What do you think?
Rate this book
NY State Trooper #2
Dark Water
Award-Winning and Bestselling Author Jen Talty
Lacy DeGeorgio never imagined she'd have to be responsible for anyone but herself. She's strong, stubborn and fiercely independent. She needs no one. She's a woman determined to do things her way, on her own. But when a freak boating accident takes her sister Hannah's life, Lacy finds herself not only back in her hometown of Lake George, New York, but in a custody battle for her eleven-year-old nephew, Andy. Just when things couldn't get any worse, pesky State Trooper Frank Harmon starts showing up, tearing down all her defenses, making her want things she's never wanted before. She'll trust him with her nephew, but can she trust him with her heart?
New York State Trooper Frank Harmon is a man of honor and duty. He's always done things by the book, believing the law always works in favor of those who uphold it. Until the day he took a domestic disturbance call at the DeGeorgio trailer, and even though he knew something bad was about to happen, he had to walk away. Two days later, he pulled Hannah DeGeorgio's body from the icy cold waters of Lake George, changing his life forever. He sets out to make sure Hannah's killer is brought to justice and in the process makes a home for a family he thought he never wanted.
Lacy DeGeorgio never imagined she'd have to be responsible for anyone but herself. She's strong, stubborn and fiercely independent. She needs no one. She's a woman determined to do things her way, on her own. But when a freak boating accident takes her sister Hannah's life, Lacy finds herself not only back in her hometown of Lake George, New York, but in a custody battle for her eleven-year-old nephew, Andy. Just when things couldn't get any worse, pesky State Trooper Frank Harmon starts showing up, tearing down all her defenses, making her want things she's never wanted before. She'll trust him with her nephew, but can she trust him with her heart?
New York State Trooper Frank Harmon is a man of honor and duty. He's always done things by the book, believing the law always works in favor of those who uphold it. Until the day he took a domestic disturbance call at the DeGeorgio trailer, and even though he knew something bad was about to happen, he had to walk away. Two days later, he pulled Hannah DeGeorgio's body from the icy cold waters of Lake George, changing his life forever. He sets out to make sure Hannah's killer is brought to justice and in the process makes a home for a family he thought he never wanted.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2009
132 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Jen Talty
230 books512 followersJen Talty is the USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Paranormal Romance. In the fall of 2020, her short story was selected and featured in a 1001 Dark Nights Anthology. She is currently contracted to write in the With Me in Seattle series by Kristen Proby with Lady Boss Press, as well as Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha and Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors.
Regardless of the genre, her goal is to take you on a ride that will leave you floating under the sun with warmth in your heart. She writes stories about broken heroes and heroines who aren’t necessarily looking for romance, but in the end, they find the kind of love books are written about :).
She first started writing while carting her kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. Her first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 she helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where she ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
Jen is currently enjoying the next phase of her life…the empty nester! She and her husband reside in Jupiter, Florida.
Grab a glass of vino, kick back, relax, and let the romance roll in…
Regardless of the genre, her goal is to take you on a ride that will leave you floating under the sun with warmth in your heart. She writes stories about broken heroes and heroines who aren’t necessarily looking for romance, but in the end, they find the kind of love books are written about :).
She first started writing while carting her kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. Her first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 she helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where she ran the technical side of the business through 2016.
Jen is currently enjoying the next phase of her life…the empty nester! She and her husband reside in Jupiter, Florida.
Grab a glass of vino, kick back, relax, and let the romance roll in…
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 7, 2013
****The author provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review. ****
I won't repeat what this book is about because I believe the blurb has done a very thorough job. What I will say as that this was a very enjoyable romantic suspense novel. The storyline was steeped in mystery and intrigue. Although you sort of know who the problem is you are trying to figure out why and what they will do next. I felt awful for Lacy she really was being set up and I didn't like it one bit. Frank was an amazing but troubled gentlemen. He was truly set on the path of making everything right and I couldn't fault him for his honour and integrity. In fact both of these characters and Andy, Lacy's 11 year old nephew, have been left troubled by things in their pasts and the healing they all took in each other was lovely to read about. I felt a whole range of emotions right along with them, hope, anger, anxiety, fear. It is always a sign of a good book to me when it inspires different emotions.
This book wasn't long or drawn out, it was smoothly written with a great flow.
It is the second book in a series and even though I have not read the first one I didn't feel I was missing anything. I am actually looking forward to picking up the first book because this one was such pleasure to read. If romantic suspense is your thing, this is definitely a solid read and I would recommend it.
I won't repeat what this book is about because I believe the blurb has done a very thorough job. What I will say as that this was a very enjoyable romantic suspense novel. The storyline was steeped in mystery and intrigue. Although you sort of know who the problem is you are trying to figure out why and what they will do next. I felt awful for Lacy she really was being set up and I didn't like it one bit. Frank was an amazing but troubled gentlemen. He was truly set on the path of making everything right and I couldn't fault him for his honour and integrity. In fact both of these characters and Andy, Lacy's 11 year old nephew, have been left troubled by things in their pasts and the healing they all took in each other was lovely to read about. I felt a whole range of emotions right along with them, hope, anger, anxiety, fear. It is always a sign of a good book to me when it inspires different emotions.
This book wasn't long or drawn out, it was smoothly written with a great flow.
It is the second book in a series and even though I have not read the first one I didn't feel I was missing anything. I am actually looking forward to picking up the first book because this one was such pleasure to read. If romantic suspense is your thing, this is definitely a solid read and I would recommend it.
July 10, 2020
This book has a strong thread of intrigue throughout the story. From the beginning the villain’s identity is fairly certain, the rest of the story is all about what happens next and proving it. As individual characters, I adored Frank and Lacy. As a couple, I despaired of them ever getting it right, and my heart bled for all the heartache and pain they were carrying. I loved following along as they chased every lead in order to finally prove whodunnit, and watching as they both healed enough to open their hearts to one another.
May 20, 2013
Dark Water: NY State Trooper Series Book II, by Jen Talty, is a great novel featuring plenty of romance, suspense, and tender moments. I enjoyed Dark Water from the moment it began until it ended. Since this is the first novel I have read in the NY State Trooper Series I was a little concerned. I normally like to read a series in the correct order, however Dark Water is most definitely a stand alone novel.
Dark Water centers around the characters of Lacy, Frank, and Andy. Lacy escaped the small town she grew up in after her father was murdered. After some bumps in the road, she began to make a great life for herself in Las Vegas. However, her life comes crashing down around her when she receives a call that her sister was found at the bottom of a lake. Afraid that there was foul play, Lacy rushes back to her hometown to get custody of her eleven year old nephew, Andy. What she faces when she returns home is a cold investigation, a scarily different Andy, and her sister's estranged husband battling her for custody of a son he doesn't care for.
Lacy begins to fear that Andy knows more than he is saying regarding his mother's death as he becomes withdrawn and rebellious. Fearing that Taylor, Andy's father, is holding something over his son's head, Lacy turns to the police where she finds no answers. However, Sergeant Frank comes into their lives as he develops feelings for Lacy and bonds with Andy. Frank soon realizes that he has his work cut out for him as accidents keep happening around Lacy. Frank decides that no one is going to harm either Lacy or Andy on his watch, and whoever is trying to frame Lacy for wrongdoings around town better be prepared.
One of my favorite parts of Talty's novel was Lacy's relationship with her nephew, Andy. While he matured a lot since his mother's death, he was still an eleven year old boy at heart who needed someone to be in his corner and love him. Lacy was determined to fight tooth and nail to get custody of Andy, and build a secure and happy life for him. It was easy to see throughout Dark Water how much Lacy and Andy loved and relied upon each other. While Andy was sullen and rebellious much of the time, Lacy knew that he was a hurting little boy who needed patience and understanding. It was very rewarding to see where their relationship stood at the end of the novel.
I definitely recommend Dark Water to all romance and suspense lovers! There is also quite a mystery thrown in with many twists and turns. Talty did a great job in creating likeable characters, witty dialogue, and a book that I couldn't put down until it was completed! I look forward to going back and reading the first book in the NY State Trooper Series and will definitely be checking out the third book, Deadly Secrets. Happy reading!
*I received a complementary copy of 'Dark Water' for the purpose of review*
Dark Water centers around the characters of Lacy, Frank, and Andy. Lacy escaped the small town she grew up in after her father was murdered. After some bumps in the road, she began to make a great life for herself in Las Vegas. However, her life comes crashing down around her when she receives a call that her sister was found at the bottom of a lake. Afraid that there was foul play, Lacy rushes back to her hometown to get custody of her eleven year old nephew, Andy. What she faces when she returns home is a cold investigation, a scarily different Andy, and her sister's estranged husband battling her for custody of a son he doesn't care for.
Lacy begins to fear that Andy knows more than he is saying regarding his mother's death as he becomes withdrawn and rebellious. Fearing that Taylor, Andy's father, is holding something over his son's head, Lacy turns to the police where she finds no answers. However, Sergeant Frank comes into their lives as he develops feelings for Lacy and bonds with Andy. Frank soon realizes that he has his work cut out for him as accidents keep happening around Lacy. Frank decides that no one is going to harm either Lacy or Andy on his watch, and whoever is trying to frame Lacy for wrongdoings around town better be prepared.
One of my favorite parts of Talty's novel was Lacy's relationship with her nephew, Andy. While he matured a lot since his mother's death, he was still an eleven year old boy at heart who needed someone to be in his corner and love him. Lacy was determined to fight tooth and nail to get custody of Andy, and build a secure and happy life for him. It was easy to see throughout Dark Water how much Lacy and Andy loved and relied upon each other. While Andy was sullen and rebellious much of the time, Lacy knew that he was a hurting little boy who needed patience and understanding. It was very rewarding to see where their relationship stood at the end of the novel.
I definitely recommend Dark Water to all romance and suspense lovers! There is also quite a mystery thrown in with many twists and turns. Talty did a great job in creating likeable characters, witty dialogue, and a book that I couldn't put down until it was completed! I look forward to going back and reading the first book in the NY State Trooper Series and will definitely be checking out the third book, Deadly Secrets. Happy reading!
*I received a complementary copy of 'Dark Water' for the purpose of review*
June 17, 2024
Sergeant Frank Harmon is patrolling Lake George when he spots two jet skis and their riders throwing water balloons and spraying waves at a boat full of girls. Fun he could ignore but they were driving recklessly and had already almost caused a couple of accidents. One of the riders gets away, but Frank thinks he knows him. The other one, Andy, isn't so lucky. He doesn't want his aunt to know but that's just not happening, and Frank follows him to his home dock. Frank's thinking about stopping at the Lake Pub when he gets off in two hours hoping to see the new waitress, Lacy. They've been flirting for a couple of months now but nothing more than getting to know each other. She's turned him down for a date but the last time he asked she said maybe so...challenge accepted. When they arrive, Frank tells him to get his aunt, but then he sees Lacy coming toward them.
The last thing Frank expected was for the aunt to be Lacy and the other thing to be the source of his guilt. The death of her sister Hannah. He also learns that Andy's father is harassing Lacy, and, in her opinion, no one is doing anything about it. With what he knows about what happened to Hannah, Frank finds this to be concerning. He tells her he'll look into it and gives her his card with his business number and writes down personal cell number as well. He also tells her call him if something happens and only to call 911 if it's an emergency but to call him as well.
The next evening while Lacy is enjoying the relatively peaceful evening, reflecting on the changes in her life and how she's going to fight the custody suit Taylor is filing. When someone throws a rock through their trailer window.
Frank is walking a thin line as he helps Lacy while keeping his involvement with the events leading to her sister's death a secret from her.
I really love the way Frank works with Andy, and I really wish he had been more open from the beginning with Lacy. There's plenty of twists in this book as Frank investigates what he can, but he also hires a private investigator in Lacy's name to do what he can't. Andy is a master of deflection when it comes to answering things he doesn't want to which doesn't help either. He's also falling head over heels for Lacy and she for him, but his secret could destroy it all.
The last thing Frank expected was for the aunt to be Lacy and the other thing to be the source of his guilt. The death of her sister Hannah. He also learns that Andy's father is harassing Lacy, and, in her opinion, no one is doing anything about it. With what he knows about what happened to Hannah, Frank finds this to be concerning. He tells her he'll look into it and gives her his card with his business number and writes down personal cell number as well. He also tells her call him if something happens and only to call 911 if it's an emergency but to call him as well.
The next evening while Lacy is enjoying the relatively peaceful evening, reflecting on the changes in her life and how she's going to fight the custody suit Taylor is filing. When someone throws a rock through their trailer window.
Frank is walking a thin line as he helps Lacy while keeping his involvement with the events leading to her sister's death a secret from her.
I really love the way Frank works with Andy, and I really wish he had been more open from the beginning with Lacy. There's plenty of twists in this book as Frank investigates what he can, but he also hires a private investigator in Lacy's name to do what he can't. Andy is a master of deflection when it comes to answering things he doesn't want to which doesn't help either. He's also falling head over heels for Lacy and she for him, but his secret could destroy it all.
June 18, 2019
Danger, attraction and suspense hold the reader captive.
Sgt Frank Harmon was patrolling Lake George when he noticed two young kids on jet skies were "acting up." He went after them but the kids split. The patrolman caught up with Andy and walked him back to his home where he met Lacy, Andy's guardian. That's when Frank realized who she was and why his aunt was taking care of him.
A piece of him feels the need to check on Andy, to be sure he is staying "in line." Personally, I think Lacy has captured the man's attention. Suddenly, Frank has all the reason he needs to keep a close eye on both of them. It is clear someone is after them, but why?
Bottom line, there is so much going on in the story that kept me on the edge but thankfully all questions are answered by the end of the book. Touching story, great chemistry and thankfully, more books in the series. Jen Talty never disappoints and this series is a great example of her writing skills.
Sgt Frank Harmon was patrolling Lake George when he noticed two young kids on jet skies were "acting up." He went after them but the kids split. The patrolman caught up with Andy and walked him back to his home where he met Lacy, Andy's guardian. That's when Frank realized who she was and why his aunt was taking care of him.
A piece of him feels the need to check on Andy, to be sure he is staying "in line." Personally, I think Lacy has captured the man's attention. Suddenly, Frank has all the reason he needs to keep a close eye on both of them. It is clear someone is after them, but why?
Bottom line, there is so much going on in the story that kept me on the edge but thankfully all questions are answered by the end of the book. Touching story, great chemistry and thankfully, more books in the series. Jen Talty never disappoints and this series is a great example of her writing skills.
June 24, 2017
I received this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing an honest review. This book is about Frank a New York State Trooper that recovered the body of a woman that only a few days before was involved in a domestic violence dispute he had been called to. He is dealing with the guilt of did he do enough by just following the rule book or could he have done more. It turns out that the woman Lacey he has been flirting with over the last couple of months is the sister to the dead woman and is involved in a custody battle for her nephew against the boy's father who she knows killed her sister but cannot prove it.
January 27, 2013
DARK WATER : NY STATE TROOPER SERIES Book II
FROM BACK COVER:
Lacy DeGeorgio never imagined she'd have to be responsible for anyone but herself. She's strong, stubborn and fiercely independent. She needs no one. She's a woman determined to do things her way, on her own. But when a freak boating accident takes her sister Hannah's life, Lacy finds herself not only back in her hometown of Lake George, New York, but in a custody battle for her eleven-year-old nephew, Andy. Just when things couldn't get any worse, pesky State Trooper Frank Harmon starts showing up, tearing down all her defenses, making her want things she's never wanted before. She'll trust him with her nephew, but can she trust him with her heart?
REVIEW:
Hours later when darkness set Lacy wrapped in her favorite blanket sat in the front yard enjoying the quietness she realized how peaceful the nights were, even in a trailer park.
Lake George was always clear under the sun. However, the black waters of night, mixed with the village nightlife, caused her to shake. Night only made her more lonely. She missed her sister. She missed the world she ran away from long ago, but it's not there anymore.
It was a nice place to live, unless your home was in a trailer park. She didn't have the money to enjoy the village. the village was exactly Las Vegas and Lacy didn't even like it much anymore.even like the village anymore. It wasn’t Vegas. She missed the money she could be making in Vegas. Sin City was an appropriate name. Then again, did she really miss Vegas all that much? She missed the money she could be making, but it was a SIN CITY. She just wasn't sure she could take care of Andy.
When she moved away, she didn't think anything bad happened in this little town. Well, maybe s he was wrong. Nothing but bad things, and that was probably still true. When her Dad died, she had no reason to stay. One day she just pointed to a spot on the map and went. She only had a few thousand dollars and she left her sister and her son behind. She headed for the bright lights of SIN CITY.
She was there for only a short while, when she got a phone call from a stranger telling her that Hannah's body had been found in the lake and Andy was in foster care.
Hannah had left everything to her son, Andy. That included a life insurance policy of ten thousand dollars. His father never wanted him to begin with but he wanted that insurance money. Lacy wasn't going to let that happen. She didn't think she would make a good Mom but she would never let Taylor get his hands on Andy. The fight was on. Lacy wasn't a fool. She was scared though. Could she do this?
How did this happen? Good lawyers which she needed to fight Taylor cost big money. Money she just didn't make working at The Beach Side Hotel. Andy didn't help matters by getting into trouble all the time. This made her look like an unfit guardian. Her only chance for help was Frank, who just might help her or at least look into it.
She just didn't trust cops but she had to believe in Frank. She didn't have anyone else. She knew they lied to cover their butts and she knew they had shot her innocent father.
New York State Trooper Frank Harmon wasn't like other cops. He was a man that was honorable and took his job serious. He did things according to the book. He felt that the law always prevailed until..... he knew bad things were going to happen, but he had to find the answers to the mystery that Lacy needed help with. He sets out to make sure justice prevails. He also wants a home and family he never thought he'd want.
I enjoyed the book, it was a good mystery even though the bad guy was rather obvious right from the start. It was an edge of the seat book. Definitely a don't put down book. The author lets you figure out the why and how things happened. I didn't particularly care for Lacy, she was rather iffy about what and why she should do things. She is out in the open about never wanting kids. I think when she lost the person she loved, Hannah, the push and shove came out in her. She wasn't going to let this go without finding out why and how and then seeing that the culprit is punished. This book is a definite read. I give it 4 STARS.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Talty co-created Cool Gus Publishing with NY Times Best-Selling Author Bob Mayer, and runs the technical side of the company. She is a published romance author, and teaches Creative Writing at various writing conferences across the country.
Jen grew up in Rochester, NY, a city with the highest murder rate per capita in the entire state. With notorious cases such as The Alphabet Murders, The Genesee River Killer (Arthur Shawcross), The Murder of Kali Ann Poulton by Mark Christi, and the case of funeral homes stealing body parts from corpses awaiting cremation, Jen became fascinated by the darker side of human nature. She brings this fascination to her romances, creating dark villains who wreak havoc on the hero and heroine, and producing page-turning suspense.
I received this complimentary print copy from the author, Jen Talty
for this unbiased review.
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Water-Jen-... http://jentaltyauthor.wordpress.com/2...
http://bemiown.blogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71...
FROM BACK COVER:
Lacy DeGeorgio never imagined she'd have to be responsible for anyone but herself. She's strong, stubborn and fiercely independent. She needs no one. She's a woman determined to do things her way, on her own. But when a freak boating accident takes her sister Hannah's life, Lacy finds herself not only back in her hometown of Lake George, New York, but in a custody battle for her eleven-year-old nephew, Andy. Just when things couldn't get any worse, pesky State Trooper Frank Harmon starts showing up, tearing down all her defenses, making her want things she's never wanted before. She'll trust him with her nephew, but can she trust him with her heart?
REVIEW:
Hours later when darkness set Lacy wrapped in her favorite blanket sat in the front yard enjoying the quietness she realized how peaceful the nights were, even in a trailer park.
Lake George was always clear under the sun. However, the black waters of night, mixed with the village nightlife, caused her to shake. Night only made her more lonely. She missed her sister. She missed the world she ran away from long ago, but it's not there anymore.
It was a nice place to live, unless your home was in a trailer park. She didn't have the money to enjoy the village. the village was exactly Las Vegas and Lacy didn't even like it much anymore.even like the village anymore. It wasn’t Vegas. She missed the money she could be making in Vegas. Sin City was an appropriate name. Then again, did she really miss Vegas all that much? She missed the money she could be making, but it was a SIN CITY. She just wasn't sure she could take care of Andy.
When she moved away, she didn't think anything bad happened in this little town. Well, maybe s he was wrong. Nothing but bad things, and that was probably still true. When her Dad died, she had no reason to stay. One day she just pointed to a spot on the map and went. She only had a few thousand dollars and she left her sister and her son behind. She headed for the bright lights of SIN CITY.
She was there for only a short while, when she got a phone call from a stranger telling her that Hannah's body had been found in the lake and Andy was in foster care.
Hannah had left everything to her son, Andy. That included a life insurance policy of ten thousand dollars. His father never wanted him to begin with but he wanted that insurance money. Lacy wasn't going to let that happen. She didn't think she would make a good Mom but she would never let Taylor get his hands on Andy. The fight was on. Lacy wasn't a fool. She was scared though. Could she do this?
How did this happen? Good lawyers which she needed to fight Taylor cost big money. Money she just didn't make working at The Beach Side Hotel. Andy didn't help matters by getting into trouble all the time. This made her look like an unfit guardian. Her only chance for help was Frank, who just might help her or at least look into it.
She just didn't trust cops but she had to believe in Frank. She didn't have anyone else. She knew they lied to cover their butts and she knew they had shot her innocent father.
New York State Trooper Frank Harmon wasn't like other cops. He was a man that was honorable and took his job serious. He did things according to the book. He felt that the law always prevailed until..... he knew bad things were going to happen, but he had to find the answers to the mystery that Lacy needed help with. He sets out to make sure justice prevails. He also wants a home and family he never thought he'd want.
I enjoyed the book, it was a good mystery even though the bad guy was rather obvious right from the start. It was an edge of the seat book. Definitely a don't put down book. The author lets you figure out the why and how things happened. I didn't particularly care for Lacy, she was rather iffy about what and why she should do things. She is out in the open about never wanting kids. I think when she lost the person she loved, Hannah, the push and shove came out in her. She wasn't going to let this go without finding out why and how and then seeing that the culprit is punished. This book is a definite read. I give it 4 STARS.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jen Talty co-created Cool Gus Publishing with NY Times Best-Selling Author Bob Mayer, and runs the technical side of the company. She is a published romance author, and teaches Creative Writing at various writing conferences across the country.
Jen grew up in Rochester, NY, a city with the highest murder rate per capita in the entire state. With notorious cases such as The Alphabet Murders, The Genesee River Killer (Arthur Shawcross), The Murder of Kali Ann Poulton by Mark Christi, and the case of funeral homes stealing body parts from corpses awaiting cremation, Jen became fascinated by the darker side of human nature. She brings this fascination to her romances, creating dark villains who wreak havoc on the hero and heroine, and producing page-turning suspense.
I received this complimentary print copy from the author, Jen Talty
for this unbiased review.
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Water-Jen-... http://jentaltyauthor.wordpress.com/2...
http://bemiown.blogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71...
July 31, 2017
I thought the behavior of the main characters was pretty sleazy and risky considering there was a minor to be considered. I've read some of the other books in this series, and they were ok. I read on in the series because they did have suspense and romance, and seemed to be well-edited. But this one just went too far below the line, in my opinion.
July 1, 2020
Good read
Frank met Lacy when her took her nephew Andy home. He had agreed not to arrest him when he had been reckless on a met ski. When they got to his home Frank was surprised to find out his aunt was the cute waitress he had tried to take out several times. Andy was in trouble, but Frank was beginning to understand why Lacy didn't date.
Frank met Lacy when her took her nephew Andy home. He had agreed not to arrest him when he had been reckless on a met ski. When they got to his home Frank was surprised to find out his aunt was the cute waitress he had tried to take out several times. Andy was in trouble, but Frank was beginning to understand why Lacy didn't date.
June 14, 2017
Kept me engaged!
A great read with romance, mystery and suspense. The characters were entertaining and not too perfect. I want to read more from this author!
A great read with romance, mystery and suspense. The characters were entertaining and not too perfect. I want to read more from this author!
July 3, 2019
Dark Water
I'm loving this series, I can't put the books down. They're well written, plenty of suspense and I love the characters. Book 3 here I come!
I'm loving this series, I can't put the books down. They're well written, plenty of suspense and I love the characters. Book 3 here I come!
February 25, 2022
This wasn’t bad. It seemed a bit far fetched throughout, and a few places felt disjointed and was a bit confusing. It was entertaining enough though. Decent read.
January 19, 2026
On the edge of your seat type book
October 15, 2020
Always and forever
A great second book in the series and everything is increased, more intrigue, more danger and a plot with numerous twists and a number of threads...not too many to follow but enough to make you question what you think you know!
Lacy and Frank are both determined to do everything they can to keep Andy with Lacy and keep him safe...but they are both terrified of showing their true feelings for each other. This did become a little frustrating the more they danced around each other...but thankfully they do finally get there! I love that Lacy and Andy have their 'always and forever' phrase that is like a reminder to him that she will fight for him, but also that Frank adopts this too..with a slight twist.
If you prefer a romantic suspense that is heavy on the romance then this may not be the book for you as there is far more suspense and intrigue than romance.
This book individually has to be bought, but it is available on Kindle Unlimited as part of the New York State Troopers boxset, which is how I read it.
A great second book in the series and everything is increased, more intrigue, more danger and a plot with numerous twists and a number of threads...not too many to follow but enough to make you question what you think you know!
Lacy and Frank are both determined to do everything they can to keep Andy with Lacy and keep him safe...but they are both terrified of showing their true feelings for each other. This did become a little frustrating the more they danced around each other...but thankfully they do finally get there! I love that Lacy and Andy have their 'always and forever' phrase that is like a reminder to him that she will fight for him, but also that Frank adopts this too..with a slight twist.
If you prefer a romantic suspense that is heavy on the romance then this may not be the book for you as there is far more suspense and intrigue than romance.
This book individually has to be bought, but it is available on Kindle Unlimited as part of the New York State Troopers boxset, which is how I read it.
July 29, 2016
Several months ago I came across Dark Water in the Amazon bookstore and after reading the synopsis decided I had to give it a try. Although at the time I tended to strictly read straight romance, the description of this book intrigued me, and I became ensnared by the idea of a romance which included mystery and suspense as well. I am very glad I gave this story a chance because I genuinely enjoyed it and it opened a new world of romance novels for me that I hadn’t experienced.
Lacy is a young woman who moved away from home on a quest to discover more out of life. But when she finds out that her sister has died, Lacy returns home to raise her 11 year old nephew ending up in a bitter custody battle. Though Lacy has always believed that her sister's death was not accidental and is certain that her ex-husband was somehow involved, she has never been able to find any proof. Making matters worse, she feels her nephew knows something more surrounding the circumstances of the death of his mother, but he refuses to confide in Lacy. As he begins acting out, hanging around with the "wrong kids" and getting in trouble, he is brought home one night by Frank who, unbeknownst to them, has a connection with them as he is the cop who discovered her sister’s body.
Frank is a cop who after being dispatched out to a family disturbance between a woman and her ex-husband, is ultimately left with no alternative but to leave without any arrests only to later discover her body in Lake George. Although Frank has always felt there was some definite foul play involved regarding her death, he has never found anything to prove it. But when Frank catches a young boy causing trouble and brings him home where he lives with his aunt, he soon discovers that they are related to the young woman and that they too believe her death was not an accident. Continuing to feel guilty for not protecting her sister, Frank quickly begins to feel a connection with both Lacy and her nephew, with a growing deep desire to keep them safe and to get to the bottom of the mystery he has always felt surrounded her death. When Frank and Lacy ultimately agree that working together would be beneficial to the possibility of unraveling the truth, they begin spending more time together which ultimately develops into a deeper connection than they ever imagined could be possible. As the attraction grows between them, Frank’s need to shield both Lacy and her nephew from harm magnifies. But will Frank and Lacy ever be able to admit that their attraction and increasing allure goes much deeper than the link they share through her sister’s death?
This was definitely an enjoyable read. You could clearly feel the strong connection between Lacy and Frank and their struggle with admitting their true feelings towards one another. I very much enjoyed the intrigue and page-turning suspense of this book as well as Jen Taly’s writing style and the way she presents the characters through the pages of her book. This is the first novel I have read of Ms. Taly, and although it is the second book in this series, it can be read on its own. I will definitely be on the watch for other books from this author and will certainly pick up the first book in this series as well.
Lacy is a young woman who moved away from home on a quest to discover more out of life. But when she finds out that her sister has died, Lacy returns home to raise her 11 year old nephew ending up in a bitter custody battle. Though Lacy has always believed that her sister's death was not accidental and is certain that her ex-husband was somehow involved, she has never been able to find any proof. Making matters worse, she feels her nephew knows something more surrounding the circumstances of the death of his mother, but he refuses to confide in Lacy. As he begins acting out, hanging around with the "wrong kids" and getting in trouble, he is brought home one night by Frank who, unbeknownst to them, has a connection with them as he is the cop who discovered her sister’s body.
Frank is a cop who after being dispatched out to a family disturbance between a woman and her ex-husband, is ultimately left with no alternative but to leave without any arrests only to later discover her body in Lake George. Although Frank has always felt there was some definite foul play involved regarding her death, he has never found anything to prove it. But when Frank catches a young boy causing trouble and brings him home where he lives with his aunt, he soon discovers that they are related to the young woman and that they too believe her death was not an accident. Continuing to feel guilty for not protecting her sister, Frank quickly begins to feel a connection with both Lacy and her nephew, with a growing deep desire to keep them safe and to get to the bottom of the mystery he has always felt surrounded her death. When Frank and Lacy ultimately agree that working together would be beneficial to the possibility of unraveling the truth, they begin spending more time together which ultimately develops into a deeper connection than they ever imagined could be possible. As the attraction grows between them, Frank’s need to shield both Lacy and her nephew from harm magnifies. But will Frank and Lacy ever be able to admit that their attraction and increasing allure goes much deeper than the link they share through her sister’s death?
This was definitely an enjoyable read. You could clearly feel the strong connection between Lacy and Frank and their struggle with admitting their true feelings towards one another. I very much enjoyed the intrigue and page-turning suspense of this book as well as Jen Taly’s writing style and the way she presents the characters through the pages of her book. This is the first novel I have read of Ms. Taly, and although it is the second book in this series, it can be read on its own. I will definitely be on the watch for other books from this author and will certainly pick up the first book in this series as well.
March 21, 2013
Seeing death leaves a mark on our soul. A mark that can't be erased, only recognized as another defining part of our ever developing character. How we accept and define that mark is up to us. In this story, Frank's soul was marred by such an event, but acceptance is eluding him even though he reaches out to tame its heart wrenching grip. Determined to change its plight on his soul, he keeps searching for answers to why the death happened in the first place.
Being a young and attractive man is certainly not an obstacle for Frank in the romance department, but sometimes finding 'the one' is difficult. When Lacy entered Frank's life, seeing her as being 'the one' was difficult, especially when life makes you hide who you really are for fear of losing her for ever. Frank certainly has some issues, but they are all related to that mark on his soul.
Lacy gave up on finding 'the one' to help her sister. Now life's course changing events have clouded her ability to see the big picture above the details. And she seems bent on depriving herself, when she can stay in control, as a way to beg forgiveness from someone who can no longer give that to her.
As both character's lives intertwine, their ultimate goals appear to be the same on the surface, but in reality at the core of their souls, they are quite different. Each seeks a release, a comfort for their anguish and despair, thinking it will come with the attainment of their goal. Then as with most romance novels the two slowly realize they are looking at the wrong details that make up the whole picture.
It's actually a pretty good story. The other characters brought into play provide the diversity, adventure emotional havoc and suspense. The story line keeps moving at a good pace and even has you guessing at times as to what that person means overall, or what will happen, or is this character involved in this way. You know what I mean. The child character I think was really well done. You could actually see the petulance on his face and hurt in his eyes. I totally fell for that child and wanted to protect him as much as Lacy and Frank did. Jen's development of that character was a bright star. I didn't feel quite the same about the adult leads, but I think I just have a soft spot for kids.
This was an enjoyable story, and well worth the time to read it. Thanks Jen!
Being a young and attractive man is certainly not an obstacle for Frank in the romance department, but sometimes finding 'the one' is difficult. When Lacy entered Frank's life, seeing her as being 'the one' was difficult, especially when life makes you hide who you really are for fear of losing her for ever. Frank certainly has some issues, but they are all related to that mark on his soul.
Lacy gave up on finding 'the one' to help her sister. Now life's course changing events have clouded her ability to see the big picture above the details. And she seems bent on depriving herself, when she can stay in control, as a way to beg forgiveness from someone who can no longer give that to her.
As both character's lives intertwine, their ultimate goals appear to be the same on the surface, but in reality at the core of their souls, they are quite different. Each seeks a release, a comfort for their anguish and despair, thinking it will come with the attainment of their goal. Then as with most romance novels the two slowly realize they are looking at the wrong details that make up the whole picture.
It's actually a pretty good story. The other characters brought into play provide the diversity, adventure emotional havoc and suspense. The story line keeps moving at a good pace and even has you guessing at times as to what that person means overall, or what will happen, or is this character involved in this way. You know what I mean. The child character I think was really well done. You could actually see the petulance on his face and hurt in his eyes. I totally fell for that child and wanted to protect him as much as Lacy and Frank did. Jen's development of that character was a bright star. I didn't feel quite the same about the adult leads, but I think I just have a soft spot for kids.
This was an enjoyable story, and well worth the time to read it. Thanks Jen!
October 5, 2013
Great book with strong characters. Hint of domestic violence, but covered sensitively by the author. A strong alpha male who has a strong sense of right. Dramatic throughout with an ending to leave you gasping. Enjoy.
August 19, 2013
I really liked this book and finished it quickly. The story line is fast paced and intriguing.
April 2, 2017
Another enjoyable instalment of this series and I can't wait for the next one.
April 29, 2017
Like the author, ending needs work!
I liked this book more than the stars reflect. It's more like a 3.5 star rating. This is my 2nd book by this author and in the series. The story is well crafted but as with the first book the ending seems abrupt. Also, I felt like the characters were not fully developed.
Overall I liked the series and will continue reading. Plus I feel that the setting of these books should be highlighted as it is very different and high marks for that!
I liked this book more than the stars reflect. It's more like a 3.5 star rating. This is my 2nd book by this author and in the series. The story is well crafted but as with the first book the ending seems abrupt. Also, I felt like the characters were not fully developed.
Overall I liked the series and will continue reading. Plus I feel that the setting of these books should be highlighted as it is very different and high marks for that!
December 9, 2017
3 star
Not bad except for a couple demeaning uses of baby as a term of endearment. Would read more probably. .
Not bad except for a couple demeaning uses of baby as a term of endearment. Would read more probably. .
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews