Out of Focus

Adams Grove #2

by Nancy Naigle

Kasey Phillips thinks her biggest problem is deciding whether to photograph Cody Tuggle’s honky-tonkin’ tour, until an accident on Route 58 claims the life of her husband.

In a desperate race against time as a hurricane threatens the eastern seaboard, they search for her three-year-old son who is missing from the wreckage.

A community and friends rally to help, but someone knows more than they are telling.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Suspense

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2011

About the author

I did something new! I wrote a short story about Tug and Rosemary from The Shell Collector Novels...and it was so much fun. You can read A Whelk's Island Valentine now.


USA TODAY bestselling author Nancy Naigle writes heartwarming small-town stories of love, faith, and second chances. With more than forty novels to her name, eight have been adapted for television on Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and FOX Nation. Her award-winning ECPA Bestseller The Shell Collector was also the first FOX Original Movie and is now streaming on FOX Nation.
Nancy’s newest Christmas novel, A South Hill Christmas Keepsake, is a heartfelt story inspired by her real-life hometown in Virginia—a tale of lost love, small-town wonder, and rediscovering the magic of community during the holidays.
Up next, she’ll return to the beloved Whelk’s Island universe in Home No Matter Where (coming May 2026), the third installment in The Shell Collector series—continuing her signature blend of coastal charm, healing, and hope.
After a successful career in the banking industry, Nancy followed her heart and took early retirement to write full-time. Now living in the small town of Franklin, Virginia, she crafts stories that celebrate the simple joys of life, the beauty of belonging, and the power of love to restore even the most fragile hearts.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her browsing antique shops, painting, or weaving pine needle baskets—always on the lookout for the next small spark of inspiration to turn into a story you’ll never forget.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of Focus by Nancy Naigle
Adams Grove series #2. Closed door romance, romantic suspense.
As the weeks and months go by without any forward movement on finding her missing son, Kasey Phillips must return to earning money. She had a standing offer to photograph a famous singer’s tour so she takes that job while continuing to reach out to the police on finding her son. Answers begin to reveal when she finds out why her husband’s accident was on a different road than expected.

Tense drama as Kasey tries to find her son and the days pass without success. Soft potential romance as she recovers from the loss of her husband and rebuilds her life while still searching.
Kasey is strong and a survivor. She has to continue on even as the search is unsuccessful. She knows in her heart, that her son is alive. Somewhere.

[Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

Husband dies, son gone
She goes on country star's tour
Trying to find son

Didn't fit series
Bunch of things didn't ring true
I didn't feel it

Just got to book 4 of series. Same chick! So the end of this book was a total lie. She gets a different guy later. What a cheat!

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finire un libro e chiedersi: ma cos'era?
Un thriller, un romanzo d'introspezione sull'elaborazione del lutto, una specie di romance/seconda chance?
In realtà non è niente di nessuna cosa, è qualcosa che si sviluppa e che procede, senza mai decollare.
Giri le pagine dicendoti: adesso ci sarà una spiegazione, adesso lei si darà una mossa, dai, non può essere così ovvio, ci sarà altro. Si capisce cosa è accaduto a metà libro...
Ma niente. Finisci e... boh.

Intere parti (ad esempio la scena dell'arresto con il vicesceriffo Dan) che non hanno alcuna utilità ai fini narrativi, se non quello di aggiungere qualche migliaio di parole.
E comunque il titolo è fuorviante. Ma anche la cover... (??)

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will honestly tell you what I thought of this book. Amazing. Yes, and that is rather a light word to use in this case. Amazing indeed. Why? Well, I will tell you. Because, Ms. Naigle is able to literally touch my emotions with her dialog, storytelling, and the ability to make me 'fade' out of my home and 'fade' into the story itself.

I found myself gasping for breath as I suddenly 'realized' I had tears pouring down my face and this was page eleven. I actually had to put the novel down and get a drink in order to compose myself and continue the story.

I am going to try and tell you, without giving too much away, the premise of the story.

We are back at Adams Grove in Virginia. A small town introduced to use in "Sweet Tea and Secrets" last year. Actually, the book begins with a charming professional photographer, Kasey Phillips on a photo shoot. She is a happily married, mother of one son who has the capability of making her 'subjects' come alive and with color.

The book opens as a Romance. I enjoy romances when they have depth and credibility. This romance is so strong that you could feel it. Kasey, armed with a job offer, drives home to see her 'boys.'

The doorbell rings. A policeman enters and the world stops and flips upside-down. I hit page eleven.
Sounds predictable? Oh no it wasn't. What follows is a mother's search for her missing child while dealing with the crime (yes, a mystery crime,) murder of her beloved husband.

That is all I'm going to say, because, this Romantic Suspense Mystery is so well drawn that I do not want to stop you from experiencing it yourself. Women will adore the story but it is really a man's story as well. This book is literature and I won't be surprised if it wins accolades along the way. I know it won my heart!

Please Ms. Naigle continue the writing of lives in Adams Grove!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this story, kept me hooked from beginning to the end.

[Marilou George · Rating 5 out of 5]

The small town of Adams Grove is home to Kasey Phillips a freelance photographer. She is concluding her shoot of country music star Cody Tuggle and can't wait to get home to her husband Nick and son Jake. On the day of her return home she learns that she has lost her husband in a terrible accident and her son Jake, who was with him, is nowhere to be found.

Kasey is destroyed by the news and is frantic to find her three year old son. Her dear friends Von and Riley stand by her side during this terrifying time and are determined to help her find Jake. Finding herself with no leads and too much time on her hands she agrees to go on tour with Cody to shoot pictures for his tour book hoping that she can keep herself busy and expand the search for her son.

At each stop on the tour Cody shows a picture of Jake and asks his fans for help locating him. Kasey and Cody embark upon a very special friendship that will stand the test of time. The last night of the tour he not only shows Jake's picture but has also written a song especially for her. As more time passes and her son seems to have disappeared without a trace Kasey finally receives a tangible lead that takes her on a journey of hope, faith, betrayal and undying friendship.

The heartbreak and despair that are portrayed in the Author's writing will pull at you with such a force that you will not want to put this book down. The pace of the book is steady as the suspense keeps building until the very end. The characters depicted in this story are extremely well developed and you will feel a kinship with them all. This story also portrays the true meaning of loyalty and friendship in times of happiness and great despair. The portrayal of the friendship that exists in a close knit small town will make you yearn to live there.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to get lost in the characters and story and also lets you feel the real value of loyalty, friendship and love. Most especially a mother's love and devotion for her child.

[Diana Hockley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Naigle’s Out of Focus, in spite of its emotive subject matter is a charming story, with genuinely nice characters – except for the perpetrators of the crime!

Nancy’s style is laid back and easy – I read it in one night. Her small town settings work well with the story of a young professional photographer who loses her husband and three year old son in an accident. However, all is not what it seems; the child’s body is not found.

The story follows the months after the accident, the search, the new friends the young mother – Kasey Phillips - makes along the way, the surprise which her husband and son planned and which awaits her in Adams Grove. The heartbreak and rising tension, as time passes and her son appears to be lost forever is brilliantly depicted. The pace is steady and tension rises at just the right time. Although I did recognise the perpetrator early in the story, it was not until the end that Nancy Naigle reveals the betrayal behind the tragedy and how it was executed.

I reviewed Nancy’s first Adams Grove novel, Sweet Tea and Secrets some time ago for Kings River Life online magazine and although I was impressed with that novel, I am of the opinion that this story is even better in terms of technical expertise and emotive imagery.

Highly recommended!

[Hyacinth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend won this as a goodreads giveaway and gave it to me to read. Three pages in and I knew I would give it give 5 stars. The author masterfully weaved a suspenseful, believable story. The title was appropriate in that in photography, some things are out of focus in a picture and some things are crystal clear.

I thought the biological father was the culprit initially. He was mentioned in the story and yet ambiguous throughout. I began to get suspicious about the family caretaker towards the end. I was thoroughly shocked at the thought out plan and the insanity of an attraction gone bad.

I loved Cody Tuggle and the whole tour storyline. I am glad Kasey was mature enough to allow herself time to grieve and heal before getting involved with any of the men in the story. I wish there was a single of A Mother's Love on iTunes or Amazon to purchase.

I did not like Grem. I am sorry. She made me so mad, she made my teeth itch! She was just negative and reminded me of Driving Ms. Daisy, again believable because we know some old people like that.

The only thing I missed was at the conclusion of the whole matter seeing Grem's reaction to the turn of events.

I would love to see this as a made for television movie because I would like to see it move fast, lol!

[Amy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously enjoyed this book. I was nervous because I am a wimp when it comes to reading about realistic bad things that can happen to me. Meaning, my family can be in a car accident and my children could be kidnapped, however, the chances of me getting mixed up in something like an international terrorist coming after my husband because he killed the terrorist’s brother is pretty slim. So, with that being said I was hesitant to start this book. I read Nancy's Sweet Tea and Secrets and enjoyed that book so much I wanted to read another one of hers. She did assure me that the ending of this would be happy, so I decided to give it a shot. It was such a good read and I did not want to put it down. The characters were real and it made me want to live in Adams Grove! I sure hope there are small towns like that out there still. In the book, Kasey met a lot of people along the way that helped her. To me, the book was about a mother's love and determination to never give up, friendship, betrayal, faith in God, and hope. She made you realize that when thrown into a tragedy, rely on your friends and faith and take it day by day. I highly recommend this book!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Focus revisits Adams Grove and this second in the series is a taut, emotional journey. Nancy outdoes herself beginning with the snappy, fast-moving opening, to the struggle of a mother, suddenly a grieving widow, searching for her lost child. No spoilers here, but if you loved Sweet Tea & Secrets (as I did) you won't be able to put Out of Focus down until the end.

Kudos to a wonderful, emerging author. How long before we get another trip to Adams Grove? Hopefully, it will be soon!

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story! Filled with emotions from heartbreaking to heartwarming. The losses Kasey Phillips has to face are unimaginable. Her strength, character, and belief are the only things that get her through. I definitely recommend this one!

[Caren ~ the misfit geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a little more focused on mystery than romance. It is the second book in a series but could really have been a standalone book. The first book introduced us to Adams Grove and I expected to spend more time there. I was a little disappointed that I had to wait until almost halfway through the book to find any connection or mention of Adams Grove. I was also disappointed not to have been able to see more of the characters in the first book in this one.

That being said, I actually enjoyed the mystery in this book more than the first one. The romance is handled well given the subject matter surrounding the story. The characters are again well developed and likable in general. I liked how the relationships developed throughout the story. Although the timeline of the story was not always clear it was still quite easy to follow the plot. It was not quite as easy to identify the perpetrator in this story as it was in the first book.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a light mystery with a little romance and suspense added to the mix. Although this is the second book in the series, I believe these two can be read in any order. My overall rating for this one is 3.5 stars. I am looking forward to the third in the series.

[Hilleary Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The depth of emotions with this book was outstanding. You could feel and understand what Kasey felt; especially in a scenario where you don't really know how you would deal with it until god forbid it happens to you. And there is enough romance but not too much given the events of the book. It was an excellent mix of mystery, heartbreak, and romance.
This is such a good way to start the Adams Grove series, you are introduced to Adam's Grove as a new person to the community that really helps you get to know the town and want to come back and visit with Sweet Tea and Secrets the second Adam's Grove novel. And I can not wait to read the sequel and see how Kasey is doing in Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies. Nancy Naigle has me hooked

(side note: I do not give plots or teasers in my reviews I will tell you why I liked or did not like but I will not tell you the story. You have to read it for yourself)

[Pamela Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Naigle’s second suspense-filled Adam Groves romance/mystery is a “couldn’t wait to find out what happens” Virginia thriller. It starts with photographer Kasey, a wife, mom, on a photo shoot with one of Countries biggest and hottest male singers. There’s a lot of sizzle and flirting going on between them, but Kasey loves her husband and little boy too much for anything more. She can’t wait to get home, only before she gets there, something terrible happens to her husband and son. She soon finds out there are no easy answers to help her navigate this tragedy, and she is running out of patience.

Guaranteed to keep you guessing and you will love the people in these small southern towns. Of course it can’t be a great story without dogs and yummy recipes, so enjoy… You don’t need to read book one, but you just might want to after you read Out of Focus. 5 stars.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book free as part of the First Reads program. I read it all the way through, but it's just not my genre. I like a suspense with some actual suspense. Like Sweet Tea and Secrets, it needed some more editing in terms of content and grammar/punctuation. I found the series of events around the accident and investigation a bit implausible. At times the action and dialogue was jumpy. And a few things bothered me because they were never really explained (so who is Jake's biological father? Why would you leave your 15-year-old dog behind at an uninhabited house when you move? Does Riley have a job? How do Kasey and Nick, a photographer and a farmer, afford to purchase and renovate a farmhouse with no mortgage, plus they have a Porsche, a T-bird, and a nice truck).

[Michelle Steffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in the Adams Grove series I very much enjoyed the storyline about Kasey, a photographer, who was widowed by a car accident to her "soul mate" Nick, also loosing her 3 year old son (Jake) in that accident. Kasey feels her son is alive and with the help of friends who believe in her feelings a search for little Jake begins. A wonderful story that begins with tragedy but takes you through not only the healing process for Kasey's grief but also hope and belief and the forming of new friendships. Very enjoyable read! I would like to note that you will want to start with this book, gives you the beginning for the Adams Grove series

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished a wonderful story by Nancy Naigle. Out of Focus is one of the books in The Perfect Ten collection. I thought I had finished all the books but discovered that I had a couple to go. I will be reading the rest of the Adams Grove Novels by Naigle!!!

While she was doing a shoot with C&W star Cody Tuggle, Kasey could not even begin to imagine how her life was about to change. Within hours she has lost her heart and soul when he husband is killed and her three year old son disappears. She clings to her love, her personal strength, and hope in this is a beautiful story about the strength of a mother's heart and the beauty of friendships. An absolutely beautiful must read!

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Bittersweet*

Bittersweet tale about the powers of love and what some people do rightly or wrongly to show their love. It starts with Kasey who is an excellent photographer who is photographing a country music star. She has a wonderful husband and son and a job she adores. She has an overbearing grandma who she sees when she can but luckily a family male friend is staying with her grandma to ferry her around and do odd jobs for her. This male friend has an ulterior motive which comes to light as the story unfolds and as Kasey’s world is rocked by tragedy this is when her real friends step up and support Kasey and the story for me takes a much more interesting turn.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just pack my bags, and move to Adams Grove? It seems like a really nice place to live, if you are not facing the kind of situation poor Kasey had to deal with. After her husband and son are taken from her, she is left having to find a way to put her life back together. With a few surprises and twists, she hits the road with one of the biggest concert tours ever, and then ends up in Adams Grove. I don't want to give anything away, but Kasey's story was a good one. It was very interesting and I can't wait to see more of it!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kasey Phillips is a celebrity photographer who has pretty much everything, the perfect husband, an adorable son, a job she loves...things couldn't be better, until a seemingly random accident changes her life forever.
This was my first novel by Nancy Naigle, but most certainly not my last. Her writing grabbed me in the very begining and kept me right till the end. Endearing , believable characters, the type you would want to be friends with.. all set in a town she makes you want to visit.

[Shanon Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Focus grabbed me from the first. I love Adams Grove and this story is full a sense of small town suspense. Kasey was very real and I wept with her and got angry and determined when she did. I found Nancy's secondary characters totally believable and wonderful additions to the story. Everyone wants a friend like Riley. Then there's the hot Cody. And who can leave out Sheriff Scott. I could go on and on, but I think the book speaks for itself. It's one to read and keep.

[Shanon Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Kasey's nearly perfect world falls apart, friends--old and new--surround her with love and try to guide her through the disaster that has befallen her. But, there's a mystery to solve and she won't rest until she knows the answer.

I love this book--the rich characters and, of course, Adams Grove. Thank you, Nancy Naigle, for another Adams Grove winner.

[Shannon Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through First Reads. I wasn't familiar with Nancy Naigle's books but now I'm a fan. Out of Focus is intriguing and easy to read. The descriptions are enough that you can visualize everything without getting lost in detailed wordiness. This is a great book to curl up with...you will not want to put it down.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book in the Adams Grove Novel series. The main character is Kasey Phillips who takes professional photos for a living. Her husband dies suddenly and her three year old son goes missing. The story follows her search for her son and a new life. All of the characters seemed like real people and people you would want to be friends with. Can't wait to read more of the books in the series.

[Mary Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely story. It was about the loss of true love but new love found. A tearjerker at the end. I was on an airplane and had to fight the tears. This is a feel good book. I want to read all of the Adam Grove novels. You will like the characters and want to know more about them. Read it and you will agree.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this second book of adams grove series.. reading this book had me feeling as if i was right there in the middle of adams grove.. once i finished the second book i couldnt wait to start the next and i am already anticipating the next in the series..if you are looking for a good read then do not hesitate to pick up this series..

[Jody Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how Ms Naigle does it but within a few pages you will become completely overcome with heart wrenching emotion for the main character. AWESOME story line filled with twist & turns & don't forget the smoking hot Mr Tuggle!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adams Grove story..It was bittersweet as there's a heartbreaking story along with a mystery and good friends story..I did have some questions at the end that weren't answered and hoping to find out in the next book..I highly recommend this book..

[Jayme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Nancy Naigle, I loved the book, it kept me reading way past my bedtime. It had a great story line, sad, sweet & heart wrenching. I'm glad it ended the way it did

[Glenn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice cozy about a mother's search for her missing son.