THE WOMAN FROM NOWHERE
Series: Misted Pines #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: April 14, 2026
After a heartbreaking betrayal, Mabel Adams reinvents herself for the fourth time. Regardless of the alarming reputation of the deceptively sleepy town of Misted Pines, she decides to move all the way across the country to start yet again.
Mabel has a one-night stand with a mountain man who rocks her world in bed but doesn’t tell her his name.
The next day, after receiving a threatening note from her neighbors, she discovers she’s living next to an extremist cult where the women go in and are never seen again.
After serving, former Navy SEAL Hutch Hutchison is living a peaceful life on his patch in the mountains outside Misted Pines. He’s been burned so many times by women, he’s happy to train his guard dogs, play his guitar, live remote, and most of all, quiet.
Until he hooks up with a beautiful woman who lives just down the way. And then he discovers she’s been threatened by the cult next door.
Hutch’s protective instinct sparks, and he decides his next mission is to keep Mabel safe at all costs.
But there’s something even hinkier about that cult than Hutch or local law enforcement expect.
As Hutch executes the riskiest mission of his life—keeping Mabel safe at the same time keeping both of their hearts intact—Hutch and the Sheriff’s Department try to unravel the mystery of The Lion and The Lamb before it’s too late.
Because Mabel is in their crosshairs.
And Hutch is not about to allow her to disappear.
I knew it from the first song I heard him sing. He was the biggest risk I ever took. But he was the only risk that was worth anything.
You can’t see me right now but just know that I am giddily clapping my hands and kicking my feet because OMG this book hit the spot just right. But then again, I haven’t met a KA book that didn’t. But this one in particular just did it for me. Maybe it was that I was in exactly the right mood for me. Maybe because it was one of those addictive swoony romances. Or maybe it was a combo of both. Whatever the case may be, I came for the vibes and I stayed for the story. And I loved every part about it!
He stepped away from me but didn’t lose eye contact. “Nope,” he said casually. “It only comes out when I got a woman on my hands with more sass than sense.”
What’s a girl to do when her one night stand not only ghosts her but turns out to be your new dog trainer? And you need said dog trainer after you get a dog for protection because you have some super kooky neighbors who may or may not be a cult living next to your property and judging you by leaving oddly threatening notes on your door. Well, if you’re Mabel, you buckle up for the ride is what you do. Oh and you also adopt a sweet husky named Tonks who also loves to be bossed around by your grumpy one night stand turned dog trainer.
Oh and said one night stand is also retired SEAL. So there’s that. YUM. But I digress.
Ranger Emmett “Hutch” Hutchison is a mouthful in every sense of the word. *wagges eye brows*. He’s also your typical KA tortured MMC and I loved the hell out of him. He’s all loe wolf until he finds out that the one night stand he can’t seem to get out of his mind is in danger. And then he’s all growly, overly protective, manly intensity and OMG I was obsessed.
This is a man who has been through it and his heart can’t take any more so he’s given up on relationships. They’re just not meant to be for him and his history.
Mabel comes with a story of her own and this poor woman has been through it herself. But instead of letting it take over, she’s allowed it to bloom her into her new self. She was such a well rounded, even keeled, self assured FMC and I absolutely adored her. She’s take charge and doesn’t stand for any non sense. But she also allows her vulnerability to shine through in spite of what she’s been through. I couldn’t think of a better match for Hutch.
There is an underlying element of suspense that is weaved into the romance but the romance was primary. I adored it. I binge read it in one day and never wanted it to end. And while I love a bit of drama with a third act breakup, this one had none of that. Just two people slowly healing each other and their relationship growing and evolving organically in the best of ways.
If you’re looking for a swoony and steamy romance with a grumpy MMC and sunshine FMC with a splash of suspense, look no further! I can’t wait for more in this series!
For more information on Kristen Ashley, visit: https://www.kristenashley.net/
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