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Jacob #1
Jacob’s War
ATF Special Agent, Allison Jacob has never had an assignment like this. Formerly undercover, she now leads a task force that has trailed meth from the Mexican border to Wisconsin. Teamed up with the Milwaukee Police Special Crimes Unit, they fight a daily battle with drugs, sex crimes, and murders, but her investigation has hit a wall—on the streets and within her organization.
In the worst blizzard of the year, the latest victim unexpectedly shows up at AJ’s office. Bright and attractive, small business owner Katie Blackburn angrily relates her experience during the interview when, unknowingly, Katie gives AJ the break she’s desperately needed.
Immediately, Katie presents another kind of battle for AJ. Just as she took the oath to keep America safe, AJ’s heart begins to feel the same oath for Katie. AJ knows drugs don’t care who handles them, but she does. It’s her job and her war.
In the worst blizzard of the year, the latest victim unexpectedly shows up at AJ’s office. Bright and attractive, small business owner Katie Blackburn angrily relates her experience during the interview when, unknowingly, Katie gives AJ the break she’s desperately needed.
Immediately, Katie presents another kind of battle for AJ. Just as she took the oath to keep America safe, AJ’s heart begins to feel the same oath for Katie. AJ knows drugs don’t care who handles them, but she does. It’s her job and her war.
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2012
10 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
C.P. Rowlands
5 books22 followersBorn and raised in the Midwest, C.P. Rowlands attended college in Iowa and lived in the southwest and on the west coast before returning to Wisconsin. She is an artist in addition to having worked in radio, sales, and various other jobs. She has two children, four grandchildren, a partner of many years, and some critters. All in all, it’s a happy life. (from the author's website)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 19, 2018
3.75 Stars. I have had this book in my library for years but never got to read it. With the sequel finally coming out, six years after this was first released, it gave me the kick to finally read this. This was a good action-crime book. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It does have some romance, but this is more a crime book.
What really made this book shine for me were the characters. Not only were the two mains very likeable, but the secondary characters were good too. While I could have used more chemistry between the two mains, the fact that I liked them so much, made me believe in them as a potential couple.
It looks like the new book will have the mains from this one in it, but it appears one of the secondary characters I liked so much might actually be the main star. I’m looking forward to reading Jacob's Grace and would recommend this book to action-crime fans.
What really made this book shine for me were the characters. Not only were the two mains very likeable, but the secondary characters were good too. While I could have used more chemistry between the two mains, the fact that I liked them so much, made me believe in them as a potential couple.
It looks like the new book will have the mains from this one in it, but it appears one of the secondary characters I liked so much might actually be the main star. I’m looking forward to reading Jacob's Grace and would recommend this book to action-crime fans.
August 17, 2018
Katie Blackburn's night is thrown into turmoil when she gets to her car to find a bleeding, near-death woman in the back. It only gets worse when the victim is found to be a major player in a drug manufacturing-and-dealing organisation. After a long night at the police station she is finally interviews by Allison Jacob, the ATF agent in charge of the task force trying to shut down the Milwaukee drug trade.
What follows is a great crime & suspense story with a little bit of romance thrown in. The romance isn't an after-thought and it is woven in right from the beginning but it isn't an overwhelming part of the novel. Both AJ and Katie haven't had great relationship experiences and find it surprising that they open up to each other so easily. Their communication is one of the things I liked most in the story. The tension is brought into the crime aspect of the book which I really appreciate because miscommunication really irritates me.
I read this in anticipation of a second book but I have a feeling that it won't be necessary to read this in order to understand or enjoy Jacob's Grace. This was a complete story in terms of both crime and romance. Good read.
What follows is a great crime & suspense story with a little bit of romance thrown in. The romance isn't an after-thought and it is woven in right from the beginning but it isn't an overwhelming part of the novel. Both AJ and Katie haven't had great relationship experiences and find it surprising that they open up to each other so easily. Their communication is one of the things I liked most in the story. The tension is brought into the crime aspect of the book which I really appreciate because miscommunication really irritates me.
I read this in anticipation of a second book but I have a feeling that it won't be necessary to read this in order to understand or enjoy Jacob's Grace. This was a complete story in terms of both crime and romance. Good read.
May 7, 2013
C.P. Rowlands has another winner on her hands. An excellent and realistic police procedural about drug dealers and killers. I like how the author's characters always felt like real people in real jobs rather than some hot shot spy with drop dead looks and even deadlier hooks. She is an excellent story teller and her plot is very well done. Also like the attention given to the secondary characters (not too much, but just enough insight for them to appear to me as people rather than caricatures). I also love the way the author uses the secondary characters' interactions with the leads to get more out of their backgrounds. She never needs to tell us what her characters did, felt and what they went through....we get to know them gradually througout the book. Nothing (plot, characters, baggage) felt contrived or over the top. My only gripe with the plotting has to do with the bad guys. They aren't very smart if they're trying to stay under police radar. But thats nitpicking. I loved the cover too!
That said, there is something about the author's prose that doesn't give me that emotional high that I've come to enjoy with all the books that I give a 5/5 rating to.. I like my emotional strings yanked every which way. Even with her previous work, Lake Effect Snow, Ms. Rowlands prose felt rather bland ('dry' seems too strong a word). But this is just my personal preference.
That said, there is something about the author's prose that doesn't give me that emotional high that I've come to enjoy with all the books that I give a 5/5 rating to.. I like my emotional strings yanked every which way. Even with her previous work, Lake Effect Snow, Ms. Rowlands prose felt rather bland ('dry' seems too strong a word). But this is just my personal preference.
February 28, 2015
Decent book, but I felt it could REALLY have used a second or third edit. No spelling mistakes, but a lot of unneccessary narrative fluff that didn't move ahead either the love story or the mystery.
Nor, honestly, does the core mystery make much sense. The final villainous reveal really makes no sense and doesn't appear backed up by anything in earlier chapters of the book.
Basically, it's a OK read it you don't THINK about it too much.
Nor, honestly, does the core mystery make much sense. The final villainous reveal really makes no sense and doesn't appear backed up by anything in earlier chapters of the book.
Basically, it's a OK read it you don't THINK about it too much.
January 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Crime is one of my favourite genres within the mainstream authors. I enjoyed the storyline with me guessing what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the characters of Katie & AJ and the secondary characters also especially Grace.
I read these books back to front. I read the sequel when it was released last year and didn't even realise I had this one on my kindle.
I enjoyed both books but I think I liked the second book Jacob's Grace a little better than this one.
I read these books back to front. I read the sequel when it was released last year and didn't even realise I had this one on my kindle.
I enjoyed both books but I think I liked the second book Jacob's Grace a little better than this one.
July 28, 2025
When I read a romantic thriller I want some romance and some thrill. This was OK but the romance was very much on the back burner and the thrill rather underdone too. It was an OK read but lacked true threat and drama. I have the sequel (Jacob’s Grace) and shall read that soon whilst the characters are still fresh in my mind. Hopefully that will deliver rather more in the romantic thriller department…
November 5, 2025
There were a few moment where I thought: c'mon, didn't you hear what she said ?!?!?!? If not the non-cop MC, then the cop with her, whos job is to listen _very_ carefully. Or where I was questioning if a person knew what he's responsibilities are...
But otherwise I found the crime interesting, good storytelling, great interactions, feelings, good chemistry between both MC's and also between the sidekicks, all the jazz. I'm glad I read it.
But otherwise I found the crime interesting, good storytelling, great interactions, feelings, good chemistry between both MC's and also between the sidekicks, all the jazz. I'm glad I read it.
November 4, 2018
I enjoyed the fast pace this book sets and the characters are interesting.
April 24, 2019
Interesting book, 2.75*.
June 9, 2023
Not impressed with the writing of this book. Too much trying to take place and all of it was jumbled and unrealistic. None of the characters were overly likable or believable.
November 9, 2012
RTF Special Agent Allison Jacob, (AJ) is on a special assignment. She’s heading up a task force to bring the leaders down of a drug running racket in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her team is working side by side with the Milwaukee Special Crimes Unit. Unfortunately, the investigation has ground to a halt.
Attractive small business owner, Katie Blackburn, gets a terrible shock when she finds a woman covered in blood and unconscious in her car. When Katie goes to the police station to be interviewed, she meets AJ for the first time. AJ has no way of knowing that Katie unknowingly will give her the key to solving her case.
AJ is quite smitten with Katie. But she’s been badly hurt before. Even if AJ is willing to risk a broken heart, she knows she can’t risk Katie getting hurt. Her job is too risky, drugs, murder and mayhem are not exactly conducive to the well being of any relationship. Katie herself has issues from a previous relationship that had gone beyond sour. Will either women consider taking a chance on love again?
Jacob’s War is the long awaited third book from C.P Rowlands. Each book is entirely different in content. Here we have a well written, exciting adventure with a nice tender romance simmering away just for good measure.
Both main characters, AJ and Katie, are well formed and multidimensional. They have a lot in common, which could give them a solid foundation for taking a chance with one another. Katie’s father had been a policeman, which means that Katie knows the score where AJ’s job is concerned. But it could also be a reason she may not want to take a chance with AJ knowing the toll her father’s job took on her parent’s relationship. They have a strong circle of friends and colleagues that play an equally important part in progressing the story forward at a brisk, but not too fast, pace. The story twists and turns and veers off in different directions throughout making it the page turner it is.
The plot is intricately woven with the romance blossoming through with just the right balance, with a touch of humor added in, bringing a bit of light heartedness to a compelling story. In fact, when I was sitting thinking of how to describe this book, the thought flashed through my mind that it was like having a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces were there to be found. It was certainly intriguing following the team as they came across the pieces and slotted them together.
C.P Rowlands has done a tremendous amount of research and it shows. I’m no authority on police procedural matters or drugs. But the story reads as both logical and authentic to me.
I started this book late at night. That was a big mistake. I was up half the night because I couldn’t put it down. I would advise starting this book early and allowing the time to savor it.
This is a definite re-read. I have heard of the possibility of a sequel. It can’t be published too soon.
Attractive small business owner, Katie Blackburn, gets a terrible shock when she finds a woman covered in blood and unconscious in her car. When Katie goes to the police station to be interviewed, she meets AJ for the first time. AJ has no way of knowing that Katie unknowingly will give her the key to solving her case.
AJ is quite smitten with Katie. But she’s been badly hurt before. Even if AJ is willing to risk a broken heart, she knows she can’t risk Katie getting hurt. Her job is too risky, drugs, murder and mayhem are not exactly conducive to the well being of any relationship. Katie herself has issues from a previous relationship that had gone beyond sour. Will either women consider taking a chance on love again?
Jacob’s War is the long awaited third book from C.P Rowlands. Each book is entirely different in content. Here we have a well written, exciting adventure with a nice tender romance simmering away just for good measure.
Both main characters, AJ and Katie, are well formed and multidimensional. They have a lot in common, which could give them a solid foundation for taking a chance with one another. Katie’s father had been a policeman, which means that Katie knows the score where AJ’s job is concerned. But it could also be a reason she may not want to take a chance with AJ knowing the toll her father’s job took on her parent’s relationship. They have a strong circle of friends and colleagues that play an equally important part in progressing the story forward at a brisk, but not too fast, pace. The story twists and turns and veers off in different directions throughout making it the page turner it is.
The plot is intricately woven with the romance blossoming through with just the right balance, with a touch of humor added in, bringing a bit of light heartedness to a compelling story. In fact, when I was sitting thinking of how to describe this book, the thought flashed through my mind that it was like having a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces were there to be found. It was certainly intriguing following the team as they came across the pieces and slotted them together.
C.P Rowlands has done a tremendous amount of research and it shows. I’m no authority on police procedural matters or drugs. But the story reads as both logical and authentic to me.
I started this book late at night. That was a big mistake. I was up half the night because I couldn’t put it down. I would advise starting this book early and allowing the time to savor it.
This is a definite re-read. I have heard of the possibility of a sequel. It can’t be published too soon.
September 4, 2012
This is a really good book...the story is rich and take a lot of twist and turn, the characters are well developed and interesting...the war is subtable and multifaceted like a difficult game of chess when not everyone is straightforward about who it is or what it does.
The only think that I don't have really understand so much at the end is the Ecuador situation, but I hope that this is a issue left open on purpose for a sequel
A book that go on fast and that give us the possibility to have a good and honest look into the drug traffic and the work of the law enforcement simply turning the pages.
The only think that I don't have really understand so much at the end is the Ecuador situation, but I hope that this is a issue left open on purpose for a sequel
A book that go on fast and that give us the possibility to have a good and honest look into the drug traffic and the work of the law enforcement simply turning the pages.
April 6, 2013
As with Lake Effect Snow, I liked the book, but found it a little hard to follow. The case got so convoluted that I felt like I missed something along the way or parts got edited out that made it more confusing than it should have been. I really liked the two main characters and their brewing romance. I wish Ms. Rowlands would write a pure romance novel because, in my opinion, that seems to be where she shines.
May 10, 2013
Rowlands has hit the nail on the head! Her 'bad guys' are realistic and believable and far more accurate than the idea that they all run around with guns blazing. It is just brilliant! The leads are wonderful. They are human, damaged, and tough as nails but still vulnerable. Absolutely perfect! The story line keeps the reader caught in the middle of whats happening and anxious to see what happens next. Excellent read.
September 4, 2012
This book had a fast-paced plot that had me guessing some and characters who stayed in my head when I put the book down ... in fact, so much that I had to finish the book so I could get them out of my head and do some of my own writing. The ending, however, felt a little anti-climatic, even though I can't exactly put my finger on why. Still, a very good story well worth reading.
March 23, 2013
The characters were all well delineated and AJ was a great character. The pace was spot on, although I felt the ending was too long and drove the book more into the romance category than a cop procedural. Still - I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 17, 2016
A believable fast-paced police novel with strong female characters and a nice touch of romance. A very good read.
November 6, 2013
Jacob's War was a great read: fast-paced, solid characters, memorable plot and important subject.
June 17, 2017
Entertaining action novel. I don't like the fact that the attraction was revealed early on and the romance well...not so much. The action and thrill were good but I really didn't get Ariel's role....and eventual outcome...it somehow didn't just make sense. Overall, the novel is a good one for a curl on the couch with a well brewed tea
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews