When I started reading the book, I had to go back to the front cover and remind myself that I was reading an Allison Brennan book. This was such a departure from her gritty and action packed crime fiction. However, despite the fact that this was a cozy, Allison did start to ring through on later pages. Allison is a good writer and while this book was a departure it was a good book. There were so many laugh moments and the book can be relatable to single women who love to get lost in a book.
The mystery was lighter and fit the cozy space. It felt like multiple mysteries were wrapped together in the story from the missing woman to the person annotating the book with money. The others on the island felt like the cast of suspects and Mia felt a bit out of her depth but used for mystery reading to make herself an amateur sleuth. Speaking of the other characters, I have to call out the newlyweds and the ocean scene. Poor Mia, again this a part of the story a single lady could relate to. I totally get how she wanted to disappear and get away before more clothes went flying. The male lead in the story was a bit of a hard case for me, he could be charming as the end of the tale proved but he lied so smoothly. I'm not adding him to my book boyfriend list. LOL. Back to Mia for a moment, I loved reading how she reinvented herself.
Allison did an amazing job of crafting the island and describing it so it came alive in my mind's eye from the forbidden path to the Dahila bar. I did enjoy the book and felt it was a pretty good beach read cozy but I hope Allison returns to her grittier crime stories.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Eek! What a thrilling page-turner!

Mia is someone who follows the rules, doesn't take risks, and thinks more about the future than living in the now. Despite Mia's protests, her boss insists that she takes her bonus in the form of a fabulous island vacation before she returns and signs on as partner. This vacation is her last chance to be spontaneous before she, essentially, chains herself to her desk until retirement. Yet, despite her friends' constant reminders to live wild on this trip, the first thing she does when she arrives at the resort is pick up a used book.

What starts as introverted reading by the water turns into a mystery-solving adventure after she finds writing in the margins- from a recently disappeared guest!

As Mia works to solve the mystery by decoding the notes in the margins and observing the other guests, she manages to find friendships and romance along the way, helping her to see life beyond work.
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I was really invested in this book until about halfway through. But sadly this book just did not move along at such a pace that kept me interested. I loved the location and thought it would be perfect for a "beach read".

I would have preferred for this to stick to one genre. Leave out the romance and have it be a cozy murder. The romance took away from the story for me.

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan is a vacation mystery and romance. Mia is a responsible CPA, intent on her orderly life ensuring she and her grams are financially stable. As a celebration for her 5-year work anniversary, she is sent to a private island for a dream, luxury vacation. However, she finds herself caught in the middle of a murder mystery while romancing the surprising and attractive bartender Jason. This book had so many twists, turns, and surprises and I really enjoyed the read! I loved the blossoming relationship between Mia and Jason while also the character growth of Mia during her trip, truly finding herself during her investigation. I also loved how the author developed the friendships between Mia and the other guests at the resort. This will be a great addition to your summer beach vacation or even your staycation!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This sun-soaked mystery is a clever blend of escapist vacation fantasy and twisty whodunit, anchored by a relatable heroine with a love of books and a knack for stumbling into trouble. Mia Crawford is the kind of character readers will root for from page one. She's cautious, responsible, and just trying to relax, but when cryptic notes in a dog-eared novel point to a missing guest, her inner sleuth is awakened. The setting, a luxurious island resort with a suspiciously charming cast of characters, adds a glamorous backdrop to the unfolding mystery and makes the entire story feel like a beach vacation with a thrilling twist.

What sets this story apart is how seamlessly it combines cozy crime with character-driven growth and a touch of romance. Mia’s journey from risk-averse bookworm to accidental investigator is full of humor, tension, and plenty of surprises. The mystery itself is layered and smartly paced, with just enough red herrings to keep readers guessing without overwhelming the plot. This is a perfect summer read for anyone who loves a smart, self-aware heroine, a puzzle to untangle, and just the right amount of heat and danger to keep the pages turning.

3 stars

Mia Crawford loves books, admires her bold grandmother, and has a great if stressful job. Though the title makes readers expect that the worst crime here will be murder, it's actually the fact that while Mia is presented as a whole person, she's still just sadly obsessed with finding some man. Ugh.

Mia Crawford, whose name I'm writing again because she and others say it so frequently throughout this novel, is heading BY FORCE to a beach vacation. A mystery unfolds around her, and while she tries to dig into that part-time, her full-time vacation mode is thinking about her friends' relationships and her lack of one and a guy she hopes might present her with the option.

I'd have loved to see this book go into cozy mode immediately. Mia would be a great heroine in that space, and some of her wackadoodle antics would serve her so well there. What turned me off completely in this book is Mia's extreme devotion to heteronormative ideals. WHY does she need to be so obsessed with this part of her life? So much else is going for her. This made me sad. Also, the romantic elements, particularly the physical intimacy? Nope. These did not work for me at all. It felt like accidentally watching a film with your parents that has a somewhat explicit scene. Like it's not the scene's fault, but why does it have to be HERE?

This is not a bad book but it did do some genre mashing that just didn't sit right with me. I would like to read more from this author - and even from this character - but I'll hope they take a slightly different turn next time!

4 stars ⭐️ this was a quick and easy read! It’s a murder mystery set on a resort on St. Claire Island. Our FMC, Mia, goes on vacation and stumbles upon clues to the disappearance of a woman. Obviously she must solve the mystery! There’s also some romance and spice with the bartender 🤭

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

This is the perfect summer beach read! I felt like I was on vacation reading and joining Mia on her adventure. It has some meta mystery components to it with Mia being an avid reader while also including some romance. I couldn't wait to pick it back up at the end of the work day for the next part of the story. There were lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming and had no idea how it would end. Highly recommend to throw in your beach or pool bag this summer!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a good quick beach read. I didn't love the main character's actions - why would a math nerd spend her entire vacation (first in a long time) looking into the disappearance of a woman she didn't know, when she apparently have the option to hook up with the sexiest man on the island - who is a secret billionaire (yes, I did see that one coming). Overlooking this, I still enjoyed the read even if I can't believe a second of it.

I enjoyed the ride this book took me on. There was a mystery but it leaned more towards romance, which isn’t my usual genre. I love when a good setting makes a book, and the island definitely did that for this one. Mia was not my favorite character of all time🤷🏻‍♀️it took me a little while to keep all the characters straight since there are so many. 4/5 stars for this ARC.

I really had high hopes for this one but I struggled to get through this. I made it about 35% through and just could not get into it. It was a bit slow and didn’t have enough thrill for me. Thank you to the publisher for sending me this one.

I loved this book so much it was such a fun popcorn thriller. I'd read more by this author along these lines. I really hope she writes more like Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds.

2.5 stars

Mia is an avid reader and in line to be a partner at her financial firm. As she's approaching her 30th birthday, her boss forces her to take a vacation to the Virgin Islands. Specifically, a private island resort. Before she arrives, a woman from the resort goes missing. Mia is planning to let loose and have a little fling before she becomes "chained to her desk" and her "name is on the door." Unfortunately, all of the guests are couples except for a teenager who is there with her father and his girlfriend. She is happy to read on the beach and ends up with a tattered paperback from the table of books left by guests. Based on the writings in the margins of the book, she believes it belonged to the missing woman. When the woman's body washes up on the shore, Mia spends her vacation trying to unravel the mystery.

I absolutely love the Virgin Islands and was really interested in the description of this book. Unfortunately, I HATED Mia's voice and that ended up really distracting me. She doesn't sound like a mature 30 year old who is preparing to be a partner. Her entire personality is books and saving for her future. She ends up befriending the teenager, Brie, who could have been her peer and had a better personality. I also really liked Jason, the daredevil bartender. Mia's inner dialogue just really didn't work for me.

The newest Allison Brennan is a bit different than her usual fare, but still enjoyable and funny. Mia is quite the character and those she meets in St Claire are very interesting. A great book to lounge with at the beach or poolside

A super cute who done it mystery. This vacation romance has a little of everything. A murder, suspense and laughter.
Mia Crawford just wants some fun in the sun but she gets way more than she bargained for.

Dive into this great easy to read adventure!!

Let me paint a picture. I join NetGalley to feel like a proper book reviewer and get excited about my first ARC approval!! The book I had requested had a sparkling review from an author I liked so I felt excited to read the book. The excitement quickly dies down within the first few chapters. I found the main character to be an incredibly huge pick me, scouring the island immediately for single hunky prey but (whomp whomp) everyone on the island is taken. This workaholic is then trying solve who murdered a woman who washed up on the beach during her vacation.

Now… I have read romance and I have read murder mystery…. Do I think these genres ~could~ combine.. sure… maybe? Do I think you have to walk a pretty thin line to make sure it’s not a weird and jarring when you are panning back and forth between romance and murder.. absolutely! I found this book incredibly jarring that the main character was absolutely lusting after someone and then in the next breath trying to solve the mystery of who murdered this woman. Maybe I am sensitive but it was startling to have this woman describing her sexual fantasies while self investigating a murder.

I also felt like there were a few things that were sprinkled throughout the book that I thought COULD lead to something but then never did.

I don’t even want to talk about the ending except that I had a visceral reaction to it and I could feel my body actively rejecting it.

I found this book grueling to get through and I do not recommend it for people who have similar book taste as me.

Trust me when I say I feel bad about writing something negative about something I got an ARC of… I’m so sorry!

A perfect beach read! Great combination of mystery and romance.

Mia is a wonderful character that captures readers right from the start. She's relatable and interesting. Her need to get to the bottom of the mystery is what makes her a lovable mystery heroine too.

The mystery here is full of intrigue and thrills. Plus it's set on a private island, making the stakes even higher. The pacing of the plot was well done and the suspense kept me guessing until the end.

The romance is a satisfying slow burn with a hot bartender, what's not to like?

This book gave off Veronica Mars vibes and I devoured it. A great read for vacation or sitting on the beach/pool. Highly recommend!

I have read all of Allison Brennan’s romantic suspense series, so I wasn’t sure what to make of a new contemporary romance-mystery. Let me just say that the author hit it out of the park with this humorous, witty and serious at times mystery. Mia Crawford is totally relatable, a workaholic who is an accountant and thinks that details matter. Coerced into taking a special vacation to a private island, Mia isn’t sure what she will do there but she soon finds herself solving a murder mystery, helping a teen with dad issues, counseling a gay couple and maybe, just a little, falling head over heels for the bartender who flirts with her. The action is non-stop, the pacing is quick and perfect and the characters are mostly lovable and all realistic. The story is absorbing, with secrets and clues and twists galore. I really enjoyed this book and hope it will be the first of many in this genre for this author. The ending was perfect and I think that all readers will appreciate the theme of self-discovery and being willing to change if change is the best choice.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Allison Brennan has another winner in Mia Crawford. While this is not as mysterious and suspenseful as some of her works, it is not meant to be; it is meant to be a fun lighthearted mystery read with a dash of romance, and it does it very well. On an all paid vacation before starting a huge promotion at work, Mia is on the beautiful island of St. Claire. While the resort strives to provide perfection for all of their guests, a missing woman is putting a damper on things. Mia, one of the only single people there is hoping to find a romantic diversion for the week. But, her love of good books leads her to secret notes, putting her on the trail of the missing woman. Along the way, she finds herself enjoying the attention of bartender Jason Mallory, who comes with his own mystery. With the help of a good book and some new friends Mia may just be able to sort out what is really going on on St. Claire...and find love after all. Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a fast paced and entertaining read.