Philly

by Tamsen Schultz

Betrayal is a deadly gamble.

Former Spec-ops soldier Gabriel “Philly” Walker could do with never seeing Callie Parks again. Right? If you’d asked him three months ago, the answer to that would be a resounding “yes.” But the tough-as-nails FBI agent who ripped his teenage heart out twenty years earlier might not be what she seems—or what he remembers.

Callie doesn’t blame Gabriel for never wanting to see her again. She’s loathed herself for years for what she did to him that night. Too bad he might be the only person who can help her bring her best friend’s killer to justice. And she’s willing to pay any price to convince him to share the information he has, even if it means exposing secrets she’s kept hidden her entire life.

When Callie’s confession turns Philly’s world upside down, there are only two things he’s absolutely sure they are better working together, and the girl he loved is now the woman who holds his heart. The killer knows they’re tracking him, though, and when a hitman tries—and fails—to silence the couple, Philly isn’t about to sit around and wait for another attempt. His and Callie’s future is in his hands, and he won’t let it slip away a second time.

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2025

About the author

Tamsen Schultz is the author of several romantic suspense novels and American Kin (a short story published in Line Zero Magazine). In addition to being a writer, she has a background in the field of international conflict resolution, has co-founded a non-profit, and currently works in corporate America. Like most lawyers, she spends a disproportionate amount of time thinking (and writing) about what it might be like to do something else. She lives in Northern California in a house full of males including her husband, two sons, three cats, a dog, and a gender-neutral, but well-stocked, wine rack.

Reviews

[KaylaJane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring as Fuck. Literally for more than 80% of the story, nothing happens between MCs or with the mystery. Then suddenly we go from zero/nada/zilch to getting it on and THE END.

Also, FMC is supposed to be a smart/kick-ass former FBI agent but comes across as an insecure helpless idiot. But don't worry, MMC who is a former marine or army (whatever) and now with a biker-club, will solve the case and rescue the idiot because I guess he has the experience, know-how and government clearance to carry guns and solve cases. Right................

[Joseph and Sandra Oconnor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamsen Schultz is becoming one of my favourite authors. This is the third book in this series and its another home run!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. This one she set the scene for it in the very first book in the series and has been hinting at Philly and Callies past relationship since. I think it was a great strategy because I know I couldn't wait for their story. Callie and Philly grew up together and all we knew was that something bad went down between them years ago and now with her an FBI agent and him part of the family at Falcon Rest they meet again in the first book. Now in there own story Callie needs his help and they come to terms with their past and then in a race to find out who killed her best friend another FBI agent Elizabeth. When sparks start flying between them Philly is pretty sure he never stopped loving her and then the case they are working on gets dangerous and bullets start flying and Philly is afraid he's going to lose her before they get a chance to start their lives together. This book is a great romantic suspense. It hits all the best this genre has to offer. It has romance, bad guys chasing them and a puzzle to unravel and also a happily ever after!! I definitely give this book five stars!! I can't wait for book four! I want to thank Tamsen Schultz for entrusting me with an Arc of this story in exchange for my honest opinion.

[R.A. Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Once again Mrs. Schultz takes the reader on a plot filled adventure. Philly & Callie have a history. A history that kept them apart for far too long. Sometimes the past is just that, and sometimes it ends up changing and controlling your life, and in Philly & Callie’s case that seems to be accurate.

Philly is haunted by Callie but at the same time cannot let go. An investigation takes them to places they never expected and when their secrets are revealed, it opens new opportunities for them. Callie wants to solve the murder of her friend and Philly has answers. Philly is protecting someone whose life could be jeopardized by Callie’s investigation. Step by step they piece the complex puzzle together with more than a few surprises along the way. It is an intriguing adventure with thankfully a strong woman who is not afraid to stand her ground.

Usually, I am not a fan of MC series, but this series is not your typical MC group, and of course Mrs. Schultz is not your typical writer. The funny and sometimes sad, and always interesting plot will keep you reading to the very end.

Each book in this series has its own distinctive flavor so to speak. In Philly there is a serious international investigation that ends up pulling HICC, Callie and Philly into a dangerous and complex case.

I tried hard to put it down and finish in the morning, but Philly & Callie had other plans. The writing, the plot, the characters are all going to keep you reading until the end. Wonderful addition to this series.

[Lisa Nalbone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate the advanced review copy. Here are my thoughts.

Philly, Book 3 in the Falcons Rest MCA is a great second chance romance with an action-packed mystery to solve. It's filled with all the fun friendships and found family that the Falcon’s Rest motorcycle club and Mystery Lake have to offer.

I love settling into the unique mix of suspense and security while the characters deal with deadly situations in the stories Schultz creates. Looking forward to the next book in this series!

[Beth Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The action and adventure kept me turning pages as fast as I could. A great addition to this series.

[Stephanie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamsen Schultz is absolutely one of my favorite authors. I have loved all her books and was excited to read this one.

Philly and Callie were childhood friends. Actually more than just friends, they were best friends. But their childhood relationship ended 20 years ago. They have booth been affected by the way their relationship ended.

Callie is with the FBI. Her best friend, who was also in the FBI, was killed in a terrorist attack a few years before. Callie wants to know what happened to her friend. Was it a terrorist attack or was her friend targeted.

For 20 years Callie and Philly had not seen each other. Then 3 months ago Callie came back into the picture and helped with a couple of situations that Philly was involved in.

Now Callie has come back looking to Philly for a possible lead. She believes that Philly might have information that will help her find answers.

Once you start this book, you will not be able to stop reading. You will love it. I received an Arc of this book for an honest review.

[Jenny Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

FMC: Callie Parks
MMC: Gabriel “Philly” Walker
Spice: 🌶️.5
Pages: 387
Tropes: Motorcycle Club, Former Spec Ops Operator, Second Chance, Romantic Suspense, Crime Investigation, Slow Burn, The One That Got Away
Setting: Mystery Lake, CA; Utah

Thoughts: This was a quick, exciting read. The thing about Tamsen Schultz is that she makes her plots so exciting that I don’t miss the spice or heavier emphasis on romance that appears in most of the other books I read. I loved the second chance romance and the connection Callie and Philly shared. Even though they had been best friends as kids, there were a lot of things they didn’t discuss, and it turned out they were very similar in nature. I loved that Philly brought out the adventurous side of Callie. Despite the things she said to him in the past, Callie gave Philly a sense of peace he didn’t have with anybody else. I loved the way they communicated and eased into their new relationship. I loved the found family they had in both the Falcons and HICC. This was a fun, fast paced read that I really enjoyed.

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philly is the third book in the Falcon's Rest MC series. However, it also links to Tamsen Schultz's previous series, Mystery Lake and is set in the same area. All of her books are set in the same world, and there are the odd characters that pop up in them, too.
This is a second-chance romance. Gabriel and Callie were once best friends and grew up together, although their lives were a little challenging, to say the least. After Callie turned him down, for reasons that Gabriel has never understood, now, back in one another's lives, there is tension and unresolved feelings between them.
I did like Callie and Gabriel as a couple. I do sometimes find the people in these books a little too intelligent-sounding for their own good. It's not that I don't think that they are intelligent, but it sometimes comes across as inauthentic and unrealistic. That said, these books are a great read, and I'm enjoying the growth of this world as we discover the lives of the men of Falcon's Rest.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, heart wrenching, second chance with mystery, intrigue and HEA. A group of ex-military who ride and formed a motorcycle group to do good. This is Philly's story. I really like him. I like his laid back, calm, I am there for you personality. It's certainly needed with Callie whose past makes her pursue perfection. I was flipping pages as my emotions were battered and pleased this was a slow burn. There is steam for those who require, but it falls within the plot. The icing on this was the interconnection with Mystery Lake being a little more prevalent, and if you haven't read that series by Tamsen, go grab it. Looking forward to Monk and every other members book. Thank you for the advance copy. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. #Philly #Falcon'sRestMc #TamsenSchultz #IndependentlyPublished #BookFunnel

[Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Guys Should Always Win
Philly, the third in Tamsen’s Schultz’s Falcon’s Rest Series speaks to me about how good guys should always win, but sometimes have to go through some really rough times to get there. That is true whether it is a guy or a girl. Both main protagonists had some hard times that had to be resolved and worked through, but thankfully, looks like they will make it in the end. Callie and Gabriel have a background both with and without each other that play a large part in their story, but hang in there because it is definitely worth finding our how they put all the pieces in play. Family plays a big part in their story, both then and now, once again telling the reader how important relationships can be.
You won’t be disappointed 😊!
Thank you for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Silke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philly is the 3rd book in the Falcon's Rest MC series which just keeps going from strength to strength. I love this family of former spec ops brothers and their protectice mission! Philly and Callie have been side characters in previous books, but it's not necessary to have read them to enjoy their second chance at romance, which of course comes complete with a serious dose of murder and mayhem. A great plot with lots of surprises, heartbreaking flashbacks to both Philly and Callie's childhood and a cast of awesome side characters making up their found family all ending in a heartwarming and emotional HEA. I am so fortunate to have received an early copy and am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly. Can't wait for Monk's story which is next!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so loving this MC series by Tamsen, as it's unlike most. This is all a group of ex-military who have banded together. They do their best to help abused women find a new footing. I loved Philly and Callie together as you find that they both have a past that they would like to forget. You also discover that looks can be so deceiving. It's a story of second chances, forgiveness and an international investigation with mentions of several characters from the Mystery Lake series. Another winner that I had a hard time putting down as it reels the reader in. I'd highly recommend.

[JustJeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel and Callie were very close friends in their teens, until a rejection affected them for years. Their paths cross again as Callie, FBI agent and Gabe, Special Forces come together to solve a murder. As the mystery escalates, Another hit in this series with captivating characters, intriguing mystery and drama, that keeps the reader highly engaged in the story, making it difficult putting the book down. Exciting story! I look forward to the next book in this series. I received a complimentary ARC, but I am voluntarily offering my personal opinion.

[Tina G Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best kind of Karma

I read this book and didn't want the story to end so I had to read it again to savor the story. If you like suspense and romance this is a wonderful story to immerse yourself in.

I loved the way Tamsen weaved karma into the story. Mostly you think Karma something terrible, but seeing each other again allowed Gabriel and Callie to clear the air.

You can read this as a stand alone but if you have a chance to read the back stories in book 1 and 2, it will enhance your reading experience.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always wonderful to read about a capable woman. She and her former friend had terrible childhoods. Life puts them on the same case and eventually they are able to reconcile and work together to foil the bad guys who seem to put them in peril quite frequently. Great group of friends (family alternative) unite to solve the situation. Love the hint of what's to come in the next book in this terrific series. Thanks to the author for providing a copy. My review is voluntary

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

personal baggage and professional threats

some of the most hard to carry baggage is personal.

Callie broke a heart once to try to save a boy and give him a chance to grow up into a man.

finding him in cases past and present leaves many steamy and crazy muddles along the way.

family is explored as those who love and stand by you, and there are here some dramatic examples if epic family failures

hot stuff with keen insights in another Wareick family bew classic read.

[Jim Bittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only did Philly and Callie have issues between them from 20 years in their past, they had to work together to solve criminal activities that, subsequently, sent hit men after them. It’s an exciting novel that will keep you guessing until the end. This is a great series and I can’t wait for the follow on stories of the Falcon’s Rest Motorcycle Club.

[Leah Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will fall in love with Gabriel "Philly" and Callie. Fans have been waiting for this one and it will blow you away. There are so many emotions! I laughed, I cried, and swooned. The mystery is intense and full of suspense. I can't wait for more of this series.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the third in the series and is very entertaining. I love the characters, their loyalty, devotion to duty, and the fun. This story has lots of mystery, an extended puzzle to solve, and a renewed romance that had a lot of past pain. The puzzle gets solved, and it has a happy ending.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Philly and Callie’s story . I like to read about the falcons and all they do to help people. And all their friends. Good read would highly recommend reading this book

[Lindsay Langston]

It’s no surprise I loved this book. I love Tamsen Schultz. She’s amazing. Her stories are amazing. Her characters are amazing. Her found families are amazing. Basically she’s one of my most favorites for a solid good romance.