Detectives Bridget Cavelli and Josh Youngblood are on the trail of a serial killer who targets young redheaded women throughout the month of February, and then disappears for the rest of the year. Bridget's also trying to come to terms with being part of the Cavanaugh dynasty, after it was discovered that her father was the victim of an accidental baby-switching right after his birth - and if new families and serial killers weren't enough to cope with, she's starting to have more than professional feelings for her partner Josh - and it seems to be mutual.I've always been kind of meh about Marie Ferrarella's books, at least the ones I read from the Special Edition line. That said, I think she's much better as an Intrigue writer - the plot was solid and held my interest, though I found the ending a bit sloppy and deus ex machina-ish. I really liked both leads, and found the chemistry between them both hot and sweet, although I was surprised that neither of them put up more resistance before taking their relationship to a romantic / sexual level, knowing full well that they'd no longer be able to work as partners and one of them would probably have to transfer to a different division.As far as the Cavanaugh stuff goes, I found it hard to keep track of all the different characters and relationships - this is one book where it would definitely benefit readers to have read other books in the series. But it was easy to empathise with Bridget's difficulty in acclimatising to her new (and enormous!) family, and to the fact that the aunts and uncles and cousins she was raised with are not, in fact, blood relations. Usually in stories that involve brand new families, the characters are alone in the world and eager to find new relatives, so it was interesting to see the situation from the perspective of someone who already has a family that she loves dearly. Bringing in her uncle at the end was a nice touch, reminding both heroine and reader that it's possible to be part of two families and love them both.A good, solid read. It's a shame that in the UK these books are released as 2-in-1s, because it's almost inevitable that a good book will be paired with a meh book, and I don't have the space to hold onto them all. I'll have to let this one go, but if I ever find it in single form I'll read it again. 3.5 - 4 stars.(Just a note - there are no bodyguards anywhere in this book. Seriously, romance authors - what's up with all the generic titles lately?)
Ugh, why do I keep doing this to myself? These books are just starting to unravel. Again, eight more books is insane. Again, the name change is ridiculous. These people have last names and family. Yes, they are part of another one but why must they just move on feom their foundation? I wish the author would catch up on prior hero & heroines such as Teri whom I just loved. How many times do we have to hear about Rose & Andrew? I'm just sick of these unrealistic scenarios. As readers we're not dumb and I for one expect more from Ms. Ferrarella.
What do You think about Cavanaugh's Bodyguard (2012)?
Another fantastic Cavanaugh book. I love this family and the way they watch out for each other. Bridget is still adjusting to the fact that she is a member of the Cavanaugh family, and it has left her feeling a little strange. With the reappearance of the Lady Killer serial killer, she and her partner Josh are spending even more time together. She's always noticed how good looking he is, and he has been a great partner and friend. But now she is noticing a lot more. And she gets the feeling he is too. He certainly isn't acting like himself. I loved how he offered to go with her as moral support to the Cavanaugh family party when her grandfather arrived from Florida. And the way their attraction erupted when they got back to her place was hot! I enjoyed Josh's confusion over his developing feelings for Bridget. He was strictly a "no commitment" kind of guy, and she had him thinking of the future. The showdown with the bad guy definitely had my heart thumping, and Josh's panic was kind of heartwarming. I loved the nurse's reaction to the invasion of Cavanaughs at the hospital. I can't wait for the next one.
—Susan
