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Vanishing Hour
When a cold case in Texas leads to a sinister string of disappearances, a newcomer to the small town helps a detective piece together the clues in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.
Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she's perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.
All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker--with her designer jeans and shiny car--who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there's more to her than meets the eye.
Ava's discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.
Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she's perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.
All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker--with her designer jeans and shiny car--who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there's more to her than meets the eye.
Ava's discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.
322 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2022
229 people are currently reading
14679 people want to read
About the author
Laura Griffin
56 books3,839 followersLaura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
Series:
* Texas Murder Files
* Tracers
* Wolfe Security
* Alpha Crew
* Moreno and Hart Mysteries
* Glass Sisters
* The Borderline
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 452 reviews
April 14, 2023
Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin
Narrated by Julia Atwood
Ava Burch had been a big city corporate lawyer but she wanted to get away from the big city grind. And her mostly estranged dad had died not long ago, leaving her his SAR dog, Hank, and his love of Search and Rescue. So when a friend and colleague had to move back to Cuervo, TX, near Big Bend, eventually Ava followed her. She lives in a little house on her friend's property and enjoys her more low key life as a small town lawyer.
Hank and Ava volunteer when a dog and handler are needed for search and rescue missions. On a search for a missing little boy, Ave notices an old camp site. She knows a girl went missing two years ago, she'd been camping and hiking in the area and the camp looks like it could have been hers. Then Ava realizes there were more missing girls and things start looking more ominous than a person just getting lost.
Deputy sheriff Grant Wycoff doesn't like it when Ava sticks her nose in this old missing person's case but that feeling is overshadowed by how he likes the jeweled pockets on her designer jeans (or what's under those jeweled pockets, to be more exact). And Ava's noticed Grant is easy on the eyes. There is actually a lot of ogling although neither want to admit it. Overall, the attraction is there but it's not overbearing. Grant is a professional and very focused on his job. Ava is apprehensive of Grant because she's afraid he could have some of her father's not so good traits.
And then there is Hank, an awesome lab who can't help chomping on a few shoes, loves steak, and might chase his roadrunner friend for kicks. There is work tension and attraction tension between Grant and Ava but you can't help wanting the best for both of them. I would not mind seeing more of these three in the future and I love the location since I've spent so many years in west Texas.
I was able to enjoy both the digital and audio versions of the book. Julia Atwood did a fine job with the narration of the audiobook and it was nice to be able to follow along with the digital book, especially when I wanted to look up locations and needed the correct spelling of places.
Publication October 25th 2022
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the digital and audio ARCs.
Narrated by Julia Atwood
Ava Burch had been a big city corporate lawyer but she wanted to get away from the big city grind. And her mostly estranged dad had died not long ago, leaving her his SAR dog, Hank, and his love of Search and Rescue. So when a friend and colleague had to move back to Cuervo, TX, near Big Bend, eventually Ava followed her. She lives in a little house on her friend's property and enjoys her more low key life as a small town lawyer.
Hank and Ava volunteer when a dog and handler are needed for search and rescue missions. On a search for a missing little boy, Ave notices an old camp site. She knows a girl went missing two years ago, she'd been camping and hiking in the area and the camp looks like it could have been hers. Then Ava realizes there were more missing girls and things start looking more ominous than a person just getting lost.
Deputy sheriff Grant Wycoff doesn't like it when Ava sticks her nose in this old missing person's case but that feeling is overshadowed by how he likes the jeweled pockets on her designer jeans (or what's under those jeweled pockets, to be more exact). And Ava's noticed Grant is easy on the eyes. There is actually a lot of ogling although neither want to admit it. Overall, the attraction is there but it's not overbearing. Grant is a professional and very focused on his job. Ava is apprehensive of Grant because she's afraid he could have some of her father's not so good traits.
And then there is Hank, an awesome lab who can't help chomping on a few shoes, loves steak, and might chase his roadrunner friend for kicks. There is work tension and attraction tension between Grant and Ava but you can't help wanting the best for both of them. I would not mind seeing more of these three in the future and I love the location since I've spent so many years in west Texas.
I was able to enjoy both the digital and audio versions of the book. Julia Atwood did a fine job with the narration of the audiobook and it was nice to be able to follow along with the digital book, especially when I wanted to look up locations and needed the correct spelling of places.
Publication October 25th 2022
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the digital and audio ARCs.
October 25, 2022
A cold case, multiple disappearances, a sheriff’s deputy, a search-and-rescue dog, and a former corporate lawyer are combined into a great romantic suspense novel. Laura Griffin’s
Vanishing Hour
has just the right mix of romance, suspense, police investigation, mystery, and action to capture and hold a reader’s interests. Ava Burch has given up her corporate law position to go into business with her friend Jenna. Theirs is the only law firm in Cuervo, Texas. She also volunteers for search and rescue operations with her dog, Huck. Grant Wycoff is a sheriff’s deputy who doesn’t think Ava has any business being on a team with outdoorsmen, rangers, and police officers in a serious search and rescue mission. However, Ava and Huck find more than expected and they need to work with Grant when another person disappears.
Both Ava and Grant have strong work ethics and integrity. However, Ava’s father was a game warden who was frequently away from home and ultimately he and her mother divorced. This plus his death and the resulting grief and unresolved issues affect how Ava perceives law enforcement officers. Grant cares deeply about people, but is subject to frequent call-outs that can disrupt plans. However, he seemed very quick to judge Ava based on her choice of clothing and vehicle rather than on facts. This seemed more aggravating to me than to Ava, which felt out of character for her. Their chemistry grew slowly as they became better acquainted. The other characters had a variety of depths based on their roles. Ava’s friend Jenna’s struggles with her father’s Alzheimer’s will resonate with many readers. I felt Sheriff Donovan’s attitude needed an adjustment that never materialized.
This book has a solid mystery with some twists and turns that will keep readers guessing. Friendship, lies, deception, disappearances, romance, family, grief, and much more are at the heart of this story. The world-building is excellent. Readers will feel the heat, see the downtown stores, connect with the well-developed and relatable main characters, and feel like they are joining Ava and Huck and search and rescue missions. My only quibble is that there was some telling versus showing.
Overall, this engaging and entertaining romantic suspense has wonderful characterization, a little spice, and some great action. Those who enjoy romantic suspense novels will likely enjoy this book. This was a new author for me and I can’t wait to dive into another one of her stories. This one has the right mix of mystery, suspense, action, and romance.
Berkley Publishing Group and Laura Griffin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for October 25, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.21 rounded to 4 stars review will be coming soon.
Both Ava and Grant have strong work ethics and integrity. However, Ava’s father was a game warden who was frequently away from home and ultimately he and her mother divorced. This plus his death and the resulting grief and unresolved issues affect how Ava perceives law enforcement officers. Grant cares deeply about people, but is subject to frequent call-outs that can disrupt plans. However, he seemed very quick to judge Ava based on her choice of clothing and vehicle rather than on facts. This seemed more aggravating to me than to Ava, which felt out of character for her. Their chemistry grew slowly as they became better acquainted. The other characters had a variety of depths based on their roles. Ava’s friend Jenna’s struggles with her father’s Alzheimer’s will resonate with many readers. I felt Sheriff Donovan’s attitude needed an adjustment that never materialized.
This book has a solid mystery with some twists and turns that will keep readers guessing. Friendship, lies, deception, disappearances, romance, family, grief, and much more are at the heart of this story. The world-building is excellent. Readers will feel the heat, see the downtown stores, connect with the well-developed and relatable main characters, and feel like they are joining Ava and Huck and search and rescue missions. My only quibble is that there was some telling versus showing.
Overall, this engaging and entertaining romantic suspense has wonderful characterization, a little spice, and some great action. Those who enjoy romantic suspense novels will likely enjoy this book. This was a new author for me and I can’t wait to dive into another one of her stories. This one has the right mix of mystery, suspense, action, and romance.
Berkley Publishing Group and Laura Griffin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for October 25, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------------------------
My 4.21 rounded to 4 stars review will be coming soon.
November 1, 2022
3 ½ * ROUNDED UP TO 4
When I started reading reviews I was a bit worried that there would be too much unnecessary “romance” in this book. I shouldn’t have worried – yes there is some romance but it is in the background of the mystery and didn’t take center stage.
Ava has come back to the small rugged Texas town of Cuervo after her father passed away.
Ava was a practicing corporate lawyer who had enough of the big city. She is hoping to set up a law practice in the area.
She knows this area well and wants to continue her father's search and rescue efforts with Huck, her father's dog whom she inherited. Her father was a well known trainer of search and rescue dogs for many years and well respected in the community.
While helping with a current missing girl’s search rescue efforts, Ava comes across an abandoned campsite. It looks as though someone just walked away from it, everything was intact but had accumulated dirt and dust. She photographs the crime scene.
When she brings it to the attention of the sheriff he brushes her off. All he sees is a young woman in expensive clothes that doesn’t seem to belong here.
However Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff is interested and together they return to the site, only to find the the area completely vacant.
This sets up the plot for the rest of the book which I found to be quite good. I’ve never read this author before so I was pleasantly surprised.
Some parts were a bit slow but the novel was easy to read, entertaining and the mystery was quite complex. I certainly didn’t figure it out!!
I would recommend this to mystery lovers who enjoy a well described setting, good characters and a great puzzle to decipher.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
When I started reading reviews I was a bit worried that there would be too much unnecessary “romance” in this book. I shouldn’t have worried – yes there is some romance but it is in the background of the mystery and didn’t take center stage.
Ava has come back to the small rugged Texas town of Cuervo after her father passed away.
Ava was a practicing corporate lawyer who had enough of the big city. She is hoping to set up a law practice in the area.
She knows this area well and wants to continue her father's search and rescue efforts with Huck, her father's dog whom she inherited. Her father was a well known trainer of search and rescue dogs for many years and well respected in the community.
While helping with a current missing girl’s search rescue efforts, Ava comes across an abandoned campsite. It looks as though someone just walked away from it, everything was intact but had accumulated dirt and dust. She photographs the crime scene.
When she brings it to the attention of the sheriff he brushes her off. All he sees is a young woman in expensive clothes that doesn’t seem to belong here.
However Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff is interested and together they return to the site, only to find the the area completely vacant.
This sets up the plot for the rest of the book which I found to be quite good. I’ve never read this author before so I was pleasantly surprised.
Some parts were a bit slow but the novel was easy to read, entertaining and the mystery was quite complex. I certainly didn’t figure it out!!
I would recommend this to mystery lovers who enjoy a well described setting, good characters and a great puzzle to decipher.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
October 31, 2022
This is a Romantic Suspense. I loved the characters and this story so much, and I did not want to put this book down at all. This book is fast paced and full of suspense/action. I think this book is a wonderful mix of suspense/action and romance which I really enjoy in a romantic suspense. I also loved the setting in this book, and I think it worked great with the storyline. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Berkley Books) or author (Laura Griffin) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
June 21, 2024
The star of this book, imo, was Huck the rescue dog. Also why I wanted to read this book. Love search and rescue stories and the story itself was good. Romantic suspense though is not really my preference, but there was enough suspense to keep me interested, and as I said I fell for Huck. A little too much romance amidst some terrible happenings. Enjoyed the audio though and the narration by Julia Atwood. Was a nice easy read at a time when one was needed.
October 19, 2022
A cold case, a disappearance, and danger!
Corporate lawyer Ava Burch decided that she wanted a quieter life and left the city behind to move to small town of Cuervo in rural Texas. While out with her dog, Huck, during a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, they discover an abandoned camp site and Ava takes pictures of it.
Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff sees there is more to Ava than her expensive clothing and flashy car. She impresses him with her findings on the trial. Plus, she is easy on the eyes. He tries to shake that off, when he is reminded of an unsolved case of a woman who went missing two years earlier. Soon, another woman goes missing.
Both Ava and Grant set off individually to solve the case of the missing women. Ava constantly thinks about the case but also finds herself thinking about Grant and how easy he is on the eyes.
With the tension and attraction growing, this book picks up steam and things become more suspenseful. I enjoyed both characters and their interactions. I found this book was a nice mix of searching for answers and their growing personal relationship. Plus, the national park and rural setting also created an underlying sense of danger. What happens when a person gets lost (or someone harms you) while out camping, hiking or out in the wilderness. The fear of being alone and no one being able to hear, see, or help you if something should happen. I really enjoyed this element. Then there is Huck, the dog who steals scenes and hearts.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.
This was a very enjoyable book which kept me invested in the story. I wanted them to solve the case just as much as I wanted them to find romance. This book was very nicely done and thought out.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Corporate lawyer Ava Burch decided that she wanted a quieter life and left the city behind to move to small town of Cuervo in rural Texas. While out with her dog, Huck, during a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, they discover an abandoned camp site and Ava takes pictures of it.
Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff sees there is more to Ava than her expensive clothing and flashy car. She impresses him with her findings on the trial. Plus, she is easy on the eyes. He tries to shake that off, when he is reminded of an unsolved case of a woman who went missing two years earlier. Soon, another woman goes missing.
Both Ava and Grant set off individually to solve the case of the missing women. Ava constantly thinks about the case but also finds herself thinking about Grant and how easy he is on the eyes.
With the tension and attraction growing, this book picks up steam and things become more suspenseful. I enjoyed both characters and their interactions. I found this book was a nice mix of searching for answers and their growing personal relationship. Plus, the national park and rural setting also created an underlying sense of danger. What happens when a person gets lost (or someone harms you) while out camping, hiking or out in the wilderness. The fear of being alone and no one being able to hear, see, or help you if something should happen. I really enjoyed this element. Then there is Huck, the dog who steals scenes and hearts.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.
This was a very enjoyable book which kept me invested in the story. I wanted them to solve the case just as much as I wanted them to find romance. This book was very nicely done and thought out.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 25, 2022
Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin
Romantic suspense.
Ava and her trained scent seeking dog find an abandoned camp in the desert that doesn’t feel right to Ava. She takes photos and shares them with Detective Grant Wyoff. As more women disappear, Ava and Grant face evidence issues and threats as they track down clues on the cold case.
Fast moving action and tense situations as Ava and Grant dance around each other in their investigation. Huck, the dog steals the scene over and over again with his heroism and antics.
I now want to donate more to,the organizations that train there’s animals.
Gripping and romantic between the danger moments. Overall a great suspense romance.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Julie Atwood. The performance was very well done and had me listening closely to the action. The voice variations were subtle and caught me in surprise twice when I expected more of a masculine tone and realized that I wasn’t missing that throughout the text for the most part. Emotions and tense situations had me listening closer which to me, makes it’s a good story. If you want to pay attention, that’s a good story. I did speed this up a bit to my standard of 1.4 which was the most comfortable conversation speed.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Romantic suspense.
Ava and her trained scent seeking dog find an abandoned camp in the desert that doesn’t feel right to Ava. She takes photos and shares them with Detective Grant Wyoff. As more women disappear, Ava and Grant face evidence issues and threats as they track down clues on the cold case.
Fast moving action and tense situations as Ava and Grant dance around each other in their investigation. Huck, the dog steals the scene over and over again with his heroism and antics.
I now want to donate more to,the organizations that train there’s animals.
Gripping and romantic between the danger moments. Overall a great suspense romance.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Julie Atwood. The performance was very well done and had me listening closely to the action. The voice variations were subtle and caught me in surprise twice when I expected more of a masculine tone and realized that I wasn’t missing that throughout the text for the most part. Emotions and tense situations had me listening closer which to me, makes it’s a good story. If you want to pay attention, that’s a good story. I did speed this up a bit to my standard of 1.4 which was the most comfortable conversation speed.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
September 30, 2022
A perfect blend of romance and suspense!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bear with me for a bit because I think I am going to gush a bit.
This author has been growing on me over the years. I have read so many of her stories and each one of them is unique and absorbing!
I love the characters and the settings. She just pours so much into each story it is hard to not want to read more and more! Vanishing Hour is exactly what I just described!
The setting is awesome. The stark desert with blistering heat you can almost feel. The landscape that hides secrets for decades. The beauty in the skies. The rock formations that call your name.
Griffin tells a story loaded with fabulous characters that are interesting and keep us wanting more. Grant and Ava balance each other perfectly with their passion for what they do, smart thinking, and building feelings. I love that this is a fabulous blend of romance and suspense with police procedurals and intensity too! This steamy story hits the mark!
Vanishing Hour is a book that I could not stop reading. With gutsy characters, formidable conditions, and steam rolling off in waves, Griffin will grab a hold of you with her writing finesse and not let you go.
I need more!
~ Copy received for review consideration
~ full review - https://amidlifewife.com/vanishing-ho...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bear with me for a bit because I think I am going to gush a bit.
This author has been growing on me over the years. I have read so many of her stories and each one of them is unique and absorbing!
I love the characters and the settings. She just pours so much into each story it is hard to not want to read more and more! Vanishing Hour is exactly what I just described!
The setting is awesome. The stark desert with blistering heat you can almost feel. The landscape that hides secrets for decades. The beauty in the skies. The rock formations that call your name.
Griffin tells a story loaded with fabulous characters that are interesting and keep us wanting more. Grant and Ava balance each other perfectly with their passion for what they do, smart thinking, and building feelings. I love that this is a fabulous blend of romance and suspense with police procedurals and intensity too! This steamy story hits the mark!
Vanishing Hour is a book that I could not stop reading. With gutsy characters, formidable conditions, and steam rolling off in waves, Griffin will grab a hold of you with her writing finesse and not let you go.
I need more!
~ Copy received for review consideration
~ full review - https://amidlifewife.com/vanishing-ho...
November 9, 2022
This is a well-written, fast paced, entertaining, steamy, romantic suspense novel. It has a likable, strong and capable female protagonist, a heroic male protagonist, sizzling chemistry, murder, mystery, intrigue, twists and turns, an amazing dog, a heart warming romance, and a happily ever after ending. I have read every one of Ms. Griffin's outstanding novels and she never disappoints her readers! I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Ms. Julia Atwood, does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.
November 22, 2022
It's my first book by this author, so glad I gave it a try. I enjoyed the mystery throughout the story. The pacing was perfect. I recommend the audiobook 🎧.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
February 10, 2025
A romantic suspense that includes search and rescue dogs - I'm in! I've been a fan of Laura Griffin for a long time, and this is another solid story. Usually it takes me longer to listen to a book, but this one kept me company while signing tipped-ins!
October 24, 2022
Laura Griffin is a dependable author. You can depend on her to give you a hot romance. You can depend on her to give you a twisty mystery. You can depend on her to provide you with a great book. The audio, narrated by Julia Atwood, of this book was wonderful and added a new dimension to this story.
Former corporate attorney, Ava Burch, loves the pace of life in Cuervo, Texas. When her dad died, she inherited his search and rescue dog, Huck. She was tired of the daily grind in Dallas and a small-town practice with her best friend as partner suits her just fine. Ava and Huck have been on a few SAR operations that have been successful. While searching for a lost child Ava comes across an abandoned camp site. She can tell it has been there for a while and decides that photo documenting this site is the best she can do until they finish the current SAR mission and find the missing child.
Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff has seen Ava around town and with her fancy car and designer clothes he has decided she is out of his league. When he learns she is part of the SAR team he is surprised. When she offers to accompany him to the abandoned campsite, he believes he may have misjudged her. Grant thinks this may be a break in the case of a young woman who went missing two years ago.
Another young woman disappears and both Grant and Ava feel there could be a connection as this is the fourth young woman to disappear in the area. Grant wants Ava to leave it along and let him do his job, but Ava is compelled to follow the leads that Grant has ignored. Even being at odds over this is not enough to put a damper on the red-hot sexual attraction that ignites between Ave and Grant. But the more Ava follows her leads the closer she gets to a killer.
My thanks to the Publisher and the author for providing a complimentary audio Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Former corporate attorney, Ava Burch, loves the pace of life in Cuervo, Texas. When her dad died, she inherited his search and rescue dog, Huck. She was tired of the daily grind in Dallas and a small-town practice with her best friend as partner suits her just fine. Ava and Huck have been on a few SAR operations that have been successful. While searching for a lost child Ava comes across an abandoned camp site. She can tell it has been there for a while and decides that photo documenting this site is the best she can do until they finish the current SAR mission and find the missing child.
Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff has seen Ava around town and with her fancy car and designer clothes he has decided she is out of his league. When he learns she is part of the SAR team he is surprised. When she offers to accompany him to the abandoned campsite, he believes he may have misjudged her. Grant thinks this may be a break in the case of a young woman who went missing two years ago.
Another young woman disappears and both Grant and Ava feel there could be a connection as this is the fourth young woman to disappear in the area. Grant wants Ava to leave it along and let him do his job, but Ava is compelled to follow the leads that Grant has ignored. Even being at odds over this is not enough to put a damper on the red-hot sexual attraction that ignites between Ave and Grant. But the more Ava follows her leads the closer she gets to a killer.
My thanks to the Publisher and the author for providing a complimentary audio Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
October 2, 2022
At the invitation of a friend, Ava Burch leaves her corporate lawyer job in the city and moves to Cuervo near Big Bend National Park with her search-and-rescue dog Hank, joining her friend in opening the only law firm in the area. While Ava is a lawyer, she also volunteers for SAR missions on the side. When a child goes missing, she joins the search for the boy with Hank, a rescue dog who was trained by her late father. While searching, they come across an abandoned tent with things inside covered in year's worth of dust including one shoe and a vehicle key. Ava finds it very odd and disconcerting so she snaps some pictures and moves on in her search for the boy. Upon leaving the park, Ava reports her findings to the local sheriff who abruptly brushes her off; however, Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff is very interested and convinces Ava to take him back out to the site of the tent the next day. Imagine Ava's surprise upon arriving at the spot to find the tent gone. Someone moved everything overnight. Why? While searching, Ava, Grant and Hank discover the skeletal remains of a woman. From there, a complex investigation ensues as other missing women cases come to light. Ava is troubled by the events and begins her own investigation discovering clues ignored by the sheriff's office. However, it's soon obvious she's making someone very nervous. It now seems someone wants her and her dog Hank dead.
Vanishing Hour is a complex romance thriller with the perfect blend of a budding romance with extreme physical attraction and a murder investigation. Ava and Grant are both hesitant to connect as both are carrying some unwelcome baggage, but the more they team up searching for missing women, the hotter the chemistry between them flames. When Ava's life is threatened, Grant goes into protective hero mode, and who doesn't love an overly protective hero?
The breathtaking setting in Vanishing Hour is simply stunning as it stimulates all five senses and sets the dangerous backdrop for this story as it's as deadly as it is beautiful. People can't survive long without adequate prep and supplies and often find themselves at the mercy of the desert - which plays a major role in this story. Griffin does a fantastic job of pitting well-developed characters against a formidable Mother Nature to deliver an intriguing tale. While there are scenes where Ava barrels headfirst into some questionable situations, overall these characters are likable and believable. Vanishing Hour is a highly entertaining story with just the right amount of romance and suspense. Highly recommended to fans of romance suspense!
Many thanks to Berkley Publ. for an arc of this book and for a book tour invitation. My stop on the book tour is Oct. 24, 2022. This review will post to my blog Cross My Heart Reviews on that date.
Vanishing Hour is a complex romance thriller with the perfect blend of a budding romance with extreme physical attraction and a murder investigation. Ava and Grant are both hesitant to connect as both are carrying some unwelcome baggage, but the more they team up searching for missing women, the hotter the chemistry between them flames. When Ava's life is threatened, Grant goes into protective hero mode, and who doesn't love an overly protective hero?
The breathtaking setting in Vanishing Hour is simply stunning as it stimulates all five senses and sets the dangerous backdrop for this story as it's as deadly as it is beautiful. People can't survive long without adequate prep and supplies and often find themselves at the mercy of the desert - which plays a major role in this story. Griffin does a fantastic job of pitting well-developed characters against a formidable Mother Nature to deliver an intriguing tale. While there are scenes where Ava barrels headfirst into some questionable situations, overall these characters are likable and believable. Vanishing Hour is a highly entertaining story with just the right amount of romance and suspense. Highly recommended to fans of romance suspense!
Many thanks to Berkley Publ. for an arc of this book and for a book tour invitation. My stop on the book tour is Oct. 24, 2022. This review will post to my blog Cross My Heart Reviews on that date.
December 13, 2022
3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise. The mystery. The buildup.
The Not-So-Good: The progression to deeper feelings. I get the physical and the overall connection, but it seemed to jump to deep feelings with off page interactions before it ends that I think would've been so much better if we had some of those on page!
The Bad: The ending. I wanted more closure with these two!
Overall: This was better than I thought it would be. I'm in a weird suspenseful romance mood, so this was a great find. While I didn't love the book, I was pleasantly surprised and I enjoyed it enough to seek out the author and her other works for future reads.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Ava and Grant's story. Ava inherited her game warden dad's dog and has taken an active roll in helping find missing people. While searching for a missing boy, she comes across an old abandoned campsite that doesn't sit right with her. When she is blown off by the local sheriff for her concerns, a sheriff's detective, Grant, gets wind of her find and looks into it. She soon realizes that there are some strange happenings in the national park and new town she moved to, because there has been a string of missing women that haven't been found. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sexy times, and some mysteries solved...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Ava and Grant in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Grant. I liked him. I appreciated how he approached pursuing the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Ava. I liked her but I thought she was a little cold at times and had too much projection of her father's doings on the H.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place for the suspense/mystery, but just an alright place for the couple. I would call it a HFN ending for them because I needed more
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise. The mystery. The buildup.
The Not-So-Good: The progression to deeper feelings. I get the physical and the overall connection, but it seemed to jump to deep feelings with off page interactions before it ends that I think would've been so much better if we had some of those on page!
The Bad: The ending. I wanted more closure with these two!
Overall: This was better than I thought it would be. I'm in a weird suspenseful romance mood, so this was a great find. While I didn't love the book, I was pleasantly surprised and I enjoyed it enough to seek out the author and her other works for future reads.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Ava and Grant's story. Ava inherited her game warden dad's dog and has taken an active roll in helping find missing people. While searching for a missing boy, she comes across an old abandoned campsite that doesn't sit right with her. When she is blown off by the local sheriff for her concerns, a sheriff's detective, Grant, gets wind of her find and looks into it. She soon realizes that there are some strange happenings in the national park and new town she moved to, because there has been a string of missing women that haven't been found. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sexy times, and some mysteries solved...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Ava and Grant in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Grant. I liked him. I appreciated how he approached pursuing the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Ava. I liked her but I thought she was a little cold at times and had too much projection of her father's doings on the H.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place for the suspense/mystery, but just an alright place for the couple. I would call it a HFN ending for them because I needed more
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
December 19, 2023
A corporate attorney, Ava, tired of the city moves to a rural town in Texas. Ava practices law in the small town, and volunteers with her dog doing search-and-rescue. When she discovers an abandoned campsite, she reports it to the authorities. When she and a local detective, Grant, return to the site, they find it gone. Grant suspects the site is connected to a missing person cold case. When another woman goes missing, they work to quickly solve the case.
Vanishing Hour is told through the alternating points of view of Ava and Grant. The characters were realistic and believable. This is a romantic suspense novel, but the mystery is at the forefront.
A fast-paced and enjoyable mystery. Recommended for fans of romantic suspense.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Vanishing Hour is told through the alternating points of view of Ava and Grant. The characters were realistic and believable. This is a romantic suspense novel, but the mystery is at the forefront.
A fast-paced and enjoyable mystery. Recommended for fans of romantic suspense.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2022
After the death of her father, corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of city life. She has moved to the small-town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park with her father’s search and rescue dog. When she is called out for a missing person alert, she and Huck find the missing man, but also find an abandoned campsite. She takes pictures, but the chief of police seems uninterested.
When Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff gets a look at the photos, he thinks it might be linked to a two-year-old missing person’s case. The tale that unfolds as Grant and Ava investigate was suspenseful and addressed the sizzling chemistry between them.
This was an interesting case with three seemingly unrelated missing person cases. All women lost in the national parks. These parks can be deadly if you walk off the trails, go in unprepared or when the sun is most brutal. But slowly Ava makes a connection between them.
When they discover one of the woman murdered, Ava cannot help but investigate despite Grant’s protests. She is tenacious and the suspense builds as someone doesn’t like that she is snooping.
The romance moved quickly, but hit stumbling blocks because of some personal baggage on Ava’s end. I felt both characters were genuine, and we got some laughs from Huck’s shenanigans.
Vanishing Hour offers a complete romance and mystery, with hints of a second romance to be continued in another book. I hope we revisit Cuervo.
Fans of romantic suspense and murder-mysteries will find themselves at home curling up with Vanishing Hour. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
When Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff gets a look at the photos, he thinks it might be linked to a two-year-old missing person’s case. The tale that unfolds as Grant and Ava investigate was suspenseful and addressed the sizzling chemistry between them.
This was an interesting case with three seemingly unrelated missing person cases. All women lost in the national parks. These parks can be deadly if you walk off the trails, go in unprepared or when the sun is most brutal. But slowly Ava makes a connection between them.
When they discover one of the woman murdered, Ava cannot help but investigate despite Grant’s protests. She is tenacious and the suspense builds as someone doesn’t like that she is snooping.
The romance moved quickly, but hit stumbling blocks because of some personal baggage on Ava’s end. I felt both characters were genuine, and we got some laughs from Huck’s shenanigans.
Vanishing Hour offers a complete romance and mystery, with hints of a second romance to be continued in another book. I hope we revisit Cuervo.
Fans of romantic suspense and murder-mysteries will find themselves at home curling up with Vanishing Hour. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
October 25, 2022
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Laura Griffin knows how to captivate readers and it's one of the reasons I'd read anything she writes. In her latest romantic suspense we're introduced to a small town with big secrets and more than one mystery on their hands. Missing persons, cold cases, and possible cover-ups make Ava Burch, along with her search and rescue dog, Huck, join an ongoing investigation with Sheriff deputy Grant Wycoff.
From the very beginning I was just as captivated as Ava into this investigation and it had me guessing the entire story. I love when a suspense novel keeps me in the dark past the 50% mark and proves every theory I come up with wrong, and that was certainly this one.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for every romantic suspense lover.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Laura Griffin knows how to captivate readers and it's one of the reasons I'd read anything she writes. In her latest romantic suspense we're introduced to a small town with big secrets and more than one mystery on their hands. Missing persons, cold cases, and possible cover-ups make Ava Burch, along with her search and rescue dog, Huck, join an ongoing investigation with Sheriff deputy Grant Wycoff.
From the very beginning I was just as captivated as Ava into this investigation and it had me guessing the entire story. I love when a suspense novel keeps me in the dark past the 50% mark and proves every theory I come up with wrong, and that was certainly this one.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for every romantic suspense lover.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2022
I didn't want this end! One of the most trusted voices in mystery today Laura Griffin delivers a stunning example of mystery romance. Like a Texas sunrise Griffins' Vanishing Hour is a multifaceted work of art. A shocking and gritty adventure awaits the reader anytime you pick up any of her novels and Vanishing Hour is truly one of her best.
~Tanja
*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this title with me via Netgalley
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~Tanja
*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this title with me via Netgalley
Follow me on
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October 24, 2022
It's probably obvious to anyone who's looked at my Goodreads reviews, but I could happily escape into a year's worth of Laura Griffin books and barely come up for air. Vanishing Hour is one of those that relies heavily on its setting-the stark landscape of West Texas, where our heroine, Ava, has recently moved to do search and rescue work with her dog Huck and serve as one of only two attorneys in tiny hiking tourist town, Cuervo. When Ava and Huck find not only a missing child, but also an abandoned camp site that seems off somehow, on their first SAR hike, Ava is pulled into a missing person's investigation and the orbit of sexy cop Grant Wyckoff. What follows is a taut mystery with plenty of Griffin's trademark romantic suspense and outdoor adventures. The worst part of any of her stories for me are when they're over and I have to wait for the next one.
October 25, 2022
4.5 Stars
Attorney Ava Burch finds herself embroiled in a cold missing person case when she stumbles upon an abandoned campsite during one of her Search and Rescue volunteer jobs with her dog, Huck. Something that immediately catches Detective Grant Wycoff’s attention. While the condescending Sheriff gives Ava the brushoff, Grant connects the dots to a woman gone missing two years earlier. While Grant doesn’t want Ava inserting herself into the case, he can’t help admitting that her find and research have helped make long strides in solving the case.
While trying to piece together the clues, Ava’s targeted by someone unknown and it’s unsettling, but she can’t let the case go as she finds there are bigger things at play.
Even though there’s a mutual attraction and pull, Ava’s hesitant. Seeing her mother always coming in second to the job makes her wary to start up anything with anyone in law enforcement, but she’s having trouble resisting him and they keep getting thrown together through this case. Grant is determined to change her mind and they have amazing chemistry!
I’ve done a lot of hiking and backpacking so I found the Search and Rescue feature really interesting and of course, if there’s a lovable dog I’m totally in! Huck was adorable and smart, and I loved the relationship he had with Ava and Grant!
I was immediately sucked into Vanishing Hour and listened to the whole book in one day! All the twists had me eager to find out what happened to the missing girls, and I was on the edge of my seat with every bit of danger Ava faced. The ending was a real nail biter! Another win for Laura Griffin! Definite recommend!
I alternated between reading and listening to an audio copy. Julia Atwood’s performance was really good! She performed with a subtle Texas accent that felt authentic to all the characters and she performed both female and male character parts wonderfully! I listened at 1.5x speed normal speed.
An e-copy was provided by Berkley Books and an Audio version by Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
Attorney Ava Burch finds herself embroiled in a cold missing person case when she stumbles upon an abandoned campsite during one of her Search and Rescue volunteer jobs with her dog, Huck. Something that immediately catches Detective Grant Wycoff’s attention. While the condescending Sheriff gives Ava the brushoff, Grant connects the dots to a woman gone missing two years earlier. While Grant doesn’t want Ava inserting herself into the case, he can’t help admitting that her find and research have helped make long strides in solving the case.
While trying to piece together the clues, Ava’s targeted by someone unknown and it’s unsettling, but she can’t let the case go as she finds there are bigger things at play.
Even though there’s a mutual attraction and pull, Ava’s hesitant. Seeing her mother always coming in second to the job makes her wary to start up anything with anyone in law enforcement, but she’s having trouble resisting him and they keep getting thrown together through this case. Grant is determined to change her mind and they have amazing chemistry!
I’ve done a lot of hiking and backpacking so I found the Search and Rescue feature really interesting and of course, if there’s a lovable dog I’m totally in! Huck was adorable and smart, and I loved the relationship he had with Ava and Grant!
I was immediately sucked into Vanishing Hour and listened to the whole book in one day! All the twists had me eager to find out what happened to the missing girls, and I was on the edge of my seat with every bit of danger Ava faced. The ending was a real nail biter! Another win for Laura Griffin! Definite recommend!
I alternated between reading and listening to an audio copy. Julia Atwood’s performance was really good! She performed with a subtle Texas accent that felt authentic to all the characters and she performed both female and male character parts wonderfully! I listened at 1.5x speed normal speed.
An e-copy was provided by Berkley Books and an Audio version by Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2022
Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted copy of The Vanishing Hour {partner}
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Trope: Missing Person(s)
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 10.25.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Okay, that's it; I've decided that I want to read every single book that Laura Griffin has written. So far, I've read two of her books this year, and they were both such easy five-stars! She introduced me to romantic suspense and is a pro at writing for that genre. Griffin's writing is uncomplicated and always feels natural, with well-developed and believable characters.
I made the mistake of starting Vanishing Hour before bed one night, and I couldn't put it down. The whole book was like that, I'd swear I had only been reading 10 minutes and it had actually been an hour.
The Vanishing Hour combines romance, suspense, and action flawlessly. I loved the characters and, of course, the dog (btw, do not worry, nothing happens to Hank). The chemistry between Ava and Grant could be felt through the pages, and I genuinely appreciate that Griffin didn't make me wait until the end for something to happen between the two.
🤩 Combination of romance, suspense, and action
👌🏼 A storyline that feels real
🐕🦺 Hank (the search & rescue dog)
🔥 Chemistry between Ava and Grant
📖 Easy to sit and get lost in the book
I highly recommend adding Vanishing Hour to your reading list. The other book from Griffin that I loved was Midnight Dunes (another 5-star).
______
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Genre: Romantic Suspense
Trope: Missing Person(s)
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 10.25.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Okay, that's it; I've decided that I want to read every single book that Laura Griffin has written. So far, I've read two of her books this year, and they were both such easy five-stars! She introduced me to romantic suspense and is a pro at writing for that genre. Griffin's writing is uncomplicated and always feels natural, with well-developed and believable characters.
I made the mistake of starting Vanishing Hour before bed one night, and I couldn't put it down. The whole book was like that, I'd swear I had only been reading 10 minutes and it had actually been an hour.
The Vanishing Hour combines romance, suspense, and action flawlessly. I loved the characters and, of course, the dog (btw, do not worry, nothing happens to Hank). The chemistry between Ava and Grant could be felt through the pages, and I genuinely appreciate that Griffin didn't make me wait until the end for something to happen between the two.
🤩 Combination of romance, suspense, and action
👌🏼 A storyline that feels real
🐕🦺 Hank (the search & rescue dog)
🔥 Chemistry between Ava and Grant
📖 Easy to sit and get lost in the book
I highly recommend adding Vanishing Hour to your reading list. The other book from Griffin that I loved was Midnight Dunes (another 5-star).
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
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August 26, 2022
Ava and her search and rescue dog, Huck, volunteer to find a boy that goes missing while his family is camping. They find him, but Ava and Huck also find an abandoned campsite that she tells the local sheriff about. He is not too interested but one of his detectives named Grant is. Together Ava and Grant go back in search for the campsite, and when they do, it is gone. Ava's dog Huck however, does find the remains of a girl named Molly Shaw that went missing two years ago. Soon Ava also finds out about other missing woman over the years. Are these cases all related?
This is my second book by Laura Griffin and it did not disappoint! I just love her writing! If you are looking for a nice way to spend the day, I highly recommend VANISHING HOUR. I'll be adding more of her books to my future TBR!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted on Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This is my second book by Laura Griffin and it did not disappoint! I just love her writing! If you are looking for a nice way to spend the day, I highly recommend VANISHING HOUR. I'll be adding more of her books to my future TBR!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted on Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
July 18, 2022
Laura Griffin does it again. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of Griffin’s newest novel and it did not disappoint. She has a clear writing style and a tried-and-true equation for writing romantic murder mystery. As always, her empowered female protagonist had layers of emotional turmoil to dig through while also uncovering a deep secret in a new town. And for added interest and spice, a smoking hot, yet somewhat emotionally unavailable man for her to do a push and pull with. Overall, this book was hard for me to put down and a real joy to read. Highly recommend as a sultry summer beach read if you like a little mystery in your spicy romance novels!
September 29, 2022
Ex-corporate lawyer Ava Burch has moved to western Texas to start a new life. Her estranged father has died leaving her his search and rescue dog Hank. She and Hank have been doing some SAR work since her arrival.
While out looking for a missing three-year-old, Ava stumbles onto a well-hidden campsite that looks like it has been there for quite a while. She takes some pictures but the search for the child takes priority. She talks about the site to the local sheriff and the head game warden and prints out the photos for them when she gets home.
Sheriff's deputy and chief investigator Grant Wycoff is interested in the pictures because they may help him solve a cold case that has been plaguing him. Molly Shaw went missing after going camping alone two years earlier. There have been other cases of lone women disappearing too. Deanna Moore's death was attributed to a fall but there are some inconsistencies. And Brittlyn Spencer disappeared the previous June. Brittlyn's mother has devoted her life since that day to finding her daughter and keeping her case on the minds of the various investigators.
When Grant and Ava hike out to where she had seen the campsite, they are surprised to find that everything is missing. All that is left are the few pictures Ava took. Ava becomes intrigued with the idea of solving the case much to Grant's dismay. She investigates and finds some clues the sheriff's department missed which give Grant new leads to follow. Her investigations also put her and her dog Huck into danger. A rattlesnake in the back of her car, strange footprints under her window, and someone shooting arrows at her while she is working a SAR rescue, indicate that someone doesn't want her to keep investigating.
Meanwhile, Grant and Ava are beginning a relationship made complicated by Ava's unresolved issues of abandonment by her game warden father and by Grant's sense of duty which makes him keep breaking dates with her.
This was an entertaining and engaging romantic suspense title. I liked the characters and understood where each was coming from. I also really liked Huck who was great at SAR but also doggy enough to eat shoes and steal steaks.
While out looking for a missing three-year-old, Ava stumbles onto a well-hidden campsite that looks like it has been there for quite a while. She takes some pictures but the search for the child takes priority. She talks about the site to the local sheriff and the head game warden and prints out the photos for them when she gets home.
Sheriff's deputy and chief investigator Grant Wycoff is interested in the pictures because they may help him solve a cold case that has been plaguing him. Molly Shaw went missing after going camping alone two years earlier. There have been other cases of lone women disappearing too. Deanna Moore's death was attributed to a fall but there are some inconsistencies. And Brittlyn Spencer disappeared the previous June. Brittlyn's mother has devoted her life since that day to finding her daughter and keeping her case on the minds of the various investigators.
When Grant and Ava hike out to where she had seen the campsite, they are surprised to find that everything is missing. All that is left are the few pictures Ava took. Ava becomes intrigued with the idea of solving the case much to Grant's dismay. She investigates and finds some clues the sheriff's department missed which give Grant new leads to follow. Her investigations also put her and her dog Huck into danger. A rattlesnake in the back of her car, strange footprints under her window, and someone shooting arrows at her while she is working a SAR rescue, indicate that someone doesn't want her to keep investigating.
Meanwhile, Grant and Ava are beginning a relationship made complicated by Ava's unresolved issues of abandonment by her game warden father and by Grant's sense of duty which makes him keep breaking dates with her.
This was an entertaining and engaging romantic suspense title. I liked the characters and understood where each was coming from. I also really liked Huck who was great at SAR but also doggy enough to eat shoes and steal steaks.
January 17, 2023
Ava Burch has had enough of the corporate legal business, and has moved to the small town of Cuervo in Texas to work in her friend's small law office. Her father, who raised and trained search and rescue dogs has recently died, so Ava has taken in her father's dog, Huck and is now working Search and Rescue in Big Bend National Park. When she and Huck are called out for a search, they discover an abandoned campsite and she carefully photographs it all and reports it to the local sheriff. Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff is not impressed with this city slicker who is on the search but when she tells him about her find, he realizes that there is more than meets the eye to this woman and her dog. Her discovery reminds him about a woman who went missing a couple of years ago, and when they begin to search for clues and information, another woman goes missing under suspicious circumstances. Can they work quick enough to solve the mystery and keep another person from ending up dead?
This was another great story by Laura Griffin. I really liked the character of Ava Burch, she was smart, independent, didn't give up, and she was resourceful. There was definitely a lot of chemistry between Ava and Grant and I liked the way they fought against it. There were several suspects and a bit of a cult atmosphere that I knew would be involved in the death, but I wasn't sure how. The closer Ava got to solving the crimes, the more danger she was in. This was a police thriller and a mystery that I had partially figured out, but there were still some surprises along the way. I enjoyed this story and will look for more books by Laura Griffin. I did a read/listen of this book narrated by Julia Atwood. She is a new narrator to me and I did enjoy her performance. If you like an interesting mystery and police thriller, I recommend Vanishing Hour in either format.
This was another great story by Laura Griffin. I really liked the character of Ava Burch, she was smart, independent, didn't give up, and she was resourceful. There was definitely a lot of chemistry between Ava and Grant and I liked the way they fought against it. There were several suspects and a bit of a cult atmosphere that I knew would be involved in the death, but I wasn't sure how. The closer Ava got to solving the crimes, the more danger she was in. This was a police thriller and a mystery that I had partially figured out, but there were still some surprises along the way. I enjoyed this story and will look for more books by Laura Griffin. I did a read/listen of this book narrated by Julia Atwood. She is a new narrator to me and I did enjoy her performance. If you like an interesting mystery and police thriller, I recommend Vanishing Hour in either format.
November 1, 2022
As ever, Laura Griffin delivers a vibe that my brain just gloms onto and doesn't want to let go. Really, really enjoyed this.
November 4, 2022
I liked this a lot! I really just wanted more time with the characters and a few of the plot threads, but overall, this was a well done story and one of my favorites from Griffin of late.
November 9, 2022
4.25 stars
We have a smart lawyer girl, a rescue dog and a hot detective. What's not to like?
The book is a great thriller, a page turner. More than once I was eagerly reading the next chapter as the cliffhanger was so well done.
We have the case of a couple of girls who disappear in Big Bend National Park. Things are not what they seem to be and soon enough we discover a link between the victims.
Laura Griffin does a great job in writing a mysterious, full of suspense story action packed.
I do not know if this is going to be a series. I love where the book ended so in a way I hope it won't be.
A great read, highly recommended.
Thank you Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this awesome book!
We have a smart lawyer girl, a rescue dog and a hot detective. What's not to like?
The book is a great thriller, a page turner. More than once I was eagerly reading the next chapter as the cliffhanger was so well done.
We have the case of a couple of girls who disappear in Big Bend National Park. Things are not what they seem to be and soon enough we discover a link between the victims.
Laura Griffin does a great job in writing a mysterious, full of suspense story action packed.
I do not know if this is going to be a series. I love where the book ended so in a way I hope it won't be.
A great read, highly recommended.
Thank you Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this awesome book!
August 19, 2023
Having just finished an awesome crime novel set in the desert, I happily picked up the next one Vanishing Hour . Also, the author was compared to Lisa Gardner, one of my favourite crime writers. All of this made me miss the most important about the novel: romantic suspense! Oh boy, this followed the cookbook of romantic crime novels to the t:
• Always describe what female protagonists are wearing or in case of the male - not wearing
• Make them dislike or refuse each other at first, but always ensure to describe their lusting after each other when apart
• Have a mystery for the protagonists to solve – it does not much matter what and does not have to be coherent, but the (male) protagonists need to shine, maybe include a rescue of the female?
• In any case he is overprotective of her (because come on, we women cannot survive on our own)
• And then of course, there is steaming hot sex, the couple moves together after 6 weeks and they live happily ever after…
• Always describe what female protagonists are wearing or in case of the male - not wearing
• Make them dislike or refuse each other at first, but always ensure to describe their lusting after each other when apart
• Have a mystery for the protagonists to solve – it does not much matter what and does not have to be coherent, but the (male) protagonists need to shine, maybe include a rescue of the female?
• In any case he is overprotective of her (because come on, we women cannot survive on our own)
• And then of course, there is steaming hot sex, the couple moves together after 6 weeks and they live happily ever after…
October 25, 2022
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
My experiences with this author have been hit or miss but Vanishing Hour was a huge win. I enjoyed the characters, the dog who played a real role, the romance and the mystery.
I liked the main characters, Ava and Grant. Ava has been a corporate lawyer in Houston, who after her father's death, has come back to a small town with his trained search dog. She has some issues with her parents having been divorced. She is determined to do right by her father with the K9 and she has some major detecting skills. Grant has also come back to this small town after 6 years away in the Dallas PD. He developed strong skills there but wanted to come home. They have things in common with their training and learning happening in large cities, their strong skills and now choosing small town life.
The romance is between two independent and talented professionals. To me, they don't feel very connected to anyone. Each is very dedicated to their work and solving these disappearances and murders. Grant is certain he wants to be with Ava from the start, but is it a serious effort to know her or just a sexual affair? Ava finds him attractive but isn't sure she can trust him.
The mystery is fast paced with disappearances of children and women. Ava is a dedicated and successful searcher. Partly, this is because of Huck, the K9 and his training, and her training to work with him. She has a observant and intelligent mind, finding clues and information which has eluded the police. Grant is frustrated because it is dangerous for her to be detecting and that is his job. Ava wishes he could share more with her so she could be more effective in her investigation.
I'm not describing this well enough, because I loved it. It was awesome to see Huck, as a working dog and how he tracked people. It was thrilling to see Ava and Grant investigate to solve the mysteries. As they did, their trust and connection grew. I highly recommend Vanishing Hour.
Excerpt:
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
My experiences with this author have been hit or miss but Vanishing Hour was a huge win. I enjoyed the characters, the dog who played a real role, the romance and the mystery.
I liked the main characters, Ava and Grant. Ava has been a corporate lawyer in Houston, who after her father's death, has come back to a small town with his trained search dog. She has some issues with her parents having been divorced. She is determined to do right by her father with the K9 and she has some major detecting skills. Grant has also come back to this small town after 6 years away in the Dallas PD. He developed strong skills there but wanted to come home. They have things in common with their training and learning happening in large cities, their strong skills and now choosing small town life.
The romance is between two independent and talented professionals. To me, they don't feel very connected to anyone. Each is very dedicated to their work and solving these disappearances and murders. Grant is certain he wants to be with Ava from the start, but is it a serious effort to know her or just a sexual affair? Ava finds him attractive but isn't sure she can trust him.
The mystery is fast paced with disappearances of children and women. Ava is a dedicated and successful searcher. Partly, this is because of Huck, the K9 and his training, and her training to work with him. She has a observant and intelligent mind, finding clues and information which has eluded the police. Grant is frustrated because it is dangerous for her to be detecting and that is his job. Ava wishes he could share more with her so she could be more effective in her investigation.
I'm not describing this well enough, because I loved it. It was awesome to see Huck, as a working dog and how he tracked people. It was thrilling to see Ava and Grant investigate to solve the mysteries. As they did, their trust and connection grew. I highly recommend Vanishing Hour.
Excerpt:
Missing children are an emergency. Always. Their little bodies are less able to regulate temperature, so they're especially vulnerable to exposure. And in a place as vast and rugged as Silver Canyon State Park, additional hazards abounded: rattlesnakes, coyotes, hundred-foot cliffs. Even the anemic little creek that Ava had been following was terrifying. A child Noah's size could drown in a bathtub.
Ava glanced up at the relentless sun that sucked moisture out of everything beneath it. She looked ahead at Huck, who trotted back and forth in front of her in his zigzag pattern. He was working the wind, as he'd been trained, tirelessly sniffing the air with his powerful nose, which could pick up anything with human scent on it, from a candy wrapper to a dropped article of clothing.
So far, nothing.
Ava checked her watch. Two long hours since she'd left the trailhead. Sweat stung her eyes, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. She paused beside a boulder and dropped her pack on the dusty ground to retrieve one of her water bottles. Huck needed some, too, but right now he was intent on his work.
She took a lukewarm sip and scanned the scrub brush lining the canyon wall. Young children had a tendency to wander aimlessly until they found a place to curl up for a nap. Some would even hide from search teams, afraid of getting in trouble for being lost. So Ava had been incessantly scanning pockets of brush.
Huck halted in front of her, his nose lifted in the air. Ava froze and watched. But then his head dropped down and he resumed his zigzags. Ava tucked the water bottle away and pushed off the boulder to continue her trek.
She watched Huck, amazed by his energy. Even in this heat, he loved working, and when he had his vest on, he didn't have an off switch. As he bounded around in front of her, she thought of the other teams, especially the canine one. She was surprised they hadn't found something close to camp.
Of course, the parents had been there, which might have been a problem. Frantic parents threw off a lot of scent, which could have overpowered Noah's smell and possibly confused the dog. Also, the temperature rising in the canyon could have wafted the scent up, well above the dog's nose. Yet another challenge here was that young children didn't throw off as much scent as adults. And still bodies-ones that were either asleep or unconscious-threw off less scent, too.
So there were all kinds of factors in play, especially in a park this size.
Ava checked her watch again and sped up her pace, unable to shake the feeling of dread that had been settling in her stomach as the hours ticked by. Scanning the canyon wall, her gaze caught on something beige and triangular.
A tent? No.
A tarp. She climbed onto a boulder for a closer look. About halfway up the slope of the canyon was a sand-colored canvas tarp that had been stretched taut to create a patch of shade. It looked like a primitive fort-just the sort of thing that would attract a kid's attention, and her pulse quickened as she climbed closer. Nearing the tarp, she spied a small yellow tent tucked in the shade beneath it.
She glanced around for Huck, but he was sniffing along at the base of a rockslide.
Grabbing hold of a juniper tree, Ava levered herself onto the ledge. She ducked under the tarp and paused a moment for her eyes to adjust. The little tent was unzipped. Hope ballooned in her chest as she pulled back the flap and poked her head inside.
Her hope disappeared as she scanned the interior. No sleeping child curled up in the dimness. The air was utterly still, and everything was coated with a thin layer of dust, as though no one had been there in weeks, maybe months. A pile of gear in the corner included a cookstove, a hiking boot, and a blue bedroll with a carabiner clipped to it. Attached to the carabiner was a black key fob.
A chill snaked down her spine. Who would leave their car key out here? The fob seemed odd. Ditto for the hiking boot. Where was the other one? And where was its owner?
On impulse, Ava took out her phone and snapped a couple of pictures. As part of her SAR training, she'd learned to document crime scenes. She couldn't pinpoint why, exactly, but that was what this felt like. She ducked out and snapped a shot of the exterior. A faint bark pulled her attention back to the mission. She couldn't afford to get sidetracked, even though this place felt creepy. She put her phone away as she skimmed the surrounding area for the missing boot, or any sign of the boot's owner. She glanced up the canyon, looking for evidence of a fire pit or any other camping equipment.
A soft whimper had her turning around.
Huck sat beside a rock pile, his ears pricked forward and his gaze fixed on hers. Ava's heart skittered. This was his sit alert letting her know he'd found something.
"Show me," she commanded, and he sprang into action, bounding across the creek bed. She climbed down the rocks and jogged after him, frantically searching the clumps of trees. Huck darted around a giant prickly pear cactus and behind a line of mesquite trees. Amid the fluttering green leaves, she caught a flash of red.
"Please, please, please," she murmured.
Huck disappeared beneath the brush and barked. Ava spied a small white sneaker and a pudgy leg.
Huck danced in a circle, drunk on success and eager for his reward.
"Good boy, Huck! Good boy! Good boy!" She filled her voice with praise, even though her heart had lodged in her throat. The little body wasn't moving. Oh God.
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