◆◆◆ 2021 WINNER OF THE VIVIAN AWARD ◆◆◆
“Hardy har har,” Wynn retorted. “How did it happen?”
“How did what happen?”
The growl in his voice probably cowed a great many folks. She didn’t happen to be one of them. Even if he was big and intense and talked about delivering death like it was the mail. “Your leg.”
He didn’t respond. Instead, he stood at the sink and stared out into the storm.
… he stood at the sink and stared out into the storm.
“Is it a state secret?” she wanted to know. “A matter of national security? An injury suffered while on a clandestine mission that you can’t talk about under penalty of death? Did they make you swear on a Bible?”
“You’re a piece of work,” he said.
“I know.” When he turned to glower at her, she smiled. “It’s a gift.”
His gaze fell to her mouth, and awareness speared through her, a hot, electric slide that made her cheeks burn.
He was attracted to her, the same way she was attracted to him. And he didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
You and me both, bucko…
◆◆◆
When a local bank robbery brings newly elected Sheriff Beau Greystone to Wynn Owens’ front door, she has only two things to give him: the endless bounty of her caustic wit and a one-finger salute. Wynn has history with the law, none of it good. And the notion that one of her elderly tenants might have something to do with the robbery is just plain crazy.
A former DEA agent, Beau owes his newly minted badge solely to his meddling aunt and his own foolish indifference. Recovering from the murder of his wife—and the debilitating injury caused by the explosion that killed her—Beau has been happily checked out for some time. But the people of Blossom Hills are counting on him to do his job, and bringing a bank robber to justice is a fine place to start…until the killer that’s haunted the town for the last decade abruptly returns.
Wynn has a tenant to exonerate; Beau, a killer to catch. Neither is prepared for the compelling but unwelcome current between them, or the unexpected circumstances that will force them to reassess the rules by which they live. But the clock is ticking, and they must decide: adapt and evolve, or surrender to the past and the dark malevolence that has risen within it….
A steamy thriller with characters you won’t forget…romantic suspense at its best.
★★★★★
“Sexy, suspenseful, and surprisingly funny. I couldn’t put it down!”
★★★★★
“Nobody, but nobody writes a book like Hope Anika!”
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I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by this author. Mystery, suspense, love, this book had it all. Excited for the next in the series.
Hail Mary
By Hope Anika
5 out of 5 stars
The story Hail Mary by Hope Anika is a romantic suspense book. It is a story that pulled me in from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the final page. It has mystery, romance, and characters that I loved reading about. First, there is Sheriff Beau Greystone. He is a former DEA agent who is haunted by the past. The murder of his wife and an injury that he received at the same time. He finds himself elected as sheriff and investigating a bank robbery. That is when he meets Wynn Owens. Wynn is not someone who trusts easily. Events her past shape who she is today. Then she meets Beau. The chemistry, sparks, and in the case of Wynn, her wit, has them not sure what to think of each other. She is trying to keep one of her elderly tenants out of trouble. He finds himself with a killer to catch. What does the future hold for Beau and Wynn? Will they be able to get over the past and take a chance on each other? Will the killer be caught? Read this book to find out. This story is written in such a way that I felt like I was right there with the characters trying to follow the clues to catch a killer. The book also had my emotions going up and down in moments. I found myself caring about what happens to Wynn and Beau and wanted them to find happiness. There are additional characters that are introduced, and I enjoyed many of the interactions between them, Wynn, and Beau. This is a story that had me turning pages wondering what was going to happen next. This is a book I would highly recommend reading.
Hail Mary is a romantic suspense/thriller with a serial killer on the prowl. I like that the whodunit part of the book is somewhat solvable – unless I missed something, there are things I couldn’t even guess at until the reveal, but I did guess the identity of the villain. Of course, there are a couple of red herrings to keep a reader pondering, and they’re pretty good ones.
This little town where everybody knows everybody is pretty busy with crime, and the serial killer isn’t the only thing the new sheriff has to take care of. And that brings me to the best thing about this book… Don’t get me wrong, the suspense was good – a little slow to take off but it kept my interest. That said, it’s the characters that really stand out. Hope Anika has created a story filled with absolutely terrific characters. From Beau and Wynn to Wynn’s tenants to her smart-mouthed sister… The list goes on, but my point is that these characters are so well done that they feel like people I’d want to know, like people you might run into at the grocery store. Granted, there are a couple of baddies that I’d just as soon not run into, but good or bad, there are no throwaway characters here.
The romance is a slow burn, but the chemistry between Beau and Wynn is strong from their first meeting. They do their share of butting heads and Wynn’s sharp tongue keeps Beau on his toes. Rather than slip into spoiler territory, I’ll just say Hail Mary has a lot more going on than I expected, but the author brings it all together, and the flow is steady all the way through. It is a romantic suspense, but it’s also a story of family, friendship, loyalty, second chances, and finding your place in the world.
Wynn Owens is a survivor, a loving sister, a protector, as well as being emotionally guarded. Beau Greystone, newly elected sheriff, a position he didn’t even aspire to, yet will do his best now he holds it. A hard taciturn man he is cloaked in pain, rage and sorrow.
Life has dealt both of these character some harsh moments. Through it all they have managed to endure. When they meet there is antagonism along with visceral attraction, which neither wants to acknowledge, but can’t ignore. Even as situations seem dire for those Wynn has taken into her heart, an even bigger menace threatens the town as a sadistic serial killer terrorizes them all.
I liked both of these characters who showed strength, determination, resilience and growth. The cast of supporting characters are interesting and endearing. The journey Wynn and Beau take to healing and accepting love is emotional and engaging. I look forward to reading more about the residents of Blossom Hills.
Hail Mary is a fabulous novel! Mystery, suspense, betrayal, romance and a hilarious banter with the Owen’s sisters.
Definitely a must read!!
Thank you Booksirens and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
I was offered a complimentary copy of this book from BookSirens and I am so glad I accepted. Otherwise, I may never have discovered this talented author. I loved Beau and Winn’s story. They were so good for each other There is a lot of mystery and suspense and many twists and turns throughout this book. I was invested from the explosive (no pun intended) first chapter to the end. There were several questionable “bad guys” to choose from and that kept it interesting. I was surprised by the answer. I Really enjoyed this intriguing, romantic suspense. I hope to have the opportunity to read more of Hope Anika’s books
I enjoyed every bit of suspense, mystery, drama, and intrigue in this fast paced story. The characters were well written and throughly entertaining. The scenes were fascinating to read. The action kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end. Loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great read. The author really draws the reader into the story. Will definitely read another book by this author. I felt like I was part of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It has been a while since I actually LIKED the characters. The strong woman character is great and Wynn is not so flawed that you can not relate. The old people are REAL I mean you can picture them. The Sheriff is strong and damaged but in believable way after everything he went through. I liked that I did not figure out who dun it until the end….AND the twist of the 2 I suspected was great like. well damn, I got that wrong now didn’t I.
I really enjoyed this story line and everything with it. Give it a read, you won’t be disappointed.
Wow it was an all night read can’t wait to read more from this author
It was really good. It had some substance. One sees the characters work through issues that have kept them unhappy
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love that the H/H are flawed characters which makes them more relatable. The book was well written and I enjoyed the snappy/witty dialogue between the characters. The ending was a bit of a surprise for me which was a nice change of pace. This is my third Hope Anika book and I will likely look for other stories by this author.
Hail Mary by Hope Anika was a great novel! I really enjoyed reading this one. There was some mystery, and suspense, some crime, and romance! I was gripped from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down! This book was very well written, with great characters as well! I highly recommend this book, and can’t wait to read more Anika in the future!
This is my first book by this author, but if the others are anything like this, it most definitely is not my last.
We meet Beau, and I wasn’t emotionally prepared for that opening but it sets the scene to understand him from the inside.
And Wynn, I loved her. She’s a spitfire, and doesn’t hold back. She’s sassy, and she knows it.
There’s a killer on the loose in their small town and as Sheriff, Beau is on the hunt. But many things happen to get to that point.
This story has many moving parts and every character in this story has a role to play.
I will be recommending this book all the time now.
Hope Anika is a new author for me and I read this book in less than 6 hours. I absolutely couldn’t put it down. From the first word to the last I was hooked. Loved Loved Loved It.
This book is about Winny and Beau, and the trials and tribulations life throws at you. There’s heartbreak, incredible circumstances, real monsters that are actually in this world, forgiveness, love and all around terror. I couldn’t stop reading. I cannot wait to read more from Hope Anika.If you like amazingly created characters, a wonderful plot, and hope during terror this is the book for you.
Hail Mary by Hope Anika was such an unexpected mystery. I loved the suspense and build up. Just when I thought I knew what was coming something new would happen. I did not expect to like Beau but who would not fall for his honest and direct personality. He has definitely been through the ringer but that just makes me respect him more. Wynn is who I hope to be; giving, caring, and self aware. She is so strong and self-sufficient it’s empowering. I did not want to put this book down at all.
Hail Mary
By Hope Anika
I loved reading this story!! This book drew me in from the start and I couldn’t put it down till I got to the end. I loved the banter and chemistry between Wynn and Beau. Wynn does not trust easily and has learned to do everything herself, this comes from things that have happened in her childhood. Beau who carries around a heavy amount of guilt and loss, from a tragedy from his past which has left him with an injury. Everything that goes on between these two make this story that much more fun to read. There are also a lot of really great other characters in this book that you will love. The author did an amazing job bringing this story to life, with suspense, romance, witt, danger, love, and so much more!! I highly recommend this book
Hail Mary by Hope Anika is a fantastic read. Wynn is a wise before her years, hard-working, caring woman who has dedicated her life to looking after her family. New Sheriff Beau has had it tough, he lost his first wife in an attack that was meant for him and left him scarred on the inside and out. When the two meet is doesn’t really go that smoothly. Throw in a lovable cast of supporting characters, a bank robbery and a serial killer and you have a great book. This story has lots of unexpected twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. I did want to give the two main characters a shake at times though. Would highly recommend.
Hail Mary by Hope Anika. This is a new to me author. This book is a mystery novel filled with plenty of romance and thrills to keep you interested. I loved Beau and Wynne’s story and could not put this book down. I felt like I was actually involved with this book and storyline as I was reading. I can not wait for more by this wonderful author.
Hope Anika pleasantly surprised me with her book Hail Mary. It is filled with everything that you could want in a Romantic Suspense novel. She introduces us to Wynn Owens, a strong female lead with many layers. I became invested in Wynn and Beau’s relationship seeing their past hurts, you can’t help but root for them. Hope Anika created a brilliant story filled with twists, turns, and characters you can’t help but love. When the story is over, it leaves you wanting more. That right there is the sign of a wonderful book, the feeling of not wanting it over.
Do yourself a favor, READ THIS BOOK.