Dead Again - Nicole Severn (HI #2147 - June 2023)

Series: Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 6)
 
She disappeared from his life once
Can he trust her now?
 
Detective Riggs Karig has never forgotten his childhood best friend. Now he's found her again, and he wants to know how she's involved in his partner's death. He soon discovers that Macie Barclay is a target, not a suspect -- and that she knows more about the case he's working than he does. Can they put their past behind them to save an innocent life?
 
Terrific story. I've been hoping for Macie's story from the beginning of the series. She has always been an intriguing character with her attitude and especially the snark she directs toward Easton Ford. At the end of the previous book, we discover that Macie has been hiding from something and is preparing to run again.
 
This book opens with Macie's preparations to run from whatever in her past has been stalking her. But before she can escape, someone else from her past appears at her door. Riggs was one of her best friends as a child, along with a girl named Hazel. When Hazel was murdered, Macie and her parents left town, fearing for her life. Macie has been on the run for twenty-five years but is also looking for the man who wrecked her life.
 
Detective Riggs Karig was devastated when Hazel was murdered, and Macie disappeared. I ached for him as his story was revealed over the course of the book. His life afterward wasn't easy, but it motivated him to become a police detective. His tough exterior hides pain and issues he barely recognizes, much less admits.
 
Riggs shows up in Battle Mountain while investigating his ex-partner's death. He's stunned to find his childhood friend living under an assumed name and wonders why his partner had Macie's name and address on a note in his pocket at the time of his death. The initial meeting between Riggs and Macie was contentious, with Macie wanting to run and Riggs insisting she stay and help him. Words are exchanged about Hazel's murder and the effect on both their lives. All debate comes to an end when Macie is attacked. Now, Riggs not only wants her help, he wants to keep her safe. A surprise discovery links Hazel's murder to another case and brings them together to investigate.
 
The tension goes up when a child close to Macie disappears. She is determined to find Penny before it is too late. The action, twists, and turns kept me glued to the pages as I rooted for Riggs and Macie to succeed. They were foiled every time they got close, and I could feel their fear and desperation. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was over. The final twist of the killer's identity was a chilling revelation.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Macie and Riggs develop. They had been so close as children but no longer knew each other. The slow revealing of each other's painful pasts made them realize that neither had escaped the effects of Hazel's murder. Working together brought them closer together. Still, despite their intense attraction, trust didn't come easy. Even when each accepted their feelings, belief in a future together was difficult. Macie would prefer to stay in Battle Mountain, where she finally feels at home. Riggs intends to return to New Mexico - his reaction to the Colorado environment was hilarious. There is a rough patch when Macie reveals the final part of her past, and Riggs reacts badly, driving a wedge between them. It takes nearly losing her for Riggs to realize how much he loves and needs her. The scene in the hospital was deeply emotional, and the later scene at the Ford ranch was the perfect ending to the book and series. 

  

Over Her Dead Body - Nichole Severn (HI #2141 - May 2023)

Series: Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 5)
 
Someone wants her dead.
It's up to him to make sure that doesn't happen.
 
The first bullet didn't kill her. But the next one might. With a target on her back, Battle Mountain reserve officer Isla Vachs has no choice but to trust Adan Sergeant. The soldier-turned-bodyguard has one final mission: protect his best friend's widow and her daughter. As each step plunges Adan and Isla deeper into a sniper's crosshairs, a deadly truth is about to become chillingly clear…
 
This emotional, action-packed book kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Two months earlier, Isla, an EMT, was shot in what appeared to be a random shooting. Since then, she has become a BMPD reserve officer, the better to protect herself and her daughter, Mazi. As this book opens, someone takes another shot at her, and she is tackled simultaneously. The bullet could have been fatal if she hadn't been wearing her vest. Then she is stunned to discover that the person who tackled her is her late husband's best friend, Adan - the man she holds responsible for Clive's death.
 
Adan feels guilty about being unable to protect Clive on their last mission in the army. Clive's last request was that Adan protects his wife and child, and when he hears rumors that Isla is in danger, he drops everything to watch over her and Mazi.
 
The twists and turns of this story kept me hooked to the end. The BMPD is in a tough place thanks to the crime that has plagued the town for the last year. The townspeople are scared and questioning the department's capability, and the mayor uses them as a political football. Another shooting has Adan and Ilsa joining forces to investigate. Neither expects the web of lies, secrets, betrayal, and murder that confronts them. I could feel their confusion and horror at what they discovered. The threats against them never let up, and there were times when I wondered how they would resolve the problem. The ending was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages as the action unfolded. I loved the resolution and seeing the bad guys get what they deserved.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Isla and Adan. They had always been friends because of Clint, and Mazi adored her Uncle Adan. But when Clint died, Isla blamed Adan and shut him out of her life. She wasn't happy to have him show up in Battle Mountain, but she couldn't refuse his help when the shooting started. I loved Adan's protectiveness toward both of "his girls." After years of being alone, spending time with Isla and Mazi made him realize what he was missing - and that he'd been in love with Isla for years. The attraction Isla feels for Adan makes her feel guilty, as though she is betraying Clint, and she tries putting distance between them. But in the end, she admits that life and love go on.
 
The epilogue is a teaser for the next book, which involves the quirky police dispatcher Macie. She appears to have been hiding a big secret, which is about to show up on her doorstep.

Presumed Dead - Nichole Severn (HI #2107 - Nov 2022)

Series: Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 4)
 
Their shared history could be their undoing.
 
Forced to partner up, reserve officer Kendric Hudson and missing persons agent Campbell Dwyer work a baffling abduction case that gets more dangerous with each new revelation. As they battle a mounting threat, they must trust one another with their deepest secrets. But the truth they uncover could leave them lucky to escape with their lives…
 
Terrific blend of second chance romance and suspense that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Kendric is Battle Mountain's newest reserve officer. A former coworker of Cree's (Dead on Arrival), he was injured in the same blast that hurt Cree. Scarred physically and emotionally, Kendric walked away from his life in Denver, including the woman he loved. He's found a home and family in the close-knit Battle Mountain Police Department and community and is determined to do his best to serve them. Then a missing persons case brings a blast from his past, and his new life is turned upside down.
 
Campbell has been sent from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to augment BMPD's tiny force during this case. She has an outstanding record of success in her cases. But there is more to Campbell's presence in Battle Mountain than meets the eye.
 
The sparks fly between Kendric and Campbell from the moment she appears. She makes snarky comments about him burying himself in the backwoods, and he digs at her laser focus on cases to the exclusion of everything else. But neither can deny the attraction that still exists even after five years apart. Kendric is determined to ignore it. He believes his scars prevent a relationship that isn't based on pity. Campbell has secrets that could destroy any chance of a reconciliation. I liked watching them work together and seeing their respect for each other's abilities. They grow closer, but her secrets and his fears are obstacles that must be overcome before they have a chance at happiness. I liked the ending and seeing how everything worked out.
 
The suspense of the story was a roller coaster of twists and turns. A pregnant woman was abducted from her home in the middle of the night, and her husband was shot and left for dead. But as Kendric and Campbell dig deeper into their investigation, there are more questions than answers. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, the author flipped everything I thought I knew on its head. Then the bad guy makes the case personal for Campbell, and the tension goes through the roof. I was on the edge of my seat as Campbell went rogue and ended up in mortal danger. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that kept me turning the pages until it was over.
 
The revelation of Campbell's secrets did initially cause some strain between her and Kendric and between her and the rest of the BMPD. I ached for Kendric over the first secret and its effect on him. I could feel his anguish over it and rooted for Campbell to be able to break through the fears that held him back. The second secret involved the entire BMPD. I could understand why Campbell was sent to investigate, but having read the series from the beginning, I knew her bosses were barking up the wrong tree. I was glad that Campbell believed the truth pretty quickly. 

 

Dead on Arrival - Nichole Severn (HI #2099 - Oct 2022)

Series: Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 3)
 
A bomb-strapped body
A rookie cop caught in the inferno
 
After barely escaping a deadly explosion, Officer Alma Majors has one clue to identify the victim and solve the case: a sliver of bone. But it's going to take more than shrapnel to expose the culprit. Bomb expert Cree Gregson will risk everything to protect his neighbor from a killer determined to avoid exposure. Protecting his heart may prove more difficult…
 
Good book about two people who must overcome painful pasts to move on to a better future. Alma was a successful anthropologist until her jealous husband turned to abuse. She escaped the marriage, moved home to Battle Mountain, and became a reserve officer with the Battle Mountain police department. Though she is friendly to those she meets, Alma keeps a distance between herself and others, unable to trust enough to open her heart. Cree is a bomb tech in another town who moved to Battle Mountain to escape the guilty memories from a bombing he couldn't prevent. He's isolated himself, trusting no one else.
 
The book's explosive opening sucked me into the story, and didn't let go until I'd read the last page. Alma was sent to check out reports of suspicious activity in a gulch, where she found a woman with a bomb sewn to her body. Alma barely escaped with her life. Her only clue to identifying the body is a sliver of bone. Cree heard the bomb blast, and even though he was on a leave of absence from his unit, he still rushed to the site and offered his services. Seeing his neighbor, Alma, involved stirs his protective instincts.
 
While others investigate the bombing, Alma is determined to identify the victim. If she can do that, it should lead to the who and why behind it. The investigation quickly becomes complicated when the bomber sets more explosives to cover their identity. Then the bomber targets Alma herself. From destroying the contents of Alma's apartment to capturing Alma and attempting to turn her into a living bomb, the story's intensity increases the closer Alma and Cree get to identifying them. Alma's methods were intriguing, bringing in her past work as an anthropologist. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that kept me glued to the pages until it was over. Alma's determination and Cree's protectiveness came together in a heart-pounding scene.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Alma and Cree develop. Neither is looking for love. Alma is still dealing with the aftereffects of her abusive marriage. Cree is wrapped up in the guilt he still feels over his last case. I loved Cree's protectiveness toward Alma and his sensitivity to what she went through. I liked seeing them grow closer as they worked together. Sharing what they'd experienced helped each break down the walls that kept their feelings locked up. It takes nearly losing each other to open their eyes to what has been missing in their lives. I liked the ending and seeing them look forward to a future together.
 
The end of the book and the epilogue introduced a new character - ATF agent Kendric Hudson. A former coworker of Cree's, it looks like he will stick around Battle Mountain. I liked how he encouraged Cree to follow his heart and provided some straight talk about the case that injured them. He will likely be the focus of the next book of the series.

Dead Giveaway - Nichole Severn (HI #2059 - Mar 2022)

Series: Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 2)
 
He vowed to never see her again
Now she needs him more than ever.
 
Deputy Easton Ford left Battle Mountain -- and the woman who broke his heart -- behind. Now District Attorney Genevieve Alexander is targeted by a killer, and there's only one man she trusts to protect her: her ex-fiancé. Easton will do everything to keep her safe. But will his past secrets get them both killed?
 
Terrific book that kept me hooked from start to finish. The action and suspense were intense, and the rekindling relationship was full of pitfalls from their past.
 
Genevieve is the DA for another town. Fifteen years earlier, she left her fiancé, Easton, at the altar, moved three hours away and started a new life. After finding a dead body in her home and discovering that the serial killer she thought she had put away was only a copycat, Genevieve knows she needs help. She returns to Battle Mountain and the only man she trusts to keep her safe - Easton.
 
After the disaster of his failed wedding, Easton joined the military to escape the memories and the heartbreak. He returned to Battle Mountain a year ago after losing his team left him with flashbacks and PTSD. Locking himself away in his cabin and avoiding everyone, he began reconnecting a few months ago, after his father's death and helping his brother catch a serial killer (Grave Danger). The last thing he expects is to find Genevieve on his doorstep asking for help.
 
Though their first encounter doesn't go well, Easton can't deny his need to protect Genevieve. As they work together to identify and stop The Contractor, it becomes evident that their feelings for each other are as strong as ever. But can they overcome the hurts and insecurities of the past to find a new life together? I ached for Easton, who is wrapped up in survivor's guilt, grief for his father, and unresolved feelings about Genevieve's desertion. He hasn't been able to open up about his pain with any of his family, so it has festered inside him. Somehow, he can share those memories and the pain with Genevieve. I liked how she acknowledged his feelings, then showed him that the events weren't his fault, setting him on the road to healing.
 
Genevieve still feels guilty about the way she left Easton, admitting that she took the coward's way out. Her need to know herself outside of her relationships drove her away, and she worked hard to establish that identity and likes the life she has now. But seeing Easton again stirs up the old feelings and causes her to worry about losing herself again.
 
I loved watching Easton and Genevieve grow closer as they worked together. But neither one appeared to have learned from their past mistakes. Though Easton realizes he still loves Genevieve, his way of showing it brings back Genevieve's fears and insecurities. I ached for Easton but wanted to shake him for slipping back into old habits. I hurt for Genevieve, too, because she loves him but is afraid to trust herself. I liked how she stood up for herself and her needs. It takes nearly losing each other permanently to be ready to put the past behind them.
 
The suspense of this story had me glued to the pages from start to finish. The first pages set the scene of a ticked-off serial killer because someone else has been convicted of his crimes. He takes his anger to the DA responsible in a very personal and grisly manner, making it clear that he expects her to do a better job by giving her a "second chance." Genevieve's fear is palpable, as is her dismay at the mistake and her determination to get it right. It doesn't help that the local police chief indicates that he believes she is the guilty party. When Genevieve and Easton begin working together to unmask the killer, they return to the beginning. However, no matter what they discover, the killer always seems to be one step ahead of them.
 
The tension ramps up as the information Easton and Genevieve unearth draw them closer to a shocking revelation. Just when they think they have solved it, an unexpected twist puts Genevieve in mortal danger. I was shocked by the revelations I didn't see coming, and I put an unusual spin on the usual serial killer scenario. Genevieve impressed me with her fortitude and determination, making the final confrontation one of the best I've ever read.
 
There are two epilogues. A mini one at the end of the last chapter, updating Genevieve and Easton's lives three months later, and the main epilogue is the lead-in to the next book. 

Grave Danger - Nichole Severn (HI #2051 - Feb 2022)

Series: Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 1)
 
She escaped a killer's clutches once
Now this medical examiner needs to follow the clues to put him behind bars…
 
Even changing her name hasn't helped Dr. Chloe Pascale feel safe. And when a young woman is discovered buried alive, the Colorado ME knows the relentless serial killer she barely escaped has found her. To stop him, she must trust police chief Weston Ford with her darkest secrets. But getting too close is putting their guarded hearts at risk -- and leading into an inescapable trap…
 
This was an incredibly intense book from start to finish. It opened with our heroine, surgeon Chloe Miles, caught in the clutches of a madman determined to bury her alive, and he'd already succeeded in doing so to one of her colleagues. She is determined to live and fights her way free, but she knows he won't give up. So, she runs.
 
Three months later, Chloe changed her name and became the coroner in the tiny town of Battle Mountain. She's prepared to run again if necessary but likes it there. The people are friendly, know her name, and the work isn't difficult. Then she gets a call from the police chief, Weston, about a dead body, and her blood freezes. The killer she tried to escape found her, leaving this new victim as a message. Chloe is ready to run again until Weston convinces her that together they can stop him, but to do so, she must trust him.
 
Weston was a mine worker until the mines shut down, and he lost his job. His wife died of cancer, leaving him wallowing in grief. When the former police chief was forced to retire after a heart attack, Weston's father convinced him to take the job. Raised to put other people's needs before his own, Weston found solace in looking after the people of his town. Though he is a one-person police department with no training, he's determined to protect Chloe and stop the killer.
 
The action and suspense of this story kept me glued to the pages. From the moment the body is discovered, we know that Chloe is in the crosshairs of a relentless killer. As they close in on his identity, the killer widens his reach to include anyone who helps her, especially Weston and his family. A heart-wrenching loss added impetus to Weston's determination to put an end to the killer's actions. Then an unexpected twist turned everything they had learned upside down. I ached for Chloe, whose guilty feelings over the killer's actions sent her running - right into his clutches. The intensity ramped up as Chloe fought for her life again, and Weston raced to reach her in time. The final confrontation had me glued to the pages until it was all over, and I could breathe a sigh of relief.
 
The development of the relationship between Chloe and Weston happened quickly. They'd had a good working relationship since Chloe arrived in town, but neither was looking for a relationship. Chloe knows she could have to run at any time, so starting anything wouldn't be fair to either of them. Weston loved his wife and had no intention of risking his heart again. Weston's protective instincts are aroused, and in protecting Chloe, he discovers she has found her way into his heart. Chloe also realizes she has fallen for Weston, making it impossible to leave Battle Mountain when the trouble ends.
 
I am intrigued by Weston's brother, Easton. A former special forces soldier, he isn't dealing well with the loss of his men during his last mission. After spending months holed up in his cabin and avoiding everyone, he emerges to help Weston. I ached for his losses and the guilt he felt. It takes some harsh words from Weston to break through the wall of grief he's built up. In the epilogue, we get a glimpse of the recovering Easton. I can't wait to read his story.