Lillian Shaw needs a change of scenery. After a shocking breakup with her boyfriend of 9 years, her best-laid plans have been shattered and left her nursing a terminal case of writer’s block. A summer at her grandparents’ secluded cottage on the shores of Lake Huron is just what the doctor ordered. Or so Lillian thought. Soon after she arrives, the peaceful atmosphere of Bluefield is disrupted in more ways than one.
Jackson Mane is out to prove himself. To his father, to his employees, and unexpectedly to the pretty blonde that has caught his eye. As a born and bred city boy, being sentenced to a summer in the small town of Bluefield is an adjustment. He plans to spend his spare time on the lake while keeping his head down and finishing the project without fail. But as “accidents” start to pile up on the job site, it becomes clear something more sinister may be working against him.
A relationship is the last thing either of them needs to be thinking about, but playboy Jackson Mane can’t keep bookworm, Lillian Shaw, out of his head. Lillian and Jackson’s connection grows stronger, and so do the potential threats around them. Threats to their careers, relationships, and lives.
Heather is a Canadian author with a passion for romance—and just the right touch of suspense. After years spent in the financial world, she traded in spreadsheets for storylines and now crafts tales that weave love, drama, and a little mystery into every page.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up her next plot twist, you’ll find her curled up with a book, surrounded by her beloved pets, enjoying time with friends, or exploring the outdoors with family.
To stay up to date on Heather's upcoming projects, connect with her on social media @authorheathergrey
Thank you to the author, Heather Grey & Grey’s Promotions for letting me apart of this arc review team in exchange for an honest *spoiler free* review! 🤍
If you’ve been looking around for what to read this summer, you’ve stumbled upon it with this book - Inky Water is THE perfect summer read. I absolutely adored small town, coastal beach towns and this book was everything I needed in a book. Throughout the entire read, I was finding myself hooked from beginning to end, and felt so immersed in this little beach town & all the happenings in it. It was SUCH a great read!
Lillian, my love, I will adore until I die. The absolute cutest shy little bookworm/author/swiftie, you will always be loved by me. Getting to see and experience her character growth with her throughout the story was so gratifying and made my heart swell so big. I related so much to Lillian and it feels so nice to be seen & represented when it comes to mental health representation. I can’t express it though how validating it is to see someone just like you living their best lives (even if it is in a book), and knowing you can also live your best life even while going through these same things as they do 🤍
Jackson was such a cutie pie, I loved him the minute he came into the story and accidentally bumped into Lillian. He was literally ALWAYS so gentle & understanding with Lillian, all while being so fiercely protective and passionate in being with her. That man can do no wrong in my eyes. He’s everything a man should be. Where can I find my own Jackson Mane?
The plot was perfect and so well rounded out - both the romance & the suspense were both so good and sooo well balanced!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and literally had no expectations or predictability of who/what would happen the entire time! I cannot wait for more of Heather’s books & to read more about on the small coastal town of Bluefield!
What to expect in Inky Water: — author x architect — romantic suspense — small coastal town — opposites attract — found family — shy fmc x golden retriever mmc — reformed playboy — he falls first — meet cute moment — mental health representation
no third act breakup • dual pov • open door spice • guaranteed HEA
I recieved in ARC copy of Inky Water and all thoughts & comments on this review are my own!
Tropes/Themes: -MF romantic suspense -Friends to lovers -Opposites attract (Golden Retriever MMC x Shy FMC) -Forced Proximity -Mental health rep (FMC – anxiety) -Small town (Canadian lakeside cottage setting) -No 3rd act breakup! -Dual POV -Available on Kindle Unlimited (once it drops on June 12th) -Book #1 in a new interconnected standalone series
Huge thanks to Grey’s Promotions and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I’m so happy I was able to get my hands on a copy of this debut by Heather Grey. This was such a cozy and comforting summer romance!!
Fresh out of a 9-year relationship, Lillian Shaw is spending the summer at her grandparents’ lakeside cottage in Bluefield (Canada). A children’s author, she’s using this as an opportunity to tackle her terminal case of writer’s block. It’s there where she meets Jackson Mane. Jackson is in Bluefield working for his father’s construction company. Jackson is immediately smitten with Lillian at first sight and is happy that his primary construction site is next door to her cabin. A community with most residents being 65+ and unfamiliar with change, it quickly becomes evident that someone isn’t happy with Jackson’s presence in their community and the renovations that their company is facilitating. "Accidents" start piling up and mysteriously following Jackson & Lillian around. Will they be able to get to the bottom of it before something tragic happens?
I had such a good time with this book. This was such an atmospheric and cozy read for this time of year. It made me want to drop everything and take a road trip out to Lake Michigan (maybe to find my own Jackson Mane?). Jackson and Lillian were total opposites but fit perfectly together. I loved how things were a little awkward for them at the start, but they were quickly able to form a connection through patience and healthy communication.
Let’s talk about Jackson Mane for a second. Jackson is clearly a man written by a woman, and we love to see it. He’s the ultimate hype man, piningly talks about her to his friends, has golden retriever energy, is incredibly validating of her mental health, is patient/kind…basically the whole package.
I have to say though, I think my favorite part about this was the mental health representation and the way that both main characters navigated it. Lillian doesn’t shy away from acknowledging her mental health struggles. She directly mentions that anxiety is something that can only be managed not cured, and that therapy is essential to her long-term happiness/success. There are on page scenes of her seeking out her therapist rather than jump to conclusions (or give in to the dreaded miscommunication trope!). I’ll always advocate for a book that promotes therapy positivity!! I loved every single side character and can’t wait to get more of them in future books. Sometimes authors throw in side characters to fill space to leave them very two dimension, but I feel like Heather Grey was very intentional with her inclusion of each character and they all felt essential to the book.
The suspense subplot inclusion was interesting and kept me engaged the whole time. My only critique was that things resolved a little too quickly and there could have been a lot more tension/intrigue leading up to the pinnacle events at the end. However, this is a debut novel and I have a feeling her suspense writing will only continue to improve from here.
I love the fact that I’m genuinely not sure who the next couples are going to be (but I’m crossing my fingers for certain pairings). I would definitely read more books from Heather Grey in the future!
Inky Water by Heather Grey drops on June 12th and will be available on Kindle Unlimited!
CWs for anxiety, harassment, vandalism, attempted arson, kidnapping
I loved a lot of things about this one 🥰 the only thing I struggled with was the writing itself - it definitely read like a debut, and hopefully that improves with time!
I was definitely hooked on the characters and plan to continue the series to know more 😍
The dialogue between the MCs (and their friends) felt relatable and realistic. I loved that the spicy scenes were shorter (personal preference, I'd rather they not drag on for several chapters 😅)
I LOVED how they handled what would have been a 3rd act breakup in another book with a mature, open conversation.
✦ tropes & stuff: 😳 romantic suspense 🏠 architect mmc 👩💻 children’s books author fmc 🌊 summer by the lake 💙 reformed playboy who falls first & HARD 🙃 opposites attract 🏠 temporary roommates 🌳 small town 🫶🏼 found family 🧠 anxiety rep 🇨🇦 Canadian author + setting 💞 dual 1st person pov
Okay wow. This was such a good book. While it definitely started slow, the character growth in the story is what really made me want to keep reading. I found Lillian and Jackson very relatable. The suspense aspects in the story had me on the edge of my seat as well. I was like “WHAT!? OMG!?” so many times.
Thank you Heather Grey for the opportunity to read this story. I really loved it and can’t wait to read more from you.
I loved how this romance book added mystery and suspense to the story. It kept me so engaged in the story and wanting to know answers to all the questions but also like was Jackson and Lillian going to fall in love. It’s a slow burn but the best way. I really loved the setting on a lake and summer cottages! The boat trips were some of my favorite as I love spending time on water like this too. Jackson and Lillian found a spot in my heart! I can’t wait for more from this series!
I love a domesticated couple! These two came together so naturally and eased into such a sweet relationship. Their relationship was filled with such quiet moments of love, and my heart was overflowing with affection for them 🥹
With this couple came along some characters that I hope will eventually get stories centralized around them! 👀
I also enjoyed the curve ball this story threw, with the small town mystery! Got me on the edge the whole story trying to figure out when things would truly start to unfold 🤫
Thank you to Grey’s Promotion and Heather Grey for this ARC 🩶
This was a great debut novel by Heather Grey! I loved this romance and it was so suspenseful! There was a perfect balance between the romance and suspense.
Lillian needs a bit of an escape so she decides to spend the summer at her grandparents cottage. She is trying to find inspiration to write another children’s book. She thinks she is going to have a quiet summer, until she meets Jackson. Jackson is spending the summer at the lake for work, in hopes to gain approval from his father and show him that he is ready for a bigger part in the family business. Lillian and Jackson hit it off right away but Lillian’s anxiety is overwhelming at times especially when she is around Jackson so it is a slow build up. But once she finally lets him in they have the best relationship. But while they are building their relationship Lillian is convinced someone is watching her and there has been a lot of vandalization at Jackson’s job.
The last part of the book had me stressed! I was actually surprised who ended up being the one that was doing everything to Jackson and Lillian.
Jackson was so sweet and protective towards Lillian. From the start he was so understanding towards Lillian. He was the perfect book boyfriend! Lillian was such a likable character. I really felt for her, she was so sweet but really had a lot to overcome so it was great watching her growth throughout the book. I really related to Lillian and I thought the author did a great job representing her struggles with anxiety.
This is the perfect summer read! I can’t wait for the next one!
Dual POV 🌶️.5
🌊 Romantic suspense 🌊 Opposites attract 🌊 Mental health rep 🌊 Found family 🌊 Golden retriever MMC x shy FMC 🌊 He falls first 🌊 Friends to roommates to lovers 🌊 Small town (costal town!)
Thank you to the author and Grey’s Promotion for the arc!
- a small town, romantic suspense! reformed playboy, opposites attract, forced proximity, he falls first! - dives straight into the story, we love - well Sam is SUPER creepy - we love a clumsy meet-cute - they’re so awkward together i love it 😂 - i am OBSESSED with Aspen, she’s the best friend every girl needs - Jackson is the biggest golden retriever ever and i love him - oh poor Lil🥺 i know somethings going on that we don’t see my my heart breaks for her - i would of liked to of read the convo between Jackson and Veronica, cos it would of been v satisfying - i’m glad he squared it out straight away and was holding himself accountable, we looove - their first kiss was so stinking cute!! - as soon as they got comfortable with each other it was like a switch flipped in this book and i couldn’t put it down!! they’re just so frickin cute - Constable Peters must be SICK of them 😂😂 - one thing i love the most about Lillian is that she is scared the appropriate amount, no pretending she’s fine when something bad happens!! she fully admits she’s scared and is happy to take extra precautions - Lillian’s confidence sky rocketed and it was SO good to see!! those spicy scenes were fantastic - like i can only assume it’s this person who is the villain but like also… has to be a red herring right? it’s getting interesting in here!! - the conversation about them being boyfriend/girlfriend was so cheesy but acc so adorable - this lil found family is just the sweetest! already obsessed with Noah - ooo i’ve just had an inkling of a thought of who the villain could be…. - the life jacket moment was the cutest part of this whole book, my heart was melting - the small vulnerable moments they have together mixed in with the light and fluffy just makes my heart so happy, we’ve got so many layers to them - so much good communication skills between each other i love it!! - such sweet love confessions - HEHEHEHEHEH I KNEW IT!!!! (the key is to have 7 different theories so then you’ll probs eventually be right) - hardcore love that Lillian saved herself, the character development!!!! - no third act break up besties x - the ending was so sweet!! i think i’ve mentioned that word like 60x but it just describes the whole book 😂 - okay so i LOVED this way more than i thought i would!! i was honestly a bit skeptical at first because i wasn’t sure if the writing style was for me but the story was so fun and compelling i couldn’t put it down - their love for each other was so pure and the way it developed was just ergh beautiful, so happy i got to read this!
Topics throughout the book are: 🌅 summer vibes /small town 🔨 reformed playboy 🌊 suspense 🌅 dual POV 🔨 found family 🌊 anxiety rep
Summary🌅🔨🌊: A change of scenery is just what is needed sometimes, especially for Lillian Shaw who just recently got out of a 9 year-relationship plus dealing with writer's block. She decided that spending the summer at her grandparents’ cottage in Bluefield was just what she needed for a fresh start, or so she thought. A couple of days after she arrives she runs into Jackson Mane, who has been sent to the small town to work on a few projects for his dad's company Mane Construction Inc. Jackson is trying to prove to his dad that he can handle the job without fail, however, someone in the town is out to get him and has implicated Lillian as an association to Jackson. As Jackson and Lillian’s connection grows stronger, will the threat cause any problems for their future or their careers? Read to find out!
Many thanks to Heather Grey and Greys Promotions for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review! Heather is a Canadian Author who writes romance books with a side of suspense and spice. Her book is an easy summer read with just the right amount of drama to keep you engaged. The characters are approachable, especially Lillian with her anxiety, which I can relate to. If you are looking for a good book for your summer vacation, then this one's for you! Plus added bonus, the suspense will keep you guessing!
I am a sucker for a small town romantic suspense and Inky Water definitely hit the spot. I need more of these characters because I loved them.
Lillian, the shy FMC, was so relatable and I absolutely loved her. Watching her growth throughout the book made my heart so happy. Jackson, the playboy golden retriever MMC was just swoon. Their relationship was beautiful to see grow from the friends to lovers.
Not only did the suspense keep me so intrigued throughout the whole book but the vibes and descriptions that were given of the small town of Bluefield were amazing. It made me want to pack a bag and head to a lake.
I cannot wait to see what is in store next for Bluefield.
Release Date: June 12th
If you love: - Small town - Suspense - He falls first - Mental Health rep - Therapy positivity - Reformed playboy - Found family - Dual POV - Spice - HEA You definitely have to check out Inky Water.
Thank you Grey’s Promotion and Heather Grey for the eARC in an exchange for an honest review.
Sweet small town romance that sees Lillian meet Jackson in a series of fun and awkward encounters and set them off on their journey together. Lillian is hesitant at first and literally runs from him repeatedly, but Jackson isn't one to give up, and with some help from friends they begin to grow closer. It's not all sweet and cosy through as someone seems to be stalking them both and is set on causing trouble, adding mystery and suspense to the story. Cosy dates, slow burn to steamy romance, good suspense and creative twist.
This was so good!! I love when a romantic suspense is also cute and funny! Jackson is such a sweetheart and omg is Lillian ever relatable! I was constantly thinking girl same haha. I love the growth you see in both of these characters and I'm super excited to see more from their friends! Also, I love the littles texts at the beginning of every chapter, they were a super cute addition that I think gave really quick insight into the characters!
Inky Water is out T O D A Y!! So go grab your copy now!
Thank you for reading my debut novel! I hope you all loved Lillian and Jackson's story as much as I did writing it. Stay tuned to see which character's story will bring us back to Bluefield in book two!
First I want to say thank you to Heather Grey for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this, it was such a cute book! I’m not going to lie it took me a minute to start reading, and another minute to really get into this story but it was super cute and the ending had me surprised. I wasn’t expecting the whodunnit to be who it was 😂 The mental health rep in this was great, and Jackson and Lil were so sweet together. I think the only place I struggled was that some of the dialog and conversations between characters felt a little stiff/formal but I think maybe this was partly to show how nervous they both felt around each other maybe, and then some of the 🌶️ scenes felt a bit rushed and wasn’t a whole lot of build up for them. This is a good debut novel for the author and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
Inky Water by Heather Grey, is the first book in The Bluefield Beach Series, Lillian Shaw is a sweet and shy girl, who suffers from anxiety, she is the author of children's books, after the breakup of her relationship with her boyfriend of many years, she is a little disoriented as to the direction of her life, added to this she suffers from author's block, so she decides to leave the city and go to her family's cottage in Blueville of which she keeps beautiful and fond memories of while growing up, but the first thing she notices is the changes in the small town, that although much has been maintained, most of the cottages near the lake are being remodeled, she just hopes that nothing interrupts her process to try to recover her muse and achieve write the book that her publishing house are waiting. On one of the first nights when there is a storm she decides to go into town to get her dinner, but just as she is leaving the restaurant she collides with a man who ends up spilling her food on the floor, and although he is nice enough to worry to paid for replace her food, her shyness and the fact that the man is extremely handsome, she is left speechless and acts in an elusive manner, and although they manage to exchange their names as soon as she can, she runs away without saying anything else. Jackson Mane is an architect who is in Blueville to supervise the renovation works of several projects carried out by Mane Constructions, this is his father's company, and although he did not expect to work for him, after having had a few good years of work in another company, his father offered him this opportunity and he decided to take it, in part to show his father that he is capable and to see if he gets the approval that he has always sought from his father. His parents separated when he was very little and his mother left without looking back, leaving him with his father, who his time has always been his company, this was difficult for Jackson growing up and which has resulted in a somewhat complicated relationship with his father. Jackson is a sociable man and the most difficult thing about being in Blueville is how far he is from his friends and spending his free time at the hotel. One stormy night he arrives at a restaurant and collides with the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, he quickly realizes that she is shy and very different from the women he has known, so he feels even more attracted to her and although that first night she runs away, he is determined to try to get to know her a little more, when circumstances play a role in his favor, these two begin a friendship and although their attraction is undeniable, it takes a while for the relationship to evolve. Jackson is determined to show Lili what she means to him and Lili will find in Jackson her perfect complement with whom she can be herself. But soon what at first seem like small acts of vandalism will become a source of danger that could threaten their lives. I loved this story! It has characters with which you will feel identified, a sweet and fresh story, with its touches of drama and angst, as well as suspense, while a beautiful love story develops. I have enjoyed it since I started reading and I was truly amazed that this was the first story by this author. I will definitely have my eye on the next release from her, which I hope will be more stories from this group of characters that I already love. A story that left me smiling and with a full heart and if I dare to say, a favorite from this year. Absolutely and Totally Highly Recommended! *Thanks to Heather Grey and Grey's Promotions for my ARC. I voluntarily leave my honest review*
Inky Water de Heather Grey, es el primer libro de la Serie The Bluefield Beach, Lillian Shaw es una chica dulce y algo tímida, que sufre de ansiedad, es autora de libros para niños, luego del rompimiento de su relación con su novio de muchos años, queda un poco desorientada en cuanto a la dirección de su vida, sumado a esto sufre de bloqueo del autor, por lo que decide salir de la ciudad e ir a la cabaña de su familia en Blueville de la cual guarda hermosos recuerdos de mientras crecía, pero lo primero que nota es los cambios en el pequeño pueblo, que aunque mucho se ha mantenido, la mayoría de las cabañas cerca del lago están siendo remodeladas, solo espera que nada le interrumpa su proceso para tratar de recuperar su musa y lograr escribir el libro que están esperando en su casa editorial. En una de las primeras noches en las que hay una tormenta decide ir a el pueblo a buscar su cena, pero justo cuando va saliendo del restaurante choca con un hombre quien termina volcando su comida en el piso, y aunque es lo suficiente amable para preocuparse por reponer su comida, su timidez y el hecho de que el hombre es extremadamente guapo ella queda sin palabras y actúa de manera escurridiza, y aunque logran intercambiar sus nombres en cuanto puede sale huyendo sin decir más. Jackson Mane es un arquitecto que se encuentra en Blueville para supervisar las obras de renovación de varios proyectos a cargo de Mane Constructions, esta es la compañía de su padre, y aunque no esperaba trabajar para él, luego de haber tenido unos buenos años de trabajo en otra compañía su padre le ofreció esta oportunidad y el decidió tomarla, un poco para demostrarle a su padre que es capaz y ver si consigue la aprobación que siempre ha buscado de su padre, sus padres se separaron cuando el era muy pequeño y su madre se fue sin mirar atrás dejándolo con su padre, quien su tiempo siempre ha sido su empresa, esto fue difícil para Jackson mientras crecía y lo que ha resultado en una relación con su padre un tanto complicada. Jackson es un hombre sociable y lo más difícil de estar en Blueville es lo lejos que esta de sus amigos y pasar el tiempo libre en el hotel, una noche de tormenta llega a un restaurante y choca con la chica más hermosa que había visto, rápidamente se da cuenta que ella es tímida y muy diferente a las mujeres que ha conocido por lo que se siente aún más atraído a ella y aunque esa primera noche ella huye el esta determinado a tratar de conocerla un poco más, cuando las circunstancias juegan a su favor estos dos comienzan una amistad y aunque su atracción es innegable les toma un tiempo que la relación evolucione. Jackson esta decidido a demostrarle a Lili lo que ella significa para él y Lili encontrará en Jackson su complemento perfecto con el que puede ser ella misma. Pero pronto lo que al principio parecen pequeños actos de vandalismo se convertirán en una fuente de peligro que podría amenazar sus vidas. ¡Amé esta historia! Tiene unos personajes con los que te vas a sentir identificada, una historia dulce y fresca, con sus toques de drama y angustia, así como de suspenso, mientras se desarrolla una hermosa historia de amor. Disfrute desde que comencé a llera y de verdad quede maravillada con que esta era la primera historia de esta autora, definitivamente tendré mi ojo puesto en lo próximo a estrenar de su mano, de lo que espero sea más historias de este grupo de personajes que me encantaron todos. Una historia que me dejo sonriendo y con el corazón llena y si me atrevo a decir que una favorita de este año. Absoluta y Totalmente Altamente Recomendada! *Gracias a Heather Grey y a Grey's Promotions por mi ARC. Dejo voluntariamente mi reseña honesta*
This is my wife's debut novel. I just finished reading it for the second time after getting physical copies in and wanted to share a few thoughts.
First and foremost, I am beyond excited for this book to be released to the world. For everyone to meet Lillian, Jackson, and the town of Bluefield at large and to fall in love with them as I have. Lillian and Jackson's relationship is beautifully heartfelt and sweet, I could not wait for them to find their happiness with each other. Bluefield feels lived-in and real, but also like an idyllic escape to while away a sunny afternoon. The suspense plot she's woven in is taut and well-executed, though I don't want to get too much more into it than that for fear of spoilers. Without a shred of bias, I can tell you that Inky Water is an excellent book and you would be hard pressed to find a better way to spend a few hours.
Beyond that though, I wanted to express the excitement, pride, and unbridled joy I've experienced in having a front row seat to the writing process. Watching my wife showcase so many parts of herself that she never had a chance to before has been truly inspiring. The self-belief to take a swing this big, not to mention the brilliant creativity, professionalism and, when all else has failed, the sheer stubborn determination necessary to actually bring this book into the world.
I think what I'd like to say most of all is THANK YOU. To each and every person who reads this book, for allowing me to see the woman I married in an entirely new light, and in doing so fall in love with her all over again.
Lillian, Jackson, Aspen, Simon, Julia, Dylan. A great lineup of characters, all with interesting and unique personalities. This romantic suspense novel has it all! Who will be in the next book? I can’t wait to find out!
Inky Water was the perfect amount of cute, suspense, happy ending. Everything.
5⭐️ 2🌶️
Jackson and Lillian 🌞 Small Town 🌞 He falls first, and hard 🌞 Found Family 🌞 Perfect Summer Vibes
Added personal bonuses 🤍 Canadian and even better, based in Ontario 🤍 Her family Cottage is her Safe Place 🤍 The House Hippo comment. Iykyk
When Lillian decided to retreat to her family cottage for the summer. She never expected to keep running into a handsome 20 something year old there to work all summer as well.
With little social skills, Lillian was determined to avoid Jackson at all costs. Little did she know he would be working beside her cottage. Like right next door.
As they got closer, and Lillian started to let Jackson in, strange things started to happen, and with it being such a small town, the chances of it being a regular were slim. But, with it being as small as it was, why would a tourist cause so much harm and damage, to the new guy there to restructure summer cottages..
The suspense was just the right amount to make this story a warm summer read, and completely enjoyable.
I related so much to the feeling of a family cottage being a safe place, a place full of childhood summer activities and memories.
My grandparents sold our family cottage a few years back and the first chapter had parts that spoke so loudly to me. It’ll always be my favourite place.
Some of my favourite quotes were
“I know we can’t stop change, but a part of me wants to hold on to this place and the happy memories from here.“
“something about my grandparents’ cottage feels more like home than any place in the world.”
“You are one of the best people I know, and if you ever need a reminder or someone to lean on when you have doubts, lean on me. Talk to me. I want you to love yourself, but when that’s hard, let me love you enough for the both of us.”
“She’s the hero of her own story.” •••this may or may not be tattooed on my ribs
I just want to start off by saying this is Heather Grey's debut novel and I absolutely fell in love with the small lakeside town of Bluefield and all the Characters we got to meet. If you are a fan of romantic suspense writers such as Catherine Cowles, Samantha Young, Janie Crouch etc then you should pick up Inky Water.
I loved Jackson and Lillian so much! We have a really cute and awkward "meet cute" in this book and it just had you smiling and giggling. Jackson and Lillian are so awkward it's just honestly adorable. Lillian is a children's author who is in a bit of a writing block and decides to leave her condo in Toronto to head to her parents lake cottage in Bluefield so that she could get write in peace. Jackson is an architect/construction manager working on a build next door to Lillian's parents cottage. When Jackson starts to get closer to Lillian he doesn't expect someone to come after him and in turn putting her in danger.
Jackson is such a golden retriever! For a man who has never been in a relationship and used to be a bit of a playboy he is really meant for the whole relationship thing. He is really sweet with Lillian and I loved the way they communicated with each other. There is a moment in the book that shot my anxiety through the roof and I really appreciated the moment Jackson communicated/explained the whole situation to Lillian. These two had so much growth throughout the book both individually and as a couple. I will also add the amount of spice in this book was perfect in this book and Jackson and Lillian both surprised me.
I also adored the whole crew we got to meet. Every girl deserves a friend like Aspen! I adored her. Simon was so much fun and also has golden retriever energy I know him and Aspen must have history and honestly if so I can't wait for their book because I have a feeling it will be full of banter! I adored Lillian's brother Ben and his son Noah so I see a potential single dad book in the near future and I hope we get to see our handsome Constable Dylan get a book as well because this crew really stuck with you. I was also surprised with the suspense I never guessed that that is who would be the bad guy or the reason behind the actions definitely threw me through a loop!
Thank you to Greys Promo for the arc of this book.
If you are looking for a book to get you set for summer look no further! This book has all the summer vibes with hints of spice and suspense! This was such a cute read and I adored the main characters as well as the side characters!
We meet Lillian who is back at her family’s cottage in Bluefield in order to get a change of scenery. She is lacking some inspiration for the books she is writing and is hoping that a summer in Bluefield will help her reach her deadline. But what catches her eye is something completely different.
Jackson’s family owns a construction company that is renovating some of the cottages around Bluefield, including Lillian’s neighbors. After a run in at the local restaurant (literally they run into each other lol) he is instantly smitten. He definitely falls first in this one!
Jackson has never been in a relationship and Lillian has only had one serious boyfriend her whole life. Between the two of them they want to take things slow but fate has other plans. When scary things start happening around town, they lean more and more on each other.
Even though Jackson had never had a girlfriend before, he was a total catch! Perfect golden retriever book boyfriend! He was so patient with Lillian as she navigated her anxiety and gave her reassurance when needed! So many cute moments between the two of them!
I also enjoyed Aspen and Dylan’s characters! I hope we get one of their books next!
Read if you like: ⚓ Small town ️ 📚 Summer vibes ⚓ He falls first and harder️ 📚 Found Family ⚓ Anxiety Rep 📚 Reformed Playboy ⚓ Suspense ️ 📚 Dual POV
This totally hooked me with its small town beach vibes—I'm a sucker for those settings, and this book delivered big time!
From the get-go, the coastal town backdrop had me daydreaming of sandy shores and salty air. Grey paints such a vivid picture that you can practically hear the waves and feel the sea breeze on your skin.☀️🛥️
But the real magic of "Inky Water" lies in the characters. Lillian and Jackson's journey from start to finish was hands down my favourite part. Watching them grow and change throughout the story was like being part of their crew, rooting for them all the way.
And let's talk about the plot—Grey nailed the mix of romance and suspense. Just when you think you've got it figured out, there's a twist that keeps you flipping pages. The romance is sweet and genuine, and the suspense adds a thrilling edge that keeps things interesting.
Overall, "Inky Water" is a feel-good read that blends small town charm with swoon-worthy romance and just the right amount of intrigue. Perfect for anyone who loves a beachy escape with heartwarming characters and a plot that keeps you guessing.
Tropes you can expect: - Author & Architect - Romantic Suspense - Small Town, Coastal Romance - Found Family - Shy fmc x Golden Retriever mmc - He Falls First - Meet Cute Moment
Favourite quote(s): "Lillian has enchanted me; I just need to get this wildflower on the same page."
"Talk to me. I want you to love yourself, but when that’s hard, let me love you enough for the both of us.”
As a debut novel, I’m so impressed. I loved the world that Heather built and the friends to lovers was so cute. Jackson accidentally gets out into the friend zone and it’s basically chapters of him trying to crawl his way out. I found myself laughing hysterically at some of things that happened and I loved the side characters for this story too.
There is suspense in this book, but it’s definitely not romantic suspense. Which is fine, but I struggled with it a bit because I felt like it came out of no where and didn’t fit with the narrative of the book. I found myself trying to figure out where the bad guy came from and also found myself wondering when the suspense ended.
I found myself looking forward to specific plot pieces only for them to fall flat. For example, I was looking forward to some “bad dad” drama and instead we didn’t get it. Which is totally fine, I swear. I just was looking forward to certain things and then they just didn’t happen. The author had a solution before the problem even happened.
I will continue reading this series no doubt. I think the author is only going to improve from here on out and I’m so excited to see what she does with this super cute small beach town in Ontario.
You’ll like this if you like - Small beach town - Friends to lovers - A touch of suspense - Reformed player - No third act breakup - Close proximity
Being in my romance era I was eating this book up! While the weather is warming up being thrown into a coastal town was so fitting! I really enjoyed the Canadian setting as well as I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in Canada. I loved the town, the townspeople (most of them at least), our main characters, AND the suspense! Learning I’m a real sucker for romantic suspense books and this was it. I tried figuring out who was the culprit the entire time. The subtle hints of modern day things was funny and cute which says a lot because I normally find adding pop culture into books verges cringy but Heather Grey did it perfectly! The representation of us bookworms was nice as I can tell the author is one herself but there was one thing I think she did better which was the mental health representation and normalizing going to therapy. In a world where more and more people can probably relate to similar thoughts as our main characters, normalizing going to therapy for not only women but men as well was a perfect message to weave into this story. This was a super cute, quick, and overall just LOVELY book!! Highly recommend!
Ps: THANK YOU @h.greywrites and Grey Promotions for choosing me as one of the trusted ARC readers! 🩵
Inky Water by Heather Grey Book 1 in Bluefield Beach Series ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars
Thank you so much, Heather Grey, for allowing me to be one of your arc readers for your debut novel! This is a sweet romance with a suspenseful subplot. This book follows Lillian and Jackson falling in love in a small town on Lake Huron. It kind of reminds me of a lifetime movie. They both live in Toronto and went to the same school but didn't get to know each other until this summer. Jackson is an architect trying to prove himself to his dad by managing a bunch of cottage renovations to sell to new city people looking for a summer getaway in this small, quiet town. Lillian is a shy, awkward girl who has gone to her grandparent's cottage every summer for a getaway and is back with writer's block and hoping to find inspiration. She meets Jackson, and their summer romance starts along with some suspicious activity at his job sites and Lillian's cottage. I did have a hard time initially getting into this book but overall I did find it to be a sweet, easy-read romance book. I loved the side characters a lot! Aspen, Ben, Noah, and Simon all added great banter and some good laughs! If you are looking for a lighthearted romance book this is a good one.
🚤💐inky water💐🚤 by @authorheathergrey review time!! 🫶
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️.5/5
you HAVE to read this is you love: 🚤small town 💐he falls first 🚤suspense 💐found family 🚤reformed playboy 💐opposites attract 🚤she teaches him to cook 💐shy x outgoing 🚤he's never been in a relationship
Y'all. This book.
🚤Jackson Mane amazes me. What a sweet and wholesome MAN -> No. DREAMBOAT. Fr he literally had my feet kicking. Between his golden retriever charm, his protective nature, and his dirty mouth... he really is the whole package. ••• 💐Lillian really is a bit of me. I really felt connected to her as a character. I would label her a extroverted introvert: shy in public, but ready to party with the people she loves.
Now, I did read the first two books in the Bluefield series out of order🫣 don't tell anyone... but honestly I kinda didn't hate it! (Interconnected standalone series perks) After knowing what happens in book 2, I saw all the easter eggs in book 1 that I probably would have overlooked if I read it first!
Miss ma'am @authorheathergrey really has done it again. So... go dive into Bluefield ASAP. You won't regret it 🥵
*4 stars* This was my first read by this author and I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jackson & Lillian. The story had a mystery & suspense feel about it which led me second guessing everything that was happing around the two lead characters and it had me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was a very good read!
Lillian is back in Bluefield, trying to find some inspiration for her new story but is hitting a road block everywhere she turns it seems but when she meets Jackson, there's a spark between them that's undeniable. Their relationship soon evolves and they grow closer but a lot is happening around them that they really can't explain. Jackson has been hoping to build something good in town but it's not really going the way he planned but he's trying the best he can to succeed. As his bond with Lillian is becoming closer, it's slowly changing the pace that their relationship is going to. Will everything work out in the end?...
This story gripped me from the start and kept me dialed in to the very end. Lillian is at her family’s cabin to get away and hopefully get over her writer’s block so, the last thing she ever expects is Jackson Mane to completely change everything. Jackson is a hard worker that’s determined to show his father his worth and the last thing he needs right now is to fall for someone especially when he is known not to be one that does relationships. It was so cute watching Jackson fumble all over the place when it came to Lillian, it was like he forgot all common sense and his smooth moves, but it works for him when Lillian sees him as a nice guy. Lillian is hesitant to start anything with him but watching these two slowly fall for each other as things start to get intense in town was a beautiful thing to watch. It was easy to fall for these characters and the town that accepted them as their own and I can’t wait to get my hands on more.
This was such a sweet small town romance with a twist of suspense added in! When I started this book I didn't want to put it down because I was hooked. It's based in a cute little town where Lillian Shaws family has a summer cottage. (HOW CUTE - not a summer house but a cottage) She plans to spend the summer there solo with visits from her best friend and her brother and nephew.
Insert Jackson here.(Co) (reformed playboy) (protect her vibes)They have a series of awkward meet cutes which I loved. (I adored these two characters from the bottom of my soul)Lillian and Jackson had an absolute amazing character development.
• small town • he falls first • mental health rep (anxiety) • reformed playboy • found family • add a little spice
This story was filled with romance, suspense and banter. I cannot wait to go back to Bluefield. Hopefully it's for Aspen!
3.5 ⭐️ Thank you to the author, Heather Grey & Grey's Promotions for the opportunity to read this debut novel ARC! Inky Water is available NOW, and if you like small-town romance, slow burn, opposites attract, found family, with a little mystery/suspense thrown in there — then this is the perfect summer read for you! The slow burn was done in the best way possible. Lillian — children’s author, shy, anxiety-ridden, bookworm. I loved experiencing her character growth throughout this book and the mental health representation that came along with it. And Jackson — architect, passionate, gentle, loving and protective — I was obsessed with him the moment he literally bumped into Lil. The suspense in this book kept me engaged, was so well-rounded and had me on the edge of my seat everytime we came across an incident. I hope to see more characters’ stories in future books to come!
Inky Water was one of my reads this month that wasn't what I expected it to be. I went into it a bit blind and loved that the cover added a bit of suspense to what the story would be like.
I love contemporary romances, and this one had a great suspense aspect that is not normally a part of rom-com stories. Heather did a great job with her debut novel! It was on a spice diet (1 chili pepper), but the storyline with all of its twists & turns and Lillian and Jackson really made up for it! It just made more sense for their genuine connection to be the focal point of the storyline. Jackson gave me golden retriever vibes and I liked how he brought this innocent vibe to the story. The story was well-balanced between clean romance and suspense. This was a perfect contemporary romance and I can't wait to see what Heather writes next.