The Justified Series, 1
In a sleepy suburb of Vancouver, Lianna Bennett should be living her happily ever after. Instead, she is grappling with the guilt surrounding her late husband's death and raising two children alone. As if this working mom needed more on her plate, someone is harassing her. When the assailant’s tactics escalate, she turns to Gabe Williamson, a sergeant in the local Homicide Unit.
Gabe has a secret. The single father is struggling to stay ahead of a lie that jeopardizes the life he’s carefully built. He will do whatever it takes to protect his son, even if that means pushing away his own chance at happiness. When threats to Lianna’s safety intensify, Gabe is finally forced to confront his painful past. As the danger closes in, they must put their personal issues aside to face an enemy that is closer to home than either of them could have imagined.
Excerpt:
Did you think that she was sitting at home pining for you?
That is exactly what he thought, or at least hoped, even though he wasn’t supposed to. After yesterday, he had been so confident that she reciprocated some of his feelings. Now it appeared that she was not being honest about her relationship with the creep next door. It explained why the neighbor’s eyes were so possessive when Gabe confronted him, why Lianna was so apologetic.
The big SUV wheels screeched as he turned into her driveway. Lianna arrived back at her house as he was slowing to a stop. She didn’t even bother to look surprised to see him, instead she waved then opened her massive front door, leaving it ajar for him.
“I’m on to your game,” he said to no one.
Gabe threw his car into “park” with a jerk. He opened and slammed the door with all the gusto of a teenager who had just been grounded on a Friday night. Stomping towards her house, he was surprised the overhanging tree branches didn’t ignite from the sparks shooting from his ears.
Giving the front door a shove, it opened fully and there she was. Lianna was waiting for him with a smile, leaning against the entryway table looking as cool as a cucumber. Without a backwards glance, he nudged the door shut behind him with his foot.
“What’s wrong?” Lianna stood straight, her smile quickly fading.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” he demanded through clenched teeth.
“Tell you what?”
“About the neighbor?”
“What about her?”
“Him. What about him? I was actually concerned.”
Gabe spent hours in interrogation training and had more practice in making a suspect talk than he cared to admit. But now he was too irate to stop and think. Lianna’s innocent act was fueling his fire and he had no idea where he was going with this line of questioning.
“If he’s so creepy,” he said the word in a mock female voice, but he was so agitated it just sounded like an odd screech, “why did you look so happy leaving there?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why can I not be happy?” She made a show of throwing her hands up and letting them fall to her side. “I brought him some banana bread to say sorry for your bad attitude last week.” She thrust a finger in his direction.
“I thought I told you not to talk to him,” he retorted with all the authority of a wet blanket.
“First of all, you said not to let him in the house, which I didn’t. Second…” she held up another long finger, “you’re not the boss of me.”
“Oh, that’s mature.”
The irony didn’t escape him that he was standing in a dark hallway arguing with her because his feelings were hurt. It must not have escaped her notice either.
“Mature? You’re standing here yelling at me for bringing his wife bread!”
“What do you mean his wife?” Gabe barked the question but considered for the first time that he may have misjudged the situation.
“Tim wasn’t there.” She gestured in the direction of the neighbors harshly. “So, I left it with Diane, his wife, and said sorry the big brute with me last week was such a jerk!”
Gabe started, then closed his mouth, then started again, but his brain had abandoned him in his time of need.
“Believe it or not, some people don’t relish conflict. They would prefer to get along with, you know, other human beings.” Lianna’s cheeks were rounding the corner quickly from pink to red.
“I just thought… you were smiling and…” He couldn’t get the rest out.
Embarrassment swept in like a tidal wave washing away his anger. She looked at him like he had fifteen heads.
“Why do you care all of a sudden anyway?” None of her anger had subsided. “You were obviously avoiding me before this whole knight in shining armor act. I had to twist your arm to stand in the same room. What did I do to make you despise me in the first place?” She narrowed her eyes, seeming intent on having this out once and for all.
“I don’t despise you, and you know it.” He spoke gently, all the wind having left his sails.
“Of course, you do.” She laughed without a trace of humor. “I wish you would be man enough to admit it.”
The smug way she crossed her arms told Gabe she was baiting him into a fight. But it was too late. All his anger and most of the embarrassment were fleeing, replaced with something entirely different. Something that felt a lot like relief she wasn’t involved with her neighbor.
The urge to kiss her was overwhelming. Gabe’s eyes were pulled down to her chest heaving with frustration. He took a step forward.
“I’m tired of tiptoeing around you, Gabe. One second, you’re avoiding me, the next you’re barking commands and getting mad that I made peace with my neighbors.”
“I’ve never been mad with you.” He shook his head, taking another step closer.
“As a matter of fact,” she continued as if she couldn’t hear him, “I’m not going to keep begging you to like me, to want to spend time with us.”
By the time she had said her piece, he was close enough to reach out and stroke her cheek. The foyer was dim except for the sunlight filtering in from the windows atop the front door. But Gabe could see enough, and he stood there marveling at her.
She was so beautiful, her tan skin flushed from their argument, her chest still rising and falling exaggeratedly with each breath. Thick dark hair was piled on top of her head in some messy knot while loose curls framed her face. The sweatshirt she wore hung slightly off one shoulder. It begged him to bend and kiss the exposed skin there. Standing this close, her vanilla scent filled his nose and had the insides of his mouth watering. He was overcome.
As she glared up at him, her hands placed firmly on her hips, he wondered if she had any idea how perfect a creature she was. The thought had him smiling.
“It’s all a joke to you?”
Before he could react, she turned and stalked to the front door. Yanking it open, she said, “Thanks for stopping by, I truly appreciate your help, but I can handle this on my own now. Bye, Gabe.”
This is such a wonderful book. I did not want to put it down. I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happened next. The MCs were perfect for each other and had tons of chemistry. Their kids were so cute. The danger surrounding Lianna was kind of perplexing but made for a fun book. I highly recommend this book to all romance readers who like a touch of mystery/danger to their read.
This is the first book I've read written by Shay Burnham; I can’t wait to read more of her books. This is the first book in the Justified Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Lianna & Gabe; she’s dealing with the recent death of her husband and raising her kids; he’s a single parent.
"The beginning was bit chaotic and slightly confusing but worth the waiting for the story to develop."
This isn't my normal type of book. I normally like my books darker. But I found this to be very intriguing and well written. Lianna had to grow on me if I'm being honest. I really like Gabe I didn't see what the big deal about his secret was it wasn't anything horrible. Or at least not in my opinion.
I liked the overall feel and writing of the book. Lianna and Gabe are a unique couple. I look forward to reading more by this talented author.
This is the story of Lianna and Gabe, she is a widow with two children and Gabe is a sergeant in the homicide department. She needs Gabe's help because she is being harassed and she doesn't know by who. Gabe is also struggling with secrets and the facade he has put up for himself and his son. Their story has suspense, drama, action, secrets, romance and steam.
So good! This is a new author for me but I am so glad I found this novel. This novel did not disappoint. I love a good small town suspenseful love story. This novel just checked so many boxes for me. From the first chapter this novel pulled me in and captured my attention. Once I started reading I was on the edge of my seat guessing what was coming next. I loved Lianna. She has been thru so much with the lose of her husband and trying to do her best with raising her kids. I loved Lianna and Gabe together. Their chemistry is so good! I loved watching them both work thru their pasts and lower their defenses and open their hearts to each other. So good! I am looking forward to seeing what this author has coming next.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy. Lianna is widowed with two young children after her husband is killed in a drunk-driving accident. Lianna is being harassed by someone. They had been making late-night calls, and things were escalating. Gabe is a single dad with secrets, he is also a sergeant on the police force. Lianna goes to Gabe for help to figure out who is behind the threats. Gabe and Lianna spend time together, and the kids all get along, but will Gabe's secrets keep them apart? Will Gabe and Lianna figure out who is behind the threats?
A new author discovery by Shay has been an interesting read. She definitely succeeded in bringing out my fustrations with both her characters. I wanted to reach out & smack Gabe at so many points. Definitely didn't see the messy relationships we uncover. There were some laughs over attempts of flirting. Suspense could played a stronger part. An enjoyable read to entertain.
This is the first story in the new "Justified" series. It is a captivating read that keeps you glued until the end. The mystery and suspense is intriguing. I really like the characters! The story is about Lianna and Gabe. The plot is unique which makes this story even more captivating. I like the twists and turns throughout the story. Some predictable and some not so much.
Lianna is a widow and a single mom who is also the recipient of weird and unsettling prank calls that escalate to a series of darker moments. Gabe is her sexy crush and the father to her son’s best friend. They have a shaky friendship that runs hug and cold. When she turns to Gabe for help things become hotter between them but between his past and their fears things are most definitely not smooth sailing. As things get worse they face the reality of their fears and decide to take a leap of faith and go for their HEA. The twist was good and while the villain raised a few red flags I wasn’t sure if I was right until the end.
The start of a new series called Justified Series. Lianna Bennett a widow and her two children and Gabe Williamson, a sergeant in the local Homicide Unit and his son's story. The story grabbed my interest from the start and kept me turning pages. There is drama, suspense, a stalker and romance.
This is a great book that drew me in from the start. I read this book in one day. Lianna and Gabe meet when she needs help. This story is intense at times and there is a lot going on. I definitely recommend this book.
Wonderful book--great start to a series --truly couldn't stop reading and it contained so much in such a quick read.
I liked this one. The writing was solid, the characters interesting and the story kept me involved. The mystery and suspense were solid and I liked that the author gave several possibilities for the “villain” but never gave away too much so it kept me guessing. Lianna and Gabe were both great characters and I was only mildly annoyed with Gabe for the secrets he was keeping and how he couldn’t decide if he should pursue something with Lianna or not. And I really liked the twist that the author threw in. I won’t say more, only that I hadn’t been expecting it at all. I’ll be on the lookout for more from this author. Recommended.
This book is fantastic and I was hooked right from the beginning. This book is from the sleepy suburb of Vancouver, where everyone is safe and nothing bad never happens. That is until Lianna Bennett looses her husband in a drunk driving crash. She is the mother of two children and does not need any more on her plate. Her brother-in-law blames Lianna for the accident that killed his brother. And now someone is making nightly phone calls and not say anything. So now she has two children to take care of alone, not sleeping well because of the harassing phone calls and working where she gets attitude from her brother-in-law. When does she get a break? Finally she can not handle it anymore so she turns to Gabe Williamson, a sergeant in the local Homicide Unit. Gabe has a little boy and lives everyday with a lie that he is trying to stay ahead of. He will do whatever it takes to protect his son. He is more then willing to help Lianna and the kids all get along great. So they spend a lot of time together and seem to grow closer daily. And when threats to Lianna's safety intensify, Gabe is finally forced to confront his painful past. That is the only way that him and Lianna have any kind of future.
