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Ruff Cut
BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST! Army veteran Sheriff Megan Holloway has problems. A dog with a belly full of smuggled diamonds, a terrified woman hiding at the Bailey’s Boarding House and a Mafioso who is likely connected to both. What’s that city crook doing in her town, anyway? Her boyfriend, Aaron, has been flirting with another woman. Maybe he's begun looking for someone with less emotional baggage… Add to that, she relived her personal nightmare of the war in Afghanistan, again.
Megan develops a sting playing on the villain’s ignorance of Colorado, giving just enough information. The trap should be easy to spring, if she can just keep the Feds from interfering. The ranching town of Riverview is the backdrop, where your neighbors are your friends and can be counted on to help when times get tough, or dangerous.
Megan develops a sting playing on the villain’s ignorance of Colorado, giving just enough information. The trap should be easy to spring, if she can just keep the Feds from interfering. The ranching town of Riverview is the backdrop, where your neighbors are your friends and can be counted on to help when times get tough, or dangerous.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2017
14 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Kasey Riley
18 books14 followersPRESS RELEASE:
Desperate Endurance now available in Audible, soon in Amazon and iTunes:
https://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Endu... So excited that it's finished. Skeleton Trail should be available by September and August Fire by the end of July. Do Not Assume might be out in Audible by Christmas, the same with Ruff Cut. I'm currently working on sequels to DNA and RC, but also working on a YA suspense novel that should be available after the first of the year.
Desperate Endurance now available in Audible, soon in Amazon and iTunes:
https://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Endu... So excited that it's finished. Skeleton Trail should be available by September and August Fire by the end of July. Do Not Assume might be out in Audible by Christmas, the same with Ruff Cut. I'm currently working on sequels to DNA and RC, but also working on a YA suspense novel that should be available after the first of the year.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 8, 2019
This is book one of a new series about a female sheriff in a small town. Sheriff Megan Holloway is an Army veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan. She finds an injured dog and takes it to the veterinarian. They discover the dog has a stomach full of diamonds.
The book is well written. It is a combination mystery story and canine story. The plot is diverse; the characters are interesting and realistic. The author managed to grab my attention at the beginning and keep it throughout the book. This is a fun easy to read story. I am looking forward to book two of the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and twenty minutes. Thomas Block does a poor job narrating the book. Block is a full-time audiobook narrator. I think I would prefer a female narrator to match the female protagonist. I am not sure if it is just me, but I found Block’s rhythm of reading annoying. He also dragged out a word every so many words to the point I was about ready to quit reading the book. I more or less solved the problem by increasing the narration speed in the Audible app. I would like to following the series as I find the protagonist interesting; but, if they keep the same narrator or he continues the same method of narrating, I will have to past on listening to this series.
The book is well written. It is a combination mystery story and canine story. The plot is diverse; the characters are interesting and realistic. The author managed to grab my attention at the beginning and keep it throughout the book. This is a fun easy to read story. I am looking forward to book two of the series.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours and twenty minutes. Thomas Block does a poor job narrating the book. Block is a full-time audiobook narrator. I think I would prefer a female narrator to match the female protagonist. I am not sure if it is just me, but I found Block’s rhythm of reading annoying. He also dragged out a word every so many words to the point I was about ready to quit reading the book. I more or less solved the problem by increasing the narration speed in the Audible app. I would like to following the series as I find the protagonist interesting; but, if they keep the same narrator or he continues the same method of narrating, I will have to past on listening to this series.
September 14, 2018
Diamond smuggling is probably as old as mankind itself. Still, author Kasey Riley, comes up with a new idea; at least, I haven’t read or seen this one yet.
"...What the hell? Doc (Vet), is that a baggie? What could a dog need that would be sewn into its gut?" (sheriff) Megan stepped closer to the side of the dog for a better view, snapping three more photos of the baggie and the wound...”
It turns out the dehydrated and malnourished Pyrenean Mountain dog, sheriff Megan Holloway finds, is a “mule” who transports diamonds. That’s a new game in town.
While sheriff Megan’s typical daily activities include finding a lost child, trying to set up a Mounted Search and Rescue group, investigating old Henry’s “leads,” like for instance a lime green truck he spotted cruising through town “in a suspicious way,” as well as dealing with personal issues as in trauma from her army days in Afghanistan and wondering if she should commit to Aaron, the unexpected discovery of the diamonds changes everything.
Most importantly, the Feds have to be called in.
The FBI agents think that Megan is not up to the job, but she will show them otherwise. I loved Megan’s trick to interview the town’s real estate agent. I saw this story element as “clever girl outsmarts the big guys with the big guns.”
It also turns out that old Henry was on the money. Not only is there a suspicious lime green truck, but also a pearly white Cadillac Escalade, a black Humvee and a silver bluish Mercedes S500L, all cars that don’t belong or fit to Riverview, Colorado. Quite obviously, the smugglers are brazen.
And, the chase is on and – but, it’s not your typical action chase. I liked that.
Megan isn’t just a female sheriff who doesn’t appreciate that the Feds try to suggest she can’t handle the case (especially agent Mills); she is also a woman hurt by her ex-boyfriend. The ex just left when he learned about her battle scars on her shoulder, from the Afghanistan War. There is also her overprotective family. And, her budding romance.
It’s these “human elements” that make this story outstanding. These days, I see so many stories about how veterans are being comforted by service animals (on Facebook). Though that’s not the case in this book, the reader can feel how Army veteran Megan relates to animals. When the veterinarian suggests that the Feds could use the Pyrenean Mountain Dog as “bait” to find out “who” claims him, Megan argues right away, "... No, this dog deserves better. Do what you need to do to get the wound to heal well and sew her back up. We'll find a way to protect her...”
and,
“... Back in her SUV, Megan sighed. Sometimes her job simply sucked. Putting a helpless animal in harm's way was pretty sucky to her. Damn, damn, damn! Why do people use animals, children and harmless citizens to carry drugs and goods,...”
Megan knows about these criminals’ tactics because she has served in Afghanistan; in fact, the trauma from those days keeps her from taking her relationship to the next level. Much has been written about PTSD and so I really liked this aspect of the story.
This is a mystery and a “human story.” Readers who appreciate the human aspect of “cop work” will like this book, a lot.
5 stars, Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
"...What the hell? Doc (Vet), is that a baggie? What could a dog need that would be sewn into its gut?" (sheriff) Megan stepped closer to the side of the dog for a better view, snapping three more photos of the baggie and the wound...”
It turns out the dehydrated and malnourished Pyrenean Mountain dog, sheriff Megan Holloway finds, is a “mule” who transports diamonds. That’s a new game in town.
While sheriff Megan’s typical daily activities include finding a lost child, trying to set up a Mounted Search and Rescue group, investigating old Henry’s “leads,” like for instance a lime green truck he spotted cruising through town “in a suspicious way,” as well as dealing with personal issues as in trauma from her army days in Afghanistan and wondering if she should commit to Aaron, the unexpected discovery of the diamonds changes everything.
Most importantly, the Feds have to be called in.
The FBI agents think that Megan is not up to the job, but she will show them otherwise. I loved Megan’s trick to interview the town’s real estate agent. I saw this story element as “clever girl outsmarts the big guys with the big guns.”
It also turns out that old Henry was on the money. Not only is there a suspicious lime green truck, but also a pearly white Cadillac Escalade, a black Humvee and a silver bluish Mercedes S500L, all cars that don’t belong or fit to Riverview, Colorado. Quite obviously, the smugglers are brazen.
And, the chase is on and – but, it’s not your typical action chase. I liked that.
Megan isn’t just a female sheriff who doesn’t appreciate that the Feds try to suggest she can’t handle the case (especially agent Mills); she is also a woman hurt by her ex-boyfriend. The ex just left when he learned about her battle scars on her shoulder, from the Afghanistan War. There is also her overprotective family. And, her budding romance.
It’s these “human elements” that make this story outstanding. These days, I see so many stories about how veterans are being comforted by service animals (on Facebook). Though that’s not the case in this book, the reader can feel how Army veteran Megan relates to animals. When the veterinarian suggests that the Feds could use the Pyrenean Mountain Dog as “bait” to find out “who” claims him, Megan argues right away, "... No, this dog deserves better. Do what you need to do to get the wound to heal well and sew her back up. We'll find a way to protect her...”
and,
“... Back in her SUV, Megan sighed. Sometimes her job simply sucked. Putting a helpless animal in harm's way was pretty sucky to her. Damn, damn, damn! Why do people use animals, children and harmless citizens to carry drugs and goods,...”
Megan knows about these criminals’ tactics because she has served in Afghanistan; in fact, the trauma from those days keeps her from taking her relationship to the next level. Much has been written about PTSD and so I really liked this aspect of the story.
This is a mystery and a “human story.” Readers who appreciate the human aspect of “cop work” will like this book, a lot.
5 stars, Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
August 25, 2018
I really like Megan Holloway, sheriff of a small town in Colorado. She is a combat veteran who still has moments of PTSD from a mission in Afghanistan. The small town gossip network is buzzing about some new vehicles on the roads with extra dark tinted glass When she rescues a large dog she and the vet discover diamonds hidden inside the animal. With several federal agencies arriving in town Megan shows them small town law is sometimes better than big investigations. Great story. Book 1 in a series that I’m already looking for. I received a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 12, 2017
I have to admit that I liked this book more than I thought I would. A lot more. Megan Holloway is tougher, smarter, more in control, and, yes, sexier than I inferred from the cover and description of the book. She kicks ass, figuratively, but is always a lady. The plot is somewhat formulaic, and peters out towards the end. But this book, and this character will stick with me for a long time.
October 19, 2017
I loved the character of Megan Holloway and the twists in this mystery. Megan is a veteran of war who takes on the job of being a sheriff in a small town. When Megan finds a large dog who looks like it has been hurt, she runs it to the veterinarian, only to find there is more than meets the eye to the reason behind the dog's condition and Megan is on the hunt to take down smuggler's who have the audacity to open a dog's belly to smuggle their goods. This is an intriguing mystery and a book with amazing characters, A read that readers can snuggle down with and enjoy an amazing adventure.
August 15, 2018
Although this might sound like a title for some of the new popular dog series, it isn’t. What it is, is a great book about a female sheriff in a small town handling all the problems small towns have …speeders, ranchers, lost kids and lost dogs. Well, maybe most small towns don’t have to deal with lost dogs with diamonds sewn in their stomachs, but you get the idea. Several other incidents occur in the town, people are reporting strange cars with black tinted windows cruising around. Everyone thinks it’s suspicious. Sounds like where I grew up.
This is a fun read and I liked all the characters, well except the bad guys of course. Kasey Riley painted Sherriff Holloway as someone strong, an army vet with the same problems many vets have. She made her real and she did the same with the surrounding characters. I liked them all and found I was turning the pages as fast as I could.
Definitely worth reading.
***This book was given to me by NetGalley and all opinions are definitely my own.
Review by Bookaholic
URL: http://www.ourtownbookreviews.com/ Will post 8/16/18
mka47401@gmail.com
This is a fun read and I liked all the characters, well except the bad guys of course. Kasey Riley painted Sherriff Holloway as someone strong, an army vet with the same problems many vets have. She made her real and she did the same with the surrounding characters. I liked them all and found I was turning the pages as fast as I could.
Definitely worth reading.
***This book was given to me by NetGalley and all opinions are definitely my own.
Review by Bookaholic
URL: http://www.ourtownbookreviews.com/ Will post 8/16/18
mka47401@gmail.com
August 15, 2018
Although this might sound like a title for some of the new popular dog series, it isn’t. What it is, is a great book about a female sheriff in a small town handling all the problems small towns have …speeders, ranchers, lost kids and lost dogs. Well, maybe most small towns don’t have to deal with lost dogs with diamonds sewn in their stomachs, but you get the idea. Several other incidents occur in the town, people are reporting strange cars with black tinted windows cruising around. Everyone thinks it’s suspicious. Sounds like where I grew up.
This is a fun read and I liked all the characters, well except the bad guys of course. Kasey Riley painted Sherriff Holloway as someone strong, an army vet with the same problems many vets have. She made her real and she did the same with the surrounding characters. I liked them all and found I was turning the pages as fast as I could.
Definitely worth reading.
***This book was given to me by NetGalley and all opinions are definitely my own.
This is a fun read and I liked all the characters, well except the bad guys of course. Kasey Riley painted Sherriff Holloway as someone strong, an army vet with the same problems many vets have. She made her real and she did the same with the surrounding characters. I liked them all and found I was turning the pages as fast as I could.
Definitely worth reading.
***This book was given to me by NetGalley and all opinions are definitely my own.
December 26, 2018
Sheriff Megan Holloway has suddenly become quite busy. In short order, she discovers an injured dog on her way in from work one day. Upon taking him to the town's vet, it is quickly discovered that the dog has a stomach full of diamonds. Also, through the town's gossips, she learns of a terrified woman Shding out. Further, there are mysterious cars seen driving through the town. In short order, Megan realizes that everything is somehow connected. Meanwhile, Megan has some personal issues of her own, including recurring nightmares of when she was critically injured in Afghanistan. She does, however, have her boyfriend Aaron in her corner.
I enjoyed the scheme Megan came with to bring everything to a head and to resolve the peace she's come to love in her town. Ruff Cut is a quick, delightful read. Although this is a fine stand-alone novel, it is part of the Riverview Mystery series.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and to NetGalley for this book to review.
I enjoyed the scheme Megan came with to bring everything to a head and to resolve the peace she's come to love in her town. Ruff Cut is a quick, delightful read. Although this is a fine stand-alone novel, it is part of the Riverview Mystery series.
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and to NetGalley for this book to review.
November 16, 2017
I loved this book; two mysteries, a romance and a dog all in one. The story starts out with Sheriff Megan Holloway searching for a lost boy at the R-B (guest ranch, mystery #1). We get a peek into Megan's skills and abilities and her decision to start the Riverview Mounted Search and Rescue squad. The main story of Megan cracking the major crime ring is quite a page turner. (mystery #2). Aaron is Megan's love interest or vice a versa. Can't wait to see what happens with Aaron (romance) and the dog on the cover. This book is so engaging I was ready to sign up for the Riverview Mounted Search and Rescue. Lot's of material for another book.
(I received a free copy and provided this review voluntarily.)
(I received a free copy and provided this review voluntarily.)
April 28, 2018
Sheriff Megan Holloway is an Army vet who loves the area where she lives. Has some problems getting beyond her time in Afghanistan but her boy friend, Aaron helps her get through the bad dreams and they are getting less. She comes across a dog on the road almost dead, she takes her to the vet who find an incision in her belly full of diamonds. Who ever put them there is not going to let her just disappear with them. Megan sets up a sting using a recording of rattlesnakes to get them out in the open. The FBI and other groups are there but Megan knows her area and how city folks are. Can she bring it all together?
January 7, 2018
I enjoyed this book.
I liked Sheriff Megan Hollaway and all the other folks in the town. It seems like the sort of place I would like to live. Sort of like where I do live in fact, except that there are more folks here, and not so many ranches.
Horse people are good people, as they proved by showing up to hunt for a missing kid.
The sheriff got rid of some nasty crooks by pulling a sneaky trick on them. That was cool.
It does have some pre-marital sex in it. Other than that it is clean.
I liked Sheriff Megan Hollaway and all the other folks in the town. It seems like the sort of place I would like to live. Sort of like where I do live in fact, except that there are more folks here, and not so many ranches.
Horse people are good people, as they proved by showing up to hunt for a missing kid.
The sheriff got rid of some nasty crooks by pulling a sneaky trick on them. That was cool.
It does have some pre-marital sex in it. Other than that it is clean.
June 23, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Books-Go-Social for this arc.
I really enjoyed this book. I kept picturing Linda Hamilton as Sarah Conner in the "Terminator". And I ached all over when I finished. Talk about action & adventure! Action was non-stop and smart. Only false note I found was why the smugglers felt they had to surgically implant the diamonds in the dog.....if you want a dog to swallow something, dip it in peanut butter or wrap it in cheese. I will be ordering the previous Riverview book!
I really enjoyed this book. I kept picturing Linda Hamilton as Sarah Conner in the "Terminator". And I ached all over when I finished. Talk about action & adventure! Action was non-stop and smart. Only false note I found was why the smugglers felt they had to surgically implant the diamonds in the dog.....if you want a dog to swallow something, dip it in peanut butter or wrap it in cheese. I will be ordering the previous Riverview book!
July 10, 2018
Romantic mystery well-done! I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest review. I enjoyed this romantic mystery. With a couple of odd things happening around town, Sheriff Megan Holloway has to solve these while trying to keep her love life alive. The characters were fun and moved this quick story along.
May 10, 2019
Thoroughly Enjoyable
You can't help to like Megan, smart, nice and brave. Grew up in the city but always wished.... So it was really nice to read about a place where everyone watched each other's back. Great twist at the end, didn't see that coming. Can't wait to get read more of the sheriff's exploits. Thank you.
You can't help to like Megan, smart, nice and brave. Grew up in the city but always wished.... So it was really nice to read about a place where everyone watched each other's back. Great twist at the end, didn't see that coming. Can't wait to get read more of the sheriff's exploits. Thank you.
May 28, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It's a well written and interesting mystery, there's no plot hole and the it kept me hooked till the end.
Recommended!
Many thanks to BookGoSocial and Netgalley for this ARC
Recommended!
Many thanks to BookGoSocial and Netgalley for this ARC
June 10, 2018
Ruff Cut is a well written mystery. Loved the cast of characters and the plot. Ms Riley is a new author to me and I see myself reading more of her work. I highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries.
December 3, 2017
One of my favorites...Megan is going to get into a lot of situations and Riverview will be part of them.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews