Reviews

“An eclectic mix of supporting characters and the quaint fishing village setting of Mossy Bog, make this story truly a romantic southern tale. It’s a story about knowing what you want out of life and not letting the trials you face get in your way. I intend to read more of Ms. Toussaint’s Mossy Bog stories, you should too. If romantic suspense is your genre, you won’t be disappointed.” – Fresh Fiction

“When a mystery author takes on the romantic suspense genre, the potential for an amazing read is high!

Jeanie Munro is struggling to make ends meet after her husband Avery walked out on her and their kids for another woman. When she meets the dangerous looking but very sweet James “Rock” Mackenzie, Jeanie begins to long for the wildness of her youth again. But Rock isn’t being 100% honest with her, and after befriending her and her family and figuring out that he has a thing for the pink-haired spitfire, he’s forced to admit that he targeted her for a reason.

Rock came to Mossy Bog to see what Jeanie Munro knew about the boating explosion that killed his partner and injured him. He’s certain her ex is neck deep in the theft of some sovereign coins that belong to him and he’ll do what it takes to get them back before a sleazy loan shark comes after him. He doesn’t anticipate the feelings that Jeanie and her kids bring out in him, and soon the two of them are treasure hunting for more than just gold.” -The Romance Reviews

“A good read with many surprise twists. Terror strikes close to home when Jeanie’s house and flower shop are ransacked by an intruder. Are these incidents related to her n’er-do-well ex-spouse? The hot guy next door believes so. Rock has come to town to find the guy. Gold coins from a sunken treasure are at stake, which Rock believes were stolen by Jeanie’s former husband. When he explains his own involvement to Jeanie, she is disappointed. Just when she’s starting to like her new neighbor, she can’t trust him. How could he withhold the truth from her? With a gutsy heroine and a former SEAL hero, readers can’t help wanting this couple to find happiness. But first they have to conquer their pasts to face the enemy together and survive. This suspenseful story of passion, betrayal, and greed is a roller coaster ride of surprises layered with emotion and peppered with danger.” – Nancy J. Cohen, author of Warrior Lord

“Maggie Toussaint’s Rough Waters is a romantic/adventure/mystery, well written and packing a lot of punch. Ms. Toussaint is a writer of expertise and imagination, who deftly establishes the characters, time, location, and potential conflict right away. She intrigues you with lively dialog and characters you believe in, as her plot unfolds one page at a time. Guided by her skills, we suspect we know where we’re going but not how we’re going to get there. Time to settle back for a good read.

In the story, a young divorcee named Jeanie is harassed by an unknown villain who not only threatens her home and business, but her life and the lives of her two young children. Coming to the rescue is a former Navy SEAL, Rock. He has his own agenda, but finds himself attracted to the feisty woman, whose pink-tipped hair only peaks his interest. There are blown-up boats, treasure hunts, missing coins, and a lusty young couple ready for it all. So are we.

There are many twists and turns in this adventure. It is to the author’s credit that a storyline which might have been handled in a heavy-handed manner by a writer of lesser experience becomes, under Ms. Toussaint’s guidance, a thrilling, entertaining, and fast-moving novel. I recommend it for that rainy or sun-shiny afternoon, when you want to get away from it all.” – Heather Haven, author of Dead, if Only, fourth in her Alvarez mystery series

“Rough Waters, rife with cozy atmosphere, is set in the small town of Mossy Bog, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Who couldn’t empathize with Jeanie Munro, an ordinary floral shop owner, who has her hands full raising two children alone, in the wake of her husband’s desertion? How could one not feel sorry for the larger-than-life Rock Mackenzie, at his wits end when his valuable coins go missing, and his livelihood depends on their retrieval? And, to make him more appealing, he’s not only wounded, but is also a dog lover. When the two’s paths collide, they’re faced with the multiple challenges of danger, distrust, and attraction. Can they survive with bodies and hearts intact?
I heartily recommend Rough Waters, a cozy with not only atmosphere, but also engaging characters.” – Morgan Mandel, author of Forever Young

“The third in Maggie Toussaint’s Mossy Bog Series, this one tells the story of Jeanie Munro, a single mother with a thing for bad boys. Enter: Former Navy SEAL, Rock Mackenzie, looking for Jeanie’s ex, who he suspects stole his gold coins. He befriends Jeanie, who falls for him, only to discover his hidden agenda.

The story hooks the reader right from the start and doesn’t let go. Mystery, suspense, betrayal, danger, and romance all make for rough waters, and a satisfying read.

Time richly spent.” -Amazon reader R.L. Black

“The thing I love about mysteries and especially amateur sleuth mysteries is the wealth of characters the sleuth is involved with. In the typical cozy mystery anything goes: hobbies, cupcakes, crafts, children, extended families, nosy neighbors, bossy mother-in-laws, matchmaking aunts, and other quirky characters. In Maggie Toussaint’s newest romantic mystery, many of the elements of a cozy mystery show up- small coastal town, a strong female florist heroine, protective mother and best friend, a treasure hunting navy seal, and two adorable kids. She is able to weave the story into a page turning romantic mystery with numerous plot twists. The heroine is a struggling divorced mother of two trying to make a go of a florist shop in a small coastal town. After a divorce from a cheating husband who abandoned her and her two children under age 4 the last thing she needs is to have her business trashed. A Navy seal shows up in town after he was injured in a boat explosion looking for treasure he believes her ex-husband stole from him. He never expects to be attracted to her and her family or that the strong mother would help him look for his treasure.

Pros: Well written and wonderfully drawn characters makes it easy to connect with them.

Would I recommend? yes.” – Ruby on Tuesdays blog reviews

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Excerpt

“You know something, don’t you?”

He was quiet so long the hair on the back of her neck snapped to attention.

“I might,” he said.

“Tell me.”

He set his mug in the sink. “I know Avery.”

Jeanie blinked. Her blood iced. She tried a deep breath and choked on it. “You’re friends?”

“I met him in North Carolina. He told me about Mossy Bog.”

“This is about my ex-husband?” She straightened. Light glinted on the tin roof of the potting shed. The strength of the beam warmed the frost in her bones. She wasn’t sinking down to that dark place again. She wouldn’t let Avery crush her a second time. “Does he owe you money? ʼCause if he does, I’m not paying it. The bank of Jeanie is officially closed.”

Rock’s silence spoke volumes. “Oh, God. He does owe you. I’m sick and tired of this crap. Avery owes me so much it’s ridiculous. And child support. Don’t even get me started on child support. I refuse to pay another red cent of his bills. If you loaned him money, kiss it goodbye.”

Rock didn’t say anything.

Cuss words roiled in her craw like crabs in the cook pot. Jeanie glanced at the sling supporting Rock’s left arm. A horrible possibility occurred to her, a possibility so scary her vision whited out. She hung onto the kitchen counter until shapes and colors came back into view.

“Jeanie? You okay?”

If she wasn’t, she wasn’t going to let him know it. She’d learned to stand on her own two feet after Avery left. “Tell me this isn’t about your accident.”

“I can’t.”

Her knees sagged. A needle of betrayal stabbed her heart. Damn you, Avery. How many lives do you have to ruin? It wasn’t enough that you threw away me and the kids? You had to go and maim a perfect stranger?

The room began to spin. It floated in and out of focus.

Rock’s hand rested on her shoulder. “Sit,” he said. “Sit down before you pass out.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ve had paramedic training. I know the signs. Please sit.”

Not wanting to embarrass herself further by fainting, she complied. After a few deep breaths, she braced for the bad news. “I’m all right. Tell me the whole story.”

He seemed to be holding onto the tall back of a chair. “Avery worked at Bayside Marina where I docked my charter boat. He asked a lot of questions about my charters.”

“He liked being in the know.”

The harsh planes of Rock’s beard-stubbled face tightened at that. The pink scar on his left cheek darkened. This really was about Avery.

“What happened to you?”

“My boat exploded.”

“Your boating accident? Where you got hurt?”

“I wasn’t the only one on the boat. The bomb killed my partner. I was lucky enough to be thrown free.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’re saying Avery murdered someone?”

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