Published: March 9, 2021
Thomas & Mercer
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Caine is the winner of several national awards, and most recently, was a finalist in both the International Thriller Writers awards and the Killer Nashville awards for her debut thriller novel Stillhouse Lake.

“I’m a suspicious bitch, but I’ve found it works for me.”

Gwen wants stability. She wants to provide normalcy for her family. And after everything they have been through, she thinks they are getting close. Until she receives a call from her dear friend, Kezia, in the middle of the night. In the blink of an eye, Gwen finds herself smack dab in the middle of another fight to the death.

This book hit differently, knowing it was Rachel Caines last. She sadly lost her battle with cancer. So this will be the end of Gwen’s fight.

This was such a brutal but beautiful installment to this series. Everyone seems to be trying to heal and move past the trauma of Melvin and the madness he created. When Kez asked Gwen for help, Gwen showed up ready and willing. And it almost cost her her life.

The kids, Lanny and Connor, are so well developed at this point. Lanny has become a strong and vocal woman, who despite her past, is brave and loyal. Connor is healing from the things that he went through before, and he is becoming a man who knows the meaning of family.

Sam is now the legal guardian of Lanny and Connor and is as close to married to Gwen as he can get without actually having the paper stating so. The family is thriving until they find themselves a target yet again.

The twists in this book are so well done, and the story unfolds so quickly that it is impossible to put this book down. The power of choice, the bond of friendship, and the commitment to choosing our family is so well played.

This might be my favorite novel in this series. Not just because it’s the last, and it ends with a relatively happy ending but because the growth and development within these pages are pure.

It is so apparent that Rachel Caine loved these characters. She creates Gwen, who is a fighter and a survivor. She gave Gwen everything she could give herself. The heartbreaking beauty in that speaks volumes.

Thank you, Ms. Caine, for sharing these characters with us. For giving us an unlikely hero to cheer for, and a story that we could believe in. This book was beautifully written, the plot was flawlessly delivered, and the journey was worthy.

Find Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine on Amazon.