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Cold Case Redemption
They have a second chance…
If they can find a killer.
Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, Ian Carter left Juniper, Colorado, to join the Marines, leaving behind his childhood sweetheart, Bella Winters. More than a decade later, he goes back home to discover that Bella is a CSI—and that she’s raising a son he didn’t know he had. She convinces Ian to help her investigate the case that tore them apart and clear his name, but as soon as they begin digging, copycat killings start happening. It’s clear that someone doesn’t want them to uncover the truth…
From Harlequin Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.
Discover more action-packed stories in the A West Coast Crime Story series. All books are stand-alones with uplifting endings but were published in the following
Book 1: The Heart-Shaped Murders
Book 2: Danger in the Nevada Desert
Book 3: Homicide at Vincent Vineyard
Book 4: Hometown Homicide
Book 5: Preyed Upon
Book 6: Fearless Pursuit
Book 7: Cold Case Redemption
If they can find a killer.
Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, Ian Carter left Juniper, Colorado, to join the Marines, leaving behind his childhood sweetheart, Bella Winters. More than a decade later, he goes back home to discover that Bella is a CSI—and that she’s raising a son he didn’t know he had. She convinces Ian to help her investigate the case that tore them apart and clear his name, but as soon as they begin digging, copycat killings start happening. It’s clear that someone doesn’t want them to uncover the truth…
From Harlequin Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.
Discover more action-packed stories in the A West Coast Crime Story series. All books are stand-alones with uplifting endings but were published in the following
Book 1: The Heart-Shaped Murders
Book 2: Danger in the Nevada Desert
Book 3: Homicide at Vincent Vineyard
Book 4: Hometown Homicide
Book 5: Preyed Upon
Book 6: Fearless Pursuit
Book 7: Cold Case Redemption
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2026
About the author
Denise N. Wheatley
71 books223 followersDenise N. Wheatley is a lover of happily-ever-afters and the art of storytelling. She has written (and ghostwritten) numerous novels and novellas that run the romance gamut, from contemporary to paranormal, sweet to steamy. Denise strives to pen entertaining stories that embody matters of the heart, while creating characters who are strong, colorful and relatable.
She is an RWA member and received a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the city where she was born and raised. When Denise is not sitting behind a computer, you can find her in a movie theater, on a tennis court, watching true crime television or chatting on social media.
She is an RWA member and received a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the city where she was born and raised. When Denise is not sitting behind a computer, you can find her in a movie theater, on a tennis court, watching true crime television or chatting on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cold Case Redemption delivers everything a Harlequin Intrigue reader craves, including danger, desire, and a decades-old mystery that refuses to stay buried. Denise N. Wheatley blends high-stakes suspense with deeply emotional romance that leaves you turning pages, desperate for the final payoff.
Twelve years ago, Ian Harding left his hometown under a cloud of suspicion after the murder of Mr. Williams, a crime he knew about but certainly didn’t commit. Now a Marine on leave from Hawaii, Ian returns for his grandfather’s funeral only to find the past waiting for him. His former best friend Noel is running for mayor and publicly vowing to reopen the Williams case. Ian suspects Noel’s motives are only to win the race, as Noel was there the night Mr. Williams died, and Ian believes he already knows who fired the shots. He also suspects Noel will once again try to pin it on him.
The other thing Ian discovers when he returns for his grandfather’s funeral? His ex-girlfriend Bella. Now a cop and crime scene investigator, he’s surprised to see her with a teenage boy who might look just a little too much like him. Their reunion is tense, but tender, and charged with all the unresolved emotions between them. The personal twists add to the romance's emotional depth without overshadowing the suspense, because the danger raises the stakes for both Bella and Ian as they try to protect everyone the killer is after.
Killer? Oh yeah. As soon as Ian arrives, members of the old “dirty half dozen,” the guys who were there the night of Mr. Williams’ murder, start dying. It feels like someone is tying up loose ends, and Ian is next on the list.
Cold Case Redemption is a perfect balance of romance and danger, delivering emotional payoff and edge-of-your-seat thrills. Ian and Bella’s journey is heartfelt, the mystery is layered and compelling, and the final reveal is the kind of twist that makes you sit back and shake your head. If you love second-chance romances and cold case investigations, this one is for you!
Twelve years ago, Ian Harding left his hometown under a cloud of suspicion after the murder of Mr. Williams, a crime he knew about but certainly didn’t commit. Now a Marine on leave from Hawaii, Ian returns for his grandfather’s funeral only to find the past waiting for him. His former best friend Noel is running for mayor and publicly vowing to reopen the Williams case. Ian suspects Noel’s motives are only to win the race, as Noel was there the night Mr. Williams died, and Ian believes he already knows who fired the shots. He also suspects Noel will once again try to pin it on him.
The other thing Ian discovers when he returns for his grandfather’s funeral? His ex-girlfriend Bella. Now a cop and crime scene investigator, he’s surprised to see her with a teenage boy who might look just a little too much like him. Their reunion is tense, but tender, and charged with all the unresolved emotions between them. The personal twists add to the romance's emotional depth without overshadowing the suspense, because the danger raises the stakes for both Bella and Ian as they try to protect everyone the killer is after.
Killer? Oh yeah. As soon as Ian arrives, members of the old “dirty half dozen,” the guys who were there the night of Mr. Williams’ murder, start dying. It feels like someone is tying up loose ends, and Ian is next on the list.
Cold Case Redemption is a perfect balance of romance and danger, delivering emotional payoff and edge-of-your-seat thrills. Ian and Bella’s journey is heartfelt, the mystery is layered and compelling, and the final reveal is the kind of twist that makes you sit back and shake your head. If you love second-chance romances and cold case investigations, this one is for you!
August 22, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive a advanced reader copy from the author. This book like all of Denise N Wheatley‘s book was great. The book starts off with Ian Carter, returning to Juniper Colorado for his grandfather‘s funeral. We find out very quickly that he left 12 years ago because he was accused of a murder that he didn’t commit by the wealthy family in town. When he runs into his high school girlfriend Bella Winters, he finds out that they have a 11-year-old son as soon as he arrives back in town murders start happening again from the crew that was really involved with the murder that happened this time Ian has more to lose with his child and love of his life on the line they’re gonna figure out who the murderer is so that they can live happily as a family. Run don’t walk to pick up your copy of cold case redemption.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely loved this cold case thrilling story. Ian is home from the Marines for his grandfather’s funeral and his homecoming isn’t a happy one for everyone. Ian escaped town long ago after being accused of committing a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s back and wants to clear his name. Ian’s ex Bella is a CSI and the mother of a son he never knew existed. Together they embark on solving the mystery and find that their old feelings have never gone away. This was an exciting, romantic and edge of your seat thrilling and I couldn’t put it down!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for this free ARC book in exchange for my honest review of Cold Case Redemption.
Will the truth finally come to light and can they get a second chance at love? This gripping page turner keeps you guessing with a cold case that refuses to stay buried and suspense that never lets up. The writing is fantastic, the characters are memorable and the second chance romance adds a wonderful emotional layer to the story. Overall, I highly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to fellow book lovers.
Will the truth finally come to light and can they get a second chance at love? This gripping page turner keeps you guessing with a cold case that refuses to stay buried and suspense that never lets up. The writing is fantastic, the characters are memorable and the second chance romance adds a wonderful emotional layer to the story. Overall, I highly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to fellow book lovers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is about a cold case murder that leads to new murders. Looking at it objectively, it should be a good read which is why I gave it four stars but I was bored. Minor things that didn’t make sense bothered me like how did Ian get so much leave from the Marines, why didn’t Ian’s parents figure out who Cam was. It was pretty obvious that Noel wasn’t the killer but I also felt we didn’t have a real chance of figuring it out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This second-chance romance is a suspenseful edge of your seat page turner packed with danger, desire, mystery and twists that keep you guessing to the very end!
This was the first book I'd read by this author and the very first one in this series, so I was concerned I would be missing some of the back story to fully follow along and thoroughly enjoy it, but I needn't have worried. This story was wonderfully written and can very much stand on it's own!
This was the first book I'd read by this author and the very first one in this series, so I was concerned I would be missing some of the back story to fully follow along and thoroughly enjoy it, but I needn't have worried. This story was wonderfully written and can very much stand on it's own!
August 31, 2026
Going In Circles
I enjoyed the fact that each time I thought I knew who killer was up popped the devil. Each character had me second guessing. This Cold Case brought out the best in some and the worst in others.
I enjoyed the fact that each time I thought I knew who killer was up popped the devil. Each character had me second guessing. This Cold Case brought out the best in some and the worst in others.
September 6, 2026
This is the second book I have read by this author.
It's a second change romance, suspenseful edge of your seat read. You will get danger, desire, mystery and so many twists until the end and you still won't believe who did it.
It's a second change romance, suspenseful edge of your seat read. You will get danger, desire, mystery and so many twists until the end and you still won't believe who did it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews