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Hearts of the South #1
Truth and Consequences
When deceit and desire collide, the results can be deadly…
Hearts of the South , Book 1
For undercover FBI agent Jason Harding, coming face to face with the grown-up version of his adolescent dreams is a nightmare. Kathleen Palmer sees him as a despicably corrupt small-town law officer and a murder suspect. Trapped in a web of his own making, he must see his mission through to the end and bring down the crooked cops who’ve run Haynes County for decades. To do so, he must betray the only family he’s ever known and fight his growing love for Kathleen, a relationship that could get one, or both of them, killed.
Determined to uncover the truth, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Kathleen struggles with her attraction to the one person who’s awakened her since she buried her heart and emotions in her son’s tiny grave. Listening to her heart could destroy all she has left in life—her career and reputation. When the truth about Jason’s identity surfaces, they both face unimaginable Jason may lose his life and Kathleen the man she loves.
Hearts of the South , Book 1
For undercover FBI agent Jason Harding, coming face to face with the grown-up version of his adolescent dreams is a nightmare. Kathleen Palmer sees him as a despicably corrupt small-town law officer and a murder suspect. Trapped in a web of his own making, he must see his mission through to the end and bring down the crooked cops who’ve run Haynes County for decades. To do so, he must betray the only family he’s ever known and fight his growing love for Kathleen, a relationship that could get one, or both of them, killed.
Determined to uncover the truth, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Kathleen struggles with her attraction to the one person who’s awakened her since she buried her heart and emotions in her son’s tiny grave. Listening to her heart could destroy all she has left in life—her career and reputation. When the truth about Jason’s identity surfaces, they both face unimaginable Jason may lose his life and Kathleen the man she loves.
271 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2007
28 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Linda Winfree
26 books84 followersHow 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 22, 2015
Truth and Consequences is the first book in the Hearts of the South series, and a great read filled with action, suspense, romance and steamy goodness!
The story starts out with two teenagers who are found dead in the cab of a stolen pickup truck, apparently of self inflicted gunshot wounds – a double suicide. But over the decades there have been too many questionable happenings, and too many crooked cops in Haynes County to let this slide, especially since the first officer on scene is under suspicion for being a dirty cop. Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents Kathleen Palmer and her partner Altee Price are not about to let this one fall through the cracks. As their investigation gets underway, the danger of retaliation and the threat of death make this an exciting story. And to make this case even more dangerous is the attraction Kathleen feels for Jason Harding, a new cop in Haynes County and the cousin of their lead suspect.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story! From the first page to the last it never dragged. The characters are complex, well developed people with integrity and the drive to get the job done. Were they perfect? No way, but even with their past heartbreaks and the scars that are both on the inside and out, they never gave up the fight to see this battle of good versus evil through to the end.
I’m very excited to have found a new series to obsess over, and a new author to glom onto. And while this is a Samhain published book, it's far more than just another erotic novel.
Thank you, Pamela(AllHoney) for gifting me this book. I’d have missed out on a truly awesome story if not for your generosity!
4.5/5 stars
Edited to add - this book is no longer free on amazon
December 11, 2011
After reading this book, I’ve decided to stop reviewing romantic suspense unless I find one that wows me. It’s clear that this genre will continue being more fantasy than real life, with killers that are invisible (nobody ever sees them do their evil deeds even in public) or can teleport (they can be in two places at the same time) or are not human (NEVER leave evidence.)
The premise of this book is great: an FBI agent goes undercover in the town he grew up to bring down a corrupt Police Department. The catch? His cousin is the second in command so the hero struggles with betraying the only family he has. This is very powerful stuff: he knows he must do the right thing but at the same time, feels the binds of family ties and is reluctant to break them.
The heroine is also a law enforcement agent from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Now, it wasn’t explained exactly what they were, but they seem to act as a sort of Internal Affairs that investigates when a person ends up dead in the hands of the police. I explain this because given her job and her character, her relationship with the hero is somewhat improbable. For a good chunk of the book she thinks he’s a crook and she’s investigating his cousin. Do you really think a woman in her position would jeopardize an investigation, her career, the trust of the public, etc. etc. for a man she’s not sure she can trust? Her behavior is almost insulting to the whole female gender, as if women cannot do their duty because their hormones get in the way.
The relationship between the main characters evolved a bit two quickly for it to believable. What’s worse, they never had any meaningful conversations about themselves. The heroine is carrying a big pain in her life that destroyed her first marriage and convinced her she’s not good at relationships. Their conversation about this goes something like this (not talking about the real subject to avoid spoilers.)
Hero: Who’s Blaze?
Heroine: My super secret identity.
Hero: You’re a superhero?
Heroine: Was.
Hero: I’m sorry.
That’s it. And afterwards, she thinks she's glad that she was able to share her pain with the hero.
Say whaaaa? This is all you have to say about the most terrible thing that ever happened in your life??? The event that has defined most of your adult life, that has given you feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, pain, sorrow, guilt and a whole slew of emotions? To be fair, the hero was in a very dangerous situation when this came up so they couldn’t talk about it at length but then, why have such a powerful situation in the heroine’s life if it’s never going to come up? Is it just so we feel sorry for her?
Then there's the business of the almost fantastical suspense plot. When the book starts, the evil cousin has two dead teenagers in his hands who he claims committed suicide. Soon the evidence says that somebody else killed them and the evil cousin is the only one who could have done so. However, he’s never accused of the crime even though he clearly had means and opportunity. Although motive would have been harder to proof, there was definitely enough evidence to at least charge him but nobody ever does.
Because of this situation, the evil cousin starts to harass the heroine. Not in a subtle way that couldn’t be tie to him, mind you, but with actions that everybody can see. And it’s not as if the heroine is alone, her father is a powerful political figure. So we’re supposed to believe that those things can happen in this day and age in the US without any consequences? It almost seems as if this book is set in the 70s or in a country like Mexico where police corruption is rampant. (I’m not saying there’s not Police corruption…I just can’t believe it could be that obvious. It’s not the Wild West after all.)
Overall, not the worst read in the world but a really good premise that unraveled at the execution.
The premise of this book is great: an FBI agent goes undercover in the town he grew up to bring down a corrupt Police Department. The catch? His cousin is the second in command so the hero struggles with betraying the only family he has. This is very powerful stuff: he knows he must do the right thing but at the same time, feels the binds of family ties and is reluctant to break them.
The heroine is also a law enforcement agent from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Now, it wasn’t explained exactly what they were, but they seem to act as a sort of Internal Affairs that investigates when a person ends up dead in the hands of the police. I explain this because given her job and her character, her relationship with the hero is somewhat improbable. For a good chunk of the book she thinks he’s a crook and she’s investigating his cousin. Do you really think a woman in her position would jeopardize an investigation, her career, the trust of the public, etc. etc. for a man she’s not sure she can trust? Her behavior is almost insulting to the whole female gender, as if women cannot do their duty because their hormones get in the way.
The relationship between the main characters evolved a bit two quickly for it to believable. What’s worse, they never had any meaningful conversations about themselves. The heroine is carrying a big pain in her life that destroyed her first marriage and convinced her she’s not good at relationships. Their conversation about this goes something like this (not talking about the real subject to avoid spoilers.)
Hero: Who’s Blaze?
Heroine: My super secret identity.
Hero: You’re a superhero?
Heroine: Was.
Hero: I’m sorry.
That’s it. And afterwards, she thinks she's glad that she was able to share her pain with the hero.
Say whaaaa? This is all you have to say about the most terrible thing that ever happened in your life??? The event that has defined most of your adult life, that has given you feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, pain, sorrow, guilt and a whole slew of emotions? To be fair, the hero was in a very dangerous situation when this came up so they couldn’t talk about it at length but then, why have such a powerful situation in the heroine’s life if it’s never going to come up? Is it just so we feel sorry for her?
Then there's the business of the almost fantastical suspense plot. When the book starts, the evil cousin has two dead teenagers in his hands who he claims committed suicide. Soon the evidence says that somebody else killed them and the evil cousin is the only one who could have done so. However, he’s never accused of the crime even though he clearly had means and opportunity. Although motive would have been harder to proof, there was definitely enough evidence to at least charge him but nobody ever does.
Because of this situation, the evil cousin starts to harass the heroine. Not in a subtle way that couldn’t be tie to him, mind you, but with actions that everybody can see. And it’s not as if the heroine is alone, her father is a powerful political figure. So we’re supposed to believe that those things can happen in this day and age in the US without any consequences? It almost seems as if this book is set in the 70s or in a country like Mexico where police corruption is rampant. (I’m not saying there’s not Police corruption…I just can’t believe it could be that obvious. It’s not the Wild West after all.)
Overall, not the worst read in the world but a really good premise that unraveled at the execution.
January 12, 2023
3.5 rounded up
A Hearts On The South Book 1
When undercover FBI agent Jason Harding comes face-to-face with the girl he had a crush on as a teen, his complicated life gets even more tricky. He's dreamed of Kathleen Palmer for years, but now all she'll see him is a small-town corrupt cop and a murder suspect. He's trapped, but he has to keep up his cover if he wants to bring down the crooked cops who've run Haynes County for decades.
This is a romantic suspense thriller. The balance between the romance and suspense is perfect. Kathleen Palmer is investigating a shooting of two teenage boys. She thinks a fellow deputy, Jason Harding, killed them. She is also falling for Jason, and she believes him now to be innocent. Although the story is a bit predictable, it's still an enjoyable read. Jason and Kathleen are great characters. The pace is slow to begin with. There's quite a lot goes on in this book but it's not confusing.
#KindleFreeBook
A Hearts On The South Book 1
When undercover FBI agent Jason Harding comes face-to-face with the girl he had a crush on as a teen, his complicated life gets even more tricky. He's dreamed of Kathleen Palmer for years, but now all she'll see him is a small-town corrupt cop and a murder suspect. He's trapped, but he has to keep up his cover if he wants to bring down the crooked cops who've run Haynes County for decades.
This is a romantic suspense thriller. The balance between the romance and suspense is perfect. Kathleen Palmer is investigating a shooting of two teenage boys. She thinks a fellow deputy, Jason Harding, killed them. She is also falling for Jason, and she believes him now to be innocent. Although the story is a bit predictable, it's still an enjoyable read. Jason and Kathleen are great characters. The pace is slow to begin with. There's quite a lot goes on in this book but it's not confusing.
#KindleFreeBook
February 24, 2011
Saw this series recommended on Amazon and thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm kind of glad I did! I've been on a romantic suspense kick lately, and this book hit the spot. I loved the lead characters, both scarred by the past. The small town backwoods Georgia setting was fun, and the villains were appropriately scary. Looking forward to the rest of the series, though I might skip the next book about a troubled marriage...SO not one of my favorite themes in a romance novel.
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March 24, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/24/2020)! 🎁
April 8, 2011
I absolutely loved this story. The characters are fully developed and complicated just the way I like them. The small southern town has many mysteries to lead into another book and going to make a great series. I loved the hero Jason. He was a strong male man with human flaws like most people. He has a moral compass that is rarely seen in todays culture. he has had a hurtful childhood, but it does not stir from his path, or make him question the difference between right and wrong. Kathleen, although coming from a lifesytle of privlege is not a snob in any stretch of the imagination. A good upbring, but with a terrible tragedy that gets unfolded through the story.
This was truly a satisfying story. I love books that comes together and ends so nicely. I will be sure to read the rest of her series and any other of her books. I encourage anyone who loves mystery and romance to read this one. i know that I have kept in my "keepers" so I may read again..*S*
This was truly a satisfying story. I love books that comes together and ends so nicely. I will be sure to read the rest of her series and any other of her books. I encourage anyone who loves mystery and romance to read this one. i know that I have kept in my "keepers" so I may read again..*S*
October 19, 2017
The first book in the Hearts of the South series by Linda Winfree. Another series to invest in :)
Romantic suspense. Great balance of suspense, mystery and romance. A bit heart wrenching at times but a good read. I would highly recommend this series!
Romantic suspense. Great balance of suspense, mystery and romance. A bit heart wrenching at times but a good read. I would highly recommend this series!
April 10, 2011
Good, quick read with a suspenseful plot. A few twist and turns that kept things interesting. The chemistry between the H&H was sizzling and the romance was sweet. The writing style was smooth and easy to follow. Overall, an enjoyable read!
May 10, 2012
I am going back and rereading all my Linda Winfree books. God how I miss this author.
The thing with this series is you have to read all the books because they are all closely tied together. Tick Calvert isn’t the hero of this book but he is a strong secondary character and from this book on he is in every book in the series. You find out things in this one about him and Cait that tie into his book which is the 3rd in the series. You find out that his sister Tori was raped in the past and that is dealt with in her book which is the 6th book in the series. You meet Sheriff Stanton Reed who is Tick's partner - his book is the 4th in the series. I read a review where someone didn’t like how the author didn’t give enough information about something that happened to the heroine of this book - well that is dealt with in her ex husbands book which is book 5. You absolutely fall in love with every character in her books even down to the all around screw up Sheriff's deputy Troy Lee (who's screw ups are the comic relief though the books). I remember I couldn’t wait to see how she was going to write him as a hero for his book and she didn’t disappoint.
This book starts Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents Kathleen Palmer and her partner Altee Price showing up on the scene where two teenagers are dead in the cab of a stolen pickup truck, apparently of self inflicted gunshot wounds – a double suicide. But the Haynes County Sheriff's has always been corrupt and it thought to have ties to the Dixie Mafia. One of the officer's onsite is Jason Harding who Kathleen has an instant attraction to but since he works for Haynes County and he is the Chief Deputy's cousin she figures he is a dirty cop. She knows there is something fishy about the murders of the boys and is not about to let this one fall through the cracks. As the investigation gets underway, the dangers of retaliation and death threats increase. Kathleen attraction's for Jason Harding grows stronger even though everything points to him being dirty. After getting another death threat it’s decided to let her know that Jason is working undercover for the FBI to try and bring down the Haynes County Sheriff Office.
The thing with this series is you have to read all the books because they are all closely tied together. Tick Calvert isn’t the hero of this book but he is a strong secondary character and from this book on he is in every book in the series. You find out things in this one about him and Cait that tie into his book which is the 3rd in the series. You find out that his sister Tori was raped in the past and that is dealt with in her book which is the 6th book in the series. You meet Sheriff Stanton Reed who is Tick's partner - his book is the 4th in the series. I read a review where someone didn’t like how the author didn’t give enough information about something that happened to the heroine of this book - well that is dealt with in her ex husbands book which is book 5. You absolutely fall in love with every character in her books even down to the all around screw up Sheriff's deputy Troy Lee (who's screw ups are the comic relief though the books). I remember I couldn’t wait to see how she was going to write him as a hero for his book and she didn’t disappoint.
This book starts Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents Kathleen Palmer and her partner Altee Price showing up on the scene where two teenagers are dead in the cab of a stolen pickup truck, apparently of self inflicted gunshot wounds – a double suicide. But the Haynes County Sheriff's has always been corrupt and it thought to have ties to the Dixie Mafia. One of the officer's onsite is Jason Harding who Kathleen has an instant attraction to but since he works for Haynes County and he is the Chief Deputy's cousin she figures he is a dirty cop. She knows there is something fishy about the murders of the boys and is not about to let this one fall through the cracks. As the investigation gets underway, the dangers of retaliation and death threats increase. Kathleen attraction's for Jason Harding grows stronger even though everything points to him being dirty. After getting another death threat it’s decided to let her know that Jason is working undercover for the FBI to try and bring down the Haynes County Sheriff Office.
May 10, 2011
First book of the Hearts of the South Series, and was free on Amazon, so I snagged it. I'm a fan of Romantic Suspense, and free books, and viola, it was a winning combo.
Jason, former Army turned FBI undercover agent is brought back to his roots, in order to infiltrate the corruption in the Haynes County Sheriffs department. Forced to work with his Corrupt Cousin Jim Ed, and others at the precicnt, he witness vile things, and is forced to partake in order to build his case and take them down.
Kathleen, is a GBI Agent who has suffered a loss that made my heart hurt. She throws herself into her work, and prides herself on a job well done.
It was a good read. Not great, but not bad. Hence the three star rating.
Better, it was free!
I will be looking for the others of the series to read.
At times I wished that Jason and Kathleen talked more. It seemed they didn't know each other at all, and yet we are supposed to believe that they have this intense love and chemistry so soon after meeting (they did know each other briefly in high school with Kathy being three years Jason's senior but...)
Overall I was satisfied.
Jason, former Army turned FBI undercover agent is brought back to his roots, in order to infiltrate the corruption in the Haynes County Sheriffs department. Forced to work with his Corrupt Cousin Jim Ed, and others at the precicnt, he witness vile things, and is forced to partake in order to build his case and take them down.
Kathleen, is a GBI Agent who has suffered a loss that made my heart hurt. She throws herself into her work, and prides herself on a job well done.
It was a good read. Not great, but not bad. Hence the three star rating.
Better, it was free!
I will be looking for the others of the series to read.
At times I wished that Jason and Kathleen talked more. It seemed they didn't know each other at all, and yet we are supposed to believe that they have this intense love and chemistry so soon after meeting (they did know each other briefly in high school with Kathy being three years Jason's senior but...)
Overall I was satisfied.
March 21, 2017
I read this series a couple of years ago and loved it. It’s strange. - This author wrote this series and one spin-off book and then stopped writing. I would love to see her write another book. I would be first in line to buy it.
This book was really great. It was crime/suspense and romance filled. It introduced characters that would be seen throughout the series. I loved Jason Harding. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book, terrified Jason’s cover would be blown.
This book was really great. It was crime/suspense and romance filled. It introduced characters that would be seen throughout the series. I loved Jason Harding. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book, terrified Jason’s cover would be blown.
May 23, 2011
A broken soul with a penchant for Arthurian legend, and who's wise enough to realize the faults of the oh so not great Lancelot, Jason was just too sexy for his own good. Honestly, I'm at a loss for words. Other than... I loved it!
*part of a Location 2571 review
*part of a Location 2571 review
June 2, 2017
Four stars
This was a great romantic suspense. The balance between the romance element and the suspense was nicely done. I thought all of the characters were well developed and the setting was vividly portrayed. I knocked a star off because my preference is for sex to be implied. The descriptions were not super detailed and it was easily skipped over but there was some heat.
This was a great romantic suspense. The balance between the romance element and the suspense was nicely done. I thought all of the characters were well developed and the setting was vividly portrayed. I knocked a star off because my preference is for sex to be implied. The descriptions were not super detailed and it was easily skipped over but there was some heat.
July 18, 2018
Average romantic suspense. Nothing that blew me away about it but wasnt bad either. Some parts just moved too quickly to really make sense and feel the connection. It seemed like the author was trying to use a past connections to explain some of this but I never got the feel of that. It felt more like everyone just met but acted like they had that past connection at the same time.
December 13, 2016
I love the book. Great story!
May 30, 2011
Kathleen Palmer works for the GBI, and desperately wants to pin a murder to the good ol' boy, corrupt sheriff. She knows he's guilty, but can she prove it? Jason is new to the Haynes County sheriff's office, and working undercover for the FBI. Can he take down the corrupt organization before his cover is blown? Will he be able to convince Kathleen he's really a decent guy and not on the take?
The plot moves along fairly well, although it is fairly simple and predictable. There were a few things I wasn't exactly expecting, enough to keep me interested. Some events- especially the back story for the major characters- are mentioned briefly and repeatedly, but never fully explained in a satisfying manner.
The characters are likeable enough, but forgettable. Kathleen is a workaholic, having thrown herself into her work after some emotional pain in her past. Even though it's brought up repeatedly, she never deals with this, which makes her relationship with Jason seem very superficial. Jason is the same way- after holding onto something most of his life, he lets it go without explanation or cause. It keeps the characters from feeling like real people.
It was an enjoyable beach read. I would read the other books in the series if they happened to cross my path, but I wouldn't go out of my way to search for the books.
The plot moves along fairly well, although it is fairly simple and predictable. There were a few things I wasn't exactly expecting, enough to keep me interested. Some events- especially the back story for the major characters- are mentioned briefly and repeatedly, but never fully explained in a satisfying manner.
The characters are likeable enough, but forgettable. Kathleen is a workaholic, having thrown herself into her work after some emotional pain in her past. Even though it's brought up repeatedly, she never deals with this, which makes her relationship with Jason seem very superficial. Jason is the same way- after holding onto something most of his life, he lets it go without explanation or cause. It keeps the characters from feeling like real people.
It was an enjoyable beach read. I would read the other books in the series if they happened to cross my path, but I wouldn't go out of my way to search for the books.
February 7, 2013
I liked the book, but there was something about it that kept me from really liking it. I enjoyed the romance, found the mystery plausible -- though a little emotionally disturbing. I was slightly annoyed about some scenes for the other characters back stories. I know the author is trying to set them up for future books in the series, but for some of them I thought maybe too much time was spent on secondary characters for future books.
Again, nothing in particular kept me from giving this a 4 stars -- just a bunch of little things that added up to keep me for really liking it.
Again, nothing in particular kept me from giving this a 4 stars -- just a bunch of little things that added up to keep me for really liking it.
June 18, 2011
i'm liking linda winfree more and more as an author. got this book free for kindle a while back, but forgot i had it till i got WHAT MATTERED MOST, which ties in some characters in both books. this is the first in her series HEART OF THE SOUTH, and i'm a sucker for romance/suspense. this has good cops and bad cops and is a really good story.
April 4, 2011
This was a free ebook on Amazon. It is much better than I expected. The story was suspenseful, which I always enjoy. The writing just seemed a little green to me ... as if the author is new to writing, yet I saw that she has several other books.
April 5, 2011
I actually thought the writing in this free kindle book was pretty good! I bought the romance and the plot kept me interested and the bad guy was truly reprehensible and well written (maybe a little one dimensional). I would read more of this author's work.
March 12, 2013
Yawn. The stars are for the premise of the story. The read was boring as all get out, though. I skimmed more pages than I read. I did not at all get the connection, and how they could have fallen in love when they barely saw each other. I don't know. Wasn't for me, I guess.
August 8, 2014
Truth and Consequences
I thought this was a great story. It kept me in suspense and fear that Jason would be discovered by his cousin that he was undercover. Kathleen and Tick got there in the nick of time. The love of Jason and Kathleen was so good.
I thought this was a great story. It kept me in suspense and fear that Jason would be discovered by his cousin that he was undercover. Kathleen and Tick got there in the nick of time. The love of Jason and Kathleen was so good.
January 3, 2009
Another "not my typical genre, but free" books. Glad I'm trying these out.
August 30, 2010
Reread in 2010. While the villains are over the top, I really enjoyed everything else about this book.
September 24, 2024
If you like romantic suspense you have to read this book.
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August 29, 2011Part of a large series to consider if like 1st books?
April 3, 2011
This was free on Kindle and Bree pimped it on Twitter like mad, so I had to get it and read it. I liked it a lot, and so I'm hooked on yet another series…
February 17, 2012
Crime suspense with liberal helpings of steamy romance.
August 3, 2011
My first Linda Winfree book, and I liked it. Nice story, maybe a bit more drama throughout would be nice. Will definitely check out more from her.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews