Mission: Cavanaugh Baby - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #1767 - Sept 2013)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 25)

The only things Ashley St. James has ever allowed herself to love are her dogs. A child of the foster-care system, she never even knew her own birthday. When a dog in distress leads her to a brutally butchered woman whose baby was stolen, Ashley has a purpose -- so she teams up with cop Shane Cavanaugh.

Losing his fiancée only ripened Shane's thirst for justice. But the closer he gets to Ashley, the more he wants to erase the tears she hasn't managed to dry. If they can find the missing baby and nab a psychotic killer first...

Very good book.  Ashley works in the animal control section of the Aurora Police Department.  When she's called to the location of a dog in distress she finds a woman brutally murdered and her baby stolen.  Shane Cavanaugh is the officer who responds to her call.  Because of her past as a foster child Ashley prefers the company of animals to humans - as she says "Animals don't lie".  She is pretty blunt with Shane about her opinions of people.  He finds her views on animals and their abilities and "emotions" pretty odd at first, but starts to come around as he's around her more.  Ashley gets assigned as his partner in the investigation since the homicide division is a little shorthanded.  This is Shane's first murder investigation and he and Ashley end up being an excellent fit in their investigative styles.  Because of her time as a foster child Ashley is good at reading people and able to use what she knows to get them to cooperate with her and Shane.  She also thinks of things he doesn't because of their different backgrounds.  I loved the way that she started to get more comfortable with him, to the point of telling him some of the things about her past.  She also started to dream a little about what a life with him would be like but with no expectation that anything would be possible "Because good things don't happen to me."  I really loved her reactions to meeting various members of the Cavanaugh family, especially at Andrew's house.  Her decision about the missing baby at the end was not a surprise. 

Shane has been working a lot as he recovers from his broken engagement.  His fiancee decided she didn't want to be married to a cop who might get hurt or killed.  Shane has decided that he wasn't going to get involved with another woman for a long time to come.  When he got called as backup for Ashley's call he wasn't impressed with her at first.  He especially mocked her "woo-woo" attitude about dogs and their intelligence and emotions.  But there was something about her attitude that also intrigued him.  When she came up with a good idea for the investigation he ended up with her going along with him.  As the investigation continued they worked together to try to find the murderer and missing baby.  I loved the way that her presence grew on him and how he wanted to know more about her.  The things that he learned were so far outside his experience that he didn't always know what to say, but he was good at silent support.  I loved what he did when he found out about her lack of a birthday.  It really showed what a good heart he had and how much he was beginning to care for her.  I also liked the way that he was finally getting used to being part of the Cavanaugh family and how he went to Andrew for help.  I really liked the ending to the story.  Shane wasn't particularly smooth but he got through to her.

Cavanaugh on Duty - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #1751 - May 2013)

Series: Cavanaugh Justice (Book 24)

THE PAST NEVER DIES...BUT IT CAN KILL

Esteban Fernandez only has one reason to live-and that reason vanishes when his cover is blown. As an undercover narcotics detective, Esteban wants to hunt the scum who killed his brother-and put his stepfather in prison for life. Reassigned and rootless, the brooding detective couldn't care less about the sexy cop he's now paired with...until they start finding bodies.

Kari Cavanaugh never asks for a new partner. Competent and self-contained, Kari makes the best of any situation-by herself. But when a series of murders points toward a serial killer, her scruffy new sidekick may have insights into the case. If only the heat rising between them doesn't spark its own danger. 

Excellent book.  When his cover was blown Esteban was pulled off the undercover job he'd been working for three years.  He's not happy to be working the streets again instead of going after the drug cartel and even less happy to be paired with the cheerful Kari.  The attraction that leaps between them is even less welcome.  He has spent the last three years keeping all hint of his emotions buried deep and he doesn't welcome their reappearance.  He can't stop them and as he and Kari work on a case involving a serial killer she continues to chip away at his walls.  He has been undercover for so long that he isn't familiar with the Cavanaugh way of doing things and doesn't know what to make of her attempts to get close.  When she came to him the day they met to make sure he was going to stay on with the department he couldn't understand why it mattered to her.  I loved his attempts to chase her off and his stunned surprise when she took him down.  It didn't seem to matter what he did he couldn't chase her off.  I loved his confusion about being dragged into the Cavanaugh activities and how he ended up having a good time in spite of himself.  It began to open his eyes to the things he had denied himself for so long and how much he wanted her in his life.  

Kari was a terrific heroine.  She was very good at her job and able to work alone or with a partner.  When she got paired with Esteban she could feel his reluctance immediately.  She also recognized him as the guy she'd had a crush on in high school.  I loved the way that she cornered him at home and challenged him to take a chance on their partnership.  She felt their attraction immediately and was blown away by the kiss he gave her while trying to intimidate her into leaving.  Their work together on the serial killer case put them together a lot and the attraction kept growing.  When it reached the boiling point they were pretty darn hot together.  I also loved the way that she wouldn't let him continue his loner ways but kept pulling him into the Cavanaugh circle. 

The suspense in the book was fantastic as they raced to find the killer.  I loved seeing the way that they tried to work out who he was and what led to their final decision.  The intensity of the takedown was great and definitely kept me riveted.