Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Hi all! I do not know about you, but it is a cool, cloudy day here on Cape Cod. I do love the 60s, however, how about a little sunshine? I spent all morning and all day yesterday listening to They Know If You’ve Been Bad or Good just so I could get this review to you before tomorrow’s release day. So lets jump right in. This one is also from the fine folks at NetGalley, as well as HarperAudio Adult. As always, all opinions are my own.

If you have read the earlier installments in this series, you are no stranger to Ms. Hailey Parker. She is the assistant jewelry designer who is a little, or a lot, reclusive. She thinks she has run from her past and successfully started a new life as a designer in New York City. She even has this strange relationship with Knox, her boss’s security guard. He stalks her and She does not tell Knox that she knows he has been stalking her, while she makes seductive gestures and takes him on long walks around the city.

Until one night, when they finally decide to make their feelings for each other known. Only, he is not the only one watching Hailey. Those roses on her doorstep that she thinks are from Knox? They are not. Also, who is that guy following her, and why does he seem familiar to both Knox and Hailey?

Liam, Hailey’s ex-boyfriend and also her partner in the heist, tracks her down five years earlier than they agreed upon. He shows up to tell her that their past has caught up with them and that he needs her help to reclaim what they stole five years ago. He tells her that since she is the only one who knows where it is she must go with him to get it. Without returning the diamond they stole, the mobster will not stop until he gets back what they took. Hailey agrees to go with Liam to Canada to retrieve the item. Only, when they get there, Liam starts acting sketchy. Later that night, someone comes to their room and drugs them!

And do not think Knox is not about to find out where Hailey is when she suddenly disappears. He follows her to Canada, and what he finds is not what he expected. This resort is employing professional security and does not seem to be legitimate. Especially after he is told that Hailey checked out less than 24 hours after checking in, even though he may have placed a tracker on her that says she was there.

Next thing you know, Knox is also drugged, and the trio is reunited in the Canadian wilderness with an ultimatum. Tell their captor where the diamond they stole is, or else they die. Will the trio be able to work together and get out of this mess, or will the Canadian wilderness prove to be deadly this Christmas? Guess you will have to pick up this book to learn more!

I absolutely loved the series so far, and I am a fan of why choose romance. If you did not read books one or two, or are not a fan of this trope, then this may not be the book for you. This is an interconnected standalone, so you can read it on its own, but I think readers who have enjoyed the earlier books will get even more out of it. I also think the Canadian wilderness was a great setting for this book, and I really appreciate how the setting is used to keep them in place after they are taken hostage.

I also loved the multicast narration from Jillian Macie, Troy Duran, and Rock Engle. They all did a fantastic job bringing their respective characters to life. Jillian, however, was especially delightful as Hailey. She was perfect as Hailey, strong and confident at times while still soft when she needed to be with her friends. They really made this book better.

If you are a dark romance reader looking for a fun holiday read this Christmas, this is a great pick for you, especially if you have already read books one and two in the series. And if you grab the audio, make sure to pick up the paperback as well for the shelf trophy to match.

Until next time, my friends! Happy reading.