Stop at Nothing

by Kate SeRine

[kimbacaffeinate]

I enjoyed Kate Serine’s Transplanted Tales series, so when I discovered she was releasing a romantic suspense featuring FBI Agents and local police there was no doubt I would read it. Stop at Nothing is the first in the Protect and Serve series. The series will features Dawson brothers Tom, Gabe, Joe, and Kyle. The Dawson family has a long history in law enforcement. Hello Brothers! Y’all know I was hooked at the mention of brothers. SeRine delivered heat, a second chance romance and intense action making Stop at Nothing a page-turner.

We meet FBI Agent Kyle Dawson in the middle of a chase in NOLA. We quickly learn that despite his strong skills as an agent he really is not a team player. When the perp claims roughing, Dawson’s boss, anxious to get rid of him transfers Kyle back to his home state. Kyle has a chip on his shoulders, but SeRine quickly shares the whys. Now that Kyle is heading home, he will have to deal with his demons. An ex-girlfriend named Abby Morrow who broke his heart and unresolved family issues. Despite his attitude; I liked Kyle’s snark and was anxious to discover what made him tick.

Abby Morrow works at the local sheriff’s office and her specialty is digital forensic. A side job has her uncovering a human-trafficking ring. This discovery has her sister kidnapped, and her brother-in-law might be dead. She quickly finds herself caught up in a dangerous situation.

I loved how SeRine had these two reconnect. It was clever and felt genuine. We quickly learn these two still love each other, and the reasons Abby broke it off. You could feel the sexual tension between the two of them and those feelings were only intensified by the situation surrounding Abby. I knew these two were going to tango, it was only a matter of when. SeRine kept the drama low and I appreciated how the complications were realistic.

The case was far-reaching, with men whose pockets are deep. These are the kind of men who can pay to make problems disappear. Yikes! Abby and Kyle soon find themselves caught up in a lethal game of cat and mouse. SeRine added an interesting twist with a skilled contract man. I actually liked the guy, which is rather twisted. The man is a kidnapper, extortionist, and kills people for a buck. The authored weaved in twists and linked threads as she pulled the case together.

Stop at Nothing struggled a little in finding balance between the romance and case. I felt SeRine tried to give equal page time to both, which is not necessarily a bad thing but at times the intensity of the case was pulled too thin. I will say that the characters were fully developed. I loved Abby and Kyle, their romance felt genuine, as did their actions. Secondary characters like Kyle’s partner and the villains added interest and were unique giving depth to the tale. We meet his brothers and I already have a favorite whose story I am anxious to read. (I will let you pick your own) Both the case and the romance wrapped up nicely giving the reader closer.

Stop at Nothing was an enjoyable start to the Protect and Serve series. I am anxious to read about the rest of the Dawson brothers and look forward to Safe From Harm.

Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer