by Jayne Ann Krentz
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
From the New York Times–bestselling author of Dream Eyes and Copper Beach, a brand-new quintessential Jayne Ann Krentz romance. It’s been thirteen years since Lucy Sheridan was in Summer River. The last time she visited her aunt Sara there, as a teenager, she’d been sent home suddenly after being dragged out of a wild party—by the guy she had a crush on, just to make it more embarrassing. Obviously Mason Fletcher—only a few years older but somehow a lot more of a grown-up—was the overprotective type who thought he had to come to her rescue. Now, returning after her aunt’s fatal car accident, Lucy is learning there was more to the story than she realized at the time. Mason had saved her from a very nasty crime that night—and soon afterward, Tristan, the cold-blooded rich kid who’d targeted her, disappeared mysteriously, his body never found. A lot has changed in thirteen years. Lucy now works for a private investigation firm as a forensic genealogist, while Mason has quit the police force to run a successful security firm with his brother—though he still knows his way around a wrench when he fills in at his uncle’s local hardware store. Even Summer River has changed, from a sleepy farm town into a trendy upscale spot in California’s wine country. But Mason is still a protector at heart, a serious (and seriously attractive) man. And when he and Lucy make a shocking discovery inside Sara’s house, and some of Tristan’s old friends start acting suspicious, Mason’s quietly fierce instincts kick into gear. He saved Lucy once, and he’ll save her again. But this time, she insists on playing a role in her own rescue . . .
If you have been staying Caffeinated then you already know Jayne Ann Krentz and her pseudonyms are on my auto-buy list. I consumed, River Road, when it released in January and I’m delighted to share it with you. Set in wine country, Krentz delivers a murder mystery with complicated suspects and a hero and heroine we can adore. Mini review: Edge of your seat suspense with warm, slow-building friends to lovers romance that felt genuine.
The story begins with a prologue and takes us back to, Summer River, thirteen years ago for one night and briefly introduces us to Mason and Lucy. Krentz immediately drew me in as she bring us back to the present and introduces us to Lucy Sheridan as an adult. She is returning to Summer River, after her Aunt’s fatal accident. Mason is back visiting his Uncle and reassessing. Of course the two meet and I felt a sizzle. Lucy raises questions about her Aunt’s death as discoveries and revelations about the past stir up trouble. The tale that unfolds was suspenseful, well crafted and wrapped in a delicious romance.
Krentz has a knack for creating strong characters that you instantly connect with. Lucy is strong, and her instincts are quite good a skill that comes in handy as forensic genealogist. Mason and his brother run a successful firm solving cold cases. The man is everything that makes my knees buckle. *seriously* Smexy, noble, smart…*swoons* The friends to lovers trope is one of my favorites and Lucy and Mason were the perfect couple. From the moment, they were reunited you could feel the electricity in the air. Krentz allowed the romance to grow making it feel genuine and have depth. The towns-folk and suspects in this small wine town were complex from the family feuds to the secrets keeping me on edge.
River Road offered an engaging murder mystery with twists and turns that kept me guessing as I pieced clues together. What I found fascinating was the way Krentz weaved events from the past (prologue) to the current mystery and chain of events. It was quite clever; nothing felt forced making it all the more suspenseful and dangerous. She even gave us a glimpse into events through the killer’s pov. I had a list of suspects but she kept me guessing till the reveal. When it all clicked into place, I thought it was brilliantly crafted. While the romance was certainly an integral part of the story and brought us some heat, it didn’t overshadow the mystery but only enhanced it.
River Road gave me everything I look for in romantic suspense. Krentz is an author I will recommend time and time again to a broad spectrum of readers. She writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary as Jayne Ann Krentz, historical as Amanda Quick and futuristic as Jayne Castle. I love all three genres, and she is one my favorite authors in each.
Four and half cups of coffee out of five
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lindy
This sounds great! I love the slow, sweet romance between friends to lovers! Mason sounds swoon-worthy indeed! The suspense, murder mystery, plot twists and romance sound like a winning combo to me! Awesome Review Kim!!!
kimbacaffeinate
One of my favorite authors Lindy!
Pamela D
Did I tell you that I only just recently discovered that she was Amanda Quick? I need to read Krentz’s other books, because I devour any Quick book that I get my hands on. They are my comfort read.
kimbacaffeinate
I thought we talked about the Arcane Society books that begin with Second Sight by Amanda Quick and are under all three names Krentz, Castle and Quick. One of my favorite paranormal suspense series ever.
Katherine
Krentz is an author I used to read a long time ago but for some reason I forgot about! Guess I’ll have to fix that. This one sounds really good!
kimbacaffeinate
*blinks* Yes you need to discover her again Katherine!
Ana
Murder mysteries AND strong characters?! Hot dang, I am intrigued! 🙂 I’ve been looking for good mysteries lately, so I definitely need to keep my eyes out for this one.
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Ana, romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres:)
Melanie Simmons (
I’m not familiar with this author. I’ll have to check her out sometime. Great review.
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you do Melanie, she writes great romantic suspense
Jessica
Wow! One of your favorite authors in three separate genres, huh? And I’ve never read a single book by her. Under any of her aliases. I’m going to have to remedy that, and maybe with this book in particular. I love the friends-to-lovers troupe too, and I haven’t read much romantic suspense (only Tiffany Snow), but I’ve liked what I’ve read, so perhaps it’s time to try a new author in the genre. Great review!
kimbacaffeinate
My favorite is her Arcane Society series it is paranormal romantic suspense.
Jess
The fact that you have this author on auto buy says a lot! I don’t think I have read anything by this author- but I may have read one of her Amanda Quick books (or I have one on one of shelves). This sounds like a good read- mysteries pull me in time and time again. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
I love her books and have read them all 🙂
kindlemom1
I love that the author creates characters that you can instantly connect with, that is so very important to a good story.
Wonderful review.
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Ali, I agree is amps up the experience.
Tanja
I know how much you love this author and every time I tell myself that I’ll have to read something. This one sounds really interesting and I love slow building romance together with mystery. Great review, Kim 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
hehehe..one day I will have you reading her 🙂
sherry fundin
I love suspense/romance, more heavily on the suspense and this sounds like a fantastic book by your awesome review. I have heard you talk of her before, so when I saw her name and the great cover I rushed right over.
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy Sherry 🙂
aurian
Great review Kimba, I also really loved this book. I love Jayne in all three pennames, and am almost caught up on her oldies. Just a few left on my shelves to read.
For any of you who haven’t tried her yet, she is amazing, and I have been loving her books for over 25 years now.
kimbacaffeinate
I am so glad to hear you loved it too Aurian, one of my favorite authors too under all of her names 🙂
Heidi
This is the third review I have read on this and yours is the most positive. I haven’t tried this author, but I am always up for a good solid mystery with a lot of supsense. I will have to give it a go sometime!
kimbacaffeinate
This is one of my favorite authors and I read all of her books under all of her names.
Diane Sallans
Love JAK’s books- working my way thru her backlist too (of all three names).
kimbacaffeinate
Awesome Diane, my favorite is her Arcane Society
A Voracious Reader
I’m not much into contemporary at this point in time though I have collected quite a few Krentz books over the years. I just haven’t read anything by her or her other two names. Her Castle or Quick books would be more my style now. I have some around here *looks around* somewhere…
kimbacaffeinate
Ah, then you need to read her paranormal ones. The Arcane Society uses all three pseudonyms. It beings with Second Sight by Amanda Quick.
Berls
Sounds really wonderful! I love the friends-to-lovers trope too, so that already had me. But I really love that she’s a forensic whatever (I almost just typed gynocologist, but I KNOW that’s wrong LOL. I’m not at all scientifically inclined but I love smart heroines). Great review, I think it’s time for me to try out Jayne Krentz!
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you try her Berls and she is a genealogist.
Lupdilup
I saw your post in facebook, late, late last night (night owl) and I got curious right away. This is a new author to me, but if she’s that high on your list it means I’m missing out on something good! Have to check them out.
Great Review as always 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
LOL, her Arcane Society are my favorites and begin with Second Sight by Amanda Quick.
Angela Adams
One of the BEST authors in the romantic suspense genre!
kimbacaffeinate
I knew there was a reason I liked you so much Angela 🙂
Chene Sterckx
Awesome review Kimba! I haven’t tried this author but if she is that good that she is on your auto-buy list – that says something 🙂 This sounds like a great read, will check her out. What is a good book of hers to start with?
aurian
Hi Chene, she has been on my autobuy list for over 20 years now. And I suggest you start with this one, as it is a stand alone. If you like a bit more paranormal in your books, you can start with White Lies, but she mixes her Arcane society series through her three pennames. First an Amanda Quick, as historical romance, then a Jayne Ann Krentz contemporary, and to conclude the story arc in the future with Jayne Castle. It is fun, and just plain good.
kimbacaffeinate
🙂 spoken like a true fan. Arcane Society is my favorite
kimbacaffeinate
This one is a good intro or go all out and try her Arcane Society ones.
Kimberly
I’ve had Krentz on my TBR list since before I joined Goodreads but I just never know where to start with her books this one sounds like my type of romantic suspense though. I just put it on hold (246 people ahead of me and 85 copies) so it might be awhile before I get it but it sounds like it’s worth the wait. Especially since she’s on your Auto-Buy list. Glad you loved it!
kimbacaffeinate
I really love her books, but my favorite are her Arcane Society novels.
Melliane
I really like this author and I have many in French (I confess I haven’t read her in English yet) but I really liked the ones I read. But well, they’re not recent. I should try to read more, mainly as the last ones sound so good!
kimbacaffeinate
That tickles me that you like her too Melliane!
Jeann
Murder mystery and romantic suspense! I really must check out one of these types of books that you recommend sometime, they sound super fascinating.
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Jeann 🙂
Faye
Wow, such an awesome review, Kim! I have never heard of Krentz before, but you make it sound like she makes really good murder mysteries. I love those kind, too, especially since I pretty much grew up reading Detective Conan (the manga). I’ll have to get myself this one! Looks like I’m not even going to wait for much longer as I can buy it now! 😀
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Faye, she is the Queen of suspense 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
Not really my thing but wow, an auto-buy book. That is saying something.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, you know you would probably like her Arcane Society Novels they are paranormal romantic suspense and begin under her pseudonym Amanda Quick.
blodeuedd
I never liked the Jayne C book I tried, but her other two aliases are good 😀
kimbacaffeinate
Krentz is her real name, you didn’t like Castle ones? The futuristic? ooh but I love dust-bunnies.