pulse is racing as I begin to read more rapidly, the book taking twists and turns when least expected.

If you want a clean yet passionate romance with a touchy of mystery and danger, cutesy scenes, intense scenes, and a cast of loveable characters, this is the book for you! I've already preordered the second one! Do yourself a favor and get caught up in the world of Whispering Pines!

[Victoria Caddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the charming village of Whispering Pines, this mystery-romance novel features a captivating storyline as well as compeling characters. Although fictious, Whispering Pines reminds me of the charming lake towns I visited in Northern Michigan as a child. The discriptions of the lake shore, sunsets and even firework display immediately transported me to those days.
I found myself rooting for the characters as they grappled through significate issues effecting their lives.
This skillfully written page turner will have you staying up well into the night, not wanting to put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a wholesome romance with a sprinkle of mystery.

[Britt Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Jake. He was an unforgettable and dreamy MMC. I enjoyed his banter with Alex (MFC). I also loved watching Alex heal, grow, and come into her own throughout the story. The mystery was excellent - there were some twists I did not see coming and I did not guess whodunit. This book was a page-turner and kept me up WAY past my bedtime. It was totally worth it though.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.