Operation Protector

Cutter's Code #19

by Justine Davis

Protecting his daughter is what matters.

Partnering with an all-knowing canine is the secret.

Colby Kendrick would do whatever it takes to gain sole custody of his smart-as-a-whip young daughter, Grace. So when Grace's lovely neighbor, Ali Moran, and the too-brilliant dog Cutter become the girl's protectors against his ex’s powerful family, Colby is happy to join their team. Watching the way Cutter shields his daughter makes Colby believe in the happy future he never imagined—especially when he lives up to his reputation as an uncanny matchmaker. Now, with the help of his own formidable allies, Colby devises a plan to rescue his child…and safeguard his newfound family.

From Harlequin Romantic  Danger. Passion. Drama.

Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances, part of the Cutter's Code 

Book 1: Operation Reunion
Book 2: Operation Blind Date
Book 3: Operation Unleashed
Book 4: Operation Power Play
Book 5: Operation Homecoming
Book 6: Operation Soldier Next Door
Book 7: Operation Alpha
Book 8: Operation Notorious
Book 9: Operation Hero's Watch
Book 10: Operation Second Chance
Book 11: Operation Mountain Recovery
Book 12: Operation Whistleblower
Book 13: Operation Payback
Book 14: Operation Witness Protection
Book 15: Operation Takedown
Book 16: Operation Rafe's Redemption
Book 17: Operation Rescue
Book 18: Operation Protector

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 23, 2026

About the author

Author biographies are supposed to give you all those statistics, books written, awards won, etc. and I will, I promise...but first let me tell you about this ornery little tomboy (back then, the boys had all the fun...) who was always the one to make up the stories the neighborhood kids would "play". For those who came of age in the computer game era, this is something that was done usually in the backyard, by any number of summer-bored children, with props where appropriate. (Did you know a 55 gallon drum tied to a picnic bench makes a very cool horse?) It wasn't until much later that this tomboy realized two things: A) not everyone made up stories in their heads all the time, and B) in real life, the boys that had already had all the fun now seemed to always be winning.

But I digress. I was born on a farm down in Iowa....well, not quite, but close; Boone, Iowa is in the middle of farm country, but I arrived at a hospital. In a snow storm. Make that a blizzard. My sister tells me she knew my destiny when I was very young, because when I first saw the Disney classic Old Yeller, I was apparently so upset that I promptly went home and rewrote the story. In my version, the dog lived, of course. Should have been a clue.

Possibly in response to that blizzard I was born in, I've been a West Coaster since before I was a year old, and intend to stay that way. I have a history of staying. I started my first full time job right out of school (well, there was a very brief sojourn at a place where they made, among other things, burial vaults, but I prefer not to recall that one...) and stayed for twenty-one years. I've been married to the same wonderful guy for going on two decades now. We lived in our last house for seventeen years. (I won't even mention how many dumpsters we filled moving after that long....)

Readers seem as fascinated by my first career as they are with my writing. My time in law enforcement was many things, exciting, nerve wracking, and irritating, but most importantly never, ever boring. It was fascinating enough that I didn't think about writing seriously for several years. I kept a journal, and wrote long letters, collected quotes, mentally rewrote movies, and still made up those stories in my head, but never dreamed of actually writing for publication. I was having too much fun helping to catch bad guys, and being continually amazed at the situations people get themselves into. And eventually I walked away with a wealth of background and story ideas, and knowing some truly great people who work very hard to keep all of us safe. I'm proud to have been one of them, and I'm very aware that I have had the great good fortune of having had two jobs in my life that I love. Many people don't get even one.

But now that I'm in the delicious position of being able to make a living telling those stories in my head, I promise my readers two things: A) I'm staying--I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading, and B) in my stories, the girl--tomboy or not--always wins!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And now, the official stats:

Justine Dare Davis sold her first book in 1989, and followed that up with the sale of nineteen novels in less than two years. Her first four books were published in 1991, and she saw all reach the finals for either the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award or the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA Award. She has since won the RITA award four times, along with several Reviewer's Choice awards and three Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. At the 1998 national conference, Justine was inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame, making her one of a very select group of just eight writers. She also had four titles on the Romantic Times "Top 200 of All Time" list. Her sales now total more than 45, and her books have appeared regularly on best seller lists, including the USA Today list. She has been featured in several local newspapers and nationwide by Associated Press, has appeared on CN