Kansas City Confessions - Julie Miller (HI #1606 - Dec 2015)

Series: Precinct: Cold Case (Book 3)
           Precinct (Book 26)

Keeping secrets close…and an enemy closer…

His protection instincts on high alert, KCPD detective Trent Dixon knew something was wrong with Katie Rinaldi. The special investigator had obviously uncovered a dangerous piece of evidence while looking into a cold case. So dangerous, in fact, that the single mother's life was now in jeopardy. But as much as Trent told himself he was keeping tabs on Katie and her young son as part of his job, he couldn't ignore the very real feelings he had for her. Still, as a professional, he was bound to the badge and would give Katie all the security she deserved. And not give in to the attraction he was having trouble containing…

Very good book and conclusion to the Cold Case series of books. Katie and Trent are both members of the Cold Case unit at KCPD. They are also old friends, having known each other since they were in high school. Katie and her young son are members of a local theater group where Tyler is playing the part of Tiny Tim and Katie does the costumes. When she isn't needed she uses the time to do some of her cold case research for work.

At the beginning of the story Katie, who is a genius on the computer, has uncovered what appears to be some links between several cold cases. That night, at the theater, some strange things happen that make her feel threatened. Scared, she calls Trent, but then tells him not to worry she was actually okay. Trent, unconvinced, shows up at the theater, but Katie and Tyler are already gone. He notices some things that are suspicious, and also rescues an abandoned dog.

The next day at work Trent tries to get Katie to tell him what happened, but she insists that she was panicking over nothing. In the meantime, Katie fills in the rest of the team on what she has found. It is looking more and more like the links they have found may lead to a mob boss they have been trying to nail for a long time.

The relationship between Katie and Trent is one of friendship, by Katie's insistence. As a kid she and her mother suffered from her father's physical and mental abuse, then she saw her father murder her mother. She has always felt responsible for that happening. Then in high school she got pregnant, was kidnapped by someone who wanted to steal her baby to sell it, and lost a good friend to the same man. She and Tyler were rescued, and she has been determined to make better choices in her life ever since. She also has a hard time trusting other people, especially men. Trent's friendship has meant a lot to her and to Tyler, so she refuses to take a chance on ruining that friendship with anything else. Trent has been in love with Katie for years. He wants nothing more than to marry her and become Tyler's father, but Katie won't take a chance on them. So he takes her friendship and tries to make the best of it.

As the danger to Katie and Tyler increases, Trent's protective instincts overpower his attempts to follow Katie's rules. I loved seeing him pull them closer to him and overcome Katie's objections. I also loved the way that he gave in to his need to kiss her, and how that one kiss started changing the way Katie looked at him. She had forced herself to keep him in the "friend zone", but that kiss has really opened her eyes to the man he has become. It was fun to see how she was suddenly noticing his physical attributes and how sexy he was. Unfortunately, her fears still have her resisting what her heart really wants. I really liked how Trent's patience and persistence finally started to break down the walls around her heart. But it isn't until she thinks she'll never see him again that she can admit to herself how much she has always loved him.

I loved following Katie and the team as they worked their way through the information she uncovered. The events of the previous two books are included in this one as they are finally able to link the crimes together and to the man behind them. It was fascinating to see the connections uncovered and how each one led to another. The escalation of the threats against Katie kept the intensity high. Though it was pretty obvious who the man behind it all was, it was the people in between that kept me guessing. The final confrontation was fantastic. I especially loved how Katie kept her head and used her skills to help the team find her at the same time she kept the bad guy focused on what he had her doing. The arrival of the team came at just the right time and how it all worked out was perfect. I loved seeing the bad guy's final plan thwarted.

The last chapter was the perfect wrapup to the trilogy. As always, I loved the way characters from previous books are an integral part of the story, not just tossed in as filler. The support they always give each other, both professionally and personally, makes their relationships seem that much more real. I love some of the conversations between Trent and Max. The ending was really sweet as the whole team comes to see Tyler in the play, and Tyler gets his biggest Christmas wish.

Kansas City Secrets - Julie Miller (HI #1582 - Aug 2015)

Series: Precinct: Cold Case (Book 2)

This was one cold case a hard-nosed detective had every intention of solving…with or without a beautiful victim's help…

Six years ago Rosie March's fiancé was murdered. Now someone is stalking her, intent on stopping her memories of the murder from being revealed. And Detective Max Krolikowski, her protector, only wants her alive for the truth she might be hiding.

But Max is hiding his own secrets, such as the acute PTSD the ex-solder lives with. As part of Kansas City's Cold Case Squad, the officer's work should have been simply investigative. But with his potential key witness's life jeopardized, he must keep her safe at any cost. And keep himself from falling for a woman who could be a true innocent…or a killer waiting to strike again.

Very good book that held my attention from the very beginning. It opens with Rosie talking to her brother about the murder he had committed years ago, when he killed Gabe Knight's fiancee (Kansas City Cover-Up). He claims he did it to protect her, which would indicate that it may somehow be linked to her fiance, though we don't know what that connection may be. 

Rosie herself was considered to be the most likely suspect in her fiance's murder, as he had been very abusive to her. But no proof was ever found so she wasn't charged. Now the KCPD has reopened the case, thanks to the possible connection to the other murder. To make matters worse, someone has been leaving threatening messages for her, claiming that she will pay for Richard's murder.

Max and his partner were sent to question Rosie, and it did not go well. Max is not the smoothest of men on his best day, and this was not one of those. He's got preconceived ideas of who she is and what she is like, and is all but convinced she's guilty without even talking to her. That day is also the anniversary of the death of a friend, one he feels responsible for, so he isn't in a very good mood. He and Rosie butt heads from the moment she answers the door, and she isn't inclined to cooperate with him. I really enjoyed their confrontation, because Max is used to people backing down in the face of his moods, yet Rosie gets in his face instead. Max and Trent leave having gotten nowhere, and Max goes off to be miserable on his own. 

But when Rosie's stalker strikes again, this time causing damage to her home, Rosie goes looking for Max. The police have been no help to her before, but she appeals to Max's military honor. She calls on him as the daughter of another Army vet, and asks for his help that way. What neither expects is the attraction that flares between them. As the attacks on Rosie escalate, Max becomes convinced that she is innocent after all, and is determined to protect her.

I loved seeing these two opposites come together. Rosie is the quiet, ladylike woman who calls Max out on his foul mouth and rough manners, but who also has a passionate side that has been well buried. Max is a blunt-spoken man with a past that haunts him, but who is also amazingly sensitive to Rosie's fears. There was a protective side to Max that Rosie brought out in him, one that really surprised him. There were several times when he was really sweet in the way he treated her. At the same time, Max's blunt honesty helped show Rosie that there was a passionate woman inside her, one that he appreciated. I loved how he gave her the confidence to go after what she wanted from him. I also liked seeing her help Max deal with his ghosts, and show him that he's far better than he believes. I loved seeing them come together in the end, accepting each other's flaws, and loving each other in spite of and because of them.

I really liked following along as Max, Rosie and his team worked to find out who was stalking her and if there was a connection to her fiance's murder. There were several possibilities, and each one was equally strong. It was very interesting to see how one lead would create a link to something else that hadn't been suspected before. One connection was not too much of a surprise, but the final confrontation contained a twist that I didn't see coming. There was also an assist from a surprising source at the end and I'm looking forward to learning more about that.

Kansas City Cover-Up - Julie Miller (HI #1559 - Apr 2015)

Series: Precinct: Cold Case (Book 1)

Political intrigue, an undercover investigation and a very mutual attraction

As the Kansas City Police Department's archenemy, reporter Gabriel Knight never expected to need its help. But the sexy journalist suspects the death of a politician's aide will shed light on the long-unsolved murder of his fiancée. He demands to team up with tough, beautiful detective Olivia Watson. Sharing a mutual distrust -- and a disturbingly mutual attraction -- Gabe and Olivia discover that someone's working hard to keep old secrets buried and stop their investigation dead. But as they come closer to the truth they edge closer to each other. Until now, neither has had room in their lives -- or hearts -- for a relationship. Yet all that could change…if Gabe can prevent them from becoming tomorrow's headline.

Fantastic book. In previous books, Gabe has been the outspoken reporter who never has anything good to say about the KCPD. I've often wondered what his problem is with them, and in this book we finally get a chance to find out. Olivia and her partner from the Cold Case division have been called to the site of a murder. She isn't sure why, until she encounters Gabe, who insists that this case has a connection to the unsolved murder of his fiancée six years ago.

I loved the initial meeting between Olivia and Gabe. He has managed to get past the police line into the crime scene and Olivia is the one who confronts him. She escorts him out, but then goes after him again when she realizes that he sneaked back inside. I loved the way she cuffed him to get him out, making him realize that he wasn't going to get his way this time. He is determined to make her see his point about the connection between the two cases. The action started when Olivia discovered someone hiding and went after him, with Gabe hot on her heels. By the time it's over, the bad guy has gotten away, Gabe is hurt and Olivia feels compelled to be the one to get him to the hospital. Besides the initial animosity between them because of who they are, there is also a flare of unwelcome attraction between them.

Gabe has spent the last six years mourning his fiancée and feeling guilty about her death. He blames himself for not seeing the danger she was in until it was too late. He is also angry at KCPD for their lack of progress in finding her killer, and has taken out that anger by writing unflattering stories about them. He doesn't expect to be attracted to Olivia, as his feelings have been shut down since Dani's death. I loved seeing him get protective around her, even as he learns to respect her abilities. Her nickname for him was fun as they developed their working relationship and a tentative personal one. As they get closer to a resolution Gabe starts to let go of his grief and open himself up to a new love.

Olivia is relatively new to the Cold Case team. She transferred there after her personal and professional relationship with her previous partner ended badly. She has some issues with being able to trust men and her judgment about them because of it. She doesn't know who Gabe is when she first meets him, but she is very attracted to him. However, that doesn't stop her from confronting him and making him follow the rules. When she hears his story, she feels compassion for his loss, but she isn't going to let him bully her either. As they work together she is surprised to find that it is easy for her to trust him and the things she is starting to feel for him. I loved seeing her stand up to him when she needed to, but also understand why he acted as he did.

The suspense of the story was great. I was sucked in from the beginning and didn't put the book down until I finished it. I really liked the way that Olivia didn't hold Gabe's attitude against him when it came to reopening the case of his fiancée's murder. I loved seeing how the team worked through the investigation, following up on the various leads. The intensity builds as each lead that Gabe and Olivia follow puts them in more danger. The scene at the warehouse had me riveted as I wondered how they were going to get out of it. There was also the question of who was in the background, pulling the strings, and what his motivations were. While the murderer is caught, there are still unresolved questions about the people Dani was investigating.

One of the fun things in the book is the relationship Olivia has with her family. As the youngest and only girl in the family of KCPD members, she often finds herself on the receiving end of overprotective family members. But dealing with them has also given her the ability to deal with fellow cops and that carries over into her dealings with Gabe. With the adversarial relationship between Gabe and the KCPD, her family was pretty blunt in their feelings about them working together. However, it was nice to see that both sides could bend a little, as shown in the invitation Olvia's dad extends to Gabe at the end. Hopefully there will be stories for Olivia's brothers, as they seem to be prime targets for strong women of their own.

Crossfire Christmas - Julie Miller (HI #1530 - Nov 2014)

Series: Precinct (Book 23)

With his life bleeding out from bullet wounds and a car crash, Charles Nash's best option is to kidnap the innocent nurse who stops to help him. At gunpoint, the jaded DEA undercover agent offers Teresa Rodriguez a desperate deal: if she keeps him alive long enough to find out who's blown his cover and set him up to die, she'll be home for Christmas.

As the two go on the run from an unknown killer, the Good Samaritan gives Nash a bad case of unprofessional desire. He's drawn to the sexy little spitfire for her bravery, boldness and attitude. But how can he count on kissing her under the mistletoe when so many enemies are working to ensure they don't make it to the holidays?

Fantastic entry into the Precinct series, with plenty of action, suspense and romance. It starts in a rush with Nash and his contact ambushed by the bad guys. Nash is wounded in the leg and shoulder, while his contact is killed. Nash barely escapes with his life and is bleeding badly as he drives away in a snowstorm. Nash is from Houston, a place that doesn't see much snow, and on a back road spins out and crashes his truck.

Teresa is a pediatric nurse at the local hospital and loves working with "her kids". She is also the youngest of five kids, and suffers from very overprotective older siblings. She would really like them to see her for the competent adult that she is. On her way home she comes across Nash's wrecked truck and stops to see if he's alright. Terrified when she's confronted by what appears to be a desperate criminal with a gun, she takes him back to her apartment to fix him up. It's at this point that Teresa's natural sass starts to come back.

I really loved both Teresa and Nash. As the youngest in her family, Teresa learned early how not to be intimidated, and that comes in really handy when trying to take care of Nash. Once she got over her initial fear, I almost got the feeling she was simply humoring him so she could take care of him faster. The scene at the apartment the next morning, when he wakes up and she isn't where he left her, was pretty funny. I also loved her resourcefulness in her actions, even though one of those actions put them in more danger. Once she knows who he is and understands the danger, she's all in to help him. There's also a strong attraction that she tries to fight, since she knows he won't be staying around, but that's pretty much a losing battle. Besides the attraction she feels, she also falls for the man she sees under the undercover agent shell. 

Nash had left Houston to get away from the cartel members until he could get his undercover identity replaced. Two of his undercover team members had already been killed, and now his contact. The only explanation is that there's someone in his office working for the bad guys, and he wants to find out who. Bleeding to death before he does is not an option, and when the Good Samaritan who stops to help turns out to be a nurse, he makes a desperate decision. He's not happy about scaring her so badly, but he can't risk her calling the authorities. When she turns out to be stronger of will than he expected he makes his deal with her, and hopes he can keep her safe long enough to follow through. He doesn't expect that sass and the compassion that comes with it, to fire up an attraction he shouldn't be feeling. 

I loved the two of them together. Teresa isn't going to let Nash get away with treating her like a hostage instead of a partner. She has no trouble standing up to him and making him see that she can help. One of the things that made her fall for him is that he treats her like an adult, not like the kid sister her family does. It's also fun to see her bully him into letting her take care of him when he needs it. Nash has quite a time of it right from the beginning, since Teresa isn't exactly docile. He seems to spend a lot of time readjusting his opinion about her. Nash has been on his own for a long time and his feelings for Teresa take him by surprise, but he doesn't deny them. He also doesn't think he's anywhere near good enough for her. Teresa, of course, thinks differently.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. The ambush is a great opening, and the action never really let up. Nash's cover being blown was bad, but knowing that his other team members were killed because of the same thing, made him realize that there was a mole in his office. Unfortunately, he had no idea who, which meant he couldn't ask for help. He was also in a strange city, which added more stress to his situation. Teresa's innocent email inquiry set off a chain of events that puts them in more danger. Their teamwork was great, and some of their situations were pretty tricky. I loved Teresa's ingenuity in getting help for Nash, and the little girl who got into the act was adorable. The final confrontation was really intense, and I never guessed the identity of the mole.

Though there wasn't a lot of KCPD presence in the book, what was there was great. I liked seeing Jake again and the part he played in helping Nash. Some of the best parts involved Teresa's brother AJ, and her efforts to keep him in the dark. He did come through for Nash when it was most important. There was also a nice little tip of the hat to Julie Miller's first books, the LadyTech series, with a mention of Isla Tenebrosa.

Out of the whole book, though, Teresa has the best line when everything is over: "Seriously, Nash? You need to stop getting shot. You should just ask me out on a date."

Always Faithful - Julie Miller (Love Spell - Apr 2000)

Series: LadyTech (Book 3)

True Love

When Jonathan Ramsey disappears in a covert operation on the dark isle of Tenebrosa, nothing can keep him away from his family--not even death. But the guardian angel who gives the Marine his life back blunders: Jonathan Ramsey is born again as someone else.

Can See the Soul

Emma never questions that she will again see her beloved husband. But the man who comes to her has a different face and an unknown name. Suddenly, Emma knows this wonderful stranger is the man she's waited for. But to rediscover the man who won her heart so long before, Emma has to learn that true love never dies--and that the greatest hearts are always faithful.

Very good book and possibly my favorite of the three. Jonathan is introduced in Shadow of the Hawk, as the man that Hawk had been unable to save. At the beginning of this one we see what happened to him and the effect it has on others' lives. 

Jonathan loves his wife and daughter and when his life ends prematurely he begs for it to be restored. The guardian angel who was in charge was new to the job and made a mistake when she snatched him. In trying to remedy the error, she messes up again. Fast forward five years and things are about to get really strange.

Emma Ramsey has spent the last five years raising her daughter and running LadyTech, the software company she owns with two friends. She has never given up hope that her husband is still alive. A chance encounter with a man gives her renewed optimism that Jonathan is out there somewhere. 

Drew Gallagher is a PI working on the case of a child molester. He spots the man at a museum, just as he lures a little girl away from her school group. He steps in to get the girl away, and in the process meets her mother, Emma. Something about the woman seems familiar, but he doesn't know why. Drew has no memory of his life past five years ago, when he woke up in a hospital recovery from injuries received in an explosion. He's determined to get to know Emma and figure out the connection. 

Emma is leaving the museum when she is grabbed by a man who says he knows where her husband is and will tell her for $25,000. But before she can get more details, he is taken by the stranger from the museum. When she explains why the man had stopped her, Drew offers to find out more for her. Not being a very trusting person, Emma is wary, but desperate for information. And there is something about Drew that tells her she can trust him.

Drew discovers a connection between the man with the information and a shadowy figure who is trying to buy up shares of Emma's company. As he delves deeper into his investigation, he starts to get a really bad feeling about who is behind it. He is determined to keep Emma and her daughter safe, even at the risk of his own life.

The connection between Drew and Emma is immediate, but Emma fights it. She is still in love with her husband and loyal to his memory. She doesn't understand why she is so quick to trust Drew and allow him into her life and her daughter's. But his kindness and gentleness fill a void in her life and she finds herself growing closer to him. Drew is quick to fall for her, but knows that he has no chance with her, since she still loves her husband. Because he wants her happy, he will do his best to find Jonathan and then he will bow out of her life. Fate has other ideas, and I really liked seeing the way that Emma's trust and growing feelings have her turning more and more to Drew. 

The suspense of the story is fantastic. I loved seeing Drew use his talents to help Emma, both with the search and with what is happening in her company. His early encounters with Brodie, the security man for the company and one of Jonathan's friends, were pretty amusing. As Drew uncovered more information, the intensity grew. I liked seeing the way that Jonathan's old team came together when it came time for the rescue mission, and how it was Drew who was the leader. As the rescue and its aftermath played out, more questions were raised than answered. Though it's obvious to the reader what happened, the people in question have a harder time with it. The conclusion was gripping, and I couldn't wait to see how it all worked out. I loved how it was done.

Emma's daughter Kerry was a huge part of the story, from her part in bringing Drew and Emma together, to the "imaginary friend" that seemed to be directing her actions. She was a sweet kid, center of her mother's world, but also determined when she was trying to make a point. Her quick acceptance of Drew puzzled Emma, especially Kerry's insistence on who Drew was. I loved Kerry's conversations with her "friend" and their frustration when the adults wouldn't pay attention to what she was trying to tell them.