A homicide detective’s violent family history repeats itself in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, secrets, and retribution.For more than twenty-five years, Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert has tucked away the nightmarish childhood memories of her parents’ murder-suicide…Until her younger sister, Erin, is killed in a crime that … is killed in a crime that echoes that tragic night: innocent witnesses and a stormy marriage that ended in gunfire. There’s just one chilling difference. Erin’s husband, Justin, has vanished.
Bree knows how explosive the line between love and hate can be, yet the evidence against her troubled brother-in-law isn’t adding up. Teaming up with Justin’s old friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn, Bree vows to uncover the secrets of her sister’s life and death, as she promised Erin’s children. But as her investigation unfolds, the danger hits close to home. Once again, Bree’s family is caught in a death grip. And this time, it could be fatal for her.
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An Outstanding and Phenomenal Story .
I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy through Netgalley of Cross Her Heart . This story was intense and pulse pounding from the start . This is one of the best stories I’ve read . Bree Taggertis a Philadelphia homicide detective . She missed a call from her sister while taking down a murderer . Her sister Erin is in trouble and needs her help . Bree can not reach her . She decides to head to their home town to check on her . She finds she’s been murdered and Erin’s Instranged husband is missing . Matthew Flynn arrives at his friend Justin’s house to take him to a meeting . Matt has his retired K9 Brody with him and Brody senses something . When they enter Justin’s place they discover Justin’s wife Erin has been shot and is dead .
Soon Matt and Bree are working together to find Justin and get answers as to what went on at Justin’s . Bree has her hands full with her niece and nephew and a killer on the loose . Soon danger comes Brees way from different directions . Bree must catch the killer and hold down the fort . This story keeps you on the edge of your seat . It’s full of twists and turns that keep you guessing . I could not put it down . Definitely a five star suspense romance . I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy .
Morgan Dane move over please, here comes Bree Taggert!
I am a big fan of Melinda Leigh’s works and I have been reading her forever (back to her first novel, She Can Run). Morgan Dane has been a favorite character of mine from her books up to this point but I think that Bree might be taking her place. I loved this first book, Cross Her Heart, and I cannot wait for the rest of the series.
Cross Her Heart digs its hooks in from the beginning with a gripping, heartbreaking scene from Bree’s childhood. This dark, tragic moment in time sets Bree on the course for her future as a homicide detective. She has mostly kept her violent past behind her but sorrowful echoes of that night creep in now and then due to the violence and tragedy she faces daily as a cop. Her family and personal life have also taken some hard knocks. She and her younger siblings are not close, though they stay in touch, and she has no personal life to speak of.
History seems to repeat itself after she receives an unclear, frantic call from her sister and races to her aid only to find her murdered. Along with battling the terrible shock and stabbing grief Bree now has new responsibilities to juggle while searching for answers. The more questions she asks the more unclear things become. Luckily she has assistance in the form of Matt Flynn, a former investigator and best friend of her sister’s estranged husband.
I really enjoyed Bree and Matt’s characters. They were written as strong, level-headed, resourceful, determined characters who thought things through, did not overreact or jump to conclusions. They gathered facts and worked out scenarios in logical ways rather than letting emotion override the investigation. Though they each had moments of doubt as to certain people’s guilt or innocence they never let that take over their reasoning and stayed true to course to find the killer.
There is a winding, complex storyline full of suspects in this book, some with selfish motives and others with nefarious ones, but each reveal is intriguing. As the story unravels you will be drawn in deeper and deeper into the web of lies, deceit, abuse, jealousy, guilt, blackmail, and murder until the killer is revealed.
If you are looking for romantic ties, you will not find it in the start of this series. Like with the Morgan Dane series, Leigh builds the characters’ connections from bottom up forming a strong friendship first with hints of more to come as the series progresses. I cannot wait to see their relationship develop. They have a strong foundation started so I can only imagine it will be amazing.
Cross Her Heart is a wonderful fast-moving thriller full of heartbreaking drama, gripping suspense, pulse-pounding action and an unraveling mystery that will you breathless and wanting more.
*I received an arc from NetGalley and I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Cross Her Heart is amazing! If you loved Melinda Leigh’s Morgan Dane Series, you will love this one too. Bree is the main lead female character and she is badass. I really thought I had the suspect pegged by mid book, but I was so wrong. As a new person was investigated I couldn’t help but put them at the top of my list. I love how Melinda Leigh keeps you guessing from the very beginning. I found this to be a pretty intense, edge of your seat, can’t put down book. I really hope this series continues to grow because it’s so good.
This is the first book in a new series. It is a very good book you could picture it in your mind like you were there. It has been awhile since I have read one that could suck me into the lives of the characters so well. Bree is a detective and gets a message from her sister that she is in trouble then she is found dead and Bree is determined to find out what happened. Great characters and storyline is fast paced and exciting. It was a longer book but I found I could not put it down. And I don’t say that about many books lately. Hope the next one won’t be long coming really want more of this character.
Once again, Melinda Leigh knocks it out of the park with a book that has both a fascinating, page-turning plot AND phenomenal characters. I found the main character, Bree, to be instantly likeable. She’s a tough-as-nails homicide detective who immediately rushes to be with her niece and nephew when her sister, Erin, is murdered. She will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of who killed her sister. And she doesn’t have to do it alone – Matt (former copy and close friend of Erin’s missing husband) is also determined to find out what happened to his missing friend (who happens to also be the main suspect in Erin’s murder).
I am so happy that Melinda Leigh has started a new series – I was really sad when I read the last book in her Morgan Dane series earlier this year. I’m excited that I now have a NEW series to look forward to (and I appreciated the brief reference to Lance Kruger from the Morgan Dane series in this this book)! I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!
Bree is a homicide detective and has had tragedy in her life. When she was young, her father killed her mother and then killed himself. Bree’s little sister and brother are taken in by their grandparents but Bree went to a counsin. She gets a call from her sister, Erin, saying she’s in trouble and needs help. Bree rushes down there only to find out her sister had been shot and killed. Matt is a former deputy and is best friends with Justin, Erin’s husband. Matt goes looking for Justin because he’s not answering his phone but Matt finds Erin’s body. Bree takes her sister’s kids back to their house and teams up with Matt to find the killer. Matt is wanting to prove Justin’s innocence and Bree just wants justice for her sister.
Very intense and suspenseful story. Will keep you guessing to very end. I’m not sure if I understand the reason for Erin’s murder but others might. Be warned… it is a year jerker.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
I really enjoyed this book which is my first by this author. Primarily a mystery/suspense novel (there was only a whisper of a romantic connection between the main characters) , it focused on Bree and Matt who are drawn into investigating the murder of Bree’s sister, Erin, with the primary suspect being Erin’s husband who was also Matt’s best friend. Bree is a strong female protagonist and is well matched with Matt. Even the secondary characters are well integrated and I am definitely interested in reading more about the citizens of Gray’s Hallow.
I received a copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
As children, the Taggerts experienced an abusive family life which resulted in the murder/suicide of their parents. As the oldest of the three children, Bree protected both Erin and Adam as much as she could and led them to a safe place where they were later found.
Now Bree Taggert is a dedicated homicide detective in Philadelphia but she carries with her, a dark and traumatic past. A past that keeps her away from Grey’s Hollow and her siblings.
After receiving a distressing call from her sister, she decides to return ‘home’, especially when her attempts to contact Erin are all in vain.
What she finds when she gets there is the worst imaginable scenario.
This, the first of what I suspect will be many, Bree Taggert cases shows the range of skills of an experienced police officer.
As she sets about solving her sister’s murder, whilst taking over the care of her nephew and neice, Bree establishes herself in the local community, building a local network of people I’m sure will feature in other Bree Taggert mysteries.
A great start to a new Melinda Leigh series where the author once again serves up a side of ‘romance’ with an intriguing thriller as the main course.
What a fracking great start to a new series!!!
Bree has had nothing but tragedy in her life. She had to deal with her father killing her mother, the abuse he heaped on her and her siblings, and being raised separately from her siblings. They tried to keep in close contact but they are now their own people, although still in contact.
Bree is now a homicide cop but when she gets a worrying call from her newly separated sister, she decides to go visit. But on her arrival she finds she is too late, her sister lies shot and her brother in law is the only suspect. Yes the clues all lead to him, but something lies uneasy with Bree. It’s just too pat.
Matt Flynn is a former deputy who was medically retired after he was shot during “friendly fire”. The previous corrupt Sheriff may have been ousted but there seems to still be animosity in the ranks. Now he finds himself involved in another investigation, his best friend has supposedly murdered his wife. He knows he had problems with drugs but he would never have hurt his wife. He loved her and his step-children to pieces.
Bree and Matt team up to try and get to the real heart of the matter. But can Bree cope being in her old hometown? Can she really contemplate losing her nephew and niece to their feckless father?
OMG, this does not pull punches. Taut, action thriller with a bit of a slow burn romance. I loved the vibrancy of the characters and how all the siblings had processed their grief in various ways. There are also some amazing secondary characters, such as Bree’s partner. I can help but see her as Christine Cagney-esque! Kick-ass cop, failed wife but a great partner and friend!
I cannot wait to see what is in store for Bree and the gang in the next book! I’m hoping we see more of her brother, he really does have to get out of his artist studio and into the real world!
Yep … Melinda Leigh did it again! Another great start to a new series. Can’t wait to read the next in the Bree Taggert series (it’s already on my kindle wish list)!!
Thank you #netgalley and #montlakeromance for the eARC.
Read this book! Do not be left out. I freely admit I am a fan of Melinda Leigh, I love mystery, suspense, romance which she always delivers along with thrills! This is a captivating read based sadly on violence that occurs across America daily. It is delivered starkly and briskly but all necessity to the plot. After I read the prologue I had to sit back for a moment.. It takes place with Bree as a child and I wanted to reach through the book and tell her it would be okay. Bree becomes a detective and loses her sister to violence and we are off. Every character is so well defined it was like meeting them in person. I am in love with Matt, as well as his K-9 🙂 Brees Philly detective partner, Dana, is scheduled to retire and she became a warm spot in my heart. I loved that little twist. Her niece, her nephew, past scandal in her home town within law enforcement, the world building for this new series is top notch. I remember half way through thinking, *thank god this is a new series, I want more”. The little tidbit of info at the end, makes me wonder where she is she going in the next book, is it where I think? Don’t know. Don’t care – doesn’t matter, I will be getting it. Please make sure you set time aside to devour this book, its a one sitting read. Thank you Melinda Leigh for the opportunity to read this arc. Thank you Montlake, thank you NetGalley.
I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions and say GET THIS BOOK!
Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh a five-star read that I cross my heart will not disappoint. This is number one in the Bree Taggert series and I am stamping me feet in eagerness for number two. Wow, I met this author at Rare London 19 but hadn’t read anything yet, I had been avoiding anything twisty as I was just seeing them coming from miles off, but she was so nice I knew I needed to sink my teeth in to her stories and give her a read. I am so glad I did, I will be devouring the rest of her stories while I wait for number two. My jaw was hitting the flaw when the secret voice was revealed, it just added to the whole thing as getting to know the story from Bree and Matt’s side was good, but hearing the words from the other character just added to the heart thumpingness of the story. This was so well done, there were enough red herrings and side stories to keep you hooked, but not too many that you got lost. I am struggling to write as I really don’t want to give the game away, all I will say is I blamed everyone apart from the right one. I don’t know why but even Matt appeared on my suspect list at one point as I was so down the rabbit hole. I must admit I loved the fact that it appears as if life is repeating itself, Déjà vu killing, just adds the drama and made it feel more real, as it was something that would make the papers, sadly a woman being murdered and her estranged husband who then disappeared making him a person of interest wouldn’t stay in the headlines long any more, but add the history and you have more coverage and reporters hanging out at the Sheriff’s office wanting to know what’s next as much as I did as a reader, it just added an extra layer of believability to the story. This is why I love going to bigger signing events, I likely wouldn’t have picked this story up if I hadn’t met the author, but I am so glad I did as she now has another fan.
A new series that kicks off with homicide detective Bree Taggert’s world being turned upside down another violent death of a family member similar to the one that shattered her world as a child.
Three children were left orphaned when their father murdered their mother in front of them and then killed himself after. The oldest left the small town of Grey’s Hollow and became a homicide detective in Philadelphia. The younger sister and brother were raised Greys Hollow and never left. When Bree gets a frantic call from her sister in fear for her life she drops everything and races back to the town with horrible memories only to be to late when it turns out her sister was murdered leaving her own two children without a mother.
As this is the first book of a new series somethings are on a fast track – the murder and investigation – and some on a slow track – the romance between Bree and former K9 investigator Matt Flynn (who happens to be the best friend of Bree’s sister husband who is missing and suspected as her killer).
I enjoyed all the characters/family we were introduced to over the course of the book and think the author has another winner on her hands with his series. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Cross Her Heart is the compelling first book in a new series by Melinda Leigh. Bree Taggert is the kind of heroine a reader roots for. She has trauma from her childhood that instead of holding her back, makes her stronger. When trauma strikes again, Bree returns to her hometown of Grey’s Hollow and ends up investigating her sisters murder. As a homicide detective, she’s not going to sit back and wait for the local law enforcement to solve the mystery. She find herself teamed up with a former sheriff officer, Matt Flynn, to seek out the killer.
As you would expect from Melinda Leigh, there is plenty of action and hold your breath suspense. I loved these characters and cannot wait for the next book in this series! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.