Becoming a Cavanaugh - Marie Ferrarella (SRS #1575 - Sept 2009)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 15)

A gruesome killing spree hits the streets of Aurora

Someone was murdering the city's elite, and anyone could be next. Assigned to the case was Detective Kyle O'Brien, whose new partner was the blond, blue-eyed Jaren Rosetti, as sunny as Kyle was dark. Not to mention too irresistible for her own good. But their growing attraction had to be pushed aside as the horrific killer swept through the urban landscape. Kyle knew he was falling hard for his obstinate partner, who had a will of her own. While they deciphered the psychopath's code, the killer prepared to strike again -- this time dangerously close to home.

Another exciting visit to Aurora, California. Detective Kyle O'Brien is having a rough day, which only adds to the rough several months he's been through. His partner of five years has retired, leaving him stuck with a new one. For a man who doesn't like to talk, and prefers to work in quiet and alone, a bubbly chatterbox is his worst nightmare. Jaren has had difficult partners before, but Kyle is one for the books. He may be a tough nut to crack, but she's willing to be patient.

Kyle has been having a hard time dealing with the bombshell that his mother dropped on him and his siblings just before she died. Far from being the children of a war hero, as they'd believed all their lives, it turned out they were the children of a cop who hadn't married their mother because he already had a wife and family. This has thrown his whole sense of who he is into turmoil. To top it off, his father was part of the Cavanaugh family, a family that has embraced them rather than rejecting them. Trying to cope with all the changes seems to have put him in a permanent bad mood. Dealing with Jaren is just one more pain in his butt. It was rather amusing to watch him try to handle her perpetually sunny attitude. He wasn't convinced that she could handle the types of cases they saw, but he didn't have any choice in the matter.

Jaren left the Oakland police department to come to Aurora after her father died. She no longer had anything to keep her there and was looking forward to a fresh start. She is used to people not taking her seriously until they get to know her, so Kyle's attitude isn't really a surprise. I loved her determination to tough out his treatment of her and earn his respect. It was also fun to see her purposely push some of his buttons.

I really liked seeing their relationship go from unwilling partners, to tentative friends, to much more. I loved seeing their differing investigative styles adapt and adjust to working with each other. It really made a point about how men and women look at things. Kyle rolled his eyes at some of the scenarios she came up with on their latest case, but as the investigation went on, he ended up having to admit she knew what she was doing. The more time that they spent together, it also became obvious that there was an intense attraction between them. They really try to resist, but Kyle finds her getting under his skin. I loved seeing the way that her lack of family got to him, considering that he often felt that he had too much of it. Their attraction is just part of the connection that Jaren feels to Kyle, and as the case goes on it just gets stronger. Opening her heart to those feelings is something she resists because the pain of loss is something she doesn't want to experience again. When everything was over, Kyle had something to say, but he didn't do it very well. I loved seeing Jaren then have to track him down to have her say. 

The case they were working on was intense and creepy. Someone was going around killing people as if they were vampires, driving wood stakes through the victim's heart. The team had a hard time figuring out what the connection was between the victims. I liked seeing the way that Jaren's mind worked and the theories that she came up with. One of the victims made solving it very personal to to the police, and the ramped up intensity kept me glued to the pages. I got really frustrated with Jaren when she ignored Kyle's directive that no one go off on their own to investigate, as I could see that things could go wrong very quickly. The ending was heart-pounding as I wondered how close the danger was going to get. I loved seeing it all come together.

Once again, the Cavanaugh clan plays a huge supporting role in the story. I loved the way that Kyle dragged Jaren to Andrew's house for a meal, and how Jaren quickly became part of them. I loved seeing how Kyle was still trying to adjust to being part of the family, and how their support became so important to him when Jaren ended up in the hospital.

Cavanaugh Pride - Marie Ferrarella (SRS #1571 - Aug 2009)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 14)

"I don't want to be alone tonight."

Julianne White Bear prided herself on never needing anyone. Ever since the detective teamed up with fellow cop Frank McIntyre, she found herself opening up. The proud, irresistible member of the Cavanaugh clan clearly didn't want her invading his territory. But both were helpless to resist their simmering attraction....

Frank needed to find out what drove the beautiful loner--it was obvious Julianne had a secret past. Now their hunt for a serial killer threatened her future. All Frank wanted was to keep Julianne safe. How could they predict the passion that swamped their senses, exposing them to feelings far more dangerous?

Very good book with plenty of tension, both personal and professional. Julianne is a detective in a neighboring town. When the death of a woman there matches those of a serial killer in Aurora, she is sent to work with the Aurora department's task force. She immediately clashes with Frank, who isn't thrilled to have an outside officer assigned to his group. 

Frank is dealing with a lot of frustration over the lack of progress in finding the killer. He first takes Julianne's presence as an indictment of his work, though a conversation with the chief of detectives relieves him of that worry. Then he has to face the unwelcome attraction he feels for Julianne. Getting involved with a coworker would be a very bad idea.

Julianne isn't going to sit back and let Frank dismiss her or her abilities. She doesn't expect special treatment, but she won't be ignored either. What she hasn't told anyone is that she also has a personal reason for being there. Her younger cousin left home and Julianne has traced her to Aurora. She's determined to find Mary before something bad can happen to her. Julianne had grown up with parents who never showed affection to her or each other. Her best friend was her cousin Mary, who was living with a secret no one should have to deal with. She feels responsible for Mary's disappearance.

I loved the relationship that developed between Frank and Julianne. Frank has a reputation as a ladies man and Julianne wants no part of it. He's attracted to her, but determined to resist. He's also intrigued by her. He sees a woman who is strong and independent, but who also has a lot of pain in her eyes. She keeps to herself and resists his attempts to get to know her. Though they clash at first, working on the case together, they make an excellent team. I loved Frank's persistence as he finally got Julianne to tell him about Mary, and his support of her when Mary became one of the killer's victims. Julianne's walls start to crumble under his attentions, but the things she begins to feel frighten her. She's never before allowed herself to depend on someone else. Frank is also taken aback by the strength of his feelings for her. I loved seeing him admit his vulnerability, and also his determination to see where it might lead. He had his work cut out for him in the end as he tried to convince her of his love. Julianne had to decide if she was willing to trust that he would always be there for her.

The search for the serial killer was really well done. The team's frustration was obvious as they tried to find the link between the victims. There was a terrific scene with a visiting profiler that really showed Julianne's abilities to her new teammates. It was interesting to see the way that they would start over with each new victim, trying to find the connections. I really liked seeing how it was an unexpected bit of trivia that finally cracked the case. Julianne's undercover sting was intense, and what happened to her kept me on the edge of my seat until it was all over. I loved how it was all resolved.

I really enjoyed seeing Andrew Cavanugh bring another lost soul into the Cavanaugh circle. Julianne tried really hard to avoid getting involved with them, but no one can stand up to him for long. It was really sweet to see the way that she got sucked in at the anniversary party without really realizing it until it happened. I loved Frank's big moment at the end, and Andrew's satisfaction at witnessing it.

Protecting His Witness - Marie Ferrarella (SRS #1515 - June 2008)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 13)

The woman had secrets no cop could ignore

Undercover police officer Zack McIntyre couldn't make sense of the beautiful, mysterious stranger who had saved him from death. She cared for him with skilled, gentle hands, awakening passions within him, but her haunted eyes spoke of secrets, lies and terrible fear. And he knew he couldn't rest unless he kept her safe from harm--and made her his own.

Endless months in the shadows, hiding from a killer, had taught Dr. Krystle Maller to trust no one. This strong, compelling man made her long to take shelter, just for a little while, in the circle of his arms. But could she trust even him with her deadly secret?

Very good book. Zack is on an undercover job when he gets shot. Desperate to get away from those who are after him, he ends up collapsing outside Kasey's back door. Startled by the body blocking her door, her medical oath won't let her ignore him, but neither can she bring herself to call the authorities. So she takes him into her home and treats his injury, determined to send him on his way as soon as she can. When Zack regains consciousness, he's grateful for the beautiful woman who saved his life. In spite of the pain he's in, he can't deny the spark of attraction he feels for her. He also gets the feeling that she is hiding something from him.

There was an instant connection that Kasey and Zack felt to each other, but each of them had reasons to resist. Zack has kept himself from getting close to any woman because he fears that he might be like his father, who had physically and emotionally abused his family. So Zack keeps his relationships casual. Kasey is on the run, hiding from the mob boss who wants to kill her. She and her fiance had witnessed him murdering another man. Then, while under police protection, a dirty cop had killed her fiance and gone after her. She left behind her job and identity as a doctor, going so far as to stage her own death. Now she spends her time looking over her shoulder, always ready to run again.

I loved seeing Zach's protectiveness as he became more aware of Kasey's fear. He was sensitive to her skittishness, and tried very hard not to rush her with his interest in her. But he also wasn't shy about letting her see that she had an effect on him. I also liked seeing the effect that his interest had on Kasey. She had kept herself so closed off and so hyper-alert that having the interest of a strong and protective man made her want to lean on him for just a little while. She also found it increasingly difficult to resist her desire for him.

Things started getting really interesting when he invites her to his mother's wedding. Until that time, Kasey had no idea that Zack was a police officer, and that his mother was marrying into a family heavily involved in law enforcement. I loved seeing how all the Cavanaughs so readily accepted her. She was really worried at first about being surrounded by so many cops, but relaxed when she realized that she would be safe from any attacks while there. 

When Zack decides to run a check on her fingerprints and turns up some unexpected information, he is hurt and angry that she didn't trust him. But he doesn't let that stop him from doing his best to help and protect her. Things got really intense at the end when her past shows up at her door, determined to finish what he had started. I loved seeing her fight back, holding her own until Zack arrives. The ending was fun, with Zack's brother Frank providing some lighter moments to relieve the tension.

As always, the Cavanaughs are the epitome of a close knit family. Andrew likes nothing more than taking care of all of them. He also discovers that their black sheep brother had had another family that they knew nothing about. I loved seeing him draw the new members into the fold. He also makes sure that Zack and his siblings know that, even though their name is McIntyre, they are also part of the Cavanaugh family now.

How to Seduce a Cavanaugh - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #1855 - July 2015)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 30)

A lone wolf who'd prefer to work solo, Detective Kane Durant has been through six partners. His latest? A chatty, go-getter blonde he can't seem to intimidate with his killer stare-downs and deadly silence. But when they're assigned a case of home invasions in the ritzy section of town, he's impressed by Detective Kelly Cavanaugh's quick mind, her determination to catch the perp...and how badly he wants her.

With one month to prove herself to her tall, tough and sexy new partner, Kelly works overtime to crack the case--and the hardened detective by her side. But when late nights on the job lead to passion, Kelly's heart is suddenly on the line, too.

I loved the beginning of this book. Kane and Kelly have both been called to the Chief of Detectives' office. Kane is sitting there, quiet as a rock while Kelly chatters away. When the chief arrives, they discover that they are being assigned to work together. Kane isn't happy, he would much rather work alone. His attitude has managed to chase away six different partners, and now he's shooting for a seventh. Kelly is equally determined not to be driven away, and furthermore to get him to open up.

Kane doesn't get close with anyone. He grew up with an abusive father who ended up killing Kane's mother, attempting to kill Kane, and killing himself. After he recovered, Kane was  raised by an uncle who was a good man but not emotional. He doesn't share anything personal with other people, including his partners. Kane has found success in the past by saying as little as possible. As a woman with several older brothers, she doesn't intimidate easily. She ignores his silences and keeps talking to him. While he doesn't tell her anything personal, she does eventually get him to react to her. 

Their conversations were fun to see. Kelly just doesn't give up until she gets Kane to talk to her. Though his answers seem a bit harsh at the beginning, it mostly seems to be because he doesn't know how to deal with her. After awhile his responses show a rather dry sense of humor that meshes well with Kelly's more buoyant attitude. I really enjoyed seeing how determined she was to break him out of his shell. As usually happens in a Cavanaugh book, he is dragged to one of Andrew Cavanaugh's meals. It is an experience unlike anything Kane has had before:

Apparently Cavanaughs didn’t know the meaning of the word solitude or solitary. From what he could see, they were all about crowds of people mingling. If they saw a loner, he—or she—stirred a sudden need within a Cavanaugh to incorporate that loner into the whole. “Resistance is futile,” a phrase once popular in a science fiction show cult favorite, was very obviously a credo for getting on with the Cavanaughs as well, Kane couldn’t help thinking.

As their time together continues, Kane is also surprised by the attraction he feels for Kelly. He's not used to having a woman taking up so much of his thoughts. When that attraction flares up after a late night, his normally restrained and calculated actions go up in the flames of the heat between them. He discovers that she's brought out something in him that he likes and wants to keep it, and her, around. It was interesting to see the apparently confident Kelly actually was a bit insecure regarding her new relationship with Kane. He had a really unique way of telling her how he felt: "You're like the refrain of a song that's stuck in my head, making me crazy, but I can't seem to unstick you." The epilogue was a fun update on where they were.

The suspense of the story was the home invasion cases that they were working on. The first one showed exactly why the chief had partnered them, as Kelly had different insights into what they learned. As more robberies happened, Kane gained an appreciation for Kelly's intelligence and determination. I really enjoyed following their investigation and seeing the connection that Kelly discovered. When all was revealed, I found myself agreeing with Kelly and feeling somewhat sympathetic for the robber. I loved Kane's comment about the possible trial.

Cavanaugh Fortune - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #1843 - Apr 2015)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 29)

A ring of murderous hackers is casting a wide net of destruction, bringing down financial institutions and ruining lives. Detective Alex Brody must get to the bottom of the case immediately, but he needs help. Normally he'd rejoice at the idea of gaining a sexy new partner, but not this one...not a Cavanaugh.

Officer Valri Cavanaugh is pulled from the ranks to assist in a case that could make or break her career. She has the tech smarts, but her new partner thinks she's a privileged brat. As they delve deeper into the mystery, these unwitting partners find they have more in common than just a case--sizzling chemistry that is both startling...and potentially deadly.

Another good Cavanaugh book, this one involving the youngest of the "new" Cavanaughs. A local hacker and gamer has been murdered and his computer smashed. Finding out what was on it may provide the clues needed to catch the murderer. Alex's partner is in the hospital, so the Chief of Detectives gives Alex a temporary partner to help out. Valri is a street cop who has been pulled onto the case because she has the computer skills needed to find those clues.

Alex isn't very happy about the new partner, especially since she's a Cavanaugh. He thinks she's gotten the job because of her name, she looks and acts like she should be on someone's cheerleading team. He doesn't believe she has what it takes to be a detective and thinks he'd be better off working the case alone. Valri is happy to be working the case. It's a chance to learn the ropes as a detective, something she really wants, and the case looks like it will be a real challenge. Convincing Alex may take a little work, but she's sure she can do it.

There was terrific chemistry between Alex and Valri from the beginning, though Alex especially tried to resist it. I really loved the conversations between them as they worked, and also as Valri tried to get to know Alex better. It was fun to see Alex change his opinion of Valri's abilities as she used her gaming experience to get information from suspects. He's very wary around her at first, especially as she taps various members of the family for help on the case. His family is very different from hers, on the opposite side of the spectrum in fact, and he has no experience with anything like it. He's also trying very hard to resist his attraction to her, because she's his partner and also because he feels getting involved with someone with that many family ties would be a bad idea. This scene describes their early relationship quite well: 

"Noelle, this is Detective Alex Brody.” She looked at him and flashed an appreciative smile. “Brody’s teaching me the ropes.”

“Struggling not to tie her up in them at times,” Alex added, leaning over his desk to shake Noelle’s hand.

“I think Duncan expressed a similar sentiment when we first started working together,” Noelle told the duo as she returned Alex’s firm handshake.

Valri is just as attracted to Alex and wants to get to know him better. His lone wolf attitude is a bit of a challenge, but she's sure she can bring him around. I loved the way she showed him the good things about having family. It was great to see how she got Alex to the Cavanaugh wedding and then made her move on him. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow, and the epilogue was the perfect wrap up as Alex takes the final step of opening up about his past and making Valri part of his future. I am curious to see if that past makes an appearance in a later book.

The suspense of the story was good. I liked the timeliness of the story line, with the hackers and the way they were using their theft of personal information. I enjoyed the journey from the beginning through the various ways that Valri used her gamer and computer knowledge to unmask the bad guy. It got intense for a short bit at the end, during the final confrontation. It got a bit scary right after the arrest as the danger to Valri became obvious. I loved the hospital scene as the Cavanaughs did what they always do, and that poor nurse has to deal with them. I loved her "six more months" comment.