I really enjoyed this suspenseful story! And better yet, I really didn’t guess the “bad guy” until the very end! Well done! Good characters and storyline. 4 stars from me!

This is book 1 in the Verona Bay series and if you love this author's books, this one is another you will love just as much! Serenity Washington watched years ago as her sister was murdered in front of her. She has never truly moved on, even though the serial killer was caught and convicted. She got married, had a child. But after losing her husband overseas, she has moved back home to try to give her daughter ties and more stability. Lucas Jordan has known Serenity since they were kids. And now that she has moved back home, he wants more from her than just friendship. Although he will take what he can get. But when someone starts leaving her sick presents and things start escalating, he will do anything and everything in his power to keep her safe. Whether she wants it or not.

I absolutely loved this book!! From the very beginning there is action, and it seems to be non-stop from there! The suspense keeps you on the edge through the whole thing and just makes you think and wonder who it could be. Throw in there the relationship developing between Lucas and Serenity, and it was perfect. I loved how Lucas not only took care of Serenity but he loved her little girl just as much! He wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to make sure they are safe and happy. Including stepping aside and staying her friend if that is what she truly needed. I don't know how many books are planned for this series but I really hope Lucas's brother's each get their own stories along with Adelaide!! She definitely needs her own book and HEA after this one!! Loved it!

A dark memento comes back to haunt her present❣️

Serenity and her twin sister are kidnapped by a serial killer who has plagued their small town and college. When Serenity realises her twin hasn’t survived, she knows she has to escape by all means necessary. Fast forward eight years later, she returns to Verona Bay with her daughter, after her husband dies while deployed. She has now started receiving “dark mementos” from her kidnapping and people she loves have either disappearing or turning up dead😢

Lucas is very attracted to Serenity ever since she first came back to town, but they are just friends and he wants to be so much more. When it’s clear that her life is in danger, he will do everything and anything to keep her and her daughter safe. But unfortunately, the danger is so much closer than any of them ever suspected!

Loved this story as it is so different to anything I’ve read of Katie’s before but I was absolutely enthralled from the beginning and usually I’m pretty good at guessing who done it, but this one completely blindsided me and to say I was shocked is an understatement😍 A big thank you to Katie, Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy for which I voluntarily leave my honest review and I’m hoping we get more stories from Verona Bay💕

Dark Memento is the first book in a new series by Katie. Wow! This story had everything, sexy scenes between the couple, an alpha hero, and a mystery/suspense. Lucas was an amazing hero. I loved how protective he was of his woman. Serenity was fierce and such a strong character and I loved these two together. I cant wait for more in this little town, so Katie please hurry with the next one!

A great mix of romance and suspense!! The prologue really drew me in, and I couldn't wait to learn more about Serenity. Her strength is so inspiring. I just adored Lucas. He is such a perfect hero and is so patient with her. The suspense was really interesting and moved quickly. This was also a good setup for the rest of the series, since I really liked the side characters. That being said, I personally would have preferred not having the chapters from the killer and side characters' POVs, but that's just me.The ending was explosive, and I can't wait for more!

*I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

When most young ladies are enjoying their college life Serenity finds herself kidnapped and in the worse nightmare of her life. Fast forward to 8 years later she is just trying to live her life and raise her daughter when someone decides it time for Serenity needs to pay for not dying.

This was a on the edge of your seat story and I loved every second of it. Their was drama, scary moments, love, and great characters through the entire story. It kept you guessing on who was the villain the entire time.

Several years ago, Serenity had to watch a serial killer torture and kill her twin sister before she managed to escape. It felt good to put the murderer behind bars and get on with her life despite frequent nightmares. She married, had a daughter, and was widowed, then decided to move back to her home town. Now someone is killing again and Serenity is the main target. Lucas has been attracted to Serenity for years but whether or not she ever returns his feelings he's vowed to keep her safe. I really enjoyed this great romantic suspense novel! I highly recommend it.

Having read many of Katie Reus series I have to admit this might just be one I have to have all of her books. Its starts off as most of her books a woman in need of help. Only this time Serenity is a mom who has her head on her shoulders and wants to give her daughter the life she had before she was taken. As a single mom she focus on her daughters and those who are able to keep her safe. Of course that includes Lucas Jordan and his family.

The romance is sweet, the mystery is dark and no one will be able to put the book down. Even tough it is pretty easy to figure out who is tormenting her and yet readers will not be able to stop reading.

Katie Rues once again is able to bring to life a city people will want to visit, people who readers will want to get to know in life and a romance that is sweet, hot and steamy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher KR Press for the advance copy of Katie Reus Dark Memento.

This is about Serentity. She’s being stalked. Who’s stalking her? Could it be related to her twin sisters and her being kidnapped and her sister being killed in front of her? But that man is in prison! So who!?
Lucas is the man who loves her! Can he love her and her child and Weill she let him! Can he save her? These are all questions you can find the answer to by reading the book! This is a outstanding author no matter what she is writing!

I read this book as an arc from NetGalley. It gets a 5+ stars

Serenity Washington was kidnapped with her twin sister. Serenity survived but her twin didn’t. She has been haunted by it since. Now she is a mother and a widow and decides to return to her hometown. She begins to receive souvenirs from her kidnapping along with threats. The man guilty of the crime is in prison so who is tormenting her and killing those close to her.

This book captured me from the first page. I didn’t figure out who was the guilty party until the author revealed it to us. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
I look forward to more books by this author.

This book kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading. Romantic thriller, a definite whodunnit, that had me guessing to the very end. When Serenity Washington survives a kidnapping as a teenager, a kidnapping that took the life of her twin sister, little did she know that it would be coming back to haunt her 8 years later. When she returns to her hometown following the death of her husband she is taunted by her past, but it can’t be her kidnapper, he’s still rotting in prison for multiple murders. No, someone else is out for revenge, and the whole town are suspects. With the protection of the Sheriff’s office, the FBI and ex marine Lucas Jordan, you would think that she would be safe, but no she isn’t, it would appear that nobody is safe, and the clock’s a ticking, tick-tock, tick-tock. A story full of intrigue, suspense and romance that will keep you guessing throughout. Great writing, great characters, and a great story. I loved it. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Dark Memento is a riveting, suck you in and won’t let go book. Katie Reus consistently delivers a great story and this is no exception. A fantastic start to a new series. I can’t wait to read more Verona Bay!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Wow, I could not put this book down and had to keep reading as there was so many twists and red herrings that I never did figure out who was the real killer! Mix in the growing relationship between Lucas and Serenity, and you have a great recipe for a romantic suspense book.

You can certainly understand Serenity's reluctance to have another relationship when you understand her past when she was help captive by a serial killer and then had a controlling husband. It is hard for her to trust a man and while she is attracted to Lucas, she is not sure if she wants to be more than friends.

As the killer continues to target Serenity with taunting gifts and killing her friends, it is hard to figure out who really is behind this but you learn that the original serial killer had an accomplice and no one even knew that he had a daughter and boy does she follow in her father's footsteps.

I loved seeing Lucas with his family and really hope that there will be other books about his brothers, that little teaser with Lincoln and Autumn was great but I want more!! And hopefully, his brother Easton, too!!

Eight years ago, Serenity was kidnapped and force to watch her twin sister die. With the serial killer in jail, Serenity gets married and moves away. She has a little girl and then her husband is killed, so she goes back to her hometown to raise her daughter. Lucas was a Marine and now owns a construction company with his cousin. He wants a relationship with Serenity but she doesn’t want another man to control her. Lucas doesn’t want to control her but protect and love her and her daughter. Now there is someone out there threatening Serenity. Little “gifts” are being left for Serenity, it’s the jewelry taken from the victims, which they never found. The killer is in jail and they think he has someone doing this. Then friends are coming up missing or dead. Can they find the killer before another person is killed?
First in the new series by Katie Reus. There’s action, mystery, and sex. Both Serenity and Lucas have been through tragedies, Serenity has her heart closed off and Lucas wants to tear the walls down.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *

DARK MEMENTOS..by Katie Reus
Serenity eight years,and she has now come back to Verona Bay with her daughter. She didn’t believe in fairy tales, and happy endings any more, though hearing Lucas voice and she became tongue tied. She owned a pet grooming business in town. A part of her, being a twin, felt something was missing, and not completely whole. Here was the last place she was happy, then items of her murdered sister came. Yet, who is following her, the killer was in jail. Tense gripping plot, she knew the one, was there an another that was with him and wanting revenge. Once again the author has delivered another winner. Given ARC by Net Galley and K P Press for my voluntary review and my honest opinion