Operation Mountain Recovery - Justine Davis (HRS #2117 - Dec 2020)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 12)

He's sworn to protect

...until it gets complicated.

After Deputy Brady Crenshaw rescues a confused woman from a near-fatal mountain accident, he's shocked at her confession. Even more bewildered when a determined dog urges him to shield her. Ashley admits she's afraid of powerful forces pursuing her. She may need more than protection. So as the lawman jeopardizes his career to hide her, Ashley starts to trust him and bond with the sly canine pushing them together. But exactly who is Ashley Jordan, really? And who wants to silence her?

I always look forward to a new Cutter book, and this was no exception. Quinn and Haley Foxworth are on an anniversary trip when their dog Cutter lets them know there is trouble ahead. Sure enough, they come upon Brady, a deputy preparing to rescue the victim of a traffic accident. They all work to pull Ashley from the wreck, only to discover something very strange going on.

Ashley believes that she is slowly going insane, just as her father did. She has nightmares of monsters, episodes of forgetfulness, and has been found wandering with no idea how she got there. Her mother, the town mayor, moved Ashley back home to keep her safe and set her up with the local psychiatrist. During the times when she's clear-headed, Ashley is terrified of what the future holds for her. The latest accident is one more nail in her mental coffin. The only bright side is the handsome deputy who shows concern for her well-being and the dog who exudes comforting vibes.

I loved seeing Cutter do his "fix it" stare at the accident scene. Quinn and Haley are quite used to his intuitive actions now and are ready to help if asked. After reading past reports of Ashley's problems, Brady is warier, but he can't deny that something feels off to him. When he finds Ashley at a very low point, he knows he needs to get involved and takes Ashley to Quinn and Haley.

I enjoyed the intertwining of the suspense and the romance. Brady felt protective of Ashley from the beginning, even when he wasn't sure of her story. As Brady becomes more convinced that there is nothing wrong with Ashley's mind, his confidence gives her the strength to believe in herself. Sparks of attraction flare between them. Brady tries to resist, careful not to take advantage of Ashley's turmoil, while Ashley doesn't want to do anything to drive him away. Neither of them stands a chance against Cutter and his belief that they belong together.

While I suspected the truth early in the book, it was even worse than I knew. I loved seeing Quinn, Haley, and the Foxworth Foundation do what they do best - fight for those that need it. Brady is a "by the book" lawman but quickly appreciates the resources the others bring to the table. There are some interesting moments between Brady and Quinn as Brady reconciles what needs to be done with the rules he works under. I ached for Ashley as they came closer to the truth and an unexpected twist brought the last piece of the puzzle. I loved Brady's anger on Ashley's behalf and how having that support gave Ashley added confidence. I loved her anger and determination to see justice done. The final confrontation was fantastic, and seeing Ashley face down her tormentor was incredibly satisfying. I loved the ending and seeing Brady and Ashley look toward the future together.

As always in a Cutter's Code book, the dog is an integral part of the story. After sixteen months together, Quinn and Haley have accepted Cutter's unique abilities and have learned not to ignore him. It is always fun to see new people's responses to his actions, and Brady and Ashley were no exception. It was amusing to see them go from disbelief to amazement after hearing about his successes. And that was before learning about his secondary talent for matchmaking. The descriptions of Cutter's antics and his uncaninelike facial expressions were such that I could easily picture them. I especially enjoyed the "smug" looks and his depiction at the end as "utterly relaxed" because "obviously the dog considered his work done."

I liked seeing characters from previous books make appearances. They weren't tossed in willy-nilly but had specific roles to play. References to previous cases enhanced Foxworth's standing in Brady's eyes as he grew to understand precisely what they do. I especially enjoyed seeing Gavin and his reputation play a big part in the end. I can't wait for the next book - still waiting for a story for Rafe.

Operation Second Chance - Justine Davis (HRS #2089 - May 2020)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 11)

His guilt tore them apart

Can the truth set them free?

Ex-cop Adam Kirk has never forgiven himself for his partner's murder. Neither has Amanda Bonner, the daughter left behind. But when new clues into the crime surface, Adam and Amanda form an unlikely partnership, which becomes their only chance to achieve justice. Duty soon leads to passion…and attempts on Amanda's life. Will Adam lose the woman he's come to love before he can expose the killer?

Very good book. The story begins on the fifth anniversary of Greg Bonner's death. His daughter Amanda is at the cemetery, remembering her father when Quinn and Hayley Foxworth arrive. Quinn was there when Greg was killed in the line of duty, a bystander who got involved, and has been a part of Amanda's life ever since. They are joined by a fourth person, but this one is not welcomed by Amanda. Adam was Greg's partner and Amanda holds him responsible for her father's death. She is vocal about her dislike and disdain for him, but it is no match for the way Adam feels about himself. Witnessing Amanda's anger and Adam's self-disgust was heartbreaking.

When Quinn and Hayley visit with Amanda later, Cutter goes exploring in the house. Somehow it isn't surprising that he points the way to a hidden flash drive, concealed by Amanda's father. The next morning, Quinn calls a meeting at Foxworth to discuss what was found on the flash drive, including calling Adam. Encoded notes indicate that Greg was working on an investigation on his own when he was killed, but neither Adam nor any of Greg's friends have any idea what it was. As Foxworth begins to investigate it, Adam and Amanda both prepare to go home. On the way, Adam witnesses a hit-and-run on Amanda's car, leading him and Quinn to believe that Amanda is in danger.

The development of the relationship between Adam and Amanda was very interesting, especially at the beginning. Amanda makes her dislike of Adam clear, and Adam believes he deserves every bit of it. I had a bit of a problem with Amanda at this point because Adam puts his life on hold to help protect her and she shows little to no appreciation for it. I hurt for Adam because he lost everything that terrible night - his friend and partner was killed, he suffered a career-ending injury and the woman he started to have feelings for said unbearably cruel things to him. As the days go on, Amanda softens a little bit as memories of her father's comments and praise of Adam come back to her, and she realizes that the sparks she felt five years ago are still there. I thought she deserved every bit of the guilt she felt when she discovered how wrong she was about the events of that night. As the days went on and they spent more time together, those sparks continued to grow. Though Amanda's belief in Adam's guilt had disappeared, Adam was still mired in his belief that he was responsible. I loved seeing Amanda's attempts to show him he was wrong, but it took an unexpected revelation to fully convince him. The ending was beautiful, with an extremely emotional scene at the cemetery.

I loved following the process of the investigation. From the first attack on Amanda onward, the intensity grew at a steady pace. There were frustrating times when leads didn't pan out, but no one gave up. I loved that it was an offhand comment that broke the case open. When Adam and Amanda showed what they found out to Quinn and the others, things really started to pop. I loved seeing Foxworth do what it does best, bringing people together to right a wrong. The final confrontation was so satisfying in the way it happened. I especially enjoyed seeing Gavin de Marco again and watching him at work.

As always in this series, outside of the main couple, my favorite character is Cutter the dog. At this point, nothing he does surprises me, though it is always fun to see other people's reactions. At one point Adam says, "I've been watching him work for a couple of weeks now. If you told me he could fly, I'd only wonder how, not if." I loved the description of Cutter giving Quinn and Haley his "fix it" look when he first encountered Adam and Amanda. He also has a well-deserved reputation at Foxworth as a matchmaker. This was amply demonstrated by his tendency to "herd" both Adam and Amanda where he thought they should be. He has an uncanny instinct for those who need help, and for approaching danger. I loved seeing him go from playful pup to snarling protector in the blink of an eye. 

Someday I am going to start at the beginning and read the whole series from start to finish. But before I do, I really want to see Rafe get his story.