Return to the beloved beach town of Cliffside Bay, where USA Today bestseller Tess Thompson spins another emotional, intriguing tale about overcoming adversity and finding strength in love in this standalone story about Lisa and Rafael.After years of struggling as a starving actor, Lisa Perry’s dreams are finally coming true. Splitting her time between Los Angeles and Cliffside Bay, the young … young beauty has a successful television miniseries, her first movie role, and quality time with her best friends Maggie and Pepper. Everything is coming up roses until a single tragic moment changes Lisa forever.
Haunted by unshakable memories and near-crippling anxiety, Lisa must face a publicity tour full of crowds and interviews in order to move her budding career forward. And with the help of Rafael Soto, the head of security for Brody and Kara Mullen, she finally begins to relax. Though the pair are as different as night and day, something about her temporary bodyguard soothes the young actress, and soon their relationship turns from professional to passionate.
But what neither anticipates is that despite the obvious threats to a beautiful ingenue, it’s actually her protector who stands in harm’s way. Will Lisa and Rafael be able to face the danger awaiting him together, or are they destined to accept yet another tragedy they can’t stop?
USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson welcomes you back to Cliffside Bay to explore the rich, heartwarming stories of the characters who brightened the original five novels in the series. Each book in the Cliffside Bay Series is intended to be read and enjoyed as a sweet standalone, but for maximum enjoyment read this binge-worthy series in order.
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Seemingly worlds apart, Lisa Perry and Rafael Soto have more in common than they ever could have imagined.
Lisa Perry’s dreams are finally coming true. After years as a struggling actor, she has a hit tv show and her first movie coming out. She’s also staying in Cliffside Bay with her two best friends Pepper and Maggie. The world is at her feet until a tragic event changes the way she’ll see the world forever.
All Rafael Soto, ex Seal and cop turned personal bodyguard wants out of life is to get his Mamma and her best friend out of their drug infested neighborhood and to Cliffside Bay. So much so that he is willing to sink every dime he has into flipping an old apartment building there so they have someplace to live . He knows love isn’t for him . . .he’s seen too much overseas to ever find his own HEA, but he’ll settle for happy for now . . . until his next assignment has him wanting so much more.
Suffering from PTSD, Lisa needs someone to go on her publicity tour with her to make her feel safe as she navigates the crowds and interviews she’ll be facing and Rafael is tasked with the job. It’s a bit awkward, as both Lisa and Rafael are harboring crushes on one another, both thinking they aren’t good enough for the other. But, the more time they spend together, they more they both start to fall in love, quick and hard! But what happens when their pasts bring baggage that threatens not only their self esteems and relationships, but also their lives?
I have to admit, I was a bit nervous jumping into this new section of the Cliffside Bay series, as I totally fell in love with the group of friends known as the Dogs and their women in the original books, but Tess Thompson seamlessly introduces readers to the Wolves and a whole new set of happy ever afters just waiting to happen!
I really loved Lisa. She’s such a genuine and feeling character that has not let her newfound fame change her in any way. She’s sweet and caring and suffers from low self esteem, making her constantly doubt and worry that she is good enough. She has so much inner strength that she doesn’t even realize she has, that it’s fabulous to see how Rafael nurtures that as he helps her deal with her PTSD.
Rafael is also a wonderful character. He harbors tremendous guilt for the things he did and saw while in the military and police force and doesn’t feel worthy of Lisa at all. So much so, that he almost ruins their relationship before it has a chance to begin. But, once he starts battling his own demons and gives in, he is everything that Lisa needs to keep her steady as she navigates her new reality, and she is everything he needs to feel loved and worthy.
This was truly a sweet story as this couple fights to win their HEA. It’s definitely a page turner as well, as danger is lurking and it’s not what you expect. After reading Missed, I am super excited to continue to get to know the Wolves as a new cast of characters . . .especially since Tess gave readers quite a few glimpses of the Dogs and their wives. I really can’t wait for more from this series! 5 stars!
Cliffside Bay is my home away from home!
Man, Oh Man… what a fantastic story!
I love falling into this world that’s been created for us.
Rafael and Lisa do not disappoint!
I think their story is one we can all relate to in one way or another. Either we’ve experienced our own tragedies or love someone who has, we’ve been victim of a passive aggressive loved one who doesn’t understand how hurtful they are, or we just plain get in out own way and sabotage happiness before it even has a chance to bloom based on our baggage and what it makes us think of ourselves.
Tess has a way of taking the scene you anticipate happening in the climax and turning it on it’s head just enough to keep you off kilter. I think this is why I love her writing the most. As an avid reader, it’s hard to surprise me but Tess always finds a way. This book was no exception.
I enjoyed reading about Lisa and Rafael. This was a sweet story. Rafael is just a guy trying to do things right. He is a protector and wants to make things better for other people. Lisa is a new actress who goes through a very scary event. She has to travel for her movie premier. Rafael agrees to go with her as her bodyguard. But there is so much between these two. Will they go with the sparks or will their pasts keep them from what is right in front of them? Loved this storyline. So enjoyable being able to watch these two fall in love and help each other become the people they deserve to be. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
Where do I begin? I have to ask myself this same question every time I finish a book written by author Tess Thompson. There are so many wonderful qualities about her books that I am afraid I will miss an important point. The 6th book in the Cliffside Bay series is about the Mullen’s head of security and United States Navy Seal veteran, Rafael Soto. Little does anyone know but Rafael has a serious crush on one of Maggie Waller’s best friends, Lisa Perry, from her college days in New York. Feeling he is not good enough for the beautiful actress, Rafael will not think about pursuing a relationship with Lisa. Fate brings the two together when Lisa is involved in a mass shooting incident at a country music festival. Traumatized and feeling as if her career is over, Kala comes up with a plan to help Lisa out. She asks Rafael to travel with Lisa to her Premiere show and other commitments that are required. Although reluctant at first, Rafael agrees and spends a few weeks being in the company of the woman he loves. The relationship explodes from the beginning and Rafael and Lisa become engaged to be married. Through all of the nightmares, both imagined and real, Rafael and Lisa hold each other together and forge an unbreakable bond. Author Tess Thompson writes with such feeling and honesty. Missed is filled with sad situations, never ending love, forgiveness and happy endings. I highly recommend the Cliffside Bay Series to anyone that loves books that are written from the heart because life is not only about fairy tales but we must also must face reality. I look forward to seeing where the awesome characters of Cliffside Bay are going to be led to next!Tess Thompson
Just as I loved reading the other books in the Cliffside Bay series, I enjoyed Missed just as much. I loved following Rafael and Lisa story and look forward to more from this author.
Missed by Tess Thompson is the 6th book in the Cliffside Bay Series. I’m always knocked away with what Miss Thompson does to her stories. She takes things from everyday life and brings them to life to where you can really feel how her characters feel. I keep saying the last book is always my favorite but I can honestly say they are all my favorites.
Thank you for such wonderful stories that grip the reader as soon as they start reading and doesn’t let go until the very end.
Heart stopping!
This book completely wrecked me! In the best possible way. Missed is filled with soul crushing emotions. Gah! Tess Thompson is a story telling genius who puts her heart into her work. She gave me goosebumps.
I became so immersed in this story. Her characters feel like real people I know and love. I am extremely excited for what comes next! Definitely one of my all time favorite series, if you haven’t read them…. you are COMPLETELY missing out!
Absolute MUST read!!!
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***
4/4.5 stars
I so completely adore Tess Thompson. While I love the Cliffside Bay series, this book did take me a minute to really sink into, but I once I did, I fell just as hard for Rafael and Lisa as I have every other character. This is Tess doing what Tess does which is continue to build this amazing seaside town and fill it with people that you can’t help but want to know. If you love the romance of people and their individual lives, then you need to read this series.
Rafael and Lisa and pick up where the “Dogs” left off, but now there is a whole new group in town; the “wolves.” What breadth of fresh air. You won’t find a lot of explicit sexy time, but there is so much left to your imagination. Completely worth a one-click. (Review by Terri “Jane”)
First the Dogs, now its the Wolves. Rafael and Lisa were from completely different backgrounds but yet so similar. This book was extremely emotional and will touch your heart at the struggles these two had to become successful in their respective careers. They both had very supportive friends that were there for them every step of the way. This story was very touching and it was an unexpected slow build with some drama but very lovely. Who would’ve thought that Rafael had it in him from reading about him in the previous series. And Lisa hid very well about her childhood and especially her mother. Good story and I’m glad these two got together.
I am so happy Tess Thompson decided to continue with Cliffside Bay! Rafael and Lisa’s story really spoke to me. I love that they both have these ideas about how different they are but, as they get to know each other after a big tragedy, they realize they aren’t so different after all. This book hit all of my emotions and I highly recommend it.
I received a review copy of the book before release for an honest review.
This is part two of the series, the first part was The Dogs and this is The Wolf’s. The Wolf’s decide to start a company that takes old buildings and homes and revitalize and fix them up. Rafael is the guy who can find the homes, Stone is the construction guy and Troy is the designer. Their first project is an apartment for Rafael Soto who also works protection for Kara and Brody.
This story also stars Lisa Perry, an actress friend of Maggie and Jackson who is also close friends with Kara. Something awful happens to Lisa one night and she needs help as she goes out on a movie promo tour and so Kara lends Rafe to her for several weeks and the two hit the road.
The something that happens I feel I need to warn those who are sensitive to the subject about. Lisa attends a concert where a shooter starts shooting the public and many are injured and some die. I live in southern California so this was very jarring and something I was not expecting. The author did a great job showing how that event changes a person forever.
Lisa and Rafe both have MAJOR crushes on each other but he feels he is not worthy of being with her and so he won’t give the a shot. Lisa wants Rafe and she works hard to get him to see how amazing they can be together.
I LOVED this story and I am totally hooked on this part 2 of the series and cannot wait for more. This was a fun romance about two very different people falling in love and coming together and seeing how great they both are.
ARC received for review purposes
Come on back and visit your friends at Cliffside Bay!
This is book #6 in the series, and follows ”Wolf” Rafael & Lisa, with plenty of drop ins from characters from the previous books. This *could* be read as a stand-alone, but let’s face it-it’s so much better to start at the beginning and meet the cast as intended.
These are fairly clean romance stories that read easily-dialogue flows between characters, there’s just enough drama & action, and the chemistry between Rafael & Lisa is great.
There are more books planned for the series, following the rest of the Wolf Pack, and each new story is like stopping by for a chat!
The latest in Tess Thompson’s Cliffside Bay series takes the series in a new direction. Now that all of the Dogs are happily paired up, it’s time for us to meet the Wolves. First up is Rafael, the bodyguard hired to protect the Mullen family. He has a thing for Lisa, Maggie’s friend from NYC. The author puts them in a situation that you know is going to make sparks fly. I like how the author manages to keep the familiar characters around, even having a sort of “guest starring” moment with characters from another series, but still allows the main characters to have their time. The switch of focus from Dogs to Wolves is seamless, and you can already tell that this is going to be another series that you can’t wait to revisit because it’s like catching up with old friends. If I had to say anything negative about this book (and I really don’t want to), it would be that there was just a little bit too much “reality” in the plot. I understand that characters cannot live in a vacuum, but sometimes I like to escape and not think about real-life issues when I read, especially in romances. But that’s getting nitpicky because the author handles it tastefully. This is one of my favorite series, and I am excited that there is a whole new set of characters to get to know. 4.5 stars for this one. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.
I was thrilled to see Author Tess Thompson had realesed book 5 of the Cliffside Bay series. Missed has a wonderful storyline and I was excited to finally learn more about Rafeal and Lisa! Such a great read and I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to finding more books from this author!
I’ve read all of the Cliffside Bay books and have loved them all, this one is no exception! In this book we learn more about Rafael and Lisa and their frailties,
traits and personalities. I liked how Raphael and his buddies decided to be known as the wolves as opposed to the first group of guy friends who called themselves the dogs and the meaning behind that. All of the characters in this series are intermingled, know each other and eventually become friends. Because of this, I recommend reading the series in order, however each book can be read as a stand alone. The author does a fantastic job of letting the reader know how everyone knows each other. Each time I start a new book by Tess Thompson I feel like I’m hanging out with friends in a small seaside town that I’ve come to love.
I strongly recommend this book for a wonderful experience in Cliffside Bay with a host of close friends and family.
Thank you to the author for an advanced readers copy for an honest opinion.
3.5 Stars
Missed is book 6 in the Cliffside Bay Series. This is actually a continuation of the series that focuses on a new group of characters. The author started out saying it could be read as a stand-alone but you will really get more out of it if you read the other books first. As someone who didn’t read the others first, I definitely wish that I would have. There was so much going on and so many characters and situations that I know reading the other books would have given me some of the information I wish I had had.
This is Rafael and Lisa’s story. While I enjoyed the storyline I struggled connecting with the characters. It really took until the majority of the book was over for me to really feel invested in their story.
There was some heartbreaking moments as well as some suspenseful ones that did have me on the edge of my seat. I was also proud to see Lisa grow into a much stronger confident person as the story went on.
Over all, I do plan on getting my hands on the other books in this series because there were definitely some other characters that grabbed my attention and made me want to know the story behind what they have been through. Hopefully that will open my eyes more to Lisa and Rafael. – By Alisa
Missed by Tess Thompson is another look into the lives of the Cliffside Bay residents. In this book we are introduced to the wolves. This book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading the others in the series first. Thank you, Ms Thompson, for another wonderful book!
An ex-navy seal and a Hollywood rising star is a recipe for a yummy romance.
Rafael seems to think that the two of them couldn’t be more different but in reality these two couldn’t be more a like. They both just want to find someone to love them for exactly who they are.
Tess Thompson takes some very real life issues, mass shootings and post traumatic stress, and does a great job of not making light of it and really showcasing the after affects in real life. I was a whole ball of emotions reading this story
This book is the latest in the Cliffside Bay Series but is also a fresh start with a whole new set of characters. You will love the Wolves as much as you loves the Dogs!
I am always in awe when I finish reading the most recent of Tess Thompson’s books and after reading, “Missed: Rafael and Lisa”, I once again was not disappointed. Tess Thompson has a magical writing style that brings me into the story from the very first page. I love how she is able to mingle the past characters’ lives with those of the newcomers. Cliffside Bay is a magical place that never disappoints. Rafael and Lisa are life survivors in very different ways. Tess Thompson’s ability to describe these realistic situations instantly connects her readers closely with these characters so that we may smile, laugh, cry, and hope with them. I look forward to reading her next book in this series!
It was such a pleasure to return to Cliffside Bay! This is the 6th book in the series, and focuses on the relationship between Lisa and Rafael. Lisa is an upcoming actress who is beginning to attain the recognition she deserves. Rafael is head of Security for Brody and his family, whom we met in the very first Cliffside Bay book. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend that you begin the series with Traded, where you will meet Brody and Kara. The first five books in the series focus on them, their friends “The Dogs” and “The Wags”. With each story you will learn more about the main characters, their histories and personalities, their setbacks, goals and successes.
Missed begins the focus on new characters; some were tangential in earlier books, and some are brand new to us. The stories of the “Wolves” will be emphasized in this, and four more books to be written in the Cliffside Bay series.
I can’t tell you how much I love these books! Oh, to wake up and find myself in such a place, and with such a growing group of wonderful characters. Reading each book is immersing ones self in a town like no other; where, despite occasional setbacks and tragedies, love and real friendships help the characters live their lives and find happiness and contentment. Ms. Thompson is quite a gifted and prolific writer, and I can’t wait for the next book!
I realize I haven’t given much of a summary of Missed here, but other reviewers have done a great job of that. As stated previously, this is a standalone story, but I wanted to emphasize here that if you begin with Traded, and read the books in order, you will find at least six times the enjoyment (so far!) of just reading one book. I was lucky enough to obtain an ARC of Missed, and this is my honest review. I would give it more than five stars if that was possible!