The Woman by the Lake (Misted Pines 3) by Kristen Ashley-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 11, 2024

Nadia Williams needs somewhere peaceful to sort through her grief after her mother is brutally murdered. She finds a cozy cabin at the side of a tranquil lake in the quaint town of Misted Pines in the Pacific Northwest.

The minute she arrives, she knows it’s perfect.

The very night of her arrival, however, someone—or something—is scratching at her window.

The next morning, she meets her one and only neighbor, Doc Riggs. He’s a rough, good-time guy who rubs Nadia wrong immediately. They clash, and neither of them are happy to be sharing their lake.

But soon, Nadia learns the lore around her cabin, and how the townsfolk are certain it’s haunted by the ghost of the man who was murdered there fifteen years before.

Riggs and Nadia are suddenly thrown into a tangled web of history, betrayal, grief, secrets, with only one thing certain.

Someone—or something—wants them off that lake.

••••

REVIEW:THE WOMAN BY THE LAKE is the third instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult MISTED PINES romantic suspense series focusing on the people of Misted Pines. This is single father and contractor Andrew ‘Doc’ Riggs, and primary school teacher Nadia Williams’ story line. THE WOMAN BY THE LAKE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary..

Told from first person perspectives (Nadia) and third person (Riggs) THE WOMAN BY THE LAKE follows Nadia Williams as she takes a leave of absence from her job, escaping the memories left behind in Chicago, Renting a cabin by the lake in Misted Pines, Nadia would come face to face with her neighbor, contractor Doc Riggs, the man with whom Nadia would fall in love but all was not well in Misted Pines, and the cabin she was renting would become the focus of ghost stories, hauntings, and a case of unsolved murders. As Nadia, Riggs, and Sheriff Harry Moran began to research the history of a family murder, Riggs would find himself embroiled in his own family squabble with the mother of his nine year old son. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Nadia and Riggs, and the potential fall-out as our couple, and the town of Misted Pines must reconsider what happened in the past and why.

The world building follows several paths; is detailed and intriguing as Misted Pines holds too many demons that have yet to let go. Add the usual small -town gossip and busybodies, as well as those who deem themselves above everyone else, and our couple must contend with secrets and gossip wherever they go.

The relationships between Nadia and Riggs begins acrimoniously as Riggs is known to throw obnoxiously loud parties. Nadia was hoping for to take time to rest, relax and reconsider her future but never expected to find herself falling for a man, and his nine year old son. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the opt, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, enthusiastic and often questionable secondary and supporting characters. We are witness to the return of Cade and Delphine (The Girl in the Mist 1), Rus Lazarus (The Girl in the Woods) as well as Sheriff Harry Moran. We are introduced to Riggs’ son Ledger, as well as Rigg’s mom Gail, and friends Storm and Viggo, Bubbles and Lucille, Rigg’s questionable ex Angelina, and several local residents of Misted Pines.

THE WOMAN BY THE LAKE is a story of secrets and lies, murder and mystery, betrayal and obsession, family and friendships, relationships and love. The thought provoking premise is intriguing, haunting and dramatic; the romance is seductive and intense; the characters are stubborn, honest and charismatic

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Girl in the Mist
The Girl in the Woods

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.