Hitch

Pierce Securities #8

by Anne Conley

Amber Banks has her sights set on a fresh start at the Austin Police Department after a disastrous stint in her hometown. All she wants is to be a good cop and get the validation that goes with it. If she can get away from Dex, everything would be so much simpler. But her mama always told her nothing good ever came easy.

Dex Hollerman has just retired from the force and is trying to fit in with the guys he knows so well at Pierce Securities, only now, he’s on their side for a change. With Simon’s weird edicts hanging over his head, and his inability to get the woman who was made for cop porn fantasies out of his head, it’s a struggle.

There’s a mad gunman blowing up exploding targets in downtown Austin putting a hitch in their plans, so can they get past this crazy attraction to work together?

Or will it be their downfall?

Genres: Romance

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2017

About the author

Anne has written her entire life and has the boxes of angst-filled journals and poetry to prove it. She’s been writing for public consumption for the past several years. She lives in rural East Texas with her husband and children in her own private oasis, where she prides herself in her complete lack of social skills, choosing instead to live with the people inside her head.

Currently, she has five romance series. Playing with Fire explores the trials and tribulations of a small team of fire fighters in the fictional mountain town of Pamona Gulch. In Pierce Securities, she gives us Ryan, Evan, Miriam, Zack, Quinten, Jordan, Hollerman, and Simon. Her favorite series, Book B!tches, is all about a group of women in Mystic, Texas who get into all sorts of shenanigans. In Stories of Serendipity, she explores real people living real lives in small town Texas in a contemporary romance setting. In The Four Winds, she chronicles God’s four closest archangels, Uriel, Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael, falling in love and becoming human.

Reviews

[PelicanFreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I read Bond and Seek back-to-back and just couldn’t get enough so I embarked on Hitch and it did not disappoint. There’s sort of a double mystery between the case that Amber and Dex are both working, and whoever is harassing Amber. It’s fun that her past just won’t stop haunting her… oh and Dex is a total dream.

Character and plot continuity are on point, as are things like law enforcement and cop life. This book completely left me wanting more and I cannot wait for Echo. We get a sneak peak into Simon at the end of this installment and it’s tantalizing - I’ve had a thing for Simon since early into the series so I’m already hooked.

Meanwhile just the mention of Amber’s previous town - Serendipity has me cravin the small town life, so I’m off to indulge in Conley’s Stories of Serendipity series.

Overall, 4 stars for Hitch!

[Tami czenkus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE The Pierce Securities books!!!
We have known of Dex since the very beginning, when he was yelling at the Pierce boys for always being connected to the cases he was working for the PD...... NOW he's retired and low and behold a member of the brotherhood Pierce!!

Amber has something to prove, To herself and to everyone else in the Police department, but when she collides with Brooding Dex everything get thrown out the window and the chemistry is off the charts!!
I will say that I can NOT wait to FINALLY get to see inside Simon's head next!!!!!

[Ginny Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex has retired from the police force. He now works for Pierce Security. His assignment is to check on a guy who his wife thinks he is cheating. Amber had just moved to Austin after all hell broke through in the town she lived.
Dex is bound and determined to know everything about her but she keeps pushing him away. They work together to find out who keeps blowing up things around Austin. Can they find the guy who is blowing up things? Can Dex break down Amber's barriers?

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to Dex since I “met” Anne due to a crossover book she wrote for Susan Stoker (the first one). I have loved watching him go from an enemy of Pierce to actually joining up with them after gaining better understanding. But I also liked him not crossing lines to do so. I think the thing I liked the most was seeing Dex come to terms with issues he created by leaving the force. Many times, the transition is not a smooth one and many time it does feel like a family has been lost. But this time, Dex created the problem. It didn’t happen to him. So many times, people in this genre have bad things thrust upon them and we forget that sometimes we do create our own problems. Amber was perfect for Dex in showing him that being trivialized was not the end of the world and you could still do what you had too.

This book is a great addition to the Piece Security family. I have been waiting for it and so glad it is finally here. I really recommend it.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book in the Pierce Securities series that tells the story of Dex and Amanda as they come together to solve the case. Good addition to the series with suspense and romance. Enjoy this author's interaction with these characters and looking for the next book

Ebook from Authors copy with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own

[Bex’s reading corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book number 8 in the pierce securities series was good. Was good to finally get more of dex’s story but I didn’t connect with the leads as much as I did with the others. For me kinda hard to beat bond. It’s been my fav one yet, so I’m a bit biased lol Seriously can’t wait to get all the goods on simon.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to read!!

This is another great read in the Pierce Security. You will fall in love with everyone of these men and the women they fall for.

[Marnie Ide · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber is a hard nut to crack. Dex is a hardened man, who is determined to get to know her. This book is my favorite of the Pierce Security reads so far.

Amber is the new girl on the force. She is trying to get away from her past, but it appears that someone from her past is determined to make sure she doesn't. Dex is a retired cop who lived for his job. Now, he's struggling along with bring the odd man out. No longer feeling connected to his brothers in blue, but not yet feeling like a part of the Pierce brotherhood. Then he meets Amber. She flips his world upside down.

They learn together how to navigate a very winding road of relationships. They both learn and grow and trust, while investigating the same case.

I loved that we get more bits of the Bonnie saga in this book. Can't wait to see how it all ways out in the next book

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a series I’d recommend to anyone. Dex finally has his moment. Yay! Amber is the new cop in town and trying to prove herself but Dex is always there in her way and in the middle of the investigation until She finds he is also quickly becoming a part of her life she doesn’t want to be without. The romantic, new relationship steps are just sooo omg!! Just read this book.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so hard to explain to someone who’s never read one of Anne’s books how good they are without giving away the plot which I’m not going to do, but let’s see if I can intrigue you enough to want to read them.
This is the 8th book in the Pierce Securities Series and Dec Hollerman joins the team and is instantly attracted to the new officer of the Austin force Amber Banks. With plot twist and turns that only Anne can deliver can the two fight their attraction or give in all while trying to locate the madman in town.

[Trinity McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing, another great installment in the series. Anne is one of my favorite indie writers. Her style is easy to read, exciting, and I'm always learning something new - you can tell she does her research. Her characters are well thought out and developed. I'm always eager to hear more about their lives. I highly suggest the entire Pierce Securities series (as well as her other books).

[Donna Flint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good things about this book. It's Book 8, and I'm glad Dex finally got his own story. The entire series is amazing. When is Book 9 coming out? Tomorrow? Please? Ok I guess I can wait. I'll just go read the whole series all over again while I'm waiting cause it feels like these are all part of my big, happy, LOUD, extended family.

Just please hurry up your typing fingers so I don't have to wait long, ok?

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex is not an original Pierce Securities guy....but he has been there pretty much from the start... He was the cop they always dealt with. He is now retired and has become part of the team. Dex is sent on a " cheating" case, and it seems to involve the same guy Amber ( a new cop on the force) is looking at for blowing things up around town. As they inch closer to the bad guy, they inch closer to each other.
Loved Dex! This book could be read as a stand alone if wanted... but I would recommend that you read all the men of Pierced Securities!

[Michelle Mulvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Dex Hollerman is now working for Pierce Security. As we all know, those men who work at the firm are total Alphas who love with everything they have and will do anything for those women. Den is like a total teddy bear. He was such a sweetheart. He met a woman named Amber who was a new cop on the force. They are both working a case that might bend up being one in the same.
Amber is trying to make a name for herself in the department and she doesn’t have time for a relationship.
I absolutely loved this story and the Epilogue was amazing!!! Cannot wait to see what happens there!!!

[Jordana Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Amber is the new cop on the beat in Austin after she had to leave the force in Serendipity after she arrested the chief of police. Dex is the new man of Pierce Securities. For him it is lust at first sight, for her she tries to fight it as hard as she can because she is afraid that being with him will jeopardize her job on the force. The chemistry between these two are off the charts and Dex will everything he can to show her that he is the real deal.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex has finally retired from the police force. low and behold he now works for Pierce Security. (eekkk) While working with Pierce Securities on what he believes to be a simple cheating spouse case he meets Amber. She is new to the police force and trying to make a name for herself. They come together to catch the bad guy in this book with some serous explosive results. In side and out side the bedroom.This story had the right mix of action, heat, and romance in it top keep you going thru the whole book. Great addition to the series. can'y wait to see where it goes next.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome add to the series! Dex and Amber are exciting and you'll not want to look away. Everything you can expect from Conley and the Pierce Security series; action, suspense and a ton of hot romance. Been wanting to read more about Dex soon as we met him and I was not disappointed. Amber is going to be someone you want to cheer for. Can't wait for the next. I voluntarily reviewed an 'Advance Author’s Copy' of this book.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. It’s gripping, suspenseful and full of action. It will hook you in from the beginning with its suspense and mystery. It’s well written with characters you will love. The chemistry between the characters is sizzling and steamy. It’s an entertaining read. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hitch is perhaps my new favorite from the Pierce Security series.
I love that Dex and Amber are strong characters that know what they want and don’t back away from it.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne sucked me into the story and I found myself saying one more chapter until I reached the end.

[Battery Skull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of this series. It is a well written enjoyable book. Not my favorite in the series but still a good read.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When two cases collide, so do those working them and the collision of Dex and Amber is nothing short of incendiary. In the instance of both cases that's actually literal. Dex Hollerman is trying to nail down a sketchy spouse, Amber Banks is trying to nail someone with a penchant for setting off minor explosives all over the city. A few chance meetings bring these two into more danger than they were expecting.

Hollerman's story has been a long time coming and I'm glad he was finally given his page time. Once a stickler for the rules with grudging admiration for the results the Pierce Security team produced, now he's one of the guys. He's having a little trouble feeling like he's fitting in, though, like he's in some state of liminality, neither one or the other. His former law enforcement associates are tight-lipped and shun him because he's retired and he's hitting a wall with his investigation. Because Simon has a hunch that the case is more than it seems he needs some kind of break.

The break he wasn't expecting was a pair of whisky eyes, chestnut hair, and a killer body in a cop uniform. Distracted and more than a little intrigued he tries his luck with her. Shot down by former colleagues and the beauty in a uniform he heads home to think of something else. A commotion, an explosion, and locked out in his underwear he finds himself hiding behind his neighbor's bushes...until he's staring, again, into whiskey eyes and a tight body in blue. (Well, I think their uniform is blue...I don't remember =].)

Determining that he's hindering her crime scene Amber cuffs Dex and stuffs him into her patrol car. From that comes a collaboration to find the person who's leading them both on a chase. Passion, frustration, and denial in spades take them from one moment to the next. With the attention of a man like Dex Amber can't find her footing. She wants him and claims she's worth more than a fling but won't give in to his assertion that he wants more.

I find Amber indecisive and skittish to a fault. While her strength and courage and determination are out in the forefront of her positive traits she undermines herself so often that I don't feel like I can believe her or back her as the right person for Dex. There's more to them together but I don't know that I fully believe in them as an ideal pairing. She needed to grow more as a person and I'm not sure she did that by the end.

Overall the story flowed and connections were made in a believable way. There were a couple outside elements that I thought would become bigger issues or somehow sabotage Dex and Amber's growing relationship or add another element of danger to the story but they were mild and dealt with quickly and mildly. I was pleased by the direction of the team as a whole, especially when we get a huge insight into Simon and why he's so against deepening relationships with clients. It has worked out in every case for each of his men so why wouldn't he ease up on that policy? Well we now know and his story is going to be intense, for sure. Looking forward to it!

Read and willingly reviewed this ARC from the author.

[Mary Lou Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

HITCH is the eighth book in the Pierce Securities series. Each stands on its own, but there is enough overlap, that in my opinion it is best to read them all and in the order of release. Besides, they are wonderful enough that you’ll just want to start at the beginning and catch up anyway, so take my advice and get them all and join me on this adventure with this team and their ladies… and sometimes it’s the ladies and their team (wink).

While all of the Pierce Securities stories are wonderfully written nail-biters, this one was a can’t-put-it-down stay-up-all-nighter of epic portions. I couldn’t say if I loved Dex or Amber more, so I guess it’s a good thing they ended up together!

Then there is the added note that Amber is from Serendipity – the town featured in one of Anne Conley’s other series. I have read and reviewed several of those stories (see below) and could picture for just a little while the small town girl running to the big city to escape her troubles. Of course, as we all find, troubles seem to follow us one way or another. Dex also has troubles – created by retiring and the hard feelings that are exhibited by those we leave behind – it is seen as turning your back on a family, in a way.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series. I’m looking forward to ECHO, when we will finally get into Simon’s head and learn more of why he’s put the hard rule in place (that everyone else has already stomped on anyway).

Note: while I was given this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.


Title: HITCH
Series: Pierce Securities #8
Category /Genre: Contemporary Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: Anne Conley (as an ARC gifted copy)

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After leading an investigation where her boss was convicted of dealing and making meth, Amber heads to Austin for a fresh start with a new police department. As the newbie, Amber is given the job to sort through piles of paper files to possibly come up with a lead to the recent bombings in Austin. What she'd really like to do is be in the field investigating....

Dex, recently retired from APD, works with Pierce Securities. He's investigating a possible "affair", but keeps ending up at crime scenes with Amber. Dex and Amber's chemistry is off the charts! While Dex pursues Amber, Amber pushes back. Amber likes Dex, but wants to prove herself in her new job. They decide to work together to see if his guy is her bomber, with the caveat that once this case is over, Dex is making Amber his!

While I haven't read all of the Pierce Security novels, this is one of my favorite. It's sad, but true that sexism is alive and well in most jobs. For Amber to think she has to put her life on hold to "prove" herself in a mostly male profession, is a reality. In the end, I rejoiced that she didn't have to choose between her love of Dex and her job. I thought Dex and Amber were excellent partners. Dex needed someone who was challenging, smart, and dedicated. Amber was all that and more! Dex was Alpha, but also very patient and kind. The ending was exciting, kept you on the edge of your seat, and twisted. I loved it! I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

[Nutnut1(Lornajean Ford) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc for an honest review
I really enjoyed this book. Dex who we met in Seek. Is trying to find his place in his new role working for Pierce Securities. whilst trying to navigate through the first case that he's been given. He finds that now he's retired from the police dept. The brotherhood he once was a part of no longer exists for him. Looking for help in his new case he meets new to the dept Amber. After transferring from her home town under somewhat of a cloud, where some residents loved her and others hated her. Amber knows she can't risk becoming involved with an ex retired cop. But knowing that and dealing with it is a whole nother issue. thrown together through the new case, the two try and navigate through their own feelings. Without compromising the case. it was interesting to see that inside she is at war with herself but as the case heats up,and danger looms Dex is the one person she can count on.
it was really enjoyable read I can't wait to read Simon's story.

[Marie Brown (Marie's Tempting Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie's Tempting Reads ARC Review:

EXCITING, THRILLING, SEXY...THIS BOOK HAD IT ALL! Anne Conley's Pierce Security books are ADDICTING, and I have been VERY curious and eager for Dex's story for a while now and I was so happy to hear that he was finally getting a story. And Hitch was...EVERYTHING GOOD! From the moment I opened up this book, I was entranced!

Dex is a great guy and a drool worthy one too. And Amber is a strong heroine as well and I think Dex and Amber are the perfect compatible couple. The sparks are there from the moment they meet and every interaction between them throughout the book just got more heated and just simmered just so. And when they finally let all that heat loose in the bedroom, I thought my kindle was going to catch on fire! And the danger, action and suspense in this book kept my heart rate up on and off through the WHOLE book. This story had the PERFECT mix of action, heat, and romance! This is why Anne Conley is one of my GO TO authors for Romantic Suspense.

Hitch gets an EXCITING AND OH SO SEXY FIVE SHOOTING STARS!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story! I love Dex and Amber. I give this book a 5 star rating.

The chance to start over in a new town and make a new life for herself is what Amber wanted, she didn’t have any planes to get involved with anyone or have a relationship now. She is good at her job as a police officer, she doesn’t want to have to prove her abilities, and sitting at a desk was not the ideal way to prove she was up to the job.

Dex is still trying to find his way as a civilian in Private Security after retiring from the Police force, after twenty years of service. His brothers in blue treat him like he is a traitor and won’t share any information with him when he is working on a case for Pierce Securities.

They were both working their jobs separately until they kept running into each other while working their cases. Can they work together to take down the man that they are both looking for?

If you like a book with crime, drama, romance, and hot alpha males, this is a great book to read. I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Stephanie (Between the Coverz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A passionate action packed romance!

Hitch is the eighth book in the Pierce Securities series that is full of action and romance. A well-written and intriguing story that includes several interesting twists. There was just enough romance and action to keep my interest piqued. Anne Conley did a good job of building up the action and keeping my attention. The characters are well developed and engaging. Anne did a great job of intertwining the different characters of the series throughout the story including adding a character from another series. There is some hint into Simon’s past that I am curious to see what happened and what has caused him to be the way that he is.

Another good book by Anne Conley that does not disappoint. I recommend Hitch to anyone that enjoys an action packed romance that will keep you entertained from the beginning to the end. This story is a standalone however once you read it you will want to go back and read them all.

[Beth Cotter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dex works for Pierce Security after he retired from the Police force. He is assigned his favourite job (not) of checking out a guy cheating on his wife. He thought he might be doing better things being with Pierce, but anything that brings money in helps.
Amber is new the Police force. When Dex stops in for a visit he learns that the newbie is at his old desk.
Amber goes out of her way to make sure she is noticed at the precinct. She just isn't happy that Dex has also noticed her. A case comes in about a person making things explode in town, she puts herself on the case to try and solve it proving to herself and others that she is qualified.
She puts up one battle after another to show that she doesn't want or need Dex in her life. But it is up to him to help her see the error of her ways.

[Dani Readsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve read previous books from this series you’ll have met Dex before but as a police officer. Now while working with Pierce Securities on what he thinks is a simple cheating spouse case he meets Amber who’s new to the police force and trying to make a name for herself. They come together to catch the bad guy with some explosive results.
I did like this book but not as much as the previous ones in this series.
Not sure why to be honest, it had everything you could want in it, great plot, some action, great chemistry between Amber and Dex, with some very hot scenes thrown in....... but I felt like I just didn’t connect with it somehow.
That’s the only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 because it is a good read and I would definitely recommend it.
Although book 8 in the series it can be read as a stand-alone.