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Tennessee Wishes: Sweet Romance, City Lights, Country Dreams, and a Killer in the Shadows
Ava Morgahn arrives in Nashville, a city transformed by music and gripped by rising crime—a serial killer on the loose. All she has to her name is a dream and an unshakable determination to make it in country music.
With a rough plan in mind, Ava has a place to stay and takes a job waiting tables at a local hot and trendy bar, hoping for a chance to perform on their stage. Then she meets Owen Layne, a rising country star battling his own demons in the cutthroat music scene. Their connection is instantaneous and undeniable, but Owen’s past has left him wary of love.
When Ava suddenly stops communicating, Owen is left questioning if what they shared was real or just a fleeting moment. Meanwhile, the city is haunted by the killer’s trail. Is Ava just avoiding Owen, or has she unknowingly become the killer’s next target?
With a rough plan in mind, Ava has a place to stay and takes a job waiting tables at a local hot and trendy bar, hoping for a chance to perform on their stage. Then she meets Owen Layne, a rising country star battling his own demons in the cutthroat music scene. Their connection is instantaneous and undeniable, but Owen’s past has left him wary of love.
When Ava suddenly stops communicating, Owen is left questioning if what they shared was real or just a fleeting moment. Meanwhile, the city is haunted by the killer’s trail. Is Ava just avoiding Owen, or has she unknowingly become the killer’s next target?
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Roos
11 books27 followersMelissa, a true country girl at heart, grew up in Iowa, where she spent her childhood exploring the Midwest countryside and working in the fields during the summers. A proud graduate of Iowa State University and a dedicated Cyclone fan, she eventually moved to Maryland and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and four children.
In January 2020, Melissa published her first book, diving into the world of mystery romance. She has since released four stand-alone novels, each woven with intricate plots and subtle clues for readers to discover. Her lifelong love of reading sparked her passion for writing, which she describes as revealing a secret, one page at a time.
In January 2020, Melissa published her first book, diving into the world of mystery romance. She has since released four stand-alone novels, each woven with intricate plots and subtle clues for readers to discover. Her lifelong love of reading sparked her passion for writing, which she describes as revealing a secret, one page at a time.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 1, 2025
Melissa delivers both heartwarming emotion and edge-of-your-seat thrills, making this a rare blend that satisfies fans of multiple genres! As always the picture Melissa paints of the setting and characters makes you feel like you’re watching a movie as you fly through the chapters! Page turner for sure!!
August 5, 2025
Well done, clean romance with a generous helping of suspense to keep the reader guessing. By the end I couldn’t put my Kindle down and kept saying, just a bit more, I’m almost done. Though I had my suspicions from the beginning, the way Roos tied it all together by the end was satisfying. The combination of budding romance and a serial killer would have been enough, but Roos also enhanced the depth of the story by adding dimension to secondary characters.
A few grammar issues were the only reason I gave this novel four stars rather than five stars. Other wise this was a fun, quick read. It would make a good beach read this summer. I look forward to checking out Melissa Roos other books.
A few grammar issues were the only reason I gave this novel four stars rather than five stars. Other wise this was a fun, quick read. It would make a good beach read this summer. I look forward to checking out Melissa Roos other books.
April 23, 2025
Tennessee Wishes combines my favorite genres, mystery, crime and romance into a fun, easy read. The story follows Ava, a young lady who moves to Nashville seeking adventure and possibly fame and her mom, along to help with the move and offer support and their quick introduction to the high and low elements of city living. Likable characters, quick pacing and suspense make this a hard book to put down!
September 22, 2025
An enjoyable read. I don't read romance, but I wanted to give this book a chance because it promised the stakes of a thriller to go with the sweetness of a romance and I was lucky enough to interview Melissa for the Thriller Pitch Podcast.
The chapters were fast paced, and especially the second half of the book was exciting enough to keep me glued to my chair until I finished the book.
What did it for me wasn't Owen and Ava falling for each other and finding love despite Owen going through some very difficult times, but the mixed cast of relatable characters from Ava's loving mom trying to do the right thing, Buddy the German Shepherd who had his own trauma to work through, and the grumpy detective who found a little heart in his dark, coffee-filled world.
The chapters were fast paced, and especially the second half of the book was exciting enough to keep me glued to my chair until I finished the book.
What did it for me wasn't Owen and Ava falling for each other and finding love despite Owen going through some very difficult times, but the mixed cast of relatable characters from Ava's loving mom trying to do the right thing, Buddy the German Shepherd who had his own trauma to work through, and the grumpy detective who found a little heart in his dark, coffee-filled world.
April 28, 2025
I have read every Melissa Roos book…and she just keeps getting better and better! Filled with mystery and romance while set in lively Nashville…she kept me on the edge of my seat. Congratulations Ms Roos … I can’t wait to see what you do next!!!
May 14, 2025
I love how Melissa ties in a romance story with suspense that keeps me wondering who done it??? Just about when I think I know the ending the plot comes up with a new twist and turn. I don’t read much, but ever since I started reading Melissa’s books I can’t put them down.
July 29, 2025
A gripping blend of romance, ambition, and suspense, this story pulls you into the heart of Nashville’s music scene with a heroine you’ll root for and twists that keep you guessing until the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2026
Full review to come
August 9, 2025
Ava Morgan just wants to see her dreams of becoming a singer a reality, and it just so happens that this could happen in Nashville, Tennessee. And why not try to do it before her real-world job begins and see if she has a shot?
Owen Layne is a rising music star working at Cognac Creek, who is trying to move forward in a world without his brother. He just didn't expect to be constantly reminded that his brother's case has yet to be solved as he takes care of his brother's K9.
As fate would have it, Ava and Owen meet and sparks fly. But fate has a way of twisting and turning when you least expect it, at times ripping the rug from underneath you.
I loved that this book made me root for both Owen and Ava as the mystery unfolded. And that Ava's mother played a larger role in the story than I had expected.
The author did a fabulous job providing enough suspects to keep the reader on their toes and keep them guessing as to what would happen next. I enjoyed the main characters and found their story arcs to be done well. I also appreciated how the story played out and felt that the ending would satisfy any reader.
Owen Layne is a rising music star working at Cognac Creek, who is trying to move forward in a world without his brother. He just didn't expect to be constantly reminded that his brother's case has yet to be solved as he takes care of his brother's K9.
As fate would have it, Ava and Owen meet and sparks fly. But fate has a way of twisting and turning when you least expect it, at times ripping the rug from underneath you.
I loved that this book made me root for both Owen and Ava as the mystery unfolded. And that Ava's mother played a larger role in the story than I had expected.
The author did a fabulous job providing enough suspects to keep the reader on their toes and keep them guessing as to what would happen next. I enjoyed the main characters and found their story arcs to be done well. I also appreciated how the story played out and felt that the ending would satisfy any reader.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews