The Woman From Nowhere (Misted Pines #5) by Kristen Ashley

I’m not a huge fan of this series, I’ve had some real issues with the way some of the past storylines where dealt with, so I wasn’t that excited for this. Thank goodness I gave it a go though because I think this is the best of the Misted Pines series.

I found both Mabel and Hutch to be really likable, and once Hutch stopped being a big grouch and started communicating their story was lovely. I also much preferred the overall story arch in this book, a weird cult being shady with their treatment of women is much more realistic then some of the other things that have happened in Misted Pines. There was also, thankfully, no kink shaming in this one. I felt the other books were bordering on that, and that’s just not my jam!

Overall it was very atmospheric and straight up entertaining, I’d read this one again, which has become something I say less and less with new KA’s. Glad we have another to add to the list.

Synopsis:

After a heartbreaking betrayal, Mabel Adams reinvents herself for the fourth time. Regardless of the alarming reputation of the deceptively sleepy town of Misted Pines, she decides to move all the way across the country to start yet again.

Mabel has a one-night stand with a mountain man who rocks her world in bed but doesn’t tell her his name.

The next day, after receiving a threatening note from her neighbors, she discovers she’s living next to an extremist cult where the women go in and are never seen again.

After serving, former Navy SEAL Hutch Hutchison is living a peaceful life on his patch in the mountains outside Misted Pines. He’s been burned so many times by women, he’s happy to train his guard dogs, play his guitar, live remote, and most of all, quiet.

Until he hooks up with a beautiful woman who lives just down the way. And then he discovers she’s been threatened by the cult next door.

Hutch’s protective instinct sparks, and he decides his next mission is to keep Mabel safe at all costs.

But there’s something even hinkier about that cult than Hutch or local law enforcement expect.

As Hutch executes the riskiest mission of his life—keeping Mabel safe at the same time keeping both of their hearts intact—Hutch and the Sheriff’s Department try to unravel the mystery of The Lion and The Lamb before it’s too late.

Because Mabel is in their crosshairs.

And Hutch is not about to allow her to disappear.