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South Shores #2
Drowning Tides
Danger is never far off
When forensic psychologist Claire Britten started working with lawyer Nick Markwood on his South Shores project, she had no idea it would endanger her life - and the life of her daughter. But when the little girl goes missing from her South Florida home and Nick insists his longtime nemesis is to blame, Claire frantically follows the trail to the Cayman Islands, desperate to save her daughter before it's too late.
Nick always knew the man who staged his father's "suicide" was out to get him, but kidnapping the child of someone he cares about is despicable. Finding the billionaire criminal is one thing - meeting his demands in order to save Claire's daughter is quite another. What he wants threatens their professional and personal interests beyond imagination - but what choice do they have when a child's life is on the line?"
When forensic psychologist Claire Britten started working with lawyer Nick Markwood on his South Shores project, she had no idea it would endanger her life - and the life of her daughter. But when the little girl goes missing from her South Florida home and Nick insists his longtime nemesis is to blame, Claire frantically follows the trail to the Cayman Islands, desperate to save her daughter before it's too late.
Nick always knew the man who staged his father's "suicide" was out to get him, but kidnapping the child of someone he cares about is despicable. Finding the billionaire criminal is one thing - meeting his demands in order to save Claire's daughter is quite another. What he wants threatens their professional and personal interests beyond imagination - but what choice do they have when a child's life is on the line?"
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 31, 2017
443 people are currently reading
1333 people want to read
About the author
Karen Harper
78 books1,499 followersA New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY. Please visit her website at www.KarenHarperAuthor and her fb page at www.facebook.com/KarenHarperAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 10, 2017
Claire's 4 year old daughter has been kidnapped and she and her boss Nick Markham are on the way to the Grand Caymans to rescue her. They know who kidnapped her. This book is the 2nd in a 3 book series. It had me interested right up u til the ending. Nothing aggravates me more than reading a book where the main story line is unresolved and you are left completely hanging off a cliff. In order to find out how it ends you have to buy book 3. Not happening. The ending is my reason for the 1 star review. If an author leaves a thread in the story line for a future book I have no problem with that. I have major issues with an author leaving the main plot totally unresolved and forcing the reader to buy another book if they want to find out the resolution of the story. I will not be buying the next book in the series. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
November 24, 2020
Very exciting.... second in a series. On to number 3
November 2, 2018
Gah! Book 1 ended in cliffhanger and now this one too... grr.
January 3, 2018
If you read the first book in this series Chasing Shadows [South Shores], you are aware that the story ended in a cliffhanger, and this book picks up exactly where the other left off.
Lexi has been kidnapped by the man whom Nick believes killed his late father, and now he is going after the new people in his life, and he and Claire are headed to the Cayman Islands. You will never see what is about to happen and then continue throughout the book, you are about to be blindsided more than once.
A book that is full of action and unfortunately murders, but whom is responsible, and you are really going to be surprised as the events unfold and then again something just as unusual will happen. Don’t get to comfortable and think you know the answers here, you don’t, at least I didn’t, and this happens right up to the last page, and now you are going to need to read book three, I need to find the answers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher MIRA and was not required to give a positive review.
Lexi has been kidnapped by the man whom Nick believes killed his late father, and now he is going after the new people in his life, and he and Claire are headed to the Cayman Islands. You will never see what is about to happen and then continue throughout the book, you are about to be blindsided more than once.
A book that is full of action and unfortunately murders, but whom is responsible, and you are really going to be surprised as the events unfold and then again something just as unusual will happen. Don’t get to comfortable and think you know the answers here, you don’t, at least I didn’t, and this happens right up to the last page, and now you are going to need to read book three, I need to find the answers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher MIRA and was not required to give a positive review.
dnf
March 29, 2017I just...I can't. The whole wedding story line is so icky and over the top unbelievable as is the villain. I don't really care about any of the characters. I picked this up because the previous book ended in a cliff hanger with a child in danger. Well, I've read far enough to see that she's okay so I'm done. I'm going to DNF this.
April 27, 2018
I really love this series.
This is the second novel of the series, so I would read the first one before reading this one. This book will have you guessing and trying to figure out what's going to happen next. I love the danger, suspense and twist in this novel.
This is the second novel of the series, so I would read the first one before reading this one. This book will have you guessing and trying to figure out what's going to happen next. I love the danger, suspense and twist in this novel.
April 20, 2018
Rated 4.8 Stars
September 6, 2020
This is book two in this series. Claire is beyond consoling after her young daughter has been kidnapped to get Nick to follow Ames orders. What voice do they have. ? Lexi has to be reunited with her mom, and his new hire of three weeks. Plus her father Jace is the type to go barging in, and ask the questions later. He had caused Nick some headaches on his last case. This book is about them all being controlled to keep Claire and Lexi safe, and living with Nick. The deal to get Lexi back included some strange jumping through hoops, and even a marriage. Jace gets caught snooping and he either agrees to help the criminal or faces death. The book has Nick, Lexi, and Claire living on a taught from a past client. Everything seems bugged, and they have people following them at every place they go. Claire is sure that the murder that had taken place aboard the lot , and the murder of the editor of the local newspaper is connected. The staff sets out about finding the truth. The master mind has stated how Nick is to just muddy the waters and glorify the well that Nick’s family has owned for years. Nick sees that Ames will not need them any longer if the murders are solved, yet he can’t let his friend go to prison unjustly charged. Claire just gf appears to fall into the clue, yet not knowing the murderer, until it is to late to get help. So it ends partly because now the FBI is putting Nick, and the rest of them someplace safe until Ames is caught, but nothing ends as it should and another cliffhanger emerges. Luckily when I check out this book, the next one was there, so I grabbed it also. The writing is well done but I don’t like books a mystery that doesn’t completely end, so I took off a point. There is not any graphic sexual content, or vulgar language, but sex does take place. 4 stars.
September 14, 2019
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
A shotgun wedding of modern proportions! At the end of the first book in the South Shore series by Karen Harper, Lexi was kidnapped. Boy was the ransom price high!
Although Claire’s daughter was kidnapped, it is lawyer Nick who was the target. The focus? Claire and Nick met previously when they testified against one another. Claire as a forensic psychologist and Nick as a high-powered attorney. After that case, Nick Markwood hired Claire Britton privately in a case that was possibly a murder.
The pair worked feverishly then to free a woman of the charge. All the while, they became increasingly close, although never crossing the line. However, Nick has a powerful enemy who devised an incredible scheme. By kidnapping Claire’s daughter, with Nick and Claire marrying as the ransom, Clayton Ames - the man that Nick is certain killed his father control Nick for life. Nick was trapped. Her could never, ever allow anything to happen to Claire or four-year-old Lexi.
They begin married life amidst all sort of trepidation, struggling to stay alive and to also find time to explore their connection.
Meanwhile, Claire’s ex-husband Jace just will not let go. He wants his daughter, of course, as Claire, Nick and Lexi have fled. What’s more is he wants Claire back.
What will happen? Will Nick and Claire find real love and solidify their marriage? Well, just as book one, Casing Shadows, ended in a cliffhanger, this one does the same. So, on to book 3, Falling Darkness.
A shotgun wedding of modern proportions! At the end of the first book in the South Shore series by Karen Harper, Lexi was kidnapped. Boy was the ransom price high!
Although Claire’s daughter was kidnapped, it is lawyer Nick who was the target. The focus? Claire and Nick met previously when they testified against one another. Claire as a forensic psychologist and Nick as a high-powered attorney. After that case, Nick Markwood hired Claire Britton privately in a case that was possibly a murder.
The pair worked feverishly then to free a woman of the charge. All the while, they became increasingly close, although never crossing the line. However, Nick has a powerful enemy who devised an incredible scheme. By kidnapping Claire’s daughter, with Nick and Claire marrying as the ransom, Clayton Ames - the man that Nick is certain killed his father control Nick for life. Nick was trapped. Her could never, ever allow anything to happen to Claire or four-year-old Lexi.
They begin married life amidst all sort of trepidation, struggling to stay alive and to also find time to explore their connection.
Meanwhile, Claire’s ex-husband Jace just will not let go. He wants his daughter, of course, as Claire, Nick and Lexi have fled. What’s more is he wants Claire back.
What will happen? Will Nick and Claire find real love and solidify their marriage? Well, just as book one, Casing Shadows, ended in a cliffhanger, this one does the same. So, on to book 3, Falling Darkness.
September 20, 2019
This book picks up where book one ends, so I highly recommend reading them in order. While I enjoy the suspense and the characters, I wouldn't say that I love this series or anything. They are nice reads for an afternoon or evening though.
May 24, 2024
Loved it !
2nd book in series and it was good .
Onward to book #3
2nd book in series and it was good .
Onward to book #3
July 25, 2022
I didn’t realize this was the 2nd book in a series so maybe that explains why I couldn’t get into it.
May 25, 2017
Can't say enough good things about this series!!
May 10, 2017
--- A lot of danger, suspense and twists in this novel. Too much angst for my taste and I certainly do not like the ending with no resolution pro or con to the problem(s) with which Nick and Clair started.---
February 11, 2017
Drowning Tides is by Karen Harper. It is book two in the South Shores novel series. It is a haunting suspense.
Claire Britton is a forensic psychologist who works for Nick Markwood, an attorney. She is raising her daughter while her ex-husband spends his time piloting airplanes on long trips. He sees Lexi whenever possible and does make every attempt to be a good Daddy. Claire has mixed feelings for her ex-husband, Jace but has also developed feelings for Nick. She and Nick are moving their relationship very slowly, especially for Lexi’s sake. Then, Lexi is kidnapped. The kidnapped is known to Nick as “Uncle Clay”. Nick is convinced Clayton Ames was involved in the death of his father but hasn’t been able to prove it over these many years. Clayton has sent a ransom note to Nick and Claire. They must come to the Cayman Islands where Lexi is being held. There, Nick will exchange himself for Lexi. Clayton even set up their plane tickets and their hotel in the Islands. Of course, they were not to tell anyone about these plans. Claire hates the secrecy but heads to the Islands with Nick. Nick never hesitates to take Claire to get Lexi nor to face Clayton to see what he wants. All he is interested in is Lexi and Claire’s safety.
Jace discovers they are going to the Cayman Islands after Lexi and follows them on his own. He intends to get there before they arrive and follow them to where Lexi is being held. Somehow, he will then get Lexi and free her and take her and Claire back to the United States.
Thus begins the story of the involvement of Claire, Nick, Jace, and Clayton Ames. The FBI is trying to find Clayton as well. Will Nick or Jace give in and tell the FBI where they can find Clayton or is his power too much for them? What does the old murder of a lady aboard a yacht have to do with the murder of a newspaper journalist? Add in the Fountain of Youth and you really have an exciting suspense. It is very difficult to put down and is very good to read.
Claire Britton is a forensic psychologist who works for Nick Markwood, an attorney. She is raising her daughter while her ex-husband spends his time piloting airplanes on long trips. He sees Lexi whenever possible and does make every attempt to be a good Daddy. Claire has mixed feelings for her ex-husband, Jace but has also developed feelings for Nick. She and Nick are moving their relationship very slowly, especially for Lexi’s sake. Then, Lexi is kidnapped. The kidnapped is known to Nick as “Uncle Clay”. Nick is convinced Clayton Ames was involved in the death of his father but hasn’t been able to prove it over these many years. Clayton has sent a ransom note to Nick and Claire. They must come to the Cayman Islands where Lexi is being held. There, Nick will exchange himself for Lexi. Clayton even set up their plane tickets and their hotel in the Islands. Of course, they were not to tell anyone about these plans. Claire hates the secrecy but heads to the Islands with Nick. Nick never hesitates to take Claire to get Lexi nor to face Clayton to see what he wants. All he is interested in is Lexi and Claire’s safety.
Jace discovers they are going to the Cayman Islands after Lexi and follows them on his own. He intends to get there before they arrive and follow them to where Lexi is being held. Somehow, he will then get Lexi and free her and take her and Claire back to the United States.
Thus begins the story of the involvement of Claire, Nick, Jace, and Clayton Ames. The FBI is trying to find Clayton as well. Will Nick or Jace give in and tell the FBI where they can find Clayton or is his power too much for them? What does the old murder of a lady aboard a yacht have to do with the murder of a newspaper journalist? Add in the Fountain of Youth and you really have an exciting suspense. It is very difficult to put down and is very good to read.
February 16, 2017
This continues the story of Claire Britten and Nick Markwood as they try to find Claire's kidnapped daughter,Lexi. The story moves from South Florida to Grand Cayman and back to South Florida as Claire and Nick are forced to marry in order to protect themselves and Lexi. It seems as if a new danger is presented in every chapter as the story continues to unfold right up to the last page. The book was a quick easy read.
July 11, 2017
Enjoyed
Enjoyed this book. A little slow at times. This book should be offered as a set, didn't realize the three books are better read together and the mystery doesn't resolve in the first two.
Enjoyed this book. A little slow at times. This book should be offered as a set, didn't realize the three books are better read together and the mystery doesn't resolve in the first two.
February 6, 2017
A special thank you to Mira and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review to follow.
March 18, 2017
This is a great mystery with wonderful characters. It kept me up all night reading, wanting to get to the end, and not wanting it to end. Now I can't wait for the next book in the series.
February 11, 2018
I liked this installment of the South Shores series even better than the first. It's a little fantastical, but that makes it interesting. As I'm coming to expect from Harper, this murder mystery has many possible suspects and she never lets on as to "whodunnit" until the end. At times, the many characters and their backstories make things confusing, and even when the murderer was revealed, I had to stop and think back about who he/she was and what his/her motive/opportunity was to commit the crime. Even so, I enjoyed the suspense and the relationship. Again, I'm pleasantly surprised that while this book is marketed as "Romance," the love scenes are fairly tame - nothing like the bodice rippers most of the romance market employs. I also like how she blends this book right into the next one. I already have it on order from the library and hope it comes fast!
May 26, 2017
Reading this was a painful experience. For all intents and purposes, this is just a buffer book that does nothing to serve the characters (other than to present a total fantasy version of love, marriage, blended families, the law, etc., work) or a story. Seriously, the mystery at hand resolves itself because it is near the end of the book and Harper needed something to happen.
Then there is the entire issue of upper-lower airports and that almost no one lives on the island in the winter. Or several other problems that sprung up all over the course of the effort.
All Harper did was convince me not to read the third part of this series.
Then there is the entire issue of upper-lower airports and that almost no one lives on the island in the winter. Or several other problems that sprung up all over the course of the effort.
All Harper did was convince me not to read the third part of this series.
August 28, 2017
Bah humbug! Another cliff hanger. This book was better than the first one, maybe because I know the main characters better : Nick a lawyer, forensic psychologist Claire, her daughter Lexi, and ex-husband Jace. They are all drawn into trying to solve a murder in Goodland FL. And just as in the first book, as soon as they know what happened, they are put in danger as the result of a larger background story.
I like back stories, but I don't like using them to make you read the next book. If the story telling is good enough, the reader should WANT to continue reading books by that author - not be forced to!!
I like back stories, but I don't like using them to make you read the next book. If the story telling is good enough, the reader should WANT to continue reading books by that author - not be forced to!!
May 26, 2019
I am not reading any more of this series. The premise is that a bad man is trying to control lawyer, Nick Markwood who is in love with Claire and her daughter. This should be one book. Nick and Claire were forced to marry in order to get Lexie, her daughter back from the kidnapper, a wealthy psychopath who Nick is sure killed his father. Nick gets Claire's ex husband to help him keep Claire safe, but the ex is being blackmailed too. The book seems ridiculous, I am not reading further.
Also, I believe that any author that ends a book with a cliff hanger doesn't have faith in their writing skills that a reader would read their next book.
Also, I believe that any author that ends a book with a cliff hanger doesn't have faith in their writing skills that a reader would read their next book.
November 11, 2020
This is the 2nd book in what is actually a trilogy to start this series. There are 2 storylines going on, a murder mystery that is wrapped up in this book and a dark situation that spans the first 3 books of the series. I feel like I know these people, and they are portrayed with flaws, which is nice. It will be interesting to see how the romance progresses over the future series as I believe the pressure and intensity of their situation has blinded them somewhat to what their actual relationship might look like under normal circumstances.
April 8, 2023
I did not realize this was book 2 in a series. You should read book 1. While I liked Claire and her daughter Lexie and Nick, I felt Claire was too "helpless" (except at the end). She was always crying! I also did not like that you have to read book 3. This book did not have an ending!! However, if you like Cozy mysteries, which this seemed like one, you will probably like it. I was impressed with her accurate knowledge of Naples, Marco Island and Goodland, Florida. It was obvious she had lived there. I will be reading book 3 as I have to know how the story ends.
November 13, 2024
This book just did not do it for me. The way this story was written, I barely felt suspense and felt the book added in too much unnecessary backstory that led me to getting lost in whatever suspense may have been hiding underneath the surface.
There seemed to be too many characters at times which also made me more confused than I wanted to be. I tried to give this book a full read through but had to quit a little over halfway through. It has been awhile since I have a had a DNF but this book was just not my cup of tea.
There seemed to be too many characters at times which also made me more confused than I wanted to be. I tried to give this book a full read through but had to quit a little over halfway through. It has been awhile since I have a had a DNF but this book was just not my cup of tea.
July 16, 2025
Claire is forced to marry Nick and now their lives are in danger when our little girl goes missing and Nick insists his longtime nemesis
He’s been trying to clear and find his father’s killer. They all said it was suicide, but he knows that the person that kidnapped Claire’s daughter is the one that killed his father.
Now the criminal forced them to get married to get what he wants and have them under control story goes back-and-forth on this one and then it finishes at the end hanging and now I gotta read the next book in the series to find out what happened
He’s been trying to clear and find his father’s killer. They all said it was suicide, but he knows that the person that kidnapped Claire’s daughter is the one that killed his father.
Now the criminal forced them to get married to get what he wants and have them under control story goes back-and-forth on this one and then it finishes at the end hanging and now I gotta read the next book in the series to find out what happened
June 13, 2017
Unless you are a hormonal teenager, don't bother with this overwrought, juvenile mess. Everyone is unrealistically glamorous and supremely intelligent, yet worried about which other so-called adult his/her inamorata likes best. BLECH! I skimmed, hoping to find a page that did NOT include a reference to some outlandish activity (oh, don't get me started on her wedding Manolos...), and put the book in my car 15 minutes after opening it --- it's going back to the library today.
September 4, 2017
I have not read book 1 and probably won't read book 3, just because I hate and despise a book that ends the way this one did -- SUCH a total plea to read the next one. Disgusting. Would have thought most authors would know better. Also, the story was totally predictable and also totally foolish, starting with the "wedding" and ending with -- well, never mind. In this case I don't think a spoiler would matter, but some may disagree.
April 2, 2019
I was so disappointed with the ending of the first book in this series "Chasing Shadows" because of the ending which left Nick and Claire racing to Grand Cayman Island to rescue Claire's 4-year old daughter who had been kidnapped. Finding that our local library had the next 2 books, I decided to give them a try.
The plot is so tense, full of action, angst, unbelievable feats and with another cliff-hanger ending but this time I had the next book at the ready.
The plot is so tense, full of action, angst, unbelievable feats and with another cliff-hanger ending but this time I had the next book at the ready.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews