Operation Notorious - Justine Davis (HRS #1973 - Dec 2017)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 9)

Katie Moore’s small town is rocked when her best friend is brutally murdered -- and her father becomes the prime suspect. Her dad’s only chance is Gavin de Marco, an attorney who doesn’t trust anything or anyone. Now Gavin is probing secrets heartbroken Katie didn’t know she had -- and sparking an attraction neither can resist.

Betrayal taught Gavin to ruthlessly expose the truth -- and he’s certain Katie is hiding something. Still, her fiery warmth is challenging his defenses every step of the way, making it impossible to stay out of her arms. But surviving a killer’s insidious scheme could shatter any shot he and Katie have at justice -- or a future…

Terrific book. It opens with Quinn getting a call from his sister at their office in St. Louis. She's sending attorney Gavin de Marco to him (presumably before she does something drastic) and for Quinn to find something for him to do. I loved his and Hayley's confidence that one of them can get to the bottom of Gavin's issues, and if not them, Cutter most definitely could. We also learn that Gavin has no use for liars of any kind. I loved his arrival at the Foxworth's and his realization that they didn't have a case for him, just before Cutter came into the house. Cutter has a cell phone in his mouth, which he takes right to Gavin. As they speculate about the phone's owner, the bell rings, and it is Katie Moore, who chased after the phone thief. As soon as she's in the house, Cutter sits at her feet and gives his people "The Look."

Katie moved to town six months earlier, to escape the memories of the death of her best friend, Laurel. She had discovered Laurel's body in their apartment, where she had been brutally murdered. Katie still suffers from nightmares, and desperately misses her friend. To top it all off, she just found out that her father has become the police's number one suspect. She's worried about her dad because he doesn't seem too concerned, but she senses that he could be in trouble. She's stunned when Cutter leads her right to the person that could help her.

As always, it's fun to see the reactions when Cutter does his doggy magic. Gavin is a little quicker to pick up on it simply because he's been with Foxworth long enough to be aware of Cutter's reputation. Katie is more skeptical, at least at the beginning. She has experience of his therapeutic benefits but is unaware of his more professional talents. I also enjoyed seeing him immediately start in on his matchmaking plans.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Katie and Gavin. There are sparks of attraction from the get-go, but both try to fight them. Gavin is very cynical about people in general and tends to see the bad in them. Katie, on the other hand, sees the best in people first. As they work together to find out the truth about Laurel's murder, Gavin and Katie have the opportunity to get to know each other. I liked seeing Katie break through some of Gavin's walls. Her kindness and compassion made it possible for Gavin to share things from his past that have made him the man he is. Gavin is a bit freaked out by the way his feelings for Katie grow. He found himself protective of her and worried about how she'll take it if they find her father is guilty after all, something he's never done before. His cynicism gets in the way of their relationship at times, when he suspects her of lying and/or covering up important information. I ached for Katie at the end, when she was confronted by the lies that were told, and the effect it had on her belief in people. I loved Gavin's big moment, when he realized the depth of his feelings for her, and how much she had changed him. I loved seeing the ruthless, cynical lawyer made vulnerable by love.

The suspense of the story was very good. At the beginning, it was very easy to see why the police were focused on Katie's dad. Gavin's involvement upped the stakes for everyone involved. I loved his attention to detail and the intensity with which he tackled the investigation. His interview with Katie's dad was interesting and added a bit of doubt to Steven's innocence. Both Gavin and Cutter could tell that Steven was hiding something. Thanks to his reputation, Gavin's being involved in the case stirred up some trouble. This became clear when Gavin was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant and later run off the road. Evidence and circumstances pointed to Katie's dad. The resulting confrontation had some unexpected twists that changed Gavin's view of some things. But it was the information that Gavin received from Quinn that put the final pieces of the puzzle together. I loved how Gavin, Katie, Cutter, and the rest of the folks from Foxworth came together to bring the killer to justice.

I can't wait to see what is next for the folks at the Foxworth Foundation. At the very least Cutter still has Charlie, Tyler, and Rafe to find the perfect partners for.

 

Operation Alpha - Justine Davis (HRS #1937 - Mar 2017)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 8)

After a series of his ex-girlfriends die mysteriously, tracker and tech expert Liam Burnett vows to steer clear of romantic entanglements. But when he's assigned to work with Ria Connelly, unwanted feelings ambush Liam. And though he warns Ria that he's not looking for anything serious, the outwardly cheery bachelor can't help but fall for the beautiful teacher

With Cutter, the uncannily brilliant dog, the two collaborate to help a troubled student. Their discoveries of scandalous secrets provoke extreme danger. Only when a killer threatens Ria does Liam finally rethink his reluctance to care he must protect her at all costs. Could she be the one who breaks the girlfriend "jinx"?

This was another terrific Cutter's Code book. It opens with a blast from the past, as the young lady who was the inspiration for the start of the Foxworth Foundation, returns to ask for help for a friend. Emily is now sixteen, and she's worried about a classmate who recently lost his mother. Emily brought along one of her teachers, who is somewhat skeptical as this is not the type of thing Foxworth is known for. I loved Emily's background story and Quinn's heartfelt statement about what they do. Liam was also in on the meeting, as he had been with Cutter when the women arrived. I loved how Cutter made friends with Emily and Ria then turned around and gave his people "The Look."

I've always liked Liam, who is the upbeat, charming tracker and techie. He also has a unique history with Foxworth, as he was recruited after hacking into Foxworth's systems. Liam had been on a bad path until Quinn pulled him off it. He's been a valued member of the team ever since. He has also been known for laughing as his coworkers fell to Cutter's matchmaking schemes, but also steering clear of any relationships himself. Here we learn that he has had three romances in his past, and each one has ended with the death of the lady in question. Liam blames himself for each one, and won't allow himself to risk another's life.

I liked the development of the relationship between Liam and Ria. Their meeting was amusing as they are both immediately attracted. Ria's been burned in the past, but her attraction to Liam hit her hard. She has a great deal of trouble reining in her imagination whenever she looks at him. The effect on Liam is even stronger. I loved seeing him totally unable to concentrate, losing his place in conversations, and with his imagination running wild. Since they have to work together to get to the bottom of Dylan's problem, there are plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. I ached for Liam who fought his feelings all the way, certain that he is jinxed when it comes to love. I loved seeing Ria get past his walls and get him to open up to her about his past. I loved his shock when, instead of being disgusted with him, Ria shows her understanding and then gives him another point of view. I felt his fear when, after giving in to what was growing between them, Ria ended up in danger. I loved how she trusted him and the effect it had on him. His big moment at the end was fantastic. I loved seeing his vulnerability, and his determination to give Ria the space he thought she needed after what happened. The hope that grew in Ria's heart as she listened to him was terrific, and I loved her response.

The suspense of the story was really good. I loved that the Foxworth team was totally onboard with finding out what was happening with Dylan. It was great to see Liam use the various types of martial arts as the hook to get closer to him. The class demonstration was terrific, and the scene with the bully was great. As Dylan became more comfortable around Liam, it was easy for Liam to see that whatever was happening, it was wearing hard on Dylan. The scene when Liam took Dylan to pick up his little brother was heart-wrenching, as was the confrontation when Dylan's father arrived at the gym during one of the lessons. That also set Liam's alarms going off and gave him a direction for his investigation. What he found out was not really a surprise. When he and Ria set plans in motion, it triggers an unexpected reaction. I was on the edge of my seat (and up way past my bedtime) as I followed the action. I liked the realism of Liam's panic before he got himself under control and did what he does best. The final confrontation was intense and terrifying, and I ached for little Kevin. I loved Ria's trust that Liam would be there and her efforts to help. Cutter, of course, was awesome.