Edgewater Road

The Rumors in Ross County Series, Book 1

By: Shelley Shepard Gray

Narrated by: Chelsea Stephens

The first in a new series from New York Times best-selling author Shelley Shepard Gray, Edgewater Road invites us into a world of family mysteries, small-town secrets, and perhaps a little romance along the way.

When Jennifer Smiley’s grandmother, Ginny, leaves her an old farmhouse on Edgewater Road in seemingly quiet Ross County, Ohio, Jennifer can’t pass up the opportunity for a new beginning. Almost immediately, she meets a group of men who generously help her move in. When she realizes that they work for Lincoln Bennett, her next-door neighbor, she’s intrigued. Lincoln is gorgeous and has dark lapis-blue eyes she could get lost in...but he doesn’t seem all that friendly. She’s torn between getting to know him and sticking with the solitude she knows so well. Maybe she could let down some of those walls she’s built around her emotions?

Lincoln Bennett likes to keep his head down and get his work done. He’s been to prison, and he knows that a lot of folks don’t take kindly to a man with that kind of history. Plus, he’s busy helping other ex-cons get back on their feet. But when he meets Jennifer, he can’t help but feel an instant attraction. Will she be able to look past his unsavory history? Will she be able to accept the men he’s working so hard to help?

While Jennifer gets to know Lincoln and his friends, she also begins to unravel her grandmother’s story, putting together the pieces from scraps of memories and things she finds in her new home. She soon discovers that Ginny Smiley harbored some dark secrets on Edgewater Road - and that those secrets include both Lincoln and her own absent father. Is learning the truth worth the heartache it could bring?

As the weeks pass and she and Lincoln become closer, Jennifer learns there is a lot to uncover in Ross County - wonderful friendships, darling towns…and more than one secret that might be better left buried.

©2022 by Shelley Shepard Gray (P)2022 by Blackstone Publishing

Held my interest

No smutt. I amazes me how some authors think that they have to include graphic scenes and foul language to keep a readers interested.Ms Shelley proved that a Story can be intriguing without the yuck. Thank you

Great Book

I loved this storyline and all the characters. It’s a great “feel good” book with enough twist to keep you reading.

Good listen

The narrator has a great reading voice. I enjoyed the story and appreciated the traditional values. I felt some storylines were left hanging (ammo in the barn) and could have kept the story going. But overall I really like the author and will listen to the next in this series.

Loved it

Love it good story clean and the narration was really good. will read more of her books

WOW

what an amazing read. I want more, this book needs to become a series.

Nice and Easy

This was a nice easy listen. It was comforting and positive, leaving no questions. It something to listen to if you want to be calm.

I Almost Loved It But The Cake Fell While Baking

Edgewater Road by Shelley Shepard Gray 400 pages, 8 hours and 24 minutes narrated by Chelsea Stephens
The Rumors in Ross County #1

Genre: Romance > Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Christian Romance; Christian Fiction, Mystery, Suspense

Featuring: Rual Ohio, Ginny and Jenny, Ex-Cons, Amish Country, Work From Home, Family Secrets, Criminal Activity, Daddy Issues, Online Dating, Assault

Rating as a movie: PG-13 for adult content

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐¾

My thoughts: 24% (Ch. 7) - I wasn't expecting this to be this good.
28% (Ch. 8) - I can see exactly where this is going. This story has a much darker tone than any of her other books.
62% (Ch. 21) - This is not what I was expecting at all, I'm kinda glad. 😅
72% (Ch. 25) - This is different from any other book I've read by her. It's also not a cozy just a family secrets plot.

This is not the book I was promised. When I first heard about Edgewater Road, in the author's introduction before Take The Lead, I was told it was a mystery series. This was no mystery and honestly looking over the assigned genres it was lacking in every single one. This book started off edgier and less predictable than your typical Gray novel but around 80% the story fell flat and I didn't like the ending. I didn't love it, I was liking until it got lazy.

Recommend to others?: Maybe, it's still a good book just very middle the road.

Well done!

Great character development, interesting story, good exploration of the impact of care and nurturing. Enjoyed the listen.

Good story…

I enjoyed the story without all the sex scenes other books have. I felt there were some lines left hanging. What was her grandmother trying to tell her? Where did all the money go? What was the deal with all the ammunition? Were there also weapons? What did the letter from her father say and what had it told her? What were the “bad” things her grandmother had done. I just felt there were parts of the story not completed. Was the female on the cover supposed to be Jennifer? If so, it certainly missed the story’s description of Jennifer by a mile.

Subtle, graceful, unique HEA

This story was just lovely. At first I was concerned I would not like the FMC, Jennifer but her character was so well developed you hardly notice her growth and maturity. The storyline is fresh and all the characters unique. I understood both MCs POV regarding their relationship, which simmers to such a sweet love story.
This one goes in my favorites file.