This is the first book I have read in the series and I will be checking out the first book. I liked this book it was well written and held my interest all the way through. I really liked Jack and Hannah they were really real likable characters they both have their issue's that still affect them but they had lots of chemistry this was a really interesting read if you like a good chunk suspense with your romance then you will enjoy this book.

Losing her partner and the man she loved was hard for FBI agent Hannah Cambridge. However, when she discovers he's not dead, she's forced to work alongside him to hunt down a dangerous killer that has set his sights on Hannah. Will Hannah and Jack be able to work together in order to catch a dangerous killer or will they butt heads too much and lose their shot at happy ever after?

After reading the first book of this series, I was looking forward to what Ms. Rafferty would come up with next when it comes to this series and I've got to say that this story was even better than the first. Really, and it's because of the highly entertaining dialogue that encompassed a fairly good dose of suspense and romance; and two incredible characters that have quite the past and face some tough obstacles to be together. Will Hannah be willing to let Jack back into her life, especially after what he did? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where things get very interesting because the heroine wasn't expecting him to walk back into her life again. Will she be able to understand why he did what he did?

As for the dialogue, it was entertaining and intense due to the main characters back stories, their past history and everything these two go through on their journey to happy ever after because of the threat to the heroine's life and whether she can escape the killer's determination to put an end to her life. Will Jack be able to protect Hannah? Moreover, I absolutely loved both the main characters because of their past history, their determination to get to the bottom of who is responsible for the deaths and the obstacles they face to be together. Will they find the killer before it's too late?

With the heroine, she's feisty, courageous, resilient and I liked how much of a challenge she provided for the hero because there's no way she'll sit on the sidelines while he investigates. Not while someone is threatening her life and could take her away from the one person that needs her most. I also liked that she put her trust in Jack, especially after what's happened between them to make her mad at him. Yet, what I liked most of all was how far she was willing to go to protect the one person she cares about most. Then again, that decision could prove deadly. While the hero, he's confident, driven and I liked how determined he was to protect the heroine because she's the most important person to him. I also liked how determined he was to win back her trust, which it's palpable from the moment they come face-to-face will take time. Really, she has every right to be angry. Yet, what I liked most of all about the hero was how accepting he was of the heroine's news, which makes him see how selfish his past decisions were.

Overall, Ms. Rafferty has delivered another superb read for this series where the chemistry between Jack and Hannah was intense and it's palpable that it was just as strong now as it was in the past; the romance was special and delightful because Hannah never imagined she'd be reunited with the man she once loved; and the ending had me worried for the main characters because of the danger they face, but had me loving how things work out for the best between them because they deserve their second chance after all that they've been through. However, it was the epilogue that makes things interesting for the next book of this series, of which I'm so looking forward to. I would recommend Catch a Killer by Kris Rafferty, if you enjoy romantic suspense, the second chance romance trope or books by authors AJ Nuest, Gerry Bartlett, Laura Griffin and Allison B. Hanson.

~~Reviewed by Danae~~

WOW!! This book is a great page-turner. There is adventure, mystery, fear, romance, betrayed feelings, and yet there is a terrible sense of yearning for belonging. There is everything that is needed in a great book.

Hannah and Jack had been a couple before the undercover op was too much for Jack to turn down. He needed space from Hannah because the emotions were HIGH and suddenly there was a need for space. The space came with a big secret that Hannah was forced to keep from Jack. There is a raw sexual tension between Hannah and Jack, but will they be able to Catch a Killer while trying to win each other back. There are still secrets that must be discussed but will there be enough time to get all of the secrets out before time runs out for Hannah?

“We weren’t secret. We were discreet,” he said. “I didn’t want our personal lives to be part of the gossip mill.” WOW! Can you say mega jack-wagon?! However, you can’t help but notice the unspoken desire between Jack and Hannah but can Jack win Hannah over given the past that they share? Can love truly overpower the past enough to bring these two back together?

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book

I’m stumped. I really thought I’m going to like this book. Hannah was a strong woman that trying to survive amidst her PTSD and left-over altered hormones from her pregnancy. Despite her tendency for leaky eyes at almost every moments, I rooted for her. Even if her other tendency to jump Jack and melted under his touch despite her intention not to get back together with him bordered on unprofessional and her big weakness. But she kept weaving from strong portrayal to downright gullibility and pig-headed impulse. An FBI agent with seven year active duty on her belt, not to mention a former task force team leader!

The MCs’ tendency to jump each other bones aside, “Catch A Killer” was actually rather interesting and off to a good start. Not much a poetry reader myself, I had zilch clue when the protagonist talked back and forth discussing the stanza. I did had a hunch on who the killer was and my suspicion was proven correct, ahem! I got to hand it to the author for her ploy in raising ball game with a couple of harmless incidents, so that when the actual strike hit the outcome was almost devastating.

That saying, I wonder if the author hate her own heroine or something. The last few chapters struck me as her becoming unhinged and reacted like loose canon. Now I understand her loyalty, but THE CASE!!! As a former task force leader, shouldn’t her focus taking necessary step - not emotional - to make sure the perp taken care of? Now instead of celebrating a kickass heroine, I was left with the impression of an overwrought female agent.

And don’t get me started on the hero or his decision of giving space by going AWOL because he assumed... The fast paced story didn’t really show any redeeming quality Jack had other than his prowess in bed (or at the door, wall, whatever surface sufficient for sex act...). The book hinted he was a top notched agent - I just didn’t find it here.

I better stop here before my rants cutting the book rating further. But bummer, what a waste. Way to go torpedoing my budding anticipation, book.


Copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
The characters + storytelling were very captivating
When Hannah is told that Jack was dead.
It almost destroy her, except their baby saved her.
Jack was undercover, and he did not know that Hannah thought he was dead.
Now in the flesh, Jack will have to deal w/ the repercussion of his actions.
The storytelling + the character's build were awesome!
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!

This was a nice little read that was quite entertaining while it lasted, but did not stick with me after I finished it.
I liked the characters, the mystery and the romance, but I really wasn't a fan of how the conflict arose in the first place. Completely unnecessary if you ask me, and therefore really frustrating.

So while isn't the most remarkable, profound book of all times, it's an enjoyable, easy read that will keep you pleasantly occupied during your summer vacation.

Review by Amanda for Love Romance Books Blog

Rating: 4

I've read both books in the Secret Agents series and I appreciated that the books were very different from each other. Some of the characters overlapped, but not the main characters. You shouldn't need to read the first book to enjoy the second.

I would recommend this book to readers who like romantic suspense stories.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Catch a Killer by Kris Rafferty that I read and reviewed.
This was a really good book that was full of hot romance and suspense. I loved how the author kept the reader guessing who the killer was until the very end. I also can say that the romance scorched the pages from the start as well. If you are looking for a book that is the full package this is it.
I am giving Catch a Killer five out of five stars.

This is the first time in reading this author with the story catching my eye. Tempt me with a good suspense romance and you wont see me for awhile. This one did just that with Hannah getting the start of capturing my attention but then comes jack. This one was a odd one with the mystery and drama high in the ratings good at pushing your button of the 5 w"s. As the answers are pulled out you disappear in this one with the two of them. With the twist this one had you also kept a close eye on it. I do know this author could get me sinked into another one of her novels thanks to the writing skills.

Kris Rafferty is a new-to-me author, but I intend to remedy that posthaste. Her newest release, CATCH A KILLER, is the second installment in the Secret Agent series, and it is thrilling and romantic, and just a great story.

Hannah Cambridge and Jack Benton are FBI agents and partners, and for two years, they were lovers. Only, the more emotionally involved they got, the warier they became.

A year ago, they’d had an argument and Jack left … and then he was murdered by a mobster. And Hannah had to see the burned-beyond-recognition body of who she thought was her lover and her team thought was the body of her partner. Fearful of the same mobster making an attempt on her life, she uprooted everything and relocated to Boston — because the baby she was carrying was the last connection to the man she loved.

But even in Boston, Hannah can’t escape her past with Jack, because on the same morning her team discovers she’s the next target on a serial killer’s hitlist, Jack rolls in with his team … not only alive and thriving, but with the intention of benching her and taking over the investigation.

Jack’s hasty decision to accept an undercover role drastically changed the trajectory of both their lives. The assignment was with an organized-crime family, and for him to successfully leave his FBI post in D.C., it was necessary to burn all bridges.

What Jack interpreted as argumentative and distant was Hannah’s process for working out how to tell him she was pregnant. The mood swings would’ve been obvious had he known, but he fell back on the bad habits of his father — or rather, using his father’s bad habits as an excuse to get out of what he thought was the final vestiges of a messy relationship. He took the coward’s way out, but then again, so did Hannah. For two badass FBI special agents who race into danger to save strangers and thwart evil plots, they sure are cowardly when it comes to showing their cards.

Rafferty has crafted an enthralling story where neither the romance nor the suspense is ancillary. Rather, both elements are wholly dependent on each other. Jack’s reassignment forced Hannah to relocate, which wreaked havoc on her physically and emotionally, and set her in the cross hairs of a serial killer. Then Jack’s return upset the killer’s routine but forced a reconciliation (of sorts) with “the only woman he’d ever loved.” There’s a lot of fine details here, but they’re laid out logically, emotionally and nerve-rackingly. Not everybody gets a second chance, and Jack intends to grab every opportunity he can to prove to Hannah how much he loves her. Love is not for the weak of heart, y’all. Thank goodness Rafferty’s got a backlist … it’s summertime, and my TBR pile has just grown exponentially.

*Originally published with USA Today's Happy Ever After: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2018/06/14/dolly-r-sickles-recommended-romantic-suspense-catch-a-killer-kris-rafferty/.

The stakes have never been higher, and the excitement and tension are palpable. Add to that a love story with its own twist and turns. A must read.

The Next Target…This is a good romantic suspense. While there is a sex scene early on, this actually does fit in with the story. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. While Hannah, a FBI agent, is surprised to find out that she is the next serial killer target, she is stunned to find the love of her life back from the dead. This is my honest and voluntarily given review.. This book contains mystery, romance, steam, and some amusing moments. While I find some situations hard to believe, I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed seeing Hannah and Jack draw back together while solving this mystery. I found this a light, fun read.

An intense and riveting story of the investigation to a serial killer, who is now targeting one of the FBI agents on the case. The lines of personal and professional diminish as FBI Special Agent Hannah Cambridge's assumed-to-be-dead lover, Jack Benton, walks into the room to take over the case.
I am new with my fandom of Kris Rafferty, this is my second book by her and the second book in the series. I am having such a great time with the series, too. I find the whole cast and crew interesting, I want to know more about them, I am definitely invested in the series, and connecting with the characters on the emotional level.
The story is told more of the investigative point of view, even though it does have few bursts of action on the field. The collecting and studying of the clues were interesting, mind-boggling, and fervent as the killer's crime spree escalates. To witness the interaction of the task force was energetic, there was so much tension, eagerness to find the killer, mixed with the personal feelings and emotional blow-ups, the investigation room was like a kettle ready to boil over and I loved it.
Hannah was such a complex character, she is strong, capable, and able. She is tough and rough yet sweet and loving, passionate yet tender. Its like she had these two sides in her that seemed to be contradicting each other, and her emotions were all over the place at times, understandably, since she was still hormonal from the birth of her baby, the serial killer was targeting her, and the assumed dead lover just walked into the room.
Jack made one huge mistake a year ago, a mistake he paid even more than he knew at the time. His childhood had messed him up emotionally. He was insecure when it came to feelings, his inability to see that Hannah loved him made him walk away. Jack's mistake was a big one, the reasons behind it questionable, but he was honest, humble, and sincere when he admits his mistakes and begs for another chance. I loved how Jack's vulnerable and tender side was shown as much as his tough, rough, protective, alpha male side was. Both Hannah and Jack were easy to like, I found them endearing, dare I say as talking about the toughest of the bunch. The chemistry was hot and sizzling between them. The beginning of the story took me by surprise, to say the least. But there was not only chemistry between them, there was also a true, sincere, and real connection, that got even tighter as the story goes on.
The intriguing, sharp, engaging, and enthralling suspense in a middle of human tragedies, mixed with second chances in an ardent love story about forgiveness, growth, and learning to love, it took me for a wild ride that kept me up till late at night with the need to know whodunnit and who will survive the vicious killer.
A breathtaking addition to the series, where each book can easily to be read as a standalone novel. Fastly entertaining, fierce romantic suspense, perfect summer reading material!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Phenomenal!

Holy cow....I could not put this book down. It had me hooked from chapter one. There is so much emotion and intensity with many surprises.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Hannah Cambridge is an FBI agent heading a task force that could make or break her career, they are searching for a serial killer on the prowl. The search becomes more urgent when Hannah is revealed as his next victim.

Hannah is trying to rebuild her life after losing her partner, but more tragically her lover, Jack Benton, to murder. She moved to Boston, pregnant and after a rough few months delivered a healthy baby girl. No one knows about Ellen, except her best friend, fellow agent Natalie, and her neighbor Mrs. Branaghan who babysits for her. Suddenly a turn in the serial killer case with Hannah now in the picture, new agents are brought in. Suddenly Jack Benton, the man she thought was dead for the past year is standing in front of her alive and well.
Not only that, he wants to take over her case.

Jack had gone deep undercover a year ago, faking his own death. He expected his SAC to explain to Hannah what had happened. He didn’t, and now Jack is trying to make it up to her and protect her life at the same time. Hannah is irate, and refuses to give him an inch. But she now knows he has to know about Ellen, and she’s terrified.

Hannah is strong, not a victim, a survivor. I admired her strength and refusal to let go of what she knew was her task force. Jack definitely had his faults, running undercover instead of confronting what seemed to him a failing relationship, was a big one. But his love and protection for Hannah and Ellen made up for it.

This is an exciting romantic suspense, with lots of surprises and the killer remained a mystery to me till the very end. I actually read this story a second time while preparing this review! I also purchased the first in the series, even though Catch a Killer can be read as a stand-alone. This was a first time read for me, but I’m looking forward to reading more of Ms. Rafferty’s stories.

Catch a Killer by Kris Rafferty
Secret Agents #2

FBI Special Agent Hannah Cambridge has had a very bad no good horrible year. She is exhausted from long nights dealing with an infant, in charge of a big investigation, is still grieving and then…the man she is grieving for shows up alive one day. She reacts a wee bit unpredictably when she sees him, waffles a bit about how she feels, has hormonal fluctuations due to postpartum changes and at times behaves – in my opinion – recklessly.

The chemistry between Hannah and back-from-the-dead Agent Jack Benton is still strong but there is a lot of air that needs to be cleared before they can achieve their HEA…oh…and a whack job serial killer rather unlike many I have seen that needs to definitely be dealt with.

I liked some of the supporting characters, disliked the killer and am eager to find out what will happen with Cynthia Deming and Charlie Faulkes in the next book. I wonder if there will be more about Vivian & Gilroy, too, and if Fergusson might end up with a lady someday.

Did I enjoy the book? Yes
Did I find it believable? Perhaps and perhaps not so much
Did I like this or the first book in the series better? Preferred the first book
Do I want to read the next book in the series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Press for the ARC - This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

DNF @ 11%, so no rating. (Except on Netgalley where I have to if I want this to count for my feedback ratio.)

This book is very info-dumpy for a contemporary, and it almost gave me whiplash as it caught me up with the heroine's life. It also did a lot of telling instead of showing - for example I was told the heroine called her friend and had a conversation instead of hearing said conversation, which would have given me a chance to know the heroine better. While I only read to 11%, I did scan to about 50%, where we were still on the same day, and I just could not understand the heroine's motivations, or the hero's. He took the easy way out a year ago instead of manning up with the heroine, and I guess, for me, there was no coming back from that. Sadly, I found this book was not for me.

Hannah Cambridge's life was broken when she lost her FBI partner Jack, who was also the man she loved and the father of her unborn child. After moving from D.C. to Boston and ungoing a difficult pregnancy, her maternity leave is over and she is back to work, trying to catch a serial killer. She is taking pains to keep her baby a secret so that the man who killed Jack won't be able to kill her baby. Imagine her shock when Jack returns as her new boss and he is far from dead. He doesn't even have amnesia. In fact, he deliberately didn't say good-bye to her when he left for a year-long undercover assignment. Now Jack wants her off the case and she is reeling the news that he didn't seem to love her enough to even let her know why he left. Jack has the surprise of learning that he is a father.

The serial killer is murdering people who seem to have no connection. Hannah and her team are stumped. As the reader, the villain is obvious from the beginning, but not the motive. As Hannah and Jack work together to figure out who and why, the motive becomes known as well as how the victims are chosen, right before the killer makes her move on the two of them.

This is an interesting who-dunnit, although it requires willingness to refrain from making "that wouldn't happen in real life" comments. I won't point those out, as the reader will know exactly which places I am referencing. The ending is satisfying although the last few pages clearly lead to another book. I am not sure if this is a Book 1 or a continuation in a series, but it has a good enough quality and plot development that I would read the next book. This has a June 12 release date, so preorder now!

Hannah Cambridge is now living with her infant daughter in Boston, after leaving D.C and trying to put the past behind her. The death of her partner and lover, her pregnancy this move is good. Working on a case that has turned into a serial killer case and she's targeted as the next victim. The FBI and task force she's working with has brought in a new lead agent to oversee the case since Hannah is now underproductive custody, but refuses to leave the case. When she meets the new agent in charge, her whole world tilts on it's axis. Into the room walks Jack Benton, her deceased partner, lover and father to her baby girl. She reacts as I would have, she tries to knee him in the groin. Go in for the kill girl! I would have done the same thing. Jack fends off her minor offense without attracting too much attention and immediately starts taking charge. I have to say right from the start I didn't like Jack. At all. The only time I liked Jack was when he held his daughter for the first time. That was strictly hormones on my part. He was a bossy, know it all and gave Hannah's team an undue amount of crap. Pulling the jealousy card every time someone looked at her didn't work for me. Hannah had a lot to overcome in this book. Not only being a target but dealing with Jack, trying to solve this case, which she refused to give up on and her protective instincts as a mother. Kris is a master at writing these twisty turning books that have you flipping pages and when you think maybe you... yeah, you don't. There's an incredible amount of tension in this book, from many sides, it's a great plot, great flow and I couldn't have asked for more. It was fantastic. I look forward to the next book in this series.

*arc from NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

an interesting story that is well wrote with enough romance to capture the avid romance reader's attention, whilst enough suspense that it is not a whole hearted romance. the characters are strong willed and relatable enough that it draws you in and makes you want to find out what happens in the end. Jack with his insecurities and past to make up for whilst Hannah as her own past and traumas to overcome what with Jack returning from the 'dead'.
the storyline is that of any cop-killer storyline whilst their is nothing that jumps out and makes it dramatically different, it has its own gasps and cringes that keep you engrossed and devouring page after page until you reach the end and just want to say oh my god!!
well worth a read.