First off I want to thank Montlake Romance/Amazon Publishing & Melinda Leigh for my free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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This was my first Melinda Leigh book and definitely not my last. I devoured this thriller/mystery novel like no other.
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This book is so well written, the details that Leigh incorporates into each sentence makes you feel like your in the story yourself. It had such a great buildup from beginning to end, it kept me on the edge and I needed to know what would happen. From the first page it's non stop suspense. I fell in love with Bree she is such an amazing, strong and selfless woman. Of course there's a little hint of romance.
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She will definitely be an auto buy author for me now. If you're a fan of slow build mysteries/suspense/thriller definitely pick this one up.

Bree has a past she needs to face and a town she is avoiding. When Bree goes back to her hometown to find out what happened to her sister things are brought from her past. Bree and Matt make a great team and I can't wait to watch that relationship unfold. This was a great first book in this new series. As Bree comes back to her old hometown to solve a murder and help her niece and nephew cope, she realizes that things can get worse and better. I look forward to seeing where this series goes.


*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Really enjoyed this book. I am a fan of Melinda Leigh. I like a book that has action, romance and a crime to solve. A great read.

5 stars !!!

Afreakingmazing!
This author is one my queens of suspense romance. She could no no wrong! The characters are well written., the suspense Keon’s me at the edge of my seat. The writing is perfect!

I've been reading more thriller and crime novels recently but with Cross Her Heart, I've surprisingly come back to my favourite genre; Romantic Suspense and new to me author Melinda Leigh.

After overcoming the tragedy during her childhood, homicide detective Bree Taggart's life is again turned upside down after her sister Erin's murder. The circumstances surrounding the death mirror those of the nightmare she lived through as a child. With her brother-in-law Justin, the prime suspect missing, Bree's determined to track him down to seek justice for her sister. When Justin's best friend turns up looking for him, he's convinced he is innocent. So as an ex-sheriff's investigator and K9 handler, he joins forces with Bree to find him…

When Matt Flynn learns about the murder of his best friend Justin's wife, he doesn't believe he's guilty even though the victim's sister believes he is. As both he and Bree Taggart are looking for the same man, they agree to join forces. Neither agrees the local sheriff's department will conduct a fair investigation, so will they be able to prove Justin is innocent or is he the murderer?

Both the protagonists have haunting backgrounds, a common link that binds them in the same way their law enforcement training does. I like the dynamic of them both operating "under the radar" and the mutual respect and trust they gain with each other. This creates a firm foundation to further develop their relationship as the series progresses. Unfamiliar with the writing style, I quickly found myself fully immersed within this fast-paced and exciting narrative. There's a perfect balance between action and emotions as the plot unfolds leaving a satisfying conclusion to the case and a glimpse of where the series is heading. 

One surprise is the lack of romance within the narrative, but subtle hints suggest the protagonists "like" each other. It's a start of what I hope is a slow-burn relationship and will, therefore, be eagerly awaiting future Bree Taggart instalments. 

***arc generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***

Another great book by Melinda Leigh.
Crime/family drama.
Set in Grey’s Hollow New York.
Bree Taggert, a homicide detective in North Philadelphia when she receives a message from her younger sister Erin.
Bree returns to Grey Hollow to find her sister has been murdered and her ex partner Justin has disappeared.
Bree and Justin’s best friend Matt Flynn set out to find the murderer and Justin.
Bree also finds herself looking after Erin’s children Kayla and Luke.
Lots of potential murderers, twists and turns.
I read this all in one go as I love Melinda’s book.
The ending paves the way for a series.

When Bree Taggert's sister Erin is murdered it brings back the memories of a tragic childhood blown apart by the murder of their parents. Now a homicide detective Bree is in a position to help investigate and together with an ex dog handler colleague Matt Flynn the hunt is on to uncover the killer. Was it Erin's ex Justin, who disappeared at the same time of the murder or is someone else responsible? This is a brilliant read that my held my attention with every page and made me reluctant to put it down. What a fantastic writer Melinda Leigh is. I can't wait to read more of her books!

Drop everything you've got going on because you have to read this book. Now. Absolutely heart pounding and unputdownable. I know how great a new book from Melinda Leigh is going to be so I am constantly telling my dog Fiona to cross her legs and wait a few because I can't put it down and neither will you. Happy reading!

This is the first book in a new series. Bree Taggert is a police officer. When she gets a call from her sister saying she’s in trouble she goes to help her only to find out she’s been murdered. She and her siblings survived a-tragedy that left both her parents dead.
Matt Flynn is a ex K 9 handler and best friends with Bree’s brother in law who is missing. This is a edgy thriller. Not much romance in this first book but the potential is there for a future relationship .Lots of new characters to fall in love with.A great mystery which Ms. Leigh always delivers.A superb start to a new favorite.

This is book 1 in the Bree Taggert series and I wasnt disappointed.

Melinda Leigh is an exceptional writer and it shows in all her books.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from the first page with all the thrills and mystery. 

It was a rather quick read also. I highly recommend this book

By the time Homicide Detective Bree Taggart gets a cell phone call from her sister, and she speeds to the small town where they grew up, it's too late. Her sister, Erin, is murdered, in a similar way to her memories of her parents' murder-suicide years before.

The only difference here is that Erin's husband, Justin, has disappeared.

Did he murder his wife ... or is he also a victim?

Justin's best friend, Matt Flynn, was once a sheriff's investigator. An on-the-job shooting left him unable to continue and is now a K-9 handler.

Bree and Matt team up to uncover the secrets of her sister's life ...and death .... but someone out there wants those secrets kept hidden and will do anything to keep Bree away from investigating.

I've always enjoyed this author's writing and stories ... and I was not disappointed here. If you enjoy romantic suspense, I highly recommend Melinda Leigh books. This one is well written .... suspense from the very start .... a budding romance ..... and an unexpected ending. I look forward to see where Bree goes from here.

Many thanks to the author / Montlake Romance / Amazon Publishers / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

4.5 Stars

Bree Taggert and her siblings Erin & Adam survived a violent and traumatic night that left both her parents dead. Bree has made it a point to not return to the town where they all grew up because of those bad memories but when her sister calls and says she is in trouble she gets in the car. Unfortunately, Bree arrives too late and Erin is murdered, Erin's estranged husband, Justin, has vanished, and Erin's two children are devastated. Bree vows to avenge Erin's death by finding who murdered her sister. What she doesn't count on is running interference from Matt Flynn the ex deputy and K-9 handler who is Justin's friend. Bree and Matt agree to look into the murder together. The suspense and twist builds from the beginning and does not let go until it unravels at the end. The writing is descriptive, smart, with likable and truly unlikeable characters and enough intensity to keep you guessing. I liked how Bree & Matt's friendship evolved and will likely develop into something more. This was a great romantic suspense can't wait for more in the series!

Cross Her Heart. Melinda Leigh

Grips you by the throat from the first page.

This is a fast paced thriller with convincing characters: an excellent start to a new series. As well as a cracking good story it lays a solid foundation for further books.

Bree Taggert, homicide detective with Philadelphia PD, has a troubled past which we learn about in chapter one. Neither she nor her sister and brother have been able to let go of the traumatic events of their childhood but they each find a way to live with the past.

When Bree receives a call from her sister back in Grey’s Hollow she knows in her gut that something is badly wrong. Dropping everything she takes her accrued leave and makes the five hour drive back home. She is not prepared for what she finds.

Matt Flynn is an ex cop, medically retired - injured in the line. Rather than take a desk job he took a pay out, partly in the form of his K9, Brody. His best friend, Justin, is married to although separated from Bree’s sister, Erin but when Matt goes to Justin’s house to find him it is not Justin he finds.

Time is not on their side and together Bree and Matt juggle their commitments and form their own team to track down a killer and find Justin. With al the skills to help the department they work parallel to rather than beside the local cops. There is an issue of trust there.

The story ends with a thrilling climax and the hint of a budding romance. I look forward to the next in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. I was lucky enough to read I all in one day, I just couldn't do anything else until I had read the whole book.

What a great start to a new series! A fast paced police procedural/mystery that keeps you on your toes until the very end. Filled with real characters that I’d like to meet, this book was well plotted and I’m looking forward to seeing more of Bree Taggert and Matt Flynn in the future ... much more!

Cross Her Heart’s storyline is riveted with Intrigue, surprises, romance, and relationships between Bree Taggart’s family and friends. Leigh’s new series focuses on Bree’s difficult past and how it molds her present and future. Leigh provides details background on her main characters as she develops her plots and subplots.

The author takes the time to introduce the support characters as they enter the storyline. She gives her readers background details and providing additional information in her well-developed storyline. Readers will enjoy meeting Dana Romano, Bree’s retiring partner, Matthew Flynn, a former Sherriff’s deputy injured in the line of duty, and Brody, a former K-9 who was also injured in the line of duty. Leigh weaves these friends of Bree using several twists and turns of her fast-moving storyline.

Cross Her Heart grabs the attention of readers from the beginning pages to last pages providing thought-provoking actions leading to the awesome ending. Leigh’s new Bree Taggart series first book, Cross Her Heart is great to read and full of life experiences. The new series is must read and earns a five-star rating.

Another book where the description screams of a good read... But then it's standard.

With the thriller market being crammed to the brim, you need novel's that are standout and unforgettable.

Unfortunately I've already forgotten this novel.

I hope for so much but honestly it was just another standard crime novel

I have taken a turn from romance reading (not entirely, I'm still knee-deep) and branched out to detective mysteries and have been very entertained.  Cross Her Heart is the start of a new series for Melinda Leigh and its star Bree Taggert.  Bree is a detective with the Philadelphia police, Bree is not close with her siblings having moved away from her hometown and the tragedy of her parent's murder/suicide as soon as she could.  After she gets an urgent call from her normally calm sister, she returns to town and her murder.  

Cross Her Heart grabs you from the first page and keeps your attention through every page.  Bree is a great character.  Well developed and real feelings, you immediately connect with the detective who has the weight of her past on her mind and now the weight of her sister's children and murder on her shoulders.  The male lead spot is taken by Matt, a medically retired cop who is friends with Bree's sister's estranged spouse and is determined to show that his friend is not a murderer.  Another strong character, well written and easily relatable. 

Leigh keeps the suspense taut with a myriad of suspects and a solid investigation that offers little by way of clues but keeps you guessing until the end. There are heartbreaking scenes with the devastated family and intense scenes with suspects. A great procedural with a nice balance between the characters and the action.

Cross Her Heart
Melinda Leigh

Could not put this down! Definitely 5* from me. Read win 24 hours 🤦‍♀️

I’ve not read any of Melinda Leigh novels before, she is an accomplished writer..... and you can tell from the way she writes that she is considered in her approach.

This new series started with a bang and kept you guessing right up until the end. Can’t wait until the next one comes out.

Bree Taggert, now a homicide detective, and her siblings had a difficult and violent start in life, their father killed their mother and committed suicide. Well that’s what Bree remembers. As orphans they were split up and this had a huge impact on all of their lives, in particular Bree who was placed with a cousin as her grand parents couldn’t handle her.

‘“Mommy and Daddy are fighting.” A slap sounded down the hall, and Bree flinched. “Would you send the police?” “The police are coming,” the lady said. “I’m going to talk with you until they arrive.” “OK.” Bree sniffed and wiped her nose with her sleeve. Snot was running down her face. She hated to cry in front of Daddy. It just made him madder, but she couldn’t help it.’

‘Even without seeing what happened, she knew that nothing would ever be OK again.’

Bree has built a good life in Philadelphia and I loved her detective partner Dana, who was about to retire. Great cook. Erin, Bree’s sister, leaves a call for help message on her mobile, however she is too late returning home, as when she got to Grey’s Hollow she found out that Erin had been murdered.

All of the characters were great, Matt Flynn in particular, they built a great relationship and worked well together with Todd to find out who had murdered Erin. Bree had issues with Brody, Matt’s K-9, who was very loyal, she was bitten by one of her dad’s dogs on her leg and shoulder which haunted her and made it hard for her to be around dogs. The way she builds the personalities of Erin’s children is great too.

A joy to read, the way in which Leigh has plotted and built the foundations for this series is incredibly clever. Everything about the characters and environment is engaging, believable and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

‘Go ahead life. Bring it on!’ And a little bit of romance is in the air!

I did pick up a couple of errors, well which i felt were errors, which I’m sure will be sorted before publishing day on the 17th March.

This is a solid first installment of a new series centered around a police detective, Bree, and a retired K9 unit officer, Matt. Bree has an emotional past with her siblings and when her sister calls in a panic this sets the case in motion. Matt is coping with his life after the force. An injury sidelined him and he’s putting things together to figure out who he can trust.

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was nice to see some new characters from this author. I liked getting to know Bree and Matt. While the case itself wasn’t my favorite, I would definitely try another book with this couple because I could see romance building as the series continues.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Melinda Leigh’s work, as this fits the usual tone, character development, and case structure. I think this is a good first read for those interested in the author’s backlist as it’s a starting point in a new series and has the author’s usual features.