Secrets, lies, deceit… A former Navy SEAL turned homicide detective has met his match in this new standalone addition to the number #1 Bestselling Steele Shadows Series… dedicated his life to one thing—speaking for the dead. Everyone and everything else be damned, including his own demons. During one of the most oppressive heat waves to hit the small, southern town of Berry Springs, the former Navy SEAL is called to a scene where a real estate heiress is found standing over a dead body, holding the murder weapon. The local cops immediately dub it a slam-dunk case, but if Jagg has learned anything from his days running special ops, it’s that nothing is as it seems… including this suspect.
Despite her name, Sunny Harper is as beguiling as a fallen angel. Mysterious, clever, completely unwilling to cooperate, and, perhaps his least favorite quality—mind-numbingly intoxicating. When evidence from the scene suggests an accomplice, Jagg begins to believe that Sunny is both innocent and in danger, despite the towns’ uproar to lock her up. Torn between his growing feelings for his suspect, he takes Sunny to a secluded lake house where he discovers there’s much more behind those enchanting green eyes… including secrets that could take them both under.
With his career on the line and the clock ticking, Jagg must decide if he can trust Sunny… before they both get burned.
Jagger is a standalone romantic suspense novel (no cliff-hanger!)
★Awards and Recognition:★
CABIN 1 (STEELE SHADOWS SECURITY): 2020 National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist, 2020 HOLT Medallion Finalist.
THE STORM (A BERRY SPRINGS NOVEL): 2018 Golden Leaf Winner for Romantic Suspense, 2018 Maggie Award for Excellence Finalist, 2018 Silver Falchion Finalist, 2018 Beverley Finalist, 2018 Passionate Plume Honorable Mention Recipient.
THE FOG (A BERRY SPRINGS NOVEL): 2019 Golden Quill Winner for Romantic Suspense, 2019 I Heart Indie Winner, 2019 Maggie Award for Excellence Finalist, 2019 Stiletto Award Finalist, 2019 Book Buyers Best Finalist.
THE CAVE (A BERRY SPRINGS NOVEL): 2020 Book Buyers Best Finalist, 2020 Carla Crown Jewel Finalist.
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I did enjoy the book but compared to Amanda’s other books it felt a little different. The writing definitely stands out. It is mostly written out of Jagger’s perspective and I did find myself missing to see certain scenes out of Sunny’s view. Which is maybe also why I did not fall as much for the romance as I usually do in Amanda’s books. The fact that Jagger has such a negative view on dogs and leashes and the feeling of imprisonment that comes with the later, while himself being called a dog (with a bone) and being restricted by his pill addiction and suffocated by his business ties was interesting. And then he happens to find his soulmate in a dog (of all beings) that is just as dangerous and broken as he is. Very ironical. Just loved the first few chapters; full of metaphors and dark humor. Beautiful. The whole vibe of the book also reminds me very much of Amanda’s Black Rose series, which I loooved reading. The sensitive topic of surviving domestic abuse was handled with respect and it was inspiring to see how much stronger Sunny came out of it. The book is an intriguing web of multiple mysteries that end up in surprising revelations. I did find the ending a little too sudden and rushed unfortunately and wonder if there’s a book out of Sunny’s perspective in the future. All in all though a good read for sure.
Omg! This was a fantastic read for me, and I don’t normally do in depth murder, mystery anything. THIS was captivating AND it’s still a Romance! A book I couldn’t and didn’t put down–no stopping place.
Max Jagger, or Jagg, medically retired SEAL, a detective for the region including Berry Springs, was investigating a murder. The summer solstice was approaching, along with more wiccans and more tourists ready to celebrate. A lot of the residents of the town were not happy, and even more so when another murder occurs.
Sunny Harper, ethereal beauty, well versed in Krav Maga, now injured and standing beside a lifeless body. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or was she?
Jagg had a great 6th sense, and his gut was telling him there was way more to this story. It was also telling him Sunny was someone special. He didn’t do special–ever.
He had a lot of questions and no answers, but someone was out for blood, Sunny’s blood. He was fully vested in her, and her canine protectors, all four of them. He just didn’t realize or want to admit to it, until … well, let’s just say he got his head jolted out of his nether hole.
A riveting, realistic journey with hold your breath moments to sizzling chemistry! Excellent, intriguing storyline, interesting characters, it all pulls you in then tosses you out, like coming awake in your own bed after having been in Berry Springs for a good long while. I do love when there are fur babies included also, and these played a significant part.
A stand alone read, but part of the Steele Shadows Investigations series. Jagger has it’s own happy sigh ending, for these two mains anyway. So looking forward to reading more from this extremely talented author
The main character was a flawed but likable character. Even though the romance was predictable, it was enjoyable. The action kept me turning the pages.
Sunny is a dog trainer and is accused of murder. Max is a former navy seal that is a homicide detective. He isn’t sure that Sunny is the murderer everyone is accusing her of being. He thinks she may be in danger and wants to protect her while he investigates what is happening. Both have been hurt in the past and have trust issues but with everything that’s going on they know that have to take a leap of faith and trust each other. Will they find out who the murderer is? Will they get their own happy ending?
This is an amazing story that will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Wow! This is a very good start of a new series. Great suspense! Very interesting characters and it kept me on the edge of ny seat a couple of times. A very good plot and although the suspense is more prominent I like the romance part of the story. I can’t wait to read more books in this series.
I reccomend this book and definitely reccomend all the books previously written by Amanda McKinney if you love romantic suspense.
I received this Arc from the author and this review is my honest opinion
Detective Max Jagger is not having a good day. Recently a Lieutenant he worked with, and highly respected, was slain in the line of duty and he is determined to find the killer. Now he finds himself standing over a woman with a weapon and a dead man.
Sunny Harper did not kill this man! He came out of the bushes to attack her and while she was fighting him off someone else came up behind her and killed the man. But the police and especially this arrogant Detective don’t believe her.
As Jagg questions her and new evidence comes to light, he is beginning to feel that maybe there is someone else involved and Sunny is innocent. Jagg also realizes he enjoys spending time with Sunny as Sunny starts to feel the same. Both have a lot of hurt in their past and trust issues. Now Sunny is also being targeted. Can Jagg solve this case and keep her safe?
I really enjoyed Jagg and Sunny’s story. Jagg didn’t do his job for the police, he did his job for the victim’s and this did not make him a favorite among his fellow officer’s. Sunny came from money but walked away from it so she could have peace and train her dogs, which she loved.
The plot has a few twists and turns which I liked! What I liked the most was thinking that Jagg and Sunny could heal each other and have a life they deserve. Awesome story!
4.5 Stars
This is book one in the Steele Shadows Investigations series and it features Max Jagger and Sunny Harper. I felt so bad for Jager because his view of life was so skewed. Sunny’s story broke my heart. These two NEEDED to be together. The action, mystery and suspense were amazing. The plot was fantastic! Just when I thought I had it figured out, PLOT TWIST! This book was very exciting to read with all the twists and turns. I can’t wait for more!
PHENOMENAL!! Nothing short of it. Jagger has deep-seeded issues that come to light in his book. Sunny has her own haunted past that many don’t know about. When Jagger and Sunny meet their attraction is undeniable but one that can’t be touched. There’s laughter, shocking twists, sad moments, and suspense. This was unlike the other Steele Shadow books but just as good in my opinion. I loved the way this one was developed especially with all of Jagg’s issues. Highly recommend this!!
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I loved this book! Jagger and Sonny’s story. Funny banter. Mystery. Murder. Assault. Alpha male. Alpha female. Trust issues. Small town gossip. Well trained dogs. Well written. Stand alone. Great twists and turns. Would give more stars if I could.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This was my first read by Amanda, the first book in a new Steele Shadows Investigations series which is a spin off from her Steele Shadows Security series which I have not read. This did not stop me enjoying Jagger, which was an entertaining murder / mystery / suspense thriller with a tad of romance.
This is told in the first person perspective, which I am not a great fan of, so it did take me a little while to warm up to the story line and writing style.
Max Jagger is an ex-Navy SEAL turned homicide Detective for the small town of Berry Springs, who’s best friend and colleague was murdered during a theft at an art store. This becomes very personal for Jagger, who spends all his time looking for the suspect, the ‘Black Bandit’. But then there is another murder just days later involving real estate heiress Sunny Harper, who is the main suspect in this new murder as she is found pointing a gun at the deceased. But Sunny denies the murder saying that there was a third person involved, who nobody else saw.
Max is a bit of a mess, still suffering from pain and bad memories from his SEAL days, he does things his own way, which not everyone in the town agrees with. Sunny is a tough, bad ass, sassy woman who has taken control of her life after suffering terribly in her past. This is a story about the search for a killer, the protection of Sunny when her past returns seeking vengeance, while the relationship between them grows into something much more.
A good and thrilling suspense story full of twists and turns in the plot, lots of different and enjoyable characters and some fantastic dogs.
Riveting Mystery Romance
I do not know where to begin, this was such an awesome read. I loved it, one of my favorites so far and it will definitely be read again and again. There was some real life issues that Jagger was dealing with, it was slowly dispensed to the reader as the story went along and then at the end the pieces all fell together nicely. Jagger had plenty of baggage he did not even know he had.
There was a lot of great content throughout, hilarious dialogue, secrets, a spooky tree with dolls and some cool K9s. There was so much to this story I did not where it was going to go.
And Sunny Harper, there were layers and layers of Sunny Harper. She is a glass half full girl. So much more to her story, she had a core of strength standing on her own two feet, she decided to not be a victim and to take control of being new woman going forward.
Awesome insight to the characters, they both had shattered trust issues and how they both evolved throughout the book was very well done. And let’s not forget it was a wonderful romance as well, their build up was realistic and sizzling. Excellent book and highly recommend. A full length stand alone story with a HEA.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This is a fantastic read that really pulls you in I LOVE Jagger and Sunny!! This book is a full length stand alone, with a HEA and NO CLIFFHANGERS!!! This story had a lot of twists, with great suspense and romance The chemistry between these two is electric Sunny is fantastic and tough!! She’s got a haunted past, but refuses to let that stop her!! Jagger is equally fantastic!! From past books, we learn he is a cop, in the mountain town of Berry Springs. What we learn, from this book, is that he has some deep seeded issues, also!!
All around fantastic 5 star read Definitely worth the buy!! I CANNOT wait for the next book!!!
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started this book, especially with not having read Ms. McKinney before. What I ultimately got was a story full of twists and turns, a romance that was often on the back burner, as well as a cast of compelling characters who kept me constantly questioning the definition of good versus bad. It’s a solid series starter that kept me on the edge of my seat with each turn of the page and that has me greatly anticipating the next book in this series.
Max Jagger is a former Navy Seal who became a homicide detective. His past is littered with emotionally painful moments and it’s made him a man not easily defined now. When readers first meet him they see a brooding man, someone with a lot of attitude and an aura of mystery, one who doesn’t trust easily. He’s actually somewhat unlikable at the start, but as the story progressed glimpses of a kind heart and caring nature came through and I started to root for him. He’s clearly a man on edge though and with the death of his friend things are about to become even more complicated with a new murder. Meeting the woman accused of the murder changes his life irrevocably and takes him on a journey full of secrets and danger, a journey with a slow burn romance that helps him to heal from his painful past.
Sunny Harper is a dog trainer (with an utterly charming collection of dogs surrounding her)…and now an accused murderer with blood literally on her hands. The town wants her to pay for her apparent crime, but Max doesn’t think things are as they appear and goes out of his way to protect her when it becomes clear that her life is next to be in danger. Sunny’s a sassy heroine with a strong will and a strong sense of loyalty. She’s got a lot of emotional baggage from a past that has left her life shrouded in mystery and seems older than her age suggests. She’s a person you can count on though too which is just what Max needs as his life continues to spiral out of control. Their connection starts out as friends with the goal of solving a crime while slowly evolving into something more romantic which gave them time to build a strong foundation that had me cheering them on to HEA.
This was a satisfying series starter focused on the mystery and secrets found in a small town. It’s a tale full of action and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat while crafting a romance that’s clearly secondary to all else. The main couple have both been hurt by the past, still struggle with it today, in a journey that made them all the stronger by being together. Jagger’s a man in pain at the start, a man about to implode, and it’s only through his time with Sunny that he’s able to stay sane. Sunny too is made better by her time with Jagger and their strengthening bond put a smile on my face. Surrounding this compelling main couple was an equally entertaining cast of secondary characters (from Lieutenant Colton to recent academy graduate Tommy Darby to Max’s brother Ryder as well as a few others) who added their own personal issues to the storyline which made this an even stronger story. Though I wish the romance between Max and Sunny had been more in the forefront, I still found this an exhilarating read with suspenseful twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages and hoping to revisit these characters soon!
Jagger by Amanda McKinney
Det. Max Jagger is a man in pain, popping pills, burned out and on a self-destructive path.
The beginning chapters of this new Berry Springs series are hard to read. Jagg is disillusioned with life. Too much alcohol, too many pain pills, a trail of nameless one-night stands. His rebellious nature compels him to do the opposite of what his two bosses order. He’s headed for a spectacular crash-and-burn, till he saves the stunning Sunny from an attacker in the park. Even with issues and secrets, she’s aptly named, shining some sunlight on Jagg’s dark soul. Their tentative friendship begins to grow into a great love story. There’s plenty of mystery in this book, and Jagg’s the man for the job. And there’s a breath-taking climax as all the elements come together with explosive force. I’ve devoured all the Berry Springs series, and McKinney never disappoints. I’m ecstatic to start reading about the Jagger brothers.
Just finished this book.. what can I say.. Amanda never disappoints! Jagger is great at his job.. never stopping.. never giving up..he is also the type who tells it like it is.. underneath all that (deep down ) he is sweet and caring. This book had some twist I didn’t even see coming.. I had to stop and reread to make sure I was reading what I thought I had read .. it definitely kept me on my toes! I love learning about the guys one by one.. can’t wait to read about Ryder!
You have probably read the blurb for Jagger (Steele Shadows Investigation) and many of the reviews so you have a basic understanding of the storyline. For my remarks, you have the hero, Max ¨Jagg¨ tackling the heroine, Sunny Harper at a murder scene, resulting in each feeling something undefinable towards the other. Jagg wonders is it magic or a witchś curse? Jagg is also faced with one dead body, possibly two victims, wondering if this is related to the previous murder of another police officer(Jaggś mentor) or if there are two different murderers or how does the infamous Black Bandit´s theft of a precious scroll fit in, or why is the ¨voodoo tree¨ ablaze with candles during a nonburn order? Does all of this connect together or are spells being cast to break or burn him up? I highly recommend reading this new book, it will answer my proposed questions and any you wonder about. Do not let the coming full moon on a Wiccan day of celebration, keep you away. I received an ARC from the author in return for my honest review and now you have it.
JAGGER is the first instalment in Amanda McKinney’s contemporary, adult SHEELE SHADOWS INVESTIGATIONS romantic suspense series set in the small town of Berry Springs-a spin off from the authors Steele Shadows Security. This is thirty-nine year old, former Navy SEAL turned Homicide Detective Max Jagger, and K9 trainer Sunny Harper’s story line. JAGGER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. You do not have to have read the previous series.
Told from three first person perspectives (Jagger, Sunny and Darby) JAGGER follows several paths but focuses on the hunt for a cop killer. Former Navy SEAL turned homicide detective Max Jagger lost his best friend and fellow officer to a bullet while investigating the recent theft of the fourth Cedonia Scroll. A potential witness and grainy video eventually labelled the suspect the ‘Black Bandit’ but another murder just days later would find Detective Max Jagger face to face with armed real estate heiress Sunny Harper, a murder that may or may not be connected to the death of his friend Lieutenant Jack Seagrave. What ensues is the building relationship between Sunny and Max; the search for a killer; the protection of Sunny when our heroine is marked for the latest murder; and the potential fall-out as secrets and lies threaten the growing love between our leading couple.
Max Jagger is a mess. A former Navy SEAL who struggles with the lingering pain and memories of a suicide bomber that have left our hero battling for a place to belong. The death of his friend places Max in a vulnerable position, a position whereby Max is slowly losing control. Meeting Sunny Harper, a fiercely independent and tenacious young woman gives Max a hope for the future but all is not well in Sunny’s life when the past returns seeking vengeance, at all costs.
The relationship between Sunny and Max begins with a murder investigation wherein our heroine is the prime suspect in the death of a local man. Max knows to get involved with Sunny could mean the end of his struggling career, a career in which he is barely surviving. As Max and Sunny’s relationship begins to grow, Max discovers trust is an issue that apparently goes both ways. The lone $ex scene is passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Lieutenant Quinn Colson, Chief McCord and recent academy graduate Tommy Darby; Max’s brother Ryder, wiccan practitioner Hazel De Ville, several townies, Sunny’s rescue pups, as well as the Steele Brothers who make a cameo appearance.
JAGGER is a thrilling story of suspense and intrigue with plenty of twists and turns you will not see coming. The premise is captivating and exciting; the slow building romance is seductive; the characters are broken, colorful, energetic and tough.
Wow! This may be one of Amanda McKinney’s best books yet. Jagger is a beautifully written blend of mystery, and romantic suspense all taking place in Berry Springs, a small town of cowboys, town folk, and a hippie, Wicca element divided by the upcoming Magic Moon festival and challenged by an extreme heat wave. I highly recommend this book.
Max Jagger is an ex-seal, due to an injury, who has become a homicide detective for the Berry Springs Police Department (BSPD). He is grieving and trying to solve the murder of his mentor and friend, another BSPD, which occurred during a robbery of an ancient scroll. Hours after his friend’s funeral, late at night, in a park across the street, he hears the tingling of chimes and discovers an old massive oak, covered in crystals, voodoo dolls and encircled in candles. Hours later, he is called to a crime scene, where a beautiful but uncooperative suspect is standing over a body with a gun. Sunny Harper does not fit the usual mold most women would under the same circumstances. From there, the twists and turns keep coming!
The story is captivating, difficult to put down and I love the characters. They are well developed, very human, you can feel their angst and the main characters have each pulled themselves up from devastating past situations. The dialogue is believable, at times witty. The dogs are a great addition to the story-it makes you want to adopt Brutus!
I’ve enjoyed every one of Amanda McKinney’s books and can’t wait for Ryders’ story. I’d love to see Darby in his own book also!
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Loved this compelling page turner…
The blurb has outlined the story itself so I won’t go into that. A flawlessly written gripping read that gave me heart palpitations with the sense of danger & mystery whilst simultaneously getting excited that the attraction between these two unlikely souls was becoming increasingly undeniable. So well crafted, the dialogue was entertaining & I loved the hard as nails but soft on the inside hero. I wasn’t sure at times about some of his colleagues who acted suspiciously whilst the heroine didn’t seem to understand the very real anger she exposed herself to at times. She was feisty, resolute & talented. Could this disparate couple give in to their feelings & try for their much deserved hea? I can’t wait for more from this fabulous author. I received an arc & this is my honest & voluntary review.
I absolutely loved this book. I read the whole thing in one day. It had me on my toes the entire time. I’ve read Cabin 1-3 and Phoenix and if you liked those books then you will definitely enjoy Jagger. Definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and romance.