I like Melinda Leigh's books,  you know what you are going to get.  Pacy,  good plots and gripping thrillers.  This didn't disappoint.

4* A solid read until it got a few 'too many red herrings' and one person began to stand out...

... a little too much.

I've only really discovered this author this year, and boy can she write. I particularly liked that this book was not a romance but a police/mystery first and foremost. Strangely, though, I didn't think the emotional-loss aspect was strong enough, especially where two children who'd lost their mother was concerned, and two siblings who'd lost their sister. With the latter three's family history and especially since Bree was old enough to recall most of what had happened to her aged 8, I had expected more trauma, more delving into the past, more bonding with her remaining family. 

I'm not going to rehash the tale and it was well done for the most, though when Craig and Justin and Zack started to appear too much in person/on-page (because one of the characters is off-page until the very end) it got a little tiring. I think I started to suss out who the killer was because of a couple of mentions about Erin's (the deceased's) stance on domestic violence, and how she herself put up with a lot of abuse, though not when it turned violent. Did I believe the killer? Kind of, because what happened to him a lot of guys might take as a blow to the old ego and doubts and insecurities might well start to appear. For him to go so pyscho so quickly, and for Bree not to have bigger alarms bells going, didn't quite ring true. But, it all came out in the wash, which unfortunately involved innocent bystanders who got injured or killed.

Would I read more of this series? Yes, and not specifically for the romantic aspect, as that barely, barely, barely featured - in fact, I don't think the guys even managed a kiss, though the odd date in the future was mentioned. And, I liked that the tale, that the people affected by Erin's death took precedence in the tale, and that there were not TSTL moments like getting it on in the middle of stuff going down, just because the tale has a female lead and a male lead and it's kind of expected. That added intelligence to the tale. 

ARC courtesy of Montlake Romance and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

Twists and turns abound...a well written action and drama filled who-dun-it that makes you want more.  can't wait to see what the author has up her sleeves next time...

What a fracking great start to a new series!!!

Bree has had nothing but tragedy in her life.  She had to deal with her father killing her mother, the abuse he heaped on her and her siblings, and being raised separately from her siblings.  They tried to keep in close contact but they are now their own people, although still in contact.

Bree is now a homicide cop but when she gets a worrying call from her newly separated sister, she decides to go visit.  But on her arrival she finds she is too late, her sister lies shot and her brother in law is the only suspect.  Yes the clues all lead to him, but something lies uneasy with Bree.  It's just too pat.

Matt Flynn is a former deputy who was medically retired after he was shot during "friendly fire".  The previous corrupt Sheriff may have been ousted but there seems to still be animosity in the ranks. Now he finds himself involved in another investigation, his best friend has supposedly murdered his wife.  He knows he had problems with drugs but he would never have hurt his wife.  He loved her and his step-children to pieces.

Bree and Matt team up to try and get to the real heart of the matter.  But can Bree cope being in her old hometown?  Can she really contemplate losing her nephew and niece to their feckless father?  

OMG, this does not pull punches.  Taut, action thriller with a bit of a slow burn romance.  I loved the vibrancy of the characters and how all the siblings had processed their grief in various ways.  There are also some amazing secondary characters, such as Bree's partner.  I can help but see her as Christine Cagney-esque!  Kick-ass cop, failed wife but a great partner and friend!

I cannot wait to see what is in store for Bree and the gang in the next book!  I'm hoping we see more of her brother, he really does have to get out of his artist studio and into the real world!

Melinda Leigh has created another great story with just the right amount of mystery, suspense, and romance for a great escapist read.  As a child, Bree Taggert protected her younger sister and brother from her abusive father and survived tragedy.  As an adult, she's a Philadelphia homicide detective but quick to respond when her sister is found murdered in their home town.  Bree has to deal with some life-altering decisions as she runs down the killer.  This is the beginning of a new series, and I'm looking forward to the next book already!

Great characters and a gritty story.The start of a new series ,I hope. I didn't guess who dunnit till the author wanted me to know,a fab story.

Bree, has long left her hometown behind. After her parents are involved in a murder /suicide. She is now a police detective. After getting several frantic calls from her sister. She learns her sister has been murdered and her sisters husband missing.
Bree and Matt a former.K-9 officer work to find out what happened to Bree's sister

What a great, fast paced thriller! This is the first book I’ve read by this author & I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the twists and turns and look forward to more!

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. I love Melinda as an author. The way she combines romance and suspense into the story is unbelievable. 
I loved the suspense storyline and that kept me interested but I was a little disappointed on the romantic side of things in this book.

PAST AND PRESENT COLLIDE!
When homicide detective Bree Taggert receives a distressing phone call from her sister, she rushes back to a hometown filled with nightmarish memories, only to find her sister was murdered.

Bree is overcome by grief, and guilt that she hadn’t been there when Erin needed her- especially when she learns the main suspect is Erin’s husband.

Was the past repeating itself?

Several years ago, Bree witnessed her father’s murderous rage against her mother. She grabbed her younger brother and sister, and hid until the police came. By then, both of her parents were dead in an apparent murder-suicide. It changed the sibling’s lives forever.

When the evidence doesn’t seem to add up, Bree teams up with her brother-in-law’s best friend, former officer and K-9 handler Matt Flynn.

As facts come to light, danger awaits and a murderer stalks the detective.

THIS IS A RIVETING STORY OF BETRAYAL, MYSTERY, SUSPENSE AND A BUDDING ATTRACTION.


I give Cross Her Heart 4.5 lovely kisses- A Must-read!

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh in exchange for an honest review.   All opinions are my own.  Melinda Leigh's books grip you from the beginning and this one is no different.  Homicide detective Bree Taggert has tried to put her past behind her.  When she, her sister, and her brother were small children, their father murdered their mother and killed himself.  Twenty five years later Bree's sister Erin is found dead, and her husband is missing.  Bree puts her life in danger to find her sister's killer.  Great characters and story.

This is a fast paced thriller that kept me going late in to the night. Though there is no jaw dropping moment the suspense is still very well maintained. The past story of the detective could have been completed. This is my  first book by this author and I liked it very much. Go for it.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review -
And what a book!  It has everything that makes a good story!
After a horrific childhood Bree becomes a detective.  Then Erin, her sister is killed and Bree comes home and teams up with Matt to investigate.  
As the suspects become numerous Bree gets the feeling she is being watched - 
Why was her sister murdered?  Who murdered her?  Who will raise her two children?
Grab this for an awesome read!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Melinda Leigh for the arc of Cross Her Heart.  My review is honest and unbiased. 

This is the first book in a new series by one of my favourite authors and we get to meet Bree Taggart Philadelphia homicide detective who’s parents were killed years ago in a murder/suicide but now her sister Erin has been killed in similar circumstances but her husband has vanished!!!  Enter Matt Flynn, former Sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler who helps Bree to find her sister’s killer and his friend Justin. 
Melinda you have done it yet again I’ve read and love all of your books and this is a cracking start to what is shaping up to be another brilliant series !!!!!!!!!!

Read this book! Do not be left out. I freely admit I am a fan of Melinda Leigh, I love mystery, suspense, romance which she always delivers along with thrills! This is a captivating read based sadly on violence that occurs across America daily.  It is delivered starkly and briskly but all necessity to the plot.  After I read the prologue I had to sit back for a moment.. It takes place with Bree as a child and I wanted to reach through the book and tell her it would be okay.  Bree becomes a detective and loses her sister to violence and we are off.  Every character is so well defined it was like meeting them in person.  I am in love with Matt, as well as his K-9 :)  Brees Philly detective partner, Dana, is scheduled to retire and she became a warm spot in my heart.  I loved that little twist. Her niece, her nephew, past scandal in her home town within law enforcement, the world building for this new series is top notch.  I remember half way through thinking, *thank god this is a new series, I want more".  The little tidbit of info at the end, makes me wonder where she is she going in the next book, is it where I think?  Don't know.  Don't care - doesn't matter, I will be getting it.  Please make sure you set time aside to devour this book, its a one sitting read.  Thank you Melinda Leigh for the opportunity to read this arc.  Thank you Montlake, thank you NetGalley.
I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions and say GET THIS BOOK!

Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh a five-star read that I cross my heart will not disappoint. This is number one in the Bree Taggert series and I am stamping me feet in eagerness for number two. Wow, I met this author at Rare London 19 but hadn’t read anything yet, I had been avoiding anything twisty as I was just seeing them coming from miles off, but she was so nice I knew I needed  to sink my teeth in to her stories and give her a read. I am so glad I did, I will be devouring the rest of her stories while I wait for number two. My jaw was hitting the flaw when the secret voice was revealed, it just added to the whole thing as getting to know the story from Bree and Matt’s side was good, but hearing the words from the other character just added to the heart thumpingness of the story. This was so well done, there were enough red herrings and side stories to keep you hooked, but not too many that you got lost. I am struggling to write as I really don’t want to give the game away, all I will say is I blamed everyone apart from the right one. I don’t know why but even Matt appeared on my suspect list at one point as I was so down the rabbit hole.  I must admit I loved the fact that it appears as if life is repeating itself, Déjà vu killing, just adds the drama and made it feel more real, as it was something that would make the papers, sadly a woman being murdered and her estranged husband who then disappeared making him a person of interest wouldn’t stay in the headlines long any more, but add the history and you have more coverage and reporters hanging out at the Sheriff’s office wanting to know what’s next as much as I did as a reader, it just added an extra layer of believability to the story. This is why I love going to bigger signing events, I likely wouldn’t have picked this story up if I hadn’t met the author, but I am so glad I did as she now has another fan.

Cross Her Heart is an excellent start to a new series! Bree is a detective with a traumatic past who is being forced to face a lot of her fears as a result of her sister's murder. The novel begins with a glimpse of her past and gives readers some insight into Bree's personality. She works with a former deputy, Matt, to solve her sister's murder in an attempt to find peace. There are several leads and twists in this mystery, making the resolution suspenseful and unpredictable. The descriptive details make Bree's story captivating and difficult to put down. I'm looking forward to getting to know these characters even better in Melinda's next novel!

Another fast paced thriller from one of my go to authors. I have read all her books and could hardly put this one down! Bree Taggert has lost much in her life, her sister being the latest loss. The investigation takes many turns and will keep you guessing. Another winner from Melinda Leigh!!

This first book in a new series by Melinda Leigh introduces us to Detective Bree Taggert, a homicide detective from Philadelphia who is the product of a very violent childhood.  After her father killed her mother and himself, Bree and her two siblings were separated -- her younger sister and brother to live with their grandparents; Bree to live with another relative.  Now, as a well-respected member of the Philadelphia Police Department, Bree is trying to protect and serve the most vulnerable, putting away the murderers for their crimes.  After a panicked phone call from her younger sister, Erin, Bree rushes to her hometown, a place with too many bad memories, only to find that Erin has been murdered.  Not only must she deal with the shock of her sister's death, but Bree must now be guardian to her nephew & niece.  Pairing-up with a former police officer (now sidelined from a gun shot wound that severely damaged his shooting hand) who is the friend of Erin's estranged husband, the two of them assist the interim Deputy in finding the one responsible for the murder.  With some budding romance between them, their shared task but with slightly differ motives.  He wants to prove his friend didn't kill Erin, and Bree wants to bring the perp to justice.  This exciting and suspenseful book will make you want to learn more about Bree's future.  Unfortunately, you will need to wait until September 2020 for the next installment.

This was so good! I'm a total addict when it comes to mystery/thriller novels, so I can be super picky. This was a solid 4 stars! Maybe even a 4.5.

The mystery wasn't a gasping moment, but it was delivered perfectly. Every chapter gave just enough to keep you wanting more.

I adored Bree, Kayla, and Luke - this little family has been through it all but they're still so solid. Matt and Brody, his retired k-9 police dog, are charming and adorable. I love that I was able to feel a connection to so many characters. 

There was also just the right amount of romance that made the story feel real. 

This was a great read!