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Echo Lake #1
Without a Trace
Rae Cavanaugh would do anything to find her kin.
Even join forces with Tom Brannon.
The disappearance of Rae Cavanaugh’s sister rocked the community of Echo Lake. So when Rae’s niece mysteriously goes missing fifteen years later, county sheriff Tom Brannon is determined to find her. But as the electricity between the two sparks, Rae soon discovers—despite her misgivings—that Tom is the only one she can trust…
Even join forces with Tom Brannon.
The disappearance of Rae Cavanaugh’s sister rocked the community of Echo Lake. So when Rae’s niece mysteriously goes missing fifteen years later, county sheriff Tom Brannon is determined to find her. But as the electricity between the two sparks, Rae soon discovers—despite her misgivings—that Tom is the only one she can trust…
256 pages, ebook
First published May 14, 2020
68 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Stevens
261 books2,229 followersAmanda Stevens is the award-winning author of over fifty novels, including the modern gothic series, The Graveyard Queen. Her books have been described as eerie and atmospheric, “a new take on the classic ghost story.” Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas, where she enjoys binge-watching, bike riding and the occasional Horror Night with friends.
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 28, 2023
Without a Trace was a fast-paced read featuring an enemies to lovers romance.
Fifteen years ago the disappearance of Rae Cavanaugh's sister destroyed her family and rocked their small community of Echo Lake. When Rae's niece goes missing in present day, Rae fears it's like her sister all over again. County sheriff Tom Brannon is determined not to let that happen. But Rae and Tom's interactions are tense as his sister was found that night fifteen years ago while Rae's has never been seen again. However the longer the search for her niece goes on, the more Rae realizes that Tom may be the only person she can trust.
Without a Trace takes place over the course of just over a week and moves along at a quick pace despite the length of time Sophie is missing. Throughout that week, Rae and Tom are constantly on the move following up on leads or searching for the girl. We get a bit of backstory about what happened to Rae's sister throughout the investigation including the fact she was never found which leads to questions of if the same person is responsible and what that could mean for Sophie. There were a few unexpected reveals along the way and while I did guess who was responsible, I was surprised by the motivation behind it. The final confrontation with the villain was well done and I was ultimately happy with the way the suspense plot wrapped up.
The romance was where I struggled a bit with this book. At the start of the book, Rae and Tom do not like each other at all and I just felt they never really moved past that. Rae unfairly blamed Tom because he got his sister back while she didn't and despite them going through the motions of her forgiving him, I never really believed it. Her hatred just went from there one minute to gone the next which didn't seem realistic to me. Add on that I didn't feel like they had any chemistry and the romance just wasn't for me.
Overall Without a Trace was hit and miss for me as it had an intriguing mystery but a lackluster romance.
Fifteen years ago the disappearance of Rae Cavanaugh's sister destroyed her family and rocked their small community of Echo Lake. When Rae's niece goes missing in present day, Rae fears it's like her sister all over again. County sheriff Tom Brannon is determined not to let that happen. But Rae and Tom's interactions are tense as his sister was found that night fifteen years ago while Rae's has never been seen again. However the longer the search for her niece goes on, the more Rae realizes that Tom may be the only person she can trust.
Without a Trace takes place over the course of just over a week and moves along at a quick pace despite the length of time Sophie is missing. Throughout that week, Rae and Tom are constantly on the move following up on leads or searching for the girl. We get a bit of backstory about what happened to Rae's sister throughout the investigation including the fact she was never found which leads to questions of if the same person is responsible and what that could mean for Sophie. There were a few unexpected reveals along the way and while I did guess who was responsible, I was surprised by the motivation behind it. The final confrontation with the villain was well done and I was ultimately happy with the way the suspense plot wrapped up.
The romance was where I struggled a bit with this book. At the start of the book, Rae and Tom do not like each other at all and I just felt they never really moved past that. Rae unfairly blamed Tom because he got his sister back while she didn't and despite them going through the motions of her forgiving him, I never really believed it. Her hatred just went from there one minute to gone the next which didn't seem realistic to me. Add on that I didn't feel like they had any chemistry and the romance just wasn't for me.
Overall Without a Trace was hit and miss for me as it had an intriguing mystery but a lackluster romance.
April 7, 2020
This was a fun book to read. It had mystery and action going on. I liked Rae Cavanaugh. I understand what guilt can do to a person. Each of us carries something. It is well written and the pages turn out of curiosity. Tom Brannon is a great sheriff and character. The bad guy will surprise you. Amanda does a great job of weaving together the action and mystery to create a great mystery. I'm looking forward to seeing who is next in this series. J
September 8, 2023
3.5*
Rae's sister Riley disappeared 15 years ago. Her body was never found. Fast forward 15 years and her niece Sophie goes missing. Tom's sister Ellie also went missing when Riley did. But she came home.
Rae's dad and brother hate Tom and his dad because of what happened. (Tom was 16 and was babysitting Riley and Ellie).
Tom is now the sheriff and is responsible for trying to find Sophie. Part of the problem is Rae's family doesn't trust him and withholds the info when they get a ransom demand. Overall this was a good mystery/suspense, but really did not work in the romance department. I could not see them together based on their dislike/distrust at the beginning. There were also a few things I thought were brought up and then never explained (Dylan meeting with Lauren for one).
Maybe I will read the next. Maybe I won't.
Rae's sister Riley disappeared 15 years ago. Her body was never found. Fast forward 15 years and her niece Sophie goes missing. Tom's sister Ellie also went missing when Riley did. But she came home.
Rae's dad and brother hate Tom and his dad because of what happened. (Tom was 16 and was babysitting Riley and Ellie).
Tom is now the sheriff and is responsible for trying to find Sophie. Part of the problem is Rae's family doesn't trust him and withholds the info when they get a ransom demand. Overall this was a good mystery/suspense, but really did not work in the romance department. I could not see them together based on their dislike/distrust at the beginning. There were also a few things I thought were brought up and then never explained (Dylan meeting with Lauren for one).
Maybe I will read the next. Maybe I won't.
July 6, 2020
Without a Trace is the first book in the Echo Lake series by Amanda Stevens. After reading the second book, I searched out this one to get to Rae and Tom's story. I'm so glad I did! Rae has hated herself for the mistakes she made as a kid when her younger sister went missing in the Ruins. Now, years later, Riley is still missing and Rae still hates Tom Brannon. Maybe not as much as she did back then but old habits are hard to break. Back then he was the 17-year-old son of the sheriff whose sister also went missing that night, but she came home.
Now, Tom Brannon is the Nance County Sheriff and he's faced with Rae Cavanaugh again. Only this time, her niece is missing when Rae was responsible for her. He can't help but feel like something is fishy when Sophie is taken from the Ruins on the same kind of night her aunt was all those years ago.
The years, and the maturity of time, have helped Rae see that Tom wasn't a bad kid then and he's not a bad guy now. They were both in a situation that left them with ghosts, but their growing attraction as adults might get in the way of finding Sophie. When you throw the fact that Rae's family HATES Tom more than Rae ever did, things are extremely complicated for her. They blame him for the three girls going missing when he was supposed to be in charge of them. There is no way they will trust him to find Sophie.
Tom has to walk a tightrope now. On one side is a family that already doesn't trust him and on the other is a missing teenager.
Lies, deception, morality, and matters of the heart come to a head in the search for the missing girl and the aftermath to the Cavanaugh family.
If you love a small-town sheriff romance with a hefty amount of intrigue and suspense, then you don't want to pass on Without a Trace or any of the Echo Lake Novels.
Now, Tom Brannon is the Nance County Sheriff and he's faced with Rae Cavanaugh again. Only this time, her niece is missing when Rae was responsible for her. He can't help but feel like something is fishy when Sophie is taken from the Ruins on the same kind of night her aunt was all those years ago.
The years, and the maturity of time, have helped Rae see that Tom wasn't a bad kid then and he's not a bad guy now. They were both in a situation that left them with ghosts, but their growing attraction as adults might get in the way of finding Sophie. When you throw the fact that Rae's family HATES Tom more than Rae ever did, things are extremely complicated for her. They blame him for the three girls going missing when he was supposed to be in charge of them. There is no way they will trust him to find Sophie.
Tom has to walk a tightrope now. On one side is a family that already doesn't trust him and on the other is a missing teenager.
Lies, deception, morality, and matters of the heart come to a head in the search for the missing girl and the aftermath to the Cavanaugh family.
If you love a small-town sheriff romance with a hefty amount of intrigue and suspense, then you don't want to pass on Without a Trace or any of the Echo Lake Novels.
June 19, 2020
Rae has never gotten over the disappearance of her sister 15 years ago. The teen boy who was supposed to be watching them, now Sheriff Tom Brannon, hasn't, either and still feels guilty.
Then Rae's niece disappears. Who has taken her? The why is soon clear when a ransom is demanded, but can Rae or Tom or anyone else find Sophie in time? Especially after a body is found in the old structure where everyone thinks Sophie went.
Then both Rae and Tom are targeted. Who is behind the mayhem is a surprise to everyone.
Then Rae's niece disappears. Who has taken her? The why is soon clear when a ransom is demanded, but can Rae or Tom or anyone else find Sophie in time? Especially after a body is found in the old structure where everyone thinks Sophie went.
Then both Rae and Tom are targeted. Who is behind the mayhem is a surprise to everyone.
June 6, 2020
It starts out with a spooky blood moon and a missing girl. Rae Cavanaugh has to call her arch enemy Sheriff Tom to help find her missing teenage niece. The mystery is top rate and keeps you guessing until the end. I loved the dynamic of the Cavanaugh family characters, so suspicious! The story is haunting, combining past hurts and current fears. I loved when Rae and Sheriff Tom overcame their past to find love in the present. I look forward now to the second book in this Echo Lake series.
March 23, 2023
Nobody does creepy atmosphere better than this author. A missing girl and family full of secrets.
“I’ve heard people say that when the air is still and the hour is late, you can hear the screams of the patients echoing across the water.
Just the right amount of suspense with a ending that is shocking gripping.
With very little effort, he could conjure ghostly images behind the broken windowpanes and phantom whispers rippling down through the trees.
“I’ve heard people say that when the air is still and the hour is late, you can hear the screams of the patients echoing across the water.
Just the right amount of suspense with a ending that is shocking gripping.
With very little effort, he could conjure ghostly images behind the broken windowpanes and phantom whispers rippling down through the trees.
October 7, 2021
This book made me realize that I think romance suspense is one of new favorite genres. I liked how this book was more suspense than romance. These type of books get real deep with the drama. They are very un put downable. Wish the next book followed these characters instead of being a companion but I'm still going to check it out
September 23, 2020
This book was pretty good. I noticed that the author used some words a couple of times in different chapters and I found this a bit annoying. Also, the romance had some chemistry but I felt as if it was pushed into the the story try succeed in giving it that suspenseful romantic vibe
April 19, 2024
I like anything Amanda Stevens writes. This book was the first in the Echo Lake trilogy. I read the others and was glad to find this one. Fifteen years ago a young girl went missing from this small town. Present day, another young girl is missing on the anniversary. Very good read. enjoy.
Read
June 1, 2020Categories
Mystery & Detective, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
An Echo Lake Novel (Book #1)
Mystery & Detective, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
An Echo Lake Novel (Book #1)
Read
June 1, 2020Categories
Mystery & Detective, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
An Echo Lake Novel (Book #1)
Mystery & Detective, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
An Echo Lake Novel (Book #1)
June 5, 2020
Too fast... It didn't last enough for me to enjoy it.
Troppo veloce, non me lo sono goduto per niente.
Troppo veloce, non me lo sono goduto per niente.
June 9, 2020
Great book, great mystery, really enjoyed these two characters, and I wonder if we'll find out what happened to her sister!
October 2, 2020
I enjoyed the mystery.
February 2, 2021
As a romance, this sucked. As a mystery, I enjoyed it.
October 30, 2021
This book wasn't what I expected when first staring reading it, but the ending is fantastic. The book is great and well-written.
Read
February 20, 2022DNF 41%. Loved some other Amanda Stevens books but not this one.
June 9, 2023
Re reading :)
March 16, 2024
Fast paced.
Great writing.
Great writing.
March 7, 2025
Ugh. This was too predictable. Also, I really dislike how this wrapped up all perfect in like ten pages. Not looking forward to book two.
March 17, 2024
I have never read a Harlequin book but these are awesome. I'm super impressed
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews