This was a nice solid book. I enjoyed the location, the characters, and the mystery. It's nice to see some butch rep and a Northwoods warden sounds like an awesome job (I kinda want to boat around and live in a cabin). I enjoyed how the story unfolded and the nice cozy romance. The setting was compelling enough that I started looking up the location - maybe I'll visit. There were some nice supporting characters and a very quaint found family feel by the end of everything. I'd certainly recommend this as a light mystery or for anyone wanting a story with lesbians in the woods. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really interesting thriller, as Jordan, a conservation warden tries to find out what happened to her colleague in Northwoods. Going back to where she spent some of her childhood she reunites with old friends and familiar landscape. Hanna has returned to Northwoods to take care of her aunt, she bumps into Jordan and sparks fly. I enjoyed the development of their connection, it was fast but realistic and wonderfully free from some of the tropes of an argument and then a reunion. The thriller was also intriguing, with twists and turns that keeps you guessing till the last page.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Waterlogged" by Nance Sparks is a sapphic romance mystery that takes place with stunning backdrop of Wisconsin's Northwoods. Sparks weaves a beautifully intricate tale of love, loss, and the complexities of small-town life.

Jordan Pearce's transition from a busy conservation warden to a quieter life feels relatable, especially as she navigates the unexpected challenges of her new role alongside Hanna Quinn, whose return home to care for her aunt adds layers of emotional depth. The mystery surrounding the body found in the flowage keeps you on the edge of your seat, with plenty of twists that challenge Jordan’s sense of duty and authority.

While the declaration of love after a week didn't quite hit with me, the lush descriptions and suspenseful plot made "Waterlogged" an engaging page-turner! Highly recommend for anyone who loves a blend of cozy mystery with heartfelt moments. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

4.5⭐

**Thank you to NetGally and the publisher for the arc. It's my first!**

Slow mystery, small town AND it's queer? Sign me up!

Jordan has had enough of her busy life and decides to move to a quiet place she remembers from her childhood. She seems to be in luck as the previous warden has just left the position vacant—or rather, she disappeared without a proper goodbye. Jordan seems to be the only one to find this suspicious and despite everyone telling her to stop snooping around and stay in her line, she's determined to uncover the truth.

Meanwhile Hannah's aunt's cancer diagnosis brings her back home. Hannah has been enjoying her time on the road but now that she's back, she realizes how much she's missed her family and friends. Maybe it's time to finally settle down—especially with the new sexy warden in town.

I fell in love with the writing style almost immediately. It was simple but also very effective at helping me visualize every place and sound and smell—and trust me, I'm usually really bad at that. Maybe it's because it felt kind of like watching a TV show: as the reader you get to know what the characters are doing and experiencing but you don't have too much insight into their thoughts. That changes a bit when the romance comes in but it was still about showing and not telling so an A+ from me.

The mystery was slow (my favorite kind) and the romance sweet. I really liked the approach to ADHD and body image. I also fell in love with the small and caring community and all the sapphic couples in the end. Now all I want is to move to Wisconsin to spend my days kayaking and partying with the lesbian musketeers... Maybe one day. For now I'll just read more of the author's books.

Sapphic mystery love story! I found this book hard to dig into but once it got going it was enjoyable. I liked the characters as well as their dynamic. I felt that both the mystery and love aspects were well paced. I would’ve liked if the mystery aspect was driven home more but overall a nice book. Would recommend to check out!

The novel starts off very slowly, taking its time to establish the characters and their relationships rather than diving straight into the plot. It often felt like the story lingered too long in this space, leaving the plot to take a backseat. This pacing issue makes it difficult to get fully immersed in the story, especially for readers who prefer a quicker build-up. Based on the title and cover of the book, a murder mystery should be expected but instead it felt like the story focused more on characters than the actual mystery at hand.
While the book offers strong character exploration, it falls short in delivering a compelling, cohesive plot and a fulfilling mystery.

It’s been awhile since Hanna Quinn returned to the Northwood but she was there now because her aunt Dottie was diagnosed with cancer and the treatment was taking her strength away so aunt Ruthie was not only looking after Dottie but still trying to run the small restaurant. She was running out of steam herself so when they called looking for help Hanna was more than pleased to help. She loved both other aunts and would do anything to give a helping hand.
Jordan Pearce, conservation warden, was working in Southern Wisconsin where the work was non-stop. When her supervisor asked her to go to Northwoods she jumped at the chance. Hopefully not too hard. She didn’t mine the work; it was the non-stop action she was getting tired of the grind, she wasn’t getting any younger.
The reason she had to go right now was the fact that the warden for Northwoods had taken off somewhere. She didn’t even leave a note and when looking for her Jordan realized something was wrong, all of the warden's personal belongings were still there. Something was very wrong and Jordan knew she had to do something. So she started an investigation, even though the local police didn’t think anything was amiss.
In the Northwoods for different reasons the two women were attracted from the first. Love a good mystery.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

I really liked the setting- I’m from northern Minnesota and love when books take place in MN or WI. The fact that it was sapphic was just a bonus! Overall the pace of the mystery was well done, but I thought the romance part was a little fast and too insta-love/lust, at least for me. But not a bad read!

When you read so many romances, it's nice to break things up with a well written mystery. Nance Sparks delivers an intriguing story set in The Northwoods of Wisconsin. Jordan Pearce arrives for a temporary assignment as a conservation warden after the local warden disappears. The area is a source of comfort for Jordan because her family vacationed there as a child and it's always been an idyllic location for her.
Hannah Quinn has recently returned to the area to help her aunt, who is battling cancer. She works in her aunt's restaurant, where she meets Jordan. Jordan and Hannah have immediate chemistry. Jordan's job turns out to be a lot more than she imagined finds herself trying to solve a murder, with little help from the local sheriff. The result is a well written story with just the right balance between romance and mystery. This was an easy read for a cool winter's day. I look forward to checking out what Nance Sparks brings us next.

An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

Well this one just has it all! Murder, mystery, action suspense, romance....what's not too like.
And I did like it. The murder mystery was obvious...and then it takes a major turn. That made me set up straighter and pay more attention. The characters are all warm and faithful friends. You will want to pack up and move to this small town.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is a story about Jordan a conservation warden in Wisconsin. She is asked to temporarily move up tobte Northwoods after the warden there goes missing. Jordan is a skilled and very diligent officer. She meets Hanna who is back in her hometown to help her elderly aunt who has been diagnosed with cancer. It turns out that Jordan vacationed in this same town as a kid. Jordan goes on a hunt searching for the missing warden.

I liked the characters in this book. Both seemed like real people. The romance was well paced. The mystery kept me interested. I’ve enjoyed the Nance Sparks books I’ve read before and this one was equally good.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a good mystery, well-plotted and suspenseful. I love the Northwoods setting and the interesting relationships among families and friends. The only reason it's 3 instead of 4 stars is that it's really a romance novel disguised as a mystery. I don't mind a love interest, but it feels like the love story is really what's driving the book, not the mystery. So, I think lots of readers will love it, but I wish it the marketing were more transparent about what genre book it is.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping!

Jordan returns to Northwoods, an old holiday spot she used to go to with her family. When a colleague quits suddenly, she’s offered the chance to be conservation warden there. Hanna has also returned to Northwoods to help care for her aunt Dottie, so is staying with them and helping out at the diner when she meets Jordan. When a body is discovered in the flowage, the community is rocked and Jordan and Hanna are pushed together as they work hard to solve the crime and keep the town safe.

I was intrigued from the very first chapter, then completely gripped by this story, to the point I couldn’t put it down. The plot was brilliant, and for once I thought I’d worked out who was at the centre of all the upset, but due to the clever storytelling and intenseness of the story…no surprise…I was wrong; again! But that really was an unsuspecting way to set the scene and an unexpected twist that just had me desperate to learn the truth. There was so much emotion and empathy packed into all of the characters and their situations that I instantly fell in love with them all. Despite the underlying grimness of what had happened at Northwoods the story also had a light-heartedness and many moments to help balance it and remind you that even when things seems bad there are moments of joy and hope.

Jordan and Hanna had one of those instant connections that drew them unexpectedly together. What I enjoyed most was their relationship was explored realistically in the time frame of the story, without detracting from the importance of finding the answers Jordan needed to learn why they’d found the body in the flowage. It was so obvious that they both had a love for Northwoods as a place as well as for each other. Both Jordan and Hanna were so kind, and definitely the type of people you’d want as friends. They were so likable and made a great team, even if Hanna was determined to also put herself in potential danger when asked not to.

Really enjoyed this and cannot recommend it enough. It’s the type of story you never really forget and a must read for any crime and mystery lovers.

In *Waterlogged* by Nance Sparks, readers are transported to the serene yet mysterious Northwoods, where the promise of a peaceful escape quickly turns into a heart-pounding whodunit. Conservation warden Jordan Pearce, seeking solace from her high-pressure life on Southern Wisconsin’s busy lakes, accepts a transfer to a seemingly idyllic community steeped in childhood nostalgia. But her plans for a tranquil new start are disrupted when unsettling events, culminating in the discovery of a body in the flowage, shatter the quiet charm of the area.

Sparks masterfully weaves romance and suspense through the intersecting lives of Jordan and Hanna Quinn, who has returned to the Northwoods to care for her ailing aunt. The chemistry between the two women is palpable, offering a tender counterbalance to the rising tension in their small community. Hanna’s warmth and resilience contrast beautifully with Jordan’s tough determination, creating a dynamic relationship that feels authentic and deeply human as they navigate love, loss, and danger.

The novel’s atmospheric setting becomes a character of its own, with Sparks vividly capturing the beauty and isolation of the Northwoods. The mounting suspense, combined with the poignant exploration of family and community ties, keeps readers hooked until the final twist. *Waterlogged* is a compelling read, blending romance and mystery in a way that feels both heartwarming and chilling, leaving readers eager for more from Sparks.

A great Mystery romance with a nicely paced plot and well written characters. I found the story very intriguing and enjoyed it tremendously.
I recommend.

Thank You NetGalley and the Publisher Bold Strokes Books.

A great story about a Game Warden and a wandering woman. Hannah cam e home to care for her sick aunt. Jordan accepted a transfer after her friend suddenly resigned. There is love and murder in the plot as a mystery is solved. I recommend this book for all mystery and romance readers.

When I finished reading Appalachian Awakening by Ms Sparks, I felt like I had blisters I was so engaged. With this one, I had wrinkles on the tips of my fingers from spending so long in water…

Jordan moves to a new area to have a quieter time. She’s a warden who patrols water areas and she’s fed up with yobs and drunks. She returns to Northwoods where she holidayed as a child. The previous warden left rather abruptly and Jordan wonders why. The local sheriff isn’t helpful or interested and arriving in the middle of a massive storm, means Jordan doesn’t have much time to be friendly.

Hanna has moved back to spend time with her Aunt Dottie and her partner when her aunt’s cancer is getting her down. Hanna helps out and also works at her aunts’ diner. Cue a meeting with Jordan. They dance round each other but when you know, you know… the romance element does move quickly but when there’s stress and danger, it does tend to focus the mind.

The plotting is nicely paced, the characters are well drawn - including all the ancillary ones - the interaction between the sheriff and Jordan is credible, and overall a great mystery which kept me turning pages.

I do enjoy Ms Sparks writing. I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Jordan Pearce is a conservation warden or what would be called a game warden law officer in my state. She has almost twenty years of experience. She is sent temporarily to her dream location in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. It is a place that she used to vacation with as a child and learned to fish. The assignment is temporary as the previous warden left abruptly resigning via email. Jordan realizes quickly things don’t feel right but the local sheriff doesn’t think things are suspicious until they find a body.

Hannah Quinn has returned to the area to help care for her aunt while she battles cancer. She also helps keep her aunt's cafe. The attraction sizzles quickly between Jordan and Hannah. The aunts and other locals help Jordan as she tries to figure out what happened to her old colleague. Hannah is confident and flirty. She’s attracted to Jordan’s solid frame and isn't concerned about her own curviness or thick thighs.

This is a mystery that has to be solved by following the investigation. And I enjoy procedural books. I am intrigued that the cover refers to the book as a Northwoods Mystery. To me that implies that there may be more stories for the characters in the future. If I’m wrong, I got plenty of closure and highly enjoyed the story. And if there are more cases in the future for Warden Pearce I will be happy to read them.

I have read all of the author’s previous books and she is an auto read for me. (4.5 Stars)

This book has a lot of great things going for it. It’s well-written, has good pacing, and both mc’s have distinct backgrounds and narrative voices. I especially liked Hanna’s gay aunts! The problem I had, however, is the romance between Jordan and Hanna was just…odd. The relationship just felt kind of forced and the dialogue between the two was just super cringey at times. I don’t know, maybe the author was going for insta-lust but she didn’t quite pull it off.

I did keep reading the book however, because the story was intriguing and by that point I was invested enough in the characters to want to know how the case played out. No spoilers, but I will say that the conclusion to the mystery was satisfying and there was a HEA for all. Well everyone except the bad guy, that is. I think if the romance had been either left out or re-edited this could be a 4 or maybe even a 5 star book, but as is it was only mediocre.