3 stars
This is a very good book but not meant to be read as a stand-alone. I missed a lot of back story from the other book which I have not read.

I had not read the first three books in this series before reading Bound in Shallows, but it did not detract from the story, Events from past books were referenced, so if you want to read the whole series, I would recommend starting with book one. This was a story that kept me guessing and surprised me more than once. It brought up themes like love, friendship, political aspirations, and forgiveness. I plan on suggesting this book to my suspense-loving friends!

BOUND IN SHALLOWS by STEPHANIE BLACK is a really exciting thriller with a great plot and interesting characters.
The story revolves around Gideon Radcliffe and Natalie Marsh, their wedding and the wedding guests.
I am not going to say any more excepting that it is a most enjoyable read with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end.
I highly recommend the novel to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from covenant Communications. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This is book 4 of 4 in the Natalie Marsh series and the perfect way to finish these books off! I HIGHLY recommend reading these books in order because there are a lot of character cross overs throughout this series. To read them in order you will want to start with ‘Not a Word’, followed by ‘Mind Games’, then ‘To Die, To Sleep’ and lastly ‘Bound in Shallows’.

Stephanie Black is the Queen of suspense and thrilling reading. I love her writing style because it gives me all the feels. Most of the time she makes me want to hide under the covers (yes, you’ll be staying up late to finish these books) but she has a way of adding dry humor in the most perfect places to help me still get some sleep after finishing...and rechecking my locks.

Stephanie is also an expert at never letting on “who done it” until she’s ready for you to know. For a reader who can usually pick up on every foreshadowing clue I appreciate her writing that keeps me guessing and never quite sure until the end!

The characters are well rounded and I’ve loved following them throughout their journey. The writing is clean and believable while still being extremely thrilling. This is a mystery/suspense novel and does have violence throughout the storyline, but nothing graphic or inappropriate. If you want a good book to keep you up all night, but not all night this series is the perfect place to start!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Covenant Communications and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Bound in Shallows" is a suspense/mystery novel. This book is the fourth in a series, but it works as a standalone. Not only does Natalie have to deal with solving a murder while preparing for her wedding, but a potential donor threatens to drastically change her clinic or get Natalie fired if she refuses to cooperate. Talk about stress!

Natalie and Gideon were kind, honest, engaging characters, and I cared about what happened to them. They asked good questions and passed on any clues or information to the police even when that information might make them look guilty. There were enough clues that I was able to guess whodunit, but it was also possible that a second character could have done it so I wasn't sure until nearly the end. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful mystery.

Bound in Shadows is a well written romantic suspense. Great edge of your seat page turning plot. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Drama, suspicious characters, suspense, fast paced thrill ride... this is what you’ll find in Bound in Shadows. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into but I had to have this just because the cover is so pleasing to look at! Wow. This book has more twists and turns than the last five I’ve read put together! You won’t know what to think or who to suspect! You’ll be gripped from page one! Absolutely put this on your short list for you next great thrill read!

Wow! This story started out with me wondering where it was going and then the twists and turns began. I had my suspicions but I was not correct, at least at the beginning. It was a suspenseful journey reading this story. I generally read a specific genre and this was not quite within that genre. I enjoyed having a clean, suspense-filled novel to read. I definitely recommend it.

I received a copy via Netgalley but I freely give my honest review.

I started this book thinking that too much was going on. A wedding, a drug ring, a political campaign. However, it all mixed together into a wonderfully exciting plot and I could NOT PUT THIS DOWN. Holy cow.

This is a whodunit but...in the best kind of way, with layer upon layer upon layer. More of this!

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you are looking for an exciting thriller with lots of twists and plenty of suspicious characters, this is your book. It held me captive trying to find out what the end will bring. I have not read the other books in the series and found I still enjoyed this book. Now I need to go and read the other books! #BoundinShallows #netgalley

#BoundInShallows #NetGalley

Bound in Shallows is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone novel.
Natalie Marsh, is busily getting ready for her wedding. Eight years earlier, Natalie's fiance, had come home, to discover, his roommate Travis, was dead. Things around his death is suspicious, andTravis's mom is determined to get some answers. As friends and family start to gather for the wedding, things start to happen. A book that kept me guessing, a well written suspense.,

Bound in Shallows by Stephanie Black is a drama filled thriller between friends and family, set amidst a political campaign, drug ring, and wedding. Wow! I became aware after finishing the book that it's a part of a series following the character Natalie Marsh, but I didn't feel anything was unclear by reading this on its own. I am interested reading more!

Some of the tropes are not my favorite to read about--like characters with so much money that the author has a ton of freedom to do whatever she wants with the plot--but it's a fun story! I was SO SURE I knew "whodunit" and was so frustrated that I had likely figured it out, but I was SO WRONG! I appreciate an unpredictable mystery/thriller.

Aside from the story itself, I found this very well written. The characters are distinct, which is no easy feat. It caught my attention how excellently written the dialogue is; it really stands out in its genre! It's natural, realistic, helps build the characters, set the scene, and move the action. Not to mention, that it was enjoyable and easy to read! Seriously, this author rocks at dialogue!

I give this story between 3-4 stars for the great writing and interesting story, but while I enjoyed it, it's not particularly memorable. It's a good read for those who want to binge and ingest as many mysteries and thrillers as they can.

Thank you NetGalley and Covenant Communications for an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is a new genre of Christian thriller. I really liked it. Wholesome themes but still every bit of mystery.

This is a well written book that hooks you on the first page. It has just the right amount of suspense and drama to keep you turning the pages. This is a new-to-me author and I loved this book. Thank you Covenant Communications via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Is there anything that does not happen to these two? So many twists!

I adore Natalie and Gideon since their first book and I'm so glad Stephanie Black keeps writing books with them as the main characters. I hope there will be more.

You don't have to read the previous three books but it helps to understand how much this poor couple has been through. Each one is a standalone. They deserve a wedding that goes well, plus some peace and quiet. They've earned it!

In this story, we see how something in one of Gideon's friends past catches up to him and others in their group.
It's a week away before the wedding and Natalie meets a woman with a proposal to donate to the clinic. As she starts demanding more and more of Natalie, other events turn nefarious and with deadly consequences, involving Natalie and Gideon against their will and literally fighting for their lives.

There's so much going on, I couldn't put it down until the end! What a read!

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Stephanie Black has done it again. Great suspense.
Stephanie Black has the ability to write a book with just the right amount of suspense. Gideon and Natalie are engaged and soon to be married but a request by a potential donor for Natalie’s clinic throws some problems into the last week of preparations as well as Natalie’s estranged sister reentering her life. Should her sister be allowed back? Should the nature of Natalie’s clinic change to get the donation? Then the hint that an accidental death was not an accident+ and a bloody knife start a cascade of events putting both Natalie and Gideon in danger, not sure who is behind all the chaos. A great book. This is a continuation of Natalie’s story but is a great standalone. I highly recommend the other books each of which can be read as a standalone. I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this fast paced thriller.
The Story was well written.
The setting really captured my attention and I couldn't stop after that.
I real!y enjoyed this book.

Thanks NetGalley publisher and author for this ebook!

Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that one of the most stressful times for a bride is the week before the big day. Dr. Natalie Marsh seems to be handling the stress well until a wealthy heiress approaches her asking for some concessions in lieu of her intended contribution to a drug overdose program in Natalie’s practice. Lured with the possibility of funding for her clinic and yet miffed that Travis’s mom is putting demands on her time, Natalie graciously deals with her request. After all, she feels indebted to the donor in some small measure seeing as her fiancé, Gideon, was best friends with the donor’s son, Travis. Honoring Travis, who had died from a drug overdose eight years ago, is the noble thing to do. In the space of 10 days, what were to be Natalie’s best days of her life turn into a nightmare as the guestlist for her wedding turns into a list of suspects and the best-laid plans for a dream wedding go sideways. Suddenly, as guests go missing and then show up dead, a bloody knife is found. Gideon and Natalie can’t help but wonder if Travis was murdered, too. Whose knife is it? Who is the killer? Is he silencing guests who suspect the truth? Will the bride and groom make it to the honeymoon? You’ll have to get a copy on November 23, 2020 and find out!

The dark, ominous cover captured my interest and then I wondered how the title was related to the plot. You’ll have to read to discover more about the cabin in the woods and how Brutus’s lines from Julius Caesar reflect the theme of this novel. I love how the connecting lines in the cover title parallel how the characters are connected. Central to this storyline is the concept that we all have weaknesses and that we can strengthen them or make them worse depending on who we allow into our lives. Of equal importance is the concept that we shouldn’t take everything at face value and the wedding party is cruelly reminded that there’s more than meets the eye. Black’s prose also reminds us that we have choices to make every day and it would behove us to think about the future as we consider our choices. Some of the characters in her novel have made poor choices and it has a rippling effect. Sooner or later they get Bound In Shallows and start to pull others down. You’ll love the clean read with rich descriptions and believable characters with engaging dialogue. The well-written complex plot allows the reader to do the sleuthing by digging for the hidden motives. You’ll think twice before attending the next wedding!

Although this is book 4 of the Natalie Marsh series, it can stand alone.

Thank you Stephanie Black, Netgalley and Covenant Communications for this book in exchange for an honest review.