Three AM. The unit was quiet—too quiet, the kind of quiet that makes you knock on every wooden surface within arm's reach. I was charting, half-listening to this audiobook, when Dylan Brodie first walked into that Alaskan fishing lodge. And I thought: okay, rugged wilderness man with a traumatized daughter and a mysterious lodge? I'm in.
Then Lane Bishop showed up, ready to renovate the place and maybe renovate her heart too. (Carlos would roll his eyes at that line. I'm keeping it.)
The Trauma Response Rings True
Look, this isn't a medical thriller. Nobody's coding, nobody's intubating, nobody's doing anything that would make me yell at my dashboard about defibrillator protocols. But here's what Kat Martin gets right: that little girl who won't speak? The way trauma shows up in kids, the patience it takes, the way you can't force recovery? That felt real. As someone who's worked peds trauma rotations, I've seen those silent kids. The ones who've seen too much and shut down. The book handles that with more care than I expected from a romance. Nightingale explores similar trauma territory, though with a darker edge that would've kept me awake through my entire shift.
The romance itself is... fine. Predictable in the way comfort food is predictable. Lane's been grieving for three years, she's ready to move on, Dylan's got that whole protective-single-dad energy. You know where it's going. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.
Jack Garrett's Voice: Perfect for 3 AM Charting
Here's the thing about Jack Garrett's narration—and I mean this as a genuine compliment—his cadence is hypnotic. Great for falling asleep. Great for those quiet night shift hours when you need something engaging enough to keep you awake but not so intense that you can't focus on your documentation.
Some listeners apparently didn't finish because they found the narration disappointing. I get it. He's not doing theatrical voices for every character. The performance is steady, almost soothing. If you want high drama and distinct character voices, this might frustrate you. But if you want someone with a calm, measured delivery that lets the story breathe? Garrett works.
I listened during three consecutive night shifts and my drive home. By the end, his voice felt like a familiar presence. That's worth something.
Those "Eerie Legends and Strange Sounds in the Night"
The mystery element is where things get interesting—and where the book maybe bites off more than it can chew. You've got a 1930s fishing lodge with a dark history, possible ghosts (or are they?), a legacy of injustice and murder. That's a lot of plot threads for a romance novel.
The investigation into the lodge's history is genuinely compelling. Martin does her research on Alaska, on the era, on the way small communities bury their secrets. When Lane starts digging into what happened decades ago, I found myself actually invested. The suspense builds nicely.
But then you've got the romance scenes—and yes, there's spice, fair warning—competing for attention with the mystery. Sometimes it works. Sometimes you're in the middle of a genuinely creepy moment and suddenly we're taking a romantic detour. The tonal whiplash can be jarring. Pretty Baby juggles mystery and domestic drama with similar pacing issues—though at least that one commits to the suspense.
Who's Going to Love This (And Who Should Skip)
Perfect for: Romance readers who want a little mystery with their love story. People who like rugged Alaskan settings. Anyone looking for a long listen (12+ hours) that doesn't require intense focus. Night shift workers who need something engaging but not too demanding.
Skip if: You want a pure thriller with no romance. You need distinct character voices from your narrator. You're looking for something fast-paced—this one takes its time.
My mom would probably love this. She's been on a romantic suspense kick since she retired, and the whole "strong woman helps heal wounded single father" thing is right up her alley. She still thinks I should've been a doctor, but at least we can agree on audiobooks.
Charting Complete, Patient Stable
This is a solid romantic suspense that does what it promises. The Alaska setting is vivid, the central romance is satisfying if predictable, and the mystery has enough twists to keep you guessing. Jack Garrett's narration won't win awards for theatrical performance, but his steady delivery carries you through the 12-hour runtime without fatigue.
Is it going to change your life? No. Is it going to make your 3 AM charting session more bearable? Absolutely.
Carlos asked why I was smiling at my phone when I got home after finishing this one. I blamed the sunrise. But honestly? Sometimes you just need a book where the good guys win, the bad guys get what's coming, and love conquers all—even in the Alaskan wilderness.
Knock on wood.
