Death and Her Devotion

Rogue Vows #1

by Kendra Elliot

In the first Rogue Vows novella, Zane and Stevie are about to get an unexpected wedding present…and it’s a deadly one.

It should be the happiest weekend of Officer Stevie Taylor’s life. She’s finally going to marry Police Chief Zane Duncan and live happily ever after in Solitude, Oregon. But all wedding plans grind to a halt when a dead body is found at a nearby campground. A vacationing A-list TV actor has been murdered…and all hell is about to break loose.

When it comes to a celebrity murder, everyone has a motive—and everyone wants a piece of the action. As news media and paparazzi swarm their sleepy town, Stevie and Zane must dig deep to untangle a web of lies, dirty little secrets, and betrayals—and uncover the killer. But the closer they get to the truth, the deadlier their investigation becomes. And if they don’t act quickly, ’Til death do us part may come sooner than they thought.

Genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Novella, Suspense, Romance, Thriller, Fiction

106 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

An Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 14 Million books and been on the WSJ best seller more than a dozen times.

She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives, but spends most of the time in the high desert in flip flops.

Reviews

[CL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first Rogue Vows novella has Police Chief Zane and Officer Stevie Taylor about to be married when the body of a celebrity has been discovered in the local campground murdered and posed in the same manner as a crime his character investigated. His entourage all try to paint a different picture than the local police department is uncovering but now fires keep cropping up all over town and it points toward the celebrity’s stalker. Will they solve this crime in time for their wedding? I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short book, the story felt complete. I guess it helps that I've read the other books/series with the characters. So I'm familiar with them. And for once, I didn't know who did it before the ending. The narrator did a good job. Even though her tone doesn't vary much, I wasn't confused as to whom was speaking.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Police Chief Zane Duncan and Officer Stevie Taylor are both thinking of their upcoming wedding. Zane just wants to marry the love of his life. Stevie wants the same ... but she's having to deal with her mother and sister over all the wedding details. I'm sure elopement has been mentioned a lot .. by Stevie.

The day before the nuptials, a dead body is found at a nearby campground. Looks like the wedding might not happen ... the dead body is that of a very well-known actor .. and he was murdered.

The victim was spending the weekend with his brother and two friends. Investigating, Stevie finds that everyone had a motive. Digging deep, Stevie and Zane find lies, secrets, and betrayals. Throw in the girlfriends and ex-wives and it's a free-for-all.

Less than 100 pages, this is the first book in a 2-book series and it's packed with everything you would expect from a 300 page novel... a victim that shouldn't be dead, lots of suspects, and the added stress of trying to get married. Solitude is a small Oregon town and the residents are all that you would ever need in the way of friends and neighbors.

I have read several books by this author and have never come away disappointed. I look forward to reading Book 2 --- BURNED BY HER DEVOTION by Melinda Leigh.

Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those who read the Rogue River novellas, Death and Her Devotion and Burned by Her Devotion are nice follow up stories to the next phase of the main characters.

Death and Her Devotion focuses on Stevie and Zane as they try to marry in the middle of a murder investigation of a high profile actor. The plot is nicely done as well as the personal hurdles they face.

Special Thanks to Montlake Romance via NetGalley

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novella in the Rogue Vows series, another collaboration between Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh, two authors whose other works I love, and as expected, this one didn't disappoint either.
We're back in Solitude, a small town in Oregon and home to the Taylor family. Police officer Stevie Taylor is preparing for her wedding day when the murder of a popular TV celebrity brings chaos and danger to the quaint, little town. Can Stevie and police chief Zane Duncan, who is Stevie's fiancé, find the culprit in time to enjoy their big day?
Although not really necessary as this works as a standalone short story, if you enjoy gripping but heartwarming romantic suspense stories, start with the Rogue River and Rogue Winter series and then enjoy this continuation.
Despite the fact that this is a novella, it has everything that you would expect from a full-length romantic suspense novel. Really enjoyable.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

As readers of The Phantom Paragrapher and those who know me IRL, you will know that I am bad at reading books out of order. I never mean too, it just happens. Sometimes I get it right but other times, I end up reading them back to front and that's what happened with Rogue Vows Novellas series. Reading this book second, gave me a clearer view of what had happened and the events leading up to what occurred in Book #2 - Burned by Her Devotion. Death and Her Devotion starts with Zane and Stevie who should have been finally tying the knot being called to the local camping ground as Chase Ryan has been found dead. Chase Ryan is a major Hollywood actor who plays a cop onscreen and has his fair share of stalkers especially one in particular who shows us looks can be deceiving Cyndee. With multiple stories that don't line up and the police of Solitude wanting this wrapped up before the wind of his death hits the news and media vans swarm down on Solitude, Oregon. Can Zane and Stevie get to the bottom of who killed Chase? Also in this book is an OMG moment as our stalker decides to have another go at arson trapping someone from Solitude in a barn? Can Carly and Seth get to the barn in time or will the Taylor family suffer another tragedy?
Find out in Book #1 of the Rogue Vows Novella series by Kendra Elliot for a quick read mystery fix.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

This is a novella and I was very surprised to find that there were several before this one. I've read several of Kendra Elliot's books, but completely missed these suspense novellas. This one is great and I'm going to get my hands on the others.

Stevie and Zane are getting married, but have a complication just days before the big event. A hot TV star had the misfortune to get himself murdered in their town. Bummer, for Stevie and Zane, and for Chase Ryan and his millions of fans who descend on them when his murder becomes known. Tough enough to solve a murder without the spotlight of the national media shining on their little town. As Stevie and Zane investigate, they uncover several things that shed a whole different light on this media darling.

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️
Loved this short thriller

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant enough story. Not much of a mystery but enjoyable. Certainly not on a par with some of Kendra Elliot's other works, notably her Mercy Kilpatrick series.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chase Ryan a famous & popular TV star & his entourage, his brother Spider, childhood friends Josh & Toby as well as Spider's son Brandon, have made their annual trip to Solitude, Oregon to camp at Crying Indian Campground along the Rogue River. To everyone's surprise, Chase has been murdered not far from their camp site. Police office Stevie Taylor is the first on the scene, thinking 7 a.m. is early for a dead body as she yawns from her late night. Her family kept her busy half the night discussing wedding & reception music selections for the coming weekend. Police Chief Zane Duncan, Stevie fiancee, arrives at the murder scene shortly after she does. While the small town police department try to solve the murder as quietly as possible someone leaks the story that Chase has died in Solitude. The town becomes a circus of characters from national news channels to a stalker of Chase. As the investigation proceeds, hidden truths start to make there way to the surface regarding the players in this case. All the while, Stevie & Zane are preparing for the upcoming wedding. When the night before the wedding the reception hall is burned to the ground, luckily no one is hurt, Stevie questions whether or not the wedding should even happen. But who sets the grange on fire? Did it have anything to do with Chase's murder? Will they find Chase's murderer? Will Stevie & Zane still get married?

First off, I am a fan of Kendra Elliot's writing. This was a good short story murder mystery with plenty of twists. You'll think you might know who did it, but it won't be who you think. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the genre & anyone one interested in branching out beyond what they normally read. I will be reading more of her books in the future!

I voluntarily reviewed a NetGalley.com copy of this book.

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death and Her Devotion is a novella just over 90 pages, but it's filled with tension and danger. The fast pace and dual POV keep you engaged and the plot is well developed for such a short story. The characters are also layered and complex, which is another great feat when the story focus is very much on a murder investigation.

The mystery and its unraveling are quite surprising. So much happens in such a short period of time and the way it all comes together is really well done. Elliot knows how to slowly build up tension and make the pieces of the mystery come together. There are still a few things left unsolved, which are definitely going to be dealt with in the next installment, but this is still a quick and entertaining read.

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:

In the first Rogue Vows novella, Zane and Stevie are about to get an unexpected wedding present…and it’s a deadly one.

It should be the happiest weekend of Officer Stevie Taylor’s life. She’s finally going to marry Police Chief Zane Duncan and live happily ever after in Solitude, Oregon. But all wedding plans grind to a halt when a dead body is found at a nearby campground. A vacationing A-list TV actor has been murdered…and all hell is about to break loose.

When it comes to a celebrity murder, everyone has a motive—and everyone wants a piece of the action. As news media and paparazzi swarm their sleepy town, Stevie and Zane must dig deep to untangle a web of lies, dirty little secrets, and betrayals—and uncover the killer. But the closer they get to the truth, the deadlier their investigation becomes. And if they don’t act quickly, ’Til death do us part may come sooner than they thought. (Goodreads)


Review:

This is the first book in the Rogue Vows Novella series and I really enjoyed it. I have read all of the other novellas in the Rogue River series and they are all great.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Stevie is a strong, intelligent woman who cares about people a lot. I really enjoy reading about the relationship between her and Zane, they make such a great couple. I also always enjoy reading more about the relationship between her and her family. They are a close knit group and they always have each others backs. I have read all of the novellas in this series and I feel like I know the characters and am happy to spend time with them.

The writing style flows smoothly and this novella is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I always feel like I am right there in the middle of the story, watching all of the action taking place. She is also very talented in creating mystery and suspense with just the written word. There are enough suspects and clues to consider that I did not figure out the killer before it was revealed.

I would recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys a well written mystery series. I would also recommend that you read all the books in the Rogue River series in order so that you can get a real feel for the characters and the family dynamics.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rogue Vows Novellas are a continuation of the story begun in the Rogue River series. Police Chief Zane and Officer Stevie Taylor are finally going to get married, but when an actor turns up dead in the woods, will they have to put a hold on their nuptuals.

This is a short story that is continued in the book by Melinda Leigh "Burned by her Devotion". Despite the fact that this is a novella, it has everything that you would expect from a full-length romantic suspense novel. The characters are not really developed in this book as they have been in the other Rogue River books and were developed there. The story moves quickly and keeps you turning the pages. I read this one in one sitting and immediately began the next. This was an enjoyable read. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story!

[Jane Blythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a reader of novellas because I tend to prefer detailed character development and stories full of twists and turns, and I typically find that novellas are just too short to give me what I wanted, but since I had read all the other books by this author I decided I may as well give this a go, and I totally wasn't disappointed!

As soon as I realised that all of the novellas were connected I went and bought the earlier ones so I could catch up on the characters, and I loved that since the novellas are a series about the same group of characters I got the character development that I love!

And I had nothing to fear about the story not having enough twists and turns, because there were plenty! It was a really well written mystery with lots of suspense and lots of thrills along the way.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review

[Chele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the author Kendra Elliot. I love revisiting this small town and the characters in this series. I shelved this as a cliffhanger because the murder case is still active. The murderer is caught and put in jail. But other matters need to be wrapped up. Also there is a separate case of arson needing to be solved. Thus this leaves the reader with a mini cliffhanger. No biggie.


The relationship between H/h is satisfactorily tied up in a nice neat bow. Can't wait to read Bk 2 in this series, this time authored by Melinda Leigh.

[Ally.Always.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this novella. It was short but it didn't really feel rushed.
I need to go back and read the series before this one. There were some mentions of prior books in this one but it wasn't confusing. So it's not necessary to read the prior books before this but the sound good so I need to.


*received from NetGalley for honest review

[Dee Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good beginning as Zane & Stevie find themselves trying to solve a mystery before they tie the knot. Surprised to find out person that committed the crime. Looking forward to next in series

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death and Her Devotion was a fantastic start to the Rogue Vows series, the second spin-off series set in Solitude.

Officer Stevie Taylor and Police Chief Zane Duncan are finally tying the knot. But after a dead body found at the local campground ends up being an A-list TV actor, all wedding plans come to a halt. As paparazzi begin to descend on Solitude, Stevie and Zane are under a microscope to find the killer and fast. But the more they dig into the victim's life, the more lies they uncover leading to additional suspects. When two suspicious fires are set, Stevie and Zane are in a race to find the killer before someone else ends up dead.

Stevie and Zane continue to work well together and I feel like at this point they've really gotten into a groove with work. They both trust each other to do their jobs and they're great at bouncing ideas off of each other. Their personal relationship is at an all-time high with their wedding being roughly a week out when the book picks up. I love how far these two have come since On Her Father's Grave, their relationship has grown so much. They trust each other completely and they're so open with each other, it's wonderful. I'm looking forward to seeing more of their romance in future books now that the pair have married.

The death of a celebrity made for an interesting case as it meant Stevie and Zane were under a lot more scrutiny than usual. It also meant that there were more suspects than usual due to how well known the victim was. To start there's the men the victim came on the camping trip, a former lover, a stalker, and more. The investigation went in a few directions I wasn't expecting and I was surprised by who the killer ended up being as I had someone else in mind. Towards the end of the book, something happened directly related to Stevie and Zane which I didn't see coming. I liked how it was handled though and I'm curious to see how it will affect things in the next book in the series.

Overall Death and Her Devotion was a great start to the next spin-off series and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Burned by Her Devotion, soon.

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of years ago I started reading the Bones series by Kendra Elliott and was immediately hooked. From there I found the Rogue River series of novellas. I have read novellas before this but only as prequels to a full length novel. I am not a fan of short stories as I like a book I can really get into. I was also sceptical about a series written by 2 authors. However, being a fan of Kendra ' s I had to step outside my comfort zone and try them. I was surprised how much I enjoyed them they really worked and releasing them as a series of novellas rather than 1 book with 2 authors enabled each author to maintain their unique writing style. I have since read the Rogue Winter series plus Melinda ' s entire back list (and Kendra's).

The Rogue Vows series is a new series to be released shortly but I was given an advance copy by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Death and her Devotion continues the story as Stevie and Zane approach their wedding date. The book continues to build the characters of Stevie ' s family and I feel I am really getting to know the family and their partners. I love the Solitude community too I think something special has been created with these books.

The main story centres around a film star who plays a detective and who is found dead in a situation similar to one of his cases. This is definitely a Romantic suspense novel with the emphasis on suspense there are many twists and turns with many characters and a lot going on. I don't want to put any spoilers in this review. I read the book in 2 sittings and there are teasers in there that will hopefully become relevant as the series progresses.

An excellent read and I am currently downloading the next book.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town of Solitude is in for a rough ride. A body is found at the local campsite. It's discovered to be a celebrity. When the murder is leaked to the press, all hell breaks loose in Solitude. Chief of police Zane and officer Stevie, have to solve the crime and get married. Its not going to be easy especially as his entourage are being less than truthful. I found it to be an enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of romantic suspense. ARC received from net galley in exchange for a honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars.

Solid novella light in the mystery and suspense, heavier on the romance. I really like Stevie and Zane.

[Jessa Layne • readwithjessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death and Her Devotion by Kendra Elliot is a thrilling and suspenseful novella that keeps readers on their toes from start to finish. Set in the small town of Solitude, Oregon, this fast-paced mystery unravels the shocking murder of a crime TV star and the chaos that follows. I loved the constant tension and the back-and-forth of trying to figure out who really killed Chase Ryan. The secrets, twists, and involvement of a stalker added layers of intrigue that made this a true page-turner. With its compelling plot and tight pacing, this was a great book and a standout in the Rogue Vows series!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do we finally get a wedding?

Zane and Stevie are under pressure with this murder, not only because he is a celebrity, but their wedding is only hours away....can they solve it and make it to the church on time?
So many twists, turns, lies and hidden agendas to wade through, Zane gets more frustrated with every hour that passes.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

Although this is the first book in the series - it is not the first time we have met these characters, which I rather liked. It is perfectly good as a story in its own right too.

This is a quick read with a good murder mystery and the playing out of a lovely, if somewhat altered wedding. Zane and Stevie are impatient to get married, especially as Stevie's Mum insists she moves in with her until the wedding... As they get caught up in a celebrity murder, and all the crazy that comes with it, we are definitely along for the ride. As each character is introduced into the mix, we get a really good insight into the town, the locals, and the visitors. And as we fall in with Stevie, we get to know just how deep the feelings are between her and Zane, which are heartwarming amongst all the celebrity hype.

Good read, and I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Death and Her Devotion is the first book in Rogue Vows I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a town and relationship that I should have met before. I think had I realized and read the previous Rogue River and maybe even the Rogue Winter novellas I would have enjoyed this a lot more. With that said I still enjoyed the book. It was a quick, face-paced and fun read with some interesting characters, a nice romance and some suspense. I will definitely go back and read the Rogue River books to see how everything started with Stevie and Zane.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the Rogue River books by these two ladies. They have strong and interesting characters, a small town setting on the West Coast, and mysteries that keep me guessing. And let's not forget the romantic relationships, sweet, stormy, and sexy.

In "Death and Her Devotion", Stevie and Zane's wedding doesn't quite go as planned but it's a lovely wedding nonetheless. A murder investigation nearly calls off their wedding but Stevie's family and the whole town of Solitude rally to help them. Elliot gives us lots of red herrings and brings her characters to life. The shortness of the story didn't impact character or story development. Elliot packed a lot into the story.

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Death and her Devotion" takes the readers back to Solitude and the investigation of another murder, this time the murder of a TV star that force Zane and Stevie away from their wedding planning.

It's a slow paced investigation but interesting in revealing some secrets between Chase, the dead man, and the three men, his friends, he was spending time with at Solitude and how it almost stopped Zane and Stevie's wedding from happening.

I simply loved the ending! It was the most endearing thing and I hope to return to Solitude and meet this sweet couple again.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane & Stevie’s saga continues

As their wedding day approaches, a famous TV Star is murdered. The murderer is hard find and bad things keep happening to muddle up the sleepy little town. There’s a psycho woman involved in all of this, the victim’s friends aren’t innocent either. Will the wedding happen? Will the murderer be found? This is a good book, filled with questions & some answers. Always fun to read these books!

[Pam Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Policing in this small town is anything but sleepy.
Stevie and Zane are about to get married but it seems like a murder investigation is about to make things a lot more difficult then anyone ever thought possible.

I liked how this story felt like they were a team, we don’t really get that feel in the other books. It almost felt like they were policing separately and this time it was a team effort.

But we didn’t get answers about who started the fires!!
On to the next!