Silence Between the Storms

Deep River #5

by Nyssa Kathryn

He’ll risk everything to protect her…even from fears she can’t outrun.

Nora Slade came to Deep River to be close to her brother…not to fall for his tall, handsome and far-too-distracting best friend. All of her brother’s friends are off limits. At least, that’s what she’s always told herself. And no, she isn’t avoiding Zac, in particular, for any other reason. Certainly not because of a deep-rooted fear she’s never shared with anyone. That she’s destined to become her mother. That she’s destined to destroy everyone close to her.

Zac Pierce has faced plenty of danger in his life. A former Navy SEAL turned search and rescue, he likes to think very little could scare him. But falling for his teammate’s sister? That kind of terrifies him. Mostly because she’s told him she can’t date her brother’s friends. So he just needs to back off. But in the small town of Deep River, avoiding someone isn’t so easy. Especially when you’re running into them at work every week…

When a dangerous new drug begins spreading through town, affecting Nora’s students, it isn’t too long before she’s questioning her own sanity. Now, Zac can’t stand back any longer. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect Nora and prove that her demons aren’t all in her head—they’re only too real.

A Small Town, Brother's Best Friend Romantic Suspense.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Brothers Best Friend, Military Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2026

About the author

Sign up for my newsletter here:
https://www.nyssakathryn.com/vip-newsletter

Australian Romantic Suspense Author, Nyssa Kathryn, is a passionate reader and writer of all things romance. Living in South Australia with her hubby and daughter, when she's not spending time with the family, she's either plotting her next story or got her head stuck in a book.

Follow Nyssa here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nyssakathrynauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornyssakathryn/

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silence Between the Storms is book 5 in the Deep River series by Nyssa Kathryn. Nora Slade decides it's time to go to Deep River to be near her brother, Ryan. When she saw the school counsellor position at River High School, she applied. Nora believes all her brother's friends are off-limits. On arrival, strange things were happening to Nora, and Zac Piece stepped up to help. Will Nora and Zac decide to forget about Ryan and fall in love? Readers of Silence Between the Storms will continue to follow Nora and Zac to discover what happens.

As soon as I got my copy, I started reading and forgot to eat or sleep because the author drew me in with the plot and characters from the first page! I enjoy the author's writing style, which always keeps me engaged with her books, and this book kept up the tradition. I like how the author gives you a glimpse at the main characters who will be in the next book in the Deep River series.

Silence Between the Storms is another fantastic addition to the excellent Deep River Series. I love the way the author highlighted the dangers of child neglect and violence and how it can affect the people involved. I also understand the danger children face when adults in their communities influence them to do wrong. I learned about the role of a school counsellor and some of the issues they face.

Thank you to the Author for my ARC copy exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Another quick fun read by this author. I’ll read anything she writes - I love the drama. This is a continuation of the deep river series of interconnected stand alones which revolve around an ex-military search and rescue team living in a small town. This story focuses on Zac and his best friend’s (Ryan) sister Nora. There are some TWs to do with mental health, past childhood trauma and addictions. It was a good story, not my favourite in the series overall, but I had a good time. I found Nora’s flightiness frustrating, but I can understand how it’s written into her character.

More trouble is finding its way into town, in this story it’s to do with drugs finding their way into Nora’s school where she’s a guidance counsellor - causing havoc. So she turns to the strong and dependable Zac from her brother’s SAR team - because he’s always right there when she needs him. He wants more. She’s told him she doesn’t date her brother’s friends. But when the danger starts closing in on Nora, all bets are off.

[Rachel Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦—𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫.

Welcome back... well technically I never really left because I have been devouring these books like they are laced with some kind of drug. So welcome to another day in Deep River for the fifth installment in the Deep River series which tells the story of Nora Slade and Zachery 'Zac' Pierce.

Nora is the younger sister of Ryan and Zac is his best friend and 'brother' as they both served in the military together and is a former Navy SEAL. Now let me start by saying that as much as I loved all the other books in this series and I didn't think another one was going to be able to beat Ryan and Emily's story... until I read this one.

After Nora has moved into town to be close to her big brother she is the new school counselor since she feels that her own experience with her mom who is a schizophrenic and wants to be able to help kids who may slip under the radar. Just like she and her brother Ryan did. But she also has one strict rule that she follows; She doesn't date her brother's friends.

Zac is working at the school leading survival sessions at the school which puts him in close proximity to Nora. A woman he knows he can never have but can't help but see every day. Things are getting worse in this town and now there is some new mysterious drug going around causing chaos. Nora's mental state of mind is questioned and messed with. Zac wants to protect her at all costs without crossing that line.

There is a lot happening in this book and I am here for it. I loved this book and this series. I love the story behind Nora and Ryan's upbringing which shows how close they really are. How she finally lets go off her past and learns to love herself and see that she is nothing like her mom. This was such a beautiful story and I just adore Zac. I think he might now be my favorite SAR member 😍😍😍

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️‍🔥 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ❤️‍🔥

Okay, give me a small-town romance, a protective former Navy SEAL, a brother’s-best-friend trope, and a little romantic suspense, and I’m ALL IN! 😍🔥

Nora and Zac had me hooked! The chemistry, tension, and undeniable attraction between these two made this such an entertaining listen. I absolutely love a hero who is protective, willing to risk everything for the woman he loves, and Zac definitely delivers!

Nora’s struggles and the fears she carries added an emotional layer to the story, while the dangerous situation unfolding in Deep River kept the suspense and anticipation going.

And let’s talk about that brother’s-best-friend trope! The forbidden attraction, the tension, and the moments when keeping their distance becomes harder and harder? YES, PLEASE! ❤️‍🔥

Sebastian York and Avery Caris did a fantastic job bringing Zac and Nora to life! Their voices made it easy to get pulled into the story, and I loved hearing these characters come alive through their performances. 🎧❤️

If you love small-town romance, protective heroes, brother’s-best-friend romance, and romantic suspense with a little danger mixed in, this audiobook deserves a spot on your TBR!

Definitely one to add to your audiobook wishlist! 📚🎧💕

[angelictaleslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books entertain you, some consume you, and then there are books that make you feel
EVERYTHING.
Silence Between the Storms was an absolute emotional rollercoaster, and I loved every second of it. The characters, the emotions, the connection, and the intensity had me completely invested. I found myself feeling so much throughout this story, and honestly wasn't ready to let it go.
The chemistry, the emotional depth, and the way the story unfolds made this such an addictive listen. There were moments that had my heart aching, moments that made me smile, and moments where just needed to sit with everything was feeling.
And the AUDIOBOOK? Absolutely phenomenal.
Avery Caris and Sebastian York were perfection together. Their duet narration brought so much emotion, personality, and depth to the characters. Sebastian Yorks voice is always a win for me, and Avery Caris complemented him beautifully. Their performances made the emotional moments hit even harder and pulled me deeper into the story.
This is exactly why I love audiobooks so much. When the narration and the story come together like this, it becomes an experience rather than just a book.
Five stars, without hesitation.
A story that made me feel, a narration could listen to forever, and another reminder of why I will always be a sucker for a beautifully delivered romance.
Highly recommend the audiobook!

[Read All About It · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora had a horrific childhood. She still has things that happened effort her in her grown life. She has a rule don’t date your brother’s friend.

“We’re not even technically dating, Mom,” Zac said softly. His mother scoffed. “What a load of bolly squodge.”

Zac is a protecter at heart. Working with his buddies from the military.

Something is going on in this small town of Deep River. A new drug is circulating and the sheriff is totally useless. As bad things start to happen Nora and Zac grow closer.

“My sister loves my best friend. There is no better scenario, because I know that no one will love and protect her the way you do.”

The ending is shocking and I’m glad this series is continuing with new members trickling in.

[Sophie Ruthven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The further we go, the better this series gets.
The only reason this book took so long is because my concentration took a dive while dealing with things and I didn't want to miss a moment of this amazing book.
Yes I guessed some things fast, yet others I didn't see coming. There were so many twists and players that your head will be spinning long after the final sentence.
I adored this couple despite wanting to shake the female main character so she would stop getting in her own way.
This book gave the town the biggest shake up yet, and I cannot wait to see the aftermath of it.
This was a no brainer top read.

[Karen Moll · Rating 3 out of 5]

chiseled jaw
climb him like a tree
low hung grey sweats
the holy trinity of roman writing was strong in this book. This could have been a good one but meh

[Bette · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Exceptional Story & Narration🎧Engaging & Moving!

Silence Between the Storms
Deep River, Book 5
By: Nyssa Kathryn
Narrated by: Avery Caris, Sebastian York

It is great to be back in Nyssa Kathryn’s “Deep River” world for another amazing small-town romantic suspense, and one of my favorite places to visit and spend time in. She created something very special when she created this world, especially the characters and storylines, which are incredible, multi-layered, and complex. This fifth book in the series is Nora Slade and Zac Pierce’s story, a brother’s best friend romance that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings. Nora moved to Deep River to be near her brother, Ryan, and took a job as a counselor at the local high school. Zac served in the military with her brother, not only becoming friends but brothers too, and both are part of the “Search and Rescue” team. Nora and Ryan have a close relationship since childhood, growing up in less than stellar circumstances with a mother who had mental health issues, always looking out for his younger sister. Zac felt a connection to Nora, an attraction, and the feelings were mutual, but out of respect for his friend, he kept their relationship platonic, not that he had to because Ryan trusted Zac. The more time they spent together, the closer they grew to one another, and him teaching rescue classes at her school had them running into each other more often. And after bad things going on in town and with some of the high school students, he also saw what she was contending with at school, and who, the one who is a suspect of being involved, the school bully. With no help from their useless town Sheriff it is up to the SAR team to get to investigate and put all the pieces together. It was great watching Zac and Nora’s relationship morph into something so much more, and I loved how they helped each other battle their inner demons, especially when under the influence. Once again, Kathryn’s masterfully crafted and cleverly plotted story has the perfect balance of drama, angst, mystery, thrilling and suspenseful moments, profound emotions, and a slow-burn but so worth the wait romance. The suspense storyline was rewarding in the end, and I love how it all unfolded and who it captured in its net. Nyssa Kathryn, thank you for another exceptional story and wild and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧  And for the exceptional audiobook listen and production performed in duet by the wonderfully talented Avery Caris and Sebastian York, who did an incredible job voicing the characters and delivering a perfect portrayal of each. Both embodied their characters completely, grasping every facet of their personalities and were naturals in their roles. Caris’ take on Nora was spot-on, from her insecurities to her strength and determination, and her handling of her inner dialogue and battles with her inner demons was perfection. York was just as amazing in Zac’s role, nailing both his protective and caring side, as well as his alpha-take-no-prisoners side. Both were fantastic performing the roles of the side and secondary characters too, teenagers included. Their expressive delivery conveys all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. It is a pleasure listening to these two entertaining storytellers whose engaging performance rivets you to the story and takes the already amazing story to another level.

[𝒩𝒶𝒹𝒾𝒶𝒽 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Received this with ARC 💕

There’s something wonderfully addictive about a romance built on everything two people are trying so hard to resist, and Silence Between theStorms delivers that beautifully. From the moment nora Slade returns to Deep River, determined to keep her distance from her brother’s bestfriend, Zac Pierce, it’s clear that avoiding him is going to be much easier said than done.

Nora carries so much fear beneath the surface. She isn’t simply afraid of falling for the wrong man—she’s terrified of what loving someone might ultimately mean for them. Haunted bythe belief that she is destined to become like her mother and bring destruction to the peopleshe loves, Nora has built walls around herself and convinced herself that keeping everyone at a distance is the safest thing she can do.

Then there’s Zac.

A former Navy SEAL turned search-and-rescue worker, Zac is used to danger and thinks there isn’t much that can truly scare him. Nora, however, proves to be a completely different kind of threat. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved the push and pull between them as they struggled against feelings neither of them could simply ignore.

What made their romance particularly compellingwas the emotional depth underneath theattraction. Zac doesn’t just want Nora—he wants to understand her, protect her, and help her see that the fears she has carried for so long don’t have to define her future. Watching him slowly break through her defenses created some genuinely tender and emotional moments.

The suspenseful element added another layer to thestory. As a dangerous new drug begins affecting the town and Nora’s students, the stakes rise, giving the romance a sense of urgency beyond their personal struggles. I enjoyed how the danger and the relationship were woven together rather than feeling like completely separate storylines.

I also loved the small-town atmosphere. Deep River feels like the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, secrets are difficult to keep, and running into the one person you’re trying to avoid is practically inevitable. For Nora and Zac, that makes resisting each other even harder—and their constant proximity keeps the tension simmering.

There were definitely moments when I wanted Nora and Zac to simply talk to each other insteadof fighting their feelings, but at the same time, that emotional stubbornness is part of what made theirjourney so satisfying. Their fears, secrets, and undeniable chemistry kept me turning the pages.

Silence Between the Storms is a heartfelt and steamy small-town romantic suspense filled with forbidden attraction, emotional wounds, danger, and a protective hero who refuses to let the woman he cares about face her demons alone. Nyssa Kathryn creates a romance that feels both intense and vulnerable, withplenty of tension to keep the story moving.

If you enjoy brother’s-best-friend romance, protective heroes, small-town settings, suspense, and characters who have to learn that sometimes the biggest storms are the ones inside us, this is a story worth picking up.

[Sarah Wass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nyssa is one of my two all time favourite authors. If she writes it, I will read it, and I know without even needing to read the blurb of her book that it is going to be a 5 star read.

Silence between the storms follows Zac and Nora in the Deep River series. Zac is teaching the students at the school survival skills while they are out in the forest, and Nora is the school counsellor - so their paths cross often. Nora recently moved to Deep River to be closer with her brother Ryan who is Zac's best friend, and Nora has always set the rule for herself that she doesn't date her brother's best friends. But there is this magnetic pull between her and Zac that is getting increasingly hard to ignore. 

When a new street drug starts circling around the school, Nora is dragged into the situation with some of her students being affected by the new street drug, and when their behaviours start to become dangerous, and one annoying little sh*t starts to target Nora specifically, Zac can no longer sit on the sidelines and not get involved. 

When Nora is drugged with the new substance by a student, Zac's protective instincts kick in.. And it becomes impossible to stay away from Nora anymore. With Nora's traumatic past involving her mum and drugs, she needs Zac's help to stay present and anchored to herself. 

Nyssa has an uncanny way of reeling you into the story and making you feel like you are living the situations that the characters are, and you start to experience the same emotions that they are. Nyssa's books all follow the same formatting of building a relationship between the main characters, a few thrilling and climatic scenes sprinkled throughout to keep you on the edge of your seat, and then at the end comes the massive climatic reveal followed by a happily ever after. Her strongest skills is the way that even while trying to guess what is going to happen, or who the bad guy may be, I am always surprised, as I very rarely guess it correctly. She is also the master of writing a inter-connected series of books that can be read as standalones, but for the best experience is best read in order of release. Then when you inevitably go back and do a re-read, it is always fun and exciting when you pick up on all the little easter eggs that she leaves throughout the books along the way for the next one. 

Silence Between The Storms is filled with all the tropes we know and love, small town, found family, suspense, workplace romance, brother's best friend / Best friend's sister, damaged / traumatised heroine, he falls first - and falls harder! Protective alpha MMC, former seal MMC that now works as a search and rescue operative. 

For a bingeable 5 star read with hot spicy scenes to read this weekend - be sure to pick up Silence between the storms! 

[Confessions of a Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not wait to get this one in my ears. After the interactions between Nora and Zach in Secrets in the Deep I knew this was going to be a good one. Brother's best friend/best friend's little sister, he falls first and protective hero.....guaranteed to be a good one!

Nora is new to town. She decided to move to Deep River to be closer to her brother. She is no stranger to his SAR buddies but her connection with Zach is unlike the others. She has a long standing rule of not dating her brother's friends. That's cute in theory but the reality of seeing Zach on a fairly regular basis starts to weaken her will power. From the moment Nora arrives in town it seems there is never a dull moment surrounding her. Through a series of events she starts to thinking she may be just like her mother.

Zach is Nora's #1 fan. That man has it bad for her but knows he needs to proceed with caution. It helps that he finds himself in close proximity with her quite often. He doesn't let the fact that she is Ryan's sister deter him either, he just waits for her to be on the same page as him. He shows up for her again and again for things as little as a spider in her apartment to more dangerous situations she finds herself in. He will protect her against anyone including himself if necessary.

I love these two together. Nora deserves someone other than her brother to protect her. She deserves the kind of love he gives her after the childhood she had. One of the things I love the most about these two was Nora being the hesitant one. She is the one that didn't want to date him because he was Ryan's best friend while he just wants her.

Every single book in this series has been outstanding. I love the way Ms. Kathryn always manages to make me forget at times there is a suspense aspect to her story because I get so wrapped up on the characters and the moment.

********AUDIO REVIEW********
Avery Caris and Sebastian York give excellent performances. There are so many characters in these books needing different voices. Avery has the perfect sound for sweet Nora and her easy going attitude and then the moments when Nora has freak outs....Avery nailed them. Sebastian too had a number of male characters to cove and I have to say his Joel was one of my favorites. He was great as a high schooler with one massive chip on his shoulder too. I really enjoyed these two together.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the Deep River Series by Nyssa Kathryn. The depth of all of the characters combined with the murder mysteries in the town of Deep River and the SEALS team brought in by the mayor to help keep people safe, make for great story lines. But I think Zac and Nora are my favorite couple thus far! Zac serves on the SEAL team along with his best friend Ryan, who is Nora's brother. Ryan and Nora had a horrible upbringing and then Ryan went into the military. After getting out, he moved to Deep River when his SEAL brother Ethan called his former military teammates to help with the safety in the town and to form a Search and Rescue team. Zac also said yes to Ethan and loved being back with his team. Nora later decided to move to Deep River to be near her brother whom she adored. They had learned to depend on each other when their schizophrenic mother would go on her rampages. Nora had a deep rooted fear that she might turn into her mother one day since her mother always told her that she was just like her when she was young. Nora was nothing like her mother though and Zac took notice of her. Nora had casually told him earlier that she would never date any of Ryan's teammates because it would be very difficult for Ryan if they broke up. But mostly she was hiding behind the fear that she might one day get her mother's disease. But now that she was in town, she ran into Zac more and more as she had become close friends with all of the team's girl friends so she joined in whenever everyone was getting together. Zac knew she didn't want to date anyone on team, but he had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her. She had become a school counselor and was hired at the local high school when she moved to town. She wanted to help students like her who had no adult on their side growing up. Zac also was hired by the gym teacher to come in once a week to teach forest safety - a mini SARS class. When a mysterious drug starts circulating amongst the students and Nora gets too close, Zac's protective side takes over. And she lets him. Now after multiple violent incidents after anyone had taken the drug, he was working his team to help get to the bottom of it before someone died. However Nora was in the middle of it at school trying to help the students and figure out what was going on and he vowed she wouldn't get hurt. It was a great read!

[♡︎ Kesa Subban ♡︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ꍏ꒒ꏳ ꋪꏂ꒦ꀤꏂꅐ
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 - 𝖹𝖺𝖼
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝖭𝗈𝗋𝖺
5 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

How is it possible that we are already on book five? And Nyssa has without a doubt delivered perfectly with this book...

The Slade siblings childhood was heartbreaking, those flashbacks, and the fear that they went through was painful.

Nora, moving to Deep River to be closer to her brother is the best decision she made. Ryan, is her only family. His her brother, and when they were younger her protector.

She is also a guidance counsellor, a career that was heavily influenced by her childhood, and all she wants is to help the kids at the highschool, but she soon realises that there are things in play, things that have devastating outcomes.

Zac, after leaving the Navy, he joined his brothers in Deep River, and is part of the Search and Rescue team & their mission is to find out the mystery that has been surrounding the woman going missing in their town.

Zac, is fiercely protective of those he considers his family but also gets undoubtedly blindsided with the feelings his developing for his teammates sister.

Zac and Nora had an instant connection, sizzling chemistry, banter for days but most importantly, the little moments where he showed up, and was by her side regardless of everything happening. The way Zac fell for Nora was absolutely perfect.

The suspense, do I need answers to the ongoing problem? Yes. But....but did the suspense that was weaved into this book have a satisfying ending? Holy heck! Yes!!!

𝘋𝘶𝘦𝘵 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘺

𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔 & 𝑺𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒓𝒌

𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝑎𝑠 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑎, her voice was smooth, clear, held a sort of cheerfulness to it, but also she brought out Nora's fears, anxiety and vulnerabilities so well.

𝑺𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝑎𝑠 𝑍𝑎𝑐, his voice was deep, commanding and also had a certain huskiness to it. He really embodied Zac's protective nature, but also his commanding tone when needed.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 🔍🛟🍰🔫🔍
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 🍰🧁🍦🍫☕
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 🥵
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 📚📚📚📚.5
Narration 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 💧💧

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silence Between the Storms
Deep River, Book 5
By: Nyssa Kathryn
Narrated by: Avery Caris, Sebastian York

Oh Nyssa Kathryn! Every time I listen, I think it just can't be as good as the last book, but WOW, you outdid yourself with book five in the Deep River series. Nora has come to Deep River to be near her brother Ryan. She is living near Polly and works in the school as a counselor. Her calling to help kids was a result of her and Ryan's childhood where he always protected her. Zac, one of the Search and Rescue team members and Ryan's best friend was at the school teaching the kids basic skills for search and rescue, and here he was on the pulse of the danger the school was under. A new drug was infiltrating the school, altering minds and creating psychotic episodes. Nora suspects who was distributing it with students, but with her own issues, she is barely hanging on. Zac has been attracted to her since they met, but his loyalty to Ryan kept him away, and she didn't want to date her brother's friends. But these two had something special, and it was impossible for them to stay away from each other. Would Zac be able to keep her safe? Would the team find the source of the drugs? This is a fabulous romantic suspense. Each scene built on the slow burn, the danger and the need to know who was behind it all. I love this series! The texts, the found family this team has, the couples, and the small town just has me hooked, and with the teaser in the epilogue, now I can't wait for book six!

Avery Caris and Sebastian York are the narrators for this. Their chemistry is evident and shines through as Nora and Zac. The building of suspense, and their ability to create characters I love and others I Iove to hate is incredible. Together they play off each other, work together and create the magic that is a Nyssa Kathryn story. Loved them!

[viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how much Zac was yearning and pining for Nora in the beginning, especially since Nora was the one who was hesitant about everything. I absolutely LOVE it when the guy is the one pining after the girl, and Zac was definitely giving me everything I wanted in that department. The yearning, the tension, the way he clearly wanted her while she was still trying to figure everything out...Chef's kiss!!

I also felt like the suspense in this book was so much more intense compared to the other books in the series, and I am definitely not complaining! There was so much going on, and I felt like the tension just kept building as the story went on. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next.

I also really love how the pieces of the puzzle are slowly starting to come together with each book in the series. We’re getting more answers, but at the same time, there are still so many things left to figure out, which makes me even more excited for the next book. I love when a series actually builds on itself instead of feeling like every book is completely separate.

And I am SO glad that a certain someone... ahem... [redacted] finally got what they deserved. Because throughout every single book, he was SO incompetent at his job!! Like, how did this man still have a job?! 😂 I’m sure every reader will be very happy about what happens to him.

And because of all of this, we also get the next hero introduced into the story, which has me even more excited for the next book! I’m really enjoying how everything is slowly connecting, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.

[shanelle maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝕒 𝕦 𝕕 𝕚 𝕠 𝕣 𝕖 𝕔 & 𝕣 𝕖 𝕧 𝕚 𝕖 𝕨

🌟:4 🌶️:2 🎧:5

Narrated by: Avery Caris & Sebastian York in duet

•–•Some tropes I think you’ll love•–•
▪️ small town, romantic suspense
▪️ brother’s best friend
▪️ he falls first and harder
▪️ damaged fmc
▪️ former navy seal, now SAR

Nyssa just continues to prove to me why she’s a staple on my list for small town romantic suspense romances. She knows how to handle intense, high-stakes emotional scenes and she does it flawlessly every time. This book was raw, gripping, and completely unputdownable. 😍

The beating heart of this book, however, is the brother’s best friend, workplace romance that buds between a gruff former navy seal, Zac, and Nora, who’s a sweet-hearted school counselor.

Nora has a strict rule that her brother’s friends are completely off-limits. But when a dangerous drug ring targets the school where she works, Zac steps in as her ultimate protector—and all those boundaries completely melt away. Nora is dealing with intense trauma and fears bringing danger to those she loves, but Zac is completely unyielding. He’s the ultimate overprotective hero and doesn’t hesitate to step in and take Nora’s safety into his own hands. SWOON. 🤩

The audio is narrated in duet style with Sebastian as Zack and Avery as Nora.
Sebastian’s voice is gravely and perfect for Zac’s personality, and Avery was the perfect counterpart with Nora’s sweeter voice. Avery balanced Nora's easygoing, sweet nature with raw, visceral vulnerability. They sounded really incredible together and I really enjoyed listening to this. Highly recommend this entire series, and especially on audio!! 💖✨

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back in Deep River where the author delivers another riveting story.
Nora Slade, Ryan Slade’s sister, had always been close to her brother, her protector. Growing up with a schizophrenic Mom was not easy.
Wanting to be close to her brother, she’s moved to Deep River and is the new counselor at the local high school.
Zac Pierce, her brother’s former Navy SEAL teammate, and current teammate in the town’s SAR group, is very attracted to Nora. But she is also off limits because of her relationship with Ryan.
But what happens when a dangerous drug infiltrates the high school putting not only the kids at risk but also Nora?
As far as Zac is concerned it’s take charge and keep Nora safe, not only from the drug but also from the danger she’s in when she too is affected by it.
This action packed romance will not only have the listeners/readers on the edge of their seats, but it’s also a story that reminds us that the experiences we have in childhood do in fact after us as adults.
Also, that finding someone that will do anything to protect you and love you, is a true treasure.
Be ready for a bumpy rollercoaster ride in this latest addition. A story that ends with a clue of whose story will be next.
Regardless, whether you read the story or listen to it, you’ll love every minute of it.
The wonderful narrators Avery Caris and Sebastian York , brought the story to life in the audiobook version.
Lastly, if you are new to this author and loved this story as much as this listener/reader, I highly recommend first series that got me hooked, Project Arma as well as the rest of her series.
I was entrusted copies of this story.
The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I wish I could give this story TEN stars! Nyssa Kathryn has outdone herself.

Zac and Nora are wonderful characters. Nora's, and her brother Ryan's, background story is heartbreaking. She's doing the work to overcome it, but childhood trauma has shaped her and continues to affect her. She's also made the decision to not get involved with any of Ryan's teammates from Deep River Search and Rescue. Zac comes from a dedicated, hard-working single mom and is shaped into a caring and protective alpha male who has been half in love with Nora for almost as long as he and Ryan served together in the SEALs.

When the new school year kicks off, Nora (high school counselor) and Zac (adjunct teaching wilderness survival) are faced with angsty, angry teens and a synthetic psychoactive drug with horrifying side effects. As they navigate the murky waters of high school and the drug trade, someone begins to "gaslight" Nora by setting up scenarios from her past. Zac, with the help of his SAR teammates, begins to dig for answers on the drug front as well as Nora's tormentor. Of course, he gets no help from the lazy sheriff.

It's hard to believe this is already the fifth book in the Deep River series. The bad guys are numerous, secrets are revealed (though not all), and the sixth of the eight-man SEAL team, Tate, arrives to join in the action. Drowned by the Tide, Tate's book is next and I can't wait!

[Jess the Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to be back in Deep River with all the Search and Rescue guys!
Nora Slade has come to Deep River to be closer to her brother Ryan who we met in Secrets in the Deep, and start her new role as the high school counsellor. And as hard as she tries not to - starts to fall for her brothers best friend Zac - which becomes a whole thing of binge nights of baking shows, late night baking antics and hugs that melt her anxiety away. And Zac is just perfection and cant help but seek Nora out when he is at the high school to lead an outreach program - and both start to notice there is something troublesome going on with the students at the school. Zac’s protective instincts come out when Nora starts receiving trouble off a certain punk, and it becomes obvious that someone is messing with her.
I love their chemistry and the patience Zac has as Nora works through her fears of becoming like her mother. And her fear is palpable when unexplained things start happening at home and her office - and the outright scary moments when she is drugged and starts to hear her mother’s voice. And that ending…..that ending had me jumping up and down! Totally didn’t expect that ending but man oh man was I celebrating!
I love how Nyssa always manages to weave enough suspense and drama into her books that hook you from the start and keep you going back for more. I cant wait for Tate’s story next because that sounds like it’s gonna be explosive!

[Bec McQuillan · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Silence Between the Storms takes readers back to Deep River for Nora Slade's story, and it didn't take long for me to become invested in her new beginning.

Nora moves to town to be closer to her brother, Ryan, and takes a position as a school counsellor at River High School. Romance isn't supposed to be part of the plan, particularly not with one of Ryan's friends, but Zac Piece soon becomes difficult to ignore. When disturbing events start occurring around Nora, Zac's determination to protect and support her brings the pair even closer.

The romance and suspense worked well together and kept the story moving, while Nora's profession introduced a more serious element. Through her experiences at the school, the novel touches on difficult subjects involving children, neglect, violence, and the damaging influence adults can have on young people. These heavier themes gave the story more emotional depth than I was expecting.

I also enjoyed seeing the wider Deep River world continue to develop. The connections between characters make the series enjoyable to return to, and the hints about future characters left me eager for the next instalment.

Overall, this was another strong addition to the series. It was engaging, emotional, suspenseful, and difficult to put down. Recommended for readers who enjoy romantic suspense with strong character relationships and continuing series connections.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic suspense, brother’s best friend goodness!

After every book in this series, I claim it’s my favorite. Zac and Nora’s story is not different. Their story hooked me from the beginning, and I enjoyed every bit of their journey.

Nora has moved to town to be near her brother and is a school social worker. Zac is her brother’s SAR teammate and volunteering at the school. They see each other multiple times a week and share a concern about the students and rumors of a dangerous new drug circulating. Zac is smitten with Nora, but she has always had the rule she would not date one of her brother’s friends. Rules are made to be broken with a little inspiration from the town psychic.

Duet narration by Sebastian York and Avery Caris. These two delivered bigtime! Sebastian’s voice has the growl needed for the protective Zac. But he also balanced that side with Zac’s tenderness and his attentive nature to Nora’s needs. Avery has a sweetness to her tone perfect for Nora. You felt Nora’s struggle with anxiety, her personal demons, and her fierceness and determination to help the students.

Once again, we are taken for a nonstop, emotional, suspenseful ride in Deep River. There’s a lot packed into this story with a few questions left unanswered, but not in an unsatisfying way. There are clues to what’s next. With this story, if this is anything like her last series, Nyssa has set us up for an epic conclusion and I can’t wait.

[Robyn Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
Nora Slade moved to Deep River to be close to her brother, but what she didn’t figure was that Zac Pierce would be such a temptation. Both fought the attraction until Zac’s protective nature took over as danger lurked around Nora.

As children Nora and her brother Ryan lived a very traumatic life with their mother. Understandably, this has had a significant impact on her adult life. Nora has dedicated her life to trying to help young adults/teenagers in need.

What stands out in every book by this author is the way she writes such incredible descriptions without them being over-the-top. The story flows smoothly and when reading it you feel like you are there in the book with the characters. Becoming one with the story is probably the highest form of praise I could give a writer, and it is definitely deserved.

The suspense element is multi-layered and exciting; I suspected quite a few characters were responsible for each mystery, making it very entertaining. However, for the first time, I did accurately predict who the main culprit was reasonably early in the book. The slow-burn romance wasn’t too slow although I did want to tell them to get over themselves and look into their hearts. 😀

Great ending leading into Tate’s story and now I have to patiently wait for the

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silence Between the Storms is Book 5 in this delicious romantic mystery series by Nyssa Kathryn. We met Nora in the previous book as the sister of that MMC. Her relationship with her brother is so lovely. Nora has feelings for her brother’s friend and SAR teammate, Zac, so the best friend’s little sister’s trope is strong! If you’ve been following this series (and if you haven’t, you should be!), this book brings justice for some of the most hated characters from previous books and it’s so rewarding! I will say that as a mother to a son the same age as one of the baddies, it was shocking to me how much I disliked the little brat! Ms. Kathryn does such a tremendous job of crafting an intelligent mystery while melting your heart with a sweet love story. I enjoyed the audio production of this book performed in duet by Avery Caris and Sebastian York. I said this about the female narrator in book 4, but once again, Ms. Kathryn’s writing brings out Ms. Caris’ best performance to date. Her portrayal of Nora’s worries about her mental health and her lively personality is top notch. And SebYo…he’s one of the best male narrators for a reason. His portrayal of all the different male characters and Zac’s dedication to Nora from the word go is a master class in acting. Overall, a 5-star read and performances and 2.5 spicy peppers.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has less to do with the team’s search and rescue mission than high school drug traffic. The story also dives into the impact of parents’ mental illness to their children. Zac has always been interested on Nora, the little sister of his teammate and best friend Ryan. Ryan is always clear headed. Nora is somewhat influenced by their schizophrenic mother. She thinks she will turn out like her mother. She is attracted to Zac, but she keeps a distance because of her assumption of her mental status like her mother. Now they are all in the same small town. She is the high school consoler. Zac is doing student training in school. Strange things happen on campus. Students are acting weird and show unusual rage. Someone is messing with Nora in her office and at home. Nora is drugged, and then Zac. It is clear that the drug is distributed among students. But the investigation is still needed to find out who is distributing and what the source is. The plot is intense with a surprise. Once Nora clears her mental lock, she is the driver to bring closure to the case and the town’s long-time issue with their law enforcement. This story ushers in a new team member for the next story. I can’t wait to read it.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zac has been harbouring feelings for Nora for a long time but she’s is best friend’s younger sister and she has said, she doesn’t date Ryan’s friends. That doesn’t stop Zac from being there for her, watching a baking show, coming to her rescue where a spider is concerned and just being there for her, no matter what. Nora has her own issues, her upbringing and mom’s episodes has Nora not trusting herself, she does the therapy, takes her meds but is afraid that one day she will be like her. Zac sees through all that, and his steady presence has her lowering her walls to let him in. But the town is hiding a secret and it involves drugs at the school Nora is a counsellor at, it’s a deadly drug and kids are being affected and Nora lands in the crosshairs of the dealers and supplier…luckily she has Zac by her side but will it be enough.
Another great read from this author that me devouring this book from the first page to the last. I loved the little to no drama between the two, how patient and understanding Zac was and not giving up. Nora had her issues that needed to be worked through, she was independent, smart, funny and once she was able to confront her fears, she was all in. Suspense, steam, danger, twists and turns and great characters…can’t wait for the next one!!

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

We are back for book five in the Deep River series, and each book is getting better! Zac and Nora give us a story that could be the real thing in anywhere.

Nora has come to deep River to be near her brother Ryan. He is a member of Deep River’s Search and Rescue. He and other former military make up this team. Nora and Ryan have a heartbreaking past. Both have done the work, and while the trauma of their childhood occasionally rears it’s ugly head, both are working and thriving. She is now a counselor at the local High School.

As trouble has found it’s way into Deep River again. Nora and Zac are working together to get to the source of the problem. Then Nora’s past begins to return and All of the SAR teammates get involved. Zac makes it his priority to keep Nora safe.
This story is action packed and a roller coaster ride. We get some answers, but more questions have come up. We are teased with what is to come.

If you are a fan of romantic suspense, take a look at any of Nyssa Kathryn’s series. She is one of those authors I wish more people knew about.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review

[BecReadReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silence Between the Storms closes in on Nora and Zac. Both are characters we adore, and when the sparks fly between them and they both fight it? Come on already!!! I know I so badly wanted this couple to work.

Their sweet interactions and the way Zac shows up for Nora are just swoony. My heart broke for Nora and her turmoil over how she could be broken, which explains her hesitation with Zac. Ryan was definitely winning points in the best-friend and brother role.

When the danger starts messing with Nora and Zac, it had me anxious for them to get to the truth. When Zac got caught in its trap, it was a hairy moment. I loved how Nora and his bond with Ryan pulled him through.

Tate is a definite welcome addition to the mix, and what a rescue he executed to save Nora just when you think it’s all over. Once again, team camaraderie, banter, and love hold strong, and watch out for more excitement to come with Tate!

Ex-Military, romance, suspense, small town, gossips, lots of excitement and unsloved murder awaits for you with this series.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Nora’s and Zac’s story. We met Nora in Ryan’s story as she is his sister. We knew they had a dysfunctional childhood, but we got more details in her story. Nora turned her horrible upbringing into a positive light by becoming school counselor and helping children. She and Ryan didn’t get help when they were younger, and she wanted to be sure that she could help those in similar situations that she and her brother were in. Zac has known Nora for years and has secretly pinned for her but didn’t think Ryan would approve (you know best friend and all of that). Her job, and Zac’s volunteer work at the school put them in the crosshairs of a drug ring that causes a psychotic state for the user. There was so much intrigue and mystery that I devoured this book in just a few hours. I also love the underlying theme of family, what you make of it, and friendships. I loved Nora’s devotion to the children, I’m happy the town finally gets a reprieve from corruption, and I’m loving the direction the tease for the next book is going. I’m looking forward to the fireworks that are to come.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one. Nora and Zac were so much fun. Not only that but the danger was extremely crazy this go round. Deep River has a drug problem and you can guess that Ward is no freaking help. None. Like always. Nora and Zac are right in the middle of it all and they are perfect.

This is your best friend's sister romance that is perfection. I love the relationship that Ryan and Nora have. He is the overprotective brother and her rock. He has taken care of her for all her life and he continues that role as an adult. Ryan and Zac are close like brothers and I think that it helps with things.

This story really has some oh no moments and will keep readers turning the pages. It is engaging and intriguing. The book flows naturally and keeps readers invested. I love the whole series and the way this one ends gives us a glimpse of how the next one will be and it will be a doozy. Overall this book was wonderful and highly interesting. I can't wait for the next one since Tate is now with his brothers in arms.