Blood and Muscle

by Elle Alexanda

This is an out-of-print edition of Blood and Muscle. For the latest edition, you can click here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2....

What would you do if the life you knew was stripped away in a single night?

Ava Bedford's quiet existence in Nevada shatters when she becomes the sole witness to a brutal murder linked to rising political star Congressman Richard Callahan. Forced into witness protection, Ava is relocated to Cedar Falls, a rugged Wyoming town nestled in the shadow of towering mountains. But even in this peaceful haven, danger lurks, and it's never far behind.

Sheriff Lou Harman thrives on the steady rhythm of Cedar Falls, her days spent keeping the peace and seeking solace with her horses. She's built her life around control and self-reliance, so when Ava arrives with her sharp wit and disarming openness, Lou's carefully constructed walls begin to crumble. What starts as a duty to protect soon blossoms into an undeniable connection, forcing both women to confront feelings they never expected.

But as shadows from Ava's past creep closer, trust proves to be as fragile as it is vital. Together, Ava and Lou must decide how much they're willing to risk for a chance at the life, and love, they've both been searching for.

Blood and Muscle is a thrilling yet tender sapphic romance about resilience, trust, and the courage to build something lasting in uncertain times.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Mystery, LGBT, Queer, Crime, Contemporary

367 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2025

About the author

Sapphic author fueled by coffee and catastrophic crushes on fictional ice queens ⚢

Reviews

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

**'Sometimes a story is more effective depend on your wording and subject matter. Words are essential to the story plus never go searching for a subject, it's good to let it find you..'

Enjoyable read!
.......

[Clara Addicted to sapphic books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked from chapter one when Alexanda goes straight to the point with the murder. The undercover job made me smile because no one in Cedar Falls thought this San Francisco paper to waste money sending reporters for months to cover a small town. Once Ava goes undercover, the book focuses on their relationship, so romance lovers will definitely enjoy it. The book is filled with sweet scenes. Both characters are really likable, with touching backstories that somehow make them perfect for each other. The writing is immersive, and I liked how the two main characters grow close. The first love scene was so sweet, it was my first time reading a first time! I was just surprised Lou didn't feel more conflicted about initiating a relationship with a witness under her protection. Those who were more interested in the investigation and the thriller aspect might be a bit frustrated. However, the last 50 pages will keep you on your toes, and that 'touch her over my dead body' moment is always something that made me swoon.
Just one thing I already mentioned: my brain is kind of basic, so it likes to live vicariously, and I'm used to one POV or dual POV. In this case, it’s written with what I call an external POV, where you jump from one POV to another within the same chapter. It's always a bit disturbing for me. But again, it'a personal preference.
Overall, I enjoyed this debut and promising novel from Elle Alexandra.

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Rounded Up

I read this book in about little over 12 hours, an accomplishment many books don’t get.

What wasn’t to love about the story. I really enjoyed the plot of Ava being put into a witness protection program and gets taken to this beautiful small town where Lou is the sheriff.

Was it a bit predictable? Yeah. Was it a little cheesy? Just the right amount. Did I absolutely love their love story? Easy answer.

I was looking for something with enough action but didn’t feel like a super heavy read and this one was truly perfect. Ava and Lou’s love felt so pure and raw, I think that’s what caught my attention the most.

Plus, I’m a sucker for a plot where one MC is protective of another. This one sure pulled me out of my book slump!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood and Muscle by Elle Alexanda is a fantastic debut novel. I was quickly drawn into this sapphic crime romance by the author's setting descriptions and the tension that built immediately. 
Ava witnesses a murder committed by a high-profile politician and is subsequently whisked away into witness protection with a small-town sheriff.
I liked the depth of character for our mains, with their interesting backstories and strength and vulnerability. Competency is sexy, and so are communication skills. There is no third-act breakup, which is nice. The relationship is organic, and Ava and Lou are so gentle and passionate with one another. Tender moments and spice are the payoff for the slow burn. I enjoyed the ride!
The crime suspense aspect was more of a subplot to move things along. The few action scenes kept things exciting. I appreciated the twist at the end. 
I really like our mains, and the supporting cast was also well-done, and their interactions were meaningful. 
It wasn't perfect. Some repeated words and phrases, and minor typos caught my attention, which I am sure will be addressed before publication, but overall, it was a very strong debut, and I am glad I got my hands on it. I highly recommend it for a lovely romance, with a little suspense. I also love the cover. This would look nice on my shelf. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
#Nevada #Wyoming #smalltown #sheriff #waitress #foundfamily #supportivefamily #slowburn #crime #murder #witnessprotection #nothirdactbreakup #competencyissexy #communicatoniskey #spicy #sweet #debutnovel #epilogue #HEA
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[The Wild Weary Cow Reads Sapphic · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC read

I genuinely can't believe this is Elle Alexanda's debut book 😲... She's most definitely storming out of the gates with it!.

This one ticked all my boxes 🤪.
It's really well written, I loved the flow, there's no struggle to get into it, it's got humour, flirting, smirking, banter between the two MCs, chemistry, a deep emotional connection between them and I was definitely invested.

You start off having this idea of each of them, classic tough officer and shy scared victim ...but that switches over time....I won't give any spoilers away.

There isn't a lot about the 'bad guys' once Ava goes into protective custody after witnessing a murder, until towards the end... But you know what.. you don't need it... This is Ava and Lou's love story and it's not boring in the slightest!.

I was creeping up to 82% and slowed it down because I didn't want it to end!.

Ava & Lou are on my Top fav MCs for this year and I'll be grabbing a physical copy when then time comes 👍🏻.

Thanks for giving me the chance to ARC your fabulous book

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Elle Alexanda's debut(!!) novel, Blood and Muscle, Ava, unfortunately, did witness a harrowing crime, and is shipped off to Cedar Falls, where she ends up living in Officer Lou Harman's annex. Surrounded by nature, a lake, and a stable with two adorable horses, Ava starts settling into her new life, both in a new place and in her relationship with Lou. Ava and Lou have amazing chemistry from the start, and I loved the flirty banter they had going on.🫦

The way the novel is written makes you feel like you are right there with them, in the scene. Whether it's at Millie's Diner, Lou's station, or in the area around Lou's home. You can almost smell the surroundings, and feel the sunlight beaming down from the sky. The entire novel is immersive, and the pacing is perfect. Nothing felt rushed, or too slow.🌲

I did kind of forget about the crime at some point, though, as the focus was more on the relationship between the MCs. The crime novel-lover in me would have liked a bit more intel about what was going on with the case, maybe a tad more drama, but I am all about small town life, so I was happy either way!🐎🌲

[Lady Olenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This story was cute. It’s a mixture actually. It’s a little bit too easy, too sweet and too simple with regard to the dynamics and relationships aspect. However, the specifics of handling the case, the way the author built the setting, the town’s folk characters was so smooth and endearing. It really did feel like getting dropped into a Hallmark show. There were also moments between the main characters where the dialogue was legitimately funny and crass which was out of character for the setting but gave the story more character. Imo the best, cheesiest most Hallmark moment was the last scene. It was all of what I mentioned above but so cute and adorable that it was a very strong positive 3.5 stars from me. And because of this impression I might actually keep tabs on the author and pull up their book when I want something simple, sweet and not too complicated for my brain and heart.

[Sapphic Bookshelf]

I liked the way Lou and Ava slowly developed their relationship. They had a great dynamic that felt genuine. And wow is the steam steamy! 🔥

The thriller plot takes a backseat after the first chapter and picks back up again at the end. I was hoping for a little more because I love thrillers, but it’s okay! I also love romance novels so I enjoyed the focus on their romance.

Pub Date: March 1st, 2025

Thank you to the author for a copy of this eARC.

[Lez_be_readin_ya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The descriptive writing is so skillfully executed that the story truly comes to life as you read; you feel as if you are right there with the characters.

The development of Ava and Lou's relationship was exceptionally well-crafted, and once the tension between them ignited, it was unstoppable. Lou's first experience with Ava (and first experience with anyone) is a beautifully written scene; Ava's care for Lou and her sensitive, gradual approach make it a wonderful scene to read, Their entire relationship's development was a captivating read.

I would also like to commend the side characters, as their roles were equally unforgettable. Anthony, Lou's best friend and deputy, is a wonderful and supportive friend to Lou, keeping her grounded. Millie, Lou's mother, was the sweetest mother one could wish for. And last but no means least, Alma and Constance were a hilarious and endearing duo.

The storyline is captivating from beginning to end, beautifully written, and I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I am looking forward to Elle's next work.

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.

I really really enjoyed this one! It got recommended to me a couple of times and for good reason. This is a fantastic debut novel and I highly recommend it!

It was a slow burn that didn’t feel slow at all because of everything going on. The reason of why Ava was in Cedar Falls, the stunning sheriff, cute horses, fun older side characters, crime with a little suspense. These two are so cute together! And the spice….sooo good 😏

Written in third person with 2x POV’s. Narrated by Abby Craden. Suspense/Crime, Small Town, Hidden Identity, Forced Proximity. 2x Spicy Scenes.

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was SO good. I will read absolutely anything else this author puts out. A book that made me forget I was reading and didn’t want to end. I loved how descriptive it was it made it all feel so immersive. I also liked thy the start and end is where the action is and the middle is where the relationship built. 10/10 I love Lou and Ava. Can’t wait for the re-read.

[Aunt Missa]

Just no realness to this story. The dialogue was stilted and flowed really weirdly. I could not understand Ava AT all. I didn’t even really get to know Lou because I just couldn’t finish this.

[Ionlyreadsapphic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive and ARC of this book which is the first by this author. This book was amazing and from the first page I was hooked and the writing made you feel like you where actually witnessing the murder as it unfoldes.
I loved how the MC fell for each other, on occasion I wanted to shake them so they realised how the other felt but such was the way this book was written it didn't feel like it went on too long.
I cannot wait for more books by this author

[Gio.reads.sapphic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give more than 5 stars? No? Why!?
To say I loved this book is a bit of an understatement. It contains every trope I love, including but not limited to:
- Small Town
- Witty banter
- Slow Burn
- Forced Proximity
- Almost Kiss
- First Time
and more, even the spice is good 🔥🔥

It stars as a thriller but as the story develop the romance prevailed untile the long-awaited twist in the end. The last 50 or so pages are something else 😍, combining action with romance to wrap up the story crating a gran final (they made the book more than worth of reading).

TW: murder, alcoholism, off-page domestic abuse, anxiety attacks, gun use.

[saisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

One hundred per cent, this book was written by AI. Avoid it - it's beyond awful!

[Laura-Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book.
I started it because it is narrated by the sublime Abby Craden but the book itself was excellent.
I loved the characters. I loved the story. I loved the writing.
I have put the authors next book on my TBR.

[Jae (Nyx) Night · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

I absolutely loved this book; it’s been on my list to read and I loved the tension between Lou and Ava, and I loved the journey of them at the end told in the form of a play; it definitely gives a different outlook to their ending compared to other stories!

[Sterling Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elle Alexanda’s Blood and Muscle is a gripping blend of slow-burn romance and small-town suspense, delivering an engaging sapphic love story with just the right amount of danger to keep the pages turning. From the very first chapter, the tension is palpable—both in the high-stakes mystery that sends Ava Bedford into witness protection and in the smoldering connection she develops with Sheriff Lou Harman, a woman more accustomed to keeping order than surrendering to chaos.

The heart of this novel lies in its beautifully developed romance. Ava and Lou’s relationship unfolds with a tenderness that feels organic, making each moment between them deeply satisfying. Lou, navigating her first real experience with intimacy, is written with a refreshing vulnerability, and Ava’s patience and care in guiding her through it make for some truly breathtaking scenes. And when the passion does ignite? It’s sizzling. The chemistry between them is undeniable, making their love story both emotionally resonant and steamy.

Beyond the romance, the world of Blood and Muscle feels lived-in. The Cedar Falls community is full of warmth, adding depth to the story with its small-town charm and found-family dynamics. While the mystery element is relatively low-angst, it provides just enough suspense to keep things engaging without overshadowing the central romance.

For a debut novel, Alexanda has crafted a compelling and heartfelt story, proving she has a keen eye for character development and chemistry. While the mystery may take a backseat to the romance, Blood and Muscle is ultimately a rewarding read that balances love, trust, and resilience in an unforgettable way. A solid four-star read that will leave you eagerly anticipating whatever Alexanda writes next!

Thank you to the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5 I’m feeling pretty let down by this book so take my rating with a grain of salt. I loved this concept, the characters, and their relationship. I can also give some slack given that the author is not American but writing about American politics (kind of). That being said:

The writing was weirdly flowery. For a folksy America-small-town setting, everyone spoke and thought in super metaphorical and verbose ways. Lots of “she looked at me like I was the sun and she had been starving for light”. Which is fine, but it was constant.

The tone shifted drastically. We start off with a grisly high-stakes political murder at a grimy diner, and then 50 pages later we’re exploring the community gardens at Ava’s new town. The two random check-ins from Higgins were the only real continuation of that plot; everything else was soul searching and romance. The tension was gone, and I was bored.

Lastly, and bear with me on this one, the third act reappearance of Victor was handled so poorly that I had to reread it several times. Let me set the scene:

Victor shows up, takes Ava hostage, and Lou follows them. She is described as being furious and ready to pop off at a moments notice. Ava gets away and moves to stand BEHIND Lou. BEHIND.

Victor is still in front of them and his gun has been thrown to the ground a few feet away.

THE AUTHOR DOES THIS: Victor scrambles for his weapon, gets it, then SOMEHOW manages to grab Ava out from around Lou, drag her away, and put a gun to her head. All without Lou firing or doing anything at all. I’m sorry. W H A T. They go on to have another standoff, Lou gets very heroically shot in the ribs, and they end up HAE.

I’ve read worse books so I’m not sure what bothered me so intensely about this one. If you’re looking for something very low stakes and a cute adult romance, go for it.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩶


🩶Small town
🩶Opposites attract
🩶Sapphic romance
🩶Witness protection
🩶Sheriff/ waitress
🩶Femme/femme

Ava witnesses a murder of a congressman and is forced into witness protection and relocated to Cedar falls. This is where she meets sheriff Lou. Chapter 1 had me quickly drawn in as it starts with Ava witnessing the murder after her shift. The tension was palpable. The writing was perfect.

I really enjoyed this book. The crime/mystery along with the romance made the story intriguing. Lou and Ava slowly start to develop a beautiful relationship with undeniable chemistry. There is just enough angst that had me stuck wanting to know how the book was going to end. Towards the middle of the book we get Lou’s backstory which pulled at my heartstrings. She went through so much as a child which explained why she was so closed off as an adult. The spice was sweet and well written. This book gave me all the feels. It’s fun, mysterious, intense, emotional and hot. I feel so much happened in 300 pages and I still craved more. The ending was wrapped up perfectly with a HEA. Lastly, I was so happy to see chapters titles! Seems to be a rare occurrence these days.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boo AI cover

3.5. This had some issues (like the random perspective switching) but was pretty good imo for a debut. Overall I was hoping for a bit more action but this was sweet and I liked it

[Zayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't normally give 5 stars, but in this case as far as first time author reads go, this was an enjoyable one. I really like the mystery/romance/mixed-feelings type of story driven here.

[Taylor Kulaszewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book it was a solid 4.5 star book but I rounded it up to 5. I was really hooked right away and felt like it got right to the plot. It was a slow burn but made sense for these characters and their plot lines and because of how it was written I didn’t mind it being a slow burn plus once it got to the spice it was spicy. Knocked off the .5 of points cause I just thought the play part at the end wasn’t necessary and would’ve just liked to just hear it how it happened maybe in an epilogue of like a couple years later not a retelling of their story in a play version but maybe that’s just me. Overall I LOVED this book and want to read more thriller romance books cause murder plus some spice is exactly what I like

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new book cover now available, no longer the AI one seen on Goodreads. Thus I was finally prepared to listen to this audiobook.

I really enjoyed the story in this book, lots of suspense and Ava and Lou great together. Abby Craden as the narrator of the audiobook is such an enhancement as always.

[Alex (HEABookNerd)]

DNF @ 34%

I might try BLOOD AND MUSCLE again another time but for now it's a DNF because I was looking for something faster paced and with more action/suspense. After the first chapter or so this settles into a regular contemporary and I just wanted something different.

Additionally, Lou and Ava are really likable characters but the chapters don't appear to be written from a specific character's POV. The characters' actions, body language, and facial expressions are all described so I have a general idea of what they must be thinking but it's as if a third person is describing what they're observing rather than being in the actual head of a specific character. Although, there would be occasional sentences that were clearly from a single character's POV but those were sporadic and moved around to different characters.

[P G · Rating 2 out of 5]

The dynamic between Ava and Lou was the heart of the story. Their relationship felt raw, real, and refreshingly grounded. It wasn’t overly dramatized or filled with cliché tropes. Instead, it had a quiet intensity that made their connection believable.

Unfortunately, that emotional core just wasn’t enough to carry the rest. The world around them lacked energy, the stakes were low, and the overall story didn’t push far enough to keep things engaging.

While the setup involving witness protection had potential to bring tension or suspense, it mostly sits in the background, underused and undeveloped. The plot never really kicks into gear, and any stakes that should’ve come from that premise just… fizzle out

If you like slow burns with deeply emotional character dynamics and don’t mind a plot that takes a backseat, you might still enjoy this.

[Såo Jimenez · Rating 2 out of 5]

delete it. with haste. my list of grievances for this one included: **unorganized** omniscient narrator, unnatural dialogue (like who is casually saying “truths buried in the dark don’t stay hidden forever. And when they rise, they’re normally more unforgiving than you’d expect." what????), foggy timelines, there’s an epilogue but it’s set EIGHT YEARS LATER bye that’s too far into the future hate that, and my biggest on of all, the book is set in America and the characters were American but I could tell the author was a Brit from her vernacular. TACKYY. whatever big loss. yall know i always root for my lesbos 💔 I gave it two stars bc it had horses and I vibe with that.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book on a story level was everything I wanted, my issue however was how many things were told instead of shown that I felt I didn't really get to watch them fall in love or know why they like each other. Mentioning things like that they started having weekly dinners, or that she mentioned trauma in passing. I did like this book but that and the use of an AI image as the cover were my issues.

[Scriptmonkey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, 1-star. I did not like it. I really wanted to like it, but it wouldn't let me. Goodreads would. The book itself wouldn't. This was the audiobook narrated by the exemplary Abby Craden--although she did pronunce "Miyagi-do" as if it rhymed with "blue" or "poo", poo seems appropriate here, instead of sounding like "so" or "dough" dough, a cake, a cake we want to make!

Okay, cut the music! Let's address the two most visible aspects of this story. The Title and the Cover Art.

Blood and Muscle why? What does it mean? What does it apply to? An askance heart reference? Lou getting herself tossed into the hospital twice? From Witness to Wedding Bells would have made more sense, even if the Hallmarkian treacle of it all makes me have to clean vomit off my keyboard. Ooh, I know, Eva is in Witness Protection. So, how about Witness Attraction Bam! You're welcome! I'm outta here...wait. I'm not finished.

The cover is obviously AI-generated. And y'know, whatever. I'd rather AI covers than AI text *cough* Coral Hart *cough*. But it's not even a good representation of the two characters. Neither looks in their thirties. Eva isn't curvy enough. Lou does not project a commanding presence. Okay, it got their hair colors correct. More on the "blonde and brunette" later. Just, take more time than two minutes writing out a prompt and accepting the first thing that pops out.

Now, I could go on as to how Elle Alexanda's name and bio seem "suspicious" but when you're named Scriptmonkey who am I to judge? Except, I'm not trying to get anyone to pay me for--ah never mind.

Now on to the meat of the story--Or the soy-based meat substitute for us literary vegetarian types.

What struck me first when I started the book, even before my own palm struck my forehead for using a credit on this thing, was that the prose was so purple I had to double check to make sure it wasn't written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. You know. As in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. He popularized the phrase, "It was a dark and stormy night" in his novel, Paul Clifford, and is seen as the intro to the worst opening paragraph in literature. He also coined the particular phrasing of, "the pen is mightier than the sword" in his play Richelieu. But we all know this. Right? Read a book!! Huh. Irony?

Seriously, passages are way overwritten, and I know a thing about overwriting--*gestures to this review*.

Here's an example, the parentheticals are mine the rest of the text is straight Alexanda: “The low murmur (as opposed to loud, screeching murmurs?!) of their voices filled the air as they strategized and brainstormed (Isn't that almost the same thing? Pick one!). The sound of papers rustling and pens scratching filling the room. (at least in the spaces, not already filled by their low murmur I guess)."

And how about the dialogue?

Ava (talking to detectives): "The night was uneventful as it usually is at 1:00 a.m. and tonight was no different...when I brought their coffee their conversation stilled."

In my head, Ava pauses then looks at the detectives: "Did that sound human? Because I've been practicing."

While this, um, prose style proliferates the book, what really destroyed me was the logic, or ill-logic of--there's a term for this--oh yeah, every damn character.

Another critical craft concern (wow, alliteration! Lou is impressed with alliteration if you read the book), is shifting POVs or head-hopping. Alexanda loses control of (what should have been) her Third Person Limited POV and has one character thinking one thing and another character thinking another in the space of a paragraph. Sure, Third Person Omniscient could accomplish this, but this isn't the 1800s anymore.

In most commercial fiction and especially in modern romance, what readers want is deep interiority. They want to feel what the characters feel. They want to put themselves in the characters places at times. Getting lost in the book gets hampered when you're lost as to who you are seeing the world through.

Now, on with the story. Let's start with the crime itself. Senator MAGA-Man and his loyal Henchperson, Henchy we'll call him, take Ethan to a diner to extract information from him and then kill him outside the diner. Now, the thing is, they were going to kill him anyway no matter what he said, right? Why take him somewhere public first, much less do the deed in public? Don't say it! So the story can happen! Damn it!

Now, even if this was the only way, Ava's car is there. They know she was in the diner. Yet, when they hear a noise (the scritchy scratch of a rock on her shoe--and not the heavy exit door closing for some reason), they write it off as "raccoons" when they know a potential witness is thirty feet away. Probably should at least check out the noise then. No? You're good? Okay...

Ava then goes to the police who, on the basis of her unsubstantiated, no photo or video evidence story, immediately put her into some half-assed local-state witness protection program. These things exist after a fashion and, because of funding and juris-my-diction crap, they can be quite half-assed, but here's the thing. She's just accused a congressman and the leading candidate for a US Senate seat of murder. There's a little thing I like to call the FBI that is extremely concerned about any criminal act that affects a federal election would almost certainly trigger FBI involvement. But the Federal WitSec program is highly reliable and that means no story. Got it.

Now here is sorta what should have happened had the Sandstone (Sandstone? WTF is that?) detectives been competent:
1. Signed sworn statement documenting everything she witnessed in precise detail while memory is freshest
2. Recorded interview with investigators
3. Formal identification procedures — photo arrays or lineup for both the senator and the henchman
4. Documentation of her precise location, sightlines, lighting conditions, anything establishing the reliability of her observation
5. Chain of custody established for her testimony from day one.

What does happen? Well, there is an interview. Months later, memory degraded, she goes to sign an affidavit (that goes poorly). No photo lineup, just her assurance that she is positive. We don't get to see the investigation because that wouldn't be as interesting as watching Ava adjust to small town life.

On the drive to her Witness Protection place--Cedar Falls is it? Cedar Falls, Iowa? No, no, Cedar Falls, Wyoming. Hint: It doesn't exist, obvs. Neither does Sandstone, Nevada. Or West Wyoming University. No sense cluttering up this book with recognizable visuals--on the drive, Detective Higgins says, "Oh by the way, here's your identity." You want her to change her name and life story and you do it as an, "I almost forgot, durr on me, you're Amelia now and you do journalism. And you're old college buddies with Sheriff Lou--whom I won't say is a woman until you meet her because details. I don't care that you have no experience with journalism or West Wyoming University. These days who does?"

Higgins cautions Ava that she cannot slip up. It is critical she doesn't slip up.

Her immediate response is: "Can you guys call me Ava when it's just us instead of Amelia?" What did he just say?!

On the other hand, after a week of (maybe, the timeline is shaky) calling Sheriff Lou off-page in a panic over every sound she hears or when she's bored, then after being reprimanded stomps (okay cycles) over to town and traipses into the local diner that is, surprise, owned by Lou's mama and filled with nosey elderly types. Of course, Sheriff Lou sees her and yells at her.

This is when the truest moment in the novel happens. Lou declares she can't believe Ava was so stupid! Unfortunately, she walks it back and apologizes later--but it was so true.

On the other other hand, (sorry I grew up near a Nuclear Power Plant and I have several hands), Lou treating "Witness Protection" as "Witness Seclusion" kind of defeats the purpose of a cover story.

Nothing much happens for the next couple of months (MONTHS!). Lou is shown teaching her one self-defense routine. Yeah, that's enough. Ah, but it will pay off later, I bet. I just bet!

Okay, one thing, I'm not here to body shame at all. But, Ava joking tells Lou she is going to kick her "willowy ass". This implies two things visually: Lou is somewhat tall and athletically slender and Ava is...not. Indeed, in the opening chapter, the visual is that Ava is wearing "Mom Jeans" and those jeans are now stretching to contain her curvaceousness. Yet, later in the novel, Ava is described as "petite". Misusing (or not understanding) words and terms (murmur, or later highest echelons) is thing in this novel--but one cannot simply bust out of mom jeans and be petite at the same time.

When the spicy scenes happen--later, much later--the only indication is that Ava is buxom. That's it. A petite woman can be buxom but--once again, see Mom Jeans pushed to the breaking point.

Anyway, Detective Higgins never his partner calls (and you think that would mean something...but no. Nothing.) at inopportune times, mostly to ruin Lou's mood. The first time he calls he tells her that the murder has hit social media! Uh-oh, things are dangerous now! The blood left at the public scene by the murderers has been connected to a missing person (Ethan, he dead). Being the geniuses that they are, the detectives assume Senator Maga and Henchy will figure out that Ava saw something.

Lou: Oh my god! Noooooo!!

Wait, wasn't that assumed? I mean, you know, that's why she was put in witness/witless protection?

Lou decides, against Anthony's (her deputy's) advice to not tell Ava because she'd get all worried and panic again. She finally felt safe. So, telling her that the thing they were expecting had arrived would be too much of a shocker huh? Okay. Speaking of shocking, when Ava does find out, is she pissed.

Ava: "How dare you not trust me to handle this!!"

Did Lou say: "I mean, you couldn't handle being isolated for a week. You freaked out over creaky pipes. You had night terrors from the murder. You had a full-blown panic attack when two men got vaguely threatening (I mean they were bastards) after having mentioned the Congressman. So, yeah, I was worried you wouldn't take it well." She did not. She said, "You're right. I'm sorry."

With the next call, Higgins sensing Lou was happy, rang her up to say that, despite lacking any physical evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the Senator, no body, and a single unsigned witness statement, they declare they are going to make an arrest soon. Surrrree.

A little backstory babble. Ava cracks Lou in the nose. She gets her to put some frozen peas on it. This level of expertise impresses Lou and Ava reveals she had wanted to be a doctor but her mom died and being utterly broke, she couldn't qualify for financial aid...somehow? And became a waitress full time instead. But she watched a lot of medical dramas, so she's pretty qualified.

Lou on the other hand, she wanted to dance! No, wait, she wanted to actually be a journalist. But her dad died and she came back and assumed the role of sheriff to honor her dad(after the acting sheriff retired). Sheriff isn't a job you hand down in a will like managing a family convenience store. It's an elected position. Oh, by the way, Lou is a virgin who has only been on one date. You see, when she was 15 her girlfriend wanted to go further, but Lou didn't. Girlfriend broke up and called her "frigid" to the high school public. College was going to be different because she was so busy studying...journalism...stuff...that she couldn't do the online dating thing and then sheriff time. So, one bad relationship as a teen = 19 years of chastity (not celibacy damn it! Read a bo--ah, forget it).

But wait, there's more (said like Mona Lisa Vito in My Cousin Vinny): Ol' Dad wasn't worth honoring. You see when she was 15 (big year) she was tired of Dad beating up Millie the Mom when he got home drunk, she made her leave. Dad, being such a great guy, eventually started beating on Lou. Even when Millie returned, and the beatings on her did stop, Daddy targeted Lou secretly it seems and the beatings shall continue. This time, Anthony intervened though neither did anything beyond that to stop it--certainly not telling Millie. Now, both of these things occuring at 15 seems like it could have been connected. She didn't want intimacy because then the GF would see the bruises. Plus, Lou didn't want relationships because relationships were violent. Tragic but understandable logic. If only someone had said that. They did not. Instead, they are presented as independent events.

In the midst of this, medical malfeasance most foul did occur.

In a dark horse stable, Lou is kicked by a horse and hits her head on some metal thing.

She is described by Anthony as having been: "Knocked cold for over an hour." Indeed, she wakes up in the hospital. She is released a couple of hours later with a "minor--or was it mild--concussion". Well, being knocked out for over an hour doesn't mean mild concussion. It means, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. This means ICU to start. Perhaps a week of hospitalization with hourly neurological checks to start. CT imaging. Genuine risk of her dying from a brain bleed. Or, you release her before any competent doctor could have even assessed her condition.

Later, at the climax, oh the climax, Ava gets abducted by Henchy posing as a coworker for a job that didn't exist. But Ava's smart, she uses that subtly inserted safe-word "cherry pie"--so Lou knows she's in trouble. And Ava hating cherry pie means she's just the worst sort of person anyway. So, Ava talks with Henchy and learns he's been observing her for a month. In the name of all the gods and goddesses that were ever made up to make us feel better, WHY?! If the point was to kill her. KILL HER. Nah, I'm going to hang in this small town where I should definitely have been noticed and spy on people who definitely should have been looking over their shoulders.

But Lou reasons that "of course" Henchy would take her to the roughest part of the river to dump the body. It's logical enough but c'mon. Ava, being so smart n' stuff, keeps Henchy talking and Lou comes in to save the day! He releases Ava and Ava goes to Lou but somehow Henchy is able to once again grab Ava and get the gun and hold it on her before Lou can do anything--like fire the pistol she had trained on him. Then, Ava (using her single defense class) breaks his grip and though Lou gets off a shot it isn't before Henchy fires at well. Despite being crotch-whacked and hit in the nose or something, Henchy gets a better shot on Lou than she gets on him.

Understand, Lou "crumples lifelessly" and Ava sees the "light go out" Lou's eyes and says she is lifeless. Spoiler: They are both alive and well. Lifeless has no meaning.

Then suddenly its 8 years later. F'ing epilogues! I hate epilogues! Well, I hate crappy epilogues. But why 8 years? So Ava can magically be a doctor. 4.0 average. She's a genius! But what about the evil congressman and the killing and the? Oh, see, all of this gets wrapped up tidily (is that a synonym for nauseously?) because the town puts on a play dramatizing the events of the book and tells us what happened at the trial (he was convicted) and reveals Ava got her medical degree and Lou buys her a medical practice(?) so that Ava can do her residency at some pillbox clinic? And after that, after all that, now, finally, Lou proposes. You waited 8 years to propose? What the actual--

Through all of this, no one questions how (or even that) the whole witness protection thing fell apart. Henchy decides to canvass small towns and gets lucky? Really? That's what you're going with? From the reader point of view, only 5 people knew of this. The two detectives. Lou. Anthony. Ava. Someone squealed. Perhaps that detective we never saw or heard from again? Nope. Anthony maybe?

All we know is that the whole thing was, shockingly, "a conspiracy at the highest echelons of government!!" I mean, sure, we already knew it was because Congressman/Senatorial candidate but yay, big reveal. Perhaps she was wishful thinking it meant the Presidency was toppled? But she couldn't commit to that.

Oh, about the "blonde" and "brunette" thing. Randomly, Lou refers to Ava as "the brunette" and Ava later (as in spicy time) thinks of Lou as "the blonde". Such intimate, personal descriptions. I always refer to people I'm in love with as "the brunette". Sometimes I'll yell out, "Hey redhead! Make me a tofurkey pot pie!" That no one around here has red hair complicates matters a bit...and I never do get my tofurkey pot pie. It's probably for the best.