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An Intimate Deception
Flynn County Sheriff Elle Ashley has spent her adult life atoning for her wild youth, but when she finds her ex, Jessie, murdered two weeks before the small town’s biggest social event, she comes face-to-face with her past and all her well-kept secrets.
Not only is this Elle’s first murder investigation, it’s the town’s first in over fifty years. She must find a killer before there are any more casualties and keep her troubled little brother off the suspect list, all under the watchful eyes of a Chicago reporter.
Investigative reporter Robin Oakes isn’t a small-town kind of girl, and she’s determined to get in and out of Turlough as fast as possible. One look at Sheriff Ashley has her rethinking her plans. As pressure mounts to solve Jessie’s murder, Elle gets help from the most unlikely source—Robin, who appears to be more interested in her than getting the story.
Not only is this Elle’s first murder investigation, it’s the town’s first in over fifty years. She must find a killer before there are any more casualties and keep her troubled little brother off the suspect list, all under the watchful eyes of a Chicago reporter.
Investigative reporter Robin Oakes isn’t a small-town kind of girl, and she’s determined to get in and out of Turlough as fast as possible. One look at Sheriff Ashley has her rethinking her plans. As pressure mounts to solve Jessie’s murder, Elle gets help from the most unlikely source—Robin, who appears to be more interested in her than getting the story.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
8 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Birch
9 books40 followersCJ Birch is an author, photographer and digital artist based in Toronto. When not writing or devouring books, CJ works as a video editor for television.
Librarian note: Multiple authors with the same name in the GR database.
Librarian note: Multiple authors with the same name in the GR database.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 11, 2019
2.75 Stars. As most of you know I’m always up for a good mystery and I love a woman in uniform, but this was rough. I didn’t hate this book, but unfortunately the bad points outweighed the good. Reading this book felt like a long slog and I swear it took me twice as long as normal to get though.
One of my favorite parts about mysteries is trying to figure out who the killer is before the main characters do. My biggest problem with this book is the author gives out an obvious clue to who the killer is right away. I’ll point out the obvious clue behind a spoiler for people who have already read the book. I just don’t understand why the author or even the editor was okay with this. Otherwise, I’m not even 100% sure I would have guessed who the “bad guy/girl” was. It just ruined the overall experience for me.
My next biggest issue was the characters. Ouch they were some unlikeable characters. Not just the mains but the whole town. Did I like anyone? I don’t think so. My biggest problem was with the Sherriff. I was all excited to read about a kickass woman in charge, instead she just let everyone walk all over her, everyone including teenagers. It was so hard to read about. While the character of the reporter seemed slightly interesting, her POV was so short, I had no time to connect to her.
That was another thing the POV danced to multiple characters which included teenagers and other secondary characters that felt so mundane that I had to force myself not to skim. Instead of building a really strong story between the two mains, the story was spread thin over many characters stopping any from shining.
I always mention if there is a romance in the books I review. In this case I’m saying no. There was the possibility of something maybe, but I cannot put this in the romance category.
While the end of the book had a tad bit more excitement that bumped my rating up a hair, this book was not for me. It was odd too because I don’t really have issues with how Birch writes. Her actual words flow fine. The problem I have is all her story choices. I just can’t connect to them. I normally give authors two even three chances. This is the third book by Birch I have had issues with. Birch writes in the categories of the kinds of books I want to read, but they just don’t work for me. I’m sad to say but she just might not be an author for me.
One of my favorite parts about mysteries is trying to figure out who the killer is before the main characters do. My biggest problem with this book is the author gives out an obvious clue to who the killer is right away. I’ll point out the obvious clue behind a spoiler for people who have already read the book. I just don’t understand why the author or even the editor was okay with this. Otherwise, I’m not even 100% sure I would have guessed who the “bad guy/girl” was. It just ruined the overall experience for me.
My next biggest issue was the characters. Ouch they were some unlikeable characters. Not just the mains but the whole town. Did I like anyone? I don’t think so. My biggest problem was with the Sherriff. I was all excited to read about a kickass woman in charge, instead she just let everyone walk all over her, everyone including teenagers. It was so hard to read about. While the character of the reporter seemed slightly interesting, her POV was so short, I had no time to connect to her.
That was another thing the POV danced to multiple characters which included teenagers and other secondary characters that felt so mundane that I had to force myself not to skim. Instead of building a really strong story between the two mains, the story was spread thin over many characters stopping any from shining.
I always mention if there is a romance in the books I review. In this case I’m saying no. There was the possibility of something maybe, but I cannot put this in the romance category.
While the end of the book had a tad bit more excitement that bumped my rating up a hair, this book was not for me. It was odd too because I don’t really have issues with how Birch writes. Her actual words flow fine. The problem I have is all her story choices. I just can’t connect to them. I normally give authors two even three chances. This is the third book by Birch I have had issues with. Birch writes in the categories of the kinds of books I want to read, but they just don’t work for me. I’m sad to say but she just might not be an author for me.
May 11, 2019
First off, I wouldn’t categorise this as a romance. It’s definitely lesfic and a murder/mystery, but I think I would have had different expectations if I had realised this beforehand. Elle Ashley is a small town sheriff who has mostly teen mischief and neighbours’ feuds to sort out. The town, on the whole, is misogynistic and bigoted. Elle is a loner and dedicated to her job. Her younger brother, EJ, is all too often part of the teen mischief. When journalist, Robin Oakes, comes to town the ineffectual mayor tells Elle that she’s writing about their local annual festival. It’s not long before Elle discovers that that is not quite true. Then Elle finds a body.
This story is essentially about Elle; her secrets, her past and having to deal with her first murder investigation. There isn’t enough interaction with Robin for her to be more than a vague attraction. I found Elle’s story interesting but also really sad. Her fears of being herself are valid considering the town she lives in.
The pace was a little slow at times but it felt realistic in light of things like the wait for forensic results. With no lab in the town evidence it sent to a state lab where they’ll be lucky if they get results in three weeks but it’s more likely to be two months. This is not the fast-paced, super slick investigative drama that we’ve become accustomed to thanks to the relevant TV shows. This is much more like ‘Fargo’.
I enjoyed the mystery and much as I disliked most of the townspeople, I liked the way they were characterised. Elle’s background reveal could have started a little earlier which would have kept the pace up a bit more.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
This story is essentially about Elle; her secrets, her past and having to deal with her first murder investigation. There isn’t enough interaction with Robin for her to be more than a vague attraction. I found Elle’s story interesting but also really sad. Her fears of being herself are valid considering the town she lives in.
The pace was a little slow at times but it felt realistic in light of things like the wait for forensic results. With no lab in the town evidence it sent to a state lab where they’ll be lucky if they get results in three weeks but it’s more likely to be two months. This is not the fast-paced, super slick investigative drama that we’ve become accustomed to thanks to the relevant TV shows. This is much more like ‘Fargo’.
I enjoyed the mystery and much as I disliked most of the townspeople, I liked the way they were characterised. Elle’s background reveal could have started a little earlier which would have kept the pace up a bit more.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
February 4, 2021
This has been one of the most difficult books to plod through. Everything about it is banal and boring, including and especially, MC Elle Ashley. The other MC Robin Oakes is more engaging and interesting but there is hardly anything of her in the book. The best things in the book are the cover and the title.
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
April 13, 2024
3 stars
Well, this was interesting. Not sure if good. Kinda unexpected. Some parts at least. Won't spoil it for you. But I'm thankful that no one I know irl has such a fascination with human organs (or at least hasn't acted on it).
But I'm very glad Elle fell for the better woman in the end, because I was ready to pull my hair out in frustration during the first half.
Well, this was interesting. Not sure if good. Kinda unexpected. Some parts at least. Won't spoil it for you. But I'm thankful that no one I know irl has such a fascination with human organs (or at least hasn't acted on it).
But I'm very glad Elle fell for the better woman in the end, because I was ready to pull my hair out in frustration during the first half.
May 9, 2019
It was a disappointment. I've been waiting to read it because the blurb looked promising and now I'm heartbroken.
My biggest problem was the MC Elle Ashley. She is a sheriff so I thought she is going to be some badass and amazing and I love woman in uniform. But instead she is a spineless officer who can easily manipulated by others, even by a teenager who she knows is a little shit. There wasn't any character worth liking. I hated every characters,as I said Elle is weak, then there is her eighteen year old brother EJ. He is troubled and a big stupid too.
The plot is the investigation of murder of Elle's ex Jessie. Its Elle's first murder case so flaws are expected from the character but here she acts like she is not investigating at all because she herself withhold informations. Then there are some flashbacks which got me confused because of the way its written. And at the time the killer is revealed I was far from caring.
Overall its 1.5⭐.
My biggest problem was the MC Elle Ashley. She is a sheriff so I thought she is going to be some badass and amazing and I love woman in uniform. But instead she is a spineless officer who can easily manipulated by others, even by a teenager who she knows is a little shit. There wasn't any character worth liking. I hated every characters,as I said Elle is weak, then there is her eighteen year old brother EJ. He is troubled and a big stupid too.
The plot is the investigation of murder of Elle's ex Jessie. Its Elle's first murder case so flaws are expected from the character but here she acts like she is not investigating at all because she herself withhold informations. Then there are some flashbacks which got me confused because of the way its written. And at the time the killer is revealed I was far from caring.
Overall its 1.5⭐.
June 26, 2019
This book suffered from too many points of view. Specifically the lead characters' brother. His passages seemed kind of inconsequential. The mystery itself is not bad. The chemistry between the leads is complicated and doesn't get explored enough to really consider this a love story. Overall it was not bad. I'd be interested in reading Ms. Birch's next endeavor.
Netgalley ARC provided for an honest review.
Netgalley ARC provided for an honest review.
May 20, 2019
Sheriff Elle Ashley is investigating her first murder case, and the first case her small town has seen in years. Her ex has been murdered and she races to find the culprit, all while keeping an eye on her younger brother and dodging the beautiful investigative reporter from Chicago, all under the watchful eyes of the townspeople.
This book was hard to give a rating for, because I know it was the author's baby. While I really enjoy the way CJ Birch writes as a whole, this book was really hard to follow and really hard to get into because of the number of POV's. Many of them were unnecessary in that they didn't add anything to the story. It was hard to connect to the mains, or any characters really, because as soon as you started getting into their mind you were taken to someone else's POV. The writing within each POV was great but as a whole I found it hard to stick with this book, I think I skimmed a lot. There wasn't as much romance as the blurb suggests, which is ok if the mystery makes the story, but the mystery was a little slow as well. I like Birch's other books a lot and I'm sure I'll be reading more by this author in the future.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2019
I’m going to be honest and let you know I came very close to just closing this book and walk away. I kept at it mainly because I’ve read Ms Birch’s other books and really enjoyed them. I’m glad I did. So, this will take you a few chapters before all the threads in this plot come together but when they do you’ll be glad you didn’t give up.
Elle Ashley didn’t want to come back to Flynn County to live. She did want to go into law enforcement but not in her hometown. She was finally able to live the life she wanted in Chicago as a out lesbian. But when her parents are killed by a drunk driver she had no choice but to return. Someone had to look after her younger brother so she comes back knowing she will have to hide her true self.
Robin Oakes is a city girl and has no intention on staying in Turlough longer then she has to. She’s here doing a report for the newspaper she works for on the small town and following Sheriff Ashley seems like her best bet in getting a interesting story.
Elle has her hands full trying to find the persons responsible for the murder of her high school boyfriend. And her younger brother EJ can’t stay out of trouble especially hanging out with his friend Dan. But there are more than a few surprises for Elle to solve before she can finally go on with her life.
Great read with a few twisted surprises.
ARC via NetGalley
Elle Ashley didn’t want to come back to Flynn County to live. She did want to go into law enforcement but not in her hometown. She was finally able to live the life she wanted in Chicago as a out lesbian. But when her parents are killed by a drunk driver she had no choice but to return. Someone had to look after her younger brother so she comes back knowing she will have to hide her true self.
Robin Oakes is a city girl and has no intention on staying in Turlough longer then she has to. She’s here doing a report for the newspaper she works for on the small town and following Sheriff Ashley seems like her best bet in getting a interesting story.
Elle has her hands full trying to find the persons responsible for the murder of her high school boyfriend. And her younger brother EJ can’t stay out of trouble especially hanging out with his friend Dan. But there are more than a few surprises for Elle to solve before she can finally go on with her life.
Great read with a few twisted surprises.
ARC via NetGalley
May 15, 2019
An interesting story about a small town where a murder shakes everyone and forces the sheriff to take up some hard choices endangering her life and her brother.
The mystery and twists and the easy flowing writing kept the pages flowing but the problem i had was with the characters. It was really hard to find characters to like. I was all for a badass female sheriff and Elle Ashley turned out to be more real with her secrets and insecurities and pain but not necessarily likable she was also biased and more of a pushover. The story was spread thin between multiple POVs and that made it slower than normal.
Even though i liked the story and mystery of it all, I felt that the wrongs outweighed the rights in this one.
The mystery and twists and the easy flowing writing kept the pages flowing but the problem i had was with the characters. It was really hard to find characters to like. I was all for a badass female sheriff and Elle Ashley turned out to be more real with her secrets and insecurities and pain but not necessarily likable she was also biased and more of a pushover. The story was spread thin between multiple POVs and that made it slower than normal.
Even though i liked the story and mystery of it all, I felt that the wrongs outweighed the rights in this one.
May 25, 2019
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really loved this one! Usually when you read a book with lesbian romance a lot of the focus is on the romance, and that’s fine. But what I really loved about this book is that maybe 20% of the book was about the romance, and it just so happened that it was lesbian romance... the book was mostly focused on Elle and the murder case, and her relationship with her brother and the romance fell into the background and I loved that! It made the romance seem so normal and it’s something I miss seeing in a book with lesbian characters. Most books with lesbian characters focus on the romance and the angst and the will they-won’t they and everything. But I so loved this one. Just like reading a book a regular book with crime only the romance part is lesbian and we need more books like this. The story was well written and I would definitely read more books by this author. I devoured it in 3 hours
I really loved this one! Usually when you read a book with lesbian romance a lot of the focus is on the romance, and that’s fine. But what I really loved about this book is that maybe 20% of the book was about the romance, and it just so happened that it was lesbian romance... the book was mostly focused on Elle and the murder case, and her relationship with her brother and the romance fell into the background and I loved that! It made the romance seem so normal and it’s something I miss seeing in a book with lesbian characters. Most books with lesbian characters focus on the romance and the angst and the will they-won’t they and everything. But I so loved this one. Just like reading a book a regular book with crime only the romance part is lesbian and we need more books like this. The story was well written and I would definitely read more books by this author. I devoured it in 3 hours
May 10, 2019
This is a very cool book.
Before I get stuck into it I want to point out that 'An Intimate Deception' is quite different to CJ Birch's previous works, the New Horizons series primarily because this book is set on Earth as opposed to in space some time in a post-apocalyptic future. (I enjoyed the Horizons books but I know sci-fi/space opera isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I wanted to make the differentiation)
Our wonderful protagonist is Sheriff Elle Ashley: if you've looked at a few of the other reviews here, she gets quite a pasting from some readers for being weak or spineless, rather than an all-conquering hero. Personally, that level of humanity is one of the things I love about her. She's not a superhero who can dodge bullets, give a cutting quip and take bad guys out with out with a flying karate kick (because in between going to college, raising her brother, becoming sheriff, all that standard, boring life stuff she somehow found the time to travel to some far flung monastery to study with a martial arts master/was on an elite Ranger team or some other bullshit some books would have you swallow!)
Seeing her struggle with being a closeted, elected official in a small town; with the fact that her brother is hanging out with a criminal; with the heat; with her physical attraction to a nosy reporter! It's all part of what makes Elle real and doesn't make her any less effective at her sheriffing.
As well as showcasing this deeply complex character, 'An Intimate Deception' also contains some of CJ Birch's most elegant descriptive writing. One of my favourites is: "Elle's patience, bored from lack of use, got up and walked out." This occurs during a callout to investigate the uprooting of Mrs. Collard's prize Azaleas - some of the scenes of small town life are utterly priceless!
There is a more serious side to the crime in Turlough, however, when Elle has to investigate the first murder in fifty years. Not only does everyone have a theory about who-dunnit and why, but Elle has a history with the victim that she'd rather not reveal to to the rest of her team. As things begin to unravel and the pressure on Elle increases it all gets even more interesting and tense, particularly when Elle realises that remaining closeted is becoming more and more difficult when there are not one but two hot women eyeing her up.
Highly recommended if you like something a bit more complex and not laden with clichés.
Before I get stuck into it I want to point out that 'An Intimate Deception' is quite different to CJ Birch's previous works, the New Horizons series primarily because this book is set on Earth as opposed to in space some time in a post-apocalyptic future. (I enjoyed the Horizons books but I know sci-fi/space opera isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I wanted to make the differentiation)
Our wonderful protagonist is Sheriff Elle Ashley: if you've looked at a few of the other reviews here, she gets quite a pasting from some readers for being weak or spineless, rather than an all-conquering hero. Personally, that level of humanity is one of the things I love about her. She's not a superhero who can dodge bullets, give a cutting quip and take bad guys out with out with a flying karate kick (because in between going to college, raising her brother, becoming sheriff, all that standard, boring life stuff she somehow found the time to travel to some far flung monastery to study with a martial arts master/was on an elite Ranger team or some other bullshit some books would have you swallow!)
Seeing her struggle with being a closeted, elected official in a small town; with the fact that her brother is hanging out with a criminal; with the heat; with her physical attraction to a nosy reporter! It's all part of what makes Elle real and doesn't make her any less effective at her sheriffing.
As well as showcasing this deeply complex character, 'An Intimate Deception' also contains some of CJ Birch's most elegant descriptive writing. One of my favourites is: "Elle's patience, bored from lack of use, got up and walked out." This occurs during a callout to investigate the uprooting of Mrs. Collard's prize Azaleas - some of the scenes of small town life are utterly priceless!
There is a more serious side to the crime in Turlough, however, when Elle has to investigate the first murder in fifty years. Not only does everyone have a theory about who-dunnit and why, but Elle has a history with the victim that she'd rather not reveal to to the rest of her team. As things begin to unravel and the pressure on Elle increases it all gets even more interesting and tense, particularly when Elle realises that remaining closeted is becoming more and more difficult when there are not one but two hot women eyeing her up.
Highly recommended if you like something a bit more complex and not laden with clichés.
May 18, 2019
I really really like mysteries and I really like C. J. Birch. So, when I read the summary for this book I was super excited. There is nothing better than a love story with a mystery and women in uniform and suits. However, this book was a big disappointment. So much that I couldn't even finish reading it.
It took true effort to get into the book because of the content change of POV, which I am usually fine with, but this was a bit too much. I think many parts of the books weren't necessary and just when I was getting into a scene or a character there was a break and the book will go into another POV that took the connection away.
I know the author is great so this would not impact any decision I make about reading further books but this one was certainly a fluke.
ARC provided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took true effort to get into the book because of the content change of POV, which I am usually fine with, but this was a bit too much. I think many parts of the books weren't necessary and just when I was getting into a scene or a character there was a break and the book will go into another POV that took the connection away.
I know the author is great so this would not impact any decision I make about reading further books but this one was certainly a fluke.
ARC provided from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2019
2.25
A bit of a disappointing read. This is more of a crime/mystery novel than anything else and takes place in a rather unlikable small town with rather unlikable characters. I'm all for gritty and realistic but this one just didn't work for me. I couldn't seem to connect with Elle, and the investigation of the murder itself limped along - interspersed with with flashbacks, exposition, and a secondary plot around her sullen little brother and his sociopath friend. I ended up skimming the last third of the book as I just couldn't be bothered to put more time into these characters but wanted to at least know the how/why of the murder - and I hate to say it but I was more interested in the character of Elle and what she was going to do next in the epilogue than I was in Elle during the first 98% of the book.
A bit of a disappointing read. This is more of a crime/mystery novel than anything else and takes place in a rather unlikable small town with rather unlikable characters. I'm all for gritty and realistic but this one just didn't work for me. I couldn't seem to connect with Elle, and the investigation of the murder itself limped along - interspersed with with flashbacks, exposition, and a secondary plot around her sullen little brother and his sociopath friend. I ended up skimming the last third of the book as I just couldn't be bothered to put more time into these characters but wanted to at least know the how/why of the murder - and I hate to say it but I was more interested in the character of Elle and what she was going to do next in the epilogue than I was in Elle during the first 98% of the book.
June 14, 2019
I felt like it took forever to read this book and the ending has left so many unanswered questions or half answers that just aren't clear.
The second half of the book felt rushed while the first half was filled with irrelevant fillers that just dragged the pace down.
With that said though it was a book I wanted to finish, I wanted the big reveal at the end and in that way it didn't disappoint.
The second half of the book felt rushed while the first half was filled with irrelevant fillers that just dragged the pace down.
With that said though it was a book I wanted to finish, I wanted the big reveal at the end and in that way it didn't disappoint.
May 21, 2019
Not sure how I felt about this one. Liked, didn't love.
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