Gone to Her Grave

Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat

Gone to Her Grave is the second book in the Rogue River series by Melinda Leigh. Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot are writing this series in tandem.

In first book, On Her Father's Grave, we had two points of view, Stevie Taylor and Zane Duncan’s. I was a big skeptical about Gone to Her Grave because it was told from Stevie’s sister, Carly Taylor’s and her husband’s Seth Harding’s points of view. I usually don’t like when a series changes its main characters from one book to the other, but in Gone to Her Grave it actually worked and I didn’t have a problem getting used to the new voices.

Carly left Seth couple of months ago, ending their eight-years marriage. They haven’t divorced yet, show more but they are living apart. Carly knows Seth loves her and she loves him, but she also knows love is not enough. She needs more from him; she needs him to respect her work as a social worker and to accept her the way she is.

Seth’s life is not the same without Carly. He loves her and can’t understand why she left him. For him her job is too risky and he would prefer is she become a stay-at-home-mom, something Carly is not willing to accept. She doesn’t understand how Seth can say that her job is too risky when he’s a police detective.

Carly’s job takes her on a new case; one of “her” teens have been accused of selling the drug that has been plaguing the once tranquil town of Solitude, Oregon. Carly knows he’s innocent and will do anything in her power to help him prove his innocence.
Seth has also been assigned to the case as the lead detective. He doesn’t believe in the teen’s innocence and wants Carly as far as possible from the investigation. After many years together he still doesn’t know her nor does he understand her need to help those in need; but working close to Carly and seeing her dedication and how careful she handles her job may be just what Seth needed to finally accept and understand Carly. Their journey won’t be easy, their mettle will be tested every step of the way. The question is: Will this get them closer or will it be the end of what they once had?

Melinda Leigh writes multilayered characters and a strong plot with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, adding to that a good amount of suspense that will leave you wanting to get your hands on next installment, Her Grave Secrets (by Kendra Elliot).

Gone to Her Grave is a novella that feels like a full-length novel. I recommend this book to romantic suspense fans. I also recommend reading Gone to Her Grave after reading On Her Father's Grave to get the full effect of the wonderful series Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot have created.

I can’t wait to read next last two installments to see how everything is going to end.
Gone to Her Grave was my first book by Melinda Leigh, but I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. show less

The plot thickens in the 2nd book in this four part series from Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh. Each take a different sister and tells their story with the back drop being of the deaths of a couple of kids that looks to be from a new drug that could be being manufactured and distributed from one of their own in the small town of Solitude, Oregon.

Melinda part is about Carly Taylor who is a social worker whose calls have increased since the new drug has hit town. A lot more of the residents of Solitude may be involved in the making and selling of the deadly drug that’s killing people. When a kid is accused of being someone selling the drug by another kid Carly is called in and believes he is innocent but her investigation and job have show more her dealing with some unsavory parents which puts her in harm’s way.

Carly’s husband Seth has been transferred to the Drug Task Force and with the sudden influx of deaths from the new drug his job has gotten more stressful. Added to that stress he and Carly are separated. Carly and their daughter have been living with her mother since she left him. Seth has some issues with thinking a wife shouldn’t work outside the home and especially not at a job as dangerous as the one Carly has. You can tell deep down that Seth is a good guy and loves his wife and daughter but boy does he need to enter the 21st century when it comes to women.

Again more questions than answers at the end of this one but your curiosity is defiantly running on over drive wondering whose behind everything. This one hit a little more on the emotion side with Carly’s job. Being a social worker and having to deal with abused wives and children isn’t a job I think I could handle. The author didn’t pull any punches in showing us the ugly side of domestic abuse, which for this gal who likes the dark and twisted kept me turning the pages. show less

The mini series continues. Was the former sheriff killed or was it a natural death? What is going on between James & his wife Debra? Seth and Carly are the main characters in this story. Can they save their marriage? Can they stop and listen to what the other needs from them? I have hope! Good character development. This series isn't what I was expecting.

Gone to Her Grave (Rogue River #2) by Melinda Leigh, is novella #2 in the Rogue River romantic suspense series. a joint writing collaboration between Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh. The novella picks up where On Her Father's Grave (Rogue River #1) by Kendra Elliot ends, and continues the story of multiple deaths caused by an unknown drug, but focuses on a different couple.

So far my overall feeling towards the series is “its just so-so”. I have several issues with the series such as:

I find very little connection between the romantic leads in the stories; they have history together, but suffer from unresolved issues that keep them apart. In this story the issue is Seth’s inability to accept his wife’s job as a family/social show more services counselor. He feels the job is too dangerous, and this seems like a silly excuse since he’s a law enforcement officer. The story states the couple still loves each other, but just can’t live with each other. I found very little tenderness, love, or emotional connection between Carly and Seth, they seemed like two people who just happened to have to work together. I also found it strange that Carly would mention to her sister that “she just can’t have a conversation with Seth because he just goes berserk” – when the story line shows no such behavior.

From the first book, we have:
• A possible relationship between Stevie and Zane – still unresolved
• The questionable death of the Taylor family father, and former police chief – still unresolved, but the cause of his death is being re-opened
• The new drug and who is the dealer – possibly resolved in this book, but with the quickie wrap up I’m not sure we've seen the end of this issue. I was not convinced.
From this book we have:
• A new plot thread involving the family of Darren Fisher, and Carly’s attempt to help them out, written so that is supports Seth’s idea that her job is too dangerous, but shows that Carly does follow sensible procedure
• The still missing Roy Kruger (he took over as chief of police for 10 days then just up and quit – and disappeared.
• A hint that Chief Taylor felt that Roy and James were acting funny – this ended up completely lost in this story – mentioned then forgotten
• No resolution to the romance between Carly and Seth

I find the novella’s hastily written, superficial, no depth to the characters, the plot line diluted with other plots that seem to take the forefront in the current novella, not romantic, nor suspenseful. I actually find more of a connection and feeling for the Taylor family as a whole then I do the romantic leads in the novellas.

Since I have all four of the current novellas, I will read them all to see if there is any improvement, and if viewed an one big book it would make sense, but so far I’m not a believer.

I received the copy of this novella from NetGalley on behalf of Montlake Romance, the novella was published Oct 21st 2014

For me this is a two star read show less

Carly and Seth

Continuation of the mystery drug dealer in Solitude Oregon. Carly and Seth are seperated by brought back to work together on a case. No HEA but their at least talking by the end of this book.

We see Stevie and Zane in this story but no mention of their relationship.

I found this a very unsatisfactory entry after the first book. Hoping #3 will be better.

This was the second book in this new series by Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh and I can't wait to read the next one! I received a copy of this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.