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Carpenter & Harding #0
Introductions: Carpenter/Harding - The Prequel
For the fans of the Carpenter/Harding series, this is a glimpse of their lives in the past:
Detective Jordan Carpenter is in denial about the deteriorating relationship with her girlfriend. Work is a welcome escape, but every so often, the cases she and her partner solve, confront her with lingering ghosts of her past.
Ellie Harding begins her career as a police officer, still grieving her parents but determined to follow a path she knows would make them proud. She hopes to regain the purpose and structure in her life.
Their paths cross, and a story neither of them could have imagined, begins…
Detective Jordan Carpenter is in denial about the deteriorating relationship with her girlfriend. Work is a welcome escape, but every so often, the cases she and her partner solve, confront her with lingering ghosts of her past.
Ellie Harding begins her career as a police officer, still grieving her parents but determined to follow a path she knows would make them proud. She hopes to regain the purpose and structure in her life.
Their paths cross, and a story neither of them could have imagined, begins…
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2019
40 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Winkes
99 books212 followersBarbara Winkes writes suspense and romance with lesbian characters at the center. She has always loved stories in which women persevere and lift each other up. Expect high drama and happy endings.
Discover a variety of genres, serial and standalone. Women loving women always take the lead.
Discover a variety of genres, serial and standalone. Women loving women always take the lead.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 11, 2020
This book disappointment me… and I'm not sure whether I'm more to blame than the author for that.
When it comes to book series, I have turned into a completist. I prefer to start at the beginning and read each book in the proper order. But… what is "the proper order"? This is a prequel, but the source I used listed it before the rest of the series, so I read this first, with no clue who Carpenter and Harding are. And I found myself boggled at a jumble of characters that I couldn't always keep separate in my mind. And the story… it felt a little in-between to me: trying to figure out if it wanted to focus on the characters' work or personal lives.
I suspect my error was reading it first: that I should have read the first-published book first and then flashed back to the prequel at some point. But, what's done is done. I will give book 1 a try. Because there's some threads of interest that I can see. But I will have to enjoy it more than this book to read any beyond that, because I felt like I got less than I expected out of this book.
When it comes to book series, I have turned into a completist. I prefer to start at the beginning and read each book in the proper order. But… what is "the proper order"? This is a prequel, but the source I used listed it before the rest of the series, so I read this first, with no clue who Carpenter and Harding are. And I found myself boggled at a jumble of characters that I couldn't always keep separate in my mind. And the story… it felt a little in-between to me: trying to figure out if it wanted to focus on the characters' work or personal lives.
I suspect my error was reading it first: that I should have read the first-published book first and then flashed back to the prequel at some point. But, what's done is done. I will give book 1 a try. Because there's some threads of interest that I can see. But I will have to enjoy it more than this book to read any beyond that, because I felt like I got less than I expected out of this book.
January 1, 2020
The Carpenter/Harding series is one of my all time favorite series. I appreciated the character development from the very first book. Woven into that great character development is also interesting plots. The prequel was great to lay more groundwork into the characters. Loved it.
November 20, 2025
When reading this series do not start with this book.
Yes, it’s referred to as a prequel, however, it’s really not meant as an introduction to the series, rather it fills out some of the MCs past.
Read the series in order of when the books were published…I think this would fall in and around book 3 or 4?
Read too soon and you may be lost. Read too late, (like me), you may find it rather insignificant.
Happy reading 📚
Yes, it’s referred to as a prequel, however, it’s really not meant as an introduction to the series, rather it fills out some of the MCs past.
Read the series in order of when the books were published…I think this would fall in and around book 3 or 4?
Read too soon and you may be lost. Read too late, (like me), you may find it rather insignificant.
Happy reading 📚
December 30, 2019
This is a prequel to the Carpenter and Harding series but was released after several of the books had already been published. Which is important to know.
I'm a big fan of cop romances. A little mystery, a little romance, and a little action. I saw the first book on Kindle Unlimited and it sounded interesting. While I was looking at goodreads I noticed there was a preqeul and figured that was a good place to start. That was a mistake.
This wasnt a story. It was a glimpse of moments of these 2 characters lives before the first book. As someone who hasn't read any of the other books, I found myself wondering why these situations were being told while others seemed to be glossed over. I'm assuming it's to give backstory or weight to something in the other books, while the other books address the missing pieces. But as a new reader that is frustrating. Also, I didnt feel any connections with the characters. So I'm not sure why I should be liking a character that doesn't think a good thing will last, so they cheat on the girlfriend to get said girlfriend to breakup with them.
All in all, I find myself seriously questioning if I want to try the first book. This prequel did nothing but make me interested. I do wonder if this is a prequel meant for those who have read several of the other books first.
Recommendations- If the series sounds interesting, read book 1 first, then come back to this one.
I'm a big fan of cop romances. A little mystery, a little romance, and a little action. I saw the first book on Kindle Unlimited and it sounded interesting. While I was looking at goodreads I noticed there was a preqeul and figured that was a good place to start. That was a mistake.
This wasnt a story. It was a glimpse of moments of these 2 characters lives before the first book. As someone who hasn't read any of the other books, I found myself wondering why these situations were being told while others seemed to be glossed over. I'm assuming it's to give backstory or weight to something in the other books, while the other books address the missing pieces. But as a new reader that is frustrating. Also, I didnt feel any connections with the characters. So I'm not sure why I should be liking a character that doesn't think a good thing will last, so they cheat on the girlfriend to get said girlfriend to breakup with them.
All in all, I find myself seriously questioning if I want to try the first book. This prequel did nothing but make me interested. I do wonder if this is a prequel meant for those who have read several of the other books first.
Recommendations- If the series sounds interesting, read book 1 first, then come back to this one.
April 19, 2022
Oh well, it was very interesting to see the first half Jordan's relationship degradation and a bit of Ellie's life up to the point where their paths crossed (and the rest is history).
I thought Rhonda was a dick before, but now wow, I'm glad she doesn't play any significant part in the series, Ellie so didn't deserve this crap behaviour.
Bethany, though she's obnoxiously annoying but I felt for her and Valerie, because Jordan was just a coward in doing what she did instead of step out of her relationship and then giving Esposito the cold shoulder. I mean, we all know Bethany was controlling and the relationship is doomed, but knowing Jordan as I know now I'd expect better off her.
I thought Rhonda was a dick before, but now wow, I'm glad she doesn't play any significant part in the series, Ellie so didn't deserve this crap behaviour.
Bethany, though she's obnoxiously annoying but I felt for her and Valerie, because Jordan was just a coward in doing what she did instead of step out of her relationship and then giving Esposito the cold shoulder. I mean, we all know Bethany was controlling and the relationship is doomed, but knowing Jordan as I know now I'd expect better off her.
October 22, 2020
Good intro
A nice little introduction to a series. It's good at get some background information out there before jumping right in. This was well written and an easy read. I cared about the characters and I was able to feel their emotions as I read. I'm looking forward to starting Book 1.
A nice little introduction to a series. It's good at get some background information out there before jumping right in. This was well written and an easy read. I cared about the characters and I was able to feel their emotions as I read. I'm looking forward to starting Book 1.
June 16, 2025
This is supposed to be a prequel to a lesbian mystery series,but I was unable to finish it. There were many problems with plotting and characterization, but then, at one point, the story seemed to skip some very important ploy points. All of a sudden, references were made to events that never had happened. That’s when I gave up on it.
November 7, 2019
Getting to know more
I am usually not a fan of prequels after a series has been going on for a while. The introduction of Ellie and Jordan has changed my way of thinking. It was refreshing to learn more about the characters. I am excited to continue to read the series.
I am usually not a fan of prequels after a series has been going on for a while. The introduction of Ellie and Jordan has changed my way of thinking. It was refreshing to learn more about the characters. I am excited to continue to read the series.
December 7, 2019
And the story starts...
I've read first 2 and came back to this one since it came out afterwards. Truly, it didn't matter. I'm totally sucked into this series! It is freaking interesting!!
I've read first 2 and came back to this one since it came out afterwards. Truly, it didn't matter. I'm totally sucked into this series! It is freaking interesting!!
January 4, 2020
3.5 stars...without having read Any of the series I found this a little bit clunky- like characters have just been inserted into the story so they fit in with future/existing series? Otherwise entertaining enough!
December 25, 2022
Interesting Start
Good to know background for starting a new series. Makes the characters human and let’s us know professionals are often as messy as the rest of us.
Good to know background for starting a new series. Makes the characters human and let’s us know professionals are often as messy as the rest of us.
January 28, 2024
This book fills in gaps in our knowledge about the backgrounds of Carpenter and Harding before the events of book 1. Definitely worth reading!
January 20, 2026
Useful Prequel
This is such a good introduction to Carpenter and Harding series. Such a well established couple now and a great series
This is such a good introduction to Carpenter and Harding series. Such a well established couple now and a great series
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews