A killer in a sleepy Texas town? A Cavanaugh Justice romance Worn-out homicide detective Sullivan Cavanaugh’s looking for some peace and quiet in Forever, Texas. But once Sully meets feisty ranch foreman Rachel “Rae” Mulcahy, it’s clear that quiet isn’t in the cards. Especially when one of Rae’s wranglers turns up dead. Can Rae and Sully outrace the killer to crack the case–and could Sully’s … case–and could Sully’s stint in Forever be one for keeps?
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Good book with an unexpected melding of two of the author’s series, Cavanaugh Justice and Forever Texas. Sully has just finished a grueling 18-month investigation into a serial killer. He is tired and burned out. Enter his Uncle Seamus, who arranges for Sully to visit an old flame in Forever, Texas. Sully will work as a ranch hand and give his brain and soul a rest from the dregs of society. There he meets prickly, loner ranch foreman, Rae Mulcahy.
I liked the development of the romance between Sully and Rae. There were sparks between them from the beginning, though Rae tried to resist them. She had convinced herself that she had used up all the good in her life when Miss Joan took her in after Rae’s father died. A man in her life wasn’t in the cards, especially one that was only there for a short time. Sully was surprised at his reaction to Rae as she stirred up feelings that had been buried for a long time. Rae was a little difficult to like at the beginning because she always seemed to be angry at everything and everyone. Fortunately, Sully’s laid-back attitude was a good counterpoint, and it wasn’t long before he softened her rough edges. I ached for Rae and her feelings of aloneness and belief that there was nothing more for her. I loved how Sully showed her that she wasn’t alone. I also liked the way he kept thinking about how much his family would like her. I loved the ending as Sully fumbled his way through telling her his feelings, and Rae’s teasing him through it.
The suspense in this one was good. There are foreshadowings of the trouble when the two wranglers are first introduced, with Warren’s disappearances and Rawlings’ general bad attitude. Sully is there to get away from police work, but he can’t shut his instincts off completely, and something doesn’t sit right for him. When Warren turns up dead, Sully offers his help to the local sheriff. Rae also refuses to be left out and stubbornly insists on being included in all aspects, despite Sully’s objections. I enjoyed how, even from hundreds of miles away, the Cavanaugh teamwork is still in action, as Sully calls in favors from Valri and others back home in Aurora. Things got very intense as they closed in on the killer and Rae put herself in harm’s way. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over and the bad guy caught.
One of my favorite things was Miss Joan’s get-together and how Sully compared it to his Uncle Andrew’s parties back home. It both made him feel at home there, and also brought a twinge of homesickness. I would love to know more about the connection between Miss Joan and Seamus as it sounds like there is an interesting story there. I also enjoyed the ending and seeing Rae’s first experience with the Cavanaugh clan.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
I have read more of the author’s Colton books than the Cavanaugh series, so I am not familiar with all the family members, but that did not subtract from the book, which can be read as a stand alone. It seems that most members of the Cavanaugh family are involved in law enforcement. Detective Sully (Sullivan) Cavanaugh had finished up a tough 18 month undercover case pursuing a serial killer. When undercover he is forced to bury all emotions and now he is having a heard time getting them back. His great uncle sends him to Forever Texas, to work on the horse ranch of an old flame, where he hopes he will be able to get back his “zest” for life. Physical work helps as does his attraction to the prickly foreman, Rae (Rachel) Mulcahy, who unlike Sully, with his huge family, is all alone. When they stumble upon a murder, they are forced to spend more time working together and things heat up. Engaging characters and an action packed mystery, full of surprises make this an intriguing read. I read it in one sitting.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a wonderful story that blended in two different worlds from the author, Forever, Texas and the Cavanaugh family. Sully (Sullivan) heads to Forever, TX after a particularly rough case that lasted 18 months for the detective and his team. He heads to Forever, TX after his great-uncle Seamus sends him there. Rae (Rachel) is the foreman for the J-H Ranch where Sully is headed to. A wrangler for the ranch comes up missing and shortly after, his body is found in a shallow grave on the ranch. The two along with the town’s sheriff and three deputies try to figure out who and why he was murdered.
This is a wonderful story that will keep you guessing. As the story goes along, the chemistry between Sully and Rae heat up. I really loved the dual POV format that the book was written in. This was a joy to read a book that joins these two great story lines.
I highly recommend this book.