THE SECRETS OF WILLOW HILL by Samantha Gwyn

THE SECRETS OF WILLOW HILL is an adult contemporary romantic suspense novel complete at 75,000 words. This story will appeal to fans of the rural mystery and romance in ACROSS THE VANISHING SKY by Catherine Cowles, the strong female support in IDENTITY by Nora Roberts, and to those who love a quirky FMC finding personal growth in FIX HER UP by Tessa Bailey. 

On a warm May day in rural Illinois, Rosalie Foster gets two big pieces of news. The first, and most exciting, is that the mayor of Willow Hill is missing. As a part-time substitute teacher, a part-time podcaster and a full-time true crime enthusiast, she is thrilled. However, the second piece of news throws her into a complete tailspin. Caleb Bennett, the man who broke her heart, is moving back. Indefinitely. 

Wanting to turn her podcast into her own amateur investigation into the case of the missing mayor, Rosalie recruits Caleb and his tech wizard skills. When a woman’s body is found in the large lake nearby, their missing persons case explodes into a full blown murder investigation. While chasing leads, stealing security footage and secretly meeting eyewitnesses, Rosalie and Caleb discover that the feelings they left in the past might not stay there.

With Rosalie’s best friend missing, bodies beginning to pile up, the town’s book club acting suspicious, and the sheriff hiding evidence, she and Caleb must race to find out who is behind the disappearances before another victim is found.

In a small town, secrets don’t stay buried for long.