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Misted Pines #3
The Woman by the Lake
Nadia Williams needs somewhere peaceful to sort through her grief after her mother is brutally murdered. She finds a cozy cabin at the side of a tranquil lake in the quaint town of Misted Pines in the Pacific Northwest.
The minute she arrives, she knows it’s perfect.
The very night of her arrival, however, someone—or something—is scratching at her window.
The next morning, she meets her one and only neighbor, Doc Riggs. He’s a rough, good-time guy who rubs Nadia wrong immediately. They clash, and neither of them are happy to be sharing their lake.
But soon, Nadia learns the lore around her cabin, and how the townsfolk are certain it’s haunted by the ghost of the man who was murdered there fifteen years before.
Riggs and Nadia are suddenly thrown into a tangled web of history, betrayal, grief, secrets, with only one thing certain.
Someone—or something—wants them off that lake.
The minute she arrives, she knows it’s perfect.
The very night of her arrival, however, someone—or something—is scratching at her window.
The next morning, she meets her one and only neighbor, Doc Riggs. He’s a rough, good-time guy who rubs Nadia wrong immediately. They clash, and neither of them are happy to be sharing their lake.
But soon, Nadia learns the lore around her cabin, and how the townsfolk are certain it’s haunted by the ghost of the man who was murdered there fifteen years before.
Riggs and Nadia are suddenly thrown into a tangled web of history, betrayal, grief, secrets, with only one thing certain.
Someone—or something—wants them off that lake.
436 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2024
398 people are currently reading
1372 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Ashley
150 books39.7k followersKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
June 6, 2024
4.5 stars
The third mystery romance from Kristen Ashley's Misted Pines series, and my personal favorite?? This was so adorable, sweet, and engrossing.
Characters: ★★★★★
Setting: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★ 1/2
Writing style: It's a KA book, so keep this in mind as her writing style is Very Dramatic and she loves a good one-sentence paragraph (like, REALLY loves it)
New to the Misted Pines series? I recommend readers start with book one, The Girl in the Mist, because this series of interconnected standalone romance pairings is best enjoyed in order.
My review of The Girl in the Mist (Misted Pines #1) here.
My review of The Girl in the Woods (Misted Pines #2) here.
Nadia Williams is trying to recuperate and figure out her life in the wake of tragedy. When the cozy cabin shows up on her online search in the quaint small town of Misted Pines, Nadia has a gut feeling that it's the right spot for her. She abandons her high-rolling Chicago life for the woods.
Riggs, a single-dad bachelor who works high-end craftsmanship commissions, lives on the small lake that Nadia's rental cabin sits on. He's a good time guy, a loner who's never wanted for temporary female company, and he's not pressed about Nadia living down the way.
After all, no one stays in that cabin for long.
But this good time guy and this healing woman with deep secrets are about to fall into each other in a big way, as Misted Pines is becoming known for one thing in particular: murder and drama.
There's a legend of ghosts on Nadia's cabin property, with a long history of renters being run off the property in the middle of the night. People died on that land violently and the community has never fully recovered. Somebody has secrets to keep, and at the heart of the mystery is Nadia's small cabin property.
Riggs and Nadia are caught right in the middle of it. With an attraction between them, individual baggage behind them, and an uncertain perpetrator in the woods, these two find that sometimes fate has a path in store for you—whether you're ready for it or not.
The Woman by the Lake was a romance novel that took me partially by surprise. Which is probably on me, because I knew I was a huge KA stan and I knew that I had fallen in love, slowly, with this series. Why I was totally blown away with my love for this one in particular, who knows.
For frequent KA readers like myself, the Misted Pines series is very unique. Kristen Ashley is known for her romantic and plot-based drama, her usually metropolitan settings, and her very large ensemble casts. Misted Pines has very little of those tropes—it's a minimal cast (single digits!), the drama is centered squarely on the plot and not the romance element, and it's so far into small town territory that it's in the literal woods.
So that means all the "fluff" is scraped away from these stories, leaving the reader with what is at the core of all great KA tales: the romance itself and the character dynamics.
If you're a romance reader, odds are that you love the character dynamics. That's what those stories are often about—the feel goods, the journey to love, the dialogue, the angst between the two leads, and the emotional core of the tales. (And for the smut readers, some seriously good times in the sheets too.)
The Woman by the Lake shines with its romance dynamics and the sweet love story at its core. It's bottled up feel good, and I loved every second of it.
Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
The third mystery romance from Kristen Ashley's Misted Pines series, and my personal favorite?? This was so adorable, sweet, and engrossing.
Characters: ★★★★★
Setting: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★ 1/2
Writing style: It's a KA book, so keep this in mind as her writing style is Very Dramatic and she loves a good one-sentence paragraph (like, REALLY loves it)
New to the Misted Pines series? I recommend readers start with book one, The Girl in the Mist, because this series of interconnected standalone romance pairings is best enjoyed in order.
My review of The Girl in the Mist (Misted Pines #1) here.
My review of The Girl in the Woods (Misted Pines #2) here.
Nadia Williams is trying to recuperate and figure out her life in the wake of tragedy. When the cozy cabin shows up on her online search in the quaint small town of Misted Pines, Nadia has a gut feeling that it's the right spot for her. She abandons her high-rolling Chicago life for the woods.
Riggs, a single-dad bachelor who works high-end craftsmanship commissions, lives on the small lake that Nadia's rental cabin sits on. He's a good time guy, a loner who's never wanted for temporary female company, and he's not pressed about Nadia living down the way.
After all, no one stays in that cabin for long.
But this good time guy and this healing woman with deep secrets are about to fall into each other in a big way, as Misted Pines is becoming known for one thing in particular: murder and drama.
There's a legend of ghosts on Nadia's cabin property, with a long history of renters being run off the property in the middle of the night. People died on that land violently and the community has never fully recovered. Somebody has secrets to keep, and at the heart of the mystery is Nadia's small cabin property.
Riggs and Nadia are caught right in the middle of it. With an attraction between them, individual baggage behind them, and an uncertain perpetrator in the woods, these two find that sometimes fate has a path in store for you—whether you're ready for it or not.
The Woman by the Lake was a romance novel that took me partially by surprise. Which is probably on me, because I knew I was a huge KA stan and I knew that I had fallen in love, slowly, with this series. Why I was totally blown away with my love for this one in particular, who knows.
For frequent KA readers like myself, the Misted Pines series is very unique. Kristen Ashley is known for her romantic and plot-based drama, her usually metropolitan settings, and her very large ensemble casts. Misted Pines has very little of those tropes—it's a minimal cast (single digits!), the drama is centered squarely on the plot and not the romance element, and it's so far into small town territory that it's in the literal woods.
So that means all the "fluff" is scraped away from these stories, leaving the reader with what is at the core of all great KA tales: the romance itself and the character dynamics.
If you're a romance reader, odds are that you love the character dynamics. That's what those stories are often about—the feel goods, the journey to love, the dialogue, the angst between the two leads, and the emotional core of the tales. (And for the smut readers, some seriously good times in the sheets too.)
The Woman by the Lake shines with its romance dynamics and the sweet love story at its core. It's bottled up feel good, and I loved every second of it.
Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
June 17, 2024
I'm just not sure.
I feel like I need a I'm just not sure shelf.
So yeah. It's been three days since I finished this. Normally when I finish a book and avoid the review I'm having thoughts. Thoughts I just can't figure out how to articulate.
I'm not really having many thoughts about this one.
It was a lot different than the first two books and I feel like I spent a lot of time while reading trying to figure out how it fit in. Why we didn't know about this BIG TIME MURDER and then suicide of a famous writing duo. I just feel like it should have been lore.
That's just some of it. Most of it though was Riggs and some of Nadia. Nadia in the beginning came across as an absolute bitch, thankfully that got fixed straightaway. I don't think I could have continued to read about her if that was her way. But Riggs. I don't know what KA was doing here but this guy, he is just a little too loose and wild for this small town setting. SMALL TOWN SETTING. I'm guessing Nadia can't go anywhere without encountering one of his one night stands. Seriously.
I struggled with their age and how they fit in too. It felt like Riggs would have been closer to the twins age. I guess I didn't realize just how young the new sheriff is. Again, that almost didn't seem a natural fit in.
Overall, this book just didn't fit and I don't know if I really felt all that much for the two of them. The evil ex or not really ex too was just a little bit much. Throw in a dead husband, deadbeat and dead parents, celebrity and genius and it was just all over the place and never really in any one of those places long enough to get a real feel. It was like starting from scratch with this one.
I just don't know.
I am glad that there is more on the way though. For some reason I thought this was the end. Hopefully we'll get back to Misted Pines proper with a better feel than this one gave me.
And for those keeping score? She's got a lot to preach about in this one. Just saying.
I feel like I need a I'm just not sure shelf.
So yeah. It's been three days since I finished this. Normally when I finish a book and avoid the review I'm having thoughts. Thoughts I just can't figure out how to articulate.
I'm not really having many thoughts about this one.
It was a lot different than the first two books and I feel like I spent a lot of time while reading trying to figure out how it fit in. Why we didn't know about this BIG TIME MURDER and then suicide of a famous writing duo. I just feel like it should have been lore.
That's just some of it. Most of it though was Riggs and some of Nadia. Nadia in the beginning came across as an absolute bitch, thankfully that got fixed straightaway. I don't think I could have continued to read about her if that was her way. But Riggs. I don't know what KA was doing here but this guy, he is just a little too loose and wild for this small town setting. SMALL TOWN SETTING. I'm guessing Nadia can't go anywhere without encountering one of his one night stands. Seriously.
I struggled with their age and how they fit in too. It felt like Riggs would have been closer to the twins age. I guess I didn't realize just how young the new sheriff is. Again, that almost didn't seem a natural fit in.
Overall, this book just didn't fit and I don't know if I really felt all that much for the two of them. The evil ex or not really ex too was just a little bit much. Throw in a dead husband, deadbeat and dead parents, celebrity and genius and it was just all over the place and never really in any one of those places long enough to get a real feel. It was like starting from scratch with this one.
I just don't know.
I am glad that there is more on the way though. For some reason I thought this was the end. Hopefully we'll get back to Misted Pines proper with a better feel than this one gave me.
And for those keeping score? She's got a lot to preach about in this one. Just saying.
May 20, 2024
"The sun was shining, glinting off the peaceful waters of a lake that was a good twenty yards away. And still, I felt like I was drowning."
Nadia has rented a cabin in the woods of smalltown Misted Pines to sort through the grief of losing her mother in a brutal way. Only, she gets anything but peace when she arrives. To the neighbour she clashes with, the strange noises she's hearing at night, to the folklore and history of the property she too learns... it soon becomes clear, she's not wanted on this lake.
I went into The Woman by the Lake knowing nothing, not even reading the blurb, and it was a fantastic way to go I think. When I learned who Nadia was and what she'd been through at the same time as Riggs- I was flooded with emotion for her, and couldn't wait to read more. I loved how these two neighbours clashed at the start. But also how they work past this, develop a friendship that stems into more. The chemistry simmers on the surface. It takes some time, because Riggs is not looking to go there. But finally he can deny it no more, and those sparks ignite. And while there are steamy moments throughout (because let's be clear-Riggs brings the sex appeal!!), it's not drawn out or overly descriptive like you may have experienced from the author in previous stories. But I didn't mind that at all.
This story reads like a romantic thriller/suspense. I don't feel like the romance was as much of a focus as I personally would have liked. But it didn't effect my overall reading experience at all. The romance is still very much present, just to be clear. But I was just as intrigued by the mystery of the past, the crime solving, and learning what was happening in the now. It kept me turning the pages for more. I enjoyed revisiting with characters from the first two books of this series. The found family vibes are fantastic as always. And the way the author gives you such a full circle emotional moment in the end, I loved that. I really loved this addition to the series. And am excited for more to come. I really hope we will get a story for Harry too- I need that HEA for him!! A must read for those who love mystery solving and thrills with their romance!
4.5 Stars ⭐
*I received an ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and given freely.
Nadia has rented a cabin in the woods of smalltown Misted Pines to sort through the grief of losing her mother in a brutal way. Only, she gets anything but peace when she arrives. To the neighbour she clashes with, the strange noises she's hearing at night, to the folklore and history of the property she too learns... it soon becomes clear, she's not wanted on this lake.
I went into The Woman by the Lake knowing nothing, not even reading the blurb, and it was a fantastic way to go I think. When I learned who Nadia was and what she'd been through at the same time as Riggs- I was flooded with emotion for her, and couldn't wait to read more. I loved how these two neighbours clashed at the start. But also how they work past this, develop a friendship that stems into more. The chemistry simmers on the surface. It takes some time, because Riggs is not looking to go there. But finally he can deny it no more, and those sparks ignite. And while there are steamy moments throughout (because let's be clear-Riggs brings the sex appeal!!), it's not drawn out or overly descriptive like you may have experienced from the author in previous stories. But I didn't mind that at all.
This story reads like a romantic thriller/suspense. I don't feel like the romance was as much of a focus as I personally would have liked. But it didn't effect my overall reading experience at all. The romance is still very much present, just to be clear. But I was just as intrigued by the mystery of the past, the crime solving, and learning what was happening in the now. It kept me turning the pages for more. I enjoyed revisiting with characters from the first two books of this series. The found family vibes are fantastic as always. And the way the author gives you such a full circle emotional moment in the end, I loved that. I really loved this addition to the series. And am excited for more to come. I really hope we will get a story for Harry too- I need that HEA for him!! A must read for those who love mystery solving and thrills with their romance!
4.5 Stars ⭐
*I received an ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and given freely.
April 16, 2025
3.5 - 4 Haunting Stars!!
Nadia has come to Misted Pines from Chicago to live in a secluded cabin for a year as she tries to process the trauma she has recently lived through. She gets off to a not great start with her closest neighbor, “Doc” Riggs. Their first couple of meetings do not go well, but things take a turn when Nadia has some strange happenings occurring and Riggs soon finds himself not only wanting and enjoying her company, but also feeling protective of her. As much as I’m enjoying this series and characters, I really just didn’t connect with Riggs….I think I’m in the minority here.
The cabin Nadia is renting is rumored to be haunted and soon Nadia and Riggs, are certain these things have more to do with the tragic history surrounding the cabin and not any so called ghosts.
I enjoyed Nadia and Riggs relationship and how it develops, I absolutely loved his son Ledger, we do get some drama with Ledgers mom, but it doesn't interfere with what Nadia and Riggs are building, I have to say I truly admire Nadia’s strength and “don’t f**k with me attitude” She is not afraid to speak her mind and she’s fiercely protective of those she loves and cares about.
I'm really enjoying the Misted Pine series, and hoping we get a couple more Misted Pines books. I'd love to see Cade's sons get their own books, as well as Harry. You really don't need to read the earlier books to read this one, but I highly recommend since there are some reoccurring MP characters in this book.
Audiobook review 🎧: Narrators were great.
June 14, 2024
I haven't warmed up to the Hero, he's a 'good time boy' weed and women, half the county I think he says about himself.
He also puts her firmly in the friends only zone then gives her mixed signals.
I just can't really get into it.
Heroine goes to his house not long after they have met and sees a naked woman asleep on him.
The heroine has been married, he died.
Again she's a gazillionaire, connected to Russian vodka.
And to be honest I'm sad to say I was bored.
There are loads of KA descriptions of the cabin, his house the town etc.
Some I felt was very American, I feel as I'm living in the UK the names and labels and coffee/donut shops go over my head because its not relevant to me, it's alienating a percentage of your readers.
I felt I needed to Google some expressions or terms, I have to do this at times with authors but tbh I just couldn't be bothered.
Then there is the choice of names for people there was a Susan and another S woman and I kept getting them mixed up, they weren't main characters but why!!!
Plot summary.
Riggs and Nadia.
Nadia takes a long let of an isolated cabin in Misted Pines to get her head together after her mother is murdered.
Riggs is a part time dad to an amazing kid, he got tricked by the mother of his boy messing with the condom on a ONS.
Riggs shares the lake with Nadia, they are neighbours.
Riggs has a messed up childhood due to an abusive dad, he's avoided attachments as he worries he will end up like his father.
He works away alot but when he's home he spends time with his boy then when he isn't with his lad he spends time with his buds and does weed and women, he admits himself he's slept with half the County.
He likes Nadia but can't 'go there' and tells her they will be just friends but then puts his arm around her, holds her hand, kisses her forehead while smelling her hair, all innocent friend type activities that won't give her mixed signals.
Nadia is widowed, 7 years, her hubby died of cancer.
The story centres around a murder case that took place 15 years ago involving the cabin and the lake.
Previous characters from the series get involved.
Also Nadia sorts out her life, which ends up involving Riggs, as he's finally seen the light and makes it real.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine but mentions of previous partners and the scene early on of the woman who has obviously been with the Hero.
HEA.
Epilogue.
He also puts her firmly in the friends only zone then gives her mixed signals.
I just can't really get into it.
Heroine goes to his house not long after they have met and sees a naked woman asleep on him.
The heroine has been married, he died.
Again she's a gazillionaire, connected to Russian vodka.
And to be honest I'm sad to say I was bored.
There are loads of KA descriptions of the cabin, his house the town etc.
Some I felt was very American, I feel as I'm living in the UK the names and labels and coffee/donut shops go over my head because its not relevant to me, it's alienating a percentage of your readers.
I felt I needed to Google some expressions or terms, I have to do this at times with authors but tbh I just couldn't be bothered.
Then there is the choice of names for people there was a Susan and another S woman and I kept getting them mixed up, they weren't main characters but why!!!
Plot summary.
Riggs and Nadia.
Nadia takes a long let of an isolated cabin in Misted Pines to get her head together after her mother is murdered.
Riggs is a part time dad to an amazing kid, he got tricked by the mother of his boy messing with the condom on a ONS.
Riggs shares the lake with Nadia, they are neighbours.
Riggs has a messed up childhood due to an abusive dad, he's avoided attachments as he worries he will end up like his father.
He works away alot but when he's home he spends time with his boy then when he isn't with his lad he spends time with his buds and does weed and women, he admits himself he's slept with half the County.
He likes Nadia but can't 'go there' and tells her they will be just friends but then puts his arm around her, holds her hand, kisses her forehead while smelling her hair, all innocent friend type activities that won't give her mixed signals.
Nadia is widowed, 7 years, her hubby died of cancer.
The story centres around a murder case that took place 15 years ago involving the cabin and the lake.
Previous characters from the series get involved.
Also Nadia sorts out her life, which ends up involving Riggs, as he's finally seen the light and makes it real.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine but mentions of previous partners and the scene early on of the woman who has obviously been with the Hero.
HEA.
Epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2025
I just love this series! Nadia was awesome. She’s had a rough time of it and I get how she would want to hide away from everyone and everything by going to the lake. Her struggles with the Riggs in the beginning gave off the typical KA hero vibes. I’m always amazed how I can dislike a hero at first and before long, they turn into one of my favorites. It seems when a KA Hero gets with the program, they become awesome examples of what a woman wants in a man. The whole plot was interesting. I couldn't figure out who was messing with Nadia and why. When the truth came out, well…I would never have guessed that. I really am loving this series and I hope KA keeps going. Maybe the sheriff’s story next?
June 28, 2024
This was not my favourite of K.A's, but I love her books too much to be completely unbiased! 😂
June 12, 2024
This one started out really slow for me. I didn't care for Doc and didn't really warm up to him over the book. I felt for Nadia and all that she lost over her life. Coming to Misted Pines seemed like a way for her to hide at the start, but she found so much there. Friends, a community and of course Doc and Ledger.
The whole mystery with the ghosts and the people that owned the properties before ended up being very sad. I'm glad that the truth came out, but still so sad with what happened.
The whole mystery with the ghosts and the people that owned the properties before ended up being very sad. I'm glad that the truth came out, but still so sad with what happened.
June 13, 2024
I had high hopes. I just... I was hoping more chemistry between H and h. It seemed so shallow and weird. I was not invested.
June 26, 2024
12 hours later and I forgot every characters name
July 15, 2024
I really have enjoyed this series. I can get freaked out pretty easy and though this book has some suspense I loved reading it. This is a KA series I am always excited for and keep an eye out for. I loved reading it and can't wait for the next book in this series. I loved the characters and the storyline in this book. There's a lot to the story but its written so well it just made for a great read.
May 9, 2024
This was one of those stories that totally sucked you in and you didn’t want to stop reading! Riggs and Nadia don’t start off friendly, but the sparks between them are there, though unwanted. The mystery that is lingering in the background never really materializing completely until the end, but all those little reveals and supposes along the way, kind of point us in around about direction. What this focuses on is the found family our characters have, the trials and tribulations that come with them, and healing for wounds that cut deep. I really like these characters and how their story played out for them, and the love and healing they brought to each other, and those around them <3
June 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! In fact, it may be my favorite of this series. However, the reasons may not be what you’d expect. The Woman by the Lake is the third book in Kristen Ashley’s Misted Pine series, a series promoted as thriller/suspense. I definitely wouldn’t call any of them “thrillers”, but more suspense/mystery with heavy romantic elements. I’m pretty invested in the residents of Misted Pines and look forward to seeing more in future books. We’ve met Andrew “Doc” Riggs before, but our heroine, Nadia is a newcomer to MP. Nadia has recently experienced a tremendous loss and looking to get away in hopes of figuring out who she is and what comes next for her. I wasn’t sure about her at first—she’s definitely a little uptight, but she won me over with her sense of humor, intelligence, and her compassion. She and Riggs butt heads, but eventually get around to expressing their attraction to each other (fortunately it wasn’t long drawn out). I loved the two of them as a couple and the way they navigated their new relationship. The mystery element of this was a little on the weak side, especially compared
to the two previous books, but it was entertaining. I did figure out most, but not all of the answers before the end, but still found it to be a very good read. Most KA fans will enjoy this, even those who don’t care for mystery/suspense. It definitely reads more like one of Ms. Ashley’s romances than the two previous books. Not that that’s a bad thing.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
to the two previous books, but it was entertaining. I did figure out most, but not all of the answers before the end, but still found it to be a very good read. Most KA fans will enjoy this, even those who don’t care for mystery/suspense. It definitely reads more like one of Ms. Ashley’s romances than the two previous books. Not that that’s a bad thing.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
June 20, 2024
Story 3 stars. Narration by female 4 stars,
by male 1 stars
I loved the first two books so I preordered this one to listen to. To me, it just wasn’t as good as the first two. To tell the truth, it may have just been mostly the male narrator that ruined the book for me. Everything he said was kind of yelled at the microphone or there was a huge exclamation point after most of his statements. I hated it and I only remember one other time I hated a narration in all the years I’ve been listening and this was worse than that one. I’ve disliked some, but as of now I have only hated a narration twice.
As far as the story? I didn’t think the mystery was very compelling. I literally re-listened to some of it because I couldn’t believe the mystery part was done. There was no twist, no really scary moments or chase scene or you name any other thing that happens to end a mystery. Not even a major whodunnit moment. And characters? In the beginning, I thoroughly disliked both main characters. Further in, I did like the mfc, but only liked the mmc occasionally. He was just too macho male for me. Calling her his woman(introducing her that way)when he had just met her a couple of weeks prior. Things like that. I did like when he was protective of her and his child.
On the plus side, it was very readable. I won’t say to listen. I probably would have liked it better if I had just read it. This was just my experience. I am sure many others will love this book.
by male 1 stars
I loved the first two books so I preordered this one to listen to. To me, it just wasn’t as good as the first two. To tell the truth, it may have just been mostly the male narrator that ruined the book for me. Everything he said was kind of yelled at the microphone or there was a huge exclamation point after most of his statements. I hated it and I only remember one other time I hated a narration in all the years I’ve been listening and this was worse than that one. I’ve disliked some, but as of now I have only hated a narration twice.
As far as the story? I didn’t think the mystery was very compelling. I literally re-listened to some of it because I couldn’t believe the mystery part was done. There was no twist, no really scary moments or chase scene or you name any other thing that happens to end a mystery. Not even a major whodunnit moment. And characters? In the beginning, I thoroughly disliked both main characters. Further in, I did like the mfc, but only liked the mmc occasionally. He was just too macho male for me. Calling her his woman(introducing her that way)when he had just met her a couple of weeks prior. Things like that. I did like when he was protective of her and his child.
On the plus side, it was very readable. I won’t say to listen. I probably would have liked it better if I had just read it. This was just my experience. I am sure many others will love this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2024
Maybe less than 3 stars. I’m still debating.
I think my love affair with Kristen Ashley books has mostly run its course. Her latest just haven’t been impressing me or feeling re-readable (I reread many of her books, constantly). The weirdly preachy/soap-box moments continue at odd times. Dialogue doesn’t feel natural. Too many women are vilified. Claiming non-judgment while clear passing of judgment comes through. It’s just not a good time anymore.
This particular story was mostly just-okay. It employs a lot of KA’s standard themes but none really stood out. Starts strong but quickly mellowed and it took me a long while to finish. Nadia is given a horrible and heart wrenching backstory but it doesn’t really go anywhere authentic. Riggs is, unsurprisingly, a single dad, who is somehow macho and perfect, a tragic backstory that also doesn’t really go anywhere, and an ex who is beyond bitchy (basically the same as a dozen other books she’s written). It’s all just very middling.
The mystery/murder/ghost story was a bit of a mess and not even first hand. It’s told, sort of, second, third, fourth hand and barely impacts the main characters. It’s lackluster and I had no emotional attachment to it. Is it even really worth writing about if the reader never meets those involved?
Overall, I’m done with this series. The jury’s still out on the rest of KA’s new books.
I think my love affair with Kristen Ashley books has mostly run its course. Her latest just haven’t been impressing me or feeling re-readable (I reread many of her books, constantly). The weirdly preachy/soap-box moments continue at odd times. Dialogue doesn’t feel natural. Too many women are vilified. Claiming non-judgment while clear passing of judgment comes through. It’s just not a good time anymore.
This particular story was mostly just-okay. It employs a lot of KA’s standard themes but none really stood out. Starts strong but quickly mellowed and it took me a long while to finish. Nadia is given a horrible and heart wrenching backstory but it doesn’t really go anywhere authentic. Riggs is, unsurprisingly, a single dad, who is somehow macho and perfect, a tragic backstory that also doesn’t really go anywhere, and an ex who is beyond bitchy (basically the same as a dozen other books she’s written). It’s all just very middling.
The mystery/murder/ghost story was a bit of a mess and not even first hand. It’s told, sort of, second, third, fourth hand and barely impacts the main characters. It’s lackluster and I had no emotional attachment to it. Is it even really worth writing about if the reader never meets those involved?
Overall, I’m done with this series. The jury’s still out on the rest of KA’s new books.
June 11, 2024
I love this series. It has the perfect amount of Suspense, Heat, and Drama. THE WOMAN BY THE LAKE is the third book in the MISTED PINES SERIES. While each book focuses on one couple, I recommend reading them in the order they were released since they mention prior couples and some crossover.
"Doc" Riggs lives a quiet life on a large parcel of land in the woods, including a lake and a very annoying new neighbor. Nadia Williams is renting a cabin for the next year in Misted Pines. She needs to get away from her Chicago home and everything there that reminded her of her mother's murder several months earlier. Their meet-cute was fun, but their second meeting was hilarious.
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewTWbtL
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here: Nadine Bookaholic's Links
"Doc" Riggs lives a quiet life on a large parcel of land in the woods, including a lake and a very annoying new neighbor. Nadia Williams is renting a cabin for the next year in Misted Pines. She needs to get away from her Chicago home and everything there that reminded her of her mother's murder several months earlier. Their meet-cute was fun, but their second meeting was hilarious.
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewTWbtL
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with BooksYou can find me here: Nadine Bookaholic's Links
June 14, 2024
I consider myself a Kristen Ashley fanatic. I re-listened to her books every single week. I was really looking forward to this book, and I was extremely disappointed. It’s a long book to listen to, which is nothing new for Kristen‘s books and nothing that I can’t handle. This book was different. I felt every hour. It was a LOT. I think it might be because the mystery didn’t start until nine hours into the book. That’s ridiculous. Only four hours were dedicated to the actual murders. 3/4 of the story focused on the main characters meeting and falling in love. There were far too many distractions. The best friend who helped a woman trap the lead man into a pregnancy. The bitch ex. The same best friend giving the lead a stolen bottle of wine that leads to trouble. Local teen vandals. These were unnecessary distractions that I found tedious. I actually had to take breaks while listening because I couldn’t get through it. That has NEVER happened to me before. I also thought the soap box dialogue about hunting and not “bringing another woman down” was gross. And please, Kristen, if you are going to include kids in your books, investigate current slang. No child in 2024 calls someone a “goof.” Sad to do it, but I have to give this 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 17, 2024
Anther engaging read from KA in this series! The small town vibes weren't as strong here as in the previous book, but I still had a lot of fun reading about Nadia's adventures in MP. I really liked that the mystery this time around was mostly external instead of deeply connected to the characters. The romance was also pretty sweet and spicy and without drama/angst! My one complaint: the final chapters were very choppy and rushed.
June 14, 2024
Nadia moves to a cabin in a small town to regroup after her mom's tragic death and meets the hot neighbor. Soon she hears creepy things in the woods at night and a mystery unfolds.
While I appreciated that this was a classic macho alpha KA mmc, I never actually really liked Riggs. He was just too much. I think the audio rendition by Lance Greenfield made him more over the top unfortunately. I wasn't a fan.
The mystery plot was just one long info dump and while I appreciate the slight queer rep here, I just grew a bit bored with it. If I hadn't been in the middle of a project I bet I would have quit from boredom after about 50%. I didn't hate it. It just was very forgettable.
Bonus points for the "Brace, brother" making an appearance. Best part of the story.
While I appreciated that this was a classic macho alpha KA mmc, I never actually really liked Riggs. He was just too much. I think the audio rendition by Lance Greenfield made him more over the top unfortunately. I wasn't a fan.
The mystery plot was just one long info dump and while I appreciate the slight queer rep here, I just grew a bit bored with it. If I hadn't been in the middle of a project I bet I would have quit from boredom after about 50%. I didn't hate it. It just was very forgettable.
Bonus points for the "Brace, brother" making an appearance. Best part of the story.
June 18, 2024
3.5 stars. Very little tension or conflict between the love interests (once together they were together) and the mystery was pretty wild (not unusual for Misted Pines) but there were also plenty of things to like.
I had some discomfort around the way Riggs' baby mama, Angelica, was portrayed. There was initially some effort made to show her in a nuanced way but the wheels fell off that later on.
I liked Riggs and Nadia together. Their connection felt familiar - anyone who's ever read a KA book before knows what its like - alpha protector man, sassy woman, deeply into one another. Riggs was a good dad and that made him more attractive to Nadia (and to me!).
The narration was very good and I listened happily to the book in only a couple of days.
Not the best KA book - I'm not likely to revisit it - but certainly entertaining enough and worth the price of admission.
I had some discomfort around the way Riggs' baby mama, Angelica, was portrayed. There was initially some effort made to show her in a nuanced way but the wheels fell off that later on.
I liked Riggs and Nadia together. Their connection felt familiar - anyone who's ever read a KA book before knows what its like - alpha protector man, sassy woman, deeply into one another. Riggs was a good dad and that made him more attractive to Nadia (and to me!).
The narration was very good and I listened happily to the book in only a couple of days.
Not the best KA book - I'm not likely to revisit it - but certainly entertaining enough and worth the price of admission.
June 16, 2024
Guys kinda a hoe
June 17, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
I feels that this book is lacking of everything. Romance is not romancing. Mystery is not mysterying. Not enough suspense and thriller. Hmm
I feels that this book is lacking of everything. Romance is not romancing. Mystery is not mysterying. Not enough suspense and thriller. Hmm
June 15, 2024
This book gets 3 stars from me as opposed to the 2 stars for each of the previous ones in this series. Overall, it did have more of the KA writing style we're used to. There was more romance. And thank you, Sweet Baby Purple Jesus, there was more sex. It does disturb me a lot that the previous books had more mature characters and no sex, as if that doesn't happen with older people. And kids, that is an exquisite bunch of BS, I can assure you.
Anyhoo, while I did enjoy this more than the others, I struggled mightily with the mystery part. Holy guacamole, it was as another reviewer noted, a "massive info dump" that clogged up the works like a big old mess of grease and hair. And boy, it was about that much fun to slog through. I literally wanted to skip ahead whenever people started talking about the Lincolns and Kennedys and Jeffersons and maybe a few other presidential names tossed in the mix. It was just so loooong, so pervasive, yet felt like another tragic book got wedged into the works. There were simply too many characters involved in the mystery. They story was also sad as hell, and that little sweet wedding at the end didn't mitigate the tragedy in any way.
I know that KA can write the hell out of a romantic suspense story. The entire Colorado Mountains series lays out that fact. And other series do, too. It's not clear to me why this series has staggered drunkenly all over the place. My love for KA is extreme. And it's not easy banging on her so hard for a lot of reasons. She has become a big target for many disgruntled readers who want instant replays of Rock Chicks and other favorites. I get that desire. But if KA churned out the same templated stories with similar characters every time, we'd all collectively freak out on that, too. And have.
I totally respect that writers have to move on. Sitting in the same chair for so many years makes the joints ache. And things get boring. However, none of this means that forgetting all the things that made your books so loved in the past should be dropped in favor of shinier toys. Great, strong characters, humor, hot sex, interesting plots... none of these critical elements can be ignored, ever.
Here's hoping that we get a return to those good things with KA.
Anyhoo, while I did enjoy this more than the others, I struggled mightily with the mystery part. Holy guacamole, it was as another reviewer noted, a "massive info dump" that clogged up the works like a big old mess of grease and hair. And boy, it was about that much fun to slog through. I literally wanted to skip ahead whenever people started talking about the Lincolns and Kennedys and Jeffersons and maybe a few other presidential names tossed in the mix. It was just so loooong, so pervasive, yet felt like another tragic book got wedged into the works. There were simply too many characters involved in the mystery. They story was also sad as hell, and that little sweet wedding at the end didn't mitigate the tragedy in any way.
I know that KA can write the hell out of a romantic suspense story. The entire Colorado Mountains series lays out that fact. And other series do, too. It's not clear to me why this series has staggered drunkenly all over the place. My love for KA is extreme. And it's not easy banging on her so hard for a lot of reasons. She has become a big target for many disgruntled readers who want instant replays of Rock Chicks and other favorites. I get that desire. But if KA churned out the same templated stories with similar characters every time, we'd all collectively freak out on that, too. And have.
I totally respect that writers have to move on. Sitting in the same chair for so many years makes the joints ache. And things get boring. However, none of this means that forgetting all the things that made your books so loved in the past should be dropped in favor of shinier toys. Great, strong characters, humor, hot sex, interesting plots... none of these critical elements can be ignored, ever.
Here's hoping that we get a return to those good things with KA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
I am an avid fan of KA but I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard she was venturing into thriller…I need not be concerned as this is still a classic KA book filled with delish banter, funny and sweet moments and the found family love.
I have not read Book 1 and Book 2 and this book can definitely be read as a standalone. However, characters from Book 1 and Book 2 did cameo.
I wasn’t a fan of Nadia at first seeing that she acted so pretentiously towards Riggs but once we understood the why, it makes sense. Not to excuse her behaviour from here but she did reach back out when Riggs thrown her a bone. Their relationship started off as casual-ness but as we know KA’s classic men tend to fall hard for their women and Riggs was no different.
I did enjoy the murder mystery aspect to this which makes it a fun read but I feel it did take away from the romance aspect and if it is meant to be that way, then it’s fine..
Being a KA classic, I still do recommend that this was a comfort read. While it is not my favourite book she has ever written, it will brings me comfort reading them.
Thank you Kristen Ashley and team for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
I have not read Book 1 and Book 2 and this book can definitely be read as a standalone. However, characters from Book 1 and Book 2 did cameo.
I wasn’t a fan of Nadia at first seeing that she acted so pretentiously towards Riggs but once we understood the why, it makes sense. Not to excuse her behaviour from here but she did reach back out when Riggs thrown her a bone. Their relationship started off as casual-ness but as we know KA’s classic men tend to fall hard for their women and Riggs was no different.
I did enjoy the murder mystery aspect to this which makes it a fun read but I feel it did take away from the romance aspect and if it is meant to be that way, then it’s fine..
Being a KA classic, I still do recommend that this was a comfort read. While it is not my favourite book she has ever written, it will brings me comfort reading them.
Thank you Kristen Ashley and team for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
August 8, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
Really enjoyed this new book in the Misted Pines series! Nadia and Riggs’s story immediately grabbed my attention. I’ve enjoyed this series because it has different vibes than Kristen Ashley’s others. While the romance is definitely still there, the mystery and suspense side really bring something to the table. I also like that while these books are connected, each stands alone. Still hoping Harry gets one soon!
Really enjoyed this new book in the Misted Pines series! Nadia and Riggs’s story immediately grabbed my attention. I’ve enjoyed this series because it has different vibes than Kristen Ashley’s others. While the romance is definitely still there, the mystery and suspense side really bring something to the table. I also like that while these books are connected, each stands alone. Still hoping Harry gets one soon!
June 10, 2024
The Woman By The Lake (Misted Pines #3) by Kristen Ashley
Book 3 in the Misted Pines Series. Can Stand Alone. Romantic Suspense.
My thanks to Kristen Ashley for providing an advance copy for review purposes. Ana’s Attic accepts no compensation for reviews, and all reviews contain my honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links.
I barely read actual books anymore (I listen to audiobooks), unless a Kristen Ashley ARC lands on my Kindle. I immediately dropped what I was reading for the last month and jumped right into The Woman By The Lake and it consumed me. The Misted Pines Series is a little different from Kristen Ashley’s other romantic suspense series like The Burg Series, Dream Man, Colorado Mountain series and others. Those were more focused on the romance and less on the mystery. The Misted Pines Series is about the mysteries first and they’re all a little creepy. But it’s the romance that still wins out for me.
"The sun was shining, glinting off the peaceful waters of a lake that was a good twenty yards away. And still, I felt like I was drowning."
After two horrible tragedies in her life, Nadia booked a remote cabin on a lake in Misted Pines to heal and recover. She didn’t realize she’d have a handsome neighbor across the lake who liked to jog shirtless through her yard and have late-night, loud parties. She also didn’t realize the cabin she rented was rumored to be haunted after a famous murder happened there—until she heard the middle-of-the-night scratches that proved it.
“He was a good-time guy. (…)
But he’d learned along the way he wasn’t the other kind of man for a woman.
You wanted to get loose or get high or get off, Riggs was the guy for you.
You wanted more, he wanted no part of it”
Riggs (aka Doc) is a traveling contractor who is away for weeks at a time. He shares custody of a sweet and smart 9-year-old son, Ledger, and he’s a good dad when he has his son. Otherwise, he likes to let loose and party, and he had no interest in getting involved with his snooty-but-gorgeous new neighbor. Until he heard her back story and then found out she had been a victim of this “haunting” that was happening on his lake.
“Not fair,” I whispered.
“Who said I play fair?” he whispered against my skin. The wheel was turning. I was either in for a fun ride that I’d eventually get thrown off. Or the ride of my life. With Riggs, the first was probably a better bet than the last.
As more and more strange things start happening around, they help Harry, the Sheriff (OMG, I can’t wait for his story!) re-examine the old closed case that happened on that lake years before. I found the story interesting, but I never got fully sucked into the mystery part because it was an old case involving people that I didn’t get to know through the story even though it directly related to the current events. I loved the main characters and the romance. I loved Ledger. But I sometimes had a hard time following the older story at the center of the mystery because Kristen loves to use both nicknames and full names; this works fine when you get to know the character, but I found it a little confusing when talking about characters from the past.
Likes:
•A totally engrossing story.
•Kristen’s amazing storytelling.
•You can’t help but love the heroine.
•How Kristen can make you hate the hero (just like Nadia) and then make you melt and fall in love.
•The “coven” from previous books was barely mentioned.
•I loved Riggs’s son, Ledger.
•More of Sheriff Harry and cameos from previous books in this series (though this stands alone easily).
•It was still sexy even though there was very little sex compared to most KA books.
•A wonderful doggo.
•After the initial dislike, Riggs and Nadia had such a healthy, smooth relationship.
•The descriptions of the homes put such a clear picture in my head.
Dislikes:
•Because much of the mystery involved an old case, the story was more telling rather than showing.
•Kristen’s habit of using multiple names for the same person can sometimes be confusing. I found myself having to look up characters from earlier in the book more than once.
The Down & Dirty:
Poor Misted Pines. They just can’t get a break! I loved that Riggs was a single dad and that they were just what Nadia needed to heal from her trauma. While this series is supposed to be more about the thriller aspect than the romance, in this case it was the romance I loved the most. The mystery kept me interested but not quite as involved as I could have been because it was an old case involving people from the past. I loved Nadia and Riggs’s story. It was the perfect slightly creepy mystery to add to the Misted Pines Series, and I can’t wait for the next in the series!
Rating: 4.25 Stars, 1.5 Heat
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June 2, 2024
4.5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
"I think maybe I didn't realize it while I was doing it, but I picked somewhere like Misted Pines so I wouldn't get lost. But I got here, and I didn't know how to get found...Until you found me..."
The Woman by the Lake is the third instalment in the adult contemporary mystery romance series, Misted Pines. Set in the same idyllic town nestled in the woods, each book follows a separate couple brought together in these fair woods. In this book we follow Riggs and Nadia. After Nadia is hit with a horrific loss and ordeal she decided she needs to get away and decides to rent a cabin in the woods. Beautiful and peaceful, Nadia thinks she has a chance to find herself before returning home...until her gorgeous and gruff neighbour (the only other one on the lake) literally runs onto her property. They clash immediately as their life styles are far from the same...but when a series of spooky circumstances begin arising at Nadia's cabin it becomes year the infamous past of these cabins are haunting this beautiful land. See something want them off this lake...but what for and how far will they go?
I love Kristen Ashley. I have read so many of her books and have always found her mystery books to draw me in the most and this continues that love.
Nadia is a woman who is sweet, empathetic, and easily find herself a place in the world. Despite the reasons she left her home she is truly looking to grow and I found her willingness to explore and navigate a new paths shows how much she knows herself. Her life has not been easy but she knows when she sees a good thing to grab it.
Riggs is an alphamale that Kristen is notable for her in writing. He is assertive and a caring father with an ex who initially seems okay. I felt he was more milder in his alpha tendencies that previous alphamale by Kristen and I appreciated that. I like how his goal was to give Nadia safety before making his feelings known. There was more choice given then just staying they are together...though when he gets dominant...
This book does contain spice. I would say 2 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy pepper. It is a medium burn romance with the character not really diving into a relationship until 40-50% mark. I like how we got this time to see these characters find that comfort zone together before jumping into bed with banter. Also, with Riggs having a son it was important to see that dynamic. Now the relationship is still fast in a timeline but in the story it made sense.
"The next part is you telling me who you are..."
"I'm a woman who functions a lot better after she's enjoyed two solitary cups of coffee," I lifted my cup." This is cup number one, and I'm not halfway done."
The story itself is a mix of watching two people fall in love and an investigation behind what is happening at these cabins. There is a good amount of tension and so much drama but it's the kind that is caused by outside forces so we get to enjoy of main characters banding together to confront it. I do notice a trend of Kristen painting the ex as this bad guy BUT there were some moments were there was respect for this woman's role in Riggs and his son's life. I felt the unpacking the mystery elements were more info-dumping but there are some high tension and almost action moments that balanced things out. The twists were fun and I liked how it all came together. The epilogue is sweet but I wanted more of Riggs and Nadia in the future.
Overall, Kristen Ashley has created another engaging mystery romance that was easy to devour and so much fun. She has a way of creating these slices of life moments that just feel like a hug and I can't get enough!
Thank you so much for the arc!
"I think maybe I didn't realize it while I was doing it, but I picked somewhere like Misted Pines so I wouldn't get lost. But I got here, and I didn't know how to get found...Until you found me..."
The Woman by the Lake is the third instalment in the adult contemporary mystery romance series, Misted Pines. Set in the same idyllic town nestled in the woods, each book follows a separate couple brought together in these fair woods. In this book we follow Riggs and Nadia. After Nadia is hit with a horrific loss and ordeal she decided she needs to get away and decides to rent a cabin in the woods. Beautiful and peaceful, Nadia thinks she has a chance to find herself before returning home...until her gorgeous and gruff neighbour (the only other one on the lake) literally runs onto her property. They clash immediately as their life styles are far from the same...but when a series of spooky circumstances begin arising at Nadia's cabin it becomes year the infamous past of these cabins are haunting this beautiful land. See something want them off this lake...but what for and how far will they go?
I love Kristen Ashley. I have read so many of her books and have always found her mystery books to draw me in the most and this continues that love.
Nadia is a woman who is sweet, empathetic, and easily find herself a place in the world. Despite the reasons she left her home she is truly looking to grow and I found her willingness to explore and navigate a new paths shows how much she knows herself. Her life has not been easy but she knows when she sees a good thing to grab it.
Riggs is an alphamale that Kristen is notable for her in writing. He is assertive and a caring father with an ex who initially seems okay. I felt he was more milder in his alpha tendencies that previous alphamale by Kristen and I appreciated that. I like how his goal was to give Nadia safety before making his feelings known. There was more choice given then just staying they are together...though when he gets dominant...
This book does contain spice. I would say 2 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy pepper. It is a medium burn romance with the character not really diving into a relationship until 40-50% mark. I like how we got this time to see these characters find that comfort zone together before jumping into bed with banter. Also, with Riggs having a son it was important to see that dynamic. Now the relationship is still fast in a timeline but in the story it made sense.
"The next part is you telling me who you are..."
"I'm a woman who functions a lot better after she's enjoyed two solitary cups of coffee," I lifted my cup." This is cup number one, and I'm not halfway done."
The story itself is a mix of watching two people fall in love and an investigation behind what is happening at these cabins. There is a good amount of tension and so much drama but it's the kind that is caused by outside forces so we get to enjoy of main characters banding together to confront it. I do notice a trend of Kristen painting the ex as this bad guy BUT there were some moments were there was respect for this woman's role in Riggs and his son's life. I felt the unpacking the mystery elements were more info-dumping but there are some high tension and almost action moments that balanced things out. The twists were fun and I liked how it all came together. The epilogue is sweet but I wanted more of Riggs and Nadia in the future.
Overall, Kristen Ashley has created another engaging mystery romance that was easy to devour and so much fun. She has a way of creating these slices of life moments that just feel like a hug and I can't get enough!
Thank you so much for the arc!
July 5, 2024
Though I didn't love the first book in this series, book 2 and this one were both vastly better.
Sadly I didn't get Harry or the twins in this one. Instead we got Riggs, good time guy, artist and construction company owner and his neighbour on one the many lakes in Misted Pines. Nadia rents a super-cheap cabin after the brutal death of her mother. She's taking some time to get away from it all and arrives in Misted Pines to a glorious and perfect cabin. Then she meets Riggs and it does not go well but the attraction simmers along and the two eventually become friends of a sort.
What folks had failed to tell Nadia was that the lake was haunted and in particular her cabin from a tragedy 15 years beforehand (hence the cheap cabin. Though why she needed a cheap cabin when she's filthy rich is one of the many mysteries of this book). Anyhoo, the hauntings commence and Riggs, Nadia and the Misted Pines crew set out to solve the case.
The relationship between Riggs and Nadia is sweet and once Riggs is in, he's really in! His child is cool (as the kids in this author's books tend to be). Loved seeing more of Harry (Pleeease give us Harry's book next!) and a little of some of the other characters from the previous books. Wouldn't matter if you hadn't read them, this book works well enough as a stand alone.
The steam is steamier here than in the other books which I appreciated because book 1 was a let down in that department. On the whole, loved this one and looking forward to the next.
For the safety squad:
Sadly I didn't get Harry or the twins in this one. Instead we got Riggs, good time guy, artist and construction company owner and his neighbour on one the many lakes in Misted Pines. Nadia rents a super-cheap cabin after the brutal death of her mother. She's taking some time to get away from it all and arrives in Misted Pines to a glorious and perfect cabin. Then she meets Riggs and it does not go well but the attraction simmers along and the two eventually become friends of a sort.
What folks had failed to tell Nadia was that the lake was haunted and in particular her cabin from a tragedy 15 years beforehand (hence the cheap cabin. Though why she needed a cheap cabin when she's filthy rich is one of the many mysteries of this book). Anyhoo, the hauntings commence and Riggs, Nadia and the Misted Pines crew set out to solve the case.
The relationship between Riggs and Nadia is sweet and once Riggs is in, he's really in! His child is cool (as the kids in this author's books tend to be). Loved seeing more of Harry (Pleeease give us Harry's book next!) and a little of some of the other characters from the previous books. Wouldn't matter if you hadn't read them, this book works well enough as a stand alone.
The steam is steamier here than in the other books which I appreciated because book 1 was a let down in that department. On the whole, loved this one and looking forward to the next.
For the safety squad:
June 16, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️ The Woman By The Lake is book 3 in the Misted Pines series. Nadia Williams moved into a cute little cabin in the small town of Misted Pines after her husband died of cancer and her mother was murdered. Riggs is her neighbor, a single dad, and a commitment phobe. When someone began to play with Nadia, a 15-year-old murder needed to be revisited to keep Nadia safe. Riggs was determined to keep her safe. His commitment phobia began to heal as him and Nadia came together. The romance was steamy and good. The suspense plot was interesting, and it didn’t interfere with the romance plot. The Woman By The Lake is a solid book!
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