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Otter Creek #1
Witness
Four burglaries. Three assaults. One murder.
Not the crime stats Police Chief Ethan Blackhawk envisions for his first two weeks on the job. Ethan uncovers a link to his past, an assassin who bested him five years ago and again hunts in his territory. He welcomes a second chance to capture the assassin...until he falls in love with the only witness. This time a failure to unmask the assassin may cost Ethan everything.
Wielding a sharp knife, personal chef Serena Cahill dices vegetables and dishes dinner for clients. When she interrupts a crime in progress, Serena steps into the crosshairs of an international assassin. After a friend disappears and her business implodes, she joins forces with Ethan to trap a killer before he takes out the next target--Serena.
Not the crime stats Police Chief Ethan Blackhawk envisions for his first two weeks on the job. Ethan uncovers a link to his past, an assassin who bested him five years ago and again hunts in his territory. He welcomes a second chance to capture the assassin...until he falls in love with the only witness. This time a failure to unmask the assassin may cost Ethan everything.
Wielding a sharp knife, personal chef Serena Cahill dices vegetables and dishes dinner for clients. When she interrupts a crime in progress, Serena steps into the crosshairs of an international assassin. After a friend disappears and her business implodes, she joins forces with Ethan to trap a killer before he takes out the next target--Serena.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2015
241 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 20, 2025
Personal Chef, Serena Cahill, finds herself interrupting a crime in progress when she stops by one of her client's house. She immediately calls 911 but has no clue that the man who attacked her client is still in the house. The moment the man sees her, her life is flipped upside down.
New Police Chief, Ethan Blackhawk, has only been in Otter Creek for a few weeks. He was told that the crime rate is practically non-existent. But a string of burglaries, assaults and a murder is not how Ethan pictured his start in this sleepy town.
While investigating all the crimes, Ethan discovers ties to his past, an international assassin who got away from him 5 years ago. He finally gets a second chance to bring the assassin down. The only problem? His one and only witness to the crime is Serena... the woman he's falling in love with. Protecting her is crucial. He will do everything in his power to keep her safe.
When Serena's friend comes up missing, she knows that she needs to team up with Ethan to make sure the assassin it taken out. She knows that she's got a target on her back, but that doesn't stop her from helping. She not only trusts Ethan with her heart, but she trusts him with her life. He'll keep her safe. And when all is said and done, they'll get the HEA they both deserve.
Confession. I have read this book twice already but never ended up doing a review. Third times the charm I guess.. ;) I enjoyed Serena and Ethan's story. It was fast paced both in action and romance. I have another confession. The first two times I read this book, it was just okay for me. But this time around I found myself enjoying it a lot more! This is proof that mood reading is a thing! Haha. Witness is a good start to an amazing series! Otter Creek has quickly become one of my favorite places to visit. I'm looking forward to rereading all of the books in this series as well as in the Fortress Security series.
I am SO glad that I found Rebecca Deel on the Swoony Awards list! She quickly became an auto-buy author for me! I always drop whatever I'm reading and devour her books the moment they're released! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
I know I announced in other reviews that I was not going to do casting for both series. However, I have decided to challenge myself and cast them all this time around. And we're starting with these two! I'm not going to lie... it was tough! Haha. What do you think?!
Content: Mild violence. Attempted rape but no details. Clean romance... just swoony kisses!
New Police Chief, Ethan Blackhawk, has only been in Otter Creek for a few weeks. He was told that the crime rate is practically non-existent. But a string of burglaries, assaults and a murder is not how Ethan pictured his start in this sleepy town.
While investigating all the crimes, Ethan discovers ties to his past, an international assassin who got away from him 5 years ago. He finally gets a second chance to bring the assassin down. The only problem? His one and only witness to the crime is Serena... the woman he's falling in love with. Protecting her is crucial. He will do everything in his power to keep her safe.
When Serena's friend comes up missing, she knows that she needs to team up with Ethan to make sure the assassin it taken out. She knows that she's got a target on her back, but that doesn't stop her from helping. She not only trusts Ethan with her heart, but she trusts him with her life. He'll keep her safe. And when all is said and done, they'll get the HEA they both deserve.
Confession. I have read this book twice already but never ended up doing a review. Third times the charm I guess.. ;) I enjoyed Serena and Ethan's story. It was fast paced both in action and romance. I have another confession. The first two times I read this book, it was just okay for me. But this time around I found myself enjoying it a lot more! This is proof that mood reading is a thing! Haha. Witness is a good start to an amazing series! Otter Creek has quickly become one of my favorite places to visit. I'm looking forward to rereading all of the books in this series as well as in the Fortress Security series.
I am SO glad that I found Rebecca Deel on the Swoony Awards list! She quickly became an auto-buy author for me! I always drop whatever I'm reading and devour her books the moment they're released! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
I know I announced in other reviews that I was not going to do casting for both series. However, I have decided to challenge myself and cast them all this time around. And we're starting with these two! I'm not going to lie... it was tough! Haha. What do you think?!
Content: Mild violence. Attempted rape but no details. Clean romance... just swoony kisses!
January 21, 2016
This was a clean book with Christian values. The attraction between the MCs was sweet. The story was well done but some things weren't realistic to me but not too much. This was just one of those reads you sit back and enjoy. It's not a page turner but very simple and sweet.
July 3, 2019
Personal Chef, Serena Cahill, finds herself interrupting a crime in progress when she pops around to the houses of one of her clients. Serena being the good citizen she is, immediately rings 911, unaware the perpetrator is still in the house – and from the very moment the villain/perp realises Serena is a witness, one that has seen him, she’s in big trouble. Ethan Blackhawk is the new Police Chief of Otter Creek, having been in town only for a few weeks. His looking forward to keeping the town safe, although he has been told that the crime rate is almost non-existent. But it looks like the fates don’t want him to become inert or soft, so he finds himself starting his new job dealing with a string of burglaries, assaults and a murder.
The book has a stand of Christian values interwoven through it, which wasn’t a problem for me at all, however I just found the story and characters uninspiring/rather dull. That being said I did enjoy a few of the scenes involving Serena’s siblings.
The main characters never do more than kiss, the heat level is LOW. I have read books in the past where this has been the case, and the authors did wonderfully in creating a beautiful tension and/or sense of chemistry between the hero and heroine, but for me that didn’t occur here.
This isn’t a spellbinding page turner, but it’s an easy read, just one that really didn’t grasp my attention. I had downloaded the other two books in the series, before starting his as the blurbs made the books sound good, but I have now returned them, unread.
Potential triggers:
Acquired via KU.
The book has a stand of Christian values interwoven through it, which wasn’t a problem for me at all, however I just found the story and characters uninspiring/rather dull. That being said I did enjoy a few of the scenes involving Serena’s siblings.
The main characters never do more than kiss, the heat level is LOW. I have read books in the past where this has been the case, and the authors did wonderfully in creating a beautiful tension and/or sense of chemistry between the hero and heroine, but for me that didn’t occur here.
This isn’t a spellbinding page turner, but it’s an easy read, just one that really didn’t grasp my attention. I had downloaded the other two books in the series, before starting his as the blurbs made the books sound good, but I have now returned them, unread.
Potential triggers:
Acquired via KU.
January 5, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was my first book by Ms. Deel and I enjoyed it. I liked the plot and characters although I did think the overbearing and incompetent FBI was a little Hollywood cliche. I would have liked to see a higher level of suspense plot development. Based on Who the main "bad guy" was and the crimes, a lot more personnel would have been employed to the investigation. This part was pretty much just an outline.
I did like the author's writing voice and will read the next in the series.
This was my first book by Ms. Deel and I enjoyed it. I liked the plot and characters although I did think the overbearing and incompetent FBI was a little Hollywood cliche. I would have liked to see a higher level of suspense plot development. Based on Who the main "bad guy" was and the crimes, a lot more personnel would have been employed to the investigation. This part was pretty much just an outline.
I did like the author's writing voice and will read the next in the series.
March 28, 2015
Did not finish, silly
Not my kind of book. What is with all the Coke references. Over 30 references to coke. It's mentioned more than kiss!!! Are they a sponsor??
Not my kind of book. What is with all the Coke references. Over 30 references to coke. It's mentioned more than kiss!!! Are they a sponsor??
July 30, 2017
What is with this author and Coca-Cola? The amount of times it was mentioned was seriously over-kill. Coke is my one addiction but it still got on my nerves. I hope she gets payed for advertising.
She needs to invest in a good editor. A few times I thought I had just accidentally turned the page but I didn't. It was just a duplicate paragraph. There were many more errors like the wrong form of words. Or misplaced words. Obviously, I'm not a stickler for completely proper grammar but there were enough mistakes that it was very distracting. It didn't let you get lost in the story because you had to keep backtracking.
I guess technically this was a Christian Romance. I didn't know that going in but it wasn't in your face like 'You need Jesus!'. There wasn't any cussing and the main characters only ever kissed.
Ethan being called a "Half Breed" just seemed like the author was trying to add more drama. My dad is also Indian and my mom is as white as can be. Race is brought into everything nowadays but this didn't seem genuine.
It was kind of slow going and could be at least 50 pages shorter if you took out the trying too hard to be southern parts.
She needs to invest in a good editor. A few times I thought I had just accidentally turned the page but I didn't. It was just a duplicate paragraph. There were many more errors like the wrong form of words. Or misplaced words. Obviously, I'm not a stickler for completely proper grammar but there were enough mistakes that it was very distracting. It didn't let you get lost in the story because you had to keep backtracking.
I guess technically this was a Christian Romance. I didn't know that going in but it wasn't in your face like 'You need Jesus!'. There wasn't any cussing and the main characters only ever kissed.
Ethan being called a "Half Breed" just seemed like the author was trying to add more drama. My dad is also Indian and my mom is as white as can be. Race is brought into everything nowadays but this didn't seem genuine.
It was kind of slow going and could be at least 50 pages shorter if you took out the trying too hard to be southern parts.
May 9, 2018
Great Murder Mystery
This was a great murder mystery- the story keeps you guessing and has a fantastic romance as well! I really liked our hero in the story, and hope to see more of Ethan Blackhawk in other books! Already I'm ready to start the next book in the series!
This was a great murder mystery- the story keeps you guessing and has a fantastic romance as well! I really liked our hero in the story, and hope to see more of Ethan Blackhawk in other books! Already I'm ready to start the next book in the series!
March 10, 2018
Finally. A romantic suspense that isn't padded out with repetitive and mind numbing sex scenes.
I am delighted to have found this series and a new to me author. The rest of the series is going on my to buy list right now.
There was great chemistry between Ethan and Serena right from the beginning. I loved watching the romance build between them.
The story was exciting and we are dropped into the action from the first scene and the author managed to keep this momentum right the way through. I found myself listening to this over two afternoons as I couldn't put it down.
The mystery element was very well written and all the pieces tied well together. I didn't guess the identity of the killer before it became obvious at the end which made this compulsive listening for me.
I loved the setting of the story and the character development of the townspeople meant that I felt like I knew all the players pretty well. Ethan's aunt Ruth was cute and sharp. Ethan's colleagues in the police department also piqued my interest and I'm sure I'll be reading their stories soon. Serena's brother and sisters are also characters I can't wait to see more of.
Exciting and romantic. A real page turner and definitely recommended.
I am delighted to have found this series and a new to me author. The rest of the series is going on my to buy list right now.
There was great chemistry between Ethan and Serena right from the beginning. I loved watching the romance build between them.
The story was exciting and we are dropped into the action from the first scene and the author managed to keep this momentum right the way through. I found myself listening to this over two afternoons as I couldn't put it down.
The mystery element was very well written and all the pieces tied well together. I didn't guess the identity of the killer before it became obvious at the end which made this compulsive listening for me.
I loved the setting of the story and the character development of the townspeople meant that I felt like I knew all the players pretty well. Ethan's aunt Ruth was cute and sharp. Ethan's colleagues in the police department also piqued my interest and I'm sure I'll be reading their stories soon. Serena's brother and sisters are also characters I can't wait to see more of.
Exciting and romantic. A real page turner and definitely recommended.
June 19, 2018
Witness by Rebecca Deel 5 stars
If you're looking for a great suspense-filled story this is it. It is also a clean read. I loved it.
If you're looking for a great suspense-filled story this is it. It is also a clean read. I loved it.
June 24, 2019
Witness review
Excellent book! Kept me on edge, suspenseful but respectful. Really liked the lack of foul language and explicit settings! Excellent
Excellent book! Kept me on edge, suspenseful but respectful. Really liked the lack of foul language and explicit settings! Excellent
June 25, 2019
Loved this
This was an excellent read. Kept you hopping. I finally figured out who the Fox was towards the end, just before Ethan did. Well written and fast paced.
This was an excellent read. Kept you hopping. I finally figured out who the Fox was towards the end, just before Ethan did. Well written and fast paced.
May 20, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"We're going sleuthing tomorrow."
When Police Chief Ethan Blackhawks was interviewed for the job he'd started only two weeks before, he was assured nothing much happened in sleepy Otter Creek. And he believed it until first came a rash of burglaries in the area, then a body was found, one of the theives caught in the home of his victim and called in by one of the residents. She was a witness to another man having been there also.
Megan, one of three sisters, ran a small cookery business catering to couples and small dinner parties in the area and on the verge of becoming successful. And Ethan Blackhawks felt himself attracted by her. But he can't let his growing feelings get in the way of police work...
A gentle mystery thriller with a growing romance viewed from a distance, with fairly well fleshed out characters and small town feel. Without depending on overt violence, there is a feeling of underlying tension.
Narrator Kristina Fuller Then has a warm, rather honeyed voice and she reads well with good intonation. Her pace, for this reader, was slightly too slow but increasing the broadcast speed seemed to destroy the pleasure of her voice so it remained at the setting given.
An enjoyable cosy, which does not offend with graphic sex scenes.
"We're going sleuthing tomorrow."
When Police Chief Ethan Blackhawks was interviewed for the job he'd started only two weeks before, he was assured nothing much happened in sleepy Otter Creek. And he believed it until first came a rash of burglaries in the area, then a body was found, one of the theives caught in the home of his victim and called in by one of the residents. She was a witness to another man having been there also.
Megan, one of three sisters, ran a small cookery business catering to couples and small dinner parties in the area and on the verge of becoming successful. And Ethan Blackhawks felt himself attracted by her. But he can't let his growing feelings get in the way of police work...
A gentle mystery thriller with a growing romance viewed from a distance, with fairly well fleshed out characters and small town feel. Without depending on overt violence, there is a feeling of underlying tension.
Narrator Kristina Fuller Then has a warm, rather honeyed voice and she reads well with good intonation. Her pace, for this reader, was slightly too slow but increasing the broadcast speed seemed to destroy the pleasure of her voice so it remained at the setting given.
An enjoyable cosy, which does not offend with graphic sex scenes.
February 25, 2018
Ethan Blackhawk has just been hired as the police chief in small town TN...life should be a lot more laid back than in LV, right? That is until a rash of break-ins occurs. Serena Cahill is a small town girl trying to get her fledgling personal chef business off the ground. She arrives in time to witness a possible break-in at one of her clients and meets the new police chief. Ethan is intrigued by the petite blond w the aversion to the sight of blood...seriously, she pukes at the sight of blood!!! The deeper that Ethan looks into the break-ins, the more the evidence seems to point to Serena...after all, the victims are all her clients! This is not just a small town romance story...there is a contract killer on the loose, someone trying to frame Serena for crimes, jealous woman and meddling sisters. An engaging story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Loved the HEA. Glad that I tried this new-to-me author! Now I need to read more of the Otter Creek series and its quirky residents.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 14, 2020
Loving someone can be MURDER!
Ethan Blackhawk thought that becoming Police Chief in a sleepy backwater town would bring him much needed peace, he was wrong. Now facing Four burglaries. Three assaults and One murder is the last time to find your soul mate let alone when she is the only witness as well as a possible suspect. With an assassin hunting in town who he knows only too well, Ethan must capture the assassin whilst protecting the woman he is falling for personal chef Serena Cahill. If he slips up this time it could cost him everything. This is a surprisingly sweet action packed romance where although there is plenty of heat and bad language between our main characters there is no sex. Good characters, an intriguing plot make this a definite page turner.
Ethan Blackhawk thought that becoming Police Chief in a sleepy backwater town would bring him much needed peace, he was wrong. Now facing Four burglaries. Three assaults and One murder is the last time to find your soul mate let alone when she is the only witness as well as a possible suspect. With an assassin hunting in town who he knows only too well, Ethan must capture the assassin whilst protecting the woman he is falling for personal chef Serena Cahill. If he slips up this time it could cost him everything. This is a surprisingly sweet action packed romance where although there is plenty of heat and bad language between our main characters there is no sex. Good characters, an intriguing plot make this a definite page turner.
November 4, 2017
Triplets in some shannagins - yep chaos, drama, action and much more in this story.
Ethan Blackhawk a special forces man retires out to come a take the Chief of Police positions in Otter Creek a nice small town when all hell breaks loose. His Aunt the famous writer is in the middle of it. Along with a bombshell beauty Serena Chahill. Serena has two sister Meghan and Madison triplets. Poor police Chief Ethan! Humor, suspense and so well written. That s would be an awesome TV series! Violence 2, Sex O clean romance (romantic kisses only). Excellent series.
More book lovers opinions/reviews exchanges please free to checkout my blog: thanks
Ethan Blackhawk a special forces man retires out to come a take the Chief of Police positions in Otter Creek a nice small town when all hell breaks loose. His Aunt the famous writer is in the middle of it. Along with a bombshell beauty Serena Chahill. Serena has two sister Meghan and Madison triplets. Poor police Chief Ethan! Humor, suspense and so well written. That s would be an awesome TV series! Violence 2, Sex O clean romance (romantic kisses only). Excellent series.
More book lovers opinions/reviews exchanges please free to checkout my blog: thanks
May 20, 2020
3.5 to 4 rating. I like the story lines of Rebecca Deel’s books but I find the romance side of the books unrealistic. I am fine with clean religious based books but I cannot look past the fact that the characters in these books are late 20’s to 40’s and don’t do more than hand holding and kissing before marriage. All of the characters who are Special Forces are supposed to be religious saints? The books plot is great until the underlying romance makes you want to scream. Books don’t need graphic sex scenes to be good but they need to be realistic especially if it involves romance. Overall, good story for a series with mystery and romance but unrealistic with the romance.
November 13, 2020
3.75 Stars. This is a suspenseful book that takes place a small town. As with most small town stories, there are lots of colorful characters. Aunt Ruth leads the pack in this book.
In between trying to stop a crime spree that includes burglaries, assaults, murder, Las Vegas mob association, and an international assassin, the new Police Chief, Ethan Blackhawk, falls for a sweet local lady, Serena Cahill. Serena accidentally ends up in the middle of the crime spree.
The plot is rather in-depth and somewhat confusing at times, but certainly holds your interest. The romance is vanilla, and I prefer a PG-13 rating.
In between trying to stop a crime spree that includes burglaries, assaults, murder, Las Vegas mob association, and an international assassin, the new Police Chief, Ethan Blackhawk, falls for a sweet local lady, Serena Cahill. Serena accidentally ends up in the middle of the crime spree.
The plot is rather in-depth and somewhat confusing at times, but certainly holds your interest. The romance is vanilla, and I prefer a PG-13 rating.
June 20, 2019
Good start to the series
I discovered this author through her Fortress Security series. I'm not sure which series she wrote first but definitely enjoying the Otter Creek series. Otter Creek is a small town and Ethan the new chief of police. Serena is a personal chef and local. Case with ties to Ethan's past and a current crime spree in town keeps intersecting with Serena. As events turn deadly their blossoming relationship may not survive a cold blooded killer. You'll enjoy meeting the residents of the town as well.
I discovered this author through her Fortress Security series. I'm not sure which series she wrote first but definitely enjoying the Otter Creek series. Otter Creek is a small town and Ethan the new chief of police. Serena is a personal chef and local. Case with ties to Ethan's past and a current crime spree in town keeps intersecting with Serena. As events turn deadly their blossoming relationship may not survive a cold blooded killer. You'll enjoy meeting the residents of the town as well.
January 17, 2019
Excellent Read
I found this book whilst browsing thro Amazon. I wanted a thriller/mystery with a love story and this book did not disappoint. It was that good I even read it in one night! The storyline was very good. A tad confusing at times with all the characters but that didn't alter my love for this. Just downloaded the 2nd book. It's 6.25am now & I'm trying my damn hardest not to start reading. Thank you Rebecca x
I found this book whilst browsing thro Amazon. I wanted a thriller/mystery with a love story and this book did not disappoint. It was that good I even read it in one night! The storyline was very good. A tad confusing at times with all the characters but that didn't alter my love for this. Just downloaded the 2nd book. It's 6.25am now & I'm trying my damn hardest not to start reading. Thank you Rebecca x
February 22, 2017
This was my first book with this author and I loved it so much that I plan to read the whole series. I loved the suspense and the cute romance that was building around the characters I never saw the person who fox the hit man until the end I love a little smut with my books but I was ok without it and I look forward to the next book which I am about to read.
April 1, 2018
Not my type
Writing was good, characters were pretty good, and plot confusing but good. My issue was it was very PG and almost had a Christian feel to it. Which is just not my thing when I look for romance books. If I was, I think, I would really like it.
Writing was good, characters were pretty good, and plot confusing but good. My issue was it was very PG and almost had a Christian feel to it. Which is just not my thing when I look for romance books. If I was, I think, I would really like it.
May 9, 2018
I received this copy of the book as a early birthday gift from a good friend of mine. It was so good that I could not put it down. I felt like the book was a cross between Murder She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night. Very good book and had me on the edge of my seat.
February 23, 2019
Gripping!
Wasn’t sure at first about this book, but once I started reading I couldn’t stop ! the characters are amazing and the story line had me reading all night till I finished the book.
Fantastic read
Wasn’t sure at first about this book, but once I started reading I couldn’t stop ! the characters are amazing and the story line had me reading all night till I finished the book.
Fantastic read
January 30, 2021
I loved this book. The author was new to me and I received the book as a birthday gift from my daughter. It was a good clean read. Loved the story line and the characters. Can't wait to read more books in this series and to try her other series.
December 23, 2021
excellent
As always rebecca deel has written an amazing story, she’s one of my one click authors and I can’t believe I haven’t left a review before ! This is my 3rd time reading the whole series and all I can say is you will not be disappointed!
As always rebecca deel has written an amazing story, she’s one of my one click authors and I can’t believe I haven’t left a review before ! This is my 3rd time reading the whole series and all I can say is you will not be disappointed!
October 22, 2022
Wonderful
A great start to a fantastic two series. Despite the international assassin I have to say that the family vibe, including Ethan and his aunt, really feels like Little Women! Witness is now included in my list of books that I read over and over again.
A great start to a fantastic two series. Despite the international assassin I have to say that the family vibe, including Ethan and his aunt, really feels like Little Women! Witness is now included in my list of books that I read over and over again.
November 5, 2022
Thoroughly Enjoyable!
First time reading this author and will be adding her to my list! Great pace, multiple stories tied together, keeps you guessing, and clean read. VERY much enjoyed!
First time reading this author and will be adding her to my list! Great pace, multiple stories tied together, keeps you guessing, and clean read. VERY much enjoyed!
August 24, 2023
This is different from her other series I am currently reading, but just as good. So far, this series is more Christian fiction, as her other series is just squeaky clean.
Love the setting and characters. Ethan and Serena were great introductions to this series.
Love the setting and characters. Ethan and Serena were great introductions to this series.
September 4, 2024
Contrary to most of her books, this one's romance was SO SLOW that by the time it finally came around, I just didn't care. The mystery and action of the storyline was very drawn out as well and seemed to be missing most of the time, save for a couple of things.
June 17, 2017
Great Book
I enjoy this book. Worth the read. Just right, not over the top action. I will read more of Rebecca Deel's work
I enjoy this book. Worth the read. Just right, not over the top action. I will read more of Rebecca Deel's work
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews