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The Texas Murder Files #4
Deep Tide
With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she's deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.
Sean Moran is on an undercover assignment. The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it's a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.
Leyla's connections in the local community and Sean's skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean's carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.
Sean Moran is on an undercover assignment. The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it's a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.
Leyla's connections in the local community and Sean's skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean's carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.
328 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
234 people are currently reading
10517 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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
May 11, 2023
IT'S PRETTY GOOD!
Good News!
You can fully read this book as a stand-alone, even though this is the 4th book in the Texas Murder Files series.
SUMMARY:
Leyla Breda is the owner of a coffee shop. One day, when she wants to open her shop, she finds one of her employees, a 25-year-old barista, dead in the alley. She thought this was just a simple murder case, but it wasn't. There's a dark secret behind her employee's death.Sean Moran is an undercover agent; he comes to the town for Leyla's brother's wedding and also for work, but he gets attached to Leyla. Together, they're trying to make things work out between them, while at the same time solving the case that has tangled them.
👁️🗨️ This story is told in third person POV
🕰️ There is only One Timeline in here (Present)
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🔊:
Narrated by: Teri Clark Linden 👩
Length of audio: 9h 13m
I got mixed feelings with the narrator; at first, I didn't really like her voice; it somehow felt a bit awkward and stiff, and in some parts, it sounded like Google Translate. Though it was still quite clear and nice, and she did such a great job with her voice changing.
BUT here is the interesting part!!!!!
As I listened more and more of her voice, unexpectedly, it was good! Well, I don't know if my ears had already adapted so well to her voice or is indeed getting much better🤷♀️.
And I think there's a slight glitch with the audiobook, like it gets cut off or stuck, or maybe some kind of speed problem (?). It happens in some chapters and for just about a second. At first, I wasn't fully sure, then I re-listened a few times, and yes, it's a glitch.
❗️(Be aware I read this audiobook as an ARC, so it could not be the final one).❗️
MY THOUGHTS:
📌 FMC and MMC
Our FMC💁♀️,
She expressed very well every feeling she had, as someone who claimed she didn't express much of how she was feeling to the other person.
Our MMC💁♂️,
He wanted to get in her pants, and he is madly in love with her, and he is trying to solve the case.
📌 The main focus of this story is not only on the two main characters (FMC and MMC), but also on the other characters. I remember hearing a lot about Nicole (one of the side characters' names). At some point, I thought, "Shouldn't she be the main one, not Leyla?" Cause her job as detective and her role are more bigger and important than Leyla in this case. Hahaha🤣
📌 The Romance and The Mystery
Speaking of the romance in this book, their chemistry is not bad since I listened to the audio and the narrator described their scenes very good. Uhmm......To me, it doesn't count as a slow burn if they kissed within the first half of the book and had the sex scene in 70%–71%.
Move on to the mystery and suspense. I think it was good enough for the romantic suspense genre.
📌 The romantic suspense genre sometimes feels right in the middle because it's not entirely romance nor mystery suspense. It makes you confused too, like on which side you are rooting more—the romance aspect or the mystery aspect? And it was also a bit frustrating! If you are a romance lover, you will feel like the romance and their scenes aren't enough, and the same thing goes for you if you're a mystery lover; you need more. So that's why I called it "right in the middle."
MY PROBLEM:
⚠️ FMC more appeared like a side character; she gets nothing special except that she's "intense" (that's what MMC said, "intense") and good at making coffee, also overshadowed by the actual side character🥲.
CREDIT:
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with this audibook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🐥
Good News!
You can fully read this book as a stand-alone, even though this is the 4th book in the Texas Murder Files series.
SUMMARY:
Leyla Breda is the owner of a coffee shop. One day, when she wants to open her shop, she finds one of her employees, a 25-year-old barista, dead in the alley. She thought this was just a simple murder case, but it wasn't. There's a dark secret behind her employee's death.Sean Moran is an undercover agent; he comes to the town for Leyla's brother's wedding and also for work, but he gets attached to Leyla. Together, they're trying to make things work out between them, while at the same time solving the case that has tangled them.
👁️🗨️ This story is told in third person POV
🕰️ There is only One Timeline in here (Present)
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🔊:
Narrated by: Teri Clark Linden 👩
Length of audio: 9h 13m
I got mixed feelings with the narrator; at first, I didn't really like her voice; it somehow felt a bit awkward and stiff, and in some parts, it sounded like Google Translate. Though it was still quite clear and nice, and she did such a great job with her voice changing.
BUT here is the interesting part!!!!!
As I listened more and more of her voice, unexpectedly, it was good! Well, I don't know if my ears had already adapted so well to her voice or is indeed getting much better🤷♀️.
And I think there's a slight glitch with the audiobook, like it gets cut off or stuck, or maybe some kind of speed problem (?). It happens in some chapters and for just about a second. At first, I wasn't fully sure, then I re-listened a few times, and yes, it's a glitch.
❗️(Be aware I read this audiobook as an ARC, so it could not be the final one).❗️
MY THOUGHTS:
📌 FMC and MMC
Our FMC💁♀️,
She expressed very well every feeling she had, as someone who claimed she didn't express much of how she was feeling to the other person.
Our MMC💁♂️,
He wanted to get in her pants, and he is madly in love with her, and he is trying to solve the case.
📌 The main focus of this story is not only on the two main characters (FMC and MMC), but also on the other characters. I remember hearing a lot about Nicole (one of the side characters' names). At some point, I thought, "Shouldn't she be the main one, not Leyla?" Cause her job as detective and her role are more bigger and important than Leyla in this case. Hahaha🤣
📌 The Romance and The Mystery
Speaking of the romance in this book, their chemistry is not bad since I listened to the audio and the narrator described their scenes very good. Uhmm......To me, it doesn't count as a slow burn if they kissed within the first half of the book and had the sex scene in 70%–71%.
Move on to the mystery and suspense. I think it was good enough for the romantic suspense genre.
📌 The romantic suspense genre sometimes feels right in the middle because it's not entirely romance nor mystery suspense. It makes you confused too, like on which side you are rooting more—the romance aspect or the mystery aspect? And it was also a bit frustrating! If you are a romance lover, you will feel like the romance and their scenes aren't enough, and the same thing goes for you if you're a mystery lover; you need more. So that's why I called it "right in the middle."
MY PROBLEM:
⚠️ FMC more appeared like a side character; she gets nothing special except that she's "intense" (that's what MMC said, "intense") and good at making coffee, also overshadowed by the actual side character🥲.
CREDIT:
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with this audibook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🐥
April 28, 2023
Deep Tide by Laura Griffin
The Texas Murder Files #4. Romantic suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Leyla Breda is aware that there is crime in her neighborhood. Finding one of her employees dead in the alley behind the shop is a shock and has Leyla working closely with investigators. Sean Moran is undercover trying to stop the crime syndicates in the small beach town. Working together, Leyla and Sean end up in more danger than expected.
🎧 the audiobook is narrated by Teri Clark Linden who also did the previous books in this series. The performance makes the suspense really pop. The best part is that Leyla’s voice is the same through the series so it’s easy to tell one audiobook from the others, which isn’t always the case. Especially if it’s the same narrator doing different couples in each book. The timing keeps the reader engaged which helps the story flow.
As usual, I did have to speed up the narration so a more comfortable conversational feel.
Exciting, and intriguing.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
The Texas Murder Files #4. Romantic suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Leyla Breda is aware that there is crime in her neighborhood. Finding one of her employees dead in the alley behind the shop is a shock and has Leyla working closely with investigators. Sean Moran is undercover trying to stop the crime syndicates in the small beach town. Working together, Leyla and Sean end up in more danger than expected.
🎧 the audiobook is narrated by Teri Clark Linden who also did the previous books in this series. The performance makes the suspense really pop. The best part is that Leyla’s voice is the same through the series so it’s easy to tell one audiobook from the others, which isn’t always the case. Especially if it’s the same narrator doing different couples in each book. The timing keeps the reader engaged which helps the story flow.
As usual, I did have to speed up the narration so a more comfortable conversational feel.
Exciting, and intriguing.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
May 3, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, steamy, romantic suspense novel. It is a real page turner with a likable characters, a beautiful, vividly described setting, murder, mystery, intrigue, a heart warming romance, and a happy for now ending. This is the fourth entry in the Texas Murders series and can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but it is even better when read in order. I have read every one of Ms. Griffin's outstanding novels, and she never disappoints her readers!
April 5, 2023
Great addition to the romantic suspense murder mystery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Focusing on police procedurals mainly, this author is killing it with her Texas Murder Files series. This story does share some secondary characters from other books, but the lead characters are new.
In Deep Tide we are treated to a steamy romance that blurs the lines a bit with the murder investigation. Griffin ties us up with crime, procedurals, FBI investigations, and hot romance that builds an engaging, fast pace, page-turning story.
The settings and descriptions are perfect and make you wish the setting was real. Character development is spot on and the story is realistic and well-paced. I love the intricacy of the plot. Griffin keeps you guessing with this one!
This book did not grab me as much as I typically see with her books. I cannot pinpoint what was missing, but I think it is due to the fact that Leyla was not a favorite leading character for me. Leyla is strong, but put herself at risk often and kept vacillating with Sean. That made it tough to connect completely with her, in my opinion.
Overall, Deep Tide is an awesome read. I am never disappointed by this author and cannot wait for what is to come!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/deep-tide-by...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Focusing on police procedurals mainly, this author is killing it with her Texas Murder Files series. This story does share some secondary characters from other books, but the lead characters are new.
In Deep Tide we are treated to a steamy romance that blurs the lines a bit with the murder investigation. Griffin ties us up with crime, procedurals, FBI investigations, and hot romance that builds an engaging, fast pace, page-turning story.
The settings and descriptions are perfect and make you wish the setting was real. Character development is spot on and the story is realistic and well-paced. I love the intricacy of the plot. Griffin keeps you guessing with this one!
This book did not grab me as much as I typically see with her books. I cannot pinpoint what was missing, but I think it is due to the fact that Leyla was not a favorite leading character for me. Leyla is strong, but put herself at risk often and kept vacillating with Sean. That made it tough to connect completely with her, in my opinion.
Overall, Deep Tide is an awesome read. I am never disappointed by this author and cannot wait for what is to come!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/deep-tide-by...
May 7, 2023
3.5-3.75 Stars
*Read as a standalone.*
This is a romantic suspense/mystery novel. The main focus is on the romance between Leyla, a baker, and Sean, an undercover cop. I feel the story is missing some sense of urgency and suspense, especially around the beginning and middle of the novel. I wanted more from the crime/mystery aspect of the storyline. But other than that, it was an enjoyable read. Would recommend it to those who prefer more romance in their mystery novels.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Griffin, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
*Read as a standalone.*
This is a romantic suspense/mystery novel. The main focus is on the romance between Leyla, a baker, and Sean, an undercover cop. I feel the story is missing some sense of urgency and suspense, especially around the beginning and middle of the novel. I wanted more from the crime/mystery aspect of the storyline. But other than that, it was an enjoyable read. Would recommend it to those who prefer more romance in their mystery novels.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Griffin, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
April 18, 2023
As usual, I give a Laura Griffin story a 5-Star rating. She is fantastic at crafting a plot that draws you in and keeps you on edge throughout. Since I'm also reviewing the audio version of the book, I give that a 3-star rating. The narrator, Teri Clark Linden, just didn't have much variation in her character voices and lacked dramatic range. Leyla is very cautious about getting involved with Sean. But the deeper she digs into the murder, the deeper they become involved. Sean is protective and I love how he is smitten from the beginning.
Leyla Breda is super busy with the season fast approaching and getting a new catering business off the ground. She has no time for the instant attraction she feels for a guest at her brother's wedding. She is just too busy. Sean feels the same instant attraction and wants to get closer to Leyla too, even though he is undercover with the FBI on a task force that has been working for years to infiltrate a syndicate of criminals who they suspect have moved into the small beachside community of Lost Beach, Texas.
When Leyla discovers an employee murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she is determined to get to the bottom of why and who murdered her. As her first time acting as lead detective on a case Nichole has few facts to start with, but by chasing leads she uncovers something that the FBI has an interest in. Leyla is not about to stand by and takes a chance that proves helpful to Sean's case, but his focus is not on the murdered barista. The deeper Leyla gets into this mess, the more Sean fears for her safety. His attraction is growing, and he will do everything he can to protect her. He knows that the murder is just the tip of some very dangerous crimes committed by very nasty people.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader (Audio) 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.
Leyla Breda is super busy with the season fast approaching and getting a new catering business off the ground. She has no time for the instant attraction she feels for a guest at her brother's wedding. She is just too busy. Sean feels the same instant attraction and wants to get closer to Leyla too, even though he is undercover with the FBI on a task force that has been working for years to infiltrate a syndicate of criminals who they suspect have moved into the small beachside community of Lost Beach, Texas.
When Leyla discovers an employee murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she is determined to get to the bottom of why and who murdered her. As her first time acting as lead detective on a case Nichole has few facts to start with, but by chasing leads she uncovers something that the FBI has an interest in. Leyla is not about to stand by and takes a chance that proves helpful to Sean's case, but his focus is not on the murdered barista. The deeper Leyla gets into this mess, the more Sean fears for her safety. His attraction is growing, and he will do everything he can to protect her. He knows that the murder is just the tip of some very dangerous crimes committed by very nasty people.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader (Audio) 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.
April 30, 2024
I've been listening to this series. The narrator does a great job and these mysteries are all set on a fictional coastal town in Texas. The main characters change with each book, but they're related to the other books so it's fun to see what the previous characters are up to.
April 25, 2023
Leyla Breda is beside herself when the body of one of her employees was found behind her coffee shop. Leyla soon meets Sean Moran. He is in law enforcement as are her two brothers. However, Sean is vague about why he is in town and how long he will be around.
Meanwhile, Leyla has every intention at keeping her work going, and this includes catering jobs. One of her potential clients just might be part of the reason that Sean is in town. In fact, as an FBI agent, he is getting closer to solving his current case. There is definitely going to be a conflict between Leyla and Sean as he tries to keep his job separate from his personal life, but that is complicated by the fact that he is very drawn to her.
Perhaps the two will team up, and for more reasons than one. Sean has an important role in this story, but then so does the detective Nicole, who is striving to solve the murder. This intriguing story was an excellent page Turner, with mystery, drama and the chemistry between Leyla and Sean. I look forward to yet another book in this exciting series.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Meanwhile, Leyla has every intention at keeping her work going, and this includes catering jobs. One of her potential clients just might be part of the reason that Sean is in town. In fact, as an FBI agent, he is getting closer to solving his current case. There is definitely going to be a conflict between Leyla and Sean as he tries to keep his job separate from his personal life, but that is complicated by the fact that he is very drawn to her.
Perhaps the two will team up, and for more reasons than one. Sean has an important role in this story, but then so does the detective Nicole, who is striving to solve the murder. This intriguing story was an excellent page Turner, with mystery, drama and the chemistry between Leyla and Sean. I look forward to yet another book in this exciting series.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 9, 2023
4.5⭐️
Book #4 of The Texas Murder Files series, and can be read as standalone.
An undercover FBI agent and a coffee shop owner who values her independence.
When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken.
A new law enforcement officer Sean comes to town. He is working undercover for something bigger.
This romantic thriller is fast paced, suspenseful, intriguing with some few steamy scenes.
What gets better than this?
The characters in this book were lovable. I especially loved Laylas Strong character.
The wedding meet-cute (Sean & Leyla) was so adorable and the author did well building up the romance so nicely. Their chemistry was undeniable.
I loved the whole police procedural. How the investigation into the murder overlapped with previous murders, the drama surrounding the case with the FBI involvement was written so well.
I felt Leyla putting herself into the investigation was reckless.
I also loved Teri Clark Linden narration. She gave one hell of a performance.
This would be a nice TV Show.
I loved Deep Tide by Laura Griffin and I highly recommend it!
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for This Audiobook.
Book #4 of The Texas Murder Files series, and can be read as standalone.
An undercover FBI agent and a coffee shop owner who values her independence.
When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken.
A new law enforcement officer Sean comes to town. He is working undercover for something bigger.
This romantic thriller is fast paced, suspenseful, intriguing with some few steamy scenes.
What gets better than this?
The characters in this book were lovable. I especially loved Laylas Strong character.
The wedding meet-cute (Sean & Leyla) was so adorable and the author did well building up the romance so nicely. Their chemistry was undeniable.
I loved the whole police procedural. How the investigation into the murder overlapped with previous murders, the drama surrounding the case with the FBI involvement was written so well.
I felt Leyla putting herself into the investigation was reckless.
I also loved Teri Clark Linden narration. She gave one hell of a performance.
This would be a nice TV Show.
I loved Deep Tide by Laura Griffin and I highly recommend it!
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for This Audiobook.
April 25, 2023
3.5 Stars
Leyla Breda is a successful entrepreneur at Lost Beach with her coffee/bake shop hopping and now expanding into catering she’s a busy woman. Her life is thrown upside down when a woman is found murdered behind her shop in a back alley. However, she has more than just her brothers to rely on. Sean Moran, her brother’s friend, also in law enforcement, keeps showing up when she’s at her lowest. There’s an immediate attraction between the two, but Leyla’s has rules about getting involved with non-residents as they have a lot of tourists. At some point they go home and she’s not about to be a vacation fling.
Sean Moran is in Lost Beach for his friend’s wedding (Leyla’s brother) but also because of an ongoing investigation into a rich tech mogul with ties to a criminal cartel. Rumor is a deal is going down soon and Sean’s there to intercept it. The murder of the girl outside of Leyla’s coffeeshop has Sean’s red flags going up as there are some suspicious details that might mean it’s related to his investigation. He didn’t count on meeting Leyla, though. Although she continually rebuffs his romantic proposals, he’s drawn to her over and over. Unfortunately, her questions on the case put her in danger.
I’ve been a fan of Laura Griffin’s police procedural/romantic suspense stories for quite some time, but Deep Tide was a little slow going. It was entertaining but didn’t have the intensity or threat of danger throughout that some of her other stories had until the very end. There was a lot of time spent with Nicole, one of the Lost Beach detectives, and she wasn’t the love interest. Maybe this is a setup for a story focusing on her and Emmett in another case? I feel there wasn’t as much time spent with Sean and Leyla together. Even so, I wanted them to overcome any obstacles and find a way to be together. Even with some of these issues, I’d still recommend Deep Tide to mystery/romantic suspense fans. The other books in the series are really good, as well. Particularly Flight and Midnight Dunes which are my favorites so far.
I alternated between an e-ARC and audio copy of Deep Tide and I recommend either. The audio, narrated by Teri Clark Linden, was excellent. I’ve enjoyed several books by her and love her voice, accents, and performance! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
Leyla Breda is a successful entrepreneur at Lost Beach with her coffee/bake shop hopping and now expanding into catering she’s a busy woman. Her life is thrown upside down when a woman is found murdered behind her shop in a back alley. However, she has more than just her brothers to rely on. Sean Moran, her brother’s friend, also in law enforcement, keeps showing up when she’s at her lowest. There’s an immediate attraction between the two, but Leyla’s has rules about getting involved with non-residents as they have a lot of tourists. At some point they go home and she’s not about to be a vacation fling.
Sean Moran is in Lost Beach for his friend’s wedding (Leyla’s brother) but also because of an ongoing investigation into a rich tech mogul with ties to a criminal cartel. Rumor is a deal is going down soon and Sean’s there to intercept it. The murder of the girl outside of Leyla’s coffeeshop has Sean’s red flags going up as there are some suspicious details that might mean it’s related to his investigation. He didn’t count on meeting Leyla, though. Although she continually rebuffs his romantic proposals, he’s drawn to her over and over. Unfortunately, her questions on the case put her in danger.
I’ve been a fan of Laura Griffin’s police procedural/romantic suspense stories for quite some time, but Deep Tide was a little slow going. It was entertaining but didn’t have the intensity or threat of danger throughout that some of her other stories had until the very end. There was a lot of time spent with Nicole, one of the Lost Beach detectives, and she wasn’t the love interest. Maybe this is a setup for a story focusing on her and Emmett in another case? I feel there wasn’t as much time spent with Sean and Leyla together. Even so, I wanted them to overcome any obstacles and find a way to be together. Even with some of these issues, I’d still recommend Deep Tide to mystery/romantic suspense fans. The other books in the series are really good, as well. Particularly Flight and Midnight Dunes which are my favorites so far.
I alternated between an e-ARC and audio copy of Deep Tide and I recommend either. The audio, narrated by Teri Clark Linden, was excellent. I’ve enjoyed several books by her and love her voice, accents, and performance! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2023
Title: Deep Tide
Series: The Texas Murder Files #4
Author: Laura Griffin
Release date: April 25, 2023
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: romantic suspense, murder mystery
I decided to try Deep Tide because I wanted to branch out a little and read something outside my norm. I do not typically gravitate towards murder mysteries, however, the romance element of the synopsis intrigued me. I was feeling adventurous. One FBI agent, a (seemingly) tough heroine, and overprotective/disapproving cop brothers all seemed to hint at the possibility of strong emotional conflicts. I'm a romance reader at heart, so if there is going to be romance in the story, whether it's forefront or background, I'm going to need it to be well-developed. Unfortunately, I came away from the book feeling let down in that area.
I honestly didn't understand Sean's intense draw to Leyla. The synopsis describes her as brash which is defined as: self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way. That's pretty on point. She could be rude at times, distant with her loved ones, and DEFINITELY overbearing. She's the kind of woman who seems to push down her emotions and push those away who try to help or show concern. When she first meets Sean at her brother's wedding, she brushes him off because she perceives him to be a temporary visitor to town just looking for casual fun. Admittedly, she was justified for her concerns. His time there was just temporary until the end of his case. Only, she comes off on page somewhat cold and closed off, so I didn't get why Sean couldn't resist her. They don't spend a ton of time around each other because he is consumed with his undercover work. There aren't any heart-to-hearts or deep, getting to know one another conversations. Leyla was not feeling relatable or endearing to me, but I pushed on.
Sean Moran is in town trying to get information on Luc Gagnon, a tech mogul suspected of ties to the Saledo crime family. When one of Leyla's employees is murdered at her coffee shop, he quickly suspects that the two investigations are somehow connected. He teams up with the lead detective, Nicole Lawson to try to get to the bottom of it. Their investigation did finally pull me in a little bit as it alternated between Nicole and Sean's work tracking down leads.
I was trying to ignore my disconnect with Leyla throughout the book, but there was one point in particular that really bothered me. Not only did she keep trying to pressure information out of Sean about what he was doing there (even after learning he was FBI and on a case), she snooped in his research when he left the room and discovered the man he was investigating. She then proceeds to solicit catering work from the man's secretary KNOWING that he is a seriously dangerous man who could have played a part in the murder of her employee. When Sean is shocked and angered that she is considering taking a job at the man's house, she gets defensive and rude. She's not a trained professional and she wants to go to the man's home for the purpose of digging up information?? This did not make sense to me at all, as a sister of two cops she should know about case confidentiality and leaving the investigation to professionals. Of course, her going there and snooping led to very bad things and she never owns up to her recklessness. Never apologizes to him, and he never even holds her accountable for her immature actions. After that point, she bothered me so much in her actions and personality that I found it really hard to care about her.
I should have felt some emotion towards the romance, but I felt that that aspect was underdeveloped compared to the murder mystery plot line. Even the relationships in general were glossed over-like the fact that her brother didn't like Sean and advised her to stay away from him. He said it was partly because he was working on a dangerous case, but it was more than that. Something about Sean personally bothered her brother but he didn't elaborate. Then it was never talked about again until the end when Miranda basically shrugged and told her in a blasé way that he was over that, but not sure why. There was not much time spent on the connections and feelings of the characters which made them fall flat. Also, without going into detail, the investigation ended in a very unsatisfactory way for me. Maybe it was more realistic that way, but it was frustrating. Not every book is a big winner and that's fine. Overall, I think maybe this author's writing style didn't mesh with my reading taste because it was just okay.
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April 20, 2023
Beach Read Alert 🚨 || You'll want to throw this one in your bag this summer!
Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted copy of Deep Tide {partner}
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 4.25.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
Laura Griffin's books have become such an essential read for me. There's just something about the combination of romance and suspense + police procedural that keeps 👏🏼 me 👏🏼hooked. I usually read on my Kindle before bed, but I won't let myself read Griffin's books before bed, or I will never sleep.
A few reviewers mentioned that they didn't love the female MC, Leyla. While I can see their points, her perspective is fresh for the series, and I didn't mind her. With some of Griffin's female MCs, I have been frustrated with their complete disrespect for following the rules, but Leyla didn't have that type of personality.
Usually, Griffin writes her books with some reasonably heavy romance mixed within the pages, but with Deep Tide, that wasn't the case. There was romance, I promise. But, she focused more on the police procedural aspect of the story (which worked for me). I loved reading along as the different characters tried to solve what had happened to the victim.
My only real complaint about Deep Tide is that the ending felt rushed, while the book's pacing was perfect. There wasn't a proper "epilogue," and I needed to know what happened to the bad guys 😆
📖 Could be read as a standalone
🕵🏽♀️ More suspense than romance
👌🏼 Well paced
🚔 Police procedural
🌊 Small beachside town
I recommend reading Deep Tide if you enjoy a little suspense with a side of romance during your summer reading!
______
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Thank you, Berkley Publishing, for the gifted copy of Deep Tide {partner}
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 4.25.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
Laura Griffin's books have become such an essential read for me. There's just something about the combination of romance and suspense + police procedural that keeps 👏🏼 me 👏🏼hooked. I usually read on my Kindle before bed, but I won't let myself read Griffin's books before bed, or I will never sleep.
A few reviewers mentioned that they didn't love the female MC, Leyla. While I can see their points, her perspective is fresh for the series, and I didn't mind her. With some of Griffin's female MCs, I have been frustrated with their complete disrespect for following the rules, but Leyla didn't have that type of personality.
Usually, Griffin writes her books with some reasonably heavy romance mixed within the pages, but with Deep Tide, that wasn't the case. There was romance, I promise. But, she focused more on the police procedural aspect of the story (which worked for me). I loved reading along as the different characters tried to solve what had happened to the victim.
My only real complaint about Deep Tide is that the ending felt rushed, while the book's pacing was perfect. There wasn't a proper "epilogue," and I needed to know what happened to the bad guys 😆
📖 Could be read as a standalone
🕵🏽♀️ More suspense than romance
👌🏼 Well paced
🚔 Police procedural
🌊 Small beachside town
I recommend reading Deep Tide if you enjoy a little suspense with a side of romance during your summer reading!
______
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend....
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookendd...
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...
April 25, 2023
All the novels in the Texas Murder Files can be read as standalone and feature a suspenseful case and romance. Here, we meet Leyla Brenda. Her brothers are police officers in their coastal tourist town and one is getting married. She first meets Sean Moran at her brother’s wedding.
After having watched her brother tie the knot and take off for their honeymoon, she enters her coffee shop to discover it in a state of disarray. It appears the barista who shut down didn’t clean up. As she takes the trash out to the dumpsters in the alley, she makes a grizzly discovery.
Undercover Agent Sean Moran may have attended the wedding, but he is here on an undercover assignment. He thinks the recent murder might be related. The suspenseful mystery thread was interesting and involved Lost Beach PD and the FBI. Sean can’t disclose what he is working on, not even with the local cop in charge, because his suspect has deep pockets.
Leyla gets involved mostly because of an opportunity, and it soon places her in danger. The romance is served on the side and despite their initial chemistry; it had a slow burn vibe.
While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, mostly because the pacing felt off, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one. Griffin writes stories I love to slip into with just enough intrigue and mystery to engage me.
Fans of romantic suspense, crime fiction and well-written characters should check out this series and Griffin’s other series as well. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
After having watched her brother tie the knot and take off for their honeymoon, she enters her coffee shop to discover it in a state of disarray. It appears the barista who shut down didn’t clean up. As she takes the trash out to the dumpsters in the alley, she makes a grizzly discovery.
Undercover Agent Sean Moran may have attended the wedding, but he is here on an undercover assignment. He thinks the recent murder might be related. The suspenseful mystery thread was interesting and involved Lost Beach PD and the FBI. Sean can’t disclose what he is working on, not even with the local cop in charge, because his suspect has deep pockets.
Leyla gets involved mostly because of an opportunity, and it soon places her in danger. The romance is served on the side and despite their initial chemistry; it had a slow burn vibe.
While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, mostly because the pacing felt off, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one. Griffin writes stories I love to slip into with just enough intrigue and mystery to engage me.
Fans of romantic suspense, crime fiction and well-written characters should check out this series and Griffin’s other series as well. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
March 28, 2023
DEEP TIDE is the fourth book in the Texas Murder Files series. I really just love this series, but you can also read this one as a stand alone. I really enjoyed the fast-paced story line. We jump into the mystery immediately. One of Leyla's employees is found dead outside of her coffee shop. She is determined to figure out what happened, even though her brother, Police Officer Joel, and her new love interest, FBI agent Sean Moran, tell her to keep out of it. Sean and Leyla's romance was just the best! The sparks were flying even though Joel warned her to stay away from him, but of course she didn't. I think the story ended perfectly. I do wonder if this is the end of the series or if there will be another book. I highly recommend DEEP TIDE and the rest of this series. If you enjoy romantic suspense as much as I do, these books are for you!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
August 2, 2023
3.5 stars
I have been enjoying Laura's books and this series is so good.
I really liked Leyla and Sean. They're both driven and looking for something without even realizing it. I loved their super quick meet cute and how the relationship did move organically. Of course it was great to see a bit of a future take for Miranda and Joel.
Plot wise, it wasn't my favorite. I am here for the murdery bits and while there was a murder case, it was a small piece of a bigger situation. Instead of a steady build up to a resolution, it felt like a slow meandering with a burst of action and quick resolution.
Overall, I'm always going to read Laura's books, but this one was lacking the tension I was expecting.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I have been enjoying Laura's books and this series is so good.
I really liked Leyla and Sean. They're both driven and looking for something without even realizing it. I loved their super quick meet cute and how the relationship did move organically. Of course it was great to see a bit of a future take for Miranda and Joel.
Plot wise, it wasn't my favorite. I am here for the murdery bits and while there was a murder case, it was a small piece of a bigger situation. Instead of a steady build up to a resolution, it felt like a slow meandering with a burst of action and quick resolution.
Overall, I'm always going to read Laura's books, but this one was lacking the tension I was expecting.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
April 25, 2023
I love that I got the chance to listen to the audiobook of Deep Tide. The narrator was fantastic. She brought this book to life and had me pulled in from the very beginning.
I loved the main couple, Leyla and Sean. They had an instant attraction but with a few bumps in the road for them to do anything about it. I was rooting for them from the start.
The mystery of the Leila's employees murder was intriguing and I loved how the author intertwined it with bigger things. I enjoy trying to figure out investigations like this so I don't want to say too much to spoil this part of it. It kept me interested all the way to the end.
I loved the main couple, Leyla and Sean. They had an instant attraction but with a few bumps in the road for them to do anything about it. I was rooting for them from the start.
The mystery of the Leila's employees murder was intriguing and I loved how the author intertwined it with bigger things. I enjoy trying to figure out investigations like this so I don't want to say too much to spoil this part of it. It kept me interested all the way to the end.
April 24, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the narration on this book was great! I loved how they gave it a little southern accent so it really felt genuinely like they were in Texas. The story started off strong for me, a solid murder mystery whodunnit, but slowly lost my interest as the story went on. By the end I wasn’t nearly as invested as I wanted to be and I doubt I’ll be continuing this series when more books are released. I’m sure some would love it, but the slow pace just didn’t keep me captivated.
I thought the narration on this book was great! I loved how they gave it a little southern accent so it really felt genuinely like they were in Texas. The story started off strong for me, a solid murder mystery whodunnit, but slowly lost my interest as the story went on. By the end I wasn’t nearly as invested as I wanted to be and I doubt I’ll be continuing this series when more books are released. I’m sure some would love it, but the slow pace just didn’t keep me captivated.
January 21, 2023
Deep Tide, the fourth installment of The Texas Murder Files, follows Owen and Joel’s sister Leyla Breda. When Leyla meets undercover FBI agent, Sean Moran, at her brother Joel’s wedding she is completely smitten but she refuses to even think about dating non-locals. When on of Leyla’s employees is murdered behind her coffee shop, she’s shaken by the attack. Unbeknownst to her, Sean Moran is already on the case, and while the local Lost Beach PD is focused on the single murder, Moran has a much bigger investigation in play.
I expected to be completely in love with this story, as I enjoyed Leyla in the previous books. But I didn’t particular like Leyla’s character here. On one hand, she’s this no nonsense, tough women and on the other she completely emotionally immature and insecure. The contrast between the two sides of her personality made it hard to get to know her, and this took away from the story for me.
I loved the murder/mystery story in this installment. It felt much higher stakes with the FBI being brought in then some of the previous books in this story. Which made this story more heart-pounding and had me on the edge of my seat multiple times.
While this has been my favorite police mystery of the series, this was my least favorite romance from Griffin. The relationship between Sean and Leyla felt forced with none of the chemistry the previous couples (Joel/Miranda, Macey/Owen, Bailey/Jacob) had. This could have easily been a 5 star for me, but with romance being half the point of Griffin’s books, the lack of chemistry took this down a star for me.
We meet quite a few new characters in this book, and I’m still excited to see who we’ll see leading in the next installment. Personally, I’m hoping we see Emmett and Nicole soon!
Deep Tide comes out April 25, 2023. Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.
I expected to be completely in love with this story, as I enjoyed Leyla in the previous books. But I didn’t particular like Leyla’s character here. On one hand, she’s this no nonsense, tough women and on the other she completely emotionally immature and insecure. The contrast between the two sides of her personality made it hard to get to know her, and this took away from the story for me.
I loved the murder/mystery story in this installment. It felt much higher stakes with the FBI being brought in then some of the previous books in this story. Which made this story more heart-pounding and had me on the edge of my seat multiple times.
While this has been my favorite police mystery of the series, this was my least favorite romance from Griffin. The relationship between Sean and Leyla felt forced with none of the chemistry the previous couples (Joel/Miranda, Macey/Owen, Bailey/Jacob) had. This could have easily been a 5 star for me, but with romance being half the point of Griffin’s books, the lack of chemistry took this down a star for me.
We meet quite a few new characters in this book, and I’m still excited to see who we’ll see leading in the next installment. Personally, I’m hoping we see Emmett and Nicole soon!
Deep Tide comes out April 25, 2023. Huge thank you to Berkley Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.
March 29, 2023
A couple of years ago, I read the first of this "Texas Murder Files" series, but somehow I missed the next two. Only one character - actually one I didn't much care for - is in this one, at least as far as my memory (and a peek at my review of that one) goes. I must say, though, that I was far happier to see that, insofar as a good story goes, the tide has turned for the better. While it comes off a little closer to a cozy mystery than I expected, I enjoyed it and yes, look forward to reading more about the main characters.
They would be Leyla Breda, who owns and operates two deli/catering firms in seaside Lost Beach, Texas, and FBI agent Sean Moran, who's in town from his D.C. base on an undercover assignment. Needless to say, romantic sparks fly despite the objections of her police-force brothers - but so does the action, which begins with Leyla's discovery of the body of one of her employees out behind her main shop. There's no immediately identifiable motive, and thus no discernible path to the killer.
Much of the story that follows centers on Sean's and Leyla's reasons for not getting together which which, truth be told, got really old really fast (one of the reasons the aforementioned cozies drive me nuts). The investigation, though, provides a welcome relief from the romantic waffling, and most readers no doubt will soon suspect the case Sean is working on and the woman's murder might be in some way connected (whether or not they are, of course, I won't tell). As the end nears, the action heats up, with at least one character's life on the line. All told, it's definitely worth reading, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Good job!
They would be Leyla Breda, who owns and operates two deli/catering firms in seaside Lost Beach, Texas, and FBI agent Sean Moran, who's in town from his D.C. base on an undercover assignment. Needless to say, romantic sparks fly despite the objections of her police-force brothers - but so does the action, which begins with Leyla's discovery of the body of one of her employees out behind her main shop. There's no immediately identifiable motive, and thus no discernible path to the killer.
Much of the story that follows centers on Sean's and Leyla's reasons for not getting together which which, truth be told, got really old really fast (one of the reasons the aforementioned cozies drive me nuts). The investigation, though, provides a welcome relief from the romantic waffling, and most readers no doubt will soon suspect the case Sean is working on and the woman's murder might be in some way connected (whether or not they are, of course, I won't tell). As the end nears, the action heats up, with at least one character's life on the line. All told, it's definitely worth reading, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Good job!
April 28, 2023
***ARC Provided by the Author***
Did I enjoy this book? I definitely did. I always enjoy this author's titles. Ms. Griffin has a unique ability to weave romance and suspense in a way that makes it work and doesn't leave you thinking "wait, a first kiss during a gin battle? Does that make sense?"
Leyla and Sean were excellent as a couple and I really liked the heroine. There was something about her that really made me relate to her, despite the fact that I have never encountered a single murder victim, much less an employee.
Plot wise, there isn't a lot I can say that won't be a spoiler for someone, so I will say that this is yet another solid title by this author. It's a standalone, so if you haven't read her other titles, you can absolutely start here...but warning, you are going to then want to read everything she has ever written.
I enjoyed and recommend this title.
Did I enjoy this book? I definitely did. I always enjoy this author's titles. Ms. Griffin has a unique ability to weave romance and suspense in a way that makes it work and doesn't leave you thinking "wait, a first kiss during a gin battle? Does that make sense?"
Leyla and Sean were excellent as a couple and I really liked the heroine. There was something about her that really made me relate to her, despite the fact that I have never encountered a single murder victim, much less an employee.
Plot wise, there isn't a lot I can say that won't be a spoiler for someone, so I will say that this is yet another solid title by this author. It's a standalone, so if you haven't read her other titles, you can absolutely start here...but warning, you are going to then want to read everything she has ever written.
I enjoyed and recommend this title.
November 8, 2023
As you can probably tell by my string of recent books, I am in my romantic suspense era (alongside other eras too LOL). This is book 4 in the Texas Murder Files and focuses on Leyla who is the sister of Joel and Owen. Leyla is a business owner in their town who ends up getting sucked into an investigation when one of her employees is found dead outside of her shop. That is when she meets Sean, a mysterious FBI agent who is also hot and a tourist. Leyla has one rule when it comes to her heart- no tourists. But of course as we know how these things go, that rule goes out the window as her and Sean continue to run into each other throughout the investigation. Leyla inserts herself in it more than she needs to which back fires in the worst way for her.
I am excited to see if this story continues into the next book as it was wrapped up but also part of a larger investigation. I am also PUMPED to read about Nicole and Emmet. They have been circling each other since book 1. I have enjoyed getting snippets of Nicole’s POV in the past few books as well. This is a series that I recommend jumping into!
I am excited to see if this story continues into the next book as it was wrapped up but also part of a larger investigation. I am also PUMPED to read about Nicole and Emmet. They have been circling each other since book 1. I have enjoyed getting snippets of Nicole’s POV in the past few books as well. This is a series that I recommend jumping into!
April 14, 2023
★★ 3.5 - 4 stars! ★★
May 27, 2023
Griffin is just such a reliable author for me. I could nitpick a little on a few plot points, but mostly I just really liked Leyla and Sean and liked going back to this larger universe of characters. Looking forward to Nicole and Emmet's story (hopefully very soon)!
July 10, 2023
3.5
Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog
This latest installment in Ms. Griffin’s Texas Murder Files is a solid addition to the series. We see Leyla, sister to two previous heroes, get her happily ever after. And it’s with a fed. She never thought she’d go for a cop, since her brothers were on the force, but here she is, falling for an FBI agent (I would like to say that this series is an auto-read for me, so I went in without having read the blurb. I found out he was an undercover fed when Leyla did, and color me surprised!).
Sean Moran is on the island for his friend’s wedding, but meeting the beautiful Leyla, his friend’s sister, is the highlight of his day. Until there’s a murder behind her cafe. The murder may be connected to a case Sean is working on, but he can’t tell Leyla that. Nor can he tell her what his case actually is. He’s not just at her brother’s wedding as a guest, he’s there to spy on a certain tech billionaire who just moved to the island. And the wedding is a great excuse.
The murder investigation is going nowhere, and one thing I’ve enjoyed with this series is seeing the police department and how well everyone works together (or in some cases, how they don’t work well together). I like Nicole, the newest officer, who is given lead on this case. I like the way her coworkers are, and I like seeing the inner workings of the department on a small island with a burgeoning crime rate. It’s a good part of the series, and it helps tie the books together. Being that this is the fourth book in the series, I was excited for Nicole, and kind of hoping to see the beginnings of her romance (maybe hopefully for another book). I also liked seeing how well she and Sean worked together, especially considering that he’s a fed who can’t tell her anything.
While I usually enjoy getting multiple characters’ points of view, I really got annoyed with being in Nicole’s head so much. There was so much time spent with Nicole, that I feel it took away from the romance between Leyla and Sean. I also felt a lot of it could have been condensed.
That being said, I liked how Sean respected Leyla’s boundaries, and how he treated her. I think that Leyla is a strong heroine, and I liked seeing her insecurities peek out every now and then. It makes her feel more real. She’s very driven, and being that she’s a sister to two cops, sometimes I’d forget she wasn’t one too. She fits right in. I think that’s why the ending worked so well for me.
Sean and Leyla falling in love while each knows it’s supposed to be temporary is both exciting and thrilling. But can they make it work when Leyla lives on an island off the coast of Texas, and Sean lives in Washington D.C.?
This book can be read as a standalone, however you will see other previous couples. You won’t be lost, or confused though.
***ARC courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog
This latest installment in Ms. Griffin’s Texas Murder Files is a solid addition to the series. We see Leyla, sister to two previous heroes, get her happily ever after. And it’s with a fed. She never thought she’d go for a cop, since her brothers were on the force, but here she is, falling for an FBI agent (I would like to say that this series is an auto-read for me, so I went in without having read the blurb. I found out he was an undercover fed when Leyla did, and color me surprised!).
Sean Moran is on the island for his friend’s wedding, but meeting the beautiful Leyla, his friend’s sister, is the highlight of his day. Until there’s a murder behind her cafe. The murder may be connected to a case Sean is working on, but he can’t tell Leyla that. Nor can he tell her what his case actually is. He’s not just at her brother’s wedding as a guest, he’s there to spy on a certain tech billionaire who just moved to the island. And the wedding is a great excuse.
The murder investigation is going nowhere, and one thing I’ve enjoyed with this series is seeing the police department and how well everyone works together (or in some cases, how they don’t work well together). I like Nicole, the newest officer, who is given lead on this case. I like the way her coworkers are, and I like seeing the inner workings of the department on a small island with a burgeoning crime rate. It’s a good part of the series, and it helps tie the books together. Being that this is the fourth book in the series, I was excited for Nicole, and kind of hoping to see the beginnings of her romance (maybe hopefully for another book). I also liked seeing how well she and Sean worked together, especially considering that he’s a fed who can’t tell her anything.
While I usually enjoy getting multiple characters’ points of view, I really got annoyed with being in Nicole’s head so much. There was so much time spent with Nicole, that I feel it took away from the romance between Leyla and Sean. I also felt a lot of it could have been condensed.
That being said, I liked how Sean respected Leyla’s boundaries, and how he treated her. I think that Leyla is a strong heroine, and I liked seeing her insecurities peek out every now and then. It makes her feel more real. She’s very driven, and being that she’s a sister to two cops, sometimes I’d forget she wasn’t one too. She fits right in. I think that’s why the ending worked so well for me.
Sean and Leyla falling in love while each knows it’s supposed to be temporary is both exciting and thrilling. But can they make it work when Leyla lives on an island off the coast of Texas, and Sean lives in Washington D.C.?
This book can be read as a standalone, however you will see other previous couples. You won’t be lost, or confused though.
***ARC courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
April 14, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the digital review copy of Deep Tide.
I enjoyed this book overall. I have not read the first three books of this particular series so I don’t know if it keeps the continuity but I had zero issues with not knowing the past.
Leyla is our main character who meets Sean at her brother’s wedding. She lives in a lovely coastal tourist town which was spot on with descriptions of setting. It put me straight in some of the vacation homes I’ve been too and I was happy to vicariously slip off my sandals and walk on the cool sand with Leyla. Leyla has a strict “I don’t date tourists” policy so she initially tries to ignore the spark she feels with Sean. While the chemistry was decent, it seemed a bit over the top at times but I have a tendency to trust no one in a thriller novel. I honestly liked the combination romance/mystery aspect which felt like a 50/50 split.
Onto the mystery/crime. Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in an alley. The case details, the scene, the plot all move very smoothly and keep the pace of the novel. Personally, I could have gone without Nicole’s chapters as her investigation didn’t feel vital, but I think that’s the flaw with not reading the first three novels.
Overall, a good book and I think I will go look up the previous three. This was a well-narrated book as well.
I enjoyed this book overall. I have not read the first three books of this particular series so I don’t know if it keeps the continuity but I had zero issues with not knowing the past.
Leyla is our main character who meets Sean at her brother’s wedding. She lives in a lovely coastal tourist town which was spot on with descriptions of setting. It put me straight in some of the vacation homes I’ve been too and I was happy to vicariously slip off my sandals and walk on the cool sand with Leyla. Leyla has a strict “I don’t date tourists” policy so she initially tries to ignore the spark she feels with Sean. While the chemistry was decent, it seemed a bit over the top at times but I have a tendency to trust no one in a thriller novel. I honestly liked the combination romance/mystery aspect which felt like a 50/50 split.
Onto the mystery/crime. Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in an alley. The case details, the scene, the plot all move very smoothly and keep the pace of the novel. Personally, I could have gone without Nicole’s chapters as her investigation didn’t feel vital, but I think that’s the flaw with not reading the first three novels.
Overall, a good book and I think I will go look up the previous three. This was a well-narrated book as well.
May 3, 2023
I really enjoyed the latest installment in the Lost Beach series. It was nice to finally see more of Layla than just quick quick interactions between her and her brothers. The mystery was satisfyingly complex as I've come to expect from Laura Griffin and the way she wove both Layla and Sean into the plot was believable but twisty. The main romance was perfect. Now if we can only make some progress with Nicole and Emmet :)
April 25, 2023
Deep Tide combines romantic suspense with police procedural and murder mystery to create a really great read. Laura Griffin is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors because she writes a great mystery/suspense plot! The romance is great as well!
Leyla is a caterer who meets Sean at her brother's wedding. Sean is an undercover agent. These two have that insta-lust attraction, but they are both a little busy. However, they are brought together for a murder of one of Leyla's employees. I really liked Sean and Leyla together, and her brothers were great as well! They are protective, but not overbearing. Sean is also trying to determine if this murder has anything to do with his FBI case, and if so, it could be really dangerous!
The plot of the murder mystery is solid and kept me engaged. The hot chemistry between Sean and Leyla was on point! Overall, romantic suspense fans will delight in Deep Tide!
POV: 3rd
Tears: no
Trope: police procedural, murder mystery
Triggers: none
Series/Standalone: standalone within an Interconnected series
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Authors like Toni Anderson, Jayne Ann Krentz, Christina Dodd...then you will probably like Deep Tide!
Deep Tide
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April 23, 2023
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.
I'm not sure how to feel about Deep Tide. The main characters seemed likeable enough. Leyla has her own bakery cafe and catering business. I love that. She has two brothers who are cops. She lives on a beautiful island near the ocean which is a small community. The opening is the oldest brother's wedding to one of the CSI techs in their police dept. Leyla is catering the wedding.
Sean is a friend of her brother's from police training and is here for the wedding. He is also here on business. He's in the FBI. They have an insta-attraction. They hardly seem to get much time together so it doesn't feel connected enough for me. We hardly learn much about Sean's case because he can't tell Leyla or anyone about it.
There are a LOT of characters in the police department, Leyla's family and then Sean and the FBI. I didn't get enough depth or connections with any of them. I feel like this is the start of a series except it is book 4 in the Texas Murder Files . It looks like I read book 1, Hidden, which is the sister of the bride and her police detective fiance's story. They don't live in this town like the characters in the next 3 books. Books 2 and 3 are the Leyla's two police brothers. I might have done better having read those books with all the characters.
There is also a murder mystery. Leyla is the one who discovered the body and the young woman worked for her. We get some of the investigation from the lead detective Nicole. She gets leads in a weird way and it connects a bit to Sean's work so they interface. Since Sean keeps everyone in the dark, the plot doesn't seem to go anywhere until the end.
I liked Deep Tide. I wanted to know who killed the young woman. But there were too many characters I didn't know well. Even the main couple didn't make me feel since I didn't really know much about them. When Sean took a few days off after the case wrapped which they spent together, it doesn't give us any of them together; it just jumps to when he leaves. I needed to see more time with them, talking to each other, not just kissing or having sex. I probably need to go back and read Flight and Midnight Dunes. That would help with the other characters but not the plot here.
COYER April mystery RAT
Excerpt:
Review copy was received from Netgalley . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'm not sure how to feel about Deep Tide. The main characters seemed likeable enough. Leyla has her own bakery cafe and catering business. I love that. She has two brothers who are cops. She lives on a beautiful island near the ocean which is a small community. The opening is the oldest brother's wedding to one of the CSI techs in their police dept. Leyla is catering the wedding.
Sean is a friend of her brother's from police training and is here for the wedding. He is also here on business. He's in the FBI. They have an insta-attraction. They hardly seem to get much time together so it doesn't feel connected enough for me. We hardly learn much about Sean's case because he can't tell Leyla or anyone about it.
There are a LOT of characters in the police department, Leyla's family and then Sean and the FBI. I didn't get enough depth or connections with any of them. I feel like this is the start of a series except it is book 4 in the Texas Murder Files . It looks like I read book 1, Hidden, which is the sister of the bride and her police detective fiance's story. They don't live in this town like the characters in the next 3 books. Books 2 and 3 are the Leyla's two police brothers. I might have done better having read those books with all the characters.
There is also a murder mystery. Leyla is the one who discovered the body and the young woman worked for her. We get some of the investigation from the lead detective Nicole. She gets leads in a weird way and it connects a bit to Sean's work so they interface. Since Sean keeps everyone in the dark, the plot doesn't seem to go anywhere until the end.
I liked Deep Tide. I wanted to know who killed the young woman. But there were too many characters I didn't know well. Even the main couple didn't make me feel since I didn't really know much about them. When Sean took a few days off after the case wrapped which they spent together, it doesn't give us any of them together; it just jumps to when he leaves. I needed to see more time with them, talking to each other, not just kissing or having sex. I probably need to go back and read Flight and Midnight Dunes. That would help with the other characters but not the plot here.
COYER April mystery RAT
Excerpt:
Sean Moran slipped away from the party. The bride and groom had left under a shower of rice, but people were still milling around beneath swags of white lights, drinking the couple’s booze and enjoying the breeze off the water. Sean would have liked another drink, but he needed to get back to his condo. As he crossed the wooden bridge spanning the sand dunes, he spied a woman on the beach with a champagne flute in hand.
Leyla Breda.
Her formfitting dress looked silver in the moonlight, and it shimmered against her body as she strolled toward the surf. Nearing a piece of driftwood, she dropped her shoes to the sand and sat down. She nestled the flute at her feet, then lifted her arms and twisted her dark hair into a knot at the top of her head.
Sean stopped at the end of the bridge. He had about a hundred things left to do tonight, including contacting his boss.
Instead, he walked over to Leyla.
"How's the champagne?"
She jumped and turned around. Recognition flickered across her face, and her shoulders relaxed.
"It's good." She held up her glass. "You didn't have any?"
"Nope. Can I get you a refill?"
She smiled. "What, are you a waiter now, too?"
He stepped closer. "I'm Sean Moran, by the way." He held out his hand. "We never actually met."
"Leyla Breda." Her handshake was brisk and businesslike, but the warm look in her eyes gave him hope.
"Joel's little sister," he said.
"That's me."
He turned toward the water so he wouldn't be tempted to stare down the front of her dress.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you earlier," she said. "Things got really hectic."
"Looked like you had your hands full."
"So, are you here for Joel or Miranda?"
He looked at her. "Joel."
She tipped her head to the side as she gazed up at him. "And you know him from . . . ?"
"Work."
She frowned. "Here?"
"No. We go way back. We were in the same academy class in Houston, spent some time at HPD together."
"Oh. That was a while ago."
"Yeah."
"So . . . the vice squad, then?"
"Yeah. Mind if I sit down?"
"Not at all."
Sean lowered himself onto the other end of the sandy log. He didn't like the direction the conversation had taken so he steered it back to her.
"So, how long have you been a caterer?" he asked.
"Hmm . . . let's see. I guess it's been about three weeks now." She turned and smiled at him, and he felt a hot jolt of attraction. "Why? Can you tell?"
"Not at all."
"Right."
"Well, the timing seemed a little bumpy."
"Just a little." She rolled her eyes. "We had several staffers no-show. It happens a lot in this business. People are flaky. Despite all my planning, you could say we were a bit rushed."
Rushed was right. No woman had ever clapped at him before. He'd discovered it was a turn-on.
Excerpted from Deep Tide by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2023 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.
May 8, 2023
I completely binge read all of Laura Griffin’s books late last year into 2023. I fell in love with her fast paced thrillers that also contained some romance to keep things interesting. Needless to say I had this one on my radar for months before it came out. I loved the other books in the series and was excited to see which characters from previous books would get their own story in this one. These books do not need to be read in order but you will see a few familiar characters making appearances thought out the series.
For example, this book features Layla Breda who owns a coffee shop in town and has two brothers who are also cops. The bothers have had their own stories in the series and we have met Layla in passing in other books, but there is nothing from the other books that would impact a new readers experience if they are new to this series. Griffin does an amazing job introducing new stories and bringing in new and old characters without spoiling any parts of other books. If you are a new reader and are worried about grabbing this book and being lost—have no fear you will be perfectly fine jumping around.
One of the things I love most about Griffin’s books is that you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes you might get a serial killer mystery, other times it might be organized crime, while others might include a military coverup. I always feel like I am getting something new and refreshing. I love the excitement that a new Griffin book brings and this one was no different!
To be honest, this wasn’t my favorite in the series. It wasn’t bad by any means, I still loved the twisty mystery and suspense. But when compared to some of the others in this series, it just wasn’t as strong. I think what did it for me was the chemistry between Sean and Layla. I didn’t quite get the same spark and. chemistry that I had from other books by Griffin. I felt more lust from Sean than any genuine feeling so I think that was a little disappointing. The mystery also didn’t pick up as much steam and momentum as some of the others until later on. Some of the other books in this series were really suspenseful (as are some of her other books in the Tracers series etc) and the main characters just had more chemistry but overall I liked the book and thought it satisfied my need for a solid and suspenseful mystery.
I feel like Griffin is one of those, can’t go wrong with authors. I never hesitate to pick up any of her books even if some are inevitably better than others. When you have been writing books for as long as Griffin has, some books will always be better than others but overall, I think all of her books are well researched, suspenseful, twisty, interesting and include a sexy romance. I love how she balances the romance with the mystery, neither distracts from the other. In this book I liked Sean and thought he was a sexy main character and I liked how he and Layla came together but I had a hard time feeling like their relationship was more than lust if that makes sense. Layla wasn’t my favorite main female character either. She seemed a little too ‘on the fence’ about Sean for my liking.
This mystery kept me guessing and once the suspense picked up, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how it all came together. One thing is for sure, I never feel bored with Griffin’s books. This book while maybe not as dark and twisty as some, was still good and I think it would be a great beach read and the mystery was suspenseful enough to keep me reading and interested. The books always feel like the move fast and I could easily finish one in a day. If you haven’t discovered Griffin yet you absolutely need to. I am a big big big fan and I cannot wait to see what her next book will be!
For example, this book features Layla Breda who owns a coffee shop in town and has two brothers who are also cops. The bothers have had their own stories in the series and we have met Layla in passing in other books, but there is nothing from the other books that would impact a new readers experience if they are new to this series. Griffin does an amazing job introducing new stories and bringing in new and old characters without spoiling any parts of other books. If you are a new reader and are worried about grabbing this book and being lost—have no fear you will be perfectly fine jumping around.
One of the things I love most about Griffin’s books is that you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes you might get a serial killer mystery, other times it might be organized crime, while others might include a military coverup. I always feel like I am getting something new and refreshing. I love the excitement that a new Griffin book brings and this one was no different!
To be honest, this wasn’t my favorite in the series. It wasn’t bad by any means, I still loved the twisty mystery and suspense. But when compared to some of the others in this series, it just wasn’t as strong. I think what did it for me was the chemistry between Sean and Layla. I didn’t quite get the same spark and. chemistry that I had from other books by Griffin. I felt more lust from Sean than any genuine feeling so I think that was a little disappointing. The mystery also didn’t pick up as much steam and momentum as some of the others until later on. Some of the other books in this series were really suspenseful (as are some of her other books in the Tracers series etc) and the main characters just had more chemistry but overall I liked the book and thought it satisfied my need for a solid and suspenseful mystery.
I feel like Griffin is one of those, can’t go wrong with authors. I never hesitate to pick up any of her books even if some are inevitably better than others. When you have been writing books for as long as Griffin has, some books will always be better than others but overall, I think all of her books are well researched, suspenseful, twisty, interesting and include a sexy romance. I love how she balances the romance with the mystery, neither distracts from the other. In this book I liked Sean and thought he was a sexy main character and I liked how he and Layla came together but I had a hard time feeling like their relationship was more than lust if that makes sense. Layla wasn’t my favorite main female character either. She seemed a little too ‘on the fence’ about Sean for my liking.
This mystery kept me guessing and once the suspense picked up, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how it all came together. One thing is for sure, I never feel bored with Griffin’s books. This book while maybe not as dark and twisty as some, was still good and I think it would be a great beach read and the mystery was suspenseful enough to keep me reading and interested. The books always feel like the move fast and I could easily finish one in a day. If you haven’t discovered Griffin yet you absolutely need to. I am a big big big fan and I cannot wait to see what her next book will be!
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