This story was a lot of mystery but it was well written and had some good romance. Not my favorite but a good story.

This is a Second Chance Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in A Discovery Bay series. I got pulled right into this story, and I also loved getting to know these characters. I felt the connection that the two main characters had for each other. The mystery is this book was so good, and the reveal at the end I did not see coming. Great Read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Intrigue) or author (Carol Ericson) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Jed is back in town to clear his name after being falsely accused and imprisoned. It was Hannah's after that aided in putting Jed behind bars and she knows he's innocent but it doesn't look good when the person who accused him long ago is murdered around the time he shows up and now it seems that the person isn't just stopping with her and they need to figure out who is behind this.

I love mystery suspense novels and this was just perfect for me. I really enjoyed my time reading this and getting to know the characters. It was insane the lengths the father went though to get Jed to stay away from his daughter Hannah but now they have a second chance at this if they can make it. I mean they are digging into whatever seems to be going on in down when it comes to finding the killers trails of dead finches and bodies. Overall it was a pretty good book I really enjoyed following along as they got closer to figuring out who was behind everything and why.

Terrific start to a new series, with a gripping mystery and a second chance romance. The story opens as Hannah, a forensic psychologist, is working with a small boy whose mother was murdered. Complicating matters, the dead woman once accused Hannah's high school boyfriend of rape, sending him to prison. Jed has since been exonerated and is back on the island but is once again a prime suspect.

I liked that Hannah never believed Jed was guilty, but her sheriff father disapproved of their relationship and did everything possible to break them up. Things are a bit tense between Hannah and Jed when they first meet again, thanks to confusion about letters never received. When a second single mother is murdered, Jed gets a request from his friend, the woman's brother, to investigate. Because Jed has a private investigator's license, he doesn't have to play by the same rules as law enforcement. This includes inviting Hannah to work with him on the investigation.

The suspense of this story had me hooked from the beginning. I felt Jed and Hannah's frustration as their initial leads seemed to hit dead ends. They didn't let that stop them, and before long, they started to connect the dots between seemingly unrelated clues. One lead sent them to a deserted house that had been the site of a horrific murder-suicide. Their belief in its importance was confirmed when someone tried to kill them. I was glued to the pages as they closed in on the identity of the killer. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a reveal that I never expected.

I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Hannah and Jed. They have a few trust issues to overcome in the beginning, not the least of which is her father's role in Jed's conviction. But Hannah's unwavering belief in Jed's innocence goes a long way toward solving that problem. Working together brings them closer, and the old sparks of attraction quickly reignite. I loved Jed's protectiveness when Hannah was targeted. I also liked that no last-minute misunderstanding drove them apart, just Jed rescuing her from a killer. I liked the ending and seeing them plan a future together.

Tate and his sister, Astrid, were excellent secondary characters. I liked their belief in Jed and their willingness to help him get his life back on track. Tate is a forest ranger who is helping Jed join the rangers and giving him a place to live until he finishes repairing his old home. Astrid is a single mom with a little boy. She has matchmaking tendencies and enjoys throwing Hannah and Jed together whenever possible. There is a heart-stopping scene where young Olly disappears, and the circumstances are suspicious. The next book in the series is Tate's story, and I can't wait to read it.

Exciting romantic suspense. Interesting back stories for the couple. Small town. A cat. It kept me turning the pages and guessing what and who. So glad to see this is the beginning of a series. I am eager to read more. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.