Hard Evidence by Elise Noble

For years, celebrity chef Jessalyn Packer has been a frog slowly boiling in a pot of water. But when she finally jumps free and flees both her abusive marriage and the state with her beloved dog in tow, her new life comes with its own challenges. Including an unexpected roommate. She vows to avoid men, but property developer Justin Norquist has a kitchen to die for, and borrowing his spare bedroom until she gets back on her feet feels like a safe option.

Until a woman disappears.

Being embroiled in one murder case is enough for any man, but when Justin finds himself a suspect for the second time, he gets a bad case of déjà vu. The death of another person close to him tears open old wounds, but the biggest question isn’t how or where or when—it’s why? And as he finds himself falling for Jessie, will a killer cost him the woman he loves once again?

Hard Evidence is a romantic suspense novel with a determined heroine, a cinnamon roll hero, plenty of dark humour, and a morally grey girl squad.