Hidden Cove

September 9, 2019
Tilly’s third standalone romantic thriller set on idyllic Solace Island (after Cliff’s Edge) fails to deliver on its intriguing premise. When crime-fiction writer Gabe Conaghan arrives on Solace Island, he is expecting merely to fulfill his father’s request to inspect an estate. He’s hardly prepared to meet stunning gallery owner Zelia Thompson or get wrapped up in her amateur sleuthing. Though the death of Zelia’s friend and fellow gallery owner was declared a drug overdose, Zelia is sure the story is a cover-up for a murder. Enlisting Gabe’s assistance, Zelia sets to work uncovering a dark conspiracy that endangers everyone on Solace Island. An overly complex plot and exposition-laden dialogue bog down the pace and make the protagonists’ passion feel forced rather than fated. Though Tilly’s fans may enjoy returning to Hidden Cove, this installment never rises above its heavy-handed narration. Agent: Kimberly Witherspoon, InkWell Management.

November 1, 2019

Zelia Thompson's friend and fellow gallery owner, Alexus Feinstein, has died of an overdose, a devastating circumstance that is compounded because Zelia knows Alexus didn't touch heavy drugs. Suspicious that foul play was involved, Zelia seeks the help of Gabe Conaghan, a crime fiction writer who happens to be visiting Solace Island. Gabe, taken in by Zelia's good looks and utter determination, begins to use the many resources he's picked up through the years to help put her suspicions to rest. As the two uncover more concerning activity, Gabe realizes he'll do anything to make Zelia happy. Zelia is stuck between what she thinks she wants and the future Gabe is offering. VERDICT Tilly continues to play in the foggy shadows of charming Solace Island (after Cliff's Edge), giving fans the intriguing combination of a hot romance and a disturbing crime spree.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2019
Widowed gallery owner Zelia Thompson does not believe her friend and fellow gallerist, Alexus Feinstein, died from a drug overdose. Taking the advice of her assistant, she enlists the help of Gabe Conaghan, correctly thinking the successful crime author will have made law enforcement contacts while doing research. As they investigate the death, Alexus' killer has already made Zelia his next target. Tilly returns to Solace Island in her third romantic suspense novel in the series, following Cliff's Edge (2019), and widens the focus to include more residents. Most of the emotional conflict stems from Zelia's thoughts about love as she struggles to process her grief over her friend's murder and the fear instigated by her and Gabe's quest to catch the perpetrator. Readers will never really doubt that Zelia and Gabe will work things out, but Tilly's tense plotting will have them wondering if the two will survive that long. Gabe's parents offer delightful comic relief, and several plot threads involving Zelia's assistant, Mary, are left tantalizingly open. A strong installment that hopefully portends more.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)