Valued

by Linda Winfree

He walked away from who he never wanted to be. She longs for a chance to become herself. One night changes absolutely everything. Tick Calvert and Caitlin Falconetti found each other – and the absolute love of a lifetime. Engaged and planning a life together, they are navigating parenting and their careers with the FBI. Secure in Tick’s affections, Caitlin works to overcome the emotional reticence brought about by her nightmarish childhood and shrug off the way Tick’s mother can’t seem to accept her. Tick’s facing his own challenge – balancing his career ambitions with being the daddy Eleanor deserves. Life is amazing, though, better than it’s ever been.

Until one night – and one obsessively jealous man who tries to take what Tick values most – changes everything.

Now Tick and Caitlin face putting their lives together all over again. The pressure strains their fledgling commitment, their individual coping mechanisms at odds. When everything they’d built shifts, how do they find their way back to all they absolutely value?

✨ Second Chance

✨ Relationship in Crisis

✨ Wounded Protector Hero

✨ Strong Heroine Overcoming Trauma

✨ Romantic Suspense

✨Slow Burn with High Stakes

✨Workplace Romance

✨Law Enforcement/FBI Romance

✨Love Conquers All

✨Family Drama

✨Other Woman Drama (His Mother)

✨Happily Ever After

Inspired by a desire to give one of the original Hearts of the South books a rewrite it deserved, the Absolutely series began as an exploration of how Tick and Caitlin really began. What developed was a new narrative, a new path for familiar characters, and I fell in love with this new life for one of my favorite couples. While you will see familiar faces from the Hearts of the South books, this series stands separately – but holding the same heat and emotion. Absolutely explores Tick and Caitlin’s undeniable chemistry and a love both of them desperately need.

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2025

About the author

How does a high school English teacher end up plotting murders? She uses her experiences as a cop’s wife to become a writer of romantic suspense! Linda Winfree lives in a quintessential small Georgia town with her husband and two children. By day, she teaches American Literature, advises the student government and coaches the drama team; by night she pens sultry books full of murder and mayhem.

Reviews

[Beeg Panda]

NTS: double check: 4 new books published as a re-write of Hold On to Me, Tick and Caitlin’s story. Thats a total of 5 books for 1 couple:

1 x book from the Hearts of the South series book #3:
Hold On to Me

4 x books from the Absolutely series/instalments:
Found Book 1 - Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 23, 2025
True Book 2 - Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2025
Valued Book 3 - Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2025
Happy Book 4 - Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2025

Tropes:
✨ Second Chance

✨One Night Stand

✨Secret Baby

✨Fated Lovers

✨Wounded Protector Hero

✨Strong Heroine Overcoming Trauma

✨Single Mom Heroine

✨Slow Burn with High Stakes

✨Workplace Romance

✨Law Enforcement/FBI Romance

✨Found Family

✨HFN (With HEA to Come)

✨Second Chance

✨Fated Lovers

✨Wounded Protector Hero

✨Strong Heroine Overcoming Trauma

✨Slow Burn with High Stakes

✨Small Town Boy, Big City Girl

✨Opposites Attract – Grumpy/Sunshine

✨Workplace Romance

✨Law Enforcement/FBI Romance

✨Family Conflict

✨HEA
✨ Second Chance

✨ Relationship in Crisis

✨ Wounded Protector Hero

✨ Strong Heroine Overcoming Trauma

✨ Romantic Suspense

✨Slow Burn with High Stakes

✨Workplace Romance

✨Law Enforcement/FBI Romance

✨Love Conquers All

✨Family Drama

✨Other Woman Drama (His Mother)

✨Happily Ever After