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Portland Police Bureau #2
Next of Kin
Lesbian Fiction: Romance Crime - Sequel Conflict of Interest - Commuter Novel - Sex crimes Detective Aiden Carlisle is slowly getting used to being in a committed relationship with Dawn Kinsley a relationship that isn't always easy since Dawn is not only a psychologist but also a former victim in one of Aiden's cases. Aiden's private and professional lives collide when Dawn's newest patient gets in trouble with the law. Will she be able to stay objective enough to solve the case without pushing Dawn away?
The same case also throws Deputy District Attorney Kade Matheson's well-ordered life into chaos. In the last few years, Kade has taken case files and law books, not lovers, to bed. She has been focused only on her career and fought hard to win cases like Dawn's, but now the case forces her to finally face her attraction to women. She suddenly finds herself with two secret admirers but which one is more dangerous, the threat to her life or her heart?
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First published November 1, 2008
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About the author
Jae
126 books3,804 followersJae is the author of twenty-six award-winning romances between women. She lives in the sunniest city of Germany, near the French and Swiss borders. The writing bug bit her at the age of eleven.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
April 7, 2021
A bit of a slog, this one...
I haven't read the first book in the series, "Conflict of Interest", in ages but I remember really liking Dawn, the co-lead in that book, and appreciated how Jae handled rape and trauma. "Next of Kin" is part toaster oven romance between Kade and Del, the characters introduced in the first book, and part continued relationship journey for Dawn and Aidan.
Jae took on a lot in this book and, as a result, it has a kitchen sink effect.
This read is a mix of family drama, coming to terms with ones own sexuality or coming out late in life, a mystery, a romance, a healing from trauma journey, rebalancing friendships with new life changes, building commitments in relationships, and on and on.
I think Jae's background in psychology plays a part in how this story was written both with Dawn being a therapist but also in how the relationship dynamics are played out between cast members...and, because of that, for lack of a better word, the book feels careful. And I think "careful" is one of the weirdest adjectives I've ever used to describe a book.
Because of that carefulness, "Next of Kin" is competently and strongly written but it also has an "eh" feel.
Unlike Jae's other books where the point of view is usually told from two characters, this one is regularly bounced between four characters with an extra character thrown in here and there. It basically turns down the heat of the romance portion and lowers the intensity and intimacy of the book all around lending to the lukewarm feeling of the read.
And, mainly as a positive, all of the couples and characters communicate a LOT. However, it's to the point it feels repetitious because an inner monologue is spoken later or a conversation shared with one character is later shared with another. Communication is always good but this book has a heavier feel.
I think Dawn is probably one of the loveliest characters to ever be written so I can't fault any page she's on. She's so damn sweet and strong. And I liked Kade. But the rest of the cast I could take or leave.
The romance wasn't great for me because I never really felt the spark or particularly wanted Kade and Del to get together. I knew what Jae was writing about Del but I never found her very compelling and actually I thought she was really obnoxious even though she "gave Kade her space". If a woman tells you she's not interested, even if *you* get the feeling she is, it's a good idea to listen to her and back off. No flirting, no dropping hints, no leering...just no. It's gross when a guy does it, too. When Del wasn't being obnoxious I found her boring. Jae did write Kade's sexuality well, though, and put her positively in the bisexual lane.
Dawn and Aidan were interesting enough but Aidan seems a little too sullen for me. Just bleh.
Evan was an ass. And there were so many odd coincidences in this book, I felt the world was the size of a fishbowl.
There's a stalker mystery of sorts, one where I picked out who the person was right away, but it takes a backseat to the other storylines.
It is kind of funny reading this book in 2021 in the United States where opinions and laws have changed so much around gays that the negative attitudes and fears in the story seem so ancient despite being only a decade or less ago. That's a positive thing.
Anyway, as well as this book is written I can't say I particularly enjoyed it. It was okay.
Abby Craden did a great job as narrator.
3.5 stars.
I haven't read the first book in the series, "Conflict of Interest", in ages but I remember really liking Dawn, the co-lead in that book, and appreciated how Jae handled rape and trauma. "Next of Kin" is part toaster oven romance between Kade and Del, the characters introduced in the first book, and part continued relationship journey for Dawn and Aidan.
Jae took on a lot in this book and, as a result, it has a kitchen sink effect.
This read is a mix of family drama, coming to terms with ones own sexuality or coming out late in life, a mystery, a romance, a healing from trauma journey, rebalancing friendships with new life changes, building commitments in relationships, and on and on.
I think Jae's background in psychology plays a part in how this story was written both with Dawn being a therapist but also in how the relationship dynamics are played out between cast members...and, because of that, for lack of a better word, the book feels careful. And I think "careful" is one of the weirdest adjectives I've ever used to describe a book.
Because of that carefulness, "Next of Kin" is competently and strongly written but it also has an "eh" feel.
Unlike Jae's other books where the point of view is usually told from two characters, this one is regularly bounced between four characters with an extra character thrown in here and there. It basically turns down the heat of the romance portion and lowers the intensity and intimacy of the book all around lending to the lukewarm feeling of the read.
And, mainly as a positive, all of the couples and characters communicate a LOT. However, it's to the point it feels repetitious because an inner monologue is spoken later or a conversation shared with one character is later shared with another. Communication is always good but this book has a heavier feel.
I think Dawn is probably one of the loveliest characters to ever be written so I can't fault any page she's on. She's so damn sweet and strong. And I liked Kade. But the rest of the cast I could take or leave.
The romance wasn't great for me because I never really felt the spark or particularly wanted Kade and Del to get together. I knew what Jae was writing about Del but I never found her very compelling and actually I thought she was really obnoxious even though she "gave Kade her space". If a woman tells you she's not interested, even if *you* get the feeling she is, it's a good idea to listen to her and back off. No flirting, no dropping hints, no leering...just no. It's gross when a guy does it, too. When Del wasn't being obnoxious I found her boring. Jae did write Kade's sexuality well, though, and put her positively in the bisexual lane.
Dawn and Aidan were interesting enough but Aidan seems a little too sullen for me. Just bleh.
Evan was an ass. And there were so many odd coincidences in this book, I felt the world was the size of a fishbowl.
There's a stalker mystery of sorts, one where I picked out who the person was right away, but it takes a backseat to the other storylines.
It is kind of funny reading this book in 2021 in the United States where opinions and laws have changed so much around gays that the negative attitudes and fears in the story seem so ancient despite being only a decade or less ago. That's a positive thing.
Anyway, as well as this book is written I can't say I particularly enjoyed it. It was okay.
Abby Craden did a great job as narrator.
3.5 stars.
September 10, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Mystery/Police; Bisexual, Lesbian Fiction; Questioning/Coming Out; Romance
Location: 99% - Portland Oregon and surroundings (other 1% - brief visit to Sacramento California)
POV: multiple (six, 4 are more at 'co-leads' level (), other two are at 'side character' level)
This is the second full length book in this specific series. I had read the first a good three plus years earlier - and hadn't immediately dove into this book because ... well, I think it was because the book had been pulled to be revised or something like that, I know that occurred, but not sure if same time.
This book picks up with the main characters from the last story, though I'm not certain how much time has passed. An important question for any series book - can you read this without having read the prior works? I'd give a tentative yes. I didn't have any issues keeping up with the book, and/or had confusion generated by my long break between books. But, then again, I had read prior book so some of the knowledge about the book is probably stuffed inside of me.
Characters: POV characters: Aiden Carlisle - sex crimes detective; Dawn Kinsley - psychologist; Kade Matheson - prosecuting lawyer (Deputy District Attorney); Delicia 'Del' Vasquez Montero (Lieutenant - homicide); Evan Whitfied - young rebelous woman in the foster system who is a patient of Dawn's; stalker.
The stalker's point of view has the least amount of page time - and both the reader and characters in the story already know who the stalker is before they get any page time. Evan's page time is the second smallest, though she has a good amount of time to be observed. The other four would consist of the 'main characters' and I won't attempt to dive into creating percentages for how much of the book is 'there's'.
I have a good feeling of the characters, though if pressed, I'm not exactly sure what all I could say about each of them. Del is in her forties, has darker skin, and is either from and/or has Puerto Rican blood. Kade is younger than Del, maybe significantly younger and comes from a rich tight assed, stiff background - the kind where people are expected to fit certain roles and not deviate from those roles. Aiden is a strong one, though has the background of growing up with a single mother who was a drunk, and whose father (Aiden's) was a rapist (both of which, naturally, impacts Aiden's own thoughts/personality/etc.) - I've a vague idea Aiden might be older than Dawn. Dawn . . . has a kind of calming ability with most of those around her; is seen by Aiden as being somewhat damaged (Dawn had been raped in the prior book)/fragile - while Dawn kept doing things that belied that impression. I've this vague impression that Dawn might be somewhere in her late 20s, though that seems wrong somehow.
Story: This is the story of three couples and/or potential couples, dealing with each other, and with the issues that life tosses at people. Which can include such things as stalkings, family troubles (one, Del, hasn't seen her family for 25 or so years, but they've popped back up again; another has a bad relationship with her mother; yet another is currently in the foster system with the inherent troubles that can present), time on the job (like seeing Dawn as a psychologist), and life in general.
The story follows these three couplings (and potential couples) through the eyes of all but one of the individuals. We have Aiden (sex crimes police detective) and Dawn as one couple - and yes, their life and relationship is an important part of this book. Then we have Del and Kade's circling, will they, won't they relationship (will they/won't they date, Kade being someone who hadn't, up to this point, allowed herself the possibility of being interested in women). Then we have Evan and Laurie's young teenager relationship. Their relationship is mostly seen through the eyes of others, though some of Evan's point of view page time is somewhat connected to that relationship. Laurie though, is rarely seen, and even when Evan's page time is spent connected to that relationship, it rarely actually directly involves Laurie (as in, for example . . . I can't think of a for example; we have Dawn seeing Laurie and Evan interact, but that was Dawn's POV; then we had the skating scene, but again, not Evan's point of view; mmphs).
Mystery: While two of the main characters are police detectives, and while they are seen being overloaded with work (well, Aiden is shown that way, Del is shown with lots of 'unofficial' work but not official - to the point that I sometimes forget she's a homicide detective not sex crimes detective), that work tends to be background 'stuff'. There is an actual mystery, though, that runs throughout a good portion of the book - someone is stalking one of the main characters, and two of the main characters are investigating the matter.
In terms of the mystery - while the stalking case took up much of the time for some of the characters, the actual mystery was somewhat back-burner for most of the story. That specific plot-line would drift hot ('wait, you aren't the one who has been sending me flowers for months? crap, I'm being stalked'; active investigating/action/danger/blood) and cold.
In terms of the stalker - I knew immediately who the stalker was, and no I don't mean the book said who the stalker was immediately, I mean that I figured it out immediately. And I thought at the time, and still think, that it is fair that the detectives didn't immediately pick up on who the stalker was (though I have issue with some of the time between taking the case and finding the stalker (). Right, back up - the clues were there for the detectives to see, but only one was working on the case, unofficially, and she wasn't even on it from the start.
Sex: both graphic and non-graphic sex occurs in this book.
Overall: Solid enjoyable book. In a way my only real 'problem/issue' with the book is somewhat my own fault. I was 'ready' for the book to be over before the book was ready - my own fault because it was more that I was ready to finish reading for that reading session and there wasn't much left of the book so I continued reading. And reading. And reading. Eventually just stopping inches from the end before, later, completing the book. It felt like there were these concluding scenes one after another. First we get sex from one couple, then sex from another, then . . . well, you get the idea.
Right, sorry. So, as I said, good solid book. Both as a kind of slice of life book, as a mystery, and as a romance. None of the characters seemed 'tacked on', and all had something to do/deal with.
Rating: 4.67
September 10 2017
Genre: Mystery/Police; Bisexual, Lesbian Fiction; Questioning/Coming Out; Romance
Location: 99% - Portland Oregon and surroundings (other 1% - brief visit to Sacramento California)
POV: multiple (six, 4 are more at 'co-leads' level (), other two are at 'side character' level)
This is the second full length book in this specific series. I had read the first a good three plus years earlier - and hadn't immediately dove into this book because ... well, I think it was because the book had been pulled to be revised or something like that, I know that occurred, but not sure if same time.
This book picks up with the main characters from the last story, though I'm not certain how much time has passed. An important question for any series book - can you read this without having read the prior works? I'd give a tentative yes. I didn't have any issues keeping up with the book, and/or had confusion generated by my long break between books. But, then again, I had read prior book so some of the knowledge about the book is probably stuffed inside of me.
Characters: POV characters: Aiden Carlisle - sex crimes detective; Dawn Kinsley - psychologist; Kade Matheson - prosecuting lawyer (Deputy District Attorney); Delicia 'Del' Vasquez Montero (Lieutenant - homicide); Evan Whitfied - young rebelous woman in the foster system who is a patient of Dawn's; stalker.
The stalker's point of view has the least amount of page time - and both the reader and characters in the story already know who the stalker is before they get any page time. Evan's page time is the second smallest, though she has a good amount of time to be observed. The other four would consist of the 'main characters' and I won't attempt to dive into creating percentages for how much of the book is 'there's'.
I have a good feeling of the characters, though if pressed, I'm not exactly sure what all I could say about each of them. Del is in her forties, has darker skin, and is either from and/or has Puerto Rican blood. Kade is younger than Del, maybe significantly younger and comes from a rich tight assed, stiff background - the kind where people are expected to fit certain roles and not deviate from those roles. Aiden is a strong one, though has the background of growing up with a single mother who was a drunk, and whose father (Aiden's) was a rapist (both of which, naturally, impacts Aiden's own thoughts/personality/etc.) - I've a vague idea Aiden might be older than Dawn. Dawn . . . has a kind of calming ability with most of those around her; is seen by Aiden as being somewhat damaged (Dawn had been raped in the prior book)/fragile - while Dawn kept doing things that belied that impression. I've this vague impression that Dawn might be somewhere in her late 20s, though that seems wrong somehow.
Story: This is the story of three couples and/or potential couples, dealing with each other, and with the issues that life tosses at people. Which can include such things as stalkings, family troubles (one, Del, hasn't seen her family for 25 or so years, but they've popped back up again; another has a bad relationship with her mother; yet another is currently in the foster system with the inherent troubles that can present), time on the job (like seeing Dawn as a psychologist), and life in general.
The story follows these three couplings (and potential couples) through the eyes of all but one of the individuals. We have Aiden (sex crimes police detective) and Dawn as one couple - and yes, their life and relationship is an important part of this book. Then we have Del and Kade's circling, will they, won't they relationship (will they/won't they date, Kade being someone who hadn't, up to this point, allowed herself the possibility of being interested in women). Then we have Evan and Laurie's young teenager relationship. Their relationship is mostly seen through the eyes of others, though some of Evan's point of view page time is somewhat connected to that relationship. Laurie though, is rarely seen, and even when Evan's page time is spent connected to that relationship, it rarely actually directly involves Laurie (as in, for example . . . I can't think of a for example; we have Dawn seeing Laurie and Evan interact, but that was Dawn's POV; then we had the skating scene, but again, not Evan's point of view; mmphs).
Mystery: While two of the main characters are police detectives, and while they are seen being overloaded with work (well, Aiden is shown that way, Del is shown with lots of 'unofficial' work but not official - to the point that I sometimes forget she's a homicide detective not sex crimes detective), that work tends to be background 'stuff'. There is an actual mystery, though, that runs throughout a good portion of the book - someone is stalking one of the main characters, and two of the main characters are investigating the matter.
In terms of the mystery - while the stalking case took up much of the time for some of the characters, the actual mystery was somewhat back-burner for most of the story. That specific plot-line would drift hot ('wait, you aren't the one who has been sending me flowers for months? crap, I'm being stalked'; active investigating/action/danger/blood) and cold.
In terms of the stalker - I knew immediately who the stalker was, and no I don't mean the book said who the stalker was immediately, I mean that I figured it out immediately. And I thought at the time, and still think, that it is fair that the detectives didn't immediately pick up on who the stalker was (though I have issue with some of the time between taking the case and finding the stalker (). Right, back up - the clues were there for the detectives to see, but only one was working on the case, unofficially, and she wasn't even on it from the start.
Sex: both graphic and non-graphic sex occurs in this book.
Overall: Solid enjoyable book. In a way my only real 'problem/issue' with the book is somewhat my own fault. I was 'ready' for the book to be over before the book was ready - my own fault because it was more that I was ready to finish reading for that reading session and there wasn't much left of the book so I continued reading. And reading. And reading. Eventually just stopping inches from the end before, later, completing the book. It felt like there were these concluding scenes one after another. First we get sex from one couple, then sex from another, then . . . well, you get the idea.
Right, sorry. So, as I said, good solid book. Both as a kind of slice of life book, as a mystery, and as a romance. None of the characters seemed 'tacked on', and all had something to do/deal with.
Rating: 4.67
September 10 2017
February 10, 2020
Nice read. This time it’s a stalker at play and stalking, none other, DDA Kade Matheson. I adored Kade’s character in COI especially the court scenes (no such scene in NOK though); the ice-queen in her power suit taking on criminals in the courthouse. In this book, we got to know more about Kade’s character, why she’s often seen as the ice-queen and how her relationship with Del evolved. We met Dawn and Aiden again though the narrative is probably more on Kade & Del. Relationship is the focal point; romance, mother-daughter, siblings, family relationship which each character faced...with mystery taking a back seat. An unlikely heroine emerged at the end of it all taking the stalker down. All in all, an enjoyable read. 4.0 ⭐️
Available in Scribd
Available in Scribd
August 1, 2019
Brilliant.. absoulty brilliant!
January 7, 2016
The sequel to Conflict of Interest, this book deals far less with the crime elements than the previous story did, and the relationship focus shifts from Dawn and Aiden to Kade and Del. Aiden and Dawn are still part of the book, but their reduced screen time is split between their relationship, an investigation, and their interaction with a new character; their relationship issues, while touched upon, receive the least attention of the three.
Aside from a pair of flashbacks at the beginning that felt somewhat awkward from a technical standpoint -- they were fairly short, started abruptly, and were very close together -- the writing was still quite good. This story lacked the previous book's pathos and angst, its emotional peaks and valleys, which also reduced its impact for me, but the characters carried my interest for the book's entirety.
I am getting pretty tired of the toaster oven scenario, however, since it seems to be a default for so many lesbian romances and has almost no relevance to the real world. The fact that Jae avoided it in the previous book was a welcome change, but she's back to it here. She still seems to be fixated on the butch/femme binaries, as well. This book features three lesbian couples, and all three of them are butch/femme pairings. If she ever writes a superhero book, I'm pretty sure it'll be the Mighty Adventures of Superbutch and Ultrafemme, which just doesn't reflect the diversity of the world I live in and move through. Still, a book review probably isn't the best place for me to make this particular rant, so moving on...
If you read and enjoyed the first book, this one's certainly worth your time. You get to see a bit more of everyone, and a lot more of Kade and Del who, despite my criticism above, are not uninteresting people. Kade's family drama made for enjoyable (if not entirely original) reading, and the tenderness Del displayed toward her was nice to see. Interactions with secondary characters were well done, though I would've liked to have seen more scenes between Evan and Aiden. Advancing their relationship too much may have been beyond the scope of this story's limited timeline, but I liked the dynamic and I felt Evan could've hit more than the 'rebel without a cause' note if given more time.
Unfortunately, the crime element, while a very serious issue in real life, was pretty minor in terms of its importance to the story, and mostly served as an excuse for Kade and Del to spend time together. The ultimate reveal of the perpetrator didn't come as much of a surprise, given there were very few new characters introduced, though the wrap-up provided a nice moment for a favorite character.
On the whole, I'm glad I read it, but I enjoyed Conflict of Interest more. That story's crime drama acted as a nice through-line to both halves of the story, adding tension to the first half and emotional upheaval and healing to the second. Next of Kin is really more of an ensemble story influenced by traditional lesbian romances. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
Aside from a pair of flashbacks at the beginning that felt somewhat awkward from a technical standpoint -- they were fairly short, started abruptly, and were very close together -- the writing was still quite good. This story lacked the previous book's pathos and angst, its emotional peaks and valleys, which also reduced its impact for me, but the characters carried my interest for the book's entirety.
I am getting pretty tired of the toaster oven scenario, however, since it seems to be a default for so many lesbian romances and has almost no relevance to the real world. The fact that Jae avoided it in the previous book was a welcome change, but she's back to it here. She still seems to be fixated on the butch/femme binaries, as well. This book features three lesbian couples, and all three of them are butch/femme pairings. If she ever writes a superhero book, I'm pretty sure it'll be the Mighty Adventures of Superbutch and Ultrafemme, which just doesn't reflect the diversity of the world I live in and move through. Still, a book review probably isn't the best place for me to make this particular rant, so moving on...
If you read and enjoyed the first book, this one's certainly worth your time. You get to see a bit more of everyone, and a lot more of Kade and Del who, despite my criticism above, are not uninteresting people. Kade's family drama made for enjoyable (if not entirely original) reading, and the tenderness Del displayed toward her was nice to see. Interactions with secondary characters were well done, though I would've liked to have seen more scenes between Evan and Aiden. Advancing their relationship too much may have been beyond the scope of this story's limited timeline, but I liked the dynamic and I felt Evan could've hit more than the 'rebel without a cause' note if given more time.
Unfortunately, the crime element, while a very serious issue in real life, was pretty minor in terms of its importance to the story, and mostly served as an excuse for Kade and Del to spend time together. The ultimate reveal of the perpetrator didn't come as much of a surprise, given there were very few new characters introduced, though the wrap-up provided a nice moment for a favorite character.
On the whole, I'm glad I read it, but I enjoyed Conflict of Interest more. That story's crime drama acted as a nice through-line to both halves of the story, adding tension to the first half and emotional upheaval and healing to the second. Next of Kin is really more of an ensemble story influenced by traditional lesbian romances. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
August 8, 2023
Jae is pretty amazing. I think it was this series that made me wish she could be my therapist! The mains moved a bit to the background in favor of another pair of characters introduced in book 1. However, the twist regarding one of the original mains was such a great, thought provoking development. I like how Jae makes me ponder things (situations, ethics) that I haven’t thought about before.
May 5, 2025
A little bit of everything - true class. Jae is really a very special writer and this is her at the top of her game. Gives Radclyffe a run for her money as best series ever.
October 15, 2025
I’m sad to say this one just didn’t do it for me. I absolutely loved the first book in the series, Conflict of Interest (I gave that a solid 5 stars), but this sequel had two glaring issues I couldn’t get past.
First: the length. At 542 pages, it’s way too long. The story easily could’ve lost four or five chapters without affecting the plot or character development in the slightest. Some of them just felt like pointless filler.
Second (and most frustrating): the constant circling back to Kade and Aiden. Every. Single. Chapter. Nothing ever happened between them in the first book apart from Aiden’s half-hearted flirtation and little crush, yet here it’s made out to be so much more than that. If Aiden’s supposedly happy with Dawn, and Kade clearly has feelings for Del, then why are we still entertaining this endless “what if Kade and Aiden were together” conversation? It’s pointless.
Aiden’s bitterness toward Kade for not choosing her doesn’t make sense when she’s supposedly in a healthy, happy relationship. It became a shadow hanging over both romances all the way to the final chapter, and by the end, I was more frustrated than invested.
Still, if you liked the first instalment and can look past the fact that Dawn deserved better than the version of Aiden we get in this book, then you’ll probably still enjoy this one.
First: the length. At 542 pages, it’s way too long. The story easily could’ve lost four or five chapters without affecting the plot or character development in the slightest. Some of them just felt like pointless filler.
Second (and most frustrating): the constant circling back to Kade and Aiden. Every. Single. Chapter. Nothing ever happened between them in the first book apart from Aiden’s half-hearted flirtation and little crush, yet here it’s made out to be so much more than that. If Aiden’s supposedly happy with Dawn, and Kade clearly has feelings for Del, then why are we still entertaining this endless “what if Kade and Aiden were together” conversation? It’s pointless.
Aiden’s bitterness toward Kade for not choosing her doesn’t make sense when she’s supposedly in a healthy, happy relationship. It became a shadow hanging over both romances all the way to the final chapter, and by the end, I was more frustrated than invested.
Still, if you liked the first instalment and can look past the fact that Dawn deserved better than the version of Aiden we get in this book, then you’ll probably still enjoy this one.
April 13, 2022
I loved this book as much as I loved Conflict of Interest. Why?
Jae is great at depicting the evolving of the relationship between Aiden and Dawn. It feels real. You don't expect an immediate HEA after reading Conflict of Interest, you know that they will have to work their demons out. There's a slow evolving of their personality and an understanding of who they really are. As a psychologist, Jae knows that sometimes in order to move forward in your life, you need to face your past, and give a place to everything that bottled up in your mind and heart.
I love the way not only Dawn and Aiden, but also Kade, Del and Evan have to overcome obstacles to become free.
There's a lot of communication between them. Always one that wants to run away or simply ignore conflicts and the other that wants to talk them out. Opposites at its best. I'm a runner myself and I'm glad I have someone who grabs me by the neck to talk things out.
Spot on on these feelings, Jae.
On another level, I really enjoyed the plotting and the coming together of the subplots to serve the main one. I had my suspects, although.
One thing that I loved about the book is that no matter who your parents are, no matter how they have been in their life, what they have done or not done, you can choose to be yourself. You won't become your father or your mother. You are you. Genes can play a role, but they are not all.
Finally, I had bought this book because of the Ice Queen in it and... wow. I kneel in front of Kade, what an attractive and smart and complicated character. Beautiful. Loved the banter and her humor with Del (such a sweetheart).
I love when Jae goes a bit more into drama! She does it wonderfully.
Jae is great at depicting the evolving of the relationship between Aiden and Dawn. It feels real. You don't expect an immediate HEA after reading Conflict of Interest, you know that they will have to work their demons out. There's a slow evolving of their personality and an understanding of who they really are. As a psychologist, Jae knows that sometimes in order to move forward in your life, you need to face your past, and give a place to everything that bottled up in your mind and heart.
I love the way not only Dawn and Aiden, but also Kade, Del and Evan have to overcome obstacles to become free.
There's a lot of communication between them. Always one that wants to run away or simply ignore conflicts and the other that wants to talk them out. Opposites at its best. I'm a runner myself and I'm glad I have someone who grabs me by the neck to talk things out.
Spot on on these feelings, Jae.
On another level, I really enjoyed the plotting and the coming together of the subplots to serve the main one. I had my suspects, although.
One thing that I loved about the book is that no matter who your parents are, no matter how they have been in their life, what they have done or not done, you can choose to be yourself. You won't become your father or your mother. You are you. Genes can play a role, but they are not all.
Finally, I had bought this book because of the Ice Queen in it and... wow. I kneel in front of Kade, what an attractive and smart and complicated character. Beautiful. Loved the banter and her humor with Del (such a sweetheart).
I love when Jae goes a bit more into drama! She does it wonderfully.
December 8, 2015
Interesting but forced sequel. Jae always creates nice characters, gives them space to develop and slowly progress the romance. However, the stalker plot line didn't sit well (other than a device to allow the romantic protagonists to spend time together) and the pay off was like a bad episode of an 80's cop drama.
Dawn has turned into this paragon of Lesbian virtue, Aiden rages and feels insecure, Evan and Laurel felt under done. However, the central characters of Del and Kadence and their developing relationship was great. Wish this had been written as a completely Separate novel.
My least favourite of Jae's novels - which still makes it immensely superior to the majority of the lesbian romance fiction out there.
P.S. the love scene at the end between Del and Kade was Hot!!!
Dawn has turned into this paragon of Lesbian virtue, Aiden rages and feels insecure, Evan and Laurel felt under done. However, the central characters of Del and Kadence and their developing relationship was great. Wish this had been written as a completely Separate novel.
My least favourite of Jae's novels - which still makes it immensely superior to the majority of the lesbian romance fiction out there.
P.S. the love scene at the end between Del and Kade was Hot!!!
March 2, 2023
I love this sequel. It’s so heartwarming to be with Dawn and Aiden again. We get to continue to see their relationship grow and evolve. Aiden discovers she has a half sister. I love how when Aiden helps Evan to see she is not like their rapist father, and it
is then she is finally able and to see she the same in herself. Aiden and Dawn are going to be great parents and I’m so happy with the way the book ends for them.
We also get the story of Kade and Del. I really love the two of them together. Del deserves love and Kade is the one to give it to her. It’s beautiful to watch Kade find confidence in that part of herself and to see her falling for Del. They are great together.
is then she is finally able and to see she the same in herself. Aiden and Dawn are going to be great parents and I’m so happy with the way the book ends for them.
We also get the story of Kade and Del. I really love the two of them together. Del deserves love and Kade is the one to give it to her. It’s beautiful to watch Kade find confidence in that part of herself and to see her falling for Del. They are great together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2023
Rounding down because for the length there were some parts left incomplete with the other characters.
It's an early Jae book so there is a little less polish than her current stuff. Its funny how this was a police drama and yet felt like it had less things happening than many of her contemporary romances.
It expanded on a few of the story lines left hanging from the first book, and added more depth to Dawn and Aiden's relationship. Unfortunately, Aiden was ridiculous this book so the storyline fell a little flat at times. I was constantly reminded why Aiden loves Dawn, but didn't really understand why Dawn still chose to stay with Aiden. Also, Dawn being a connector for a new character named Evan, meant that most of her private moments and thoughts were about Evan rather than Aiden.
Del and Cade did have some great moments, but also some awkward interactions compared to how book 1 ended. I would say it did take about 50% of the book to have the chemistry feel organic. I liked the side storyline of a stalker but the suspense didn't build how I hoped, causing it to feel like the pacing was off. I suspect the pacing was just fine, I am just more used to urgency and danger when stalkers are brought into the mix.
I wouldn't say this book alone was worth getting into the series. But if you're a Jae fan and looking for a well written lesbian romance with multiple sapphic characters it is certainly worth trying. This one certainly has more of an early 2000s cop drama feel, where the characters are a little more broody and overdramatic.
It's an early Jae book so there is a little less polish than her current stuff. Its funny how this was a police drama and yet felt like it had less things happening than many of her contemporary romances.
It expanded on a few of the story lines left hanging from the first book, and added more depth to Dawn and Aiden's relationship. Unfortunately, Aiden was ridiculous this book so the storyline fell a little flat at times. I was constantly reminded why Aiden loves Dawn, but didn't really understand why Dawn still chose to stay with Aiden. Also, Dawn being a connector for a new character named Evan, meant that most of her private moments and thoughts were about Evan rather than Aiden.
Del and Cade did have some great moments, but also some awkward interactions compared to how book 1 ended. I would say it did take about 50% of the book to have the chemistry feel organic. I liked the side storyline of a stalker but the suspense didn't build how I hoped, causing it to feel like the pacing was off. I suspect the pacing was just fine, I am just more used to urgency and danger when stalkers are brought into the mix.
I wouldn't say this book alone was worth getting into the series. But if you're a Jae fan and looking for a well written lesbian romance with multiple sapphic characters it is certainly worth trying. This one certainly has more of an early 2000s cop drama feel, where the characters are a little more broody and overdramatic.
August 3, 2019
I enjoyed this second installment in The Portland Police Bureau series along with the novella Change of Pace which was included in the audiobook version narrated fabulously once again by Abby Craden. The book seemed pretty equally split in continuing the storyline (with of course a few twists thrown in) of Dawn and Aiden and also developing the relationship of homicide detective Del and Deputy D.A. Cade who has a stalker which (sans too much mystery as I accurately picked out the stalker long before the detectives did lol) brought all the characters together. Another solid book by Jae though had it not had Aiden and Dawn so prominent in the story I'm not sure I would have rated it as high as I wasn't as invested in Cade and Del (though they are both great characters) I didn't feel the bond as much as Aiden and Dawn and hanging on every bit of the story of them getting together.
September 16, 2025
DNF at 1/4 through- a bit of a drag for me
July 13, 2021
While I really thought Conflict of Interest was stellar in the suspense and in the way it deals with rape as well as emotional issues, the sequel didn't quite follow up on this. It was nice learning more about the characters and sort of dreaming on about the first book, but the suspense of the crime really lacked and I couldn't shake the feeling that the romance between Kade and Del felt a little lifeless. I also felt that Aiden was far more emotionally evolved in the first book than in this book. How can the person who was so patient and supportive and so committed suddenly become so afraid of commitment?
But on the whole I enjoyed this sequel to a really good book. It is worth reading.
But on the whole I enjoyed this sequel to a really good book. It is worth reading.
June 8, 2022
Next of Kin is the follow up book to Conflict of Interest and takes a slightly different path as it follows not only Aiden and Dawn, but delves deeper into the lives of their friends and family - Kade, Del and Evan. It's also a little on the lighter side, focusing more on their personal journeys as opposed to crimes needing to be solved. Though we do get a little suspenseful side mystery throughout.
I listened to the audio book version (again;) which is narrated by Abby Craden, and I'm not too sure how many times I can say how amazing she is without sounding like a broken record, but I'll say it again. Abby Craden is amazing!
Broadening the scope of the story allows the reader to be more fully emersed in the lives of these characters. Once again Jae has done an exceptional job of creating dynamic, ambitious, awe-inspiring women.
Dawn and Aiden continue to grow as a couple, communicating like superstars, while suporting each other and their loved ones. Kade's disciplined, yet passionate and loyal personality shines through and Del's persistence and sensitivity add a touch of slow burn romance. Evan brings with her a glimpse of what Aiden would have been like as a teenager with the typical snark and rebellious streak, hiding the pain and need to be loved just below the surface.
Next of Kin is full of really strong dialogue and character development. Jae creates a wonderful maze of interconnected paths, pulling everyone together and building a sense of family and support. These guys are not easy to walk away from, which is why I think this series is one that readers will always return to when they need to find that sense of comfort and stability in a book.
I listened to the audio book version (again;) which is narrated by Abby Craden, and I'm not too sure how many times I can say how amazing she is without sounding like a broken record, but I'll say it again. Abby Craden is amazing!
Broadening the scope of the story allows the reader to be more fully emersed in the lives of these characters. Once again Jae has done an exceptional job of creating dynamic, ambitious, awe-inspiring women.
Dawn and Aiden continue to grow as a couple, communicating like superstars, while suporting each other and their loved ones. Kade's disciplined, yet passionate and loyal personality shines through and Del's persistence and sensitivity add a touch of slow burn romance. Evan brings with her a glimpse of what Aiden would have been like as a teenager with the typical snark and rebellious streak, hiding the pain and need to be loved just below the surface.
Next of Kin is full of really strong dialogue and character development. Jae creates a wonderful maze of interconnected paths, pulling everyone together and building a sense of family and support. These guys are not easy to walk away from, which is why I think this series is one that readers will always return to when they need to find that sense of comfort and stability in a book.
March 16, 2022
Next of Kin (Portland Police Bureau, #2) by Jae is the sequel to Conflict of Interest. Like Conflict of Interest, I could not put this one down. Homicide Detective Aiden Carlisle is digging into her committed relationship with psychologist Dawn Kinsley. Which grows nicely and with care. Jae not only filled out an excellent new mystery but brought in two women we met in book 1, Kade Matheson, a Deputy District Attorney, and Homicide Lieutenant Delicia 'Del' Vasquez Montero Lieutenant - homicide. It is fun watching their courting dance. I love 'Del' she is fantastic. There are other wonderful twists filling in the lives of family and friends. I hope the series continues to grow.
January 15, 2023
What a great book is the next of kin. It makes the story compleet. The characters are so well written and various. I will for sure re-read book 1 and book 2 very soon.
October 28, 2022
A worthy follow-up to Conflict of Interest, this was a very solid book. It's a 3.5 for me because I found the pacing a little too slow, and the stalking culprit was a bit too obvious very early on - I'd have liked there to be a bit more uncertainty to it, the attempted misdirection was a tad heavy-handed.
I'm on the fence about having 4 co-leads in this story. It follows the continuing relationship between Dawn and Aiden that started in Conflict of Interest as well as the burgeoning relationship between Del and Kade. There is also a lot of focus on peripheral relationships with the parents and younger family members of each of the MCs. I found all of that at once endearing and a bit tedious; while I liked the way the relationships were handled (particularly with the younger peripheral characters) and the way characters dealt with coming out, it seemed like there was just a whole lot going on - more than was necessary. The plethora of interpersonal relationships was handled quite well and I didn't feel like the waters were muddied as I'd initially feared, but I think all of those relationships with all of their issues just made for a longer read/listen than was optimal for me.
As far as the actual characters go, I still liked Dawn and Aiden and the chemistry between them. I have to say that I didn't really feel the chemistry/connection between Kade and Del and I'm not really sure why. The lack of feeling between them wasn't very detrimental, I still liked the story, but it probably contributed to the book feeling too drawn out. Ultimately, I would probably have liked it more if the focus wasn't split between the two couples and so many POVs; having the secondary couple (whichever that ended up being) as side characters with a less prominent story arc would have been more enjoyable for me.
Despite its flaws, I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoyed Conflict of Interest :)
I'm on the fence about having 4 co-leads in this story. It follows the continuing relationship between Dawn and Aiden that started in Conflict of Interest as well as the burgeoning relationship between Del and Kade. There is also a lot of focus on peripheral relationships with the parents and younger family members of each of the MCs. I found all of that at once endearing and a bit tedious; while I liked the way the relationships were handled (particularly with the younger peripheral characters) and the way characters dealt with coming out, it seemed like there was just a whole lot going on - more than was necessary. The plethora of interpersonal relationships was handled quite well and I didn't feel like the waters were muddied as I'd initially feared, but I think all of those relationships with all of their issues just made for a longer read/listen than was optimal for me.
As far as the actual characters go, I still liked Dawn and Aiden and the chemistry between them. I have to say that I didn't really feel the chemistry/connection between Kade and Del and I'm not really sure why. The lack of feeling between them wasn't very detrimental, I still liked the story, but it probably contributed to the book feeling too drawn out. Ultimately, I would probably have liked it more if the focus wasn't split between the two couples and so many POVs; having the secondary couple (whichever that ended up being) as side characters with a less prominent story arc would have been more enjoyable for me.
Despite its flaws, I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoyed Conflict of Interest :)
June 16, 2025
If you just cut out all the scenes and plot involving Evan, this could have been a 5 star.
At first I was obsessed with this but then a few things happened that I didn't love.
I really liked Aiden in the first book but in this one I found her a bit unlikeable at times.
I loved Dawn and I still do.
And I still like them as a couple, but as I said Aiden did some things that made her a bit unlikeable and I didn't root for them as much anymore.
I'm literally in love with Kade, loved her in the first book and adored her in this one.
I found Del likeable enough in the first book but I actually really enjoyed her in this one.
I really loved Kade and Del together, their story alone would have been 5 stars.
I didn't really like any of the side characters, also found them rather unlikeable like in the first book.
Evan and everything related to her is the reason this is just a 4 star.
She and the whole plot was just annoying, unlikeable and ruined my experience.
At first I was obsessed with this but then a few things happened that I didn't love.
I really liked Aiden in the first book but in this one I found her a bit unlikeable at times.
I loved Dawn and I still do.
And I still like them as a couple, but as I said Aiden did some things that made her a bit unlikeable and I didn't root for them as much anymore.
I'm literally in love with Kade, loved her in the first book and adored her in this one.
I found Del likeable enough in the first book but I actually really enjoyed her in this one.
I really loved Kade and Del together, their story alone would have been 5 stars.
I didn't really like any of the side characters, also found them rather unlikeable like in the first book.
Evan and everything related to her is the reason this is just a 4 star.
She and the whole plot was just annoying, unlikeable and ruined my experience.
January 25, 2018
Great sequel...Loved it!! and I'm kinda sad that I'm running out of books to read written by this author :(
And yay Kade and Del. I was shipping them so hard and my little heart couldn't handle it when it actually happened * swoons *.also I have a major crush on Dawn. Anywho lemme not be a spoiler. It's a great book and everyones gotta read it.😔
And yay Kade and Del. I was shipping them so hard and my little heart couldn't handle it when it actually happened * swoons *.also I have a major crush on Dawn. Anywho lemme not be a spoiler. It's a great book and everyones gotta read it.😔
August 7, 2024
AUGUST 06, 2024
I’ve been down with the flu since the weekend, and the headaches were so bad I couldn’t even look at my phone, let alone read. Thank goodness ‘Next of Kin’ by Jae, narrated by Abby Craden, provided a welcome distraction from my pain… and anxiety.
I adore so many characters from this story. And I’ve probably listened to this audiobook more than ten times already — yet it never loses its appeal or the power to hold my attention. Highly recommended for anyone who hasn’t checked it out yet!
I’ve been down with the flu since the weekend, and the headaches were so bad I couldn’t even look at my phone, let alone read. Thank goodness ‘Next of Kin’ by Jae, narrated by Abby Craden, provided a welcome distraction from my pain… and anxiety.
I adore so many characters from this story. And I’ve probably listened to this audiobook more than ten times already — yet it never loses its appeal or the power to hold my attention. Highly recommended for anyone who hasn’t checked it out yet!
March 7, 2015
Conflict of Interest was a great book, so I was really looking forward to the sequel. Unfortunately I was destined for disappointment. This book was overly long, and not much happens.
This books suffers from a few problems, the main couple from the original story aren't given enough to do (in fact this book doesn't really advance their relationship much at all, Dawn spends more time with Evan and Kade than with Aiden)
There's the infuriating trope where the other secondary characters all pair up in lesbian relationships (Kade and Del are set up in Conflict, so I had no problem with them but Evan and Laurie is one too many for me).
Evan is an annoying and obnoxious character, so I couldn't warm to her and didn't care about her issues. Also the way her scenes with Dawn were written is kind of creepy. I found myself skipping the stuff with them just because I found it uncomfortable.
The stalker storyline was unnecessary, if it was supposed to add tension, it failed. The best storyline was Kade and Del with Kade's mother and Del's family, but it came too late for me.
My recommendation is if you want to read good stories by Jae read Conflict of Interest, Second Nature, Backwards to Oregon or Something in the Wine, but skip this one.
This books suffers from a few problems, the main couple from the original story aren't given enough to do (in fact this book doesn't really advance their relationship much at all, Dawn spends more time with Evan and Kade than with Aiden)
There's the infuriating trope where the other secondary characters all pair up in lesbian relationships (Kade and Del are set up in Conflict, so I had no problem with them but Evan and Laurie is one too many for me).
Evan is an annoying and obnoxious character, so I couldn't warm to her and didn't care about her issues. Also the way her scenes with Dawn were written is kind of creepy. I found myself skipping the stuff with them just because I found it uncomfortable.
The stalker storyline was unnecessary, if it was supposed to add tension, it failed. The best storyline was Kade and Del with Kade's mother and Del's family, but it came too late for me.
My recommendation is if you want to read good stories by Jae read Conflict of Interest, Second Nature, Backwards to Oregon or Something in the Wine, but skip this one.
July 15, 2019
This was great! Literally spent nearly a whole Sunday just listening b/c I couldn't put it down. I liked it more than book 1 - though you MUST read Conflict of Interest first or you will miss a LOT. Still some heavy topics, but many more moments of levity than CoI.
Three story lines all well integrated and explored... 1) Del/Cade, 2) continuation of Dawn/Aidan, 3) intro to Evan [can't tell you about Evan w/out spoilers, but she's a good one].
Three story lines all well integrated and explored... 1) Del/Cade, 2) continuation of Dawn/Aidan, 3) intro to Evan [can't tell you about Evan w/out spoilers, but she's a good one].
July 21, 2015
This is book two of a series. Still like the characters and their interactions. The banter and humor back and forth is fun to read. I enjoyed the introduction of the new young characters and look forward to seeing their story develop. This book seemed slower paced than the first and dragged on in a few spots.
May 15, 2018
I liked the book and really liked to know more about the characters, but the book was not quite as good as the first one in the series.
For some reason it didn't flow or grab me quite as much, but a good read especially if you read the first book.
For some reason it didn't flow or grab me quite as much, but a good read especially if you read the first book.
April 17, 2020
I just love Kade Matheson, she's such a great woman. I think she's my favorite character ever (and she reminds me of Regina Mills)
She could have had more air time in the book but otherwise this was perfect.
And because Abby Craden *sighs*.
She could have had more air time in the book but otherwise this was perfect.
And because Abby Craden *sighs*.
February 15, 2024
Let's start with the good things:
I am glad I had the opportunity to see more of Aidan and Dawn because I really enjoyed reading Conflict Of Interest. I would have loved more intimate moments between them though.
Dawn is such a wholesome character and I wish we could clone her and Aidan is not only committed to Dawn but she's also committed to growing. The scenes with the conflict resolution between them were *chef's kiss*. Communication was top tier.
Now to the bad stuff:
I disliked Del. She feels like a pushy, inappropriate version of Aidan. While I understand that love is not always ''politically correct'' , Del insisting to date Kade felt anything but romantic.
The book follows a similar pattern to the first one , meaning that Del and Kade hit milestones like Aidan and Dawn (both couples met the one parent of the other before being officially together. There was only one parent in the picture to begin with, except the small yet important interaction with Del's parents)
Honestly I don't see what Kade sees in Del.
Del had cringy comebacks and catchphrases in the whole book.
The POV of 4 characters wasn't a bad idea but Del's character made my eyes roll, so I lost interest and focused to Aidan and Dawn instead.
It feels like Evan was in the book just to add obstacles to Dawn's and Aidan's relationship.
In my opionion their relationship can exist even without having some major problem to solve.
Am I glad I read the book? Yes.
Could I have lived without missing out because I haven't read it? Also yes.
I am glad I had the opportunity to see more of Aidan and Dawn because I really enjoyed reading Conflict Of Interest. I would have loved more intimate moments between them though.
Dawn is such a wholesome character and I wish we could clone her and Aidan is not only committed to Dawn but she's also committed to growing. The scenes with the conflict resolution between them were *chef's kiss*. Communication was top tier.
Now to the bad stuff:
I disliked Del. She feels like a pushy, inappropriate version of Aidan. While I understand that love is not always ''politically correct'' , Del insisting to date Kade felt anything but romantic.
The book follows a similar pattern to the first one , meaning that Del and Kade hit milestones like Aidan and Dawn (both couples met the one parent of the other before being officially together. There was only one parent in the picture to begin with, except the small yet important interaction with Del's parents)
Honestly I don't see what Kade sees in Del.
Del had cringy comebacks and catchphrases in the whole book.
The POV of 4 characters wasn't a bad idea but Del's character made my eyes roll, so I lost interest and focused to Aidan and Dawn instead.
It feels like Evan was in the book just to add obstacles to Dawn's and Aidan's relationship.
In my opionion their relationship can exist even without having some major problem to solve.
Am I glad I read the book? Yes.
Could I have lived without missing out because I haven't read it? Also yes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2019
Good follow-up to Conflict of Interest. It's so interesting to go back to Jae's very early work - stuff that was once fanfic. There are things she did in these like make pop culture references to what were then current television shows - like Xena. Yes - I watched that, so understand them, but soon there will be young lesbians who don't get those references. Jae stays away from them now. She has certainly grown as a writer - though you do see her potential here. Dawn may be one of my favorite lesfic characters - she's smart, understanding, communicative, and because she's a therapist, has wonderful insight into human behavior. And now I know Jae was once a psychologist herself, so she's able to bring her knowledge into it. I do enjoy Abby Craden's narration - even moreso in recent years because she really has perfected her craft. I want to make my way through all of Jae's work as I admire her growth and great skill as a writer. I also appreciate the variety of stories she tells. If one trope doesn't appeal to you, there will certainly be another that will.
February 25, 2022
After the events in Conflict of Interest we follow with Aiden and Dawn's story, their healing and an unexpected development: Aiden's half-sister, Edan. Cue to family drama *laughs*
We also have a mystery and a romance. The mystery was the part I liked the most, Kade's stalker was creepy and I understood her reluctance to put herself in the limelight, although I still kept thinking 'C'mon, woman! This is getting dangerous!'
The romance between Kade and Del, though... I really didn't feel it. I was annoyed at Del's persistence: if a woman tells you she's not interested, you should back off, no matter how strongly you feel that there might be some interest there :/
I adore Dawn here, as much as I adore her in the previous book. She's strong, smart and caring and I simply love her ♥
So yes, I liked this book, but less than the previous one.
We also have a mystery and a romance. The mystery was the part I liked the most, Kade's stalker was creepy and I understood her reluctance to put herself in the limelight, although I still kept thinking 'C'mon, woman! This is getting dangerous!'
The romance between Kade and Del, though... I really didn't feel it. I was annoyed at Del's persistence: if a woman tells you she's not interested, you should back off, no matter how strongly you feel that there might be some interest there :/
I adore Dawn here, as much as I adore her in the previous book. She's strong, smart and caring and I simply love her ♥
So yes, I liked this book, but less than the previous one.
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