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.
more
This review is not going to be long. I am not a huge fan of a review rehashing the entire plot and spoiling it for everyone.
I enjoyed the story tremendously. The author does a wonderful job of making her characters come to life. The story is suspenseful and fast paced with plenty of intrigue and action. I cannot wait for more of this series to come out.
I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
An exciting new story by Melinda Leigh that follows Detective Bree Taggert as she hunts her sisters killer while trying to comfort her niece and nephew and adapt to life in the town she grew up in. As a child her father murdered her mother and shot himself, whilst Bree hid her little brother and sister. It has shaped everything else in her life and has left her a little jaded. Working with her brother in laws bestfriend to solve Erins murder and find her missing brother in law. Bree struggles to think him innocent and Matt wants to prove he is. With a family counting on her she will have to solve the case so they can heal and move on. An interesting cast of characters with a lot of promise. I’m really look forward to the next one.
Cross Her Heart is the first book in a thrilling new series by Melinda Leigh. Bree Taggert witnessed the murder-suicide of her parents as a young child and was torn away from her younger siblings. Bree finds herself returning home after her sister is found murdered in her estranged husband’s home.
As with most books by this author, this story is very heavy on the suspense and extremely light on the romance aspect. I expect there will be more to come between Matt and Bree. As for this story though, be prepared to be kept on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced, action packed suspenseful thriller. The plot was engaging, the characters carefully crafted, and I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to the next book.
It all started with a desperate call from her little sister Erin asking for help. Bree was busy apprehending a perp when her phone rang. Retrieving the voice mail, she was deeply disturbed her sister was calling for help. Erin never called unless it was to just stay in touch and never asking for help.
This is the story of a complex crime not only deeply impacting her family but also with echoes from the past. Bree travels five hours to her sister’s home worried about the worst that could happen. Calling repeatedly, she was never able to reach her sister after the distress call. Working with a retired deputy, Bree puts all her skills to work on solving her sister’s murder and the disappearance of her displaced husband.
This is a non-stop who done it that will keep you riveted. I read it in one sitting because I just could not put it down. For all of you wanna be detectives, this is a gem!
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the author for sharing a copy with me.
Bree has a past she needs to face and a town she is avoiding. When Bree goes back to her hometown to find out what happened to her sister things are brought from her past. Bree and Matt make a great team and I can’t wait to watch that relationship unfold. This was a great first book in this new series. As Bree comes back to her old hometown to solve a murder and help her niece and nephew cope, she realizes that things can get worse and better. I look forward to seeing where this series goes.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
I am a fan of Melinda Leigh. With each book, she brings characters to life, a story that I become invested in, and a book that I cannot put down. Cross Her Heart is the first book in the Bree Taggert series, and I am so excited to read more in this series.
We meet Bree Taggert 25 years after her parent’s murder-suicide. She gets a call from her sister and heads home to find her sister dead and her brother-in-law missing. I was so invested in Bree finding Justin not guilty that I had kept turning pages, looking for clues, and hoping for the best for all. Erin’s children needed Bree to take care of them, Bree needed to find the closure she was looking for, and I needed to know who killed Erin.
The relationship between Bree and Mike was interesting. I could feel the heat but like that they didn’t let their emotions get in the way of the reason they were working together. Their focus was on the crime that was committed, and I hope their relationship will just grow naturally as this series continues.
I recommend Melinda Leigh’s Cross Your Heart to anyone looking for a good thriller and mystery book
Homicide detective Bree Taggert is working a case when she gets a message on her phone from her younger sister Erin. Bree listens to the message of “I’m in trouble and need your help!” Erin has never asked for help nor does she live the type of life that would put her in danger. Bree and Matt, Erin’s husbands best friend and currently on medical leave from law enforcement, work together off the books. Thankfully with the new acting Sheriff’s blessing to find out answers. Twists and turns lead them on a search for answers where there are nothing but questions so far. Lots of action, budding love, pain of death and needing to find the truth keeps you tied to this book and Melinda Leigh doesn’t give the answers away too soon. Thank you NetGalley, Melinda Leigh, and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC this is my honest opinion.
This first book in this new series is a fast paced, gripping thriller that captures your heart from the start. Detective Bree Taggert’s world is thrown into devastating chaos when a desperate phone call from her sister brings her back to her old home town, only to find that tragedy has once again struck her family. I absolutely love Bree Taggert. From the very first page this story grabs you and you become instantly attached to her. The heart breaking opening to the book makes the reader totally invested in this family’s lives, and as things progress you feel the anger, sorrow, heartache and determination right along with Bree. The gradually revealed insight into Bree and her family is captivating, and the twists and intrigue in the plot are excellent. Matt is an appealing character and I loved the slow burn of their romance. The author does an amazing job of telling a story that is believable and totally engrossing. From Bree’s fear of dogs to Matt’s loyalty to his friend, Dana’s solid friendship and Justin’s addiction, you find yourself immersed in the struggles, heartache and battles they face. The book is fresh, exciting, has lots of intrigue and great characters. Excellent start to the series. I received an early copy of this book from Montlake Romance via NetGalley with no obligation to review. All opinions expressed are solely my own
This is the first book in a new series. Bree Taggert is a police officer. When she gets a call from her sister saying she’s in trouble she goes to help her only to find out she’s been murdered. She and her siblings survived a-tragedy that left both her parents dead.
Matt Flynn is a ex K 9 handler and best friends with Bree’s brother in law who is missing. This is a edgy thriller. Not much romance in this first book but the potential is there for a future relationship . of new characters to fall in love with.A great mystery which Ms. Leigh always delivers.A superb start to a new favorite
CROSS HER HEART .,,.Bree Taggart # 1……Melinda Leigh
A past that drew Bree to being a cop, people didn’t ask but she could tell by the whispers behind her back. A father that murdered his wife, leaving three. small children. Now the past has come back again with her sister Erin’s crime. echoes the past, even to a bad marriage. The question is where is the
husband now. .With a promise she made, she has Erin children to take care of. Former investigator Matt Flynn works with her, to uncover what happens. This new series with Bree, starts as a child calling for 911, she is survivor, and a care giver, looking after her 2 syblings. The author is a master at moving your emotions from the beginning of the story, and wanting answers. How could this happen again. The plot is tense, direct, and fast paced. Looking forward to more in this series. Bree is a special, tough cop, and sure we will find out more about her. Given ARC by Net Galley and Montlake for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
By the time Homicide Detective Bree Taggart gets a cell phone call from her sister, and she speeds to the small town where they grew up, it’s too late. Her sister, Erin, is murdered, in a similar way to her memories of her parents’ murder-suicide years before.
The only difference here is that Erin’s husband, Justin, has disappeared.
Did he murder his wife … or is he also a victim?
Justin’s best friend, Matt Flynn, was once a sheriff’s investigator. An on-the-job shooting left him unable to continue and is now a K-9 handler.
Bree and Matt team up to uncover the secrets of her sister’s life …and death …. but someone out there wants those secrets kept hidden and will do anything to keep Bree away from investigating.
I’ve always enjoyed this author’s writing and stories … and I was not disappointed here. If you enjoy romantic suspense, I highly recommend Melinda Leigh books. This one is well written …. suspense from the very start …. a budding romance ….. and an unexpected ending. I look forward to see where Bree goes from here.
Many thanks to the author / Montlake Romance / Amazon Publishers / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Twisty, menacing, and intense!
In this compelling first installment in the Bree Taggert series, Cross Her Heart, Leigh has written a well-paced whodunit where cases from the past and the present collide, suspects are numerous, and danger lurks around every corner.
The writing is smooth and tight. The characters are dependable, persistent, and troubled. And the plot is a captivating police procedural with lots of twists, turns, red herrings, familial drama, deception, jealousy, obsession, abuse, murder and a dab of romance.
Overall, Cross Her Heart is a suspenseful, entertaining, sinister tale that’s an encouraging start for this new series with its intriguing characters, and engaging storyline.
I have taken a turn from romance reading (not entirely, I’m still knee-deep) and branched out to detective mysteries and have been very entertained. Cross Her Heart is the start of a new series for Melinda Leigh and its star Bree Taggert. Bree is a detective with the Philadelphia police, Bree is not close with her siblings having moved away from her hometown and the tragedy of her parent’s murder/suicide as soon as she could. After she gets an urgent call from her normally calm sister, she returns to town and her murder.
Cross Her Heart grabs you from the first page and keeps your attention through every page. Bree is a great character. Well developed and real feelings, you immediately connect with the detective who has the weight of her past on her mind and now the weight of her sister’s children and murder on her shoulders. The male lead spot is taken by Matt, a medically retired cop who is friends with Bree’s sister’s estranged spouse and is determined to show that his friend is not a murderer. Another strong character, well written and easily relatable.
Leigh keeps the suspense taut with a myriad of suspects and a solid investigation that offers little by way of clues but keeps you guessing until the end. There are heartbreaking scenes with the devastated family and intense scenes with suspects. A great procedural with a nice balance between the characters and the action.
Cross Her Heart is the first in what looks to be an exciting new series. Bree Taggert is a homicide cop who left the town of her birth and rarely if ever goes back. When her sister calls for help Bree is forced back home and to deal with the issues she left behind. Bree is smart, driven and flawed. This mystery gives us several suspects and motives. Bree is used to that but family not so much. This book will suck you in and not let you go till long after the last page,
Melinda Leigh, Author of “Cross Her Heart” has written a captivating, compelling, riveting, enthralling, intriguing and intense novel. The Genres for this novel are Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, and Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her characters as complex, and complicated. There are betrayals, vengeful, dysfunctional and angry characters that are suspect. There are threats, danger, and murder. The author stages this intense novel so that one is sitting at the edge. I appreciate the author’s writing style which vividly describes the characters and setting.
Do you believe that history can repeat itself in certain situations? Bree Taggert was witness to a horrific, and tragic crime twenty five years earlier with the murder-suicide of her parents. Bree helped hide her baby brother and sister. Now, Bree is a homicide detective in Philadelphia, when she gets a call for help from her sister. Bree immediately takes a leave from her job and heads to her sister’s home. Her sister has been killed and the husband is gone. Bree now tries to settle in with her nephew and niece.
Teaming up with local Matt Flynn, a former detective and K-9 trainer, they start to investigate the crumbs and clues that come their way. Little are they aware of the danger that lies ahead in getting the answers to this heartbreaking crime. Bree is determined, and brave and doesn’t easily get intimidated. I would highly recommend this addicting, suspenseful thriller for those readers who appreciate a great intense mystery.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Melinda Leigh “fills the table with several wonderful courses.” She will keep you glued to the pages as you begin this new series. I felt the book was very well written but needed a little more info at the beginning regarding family relations. Characters are well developed and believable. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!
First in a new series about Homicide Detective Bree Taggert. Have not read this author Before, am looking forward to future installments. Enjoyable! I liked her writing style, everything flows well. Well developed characters. I could imagine binge reading this series on a future vacation trip. As I was waiting for the big finish, for some reason I didn’t see it happening where it did or played out how it did. Would not list this book as a romance though, but could see it being developed in future books.
Book follow Bree, a Philly Detective who has had a horrendous childhood. She receives an alarming call from her sister, but after trying to call her back, Bree can not get ahold of her. Bree then is forced to go back to her hometown and change direction. This puts into motion the storyline and characters for the next installments. Will be interesting to see how well Ms. Leigh does with carrying this out.
3.5/5 stars for this fast-paced thriller. Thanks to Ms. Leigh, Montlake Romance and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Bree Taggert is a homicide detective with the Philadelphia Police Department. Following the takedown of a fleeing suspect Bree checks her cell phone and finds a very recent voice mail message from her little sister Erin telling Bree that she is in trouble and needs Bree’s help. Bree tries calling Erin back a couple times but Erin doesn’t answer. Bree knows something isn’t right. She heads to her old hometown of Greys Hollow, New York. Bad news awaits her. Former Greys Hollow sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn has found Erin dead in the home of Erin’s husband Justin who she is separated from. Justin is nowhere to be found. Bree is determined to find her sister’s killer.
Matt Flynn and his police K-9 Brody were shot during a police operation. Due to their injuries both Matt and Brody were relieved of duty. Matt and Justin have been friends since grade school. Matt has been supporting Justin during his fight to shake off his addiction to OxyContin following a major injury in an automobile accident. That’s how Matt ended up at Justin’s house. He was driving Justin to his NA meeting. Of course suspicion of guilt was attached to Justin. The spouse is always a prine suspect in these cases. But Matt just knows Justin is innocent. He would never hurt Erin. Matt wants to find Erin’s killer and prove Justin innocent. Looks like his best plan is to work with Bree Taggert. This will be interesting.
Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh is the blockbuster introductory novel in Melinda Leigh’s latest romantic suspense series. What a fantastic start to this series! This story is an edge-of-your-seat page-tuener! The action is fast and furious. There’s plenty of pulse-pounding suspense. Kudos to Melinda Leigh on this powerful thriller.
Melinda Leigh is one of my FAVORITE authors and this book is just another reason why!!!!
There is something for everyone! Domestic abuse, murder, addiction to drugs and certain men, an obsessed crazy husband, a money hungry con of an ex, love of family, a new love, heartbreak, but, I’m sure everyone is going to be just fine!!!!
If your looking for hot sex this is not the book for you, but if you are looking for a great first book in a series by a great author, than this is the book for you!!!
I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!!
#Bree #Dana #murder #loveoffamily #lovedit #cantwaitforthenextone