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Vegas #1
Partners
Gripping and fast-paced, this short blockbuster will introduce you to Aurora Morelli and Kai Lawson; the characters who star in the full-length sequel "Roll the Dice" (to be released September 15, 2012).
In this novel, Aurora is forced to accept one very difficult fact—she's lonesome for her partner Debbie. An attack by a maniac put paid to their working together and Aurora is pissed. She's out to get the madman who hurt her friend and God help anyone who gets in her way. Therefore when a new partner is forced on her, a bloody hotshot no less, the kind of dude she always stays as far away from as possible, she's even more pissed.
This action–packed short is humorous and will sweep you into the lives of these Las Vegas Detectives
In this novel, Aurora is forced to accept one very difficult fact—she's lonesome for her partner Debbie. An attack by a maniac put paid to their working together and Aurora is pissed. She's out to get the madman who hurt her friend and God help anyone who gets in her way. Therefore when a new partner is forced on her, a bloody hotshot no less, the kind of dude she always stays as far away from as possible, she's even more pissed.
This action–packed short is humorous and will sweep you into the lives of these Las Vegas Detectives
59 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2012
87 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Mimi Barbour
219 books696 followersMimi is an incredibly busy NYT and USA Today award-winning, best-selling author who has nine series to her credit, as well as over 45 books and numerous multi-author box collections.
Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island with her pup, Charli, and writes her various romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye.
She’s been known to say: “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”
**1st place prize of the 2015 - Chanticleer Reviews - Clue Awards. Special Agent Francesca
**A TOUCH OF PASSION, has just become the 2016 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards.
Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island with her pup, Charli, and writes her various romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye.
She’s been known to say: “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their every-day grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”
**1st place prize of the 2015 - Chanticleer Reviews - Clue Awards. Special Agent Francesca
**A TOUCH OF PASSION, has just become the 2016 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 18, 2012
A fast paced introduction to the full length novel 'Roll the Dice', this works extremely well as an introduction to the character's you will meet and the backstory to the the novel.
I enjoyed this short story introduction and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this short story introduction and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
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March 4, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/4/2021)! 🎁
September 23, 2012
Aurora Morelli is as tough as they come. Ultra feminine yet wielding a big stick and a bigger attitude. When her partner is brutally hurt, she is determined to crack the creep who did it. Her interrogation tactics squeeze the truth out of a wuss of an informant, but she meets her match in her new partner, a sexy, arrogant purse-carrying cowboy, Kai Larson. When he covers her during a gunfight, sparks fly in more ways than one and chemistry simmers.
This is a short story to introduction to the series.
This is a short story to introduction to the series.
June 9, 2016
This lost a star for the use of the word 'druthers' which apparently means 'one's preference' in North American English. Wtf is that? Just say 'if she had her choice' and lose the druthers crap.
Anyway, despite the poor word choice this was short and attempted too hard to sound like a cop novel. A bit too cliched and no thanks to part two.
If I had my druthers there'd be no more books with lame arse regional English.
See what I did there?
Anyway, despite the poor word choice this was short and attempted too hard to sound like a cop novel. A bit too cliched and no thanks to part two.
If I had my druthers there'd be no more books with lame arse regional English.
See what I did there?
February 2, 2013
Partners is a fast-paced mystery short that's full of action, well-written descriptions and fully developed characters. Loved Aurora and, though we only get a taste of Kai, he's tempting.
Favorite line:
"Broken wrist, lacerations and contusions, bruises everywhere and a heart that took months to mend."
Favorite line:
"Broken wrist, lacerations and contusions, bruises everywhere and a heart that took months to mend."
June 30, 2017
An amazing and well written romance suspense mystery!
This is a must read if you enjoy romance, suspense and wild ride! I found another author to rave about!
This is a must read if you enjoy romance, suspense and wild ride! I found another author to rave about!
July 20, 2017
I love cop thrillers and yet this one didn't appeal to me. Something about the cops and how they acted didn't ring true. I don't know, I just couldn't get into it.
My Rating: 3 stars
My Rating: 3 stars
July 25, 2015
The premise wasn't bad, female cop in Vegas gets a new partner because her old one is out on maternity leave. They are all looking for a serial rapist who also likes to kill and assault cops. The characters were ok, but you don't get the feel that this takes place in Vegas at all AND the police procedure in the story STINKS. I have a friend who is former NYPD. He doesn't read police procedurals. I don't know if it's because he lived it, so doesn't need to read about it or if he gets annoyed when the authors get something really wrong with the police policy. After reading this, I think it's the second reason.
*Slight spoilers and rant follow.*
The last scene was the worst offender in this regard. I'm not a cop, but I am friends with those in the law enforcement community and I have picked up a few things here and there. One of them is NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, FIRE A "WARNING" SHOT. Seriously, with the heat cops are facing nowadays and with the responsibilities they have to the pubic, they need to be answerable for EVERY round coming out of their weapon. A "warning" shot has no intended target, which means it can easily lodge into an innocent bystander. Heck, even shots that are fired at a specific target don't necessarily hit it and can hit an innocent person. Despite the media frenzy, most cops think VERY hard about firing their weapon and about where that round is going to go. Yes, there are bad cops out there and that is a shame, but they aren't ALL hair-trigger and power mad.
If this story takes place in Vegas, there are a LOT of innocent people around.
Add to that fact that the scene is a shoot-out with a confirmed cop killer, who purposely ambushes cops. One cop is already down and this chick decides to fire A WARNING SHOT rather than try to STOP the cop-killers. If she's anti-killing, she shouldn't have become a cop. It's sad, but sometimes the job involves stopping others so they won't hurt innocent people. If you can't do the job, you shouldn't have the job. It's not for everyone and that's ok. But a character who is a female and a cop and wants to be seen as capable of doing her job, needs to be able to take that shot if it is called for. The way this scene was written, it was called for. She should be stripped of her badge. Of course, her new, hunky 6'3" partner shows up and the bad guys surrender. But before then, they were shooting at her after she stupidly gave away her position and hit NONE of the bad guys ON PURPOSE.
This is a short story that leads into a series which I will not be reading and deleted off of my Kindle already. It's not horrendously written, but it isn't researched as well as it should be. I understand that some suspension of disbelief is necessary when reading works of fiction, but this is supposed to be taking place in the real world. Real world rules need to apply. If they don't, that takes a reader completely out of the world the author has tried to create.
This author also has a romance series that I will be trying, as the writing wasn't what bothered me, just the research, or lack thereof.
This series gets 1 star from me. I recommend it to no one, as it portrays law enforcement poorly. The media does that enough, I don't need to read it in my fiction too.
*Slight spoilers and rant follow.*
The last scene was the worst offender in this regard. I'm not a cop, but I am friends with those in the law enforcement community and I have picked up a few things here and there. One of them is NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, FIRE A "WARNING" SHOT. Seriously, with the heat cops are facing nowadays and with the responsibilities they have to the pubic, they need to be answerable for EVERY round coming out of their weapon. A "warning" shot has no intended target, which means it can easily lodge into an innocent bystander. Heck, even shots that are fired at a specific target don't necessarily hit it and can hit an innocent person. Despite the media frenzy, most cops think VERY hard about firing their weapon and about where that round is going to go. Yes, there are bad cops out there and that is a shame, but they aren't ALL hair-trigger and power mad.
If this story takes place in Vegas, there are a LOT of innocent people around.
Add to that fact that the scene is a shoot-out with a confirmed cop killer, who purposely ambushes cops. One cop is already down and this chick decides to fire A WARNING SHOT rather than try to STOP the cop-killers. If she's anti-killing, she shouldn't have become a cop. It's sad, but sometimes the job involves stopping others so they won't hurt innocent people. If you can't do the job, you shouldn't have the job. It's not for everyone and that's ok. But a character who is a female and a cop and wants to be seen as capable of doing her job, needs to be able to take that shot if it is called for. The way this scene was written, it was called for. She should be stripped of her badge. Of course, her new, hunky 6'3" partner shows up and the bad guys surrender. But before then, they were shooting at her after she stupidly gave away her position and hit NONE of the bad guys ON PURPOSE.
This is a short story that leads into a series which I will not be reading and deleted off of my Kindle already. It's not horrendously written, but it isn't researched as well as it should be. I understand that some suspension of disbelief is necessary when reading works of fiction, but this is supposed to be taking place in the real world. Real world rules need to apply. If they don't, that takes a reader completely out of the world the author has tried to create.
This author also has a romance series that I will be trying, as the writing wasn't what bothered me, just the research, or lack thereof.
This series gets 1 star from me. I recommend it to no one, as it portrays law enforcement poorly. The media does that enough, I don't need to read it in my fiction too.
May 3, 2013
An introduction that catches you up to speed of who the characters and what their story is in the Vegas series. As interesting as any T.V. crime series out there, it is intricate in plot and in it's characters. You are thrown into the crime world of Las Vegas with tough cop Aurora. She is strong and as a woman in a difficult line of work demands respect and earns it. Her softer side is lurking beneath that hard exterior. Unhappy with a new partner and the hunt still on for the bad guy, the next book sounds very intriguing! 3.5 stars
April 7, 2016
Great first book, with a cliffhanger! When Aurora’s partner gets raped and beat up by a serial rapist, she is given a new partner, Kai. He’s starts out right, when their first call together involves the serial rapist that attacked Aurora’s partner. This is a short book that’s is a great start to this series. I can’t wait to see what happens between Aurora and Kai. I would recommend this book. Ok, I’m off to read the 2nd book in this series!
August 8, 2013
I am liking how this story is taking off so far and I am glad I decided to go ahead and try this author out....I have seen many of her books up but never thought to read them. Really glad I did. This book is the start off point for Aurora and Kai and I can only imagine how the full length novel is going to be. They are already starting off fun and I can't wait to see what happens further.
February 19, 2016
The writing was good, wish it was longer and a bit more involved, I think the writing saves this book because the story is a bit short. Aurora Morelli is after a piece of garbage called Earl Rhonda and when she gets a new partner the two on on his tracks. For a short story the author did a good job in telling what I would call more of a teaser than an actual book or story.
September 9, 2015
I love the book but I got so ticked off, it was getting to the really good part and it stopped and you have to go to the next book in series to pick up from the 1st one. It was just getting to the action part I can't take that so I went and bought the complete Set Vegas Series.
October 11, 2012
Review pending
June 19, 2013
Definitely going to read Book 1 in the series :)
December 29, 2017
I almost gave this a one rating because I felt deceived by the author (who is by all accounts well read and respected) with an incomplete short story that was a teaser (prequel if you please) to the first book in a series. This teaser just stopped. It was incomplete. It was well-written and that saved it from being the first one-star I would have ever given a book, but the characters in the timeframe given felt one-dimensional and the reason for the one female detective's reason for leaving the force to set up another pairing for the series seemed more than a little contrived. It did not inspire me to read the series.
April 1, 2019
Las Vegas Cops
This was my first introduction to Mimi Barbour’s stories. Partners is the introduction to Las Vegas’s police department Detective Aurora Morelli-tough as nails, afraid of her own blood, but still has a feminine side to her. Her new partner Detective Kai Larson is a hot hunk of a guy who seems to push Aurora’s buttons while on the hunt for the notorious slimeball Rhondo. It’s fast paced, with a sense of humor and I was left knowing I had to read the next book “Roll the Dice”. Loved this short story Prequel & plan to continue reading more of Mimi’s work.
This was my first introduction to Mimi Barbour’s stories. Partners is the introduction to Las Vegas’s police department Detective Aurora Morelli-tough as nails, afraid of her own blood, but still has a feminine side to her. Her new partner Detective Kai Larson is a hot hunk of a guy who seems to push Aurora’s buttons while on the hunt for the notorious slimeball Rhondo. It’s fast paced, with a sense of humor and I was left knowing I had to read the next book “Roll the Dice”. Loved this short story Prequel & plan to continue reading more of Mimi’s work.
October 1, 2017
I read this book as part of the Sweet Heat box set and am a little confused about the reviews saying it was short or an incomplete story. I loved reading about these two and loved the added suspense of chasing for the serial rapist with the crazy twist. I really love that it is a clean read with loads of heat between these two who have no intention of getting involved. But when the crap hits the fan, the heart takes over and there is nothing powerful enough to stop it.
February 15, 2020
"Here we go again"
This is the first book I've read by this author. I checked out the five romance series and I guess she's found a ready market; providing comfort food for the easily-pleased reader. If this was supposed to develop another income stream from people who take their thrillers seriously then It's doomed to failure. Even if it had been a whole story, rather than a ploy to encourage people to buy the next book, this didn't deliver.
This is the first book I've read by this author. I checked out the five romance series and I guess she's found a ready market; providing comfort food for the easily-pleased reader. If this was supposed to develop another income stream from people who take their thrillers seriously then It's doomed to failure. Even if it had been a whole story, rather than a ploy to encourage people to buy the next book, this didn't deliver.
February 12, 2018
Very short prequel to the Vegas series which basically introduces the main characters and the villain. Too short to really get a sense of anything plus no resolution as it is a prequel setting up the story. If I was judging on merit it would be 2 star but as an opening to the main series story it was fine and did its job of making me want to read the full length hence the 3 star.
January 19, 2019
My second read from author Mimi Barbour, this one romantic suspense, heavy on the suspense, the other romance. Considering I own 35 books by her or with her stories in them I don't know why I haven't read more. Well-written and enjoyable, I'll definitely be reading more by her.
August 14, 2021
Choppy but interesting
The narration and the characterizations were quite choppy too often. That took away from the book. Still, some of it was promising. Worth eventually for me to move on to Book 2, though I'm not inspired enough to rush there.
The narration and the characterizations were quite choppy too often. That took away from the book. Still, some of it was promising. Worth eventually for me to move on to Book 2, though I'm not inspired enough to rush there.
May 15, 2017
This was a good introduction to the characters in the future books.
May 26, 2017
The best thing about this story is that it is short. I didn't like it.
September 2, 2017
A short introduction to the characters in the sequel "Roll the Dice" of the Vegas series.. I liked both the Aurora and Kai characters. Fast read. Got it for free, would have been upset to pay for it since it is only 8 chapters.
February 17, 2020
I read the 6 books one after the other as they seemed to continue and were not stand alone stories. Enjoyable read but the storylines were a bit farfetched in my opinion.
November 6, 2020
Wonderful book. Included in the Vegas Series that I bought
Refreshing look at women in a string role yet keeping it real.
Would recommend
Refreshing look at women in a string role yet keeping it real.
Would recommend
June 28, 2023
This story was direct, and didn't say anything it didn't have to. I liked the characters and the prose. I'm already working on another book by the same author. Good job!
July 16, 2025
Partners
A fast read and intro to this series set up in Las Vegas police department. Introducing Aurora and Kai. And it does end with a cliffhanger.
A fast read and intro to this series set up in Las Vegas police department. Introducing Aurora and Kai. And it does end with a cliffhanger.
March 20, 2017
Basically, this is just a preview for the book, which is another purchase. It has possibilities, but it wasn't enough to make me want to purchase the full length edition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews