Final Secrets - Cindi Myers (Cindi Myers - June 2019)

Series: Callahan County Cold Case (Book 3)

Star crossed lovers fight an impossible attraction as the search for a killer heats up. New evidence links the death of a young woman to the murder of Mallory Jameson fifteen years before. When the murderer threatens teacher Sarah Lomax, Deputy Jack Cash’s investigation uncovers a secret from Sarah’s past, and an attraction that could be fatal.

This was a gripping and emotional conclusion to a trilogy that kept me intrigued and hooked from the first page to the last. Sarah Lomax started the ball rolling in this series when she and her dog Joey found Mallory Jameson's remains while out walking. In this book, Sarah is the killer's next target. The only thing standing between Sarah and death is the sexy deputy who would do anything to protect her.

I loved Jack. He uprooted his life to move to the same town as his sister and help with her four kids while her husband is away for his job. His scenes with the children are always fantastic, and it's evident that he would be a terrific father. He's dedicated to his work as a deputy, and like the others, takes the problems of the Mallory case personally.

I also loved Sarah. In her work as a teacher, it is obvious that she loves children. I loved her comments about the challenges of working with them and how they showed how much she cares. She also loves her younger sister and worries about her. The reasons for that worry are heartbreaking, and the description of their childhoods explains why Sarah made the decisions she did about her future.

I loved the development of the relationship between Sarah and Jack. They met when Sarah found Mallory's remains, and Jack was impressed by her steadiness and ability to focus on the questions he needed answered. Since that time, he's considered asking her out, but couldn't figure out a way to do it with the Mallory case still open. He eventually worked up the nerve and was surprised and a little hurt when she turned him down flat, especially since he'd had the feeling she was interested in him too. I ached for Sarah, who was attracted to Jack but had a heartbreaking reason for avoiding relationships. I liked his determination to try to get past her walls and had hope when he talked her into going to dinner. The evening didn't end happily though when they arrived back at her home to find a note like the others tacked to her door. I loved Jack's protectiveness and occasionally wanted to shake Sarah for trying to keep him at a distance. I did like that they could talk honestly about what held her back, and that Jack was also honest about his feelings. I liked the conversation he had with his sister and how it gave him a different perspective and something to think about. But it took coming face to face with the killer for both Jack and Sarah to realize what was most important.

The murder of another young woman ups the tension in the town. When a link is discovered between Mallory's murder and that of the recent killing, law enforcement finally feels like they might have a chance of finding the truth, but the leads still don't come fast enough. It doesn't help anything that the local newspaper editor is continuously on their case, accusing them of incompetence. I loved seeing the department begin putting pieces together, as seemingly unrelated things started to line up. The final confrontation was scary as the killer finally revealed himself. His motivations were truly disturbing, and I was on the edge of my seat as Jack raced to reach Sarah in time. I liked that she actively worked toward saving herself, remaining calm to keep her options open. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

I loved this trilogy and how each book built on the previous one. I was fully involved in each one, rooting for each couple to find their HEA, and anxious to find out the truth behind Mallory's death. Cindi Myers has a talent for sucking me into her stories and not letting go until the end.

Deadly Devotion - Cindi Myers (Cindi Myers - June 2019)

Series: Callahan County Cold Case (Book 2)

Enemies become lovers in a race to stop a killer.

When another woman's body is found near the Carson Meadows Trail, Sheriff Zane North realizes the killer he's been hunting is still on the loose. As he digs deeper into the case, he doesn't expect to fall for his chief suspect's sister. Can he stop the killer before he strikes again, and save the love of his life?

Second book in the series and just as gripping as the first. The Callahan County sheriff's department is still working to solve the fifteen-year-old cold case of Mallory Jameson's murder. Leads are nearly non-existent, so the sheriff and his deputies have gone back to the beginning and are re-interviewing previous suspects and persons of interest. One of those people is Dylan Alexander, Mallory's former boyfriend, and son of the man who many believed killed her. The Alexander family suffered a lot during that time, which has left Dylan wary and his sister Ashley bitter. She doesn't react well when the sheriff shows up to interview Dylan yet again.

I liked Zane. He is dedicated, experienced, and smart. He is confident in his department's abilities, but also smart enough to use the outside resources that are available to him. He is also very professional, with an underlying kindness. It's clear that protecting the people of Diamond Springs is essential to him. I loved how he handled Ashley's hostility when he showed up to question Dylan. He knew the history behind her attitude and didn't let it bother him.

I liked Ashley too. She is understandably cynical about law enforcement after everything that her family went through. Trusting anyone doesn't come easily, and she tends to keep most people at a distance. She is very protective of her brother and initially tends to jump to conclusions whenever Zane shows up at their house. She is also observant and intelligent and provides some fascinating insight during Zane's investigations.

Ashley and Zane had an immediate connection. It was amusing to see Zane's rather flummoxed reaction the first time he saw her, and how it took him a minute to remember why he was there. Ashley reacted to him, also, but her distrust dampened the initial effects. Zane was determined not to give in to the attraction while working on the investigation, but as time went on, it was clear that he was fighting a losing battle. When Dylan's fiancée, Kerri Lynn, received a letter similar to the ones that Mallory and Lauren received, Zane wondered if they were dealing with the killer, a copycat, or someone playing a cruel prank. As other letters show up around town, including one to Ashley, she and Zane don't have much opportunity to act on their growing feelings, though there are some sweet scenes of them together.

The suspense in this book is even more intense than in the previous one. The death of another young woman increases the tension around town and in the sheriff's department. While there appear to be connections to the earlier events, something about this one raises doubts in Zane's mind. I loved following the investigation and the twists and turns before it was finally solved. The ending was a nail-biter as Ashley ended up in the cross-hairs of a desperate killer. I was impressed with her ability to remain reasonably calm and take an active part in her own rescue. I loved her confidence that Zane would reach her in time. The epilogue was great, and an excellent way of showing the Alexander siblings moving on with their lives.

The secondary characters played essential parts in the story. Dylan, of course, as a person of interest because of his association with both Mallory and the recently murdered woman. I liked his confidence that Zane would treat him fairly, and his attempts to get Ashley to lighten up on Zane. The sheriff's department secretary, Cheri, flat out irritated me. Even in the first book I wondered why Zane had hired such an obviously immature girl for a job like that. In this book, her gossip was even more inappropriate, and her actions were downright stupid when it came to specific events. I also hated her attitude toward her so-called best friend's engagement. Her treatment of Dylan was creepy, and I thoroughly understood Ashley's dislike of her. Another character that continued to rub me the wrong way was the newspaper guy, Randall Piper. I agreed with Ashley when she said he should be working for the tabloids. His rudeness and lack of empathy toward the victims was infuriating. I also didn't like the way he denigrated the sheriff's department. I kept waiting for him to take something far enough that he'd be in trouble, but he always skated just close enough to avoid any consequences.

 

Saving the Sister - Cindi Myers (Cindi Myers - June 2019)

Series: Callahan County Cold Case (Book 1)

Reunited lovers join forces to battle a killer. The disappearance of 16 year old Mallory Jameson fifteen years ago shook the rural mountain communities of Callahan County Colorado. When a hiker discovers Mallory's remains, investigating the cold case reunites Sheriff's Deputy DJ Harris with the woman he never forgot - and a danger that threatens what he holds most dear.

Terrific start to the trilogy. I was sucked right into the story and read it and the two others straight through. They certainly made my trans-Atlantic flight "fly" right by. Each book deals with the cold case investigation of Mallory Jameson's murder, but also has a new mystery that is solved by the end of the book. All were gripping tales.

Lauren is a counselor at the high school she attended as a student. She loves helping students plan their futures. I enjoyed seeing the interactions between her and her students. It's evident that they love and respect her. Her life had changed, and not for the better when her older sister disappeared, and her high school counselor had a significant impact on her life. I ached for Lauren as I read about how she was pretty much ignored by her parents after Mallory's disappearance. The bright spot in her life was her growing friendship with the school "bad boy" Donny Harris until he was sent away.

Deputy DJ Harris came back to Diamond Springs after turning his life around. I liked hearing about what changed his outlook and how he turned it into positive action. It was pretty sweet to hear him tell Lauren about what brought him back home, in spite of the bad memories that were there.

The story opened as DJ sat in front of Lauren's condo, reminiscing on Mallory's disappearance as he works up to telling her that Mallory's remains were found by a hiker. I liked his concern for her, the care he used in telling her the news, and his willingness to help her through what happens next. I was impressed by Lauren's calmness as she heard what he had to say, and her need for the closure of seeing Mallory's remains. I loved the scene at the coffee shop, as DJ gives Lauren a chance to process everything before going home alone. I liked seeing them both remember their past friendship and had to laugh at DJ's shock when she told him about her crush on him. He never thought someone as good as her would even look twice at someone like him. He was even more surprised by her emphatic belief that he was a good person who just needed a chance.

I really liked the development of Lauren and DJ's relationship. It didn't take long for their old friendship to reassert itself. DJ's protectiveness kicked in with the threats against Lauren, and Lauren found it very easy to trust him. The chemistry was clear between them, and I enjoyed seeing Lauren take the lead in giving in to it. Both of them had grown up in difficult circumstances giving them a solid empathy for each other and ease of understanding each other's motivations. I loved the ending and Lauren's belief that DJ would be there for her.

The suspense of the story was excellent. It starts with the discovery of Mallory's remains, and the sheriff's department's determination to solve the cold case. There are very few clues to go on, leaving them to start nearly from the beginning. Things get more complicated when Lauren begins receiving letters that are eerily like the ones her sister received before her disappearance. The tension escalates when the note-leaver breaks into Lauren's home to leave one of the notes. The attacks feel personal, and several people are possible suspects. I was on the edge of my seat as the book progressed and the intensity grew. The final confrontation itself was a nail-biter, though the bad guy wasn't a complete surprise. I loved that a sharp-eyed student played an essential role in Lauren's rescue.

The secondary characters are all well done. DJ's fellow law enforcement officers show their determination to solve Mallory's murder and also keep Lauren safe. I liked the scenes that showed their actions and thought processes. Lauren's friend Mia was terrific. I enjoyed her teasing Lauren about DJ, but also that she was right there when Lauren needed the support. I especially liked the two students that we got to see. Sophie is exactly the type of student that Lauren became a counselor to help. I ached for what she was going through and loved that talking to Lauren gave her the strength she needed to succeed. I liked Lauren's support of Trey and his plans for the future, and her willingness to stand up to his parents to make them see past their own desires. Jessica was a bit of comic relief with her over-the-top reactions to the discovery of Mallory's remains. Her ability to make it all about her made me shake my head in disbelief. The newspaper editor was a pain in the neck. I hated the way he harassed Lauren and made snide comments about DJ and the sheriff's department. I completely empathized with both Lauren and DJ and their desire to inflict bodily harm on the man.

When I finished this book I was happy that I had the next one so that I could see what was going to happen next.