Review: Memories of Us

Memories of Us
Linda Winfree
Contemporary Romance
Hearts of the South/Book 5
Samhain/June 10, 2008

Beneath the lies is truth - and temptation that neither of them can resist.

Investigator Celia St. John is hopelessly attracted to the one man she shouldn't want, district attorney Tom McMillian. Arrogant and completely alpha, McMillian is the type of man she likes - a tough son of a bitch. The problem? He's her boss, and he's still hung up on his ex-wife.

Since his marriage to a law enforcement agent failed after the death of his infant son, Tom has avoided emotional involvement with any woman. Despite his attraction to Celia, he refuses to get involved with another cop.

Their no-strings affair quickly becomes a tangled web of intrigue as they investigate an illegal baby adoption ring and more than one murder, one of which points to Tom as a suspect. The more they dig under the lies, the higher the risk, not only to their relationship, but their lives.

Yes, I'm moving right on through this series, the end is near which makes me sad. The last book published in the Hearts of the South series was released in July of 2009, since then there has been no sign of any more books to come. Which is sad because this is a very good romance series with the added feature of a small town setting and suspenseful plots.

Celia St. John is a top investigator for the District Attorney's office. She is smart, professional and she's also fallen for her boss. He's clueless. hehe. Celia does know about Tom McMillin's past and the feelings he still has for his ex-wife. But that doesn't stop Celia from going for what she wants. Thankfully she wasn't a wimpy, crying heroine. Celia is tough when it comes to doing her job and that strength comes through in her pursuit of Tom.

Tom McMillian is a District Attorney with a reputation for not backing down. It took me a long time to warm up to Tom. His fixation on his ex-wife really bothered me. He admits their marriage was over years before the divorce and yet he comes across at being obsessed with her. She's moved on with a new husband and baby on the way so it's not as if Tom has a chance of getting her back. Then when he does get over her it's "BOOM", hey it doesn't hurt to see her anymore. It felt as it his letting go was forced to make way for Celia.

Celia and Tom do get it on with the caveat that it's only casual, no strings attached. And they won't let it affect their working relationship. Yeah, we all know how that's going to play out. LOL Tom and Celia make their fantasies come to life. The scenes are classy and sexy with a wildness to them. Loved it!

The mystery surrounding the murder and the possible illegal adoption ring is a strong emotional part of the story. Winfree doesn't sugarcoat the facts of the violence involved in the murder, it's brutal. I did enjoy seeing how the DAs office interacts with the local police force as well as catching up with previous heroes and heroines of the series. The books are family centered whether it be biological family or work family, they all pull together and are there for each other. I really appreciate how well those elements factor into the series.

Even with my slow warm-up to Tom, I was easily pulled back into this small Georgia setting and the characters that populate it. Even if there are to be no more books in this series, I have no doubt I will be re-reading and revisiting these characters in the future.

Rating: B+

Hearts of the South ~

Truth and Consequences
His Ordinary Life
Hold On to Me
Anything But Mine
Memories of Us
Hearts Awakened
Fall Into Me
Facing It
Uncovered