My review for Karen Rose's "BURIED TOO DEEP"

 

BURIED TOO DEEP

Romantic Suspense

  

AUTHOR:
Karen Rose

RELEASE DATE:
August 13, 2024

PUBLISHER:
Berkley Publishing Group

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9780593638583

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.karenrosebooks.com/

 

 

Phineas “Phin” Bishop works as a handyman and nighttime security for a PI firm. He wants to become a private investigator; however, his PTSD makes him a flight risk. When a colleague is hurt during a break in, Phin steps forward to help find the one responsible. Their investigation brings them to Cora Winslow. Something about her helps Phin calm his mental demons. He will do anything, even face his inner issues, to keep Cora safe. Can Phin overcome his PTSD to protect Cora? Or will it jeopardize the entire case?

Cora Winslow is a competent librarian in the Garden District of New Orleans, Louisiana. Her father’s discovered body raises a lot of questions like “Who killed him?” and “Who exactly is writing letters to her signed by him?” Cora also needs help catching the person breaking into her home. She soon finds herself entangled in something far more troubling than she bargained for. Cora cannot help but feel safe around Phin. Can she help the Broussard team in their investigation? Or will Cora end up just like her father?

It is no secret that I have a weakness for the wounded/tortured hero types. Phin piqued my interest since his part in BENEATH DARK WATERS, book two. When I learned this novel was his story, I could not hit “request” fast enough. Phineas made quite the impression on me. He is a broken man still grappling with his PTSD, especially the effect it has on his family and friends. My heart hurt for him. I only have one small nitpick. I desperately wanted a reuniting scene between Phin and Jace. He had been so good to the teen in the previous book. It disappointed me when there was not one.

Cora really impressed me. I admire how easily she empathized with Phineas. From the moment they first met, Cora never once saw him as broken or lacking. Instead, Cora saw a man struggling with his PTSD. I also like how she tried to bolster Phineas’ confidence whenever they flagged. Cora refused to allow him to buckle beneath his mental demons.

BURIED TOO DEEP is the third book in Karen Rose’s romantic suspense series, NEW ORLEANS. It is also the twenty-ninth book in her ROMANTIC SUSPENSE series. I have not read all of Karen Rose’s books, just a few here or there. The ones I did read, I enjoyed immensely. The author meshes crime stories with romance effortlessly. Yes, the romance element takes a back seat to the suspense of the plot.

I browsed through the books listed under the ROMANTIC SUSPENSE series. I suspected that many of the side characters, mostly the couples, had books. I never realized that I read Phineas’ sister’s book, even wrote a review for it. It is understandable that I forgot about it since I read ALONE IN THE DARK back in 2015. I have been searching for a book involving Stone and Delores. They did play a role in AITD because I remarked on it in the review.