Review: Facing It

Facing It
Linda Winfree
Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Hearts of the South/Book 8
Samhain/April 7, 2009

Mired in a brutal marriage for far too long, Ruthie Chason takes her courage and her children in hand to flee the trap that has become her life. Yet she’s no fool. She knows he’ll come after her once he discovers she possesses criminal evidence that will put him away for good—and seal her deadly fate if he ever catches up with her.

Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Parker offers emotional refuge, a safe place to begin to reclaim her life…if she can let herself trust the strong, quiet cop that far. Chris surprises himself when he agrees to act as guardian for Ruthie and her children. He does it as a favor, then finds something about her calm strength soothes his battered soul. Now if only he can silence the demons from his past that make him cautious of falling too fast for any woman.

I just can't seem to keep myself away from this series! This time it's the quiet deputy Chris Parker along with his police dog Hound who fall for the abused sister of Chris' friend and boss. Ruthie and her kids run home after escaping the man who controlled their lives. In Facing It Winfree examines domestic violence and does it in a way that is different but keeps the characters real.

For years Ruthie has been planning and hoping for the opportunity to escape her abusive, controlling husband. When she does, she heads home to Georgia and her family. Her brother, Tick Calvert, is with the local law enforcement and is more than willing to help Ruthie and her kids. I liked how Winfree shows Ruthie's fears and how she must overcome those fears not only for herself but for her kids.

Chris Parker has been a character in this series for some time now but we don't know much about him. Neither do his coworkers. They know he's a good cop and an all-around good guy but know very little about his background. There are even rumors that he's gay. It's odd that in this small town where everyone seems to know everyone and everything about each other, little is know about Chris. Which made it all the more interesting to get to know him right along with Ruthie. Turns out he's not gay, Ruthie confirms that. :) He is a good guy who has some deep buried secrets not so different from Ruthie's.

Ruthie is of course hesitant to start any romance, she's still married and her husband isn't about to give her and their kids up easily. But she does begin to feel something for Chris. I think it had to do with Chris' own experiences which gave him an ability to read Ruthie better than most. I won't say I found their romance truly believable under the circumstances but the emotions were so strong it was easy to get swept up in their story.

There is a secondary romance that was pure bliss to read. Two FBI partners are trying to fight off their attraction for each other, all the while not realizing the feelings are mutual. I think I was just as invested in their story line as I was in Chris and Ruthie's. I wanted to know where this romance was going and how it was going to get there. Considering it wasn't the main romance, it still left a strong impression.

I've mentioned before that this is a family centered series and that is unmistakably felt here. Ruthie's family rallies around her and her children, giving them many shoulders to lean on. In the end it's Chris' shoulder Ruthie leans on and he ends up leaning on her.

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

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

Review: Hearts Awakened

Hearts Awakened
Linda Winfree
Contemporary Romance
Hearts of the South/Book 6
Samhain/September 2, 2008

It’s not the past that wounds us…it’s the ghosts we hold on to.

A lifetime ago Mark Cook’s pregnant wife vanished, taking everything and leaving an empty, aching hole in his life. Since then, as penance for his failure as a husband and father, he’s refused to allow himself to live. Refused to lay his sleeping heart on the line for any woman.

Enter Tori Calvert, his best friend’s baby sister. Suddenly, against his will—and against his better judgment—that same damaged heart seems determined to reawaken. And Mark’s not sure he can withstand the pain.

When she was a teenager, a vicious attack ripped away Tori’s very essence as a woman. Finally she feels ready to focus her existence on something other than her job as a rape crisis counselor. And to step outside the shelter of her loving, protective family. She trusts Mark more than any man, yet fear holds her back.

Fear that even the healing light of love may not be enough to banish the shadows of the past.

Mark and Tori - two people hiding from their pasts. This was such an emotional story. Winfree knows how to show the pain of loss and the long lasting effects that loss has a someone. What surprised me was what a good feeling the story left me with, even with the very difficult themes Winfree took on.

Tori Calvert runs the local women's crisis center where she helps women deal with domestic violence, having suffered the horrendous violation of rape when she was a teen. It's been years but the damage the rape inflicted on Tori still controls her. She has tried dating but after the last guy she dated turned out to be a horrible mistake, she now questions her judgement when it comes to men. The exception being Mark Cook, her brother Tick's coworker and good friend. Tori has had feelings for Mark for quite some time but doesn't feel comfortable action on them. I loved how Tori is portrayed as a woman who has overcome much of her past but realistically it's still there and has shaped her life. She's a very strong heroine who understandably still has a vulnerable side when it comes to men.

Mark Cook, aka Cookie, has been a cop for nearly 20 years. He's a nice guy, a guy everyone likes but he doesn't talk about his past. He's very good at keeping up a facade of this easy going, ladies man when the reality is Mark is trying to keep any deeper feeling buried. So he dates women he knows he won't form any long-term attachment to. Then there's Tori. The way Mark fights his growing feelings for Tori really showed how much he's holding on to the past but there's a part of him that wants to start living for more than just his work. Winfree does a wonderful job in showing Mark's need to have more than just casual flings but he still has a fear of committing to a serious relationship.

Tori and Mark's romantic relationship develops out of growing friendship. Both are hesitant to explore the romance yet each has an almost desperate need for more than what they now have. I loved these two together! Their romance was believable in not only the obstacles they had to overcome but how they dealt with those problems. As they become closer they really start to "get" each other and that is so important when building any kind of relationship. I also loved how they looked out for each other long before the romance. They both lived in the same apartment complex and each kept an eye out for the other, with Mark looking out for Tori's safety and Tori watching to make sure Mark got home after his late nights. It was sweet!

A story in the Hearts of the South series could not be complete without having some well meaning, if a bit meddling, friends and family members involved. We get to catch up with past characters and see how both Mark and Tori look to others for advice and support. I really like this small southern community.

If I had any problems it was Tick's stubbornness when it came to Tori and Mark. It took him a long time to look beyond Mark's past string of flings to see the man he admired. Tick's overprotective nature with Tori began to wear thin. If it had been up to him, Tori would never have dated let alone had a serious relationship. Tori really should have stood up to Tick a lot sooner.

There are a roller coaster of emotions played out in Tori and Mark's story. The very difficult subjects of rape, abuse and loss of a loved one are all seen through these characters. The darker story line is tempered by the affable teasing of Mark and Tori's family and friends. Another well written addition to the Hearts of the South series.

Rating: A

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

Review: Hold on to Me

Hold on to Me
Linda Winfree
Romantic Suspense
Hearts of the South/Book 3
Samhain/December 11, 2007

She keeps a secret buried in the past. He wants the truth—now. But an unknown killer could destroy their future.

For FBI profiler Caitlin Falconetti, immersing herself in her job is the only way to quell the memories of a vicious, near-fatal attack and all it cost her, including the only man she ever loved. Better to let him think she simply rejected him, rather than reveal a painful secret that she’s certain would have destroyed his feelings for her.

Investigator Lamar “Tick” Calvert is determined to clean out the corruption-riddled sheriff’s department in his hometown. While he understands Caitlin’s drive to excel at her job, it doesn’t mean he’s happy about the prospect of working with his former lover, the one woman he tried and failed to hold onto.

A rash of unsolved murders brings them together to find the murderer before another woman dies. Daily contact re-ignites the lingering attraction between them, but Caitlin won’t risk opening herself and revealing her secret. She plans to complete the killer’s profile, make an arrest and get out of town for good.

Tick plans to solve this case, too, but now that Caitlin’s back in his life, he also plans to finally dig up the truth about why she left him.

But there’s an added complication—the killer isn’t done, and Caitlin could be the next target.

Tick left his job as an FBI agent and came home to become an investigator for the Sheriff's department. He and his friend and former agent, Stanton Reed, are determined to clean up the police corruption in this small Georgia town. It's not long before they have a string of murders on their hands to solve. One of the victims is the daughter of a Senator, so FBI profiler Caitlin Falconetti is sent to assist with the investigation.

Tick has an intimate past with Caitlin and seeing her again brings all the unanswered questions of what happened to them rushing back. Tick still cares for Caitlin but doesn't know what to make of her break-up with him. Tick's reaction to seeing Caitlin again goes from surprise to anger. I liked Tick right off. Actually, I liked what I saw of him in the previous book, His Ordinary Life, Tick's brother's story. Tick's a down to earth type of guy who loves his family and loves to go fishing. He's uncomplicated and we see that in his straightforwardness when dealing with family, friends and coworkers. I liked how he told Caitlin what he thought about their relationship and he actually asked questions about what happened to them. Imagine, a guy that's willing to talk!

Caitlin is hiding some pretty serious things from Tick. When I found out what caused her to break off with Tick, I kind of understood why she did it but I still felt she made some bad choices. This was a man she cared very much for and to lie to him like she did, just didn't make sense. She tries to keep their relationship professional when she shows up in Tick's turf but that's hard to do when Caitlin and Tick are together so much. The sparks fly but even after they are intimate, Caitlin still won't open up to Tick. Her reasons are made clear but I think, had she really known him, she would have been able to trust him with her secrets.

The police procedural scenes are well done, Winfree does well building the atmosphere of the workings of a small police force in rural Georgia. It's a place where many knew the victims, including some of the law enforcement working the case. Winfree does try to misdirect suspicions but in the end, the murderer doesn't come as a surprise.

I think one thing that keeps bringing me back to this series is it has the small town feel but not everything is perfect. I know these characters, their backgrounds, their families. The characters I don't know well, Winfree makes me want to know more about them.

I did like Hold on to Me. While it didn't blow me away, it proved to be a good addition to the series. It also made me want to read the next book, Anything But Mine. Which I did immediately after.

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

Review: His Ordinary Life

His Ordinary Life
Linda Winfree
Contemporary Romance
Hearts of the South/Book 2
Samhain/September 2007

Reunited by their teenage son’s possible involvement in a murder…old passions and new needs are destined to explode.

Del Calvert has spent his life in quiet desperation, trying to meet everyone’s expectations and feeling like he never quite measured up. From his teens, Barb was everything he wanted and needed, but knowing he wasn’t enough for her drove him out of the marriage.

Barbara Calvert is afraid to need anyone—especially the soon-to-be ex-husband she still loves. She’s reluctant to fall under his seductive spell of love and security once more.

But when their son’s secrets threaten his life, everything changes. Del must help his son as unseen and threatening forces move ever closer, putting the entire family at risk. And along the way, he hopes to convince Barbara to give him one more chance to win back the wonderful, ordinary life he didn’t appreciate until it was gone.

Second chance romances are not easy to pull off. The author must show why the couple broke up in the first place and why they should get back together. Sometimes the reason(s) for the breakup is the annoying "big misunderstanding" that could have been easily fixed if they had just talked. Unfortunately that was the case here. The good news is that it didn't completely overshadow my enjoyment of the romance.

Del is pulled back to his hometown and his family when his teenage son starts getting into trouble. His soon-to-be ex-wife isn't sure how she feels about Del sticking around longer than a weekend. Del's not exactly sure either. He wants his family back but doesn't know how to fix the rift between him and his wife. He doesn't think she wants him anymore but he's willing to try to make things right. Del really was a good guy but he so desperately needed to ask questions rather than assuming he knew what his wife was thinking.

Barbara doesn't want to rely on Del but when her sixteen year old son sneaks out of the house in the middle of the night, she doesn't feel like she has a choice. When Del decides to stay a few nights, Barbara has mixed feelings about having him back in the house. Barbara still has strong feelings for Del, she still loves him but his leaving hurt her and she's not sure if she's ready to take a chance at being hurt again. Barbara may have said the wrong thing to Del and given him the wrong impression but he's the one that walked out. I liked that Barbara doesn't sit around and feel sorry for herself but instead focuses on her kids and her work.

Del and Barbara are not the only ones who have problems to work through. Their three kids are affected by the separation and Del moving back in, if only temporarily. Winfree does well showing how the kids' react differently to their parents rocky relationship. These kids mean the world to their parents and the fact that they are being hurt by what their parents are doing is obvious and really has a profound affect on Del and Barbara. I liked that Winfree doesn't sugar coat the kids' reactions but makes them a very real part of these young characters.

This does take place in a small town and as such has that small town "everyone knows everyone else" feel to it. Which I liked. It also had a close family feeling with Del's brother and sister trying to help Del and Barbara however they could. Del's brother Tick is an interesting character who has this feeling of sadness surrounding him. I'm looking forward to reading his story.

There is a suspense sub-plot connecting Del and Barb's son with a murder. It wasn't a strong part of the book, more of a reason to bring the family together. I did like the overall story but found the misunderstanding between Del and Barbara annoyingly juvenile. It was good to see both take responsibility for their problems, if they'd only done it sooner and then could focus on their children.

The secondary characters who populate the small Georgia town will bring me back for more from Ms. Winfree.

Rating: B-