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Twin Lights #1
Smuggler's Cove
In a brand-new series for fans of Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, and Melida Leigh, #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels introduces siblings Madison and Lincoln Taylor, whose Jersey Shore inheritance plunges them into a world of mystery and mayhem . . .
Growing up, Madison Taylor and her younger brother Lincoln lived in privilege, but their sheltered existence abruptly ended when their father was arrested for fraud and the family assets were seized. Since then, Madison has carved out a new path, studying fashion and working her way up to editor in chief of La Femme magazine, while Lincoln teaches wealth management at a small college outside the city. Both have separated themselves from their family and their past—until an unexpected bequest arrives from their late uncle.
Madison and Lincoln are now the new co-owners of a marina at Smugglers Cove on the Navesink river. Instead of a fabulous, Hamptons-style property, Smugglers Cove offers little beyond a dilapidated dock, a few gas pumps, and a handful of clam boats. Madison’s plan to sell the property goes awry when a dead body is found floating under their dock and transforms their new inheritance into a crime scene.
Suddenly, Madison is swapping her city-girl wardrobe for cargo pants and flannel shirts, while she and Lincoln receive a crash course in small-town Jersey shore life, complete with quirky characters, pirate legends, and a mysterious treasure map. They’re discovering more about themselves and each other every day, but with a mystery to solve, and big decisions to make, these are lessons they’ll need to learn fast . . .
Growing up, Madison Taylor and her younger brother Lincoln lived in privilege, but their sheltered existence abruptly ended when their father was arrested for fraud and the family assets were seized. Since then, Madison has carved out a new path, studying fashion and working her way up to editor in chief of La Femme magazine, while Lincoln teaches wealth management at a small college outside the city. Both have separated themselves from their family and their past—until an unexpected bequest arrives from their late uncle.
Madison and Lincoln are now the new co-owners of a marina at Smugglers Cove on the Navesink river. Instead of a fabulous, Hamptons-style property, Smugglers Cove offers little beyond a dilapidated dock, a few gas pumps, and a handful of clam boats. Madison’s plan to sell the property goes awry when a dead body is found floating under their dock and transforms their new inheritance into a crime scene.
Suddenly, Madison is swapping her city-girl wardrobe for cargo pants and flannel shirts, while she and Lincoln receive a crash course in small-town Jersey shore life, complete with quirky characters, pirate legends, and a mysterious treasure map. They’re discovering more about themselves and each other every day, but with a mystery to solve, and big decisions to make, these are lessons they’ll need to learn fast . . .
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2025
804 people are currently reading
17200 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
427 books6,541 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
August 21, 2025
Grateful to have received this book for free in exchange for my review. First off, this audiobook was beautifully narrated. This is not the type of books I typically enjoy reading. I felt the description and the cover were a bit misleading, as there is no mystery or suspense. Basically it narrates a life of the family. I kept waiting for something to happen but it didn’t.
September 9, 2025
SMUGGLER’S COVE (Twin Lights Book #1) by Fern Michaels is listed as a thriller/mystery that is the beginning of a new series featuring siblings Madison and Lincoln Taylor who inherit a marina in Smuggler’s Cove. It was not. The first three quarters of the book are their backstory, which I did not find interesting because the characters had a shallow development and never pulled me in or made a connection with me. The mystery of the dead treasure hunter came into play much too late in the story.
I think this was the first Fern Michaels book that has ever disappointed me. The majority of the book just felt as if it was character building for the author’s own background notes and should not have been released, or parts maybe interspersed into the next book in this series, which I assume, and hope is more of a thriller/mystery. This was not what I was hoping to read from this author.
RATING: 2.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded up)
I think this was the first Fern Michaels book that has ever disappointed me. The majority of the book just felt as if it was character building for the author’s own background notes and should not have been released, or parts maybe interspersed into the next book in this series, which I assume, and hope is more of a thriller/mystery. This was not what I was hoping to read from this author.
RATING: 2.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded up)
September 22, 2025
A soothing and gentle story. Awesome, detailed character development and back story for Madison and Lincoln, the siblings. Smuggler’s Cove is a wonderful setting for the story. In my opinion, it suits the siblings personalities, they just didn’t know it yet. A nice, calm cliff hanger. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. I definitely recommend this audio book. The narrator is perfect for this story.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
August 15, 2025
Audiobook ARC received via NetGalley. Thank you RBmedia. ^^
So, Smuggler’s Cove is marketed as a mystery/thriller… but honestly? It’s neither. At best, it’s a slice-of-life story with a little small-town charm, but really it reads more like a multi-generational family drama spanning 3–4 generations.
Yes, a body does show up under the dock… but there’s nothing particularly dramatic or mysterious about it. It doesn’t drive the story the way the blurb made me expect. Half of the book focuses an the previous generations and the other 50% focuses on Madison and Lincoln adjusting to their unexpected inheritance, meeting quirky locals, and digging into their family’s past.
That said, the narrator did an awesome job ... big chance I would’ve skipped finishing this one otherwise.
Overall, the writing isn’t bad, but if this had been marketed as contemporary fiction or women’s fiction (or anything else), I think it would’ve landed better for me. As a mystery/thriller? It just didn’t hit the mark.
So, Smuggler’s Cove is marketed as a mystery/thriller… but honestly? It’s neither. At best, it’s a slice-of-life story with a little small-town charm, but really it reads more like a multi-generational family drama spanning 3–4 generations.
Yes, a body does show up under the dock… but there’s nothing particularly dramatic or mysterious about it. It doesn’t drive the story the way the blurb made me expect. Half of the book focuses an the previous generations and the other 50% focuses on Madison and Lincoln adjusting to their unexpected inheritance, meeting quirky locals, and digging into their family’s past.
That said, the narrator did an awesome job ... big chance I would’ve skipped finishing this one otherwise.
Overall, the writing isn’t bad, but if this had been marketed as contemporary fiction or women’s fiction (or anything else), I think it would’ve landed better for me. As a mystery/thriller? It just didn’t hit the mark.
October 29, 2025
This is a Mystery Thriller, and this is the first book in the Twin Lights series. I read this by listening to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I found the beginning boring and slow moving, and I also found the jumps in time took me a little bit to get back into the story. There were weird jumps in time throughout this book, and I wish they were done better. I did love the ending, and I loved getting to know the characters in this book. The time jumps show us why the characters were the way they were, and I love that. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
July 21, 2025
Smuggler’s Cove, the first book in the Twin Lights series by Fern Michaels, is a generational story of a family's development, shame, grit, and determination that builds a sturdy bedrock foundation for the books to come.
Character development in paramount in this book, and we not only come to know the main characters of the book, but what made them the way that they are. The setting of Smuggler's Cove doesn't actually appear until later in the book, but again, Michaels takes her time laying the groundwork for future stories set there.
This book is a superbly written slow burn that captures your imagination and keeps you turning the pages. I look forward to more in the series.
Thank you for the ARC of #SmugglersCove to #NetGalley.
Character development in paramount in this book, and we not only come to know the main characters of the book, but what made them the way that they are. The setting of Smuggler's Cove doesn't actually appear until later in the book, but again, Michaels takes her time laying the groundwork for future stories set there.
This book is a superbly written slow burn that captures your imagination and keeps you turning the pages. I look forward to more in the series.
Thank you for the ARC of #SmugglersCove to #NetGalley.
June 9, 2025
The description of the book sounds exciting, right? Yeah, it’s not. Actually, the book does get off to an exciting start at the beginning when the Madison and Lincoln’s lives are ripped out from under them when their father is arrested for fraud. And then the pace is relatively sedate for the remainder of the book.
Yes, there is a dead body. But our main characters have nothing to do with solving the mystery. There is no mayhem.
Characters:
With the exception of the father who goes to prison at the beginning of the book, all of the characters are likable enough. Madison is a little self-centered, but not overly so. That’s the worst I can say about any of them. And while, I need at least one likable character to enjoy a book, these characters were unrealistically perfect - great jobs, mostly even tempered, no major internal conflicts, and no major external conflicts. It made them seem two dimensional.
Plot:
It’s as described by the publisher, with only a relatively minor mystery and no mayhem.
The Writing:
Overall, Fern Michaels is a decent writer insofar that she knows how to create pictures with her words. I had no trouble envisioning what she describes.
There was one odd thing. Madison is the viewpoint character, however, the author sometimes switches viewpoints to insert the internal thoughts / feelings of the other characters. It was disconcerting and took me out of the story.
Overall:
I’ve not read Danielle Steel or Nora Roberts, so I don’t know how Smuggler’s Cove compares. I feel like the publisher’s description of “mystery and mayhem” did a disservice both to the writer and reader. I chose this book because I thought it was a mystery. I typically do not read general fiction / women’s fiction / contemporary romance and would not have chosen this novel if it had been described as such. I am definitely not the target audience. Hopefully, the publisher will review their description and make it more accurate. It could be that the right reader would find this book more enjoyable than I did. (And obviously given Fern Michaels’ long list of published books, people do enjoy her novels.)
Yes, there is a dead body. But our main characters have nothing to do with solving the mystery. There is no mayhem.
Characters:
With the exception of the father who goes to prison at the beginning of the book, all of the characters are likable enough. Madison is a little self-centered, but not overly so. That’s the worst I can say about any of them. And while, I need at least one likable character to enjoy a book, these characters were unrealistically perfect - great jobs, mostly even tempered, no major internal conflicts, and no major external conflicts. It made them seem two dimensional.
Plot:
It’s as described by the publisher, with only a relatively minor mystery and no mayhem.
The Writing:
Overall, Fern Michaels is a decent writer insofar that she knows how to create pictures with her words. I had no trouble envisioning what she describes.
There was one odd thing. Madison is the viewpoint character, however, the author sometimes switches viewpoints to insert the internal thoughts / feelings of the other characters. It was disconcerting and took me out of the story.
Overall:
I’ve not read Danielle Steel or Nora Roberts, so I don’t know how Smuggler’s Cove compares. I feel like the publisher’s description of “mystery and mayhem” did a disservice both to the writer and reader. I chose this book because I thought it was a mystery. I typically do not read general fiction / women’s fiction / contemporary romance and would not have chosen this novel if it had been described as such. I am definitely not the target audience. Hopefully, the publisher will review their description and make it more accurate. It could be that the right reader would find this book more enjoyable than I did. (And obviously given Fern Michaels’ long list of published books, people do enjoy her novels.)
November 13, 2025
A great start to a new series by Fern Michaels.
January 8, 2026
The start of this book was all over the place, with little indication of time / place. Once the dust settled, the story was quite enjoyable. Hopefully now that the background has been established, and the story is "started" the next installment will be even better. 6 out of 10.
September 15, 2025
I have not read many of Fern Michael’s books, but I probably will not be reading anymore. I felt like the book was very confusing in the beginning because the first chapter was about two people. The second chapter was about two other people, and the author kept adding characters. It was obvious they were related, but you did not really understand their relationship s.I did enjoy reading about Madison and her brother Lincoln, and the inheritance that they received. Perhaps there will be a sequel because the book did leave a few unsolved questions.
September 2, 2025
I had really high hopes for this book - the first half built a lot of momentum. And then, the second half was conversations about what to eat, what to wear, and transportation.
June 16, 2025
Welcome to Smuggler’s Cove!
Madison and her brother Lincoln are shocked to hear that they have inherited a marina from an uncle they haven’t seen in decades. The first reaction is to look at it and sell it and have the deal done as quick as possible.
However, they could not imagine how this inheritance was going to change their lives.
They became part of a community, made new friends, embarked on a new business and basically changed their lives!
This book end on a major cliffhanger and I’m already anticipating book 2!
Madison and her brother Lincoln are shocked to hear that they have inherited a marina from an uncle they haven’t seen in decades. The first reaction is to look at it and sell it and have the deal done as quick as possible.
However, they could not imagine how this inheritance was going to change their lives.
They became part of a community, made new friends, embarked on a new business and basically changed their lives!
This book end on a major cliffhanger and I’m already anticipating book 2!
August 20, 2025
The description and genre classification for Smuggler’s Cove are a bit misleading. Despite the title, Smuggler’s Cove isn’t even mentioned until halfway through the book. The first half is largely devoted to the multi-generational backstory of the family at the heart of the novel. While it's been marketed as a mystery or thriller, that’s a stretch—yes, there is a dead body, but it’s addressed so briefly and resolved so quickly that it barely registers.
This book would be better categorized under Chick-Lit or even something more aligned with a Lifetime or Hallmark-style family drama. That said, I did enjoy the book—especially the character development. Fern Michaels does a great job creating vivid, relatable characters, and I found myself really caring about them.
This first installment clearly lays the foundation for the Twin Lights series, and I’m genuinely looking forward to reading the book.
Special mention to Eliza Foss, whose narration brought the story and its characters to life beautifully.
Thank you to NetGalley & RBmedia for letting me read this ARC.
This book would be better categorized under Chick-Lit or even something more aligned with a Lifetime or Hallmark-style family drama. That said, I did enjoy the book—especially the character development. Fern Michaels does a great job creating vivid, relatable characters, and I found myself really caring about them.
This first installment clearly lays the foundation for the Twin Lights series, and I’m genuinely looking forward to reading the book.
Special mention to Eliza Foss, whose narration brought the story and its characters to life beautifully.
Thank you to NetGalley & RBmedia for letting me read this ARC.
October 6, 2025
Slow paced, whimsical whodunit with some of the most detailed character development I have read in years.
July 17, 2025
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Spice: none
Background: 5 ⭐
Characters: 5 ⭐
Mystery: none
Thank you GoodReads ( giveaways win) and Penguin Random House (shipping and free cool bookmark) for my ARC copy!
This is my first read of Fern Michaels. I looooved the description of the book as the description mentions mystery and mayhem. However, I read none of either.
This is a very well written book about Madison Taylor and her brother Lincoln. The first half of the book is spent giving family history and background. Smuggler's Cove is introduced in the middle of the book and rapidly jumps into a vague crime scene that is mentioned sparsely in the next few chapters.
Now! The storyline between the siblings, Olivia ( Madison's best friend and sister-in-law) and Viggo ( Madison's new love interest) is interesting and I would love to see where it goes in the next book.
Maybe the next book will be more intense and incorporate the mystery and mayhem mentioned in the description of this book? I would love to read about the body that was found and if it had any connections to their uncle (whom they inherited the cove from).
Spice: none
Background: 5 ⭐
Characters: 5 ⭐
Mystery: none
Thank you GoodReads ( giveaways win) and Penguin Random House (shipping and free cool bookmark) for my ARC copy!
This is my first read of Fern Michaels. I looooved the description of the book as the description mentions mystery and mayhem. However, I read none of either.
This is a very well written book about Madison Taylor and her brother Lincoln. The first half of the book is spent giving family history and background. Smuggler's Cove is introduced in the middle of the book and rapidly jumps into a vague crime scene that is mentioned sparsely in the next few chapters.
Now! The storyline between the siblings, Olivia ( Madison's best friend and sister-in-law) and Viggo ( Madison's new love interest) is interesting and I would love to see where it goes in the next book.
Maybe the next book will be more intense and incorporate the mystery and mayhem mentioned in the description of this book? I would love to read about the body that was found and if it had any connections to their uncle (whom they inherited the cove from).
September 19, 2025
The Prologue provides a brief history of Smuggler's Cove, a location that plays a significant role in the unfolding narrative. The story is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the lives of Gwendolyn Wainwright, Jackson Taylor, and their children, Madison and Lincoln. The early chapters of Part One offer an intriguing glimpse into their experiences, beginning with the parents' first meeting and leading into their life of opulence in Manhattan. This luxurious existence is suddenly disrupted when Jackson's arrest sends shockwaves through the family.
In contrast to his brother Jackson, Kirby is drawn to the outdoors and leads a different lifestyle as the owner of Kirby Taylor's Marina in Smuggler's Cove, Navesink, New Jersey. The marina eventually becomes the inheritance of Madison and Lincoln, presenting them with a multitude of choices and decisions. Part Two tells their story.
This is a story that could easily be taken from today's headlines—a tale of two children who, drawing on the resilience they developed long before college graduation, held tightly to their bond and respected each other’s choices and opinions. It illustrates how embracing opportunities can alter the course of our lives, bringing us joy and meaning. This is a narrative of strangers who become family, where happiness arises from unexpected moments, and where the surges of laughter, joy, and friendship add the most significance to our lives. Forever and always.
I was so excited to see that one of this author's titles was featured as a September Staff Favorite for the BTC Reading Challenge! A new series from this author is irresistible!
In contrast to his brother Jackson, Kirby is drawn to the outdoors and leads a different lifestyle as the owner of Kirby Taylor's Marina in Smuggler's Cove, Navesink, New Jersey. The marina eventually becomes the inheritance of Madison and Lincoln, presenting them with a multitude of choices and decisions. Part Two tells their story.
This is a story that could easily be taken from today's headlines—a tale of two children who, drawing on the resilience they developed long before college graduation, held tightly to their bond and respected each other’s choices and opinions. It illustrates how embracing opportunities can alter the course of our lives, bringing us joy and meaning. This is a narrative of strangers who become family, where happiness arises from unexpected moments, and where the surges of laughter, joy, and friendship add the most significance to our lives. Forever and always.
I was so excited to see that one of this author's titles was featured as a September Staff Favorite for the BTC Reading Challenge! A new series from this author is irresistible!
September 6, 2025
This book was fun to read! Michaels somehow makes the set up (growing up with great wealth, losing it all, then rebuilding) into a heart-warming story; you will root for the Taylors at every turn. When they end up on the Jersey Shore, you will be thoroughly hooked on their adventures and their heart for this new path. There is enough intrigue and mystery to make this a cozy page-turner. I did not want to put this book down! [Thank you for the ARC I received from Kensington.]
August 23, 2025
I’m a little torn on this one.
I enjoyed the writing style, I thought the narrator was fabulous but the purpose of the story has me confused.
Marketed as a thriller/mystery, yet the mystery almost seemed a sideline to the family saga which wove the majority of the storyline.
I enjoyed reading the Taylor children’s history and triumphs, their relationship and resilience. I thought the role of Madison’s best friend Olivia was a beautiful addition and their friendship was heartwarming.
Again, another genre was bandied about with Madison’s budding romance and her approach almost seemed old fashioned.
Perhaps, as this is book one and it did end on a bit of a cliffhanger, mystery and thriller will become the overarching theme.
I received this audiobook from the digital distributor and all opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the writing style, I thought the narrator was fabulous but the purpose of the story has me confused.
Marketed as a thriller/mystery, yet the mystery almost seemed a sideline to the family saga which wove the majority of the storyline.
I enjoyed reading the Taylor children’s history and triumphs, their relationship and resilience. I thought the role of Madison’s best friend Olivia was a beautiful addition and their friendship was heartwarming.
Again, another genre was bandied about with Madison’s budding romance and her approach almost seemed old fashioned.
Perhaps, as this is book one and it did end on a bit of a cliffhanger, mystery and thriller will become the overarching theme.
I received this audiobook from the digital distributor and all opinions are my own.
August 31, 2025
Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ALC.
I think this is actually my first book by this author, which is a surprise because their books have been published for such a long time. This was an enjoyable book, a mystery thriller and the first in a new series.
The book started off a bit slow for me, and some of the jumps and starts took me out of the story a bit too much. I'm not sure if that was just for this book or if this is the writers style.
Overall I enjoyed the book and would look for others in the series or by the author. Narration for the audiobook was nice to listen to and enjoyable.
3 stars
I think this is actually my first book by this author, which is a surprise because their books have been published for such a long time. This was an enjoyable book, a mystery thriller and the first in a new series.
The book started off a bit slow for me, and some of the jumps and starts took me out of the story a bit too much. I'm not sure if that was just for this book or if this is the writers style.
Overall I enjoyed the book and would look for others in the series or by the author. Narration for the audiobook was nice to listen to and enjoyable.
3 stars
August 28, 2025
I didn't hate it, but there was also nothing to love about it. There were a lot of characters, and their life stories, introduced in the whole first half of the book and in the end they and their stories didn't matter. Worst of all, they were more interesting than anyone (or anything that happened) after. The main characters, Madison and Lincoln, didn't really become a huge part of the book or story until it was half way through and then everything felt rushed to get them situated in Smuggler's Cove. Again, all the rushing didn't matter. Then there was the dead body *gasp* which felt like it was thrown in there for the "this is getting good" factor, and then it almost became an after-thought. There was a lot of describing of things like paintings and objects, which again didn't matter. In the end I just didn't really get it. Again, didn't hate it, but from the description I was expecting something different and because of that I felt like it didn't deliver.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the arc.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the arc.
January 8, 2026
I so enjoyed this book! It is set in the area where I live which just made it more enjoyable knowing the local places they are going to. One Willow is fabulous! It was fast paced and the characters just drew you in. I am looking forward to the next book!
September 10, 2025
Thriller? Not at all!
Read
September 9, 2025Very boring. I expected better.
September 17, 2025
book was good but I've read others of that I enjoyed more
September 3, 2025
The book jacket makes this book sound so interesting, but it was so dull. There was ZERO mystery in it. Right at the end, I thought the mystery might finally come, but then the book just ends. There was zero mayhem in the story. Everything works out perfectly for everyone, almost immediately. The characters and their dialogue were painfully boring. The beginning of the book did pique my interest, but in the end, it had nothing to do with the storyline. No no no to this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
This has zero mystery.
August 20, 2025
Let me start off by saying that I have been reading Fern Michaels' books since I was a young adult! And I am NO spring chicken! And I STILL love them!
I almost feel like I'm going back in time when I read them... back to better days... when there was no such thing as a cell phone, and quality time was spent with family and friends...
OK. That being said... this was no different! And, I loved every minute of it!!
OH-- And I just noticed that this is book #1 of a new series... Twin Lights Series!
We learn about Madison and Lincoln Taylor in Smuggler's Cove. They are siblings. They have a wonderful mother. The father you ask? Well, we don't really talk about him... He WAS a big presence in their lives for a while. He made a lot of money and had them enrolled in very expensive things their whole young lives. But then he was arrested... and that was the end of that.
And so, Mommy left for a while to get out of the spotlight. But, she sent them to live with her parents. And they had a good life. A loving life. A structured upbringing. And if you didn't know any better, you'd never know they were HIS children!
So now they are all grown up. Lincoln is married. He's a teacher. And he's loving life and his wife... and his sister.
Madison (Maddie) is all grown up too. And after multiple jobs, she found her niche in a women's magazine... and worked her way up to the top as editor. They are both back in NYC, where they began.
So, when she gets a call from her lawyer telling her that they've inherited a property, well, she's intrigued. They had always loved their Uncle Kirby! But they never really got to spend much time with him, because he was not in the 'IN' crowd with their Dad. And so, off they go to see the marina and property surrounding it. Maybe they can make something big of it. Maybe it's already a big thing out there in NJ. But in any case, they are going out to see it!
Well, when they get there, it is not EXACTLY like they expected.
But what they do find is that the people in this small little town are nice, sweet, endearing, kind... and so much more.
And so, we go on....
Again, as I mentioned, loved this one from beginning to end! The scene with her on the dock is one to go down in the books too!! LOL! And, there's a dog AND 2 cats!!
So much to love!!!
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!
#SmugglersCove by @FernMichaels and narrated nicely by @ElizaFoss.
***THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES STARTING 8/26/25!!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #RBMedia and #RecordedBooks Media for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
I almost feel like I'm going back in time when I read them... back to better days... when there was no such thing as a cell phone, and quality time was spent with family and friends...
OK. That being said... this was no different! And, I loved every minute of it!!
OH-- And I just noticed that this is book #1 of a new series... Twin Lights Series!
We learn about Madison and Lincoln Taylor in Smuggler's Cove. They are siblings. They have a wonderful mother. The father you ask? Well, we don't really talk about him... He WAS a big presence in their lives for a while. He made a lot of money and had them enrolled in very expensive things their whole young lives. But then he was arrested... and that was the end of that.
And so, Mommy left for a while to get out of the spotlight. But, she sent them to live with her parents. And they had a good life. A loving life. A structured upbringing. And if you didn't know any better, you'd never know they were HIS children!
So now they are all grown up. Lincoln is married. He's a teacher. And he's loving life and his wife... and his sister.
Madison (Maddie) is all grown up too. And after multiple jobs, she found her niche in a women's magazine... and worked her way up to the top as editor. They are both back in NYC, where they began.
So, when she gets a call from her lawyer telling her that they've inherited a property, well, she's intrigued. They had always loved their Uncle Kirby! But they never really got to spend much time with him, because he was not in the 'IN' crowd with their Dad. And so, off they go to see the marina and property surrounding it. Maybe they can make something big of it. Maybe it's already a big thing out there in NJ. But in any case, they are going out to see it!
Well, when they get there, it is not EXACTLY like they expected.
But what they do find is that the people in this small little town are nice, sweet, endearing, kind... and so much more.
And so, we go on....
Again, as I mentioned, loved this one from beginning to end! The scene with her on the dock is one to go down in the books too!! LOL! And, there's a dog AND 2 cats!!
So much to love!!!
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!
#SmugglersCove by @FernMichaels and narrated nicely by @ElizaFoss.
***THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES STARTING 8/26/25!!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #RBMedia and #RecordedBooks Media for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
August 25, 2025
This wasn’t for me. I liked the author’s writing style and the book had good rhythm. But all in all, it’s the first book in a series and not much else.
The story showed promise in the beginning. Each character’s story was outlined through throwbacks that veered into historical fiction territory. This was the most interesting part of the book, in my opinion.
It was downhill from there. A slow burn that never caught fire. There’s a cliffhanger at the very end, which is of course the setup for book 2.
This isn’t a mystery or a thriller. Nor is it romance. This is a book about nothing. I don’t plan to read the other books in this series, but I may eventually try one of Michaels’ other titles.
3.3 rounded down to 3.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
The story showed promise in the beginning. Each character’s story was outlined through throwbacks that veered into historical fiction territory. This was the most interesting part of the book, in my opinion.
It was downhill from there. A slow burn that never caught fire. There’s a cliffhanger at the very end, which is of course the setup for book 2.
This isn’t a mystery or a thriller. Nor is it romance. This is a book about nothing. I don’t plan to read the other books in this series, but I may eventually try one of Michaels’ other titles.
3.3 rounded down to 3.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
August 20, 2025
While I did like this book it was not at all what I was expecting. I think the author forgot the mystery side to the story and the book is in the wrong genre category. Which means I probably wouldn't have listened to it under normal circumstances, which is a shame because it did keep me listening. Not sure what category I would put in it because there isn't really a love story either. Okay there is a dead body but that's it, no suspects, no investigation and to be honest we don't even no if it was murder of an accident. The sudden end gives you the feeling that this book was only to give you the background and all the action takes place in the following books. The story is very character driven and long winded, as you hear about every family member lives and how the fathers misdeeds have changed there lives. You have listened to a good chunk of the book before they even get to there inheritance. The treasure hunting is only mentioned in passing, as something the dead man did and I wouldn't get your hopes up for some adventure until the next book. I liked the characters, whom we have come too know very well.
Follow along with Madison and Taylor as they struggle with the loss of there rich extravagant life styles, when there father is arrested for insider trading. The joy they experience on learning about there inheritance of marina at Smugglers Cove, from an estranged uncle. To the disappointment on its run down condition. To the hope the future brings.
I liked the narrator. She gave each character there own voice which helped the listener experience the ups and downs along side the characters.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Follow along with Madison and Taylor as they struggle with the loss of there rich extravagant life styles, when there father is arrested for insider trading. The joy they experience on learning about there inheritance of marina at Smugglers Cove, from an estranged uncle. To the disappointment on its run down condition. To the hope the future brings.
I liked the narrator. She gave each character there own voice which helped the listener experience the ups and downs along side the characters.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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