This book had mystery, intrigue, and spice! How much more could you want? I enjoyed the strong female lead, even though she was in a love triangle that drove me crazy at times. But I appreciated her strength and investigative spirit throughout the story which led to huge revelations at the end.

"The earth remembers every secret we bury, every truth we try to hide.
Sometimes you just need to know where to dig."

I loved this romantic suspense by Barbara Howard. This novel has it ALL —mystery, small-town drama, big town personalities and a heroine you’ll connect with and cheer for from page one!

When Elizabeth returns to her small town roots for her friends wedding, she uncovers corruption threatening her community and the environment. Enter Noah the loyal local, a crush from her high school days, whose steady dependable nature causes her to question her relationship with her co-worker Vincent who is ambitious with big dreams.
As an investigative journalist who is passionate about uncovering the truth, holding those in power accountable and shining a light on issues that matter - Elizabeth juggles the demands of her career and the escalating dangers of her investigation, whilst also navigating her feelings for these two men. The love triangle isn’t just about romance—it’s about the choices she faces between loyalty and ambition, comfort and adventure, and ultimately, who she wants to be.

💬 My Thoughts:
I loved how this book mixed romance, suspense, and real-world issues. The main character is fierce and relatable, and the small-town setting felt so vivid. There’s just enough mystery to keep you guessing, and the themes of environmental responsibility and personal growth really hit home. If you enjoy stories with heart, intrigue, and a dash of romance, this one’s for you!


Thanks to NetGalley and Black Swan Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This was such a great read loved it amazing fast pace breath of fresh air type of mystery love what else can I say thank you it was great

A suspenseful, socially conscious read with a strong female lead!

Love, Lies, and Local News follows Elizabeth, an investigative journalist forced to lie low in her hometown, where secrets, corruption, and an unexpected love triangle await. There’s plenty of small-town drama, political intrigue, and twists to keep you turning the pages. I really enjoyed the activism plot around dodgy corporate dealings in Sweetwater Springs – it had a proper edge-of-your-seat vibe. Loved the BAME representation too, with three strong, diverse lead characters. My only gripe was the romance – Vincent was off-page for most of it, so the emotional pull between him and Elizabeth didn’t fully land for me. Still, a solid, thought-provoking read with a great mix of mystery, heart, and social justice.

3.5* for me

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Let's just say I spent half the book yelling at Elizabeth to make up her mind! This love triangle was a wild ride, and I was equally frustrated and entertained by her indecisiveness.
Thank you to Black Swan Publishing and NetGalley for this copy for my honest unbiased opinion.
The small-town mystery was a fun distraction, though – I never saw that twist coming. It dragged a little, but I didn't care too much this was a fun, engaging read. I definitely recommend this book

when Elizabeth decides to go home she is met with more than she bargained with. she is meant to be there to keep out of trouble but will she just find herself in more? shes a journalist so the mystery of just whats going on in town feels too big to dismiss. with romance and intrigue coming her way can she find the balance, or any balance?
the mixed up feelings Elizabeth has going on in her life isnt easy to separate. and now with two love interests on the scene she feels even more upturned than ever. she doesnt know where her future lies or with who. could this be her home. or does an adventure with her adventurer sound more like the life she wants. and just what is going on with this company that seems to want to set its target on her old home.
this is a page turner for sure. not only are you bought along for the ride with Elizabeth unwavering curiosity but also for her romantic choices too. the mystery and intrigue add great plot points to this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Elizabeth frustrated the mess out of me with her indecisiveness. I hated she was trying to change herself to fit a man's life. I didn't know who I wanted her to end up with. I liked Noah, but he wanted her to be this cookie-cutter version of herself. Vincent was so mysterious that I wasn't sure he was what she needed. Outside of the love triangle, the issues in the small town were intriguing. Who I thought was in on all of the issues wasn't even a part of it. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I felt like it dragged a little bit, but it didn't take away from the story at all.

I really did want to enjoy this book. I was rooting for the female journalist as I am, like Elizabeth, a broadcast female journalist. I felt like Elizabeth who was supposed to be this outstanding, phenomenal journalist went back to her hometown and had no back bone at all. It was like all her journalistic skills and brains went out the window all for two guys that she thought she had chemistry with. Speaking of the two guys, I felt like the relationships were strictly physical. I felt like she didn’t have a real thing going with either of them. I felt like there was more smut than plot which led to the ending of the book feeling rushed. The small town mystery was a nice touch, but it was extremely predictable. I thought the author’s storytelling was extremely well-written and nicely done. It was very imaginative and it was easy to picture everything that was being described.