Alexandra Ivy has a homerun with Pretend You're Safe. It was so good I stayed up past my bedtime to finish it one sitting!

I loved Ivy setting her book in rural Missouri. I grew up in the middle of Nebraska, and there's just something about farming communities. Everyone knows everyone else's business, but in many ways there a comfort in that missing in today's world.

Jaci is just one of those people that you can't help but like. She's living life on her terms. She found a way to make what she loves into a living. While Jaci has tried to make a connection to her estranged mother and half siblings over the years, it very obvious that she got the better end of the deal living with grandparents. That doesn't stop her from feeling alone now that both of them are gone. So she fills her life with her baking and crafts.

Rylan just wanted to get out before he was trapped by four generations of tradition. He didn't want to take over the family business, AKA the family farm. He was going to get out, all the way to FBI. He's a perfect example of life happens while you're making other plans. Ends up a summer job installing security systems made him very rich. Now that he's home helping his dad, he finally figured out everything he's ever really wanted was right in front of, including Jaci, who he spent years pushing away.

After the levee breaks and bodies are discovered, Jaci is being tormented by a stalker from her past. Who's stalking Jaci? Could there really be a serial killer in a tiny town in Missouri? Can Rylan atone for his past and earn back Jaci's trust? You'll just have to read Pretend You're Safe to find out. Trust me, once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down.

****Please be advised, due to what happened in Texas and Louisiana, this book is a work of fiction and not anyway connected to the tragedy happening currently. ****

If you’re looking for action and adventure in Pretend You’re Safe, you would be sadly disappointed. However, what you do get is a nice balance of romance with a suspense thriller.

At sixteen, someone left a golden locket on her front porch, and inside was a blood stain ribbon. After several times of this happen, she went to the police. Could their small town have a serial killer, well leave it up to the local deputy sheriff… Rylan Cooper, they didn’t.

Fast forward a decade later, and a heavy storm. Evidence of the past start washing up, around town. Now, the nightmare is starting up again.

Pretend You’re Safe was totally different from Alexandra Ivy other stories. This was a great creepy thriller, which would have made a great episode of Murder She Wrote.

A must read for those who enjoy thriller romance.

Loved it. The story kept you guessing right to the end. Jaci is strong and independent but is also smart enough to know when she needs help. Mike and Rylan are both alphas and knock heads occasionally but they both want what's best for Jaci. Suspenseful and romantic.

Where do I begin? PRETEND YOU'RE SAFE is a fast paced, deeply moving and sneakily written suspense/romance by author Alexandra Ivy. I, of course, mean that "sneakily" in the nicest of ways, as there are an amazing amount of little twists, turns and downright surprises that throw the reader into a new spin. It is not often that I do not guess the bad guy in a mystery, but in this one, he was a complete and utter surprise.

Jaci had been handed a less than perfect life (having been given to her grandparents so her mother could marry a rich man just might make for a bad beginning) but she has managed to make a very good one, despite the stalker. Now it has all started again but this time with bodies being found from the floods and the truth finally starts coming out. I found the renewal of the acquaintance between Rylan and Jaci to be paced just right. Their past history might have caused a slight block in the path of true love but being in danger has a way of knocking out all obstacles. Rylan was quick to admit that he should have taken her fears seriously back in the day and works to solve the mystery of the lockets and losing his heart in the process. But can he solve the mystery and keep his new love safe?

If you want a mystery that will have you guessing, a romance that is sweet and steamy for a couple that is strong enough for each other and with each other despite the twists of the world around them ... then PRETEND YOU'RE SAFE is the perfect read for you.

~Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

The complete review may be found at http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=63612

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.25 Hearts I have been a fan of Alexandra Ivy’s since I found her paranormal romance novels and haven’t turned back.

In this story the suspense is intense. This is a story that keeps you on your toes and at the edge of your seat the entire book. I never did figure out who it was and to be honest that is the kind of book I like. If I figure it out in the beginning I might as well not read it. This is not one of those books.

Pick up this book, but don’t read it when you are alone in the house. You will notice every creak the house makes.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Jaci had learned to bake by her grandma who had raised when her mother decided she didn’t want Jaci anymore. Than Jaci’s mother married the richest man in town and had a son and daughter. When Jaci was a sixteen years old Lockets started appearing on her porch each was gold with a few strands of hair and a bloody piece of ribbon ties to it. Jaci tried to convince Ryland she was being stalked but he didn’t believe her and just thought someone was playing pranks on Jaci.Rylan had been the boy next store and Jaci had a crush on him as a teen. Ryland had been a young deputy sheriff. Then Jaci went off to college and the lockets stopped coming. Then Jaci inherited her grandparents farm and she baked goods and sold them to Birdie’s dinner for extra money. Then there was a major storm and a female body washed up on Jaci’s neighbors farm and Jaci got another locket same as before. Rylan owns a security company in California and has come back to help his father with his farm after the flood. Mike is the sheriff and both Rylan and Mike have known Jaci since they were teens and both want to protect her. Now Rylan believes Jaci was right about a stalker back when she was a teen and wants to make up for it. Mike cares for Jaci but worries there is a serial killer loose. Also Jaci’s mother’s much loved housekeeper is missing. Rylan is working under the radar to try to find out who the killer is as more women go missing. Jaci and Rylan becomes close and the killer is angered because he feels Jaci is his and his alone. The killer will not stop until Jaci is his forever.
I liked this story a lot. I liked the plot and pace. I really liked the twists and turns of this story. This is definitely a good mystery romance as far as I am concerned. I loved how the author kept us readers guessing until the end. There is a lot of action in this story and just enough romance. I had no problem with my attention wandering while reading this story.I loved the characters and the twists and turns of this story and I recommend.

3.75 stars--PRETEND YOUR SAFE is the first installment in Alexandra Ivy’s contemporary, adult THE AGENCY romantic, suspense series. This is security and IT specialist Rylan Cooper, and twenty seven year old pastry chef Jaci Patterson’s story line.

Told from several third person perspectives including Rylan and Jaci PRETEND YOU’RE SAFE follows the hunt for a serial killer. With the recent deluge of rain, the rapidly rising waters of the Mississippi gave up her secrets with the missing and the dead. When a bloated body and a severed skull are discovered floating in a farmer’s flooded field Laci Patterson’s mind begins to wander to the past to a time when s number of local women went missing, and several golden lockets with a few strands of hair would appear on her door step. Fast forward to present day, and the terror begins anew when her estranged mother’s housekeeper goes missing, and a new locket appears from out of the blue. Enter Rylan Cooper- back home from sunny California, visiting his aging father- and the man with whom Jaci will fall in love. What ensues is the rekindling friendship and relationship between Rylan and Jaci, and the search for a killer as Jaci is once again targeted by a unknown man.

PRETEND YOU’RE SAFE is a slow building story of intrigue, romance and suspense. Rylan is a protector; a man who is desperate to protect the woman he loves but also a man who knows he must atone for sins of the past. Years earlier, a then arrogant deputy sheriff, Rylan ignored the panic and emotional fall out of the innocuous threats against Laci’s life but with the uptick and resurgence of a similar MO, Rylan knows that to ignore Laci could be fatal in more ways than one. The $ex scenes are limited but seductive although the attraction between our leading couple is low key and felt somewhat awkward. Laci struggles with her attraction to the man who ignored her earlier fears and warnings.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Sheriff Mike O’Brien, his office assistant Carol, local artist Nelson Bradley; Jaci’s estranged family including half-sister Payton, half-brother Christopher, step-father Blake Hamilton, and mother Loreen Hamilton. We are also introduced to Rylan’s father Elmer Cooper , as well as a number of townsfolk, neighbors and nosy busybodies.

PRETEND YOU’RE SAFE is a thrilling and passionate story line. The premise is intriguing and keeps you guessing until the very end.

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Pretend You're Safe is the first book in what looks to be a series. Jaci Patterson lives in a small town and works as an independent baker, supplying local businesses. She is well loved by the community, with the exception of her biological mother and half siblings. There is a convoluted back story there, which is sad, and sets up lots of the tension in the book. Rylan Cooper was the boy next door whom Jaci carried a torch for as a young teen, until he broke her heart by not believing she was being stalked by a killer. After years away, Rylan is visiting his father when a flood unearths what appears to be a serial killers dump site. Realizing he was wrong about Jaci, he stays to protect her and make it right. Lots of sexual tension, back story, and red herrings make this a very well thought out and written romantic suspense. It was a page turner and I can't wait for the next one!

Why did no one believe you? Jaci can't believe that it is happening again, the lockets stopped coming so what has changed now. She knows that this time things will be different she is now an adult living on her own so how can she be safe? Rylan needs to protect her even though she is stubborn and doesn't know if she can trust him again. He knew believed her when it started and this time will things be different? Rylan knows that he was stupid not to listen, he just hopes that this time she will allow him to stay. Everyone is guilty until Rylan does his digging even her friends ae under his radar and lucky for her that he is able to save her for the last time. But can she really see a future for them even though she loves him maybe it is best if he goes before it is too late for them?
Why does anyone want to scare Jaci everyone really likes her expect for her family, she will never be good enough for them. But they need her now so she steps up as she is a good person that would do anything to help others. But what price will she need to pay? Can Rylan find her in time?
A great interesting read full of suspense, hope and forgiveness. I was lucky to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

Pretend You're Safe is the first book in Alexandra Ivy's The Agency Series but reads like a stand alone book. I really enjoyed this romantic suspense and thought the balance between romance and suspense was just about perfect.

This book centers around Jaci who was receiving tokens when she was a teen of a gold locket with some hair and blood on them. However, since there were no corresponding bodies the very young deputy didn't take her seriously and passed it off as pranks. Jaci left to go to college and the gifts stopped. Now she's back and living on the property she inherited from her deceased grandparents. Rylan the young deputy also left town and made a fortune developing software used by the FBI. He's back to visit his dad when a flood aids in the discover of a body and the skull of another.

It isn't long before Jaci receives her first "new" locket but this time both the sheriff (not the same on as when she was young) and Rylan are taking her seriously. The author introduces a lot of suspects and keeps you guessing throughout the book. Although I did figure out who the killer was I was never 100% sure I was right until the end. The romance between Jaci and Rylan is more of a rekindled interest from when they were young although Rylan never acted on it. It's sweet and believable.

I really liked both characters and found them well developed. Jaci is tough but never TSTL and is willing to put aside her pride when it comes to staying safe. Rylan is struggling with his guilt over not believing Jaci and is very protective of her. The book also introduces us to some secondary characters including Jaci's estranged family and the sheriff, Mike who I really liked.

There was plenty of suspense, action and intrigue and of course a satisfying romance. I'm not sure where The Agency part falls into the book but I enjoyed it and would definitely read another in this series.

In Pretend You're Safe, Alexandra Ivy gives the reader a wonderful balance of romance and suspense. It is a disquieting story of an obsessed serial killer, the woman he stalks and the police officer who tries to stop him. I enjoyed the romance, finding the acts of stalking, “gift giving” terror filled actions to be handled so that I was not later kept awake scared thinking about it. That is a no-no for me, I don’t read books that do that but took a chance on Alexandra Ivy’s newest. Glad I did.

The tightly plotted novel is well done. I am more familiar with Alexandra Ivy’s paranormal books but she brings her attention to detail, along with her ability to create a setting that seems to come alive to this contemporary suspenseful romance. There are twists and turns in the story so that I did not guess who the stalker/murderer was until the end. The dangers draw your attention while the romance adds the right amount of spice.

This is a go-to author no matter the genre. Romance suspense readers will not be disappointed in this book.

This is one of those novels that had a really good and strong sounding premise, but somehow managed to fall short of the mark.

To begin with, there was so much unnecessary drama between Jaci and her family that took up more time than I felt was needed. The reader quickly understands the reason they are estranged, it doesn't need to be brought up time and again. Even the ending, instead of bringing some kind of closure to it seems to drag it on even more. I also feel like the constant changing points of view at times became confusing to the point where I had to go back and re-read certain passages to be sure of whom was speaking.

On the plus side, there were some great red-herrings in this story and the killer was someone I did not expect! In fact, I wasn't sure how the author was going to suddenly say oh hey by the way this person did it, but then it was all nicely wrapped up that made me think back and realize, yeah. I should have seen it coming.

Overall, I am sure this story may still appeal to those who enjoy thriller novels with a bit of romance thrown in.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

ARC - I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
Jaci is not strange to little "gifts" being left at her front door.
It has been awhile, then a flood unearthed a corpse + a skull
Now, all the fear from the past is coming back to Jaci.
Before they dismissed her claims that someone was stalking her.
Now that another "gift" is left at her front door, the authorities will have to take her seriously,
Ryan was just there to visit his father.
When he sees Jaci again, he is not sure what to do w/ all of these feelings.
As the danger around Jaci increase so is the attraction between Jaci + Ryan.
Will Ryan be able to protect Jaci from a killer ?
Loved the storytelling + the characters.

I am not the connoisseur of the hard bitten, gritty and overly dramatic mystery stories that are meant to scare so I was a little leery of reading this. However, knowing Alexandra Ivy's writing style is more reader friendly, I am glad to say that I was very happy to have received a copy through Netgalley. This is a small town, creeper/stalker story that will keep you guessing the "who-dun-it" right up to the end. Jaci has been terrorized for many years by a hanging locket. Add to this her "family", disbelieving authority figures and a new romance interest. With all of these elements, plus a flair for the dramatic and the romantic, this is one story I will be proud to add to my paperback library collection.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

Alexandra Ivy has written a lot of paranormal books. Since paranormal is not my Genre, I haven't read any of them. I have read and enjoyed her ARES Security series and This new series, The Agency, had a similar feel. "Pretend You're Safe" is a romance with a sinister suspense plot and it's good read. I am reading this book the weekend that Hurricane Harvey had inundated the Texas Gulf Coast and caused massive flooding in Houston. I say that because a pivotal plot point is the flooding of the Mississippi River in north east Missouri. The TV coverage has made it seem just that more real.

When Jaci Patterson was sixteen she attracted the attention of a physo/stalker/sicko who started to leave golden lockets with hair tied with a bloody ribbon. When she went to the Sheriff's office they didn't believe it was anything more than a prank or the Jaci was just out for attention. As the Mississippi River breaks its' levee a skull and body are washed into her neighbors field. Now, the "gifts" have started again. When Jaci left she thought her nightmare was behind her, but it seems that isn't the case.

Rylan Cooper was aware that Jaci had a crush on him and he went out of his way to discourage her. He was an arrogant deputy sheriff and he was convinced that Jaci was just an attention—seeking teen. This time around he is not going to make that mistake again. He also has grown up and come to realize that Jaci is more than just the girl next door and he will do whatever it takes to protect her and make her realize that they belong together.

This book was as hot as siriacha .you won't know who the killer was till near the end

I have been a long-time fan of Alexandra Ivy's Bayou Heat series and when I saw she was coming out with a romantic suspense novel, I HAD to read it! Well-written with characters I could identify with, the story kept me guessing. I liked how the author took time to develop Jaci and Rylan's relationship and I felt that the secondary characters were really strong. Definitely an enjoyable read!!

Sandy M’s review of Pretend You’re Safe (The Agency, Book 1) by Alexandra Ivy
Romantic Suspense published by Zebra 29 Aug 17

It’s been a while that I’ve read Alexandra Ivy. It’s the usual too many books and too little time, and I get behind in most series I read. So when I saw that she’s starting a new contemporary romantic suspense series, I thought maybe it’s time to read her work once again. Because I’ve had some bad luck trying to find a few good historicals to read lately, I figured I’d keep my successful string of contemp reading going with this book. I love it when I’m right.

The heavens have opened up on Heron, Missouri, and the banks of the Mississippi are overflowing, taking over crops and releasing hidden evil in the female body and unknown skull freely floating along with other debris. Gossip is widespread and the townsfolk are left with an uneasy feeling. Especially Jaci, because she’s the one in town who received an extra surprise – a bloodied locket at her front door, which is shades of her past she hoped was over. When she was sixteen, everyone patted her head and told her the lockets were a sick joke.
Now there’s people in her life who realize they should have taken her more seriously all those years ago.
One of those is Rylan Cooper – the boy Jaci wanted with her young heart but who left her without a backward glance, though it took every ounce of effort he had to do so. Rylan had his reasons, of course, but he’s rethinking every one of them now that he’s home. He misses his father and he certainly would like to be part of Jaci’s life, if only she’d forgive him for being the young idiotic fool he was back then. Rylan now has the resources to help local sheriff Mike O’Brien track down the serial killer who is making life frightening for the women around town, including Jaci.

It’s a good thing they can put aside their competition when it comes to Jaci, because the villain they’re after is one sleazy psychopathic scumbag. Ms. Ivy does an excellent job of getting his joy of killing across to the reader in short chapters from his point of view. That’s about all you can taken of him. She also keeps you on edge with giving the killer the ability to keep one step ahead of Rylan, Jaci, and Mike as they try to stop the next death.

There are plenty of suspects and the author gives you a good look at each of them, keeping you guessing until just the right time to reveal all. Rylan takes protecting Jaci very seriously, doing his job in placing high-tech surveillance equipment around her farm. He also takes getting back in her good graces – and ending up in her bed – just as seriously. Something she definitely needs after so many years of being on the wrong end of her family after her mother remarries the rich dude in town and pops out a couple of spoiled brats. I like that Rylan doesn’t back down in the face of Jaci’s chilliness toward him. It’s worth the wait when they finally come together.

I had hoped to see the next book may be about Mike and his prickly heroine, but that’s not to be yet. At least I hope so. I’m not sure where the series name came from, nothing so far about an agency of any kind, unless I’m just thinking about it differently than meant. But I do know the next book will be just as good as this one – Ms. Ivy has quite an evil and diabolical imagination!

Grade: A

More creepy than suspenseful (and not especially romantic), this serial-killer-comes-back novel is not my favorite I've read in the genre. I liked Jaci but the other characters were less appealing. Ivy has nailed the small town setting which can be stultifying as people try to climb out from under the expectations of others. This is a decent read but it didn't turn into a page turner for me. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

Jaci lives in her deceases grandparents' house in a small town in Mississippi. Her grandparents raised her after her mother decided she didn't want Jaci, and ended up marrying the richest man in town, and having a son and daughter. You would think Jaci would be bitter because of what her mother did, but she accepts it and lives her life on her own terms. She makes a living baking, and selling her products to the restaurants and businesses in town. When Jaci was in high school she had a stalker. He would leave lockets at her house. These lockets had blood and hair inside of them. No one took her seriously, and when she left for college, the lockets stopped. Now years later, her stalker is back after the authorities find the body of a woman after a bad storm that has caused flooding. She receives a locket, much like the one she was sent when she was a teenager. But this time, she isn't ignored. She has two men who want to protect her at all costs.

Ryan and Mike have known Jaci since they were teens. Mike is now the sheriff, and Ryan, who now owns a security business once had feelings for Jaci. But since both men didn't think her locket stalker was a big deal, they ruined their chances with her. Mike cares for Jaci but he's worried there is a serial killer loose targeting specific type of women, not like Jaci. Ryan wants to be Jaci's protector, to make up for how he treated her back when she was first targeted. As Mike investigates the unknown dead woman, including the missing beloved housekeeper of Jaci's mother, Ryan is working under the radar in another way to find out who the possible killer is. As Ryan and Jaci become close again, and she turns to him for comfort, the killer becomes angry because Jaci is his, and he won't stop until he owns her forever.

Pretend You're Safe is a solid romantic suspense. Both Mike and Ryan are very appealing heroes, and even though this may seem like a love triangle, that plot device is squashed as soon as Jaci pretty much decides who she wants to be with. She's a strong character who is very independent and very caring, even toward her mother and half-sister who treat her like a nuisance. Her spoiled half-brother is mentioned many time, but never seen, more as a red herring to keep the reader guessing as to who Jaci's stalker is. That didn't really work with the suspense angle overall, although we do get some insight on why Jaci's estranged family, and a more sympathetic side to her half-sister who isn't just some spoiled rich girl.

There are more than a few surprises and twists her. You won't figure out who the killer/stalker is until the very end. The outcome of the crime is resolved in a satisfactory way, including Jaci's HEA. Fans of romantic suspense will want to check out Pretend You're Safe.