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The Taylor Clan #7
Last Man Standing
Undercover cop Cole Taylor had his hands full sustaining a secret identity as he worked to expose a Kansas City crime boss--while living under the enemy's roof! The last thing he needed was a snooty intellectual type interfering in his investigation, asking suspicious questions and snooping where she shouldn't. Besides, with all that fiery red hair and miles of silky skin, Victoria Westin didn't look like any professor he knew....
She had the touch-me-not beauty of an aristocrat and fit right in with their upper-crust hosts. But the streetwise Taylor from working-class roots would have to persuade Miss High-and-Mighty to cooperate with his plan to save his life--and now hers, too. And if he couldn't gain her cooperation by his usual methods, he'd blackmail her with bedroom fantasies to "maintain cover."
She had the touch-me-not beauty of an aristocrat and fit right in with their upper-crust hosts. But the streetwise Taylor from working-class roots would have to persuade Miss High-and-Mighty to cooperate with his plan to save his life--and now hers, too. And if he couldn't gain her cooperation by his usual methods, he'd blackmail her with bedroom fantasies to "maintain cover."
Mass Market Paperback
First published March 25, 2004
16 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Julie Miller
294 books369 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
USA TODAY Bestselling author Julie Miller writes breathtaking romantic suspense. She's won a National Readers Choice Award and two Daphne du Maurier Awards among other prizes. She was also honored to receive a Career Achievement Award from RT BookReviews and has been a finalist for many national and international awards. Her books have appeared on the USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Amazon and BookScan Top 100 Romances bestseller lists.
Writing about Kansas City cops, Julie has crafted bestselling, award-winning books for Harlequin Intrigue. In addition, Ms. Miller publishes romantic suspense books with a military twist. Millions of copies of her books have been sold in print and digital formats around the world.
USA TODAY Bestselling author Julie Miller writes breathtaking romantic suspense. She's won a National Readers Choice Award and two Daphne du Maurier Awards among other prizes. She was also honored to receive a Career Achievement Award from RT BookReviews and has been a finalist for many national and international awards. Her books have appeared on the USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Amazon and BookScan Top 100 Romances bestseller lists.
Writing about Kansas City cops, Julie has crafted bestselling, award-winning books for Harlequin Intrigue. In addition, Ms. Miller publishes romantic suspense books with a military twist. Millions of copies of her books have been sold in print and digital formats around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 4, 2015
I have been dreading this moment since the end of book six and it has finally come; the end of a wonderful book series. Last Man Standing is not only true in the fact that Cole Taylor is the last man in the family and series, but the last book. I have spent two months reading this book series and have had high and low moments with all of the family members. The book series started with Mitch Taylor who is now married to Casey and they have a son. Now it is Cole Taylor’s turn and a much awaited book I do add because I have wondered about who he is and what he does from book one.
Cole Taylor was said to have sold his family, friends and colleagues all out for money and his soul, but that is far from the truth as I found out. I figured that Cole was not the kind of guy that he was said to be from the way he was pictured in previous books. He is lost and has had his soul and heart tested in the past two years in so many ways. He has moments of knowing when the wrong is wrong and right is right, but he is dedicated to finding the truth. He took an oath to bring down Jericho Meade and his entire house of crime.
The book starts by giving a glimpse into home life away from where Cole is at. Somebody is sending a message to someone by going after the Taylor family. Seeing as how Alex, Gideon and Meghan’s son just was officially adopted his old gang does not know his new last name which leaves you wondering how does the person that attacked Alex and Martha Taylor know his new name. There are other moments in the book that it turns from Cole and shows what is happening on the side lines as well. Can the family save their son, brother, and cousin before it is too late for any of them?
Cole looses his contact with the outside world in the first chapter leaving him wondering how he’ll ever remember what is right and wrong. His soul has been chipped away already from some of the things he’s had to do for Jericho to prove he’s on his side. He had worked way up from Bouncer to Chief of Security in two short years. Then, enters Victoria Westin aka Tori Westin aka FBI special agent and he is suspicious of her from the moment she arrives and catching her in the bosses office on her first day is never good.
Tori thought her cover was blown and that the job she had been sent to do was over the second that Cole caught her, but he saved her in more than one way. Tori is one tough cookie and she knows how to do her job. Years of her mother telling her that she would be good if she did this or that after her dad’s death has made her think she is not good enough. Added to that, her last undercover partner and how that ended has jaded her in other ways. However, when put up against being killed or taking Cole’s proposition to pretend to be lovers she knows the right option to take.
Tori was attacked in her own room and Cole realizes that he is falling for her and that he needs her. He saves her from being killed in the room and he brings her to his room. The scene that plays out between them I would defiantly rate a high four so close to a five. Julie Miller is defiantly getting better at those moments.
The third attack on the Taylor family comes and this time it isn’t a mugging or a break in. Cole watched in horror as his big brother Brett who usually the strong one is brought down to his knees because his wife is shot in line duty. It was a set up for Ginny and she almost died, but thankfully she pulls through. He thinks that it is his fault and he is blaming himself for everything that is happening.
Sid Taylor is the one that brings his son out of the darkened tunnel he’s landed in. He gives him a heart to heart and Cole understands who the real good guys are and who isn’t. What his dad tells him cannot be conveyed into short terms it can only be said the way Sid did. For that beautifully written moment in the hospital you will have read the book.
Cole rushes to Tori’s rescue and saves her before she can die from the bad guys. There is a twist at the end of the main story when it comes to Daniel and the painting. Tori ignores Cole’s plead to wait on him and he barely gets to her in time. Seven days he has to wait to see her open her eyes a week too long for him. I was glad to see that he cut his hair at the end the book, as he said took away all he’d been during those two years.
The Epilogue of this book is a beautiful ending to a wonderful seven book series. Martha Taylor gets a new family picture this time with all the family members that have come into their lives. The book and series closes holding his new bride happily back with his family after being gone too long.
Cole Taylor was said to have sold his family, friends and colleagues all out for money and his soul, but that is far from the truth as I found out. I figured that Cole was not the kind of guy that he was said to be from the way he was pictured in previous books. He is lost and has had his soul and heart tested in the past two years in so many ways. He has moments of knowing when the wrong is wrong and right is right, but he is dedicated to finding the truth. He took an oath to bring down Jericho Meade and his entire house of crime.
The book starts by giving a glimpse into home life away from where Cole is at. Somebody is sending a message to someone by going after the Taylor family. Seeing as how Alex, Gideon and Meghan’s son just was officially adopted his old gang does not know his new last name which leaves you wondering how does the person that attacked Alex and Martha Taylor know his new name. There are other moments in the book that it turns from Cole and shows what is happening on the side lines as well. Can the family save their son, brother, and cousin before it is too late for any of them?
Cole looses his contact with the outside world in the first chapter leaving him wondering how he’ll ever remember what is right and wrong. His soul has been chipped away already from some of the things he’s had to do for Jericho to prove he’s on his side. He had worked way up from Bouncer to Chief of Security in two short years. Then, enters Victoria Westin aka Tori Westin aka FBI special agent and he is suspicious of her from the moment she arrives and catching her in the bosses office on her first day is never good.
Tori thought her cover was blown and that the job she had been sent to do was over the second that Cole caught her, but he saved her in more than one way. Tori is one tough cookie and she knows how to do her job. Years of her mother telling her that she would be good if she did this or that after her dad’s death has made her think she is not good enough. Added to that, her last undercover partner and how that ended has jaded her in other ways. However, when put up against being killed or taking Cole’s proposition to pretend to be lovers she knows the right option to take.
Tori was attacked in her own room and Cole realizes that he is falling for her and that he needs her. He saves her from being killed in the room and he brings her to his room. The scene that plays out between them I would defiantly rate a high four so close to a five. Julie Miller is defiantly getting better at those moments.
The third attack on the Taylor family comes and this time it isn’t a mugging or a break in. Cole watched in horror as his big brother Brett who usually the strong one is brought down to his knees because his wife is shot in line duty. It was a set up for Ginny and she almost died, but thankfully she pulls through. He thinks that it is his fault and he is blaming himself for everything that is happening.
Sid Taylor is the one that brings his son out of the darkened tunnel he’s landed in. He gives him a heart to heart and Cole understands who the real good guys are and who isn’t. What his dad tells him cannot be conveyed into short terms it can only be said the way Sid did. For that beautifully written moment in the hospital you will have read the book.
Cole rushes to Tori’s rescue and saves her before she can die from the bad guys. There is a twist at the end of the main story when it comes to Daniel and the painting. Tori ignores Cole’s plead to wait on him and he barely gets to her in time. Seven days he has to wait to see her open her eyes a week too long for him. I was glad to see that he cut his hair at the end the book, as he said took away all he’d been during those two years.
The Epilogue of this book is a beautiful ending to a wonderful seven book series. Martha Taylor gets a new family picture this time with all the family members that have come into their lives. The book and series closes holding his new bride happily back with his family after being gone too long.
April 9, 2014
Super good read. The only thing bad about this book is that it I the last of the series. Since the series is ten years old, the author could add another fifteen years and start a whole new Taylor-Clan series with thee next generation. PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE
April 17, 2012
Back Cover: Undercover cop Cole Taylor had his hands full sustaining a secret identity as he worked to expose a Kansas City crime boss--while living under the enemy's roof! The last thing he needed was a snooty intellectual type interfering in his investigation, asking suspicious questions and snooping where she shouldn't. Besides, with all that fiery red hair and miles of silky skin, Victoria Westin didn't look like any professor he knew....
She had the touch-me-not beauty of an aristocrat and fit right in with their upper-crust hosts. But the streetwise Taylor from working-class roots would have to persuade Miss High-and-Mighty to cooperate with his plan to save his life--and now hers, too. And if he couldn't gain her cooperation by his usual methods, he'd blackmail her with bedroom fantasies to "maintain cover."
The title of the final installment for the Taylor clan series fits both as a fitting end to the series as well as an apt description for hero, Cole Taylor. Literally the ‘last man standing’ without a committed relationship amongst his family of five brothers and one sister, Cole has been working undercover for several years for a Kansas City crime family. Unbeknownst to him, Victoria “Tori” Westin has been sent in by the FBI to conduct her own investigation into the family. Initially suspicious of each other, they eventually start working together to take down a vicious syndicate.
Like the others in the series, “Last Man Standing” can be read alone, but if you’ve read the others, this book provides some additional closure to the other couples and families introduced throughout the series. Ms. Miller provides a very effective and satisfying end to a great family series.
The next of Ms. Miller’s books included a four-book mini series titled “The Precinct” which I never realized I didn’t have until I started doing these reviews. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get them so my next review will start up with the “Vice Squad” mini-series and “Up Against The Wall”. I hope you’ll come back to check it out soon.
She had the touch-me-not beauty of an aristocrat and fit right in with their upper-crust hosts. But the streetwise Taylor from working-class roots would have to persuade Miss High-and-Mighty to cooperate with his plan to save his life--and now hers, too. And if he couldn't gain her cooperation by his usual methods, he'd blackmail her with bedroom fantasies to "maintain cover."
The title of the final installment for the Taylor clan series fits both as a fitting end to the series as well as an apt description for hero, Cole Taylor. Literally the ‘last man standing’ without a committed relationship amongst his family of five brothers and one sister, Cole has been working undercover for several years for a Kansas City crime family. Unbeknownst to him, Victoria “Tori” Westin has been sent in by the FBI to conduct her own investigation into the family. Initially suspicious of each other, they eventually start working together to take down a vicious syndicate.
Like the others in the series, “Last Man Standing” can be read alone, but if you’ve read the others, this book provides some additional closure to the other couples and families introduced throughout the series. Ms. Miller provides a very effective and satisfying end to a great family series.
The next of Ms. Miller’s books included a four-book mini series titled “The Precinct” which I never realized I didn’t have until I started doing these reviews. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get them so my next review will start up with the “Vice Squad” mini-series and “Up Against The Wall”. I hope you’ll come back to check it out soon.
June 28, 2014
It was a good book
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews