I really really enjoyed this! It was super interesting reading a thriller where one chapter was 'the good guys' and the other was 'the bad guys', so you got multiple perspectives, in various ways and got to know each characters story. This book was super intimidating at first as she's over 600 pages. A very chunky boi but I'm so glad I picked it up!
I've never read a thriller where it's part bodyguard part detective, it was really unique and a fun twist to other thrillers. Parts of this book made me so emotional especially when things got heavy, as I was very invested in the story and the characters.
I love Val, she's such a fun complex badass layered character. Kaj is a sweetheart and still has a big heart despite all the crap life throws at him. Elijah and Jace were two of my favourite characters, they were funny and wise and witty and both deserve the world
I'll definitely be picking up the other books in this series and reading more by Karen, and recommending this one to all my thriller loving friends

I absolutely loved this book! Can’t believe I’ve never read Karen rose but I will definitely be reading any I can get my hands on. I was gripped from beginning to end and I loved the main characters, val and Kaj and all the other supporting characters. Thank you NetGalley and Karen rose x

Can I just say this Author can do no wrong in my view - her multiple , interconnecting series are a joy to read
this is the second book in the New Orleans series and in my view can be read as a standalone

ADA Kaj Cordozo's life is turned upside down when an attempt is made to kidnap his son Elijah - is it connected to his latest case ? Should he recuse himself to protect his son or stand firm against the threat ?
Val Sorensen is assigned as Elijah's bodyguard her job keep him safe at all costs
Working together with Kag , Val soon discovers a link to the gang that killed her brother , a gang who have no problem killing anyone in their way to free their leader . Matters soon escalate , who can they trust or will betrayal result in their lives ?
This book is a fast paced and character driven , with twists and turns around every corner which sums up why so many people enjoy her books

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Ive have read a couple of Karen Rose's books over the years, including the first in this New Orleans series earlier this year, but this second book was on a whole other level. For a 600+ page book, it absolutly flew by. There was never a dull moment and never a boring page.
For a very very large cast of characters I was never confused or wondering who was who. Rose did a fantastic job of keeping 20+ characters separate and with their own voices. This book contained a lot of the first characters and the introduction of a couple more, expanding the found family feel that the first book had.
I found myself tearing up at several places throughout the book (i will protect Jace with my whole heart) and I cannot wait for the third book in the series, who ever that may follow.

Now I'm going to go and read through her whole back catalog.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline Books for the ARC of this book.
You can rely on Karen Rose for an excellent read and this book did not disappoint. Tense and fast paced right from the start and characters that you will absolutely fall in love , or hate , with straightaway.
The way the romance blossomed between Val and Kaj was so perfectly written and with the addition of a child and a dog who could not fall in love too.
Hope there are more books that feature some of the characters as they are perfect for a mini series.
Looking forward to Karen’s next book.

I feel like I’m running out of ways to say “Karen Rose has done it again”. She is an auto-buy author for me as I’m never disappointed with her stories or her characters.

Personally I love her method of storytelling and her fast paced writing style. You’re in the thick of the action from page one. Her stories are action packed and full of adrenaline but also emotional and heartbreaking. It doesn’t hurt that she writes amazing characters that you can’t help but love. Beneath Dark Waters is no different in that we’ve added more lovely people to our growing New Orleans family. Can’t wait for the next one!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to the publisher for inviting me on this Blog Tour.

I’m huge fan of Karen Rose and I felt so honoured to be invited on this Blog Tour.

This is the second book in the New Orleans series, the first book is called Quarter to Midnight.

The Prologue was perfectly written it did its job in having me thinking “if this is just the prologue I’m in for an amazing read”.

We’re back with Broussard Investigations, this time with Val in the spotlight who we met in the previous book in the series, she’s just got a new client and It’s ADA Cordoza’s son Elijah who’s just survived a kidnapping attempt.

What can I say about this book apart from that it was absolutely incredible and I literally couldn’t put it down, I devoured every single word hungrily.

I was overjoyed to be back with all the people who work for Burke at Broussard Investigations, it felt like coming home and seeing old friends again.

Val has a special place in my heart after finding out about her devastating past, she’s such a strong women even after getting blow after blow in this story she kept going and doing her job no matter what the personal cost was to her.

This was a fantastic, fast paced book that I really couldn’t put down, it’s one of the best books that I’ve read this year and I can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Having read the first one in the series I could not wait to dive back in. Once again the characters were relatable with a strong female lead. With multiple twists and turns in the book it keeps you guessing with what will happen next.

Thoroughly looking forward to the next book.

I had so missed reading to a Karen Rose and I dont know why after reading this. It was fantastic such an intelligent, gripping ride. I just immediately got involved in the characters and the plot, the different sub plots came together. This was a long read but I devoted two afternoons to it as I just needed to know what was going to happen and why and how it was going to be resolved.

So worth the time fully recommend.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

I've read quite a few Karen Rose books over the years and enjoyed them. I hadn't read the first book in this new series but it works quite well as a stand alone. I can't say that this is one of my favourites by this author. There was quite a bit of repetition which is irritating and I found the main characters a bit too good to be true. Both, of course, are stunningly beautiful and can barely keep their hands off each other, even though they are in a life threatening situation with a young boy to protect. It's ok but not not one of her best.

I just live Karen Rose writing, I was gripped from the first page and just wanted to keep reading but also did not want it to end.
Ten out of ten as usual.
This book has it all, fantastic characters, love, acceptance, adversity, corrupted cops, murder, family, friends, justice

A good story, but the book was twice the length it should have been - it is in need of good editing. It's also full of cliched characters, and slightly unbelievable ones at that. Not a book I will wholeheartedly recommend I'm afraid.

Another classic from Karen Rose. She is just undeniably the best at what she does.

I love the fact that she delves deep into her characters personas to the point where you wish they were your friends.

Love all the action and suspense, I devoured this book in hours. Cannot wait for the next installment.

I have even reviewed my points system and given this book a 5+

Highly recommended, 5+ stars from me.

A great story but I felt it went on too long as the story was told over a few days and a lot was happening so it could have been a lot shorter, saying that it kept you turning the pages with lots of twists and turns and a good ending.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

I have to admit Karen's books are formulaic, but that doesn't stop them from being a brilliant read. This book, the second in the New Orleans series tells the stories of Val, Kaj and Elijah as the baddies attempt to kidnap Elijah to interfere with one of Kaj's cases.

It was gripping and fast paced, I read it in just over a day because I couldn't put it down. I loved it, and look forward to the next in the series which I reckon will be about Phin.

A fast paced story that deals with some quite dark themes. It deals with corrupt police and drug dealers who will stop at nothing to get the results they want. Intermingled with this is a story of love and acceptance. As I was reading the book I realized that this was not the first novel with these characters. It did not make any difference to my enjoyment of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the advance copy of this book.

WOW! This book is simply amazing. Literally found it impossible to stop reading. I think this has got to be one of Karen Rose´s best novels so far. Fantastic characters, with whom you create an instant liking to, or dislike, depending on the character. Based in New Orleans, you have murder, police corruption, drugs and family relations rolled into one fantastic book.

If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Highly recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This the second in the New Orleans sub series of Karen Rose's romantic suspense series.

We've got Val, Kaj and Elijah's story this time. We also catch up on the characters from QUARTER TO MIDNIGHT, so we can see how they are getting on.

There is the usual suspense and drama in this one. The protagonists fall for each other way too quickly, as usual, and everyone on the good guys side is an absolute saint :)

All my KR reviews say the same thing - what I love about the books are the characters. It is all about their little universe, and it feels like reading about old friends because they are all so linked and entrenched in one another's stories.

Pick this one up for a romantic suspense with plenty of thrills and heat.

Another fab book by Karen Rose - a real page turner!
After an attempted kidnapping, Val Sorensen of Burke Broussard Investigation agency, is hired to look after Elijah - the young son of ADA Kaj Cardozo.
Cardozo is working on some big cases, but being fairly new to New Orleans he is not sure yet which of NOPD to trust.
Val - ex-marine, teacher and roller derby blonde is a force to be reckoned with - and she comes with a group of friends and colleagues that would do anything for each other.
As they try to keep Elijah safe, the agency find out that those responsible are linked to those who murdered Val’s brother.
One of those identified in the attempted kidnapping is Rick Gates - the younger brother of Aaron who is in jail for the murder of a paediatrician, Another brother Corey seems to be the driving force of the family - but his business is not as clean as he makes out.
What is the connection between the Gates’ brothers and Sixth Day, the drugs gang that killed Val’s brother? The agency must find out before anyone else is hurt.

Great book!

When this book first arrived, my immediate reaction was - she is chunky but I was immediately drawn in to the action and this one was a real page tuner!

This is the second book in the New Orleans series and my first Karen Rose novel but it easily read as a stand-alone!

There were some pretty heavy topics covered including kidnap, drugs, sexual assault and murder and Rose’s descriptive writing style really transported you there but I really like how the hard hitting storylines were a stark contrast to the budding relationships that were developing as well as the close knit friendships!

Above all I love a book with a bad ass female protagonist and really look forward to picking up some more Karen Rose books in the future!