Off-Limits Detective

by Daisy Grace

I'm stuck on a murder case with Olivia, my brilliant ex-girlfriend...
Fate's giving me a second chance I never wanted.

She's a whirlwind of passion and mystery, with a body that could tempt a saint.

We clash like thunder and lightning, but when we're in sync, it's magical.

As we dig deeper, I can't help but admire her curves and inner strength.

I yearn to support her, to mend past wounds.

But I fear my mistakes have damaged our chances.

Now, I realize how much I want her by my side.

Just when we think we're in the clear, Olivia is kidnapped.

I'll do anything to save her. With each second, I wonder if I'll be too late.

Will I lose the woman I can't live without?

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Second Chance, Mystery, Thriller, Second Chance Romance, Procedural

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2024

Reviews

[readbythorns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Off-Limits Detective is a second chance romance with multiple POV that follows a murder investigation to a prominent figure. The main characters, a celebrity detective and a local police officer, are ex-lovers who struggle to work together and learn to trust each other once again while facing kidnapping, corruption, and more. It's an interesting plot with a few big surprises that make for a good romantic suspense. However the verb-tense and dialogue can be confusing to follow which makes some parts of the story hard to process.

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

[Deanna Ruckdaschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing like a suspenseful romance. Ethan and Olivia’s story is definitely full of twists and turns. I was definitely hooked. This author does an amazing job describing each character. This is a must read.

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

[Fruzsina Bagin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, Daisy Grace's novel "Off-Limits Detective" did not fully meet my expectations. The plot was promising, but the exciting investigation and rekindled feelings between former lovers Olivia and Ethan do not quite achieved the desired effect.

At the heart of the story are Olivia, a local police officer, and Ethan, a famous detective, who were once in love but life and Ethan's former choices have intervened. Despite years of accumulated anger and regret, there is a palpable chemistry between them that gradually rekindles when they are forced to work together on the murder of a local politician. Although the author does a good job of weaving a romantic thread into the suspenseful investigation, the story falls short of the desired effect.

The investigation promises to be exciting, but due to frequent grammatical errors and shortcomings in the storytelling, the suspense is not always present. The kidnapping and corruption threads could have interesting twists, but they sometimes seem too intertwined, which makes the book difficult to read.

Although the basic idea and some of the plot threads create a really entertaining romantic suspense, for me the book as a whole was a bit disappointing. A polish of the author's style and correction of grammatical errors would go a long way to improving the enjoyability of the story.

Overall, Daisy Grace's novel "Off-Limits Detective" has a good concept, but unfortunately it is difficult to really enjoy due to the shortcomings in the execution. For those who like romantic thrillers, it may be worth a try, but don't expect a flawless read.

I received a free copy of "Off-Limits Detective" by Daisy Grace via Booksprout.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Off Limits Detective is a story with a great premise, but it needs a clear focus and a more well-organized plot. Ethan and Olivia are former lovers whose break-up is still painful. Ethan is now the "great" Ethan Hunt (yes, I know what you're thinking) and Olivia is a police officer. When Olivia realizes that she's going to have to investigate Haddington's murder with Ethan, she would rather do anything else. They have their squabbles, their passive-aggressive moments and I really didn't find I liked either one. Their characters need to be filled-out, multi-layered for me to feel a connection. I didn't feel that connection between Ethan and Olivia, with their constant arguing, and it made the romantic ending not quite believable. There are a few continuity issues that should have been found by a beta or arc reader.This has the bones of a really good story and, with a few edits, it should garner more stars.
The narration is fairly well-done by Clarence Carter Boucher. His voice quality, tone and pace are good but, at times, the inflection isn't clear enough to be able to tell the characters apart. Something that doesn't affect his narration is the sporadic electronic sound and music that can be heard in the background.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself thoroughly engrossed in this book, thoroughly enjoying the richly developed characters and the myriad twists and turns that peppered the plot. From the very start, the narrative skillfully draws you in, enticing you to delve deeper into the story.

Throughout the book, the relationships between the characters evolve organically, keeping readers on the edge of their seats during pivotal moments. With plenty of action, suspense, and an exciting storyline rife with unexpected twists, this book is sure to keep you eagerly turning the pages.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to friends and family, as it offers a gripping reading experience that is both thrilling and satisfying. However, I must note that the multiple points of view from different characters require close attention to detail, particularly in discerning who is speaking or thinking at any given moment.

If you're a fan of suspense and mystery, this book is a must-read. Just when you think you have everything figured out, the narrative throws another curveball your way, keeping you guessing until the very end.

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

[Rebmay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia and Ethan were once sweethearts until he broke her heart. Though both have moved on in the years since their breakup, neither has forgotten the other as is evident when they are both assigned to the murder case of a local politician. There is a palpable chemistry between them, but there is also resentment, regret and a need to keep their distance. As they work the case, the detente between lessens and all those old feelings begin to resurface. The case takes them on a twisty and dangerous journey, forcing them to not only work well together, but have each other’s back. Could they have a second chance at forever?

This second chance romance includes some angst as well as some intrigue and suspense. Regrets, secrets and starting anew are all part of this book. Their investigation is intriguing and keeps one guessing until the end. This book was well worth reading.

[Hanny Carmel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first time I've ever given only 1 star for the narration, and it's more than what this narration deserves.
The narrator finds some words hard to pronounce, he stops in the middle of a sentence without reason, and don't get me started on the quality of the recording - it sounds like it was recorded as an audio message and not in a professional studio. The sound of a door opening and other weird sounds (running water???), not to mention the part where two recordings overlap. I'm thankful this was a free copy, otherwise I would have been upset about a spent credit/cost.

Not sure about the story itself - was just too difficult to concentrate with this bad narration.

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

[Sandy T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audible book and the narration was very bad. I would rate this version 1 star. It sounded like it was recorded in a cave. Plus in chapter 11 it was double recorded and you could not understand anything for several minutes. There was lots of background noises throughout. The narrator stumbled over words and didn't pause at chapter breaks or when the POV changed. All these problems made it difficult to get in to the story.

I give the story a 3 star rating. I figured out some parts way before it was revealed. The police procedures were frustrating at times. I thought the fan club group was original as portrayed.

I received a free audible copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Esmeralda Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. The storyline is well developed, it’s full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing throughout the book. The characters are well developed, and steamy the male MC was working with the female MC on a case. Life seemed to be going better until she is kidnapped and it makes him realize that he needs her in his life. Will he be able to save her? How will he get on with life if he can’t save her? Find out in this book. I look forward to reading more books written by Daisy Grace. I would recommend this book.

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

[Kirsty Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dont like giving negative reviews.
This book is very poorly edited. There is a spot of overlaying narration. There is also complicated and poor narration. At first I suspected possible AI as the first error I noticed was dinner when they were at a diner. Lots of sentences ran into other sentences, and this further led to wrong connections between character actions and focus. The narrator needed to take breathes to help read a novel, and to allow the natural separations between paragraphs.
These errors only highlighted the poor story quality. Very rough and doesn't do the characters justice - including the bad guy.
I'm sorry but this needs to be a miss

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook: This was my first experience with Daisy Grace's work, and it was good. I liked the characters as they were personable and realistic. I enjoyed the twists in the mystery. I thought that the issue with this audiobook was in Clarence Carter Boucher's narration: in Chapter 11 two recordings overlap, in Chapter 15 there was an unidentifiable, rolling, background sound, and at times the narrator stumbled over some words and/or changed the cadence of his tone for no reason. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Rose Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the book had potential, but I listened to the audio version of this book and the audio was terrible. At one point in chapter 11 the audio double up on the voice, so I was hearing the narrator twice. This went on for a while. I almost quit the book, but the double audio finally adjusted to the terrible audio one voice again. I think I would have liked the book more if I read it myself. However, it seemed the chapters blended together, and it jumped from one subject to another without knowing what happened. Ethan and Olvia fell flat. I love a good romance, but I couldn't get into these two. I'm not sure if it was because the audio was so bad. Non the less, because it jumped all over the place ending the characters in one place and starting the new chapter in another without knowing how they got there, was confusing. And I never got a straight answer on Olivia's daughter. Whose daughter was she? I was disappointed as I expected this book to be great. I may try reading the book again without the audio, but not sure if I want to.

[Gazelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethan and Olivia used to be a couple but he walked away. When they are assigned to be partners on a high profile case they are even seen arguing! These two have to put the past behind them so that they can solve this case and maybe they'll end up finding HEA. This book has multiple points of view from different characters so I had to pay close attention to who was "thinking/speaking". If you're looking for suspense and mystery then you should enjoy this one. Every time I thought I knew what was going on something made me think maybe I was wrong!

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillip  and Eric work as guards and they come across the dead body of their boss, councilman Simon Haddington. Detective Ethan Hunt meets Olivia Park again and they had ,had a bitter past . They have to work together on the Harrington case. There is a lot of danger ,corruption and twist and turns to make this an intriguing read.  I received this ARC copy via booksprouts and leave a honest review.  I recommend this book to other readers.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters in Ethan and Olivia. The author does a great job developing the story and paints her scenes perfectly. She pulled me in with the suspense and romance and had me turning the pages with all the twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed reading their story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Linda J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Main characters were annoying and the writing was terrible

The writer is in dire need of a really good editor. There were sentences where the words were all mixed up making it very hard to read and some fragments of a sentence that made no sense and misuse of present tense and past tense. The main characters were very childish and annoying. The plot was somewhat interesting but went on and on and on.

[RoseVE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising Answers

This was a journey of suspense and action from beginning to end. Ethan and Olivia's strained relationship made working the case very difficult at first. The plot is strong, with each twist adding new dimensions to the story. Having the mastermind's POV was a great touch. I love a surprise ending, and even though there were hints all along, there were still multiple options. All drama fans and mystery buffs will love this book.

[JM G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Off-Limits Detective. Once I started reading this book I had a hard time putting it down. Ethan and Olivia's story grabbed me from the start. Such a good book! I would recommend reading this book.

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

[Gwen Hight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read with Ethan and Olivia working on the same case and working against a gang full of powerful people and witness getting killed while on the inside of the jail Full of suspense and the pair fight their romance but in the end love each other This case changes lives A well written story full of suspense

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is working with her and it is not easy but things may become steamy as well. Life seems to be going better until she is kidnapped. This makes him realize he needs her in his life. Can he save her? How will he get on? Will it go well? See just how he gets on.

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

[Raeleane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good thriller romance. Ethan and Olivia's characters were well developed. The story is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing throughout. It kept me turning the pages til I reached the end. I recommend reading this book.

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

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are heating up and no it's not just because the summer months are beginning. This book by Daisy is really really great and you will want to put it in your TBR pile and then start reading it before any other books. It's a book I really LOVED reading.

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

[Flo Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of total chaos Ethan and Olivia had to try to find the truth and arrest the murderer. It was a rollercoaster of an investigation. Just when they thought they had solved the case, they were brought evidence of the real perpetrators. Finally with the case finally solved Ethan and Olivia were able to find their happily ever after.

[Sanri Du · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this romantic suspense story by Daisy Grace.
Action packed, full of suspense, great storyline & a few unexpected twists & turns.

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

[Mbody2595 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this enemies to lovers! The suspense kept me on my toes I absolutely loved this book! Very law and order with romance!!! Loved loved this!.

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

[Julie Juhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a little time to get into the book, but I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the story line and loved how it kept you guessing on who did it. I look forward to reading more books written by Daisy Grace!

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

[Julie's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Love Detective Romances and this one definitely delivered from beginning to end. It Kept me up all night until I finished it. Love the characters especially their enemies to lovers vibe but it didn't stop me from rooting for them. Another wonderful book by Daisey Grace.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allow a day for this confusing contemporary adult murder mystery procedural combined with a second-chance single-parent romance set in Cascade City, New York.

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

[Lilian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise sounds interesting and there was suspense. However, the writing could not keep me interested and it felt somewhat disjointed. I could not feel the supposed interest between the couple when all they did was just shout. Note: I managed to read one third and could not finish it.

[Lvsmyfmly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that keeps on the edge of your seat, however make sure you can pay close attention. So you watch exs become partners for a case, the twist, turns, plot to the story, keeps you turning the page.