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Men of Wolf Creek #1
Cold Case, Hot Accomplice
BESTSELLING AUTHOR CARLA CASSIDY BRINGS IN THE MEN OF WOLF CREEK TO SEEK A MISSING WOMAN
Roxy Marcoli cares about three things: her restaurant, her sisters and her aunt Liz. When Liz disappears, she's forced to turn to shameless playboy cop Steve Kincaid. Every time the sexy detective turns on the charm, he gets Roxy's hackles up.
Despite his reputation, Steve is no ladies' man. His casual flirting hides the pain of an unbearable loss. As they search for clues, he discovers what lies beneath Roxy's prickly exterior and sharp tongue. His desire grows, and so does his fear. Because it's not just Aunt Liz the killer wants; but Roxy, too.
Roxy Marcoli cares about three things: her restaurant, her sisters and her aunt Liz. When Liz disappears, she's forced to turn to shameless playboy cop Steve Kincaid. Every time the sexy detective turns on the charm, he gets Roxy's hackles up.
Despite his reputation, Steve is no ladies' man. His casual flirting hides the pain of an unbearable loss. As they search for clues, he discovers what lies beneath Roxy's prickly exterior and sharp tongue. His desire grows, and so does his fear. Because it's not just Aunt Liz the killer wants; but Roxy, too.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 26, 2014
I could not put this down until I had read straight through it. Roxy is the oldest of three sisters and feels responsible for making sure their lives run smoothly. She remembers what life with their mother was like before they went to live with Aunt Liz and she vows that she will never go through that again. Liz has been the anchor in her life since she was seven and the thought of something happening to her isn't something she can accept. Steve and his two fellow detectives have been coming to her restaurant regularly and when Liz can't be found she goes to them for help. Roxy tends to be pretty blunt and prickly and always in control of her life. Steve is always flirting with her and every other female around. She doesn't trust that he will actually put any effort into finding Liz, so she plans to be with him every step of the way. It doesn't take too long before she discovers that Steve is far more than she thought. As they look for clues in their search for Liz, she gets to know the man beneath the flirt and finds that they have more in common than she thought. When she is the victim of several attacks, it's Steve she turns to for protection. I have to say that I had a hard time warming up to Roxy at first. She is so darn judgmental about Steve without actually knowing him. I was glad to see her realize her mistake. Thanks to her issues from her mother, she is determined that she will never have a man as a permanent part of her life. Even that starts to change as being around Steve makes her realize that not all men are like those who were around her mother, and that she isn't anything like her mom. Getting close to Steve is a scary proposition for her and I was happy to see her take that leap of faith.
Steve uses lighthearted flirting to hide the heartbreaking pain he lives with every day. Two years earlier his ex-girlfriend had taken their son and disappeared. He hasn't given up hope of finding Tommy, but knows he also has to go on with his life. When Roxy's aunt disappears, he knows exactly what Roxy is going through so he does his best to help her cope as well as working to find Aunt Liz. He finds that he enjoys being with Roxy even as she frustrates him with her constant interference in the investigation. He has previously only gotten involved with women in a lighthearted manner because he doesn't think there would be room for love in his heart because of all the pain there. But he discovers that Roxy has managed to make a place for herself. When she becomes the victim of several attacks, he brings her to stay with him in order to protect her. This accelerates the effect she is having on him, but he has no idea if she can ever return his feelings. I loved the way that he was able to use his own experience to help her. I also enjoyed seeing Steve take care of her in a way that no one else ever has.
There are two mysteries going on in this book. The first, and main, story of the series is the disappearance of Aunt Liz. The search for clues has turned up nothing that has given them any idea of what has happened to her. Toward the end of the book we get to see her briefly as she tries to figure out what is happening to her. I have an idea of who is behind it, but I'll have to wait to see if I'm right because I'm sure we won't find out until book three. The other mystery is that of who is behind the attacks on Roxy and if they are connected to Liz's disappearance. I had a pretty good idea of who the guilty party was on that one. The end had a nice little plot twist that brought some extra happiness to Steve and Roxy.
Steve uses lighthearted flirting to hide the heartbreaking pain he lives with every day. Two years earlier his ex-girlfriend had taken their son and disappeared. He hasn't given up hope of finding Tommy, but knows he also has to go on with his life. When Roxy's aunt disappears, he knows exactly what Roxy is going through so he does his best to help her cope as well as working to find Aunt Liz. He finds that he enjoys being with Roxy even as she frustrates him with her constant interference in the investigation. He has previously only gotten involved with women in a lighthearted manner because he doesn't think there would be room for love in his heart because of all the pain there. But he discovers that Roxy has managed to make a place for herself. When she becomes the victim of several attacks, he brings her to stay with him in order to protect her. This accelerates the effect she is having on him, but he has no idea if she can ever return his feelings. I loved the way that he was able to use his own experience to help her. I also enjoyed seeing Steve take care of her in a way that no one else ever has.
There are two mysteries going on in this book. The first, and main, story of the series is the disappearance of Aunt Liz. The search for clues has turned up nothing that has given them any idea of what has happened to her. Toward the end of the book we get to see her briefly as she tries to figure out what is happening to her. I have an idea of who is behind it, but I'll have to wait to see if I'm right because I'm sure we won't find out until book three. The other mystery is that of who is behind the attacks on Roxy and if they are connected to Liz's disappearance. I had a pretty good idea of who the guilty party was on that one. The end had a nice little plot twist that brought some extra happiness to Steve and Roxy.
September 27, 2013
4 Stars
Cold Case, Hot Accomplice
I was left with some questions that I would like to bring up but it would give up too many secrets. The suspense was good. It keeps you guessing about where the missing are. Who took whom? Who was after Roxy? You don't know who to trust.
I like the characters. Roxy is the oldest of three girls. She feels she has to be the one to hold it together for her sisters. She is feisty. Knows what she wants and goes for her dream. She opened her own restraint the dollhouse. She never plans on getting married.
Three of her customers come in first thing three days of the week are detectives. Steve always flirts with her. When Liz her Aunt is a half hour late delivering her bake goods and doesn't answer her phone she sends her sister over their. Liz is not their but the bake goods are ready, her car is there, and her purse is there.
They tell her that till she is missing 24 hours they can't do anything. Steve does go over to see and look around.
Steve has his own missing case that he has not solved. He hates missing cases. He starts working the case and their are a lot of police working the case.
When someone comes after Roxy to they don't know if it is same one who took her Aunt Liz.
I can't wait for the next book to come out and answer my questions that I still have.
There are a couple of sex scenes in the book. Their is also some Amish characters in the story.
I was given this ebook to read and in return asked to give honest review by NetGalley and Harlequin.
Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense (December 1, 2013) 288 pages ISBN: 9780373278497
Cold Case, Hot Accomplice
I was left with some questions that I would like to bring up but it would give up too many secrets. The suspense was good. It keeps you guessing about where the missing are. Who took whom? Who was after Roxy? You don't know who to trust.
I like the characters. Roxy is the oldest of three girls. She feels she has to be the one to hold it together for her sisters. She is feisty. Knows what she wants and goes for her dream. She opened her own restraint the dollhouse. She never plans on getting married.
Three of her customers come in first thing three days of the week are detectives. Steve always flirts with her. When Liz her Aunt is a half hour late delivering her bake goods and doesn't answer her phone she sends her sister over their. Liz is not their but the bake goods are ready, her car is there, and her purse is there.
They tell her that till she is missing 24 hours they can't do anything. Steve does go over to see and look around.
Steve has his own missing case that he has not solved. He hates missing cases. He starts working the case and their are a lot of police working the case.
When someone comes after Roxy to they don't know if it is same one who took her Aunt Liz.
I can't wait for the next book to come out and answer my questions that I still have.
There are a couple of sex scenes in the book. Their is also some Amish characters in the story.
I was given this ebook to read and in return asked to give honest review by NetGalley and Harlequin.
Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense (December 1, 2013) 288 pages ISBN: 9780373278497
October 3, 2014
ARC provided by Harlequin via netgalley
The Good
Detective Steve Kincaid - yum'orama I have to say he was my favorite part about the book, even with his depressing backstory
Aunt Liz's myster - even if this wasn't solved I really got interested in this part of the story.
The Bad
Roxy's personalilty - I didn't get what her hangups about relatioships was about, and she was just too standoffish for me.
Predictability - I figured out how the book was going to end pretty quickly.
The pace - the pace was a bit slow for such a short read.
It was an OK read for me, I will continue the series though, cause I have to know who has Liz.
The Good
Detective Steve Kincaid - yum'orama I have to say he was my favorite part about the book, even with his depressing backstory
Aunt Liz's myster - even if this wasn't solved I really got interested in this part of the story.
The Bad
Roxy's personalilty - I didn't get what her hangups about relatioships was about, and she was just too standoffish for me.
Predictability - I figured out how the book was going to end pretty quickly.
The pace - the pace was a bit slow for such a short read.
It was an OK read for me, I will continue the series though, cause I have to know who has Liz.
March 23, 2016
Really enjoyed the story. Roxy took some time to warm up to. Good twist near the end. This one had 2 really emotional scenes that were really well written. Another great story from Carla Cassidy. Looking forward to the next in the series.
November 19, 2017
If I read one more story where people use their parents mistakes as a reason to not have any type of relationship with any one ever, I will quite simply cry. I am just so bored of it. Unfortunately for 'Cold Case, Hot Accomplice' Roxy, the main character, uses this like armour allowing her to be completely emotionally dead as well as a horrible person. I just couldn't stand her. She treats every one awfully, including her apparently beloved sisters. It was no wonder that someone wanted to kill her. What Steve, who was a decent enough character, saw in her I will never know.
So much of this didn't make any sense to me. The attempts against her life are brushed aside, the investigation into her Aunt's disappearance looks like it is being handled by kids. The random POV from a character who hadn't appeared in the book at all at the 72% mark was distracting.
All in all I didn't like it.
July 25, 2018
BE WARNED ITS A CLIFFHANGER!!
Roxy's life had never been easy until she went to live with Aunt Liz. Now Aunt Liz is missing and someone is trying to kill Roxy. Are the two things related? Roxy has no choice but to rely on Detective Flirt aka Detective Steve Kincaid, the shaggy haired detective who comes in for breakfast (and to shamefully flirt with Roxy) to find Aunt Liz and find who is trying to kill her. Steve has his own demons he's dealing with but work always comes first. Roxy inserts herself into the investigation and both she and Steve find something neither of them are looking for...LOVE.
Roxy's life had never been easy until she went to live with Aunt Liz. Now Aunt Liz is missing and someone is trying to kill Roxy. Are the two things related? Roxy has no choice but to rely on Detective Flirt aka Detective Steve Kincaid, the shaggy haired detective who comes in for breakfast (and to shamefully flirt with Roxy) to find Aunt Liz and find who is trying to kill her. Steve has his own demons he's dealing with but work always comes first. Roxy inserts herself into the investigation and both she and Steve find something neither of them are looking for...LOVE.
August 30, 2023
Such a good read. I enjoyed this one so much.
This one is about a woman named Roxy whose Aunt Liz goes missing and she has to trust the new hot cop in town Steve. What Liz doesn't know is Steve has a past of his own ,and he knows all to well about what the heartbreak of someone you love missing truly feels like. This book ends on a cliffhanger but I really enjoyed reading it and hopefully one day I can find out how it all turns out.
This one is about a woman named Roxy whose Aunt Liz goes missing and she has to trust the new hot cop in town Steve. What Liz doesn't know is Steve has a past of his own ,and he knows all to well about what the heartbreak of someone you love missing truly feels like. This book ends on a cliffhanger but I really enjoyed reading it and hopefully one day I can find out how it all turns out.
May 15, 2018
A story that has two people grown to each other like magnets, one who just flirts to keep a block on his heart and the other keeps men away because of her upbringing. They come together because of a Missing Person Report. If that wasn't bad enough someone is after Rocky intent on killing her and keeping Steve to themselves.
December 26, 2021
I will be honest, I haven't read this style of book in decades! I chose it for a challenge, but I will be reading the other two books in the series because I just have to know... I am obsessive like that! LOL!!!
And, NO I didn't see that coming! Excellent job, Ms. Cassidy! ;p
And, NO I didn't see that coming! Excellent job, Ms. Cassidy! ;p
January 15, 2025
This is the 1st book in the wolf creek series. Looking forward to the 2nd one since book 1 there is still a mystery that needs to be solved.
November 26, 2013
First, ARGH at the ending. But it's a good ARGH. Heh.
I adored Roxy in this book. She's worked so hard to keep her sisters sheltered from their rather sucky mother, and been willing to protect them from all the muck and worries that she's dealt with as the oldest sister. She's a successful restaurateur and I love that while she can cook, she can't bake very well.
Poor Steve, I can only imagine (and did) how much agony he must have been in to have had his son abducted and vanish for 2+ years because of his psycho ex-girlfriend. I liked how Ms. Cassidy portrayed him as still searching, but he'd also made an attempt to move on with his life to some degree even if he never gave up hope of finding his son. Some of the scenes where he was in the boy's bedroom were truly heart-wrenching.
These two played off each other really well, and I liked the mystery that developed around Aunt Liz's disappearance. Roxy was a bit stubborn about not giving up the chase, and even wanting to start the chase before Liz had been gone more than a few hours. I can get how Steve was a bit skeptical in the beginning about an actual abduction and how he doubted much would be done...until he got himself sucked into the mystery, with a determination not to let Roxy feel the same unending worry/wonder about her vanished love one, the way he was.
Roxy had a little growing up to do with her tunnel vision when it came to her mother and I was pleased to see she did actually do that in the end. These two truly deserved each other and I was glad when they got together finally.
SPOILER is whited out here because I just have/need to explain my argh from above. If you want to read it, highlight the area.
In short - read this book! Heh.
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adored Roxy in this book. She's worked so hard to keep her sisters sheltered from their rather sucky mother, and been willing to protect them from all the muck and worries that she's dealt with as the oldest sister. She's a successful restaurateur and I love that while she can cook, she can't bake very well.
Poor Steve, I can only imagine (and did) how much agony he must have been in to have had his son abducted and vanish for 2+ years because of his psycho ex-girlfriend. I liked how Ms. Cassidy portrayed him as still searching, but he'd also made an attempt to move on with his life to some degree even if he never gave up hope of finding his son. Some of the scenes where he was in the boy's bedroom were truly heart-wrenching.
These two played off each other really well, and I liked the mystery that developed around Aunt Liz's disappearance. Roxy was a bit stubborn about not giving up the chase, and even wanting to start the chase before Liz had been gone more than a few hours. I can get how Steve was a bit skeptical in the beginning about an actual abduction and how he doubted much would be done...until he got himself sucked into the mystery, with a determination not to let Roxy feel the same unending worry/wonder about her vanished love one, the way he was.
Roxy had a little growing up to do with her tunnel vision when it came to her mother and I was pleased to see she did actually do that in the end. These two truly deserved each other and I was glad when they got together finally.
SPOILER is whited out here because I just have/need to explain my argh from above. If you want to read it, highlight the area.
In short - read this book! Heh.
Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2016
3.75 star
When the aunt that raised her and her half sisters dissapear without a trace, Roxy team up with the detective and shameless flirt that come each day to her restaurant with his colleagues, in the hope to find her.
Roxy is tough, direct, short tempered and she have no patience for Steve's banters. I know it sound not very lovable but it worked. She's not a bitch, but she's not a person you can love easily. But it just show he was the perfect man for her and it worked because Steve accepted her like she is. In fact, he was a pretty terrific hero. It's like he always knew the right thing to do. What to say to comfort Roxy, what to do to take her mind off the situation and he understood perfectly why she's so abrupt and need control so bad. I loved how he made her see from a different perspective what she always tought about love.
So I wish she would have been that devoted and present with him when it was him who was going through a difficult time. The laid-back flirty guy was just a front. Steve knows what it's like to live with the fact a family member dissapeared because for the past two years he's been working on the case of a missing-person related to him. It was very heartbreaking even if it doesn't end badly.
Both Roxy and Steve have their own way to keep people from getting too close to them but I really liked how honnest they were with each other. I admit I felt the connection wasn't as much convincing and passionated when they became intimate with each others and I felt the story stagnated in the middle and was too rushed towards the end, but it was really clever to not solve Roxy's aunt mystery in this book (but we know at least if she's been kidnap or if she ran away willingly) and keep it for the others books in the series.
When the aunt that raised her and her half sisters dissapear without a trace, Roxy team up with the detective and shameless flirt that come each day to her restaurant with his colleagues, in the hope to find her.
Roxy is tough, direct, short tempered and she have no patience for Steve's banters. I know it sound not very lovable but it worked. She's not a bitch, but she's not a person you can love easily. But it just show he was the perfect man for her and it worked because Steve accepted her like she is. In fact, he was a pretty terrific hero. It's like he always knew the right thing to do. What to say to comfort Roxy, what to do to take her mind off the situation and he understood perfectly why she's so abrupt and need control so bad. I loved how he made her see from a different perspective what she always tought about love.
So I wish she would have been that devoted and present with him when it was him who was going through a difficult time. The laid-back flirty guy was just a front. Steve knows what it's like to live with the fact a family member dissapeared because for the past two years he's been working on the case of a missing-person related to him. It was very heartbreaking even if it doesn't end badly.
Both Roxy and Steve have their own way to keep people from getting too close to them but I really liked how honnest they were with each other. I admit I felt the connection wasn't as much convincing and passionated when they became intimate with each others and I felt the story stagnated in the middle and was too rushed towards the end, but it was really clever to not solve Roxy's aunt mystery in this book (but we know at least if she's been kidnap or if she ran away willingly) and keep it for the others books in the series.
December 5, 2013
Contemporary, Wolf Creek, Pennsylvania
Roxy Marcoli has three things that matter to her in life, her restaurant, her aunt, Liz and her sisters. When Liz disappears Roxy ends up turning to Steve Kincaid, a cop with a playboy reputation. A man that tries to charm Roxy but gets her hackles up every time instead.
Steve Kincaid isn’t anything like the ladies man reputation that he has. His flirting covers up a loss that is unbearable. As Roxy and Steve search for clues to what has happened to Liz, Steve gets to see what really lies beneath Roxy’s sharp tongue and prickly attitude. The more Steve gets to know the more he wants Roxy. As his desire grows so does the fear Steve now has because it seems Aunt Liz isn’t the only one a killer wants, they are now after Roxy.
This story proves to be a great romantic suspense with twists and turns that are sure to keep the reader guessing as to who is behind what is happening. Just as the reader thinks they have it figured out another twist comes along that will have the reader second guessing themselves. The ending is great and this book proves to be very hard to put down. This story has a couple of plots going that make it that much more intriguing and sure to grab the reader’s attention. This one is definitely worth taking the time to check out and read.
Roxy Marcoli has three things that matter to her in life, her restaurant, her aunt, Liz and her sisters. When Liz disappears Roxy ends up turning to Steve Kincaid, a cop with a playboy reputation. A man that tries to charm Roxy but gets her hackles up every time instead.
Steve Kincaid isn’t anything like the ladies man reputation that he has. His flirting covers up a loss that is unbearable. As Roxy and Steve search for clues to what has happened to Liz, Steve gets to see what really lies beneath Roxy’s sharp tongue and prickly attitude. The more Steve gets to know the more he wants Roxy. As his desire grows so does the fear Steve now has because it seems Aunt Liz isn’t the only one a killer wants, they are now after Roxy.
This story proves to be a great romantic suspense with twists and turns that are sure to keep the reader guessing as to who is behind what is happening. Just as the reader thinks they have it figured out another twist comes along that will have the reader second guessing themselves. The ending is great and this book proves to be very hard to put down. This story has a couple of plots going that make it that much more intriguing and sure to grab the reader’s attention. This one is definitely worth taking the time to check out and read.
December 20, 2013
While this wasn't a bad book I'm giving it only three stars cause I just didn't like Roxy, at all. I found her bitchy and rude and just plain judgemental. I was hoping for her to undergo some sort of awaking or at least dial back her abrupt personality, but it didn't happen til the very end, which was way too late for me. Steve had to be a saint to put up with her for as long as he did and to actually fall for her. I get she was that way because her mother was a bitch and all that, but she had lived with her aunt long enough to get over her feelings about men, I would think. I don't know, I'm no expert, but she should've focused her feelings toward the positive upbringing by her aunt. And it killed me there was the main focus of the book left unsolved! I get your trying to make a series, but give the readers some closure. I don't want to wait six months or a year to find out what happened.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
January 16, 2014
I really disliked the heroine in the first half of this book. I think that may have been Carla Cassidy's strategy though....to evoke that emotion. It made the suspense twists and turns harder to anticipate...she was the mystery's red herring! When my opinion changed, I can't say, but it did and I became invested in the outcome. So, a well written suspense story, beautifully complicated plot and well drawn settings. Of course this book starts a series so everything isn't resolved, sort of a cliff hanger, I suppose. I for one, am hooked. I look forward to book 2.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
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February 28, 2015great Just Great
This was a very good book so good that I had a hard time putting it down.
I think ( Clara Cassidy ) has a Knack for writing the Harlequin Romance even her novels are good.
But I think these lil short stories are the best.
I have read all her books but the the Harlequin I am just starting with.
I can't wate to read more of these stories.
Awesome Book Great Story Great Author.
This was a very good book so good that I had a hard time putting it down.
I think ( Clara Cassidy ) has a Knack for writing the Harlequin Romance even her novels are good.
But I think these lil short stories are the best.
I have read all her books but the the Harlequin I am just starting with.
I can't wate to read more of these stories.
Awesome Book Great Story Great Author.
August 31, 2015
Readable, but too annoying to finish. You know the classic writing rule "show don't tell"? This book features a lot of the opposite. You could hardly go a couple of pages without having the main characters' motivations explained to you in great detail, over and over. Supporting characters are not much better and everything is overstated. The result is dull, which is not something you'd normally say about a kidnapping mystery.
July 20, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, lately harlequins haven't been holding my attention like they use to, however one I picked up cold Case, Hot Accomplice I could not put it down, it has just enough suspense and over the top romance that I so love to read.
February 23, 2015
Cold Case, Hot Accomplice review
Cold Case, Hot Accomplice is the first book in the Men of Wolf Creek series written by author Carla Cassidy. It is a fast-paced romantic suspense story that ends with a bang.
Cold Case, Hot Accomplice is the first book in the Men of Wolf Creek series written by author Carla Cassidy. It is a fast-paced romantic suspense story that ends with a bang.
May 11, 2016
The characters were annoying and contradictory, and Roxy's attacker was ridiculous
I won't be continuing this series
I won't be continuing this series
March 30, 2017
Enjoyed Carla's writing, storyline and the love between two souls that thought it would never happen. Was glad to see a happy ending with the three of them together. Would of liked to hear more about Tommy and his view of Roxy. But maybe that's to come?
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December 29, 2014"The banter is witty and sharp between these two vulnerable characters". (RT Book Reviews)
Miniseries: Men of Wolf Creek
Miniseries: Men of Wolf Creek
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