Madison and Lincoln had a privileged life growing up in NYC until their father was arrested and imprisoned for 100 yrs for fraud and the family assets were seized. The children fend for themselves and with some advice from the family advisor, manage to complete college.
Madison becomes the editor of a fashion magazine, and Lincoln teaches wealth management at a college and marries Madison's best friend.
When their uncle dies and leaves them a marina on the Jersey Shore, their first instinct is to check it out and sell it ASAP. However, when a dead body is found floating under the dock, the marina becomes a crime scene, and things must be investigated.
This book is touted as a crime story but I didn't think that was an apt description as the crime was a very minor part of this book. I thought that it was a character driven book with a little romance and a little about siblings working together and supporting each other toward a common goal.
There were hints of a budding romance and also hints of another story about the characters. It was an quick and easy read.
Rated 3.5 rounded up to for.

SMUGGLER’S COVE (Twin Lights Book #1) by Fern Michaels is listed as a thriller/mystery that is the beginning of a new series featuring siblings Madison and Lincoln Taylor who inherit a marina in Smuggler’s Cove. It was not. The first three quarters of the book are their backstory, which I did not find interesting because the characters had a shallow development and never pulled me in or made a connection with me. The mystery of the dead treasure hunter came into play much too late in the story.

I think this was the first Fern Michaels book that has ever disappointed me. The majority of the book just felt as if it was character building for the author’s own background notes and should not have been released, or parts maybe interspersed into the next book in this series, which I assume, and hope is more of a thriller/mystery. This was not what I was hoping to read from this author.

RATING: 2.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded Up)

I tried, but could not get into this book. The writing style is extremely bland. What could be an interesting plot just feels like we’re following the characters around. A no for this reader.

Great development of the story and characters. Well developed and a great read and I would recommend it for people to read. Can't wait for the next book as this had a cliff hanger.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and leaving a review by my own choice.

I used to read Fern Michaels before, have no idea why I stopped. So, I was excited to see her new book, "Smuggler's Cove," and sat down to read her book.
Madison Taylor lived a nice life with her brother Lincoln. However, that all ends when her father is arrested for fraud and Madison, Lincoln and Gwen have to start over. (By the way, one of the best lines in the book "Well zip-a-dee-do-da. Tell him I don't have bail money").
As adults, the siblings distance themselves from their family, and create their own lives. That is until they inherit a marina from their late uncle. Rather run down, Madison plans to sell it, until a body is found under their dock. Instead, she and Lincoln learn about small town life, including a town full of unique characters, town legends and a treasure map tossed in to the mix. Together, they work to solve the mystery, learning more about themselves and each other.

This book fully reminded me why I used to read every book Fern Michaels wrote. It was enjoyable, it has fun, witty commentary, a believable mystery and a great ending, I've already downloaded two more of her books (both audio, so i can crochet while enjoying her books), and look forward to reading them.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story and good mystery.

Smuggler’s Cove by Fern Michaels is the first book in the Twin Lights series. I found Smuggler’s Cove to be an odd story. The book mostly consists of background on the characters. Then we get to see how Madison and Lincoln end up in Smuggler’s Cove. There is a smidgeon of a mystery that is unresolved at the end of the book. The story moved at a snail’s pace. Smuggler’s Cove felt like it was just a set up for the second book in the Twin Lights series. Unfortunately, I am not interested enough to pick up the next book in the series. Many, many years ago, I enjoyed Fern Michaels novels, but Smuggler’s Cove is not of the same caliber. I’m sorry, but Smuggler’s Cove didn’t float my boat!

This reads very much like a Danielle Steel novel! This is only the second Fern Michaels book I've read. The only reason I only gave this four stars is that it started out a little slow for me. But after the first few chapters, I found this story filled with vibrant and engaging characters. This is a multi-generational drama that I found absolutely captivating! I just had to keep reading. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

I love a seaside mystery! This mystery in the cove is just getting started and I am here for it --and any sequels. The writing is smooth and intelligent. The suspense is building. The romance has blossomed. Highly recommend.

This was my first time reading Fern Michaels, and stepping into Smuggler’s Cove felt like arriving at a well‑worn coastal inn — full of charm, unhurried moments, and the kind of locals you can’t help but grow fond of.

Madison and her brother Lincoln had long left their privileged past behind after their father’s fraud scandal. She’s now the driven editor‑in‑chief of La Femme magazine; he’s a calm, cardigan‑energy college professor. Life is neatly in order — until an unexpected inheritance lands them co‑ownership of a run‑down marina in Smuggler’s Cove, New Jersey.

What was meant to be a quick sale turns complicated with a body under the dock, whispers of pirate treasure, and a tide of small‑town secrets. Yet, this isn’t a hard‑edged thriller — it’s a gentle, character‑driven story about siblings rediscovering each other, building community, and navigating change together.

📖 Why You Might Love It

Slow‑burn, cozy coastal vibe

Strong sibling bond + supportive relationships

A sense of place so vivid you can smell the salt air

Hints of mystery, but heart firmly in the people

If you’re here for high‑stakes crime, you might find this opening book calmer than expected. But if you enjoy family drama wrapped in seaside charm, it’s a promising start to the Twin Lights series.

Smuggler's Cove was a decent set up to start a new series - good character development, a decent plot and back story, and a mystery filled romance to draw the reader in. I've read many novels by Fern Michaels over the years and this one didn't let me down. The thought of pirates and treasure somewhere in the cove can lead to a lot of mysteries unfolding in the future. This was a quick easy read, with a buildup that left me looking forward to the second in the series.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Kensington.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This is a new series featuring sisters whose inheritance in the New Jersey Shores. Secrets and family drama will come to left. They ended up owning the marina in Smuggler’s Cove. A body soon ends up washed up by the marina and history of smugglers will once again come to surface. Was this connected to the past or is this a new case?

Smuggler’s Cove begins the Twin Lights series with a story that feels more like a very long, world-building prelude to an actual murder/mystery. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read and enjoyed Fern Michaels’ stories for years, yet this isn’t, in my opinion, a murder or a mystery about the dead body under the docks. That’s explained away very quickly. It’s more like a generational women’s fiction/family saga with Madison’s and Lincoln’s family history. Yes, they have a no-good father who fooled a lot of people, is now in prison, and their comfortable lives were changed forever… but where does mystery and mayhem come into that?

If you’re looking for a good story about siblings whose lives changed suddenly, a surprise inheritance that brings them to a small town on the Jersey shore filled with quirky characters, and possible pirate treasure maps… then go into Smuggler’s Cove with that expectation. The cliffhanger ending gave me pause that perhaps the next novel in the series will fall more into the mystery element, but I don’t know if I want to take the chance on finding out for certain. I buy or request ARCs based on the story blurb, and this one wasn’t accurate regarding what the story was between the covers. I will say that any review is only one person’s opinion; to know if you’d enjoy this story, you’ll need to read it yourself. No, it wasn’t what I was expecting, but at the core, it’s a good story, and I’ll have to be content with that.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This wasn’t my favorite book by the author. Most of the book was about the backstory for each character. It read like a memoir of sorts and at times wasn’t very interesting. The romance between Madison and Viggo was charming and the best part of the book. The book ends on a cliffhanger which encourages the reader to keep reading the series to find out what happens next. I’m not sure if I will continue with the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is one of those reviews where I had to consider what rating to give the book - should it be based on the written description or on what happened in this book. In all honesty, to me this felt more like a long Prequel than a first book in the series. Especially since it appears that the mystery/thriller aspects of the storyline will start with the next book.

In this book, we get plenty of background information on siblings Madison and Lincoln's upbringing and how both of them overcame the illegal activities of their father. Their mother was a strong force in their lives and did a good job of keeping them appreciative of what they had, and nonjudgmental (for the most part) of others. I did enjoy the story, especially toward the end when they were dealing with their inheritance from their Uncle Kirby.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Smugglers Cove by Fern Michaels, published by Kensington Publishing

This was a good, easy light hearted easy read. I liked the plot and the characters. I enjoyed how the author developed the characters and moved us from setting to setting, laying the groundwork and history in the first half of the novel.
Although I didn't feel the story was much of a mystery or thriller, still a good story
The ending wasn't what I expected but we will see what happens in the next novel in this series
I have read many novels by this author and do enjoy her writing

Smuggler’s Cove Is the Literary Equivalent of a Wine Spritzer That Forgets It’s Supposed to Be Alcoholic

This book had the audacity to throw a dead body under a dock and then treat it like a minor plumbing issue. It’s like “Mare of Easttown” was rewritten by someone who just wanted to open a quaint marina and process their childhood abandonment issues in peace.

“Smuggler’s Cove” kicks off Fern Michaels’ new “Twin Lights” series and serves as the longest, calmest prologue to a mystery series I’ve ever read. It’s about Madison and Lincoln Taylor, two formerly rich kids whose lives got yanked out from under them when their dad got Madoff’d straight into prison. They spend years clawing their way back to stability. Madison becomes a fashion editor with some mild control issues, Lincoln becomes a wealth management professor with peak cardigan energy, and they both kind of ghost their family name for obvious felony reasons.

Then comes the inheritance. Their estranged uncle Kirby dies and leaves them a marina on the Jersey Shore. It is not the glamorous seaside dream. It is gas pumps, clam boats, one crabby employee, and the ghost of Captain Kidd’s dignity. Madison wants to sell it faster than a sample sale at Bloomingdale’s, but then a dead body shows up under the dock and suddenly this sleepy little tax write-off becomes a crime scene.

Or... so you’d think.

Nobody panics. The cops barely shrug. The body’s identity is revealed and resolved with the emotional intensity of a weather report. Then we’re back to learning about boat repairs and local real estate trends like this is “Fixer Upper: Coastal Edition.” There is technically a treasure map but it’s treated with about the same urgency as a decorative napkin that says “ahoy.”

This is not a mystery. This is a gentle, multi-decade character study that occasionally flirts with suspense but never makes eye contact. Honestly, it’s more “Sweet Magnolias” than “Only Murders in the Building.” And once I stopped waiting for something sinister to happen, I sort of started vibing with the emotional core of it. Madison and Lincoln are weirdly competent and function like a healthy adult sibling pair, which is lovely but also deeply suspicious. No one fights. No one self-sabotages. They just communicate and support each other and get their lives together. I kept waiting for someone to scream about their childhood but instead they just ordered coffee and discussed business strategy.

And it takes forever to get there. The first half of the book is basically a backstory montage in slow motion. We meet their mom Gwen. We follow Madison to college. We get Lincoln’s entire academic journey and then his wedding. The actual marina doesn’t show up until way later, and Smuggler’s Cove itself doesn’t really become a character until the book is nearly over.

Still, I liked the characters more than I expected. I would grab wine with Madison and gossip about her coworkers. Lincoln is basically a sentient mug of chamomile tea but in a charming way. The narration by Eliza Foss helps a lot too. Her performance brings a softness that matches the tone and makes the slow pace feel intentional instead of accidental. She makes even the boat jargon sound warm and necessary.

You’re not getting a twisty thriller here. You’re getting the pilot episode of a cozy seaside dramedy where the emotional stakes matter more than the body count. And while that was not what I signed up for, I can’t lie. I’ll probably read the sequel, especially if someone finally does something shady with that treasure map.

This was a very mellow mystery that forgot to mystery. Three stars.

Whodunity Award: For That One Dead Guy Who Dared to Interrupt a Real Estate Transaction

Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and for letting me snoop around this sleepy little marina full of secrets, sibling bonding, and one extremely chill corpse. Appreciate the early access and the chance to yell, “Wait, where’s the murder?” in a totally loving way.

This is the start of a series and ends in a cliffhanger. I missed that information and was surprised when things weren't wrapped up.

This story covers an extensive timeline but went chronologically and never felt rushed. Madison and her brother Lincoln grow up in what appears to be an idyllic life until one day everything changes.

This story was a great reminder of how choices affect those around you in ways you can see and can't ever imagine.

Smuggler's Cove by Fern Michaels not a top read but still a very enjoyable book. I didn't know how it would end. But I hope there is a sequel. I've read past books by the author and have always enjoyed them. Fern michaels always gives you a book that pulls you in.

This book was presented as a thriller. Should be cozy beach read with a slight mystery..

It was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed "meeting" Madison, Lincoln and Olivia and hope to read more about them.

Fern Michael's' Smuggler's Cove is like a warm ocean breeze with a hint of mystery carried on it - comforting, uplifting, but with just enough intrigue to keep you leaning forward in your seat. What makes this book sparkle is Michael's trademark blend of heart and suspense. You feel the easy banter, deep loyalty, and fierce protectiveness that the characters share. Relationships feel lived-in and full of history. Yet, beneath the laughter and cocktails, there's an undercurrent of tension as secrets from the past begin to ripple to the surface.

Michael's paints the setting so vividly you can almost hear the waves lapping at the shore and taste the salt in the air. She know exactly when to let you soak in the atmosphere and when to send a jolt of excitement through the plot. The pacing flows effortlessly, with each chapter delivering a little more drama, a little more danger, and a lot of heart.

By the time you reach the final chapters, you've not only solved a mystery - you've spent time with friend you'll miss the moment you close the book. It's a joyful reminder that life's greatest adventures are best shared with people who have your back, no matter what trouble comes ashore.
Smuggler's Cove is a feel-good escape with just the right amount of danger, perfect for readers who love mystery wrapped in friendship and sunshine.