Families and Other Enemies

Cape Charade #1.5

by Christina Dodd, Vanessa Johansson (Reading)

I still don't remember, but I know what happened now.

Kellen Adams has fought battles, saved lives, and earned the respect of her colleagues and the love of her friends. But now can she triumph against the greatest challenge of her life--her family?

Families and Other Enemies is a new Kellen Adams short story by New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd, filled with her trademark mystery and humor.

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

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Brand new! TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction
Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all… The Daughter of Romeo and Juliet, the real story
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Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.

(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families and Other Enemies by Christina Dodd is a 2019 HQN Books publication.

For those following along with the series, this short story follows Kellen, (Cecilia), as she struggles to come to terms with the shocking discoveries she made regarding the ‘missing year’ of her life.
Life altering developments have her traveling to Virtue Falls, where she meets up with one of my favorite characters from the VF series, Kateri Kwinault. How cool is that?

Kellen does some serious soul searching about her life, faces down her fears about the future, and is finally willing to stop running, and do the right thing for her family. Helping her come to these realizations is a sixteen- year old girl and war veteran, one of which needs stability, while the other one seeks redemption and forgiveness. Their struggles help Kellen find the strength to face her new normal.

I had a feeling this series was going to be great and so far, it has been everything I hoped it would. This short story has helped keep me mollified while I impatiently await the next full- length installment. Plus, it gave me a little more thought provoking character analysis, as well. This book does give readers a brief re-cap of book one, while also telling a compelling and emotional story, while setting the stage for book two.

If you haven’t read the first book in the series- why not? You still have time to catch up before ‘What Doesn’t Kill Her’ is released at the end of this month. Yes, this is a romantic suspense series, but fans of fast paced thrillers with a unique storyline can enjoy this series as well. So, what are you waiting for?

4.5 stars

[Maureen Carden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Families and Other Enemies is the perfect bridge novella between Dead Girl Running and What Doesn't Kill her.
When former Army Captain Kellen Adams finds out what happened to her during the year of her life she spent in a coma, she doesn't react in a particularity brave way. She goes on the run.
Telling her newly discovered daughter, Rae, and her rediscovered lover, Max Di Luca that she needs time to process all of these life changing events, Kellen hits the road.
After an extremely upsetting visit with her aunt, Kellen hits the road again, bypassing the turn to the Di Luca Vineyards where Max and Rae await her.
Kellen gets it into her head that she needs Kateri Kwinault, the sheriff in Virtue Falls. Kellen and Kateri make contact, and Kateri realizes that the maybe the best place to do some serious soul searching might be in a church. Kateri hooks Kellen up with the food kitchen of a Catholic church.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, I mean vineyard, Rae is accepting and as full of love as a daughter can be. She is the one, above all others, who recognizes that Kellen has “solemn responsibilities and duties.”
Dodd can go from snappy to a bit sappy in heartbeat. But that’s fine because is an entr’acte between two thrilling and moving books.
Oh my usual complaint. Where is Stag? I’ll just hope Kateri is leaving him exhausted in the bedroom.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am being honest, I just really enjoy Ms Dodd’s books

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book via Netgalley.

Short novella. There are some suspense, there is no any romance. It's just a prologue to next book in series. And I'd like to read more from this series.
It has an interesting plot, I liked author's style.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is SUCH an amazing series. Even better, Kellen Adams is SUCH an amazing character. What a teaser this little treasure turned out to be. I cannot wait for the next book, "What Doesn't Kill Her," coming out on 1/29/19.

[Pennie Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop! If you haven't read the first book in the series, go read it NOW, I mean it, you will not be disappointed and then come back and read this one. I picked this one up immediately after finishing the first one, "Dead Girl Running" and read this in one sitting. This one has Kellen coming to grips with the realization of the missing year in her memory and during that year she evidently had a baby! She doesn't know how to be a mother and doesn't think she can so she does what she does best and runs, or at least starts off on a mission to try and figure out what to do with herself. First she visits her Aunt which doesn't go well and then she ends up in Virtue Falls and working in the soup kitchen at the request of the sheriff. So many life changing and altering and reaffirming events to help set her on the path she needs to be. Will it be the right one?

Definitely enjoying this series!!

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of Dead Girl Running, the first book in the Cape Charade series, Kellen Adams received life-changing news, she had a baby seven years ago. Yes, this is news to her. As this series has revealed, Kellen has suffered memory loss. Well, she still cannot remember, but facts are facts. Max, the man she fell in love with after escaping her brutal husband is indeed the father of a little girl who is most definitely her daughter.

In this book, Families and Other Enemies, Kellen is now faced with this new truth in her life. A challenge to be sure. Needing to work things out, she takes off, and meets with someone from her past, and this gives her the time needed to sort out her future. Kellen takes on a new job and this brings her into contact with people she just has to help.

This brief novella sets the stage for the next book in the series, What Doesn't Kill Her. The previous books in this series are Hard to Kill and Dead Girl Running. The next books in the series are Hidden Truths and Strangers She Knows, both set for release later in 2019.

Many thanks to HQN Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Stevie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:

Kellen Adams remembers little of the months leading up to the head injury that left her in a coma seven years ago, although some of her memories have been returning as people from her old life have got in touch. At the end of the first novel in this series, Kellen met for the first time her daughter, born while Kellen was in a coma, and was struggling with how to cope with sudden motherhood. Now recovering from the injuries she sustained fighting that book’s bad guys, Kellen is trying to face up to spending time with both her daughter and the family she had already left behind when her daughter was conceived.

Kellen’s aunt, mother to the real Kellen – whose identity Kellen stole after her death – is in a care home, suffering from dementia. Kellen decides to visit her first, and tell her the story of what really happened to her and her cousin, now that all those involved, who might have been a threat, are dead. The visit doesn’t go well, and Kellen finds she can’t face seeing her daughter and the man she once loved – her daughter’s father who has changed careers to facilitate single parenthood – right away. Instead, she drives up to Virtue Falls and meets up with her friend who is the Sheriff there.

At her friend’s suggestion, Kellen checks in at the only hotel with a room available and, the next day, begins a stint volunteering at the town’s food bank. There she meets up with a diverse group of volunteers and people in need of help, all of whom help her gain some perspective on her issues, even as Kellen finds ways in which she can help them individually based on her own experiences.

I greatly enjoyed this short story. It packed a lot into not so many pages, and we even got to see Kellen doing her action hero stuff again. I particularly appreciated seeing that while there are no easy answers to the problems of those using the food bank, some of them do get their lives turned around – as we see towards the end of the story when various former recipients of help return to throw a party for one particularly special volunteer. I may have to read this again before starting on the next full-length novel in the series.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Families and Other Enemies is the perfect short story compliment to What Doesn’t Kill Her released January 19, 2019. It is the story of what happens to Kellen Adams after all the chaotic events in What Doesn’t Kill Her. I loved the way this short story combines Kellen’s distress with that of Ralph Bellingar, a veteran who suffered from PTSD and left his young family because of all the PTSD was doing to him. Their interactions and situations make an impression on the lost Kellen which lead her to life altering conclusions.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Jennifer Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic action packed short story. I can wait for the next installment for these characters. Rae by far is my favorite character. She is a happy and joy filled little girl. Highly recommend reading this short story. There is still so much to learn about these characters, I can not wait to learn what happens next.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story that gives more insight into Kellen. Can't wait for next full length book. Hoping for more with Max and her daughter

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

[Cdludwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok novella continuing Kellen Adams’s story. Down rated because of Hallmark movie-esque storyline with elderly vet. Too many happy endings to complex problems solved too easily for me. Looking forward to next book in the series, because Dodd does a much better job in a full length format.

[Ann Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating.
Good character development

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a different yet fascinating read. I liked the characters, though there were several issues I had with this book. So while I liked it, I likely won't reread it.

Updated Review:

Well, this was a bit different from my usual read, though it was short so I could easily knock it off the list. This has a potential minefield of triggers, though, so let’s just get into that before doing the review!:

Warnings: child abuse, homelessness, attempted murder, murder, spousal abuse, one scene bashing lesbians (old aunt stuck in her times), hospital scenes, church scenes, veterans, homeless veterans, homeless teenagers, drugs, addicts, abuse, amnesia, dementia, other

This was a fast short story to read, but also a hard hitting one. It touched on a lot of issues, and some of it made me angry and uncomfortable (such as the old aunt), so it’s not going to be one of my favorite short stories, I don’t think, but it was still a good important read.

There was a bit of mystery, life and death situations, people doing good, people doing bad. I can’t give away too much without revealing the entire plot, but the main point of the story was a woman survived her husband’s attempt to murder her only to get amnesia in the process and switch identities with her cousin who looks almost exactly like her. It was an interesting take, and I liked the main character, though I questioned her intelligent at times.

Overall, I liked it. It’s definitely worth a re-read in the future, if I feel up for it, and I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars!

[Jessica Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families and Other Enemies is a short intro novella into the series about Kellen Adams. Kellen is a survivor- a survivor of an abusive husband, a survivor of the armed services, a survivor of long term coma, and a survivor of the streets. Kellen is tough as nails but struggling to adapt to her life after waking up from a coma to discover that she has a child she does not remember. Running from her family and her past, Kellen must come to terms with who she is and learn to be a mother to her little girl. Suspenseful with great world building, the story moves along swiftly, creating a great introduction to Kellen that leaves the reader's hands itching to get a hold of the first full length novel in the series. Families and Other Enemies is a fast, attention grabbing read that will leave you coming back for more. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

[Charlotte Pawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cecilia Adams has led an eventful life. When her parents died she went to live with Aunt Cora and her daughter Kellen her spitting image. She got into an abused marriage and when Kellen came to help her she got killed in error for Cecilia. She took Kellen identity but due to been shot got amnesia and forgot she had a daughter. This is an involving story following Kellen as she comes to terms with taking on a new family. She comes across those who live on the streets in Virtue Falls Helping at the food bank for the church. There dealings with all that life throws at them and how they still give back to others helps Kellen on her own path. This is an emotional read with very true to life experiences.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[BoxerLover2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main protagonist is Kellen Adams. Or is it Cecilia Adams? There was a murder. There was amnesia (because of a bullet to the brain). There was family (adopted family, military family, the family you make in a homeless shelter and the family that includes a 7 year old daughter that Kellen doesn’t remember).

This was an interesting read that left me with questions:

Where did the bullet come from? Was it in combat or something else?
Who is this Max (the baby daddy) and what is their backstory?
Where is this series heading? I have to find out.

This book is a short introduction to get you interested in hearing more of Kellen’s story.
4 Stars
The book was provided by NetGalley for an honest review

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her abusive ex-husband killed Kellen. He meant to kill her…his wife, Cecelia, but as the cousins looked so much alike, he killed Kellen by mistake. Now Cecelia has become Kellen, retired Captain Kellen Adams, former marine. There is time missing from her memory, but she knows she had a baby who is now seven-years old. Kellen had been managing the Yearning Sands Resort, but now must face her past in order to accept her future. A thoroughly intriguing novella from Ms. Dodd. I had not read the previous Cape Charade books, but now they are at the top of my “to be read” list. Kellen is a wounded soul, but she is a fighter who will try to make amends and will not quit. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

[Anne Szlachcic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a novella that links books 1 & 2 in the Cape Charade series featuring Kellen Adams .
It provides further insight into Kellen's conflict after the discoveries of her memory and the family
left behind . The complexity of the family dynamics and their willingness , however reluctantly , to allow Kellen to find her own way gives the ongoing story more strength .
This book provides a link between the 2 books and gives the reader a better understanding of Kellen and the characters around her .

I look forward to the next book in the series .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Alain Kraussman Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner!

The goal of a short story is to lure you in and make you wish there was more to read. Christina Dodd absolutely accomplishes that goal with this book. If you haven't read any of her Virtue Falls series or Cape Charade series, then you definitely are missing out on some of the best suspense novels ever written.
In fact, if you haven't read anything by Christina Dodd, then you are missing out on one of the most talented novelists of the romance/romantic suspense genre.

[JG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short novella that connects the first book's storyline with the next one. Kellen Adams still has memory loss but on the bright side she gains a daughter whom she never knew about and a lover who she wouldn't mind rekindling the relationship with. If she can only remember! This one is set in Virtue Falls (which is also another series by the same author) and it puts perspective in how Kellan ends up dealing with her current situation. Its a nice way of connecting the ending of the last book and the beginning of the next one.

[Wayward Readers Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short novella between book one and two in the Cape Charade series. Christina Dodd has masterfully created a story line and characters that just, flat out, refuse to be ignored. In this installment the reader is given an introspective glimpse into Kellen’s conflict regarding recent discoveries and also allowed us to witness some isolated interactions with tertiary characters. This definitely helps the reader develop a rapport with Kellen’s character leading into the next book. Easy 5 stars.

[Terresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read with abundant emotions that addresses a variety of real-life situations in a short amount of time. Families and Other Enemies sets the stage for and piques the reader's interest in Dodd's new series. I'm looking forward to learning more about Kellen Adams as well as her family "and other enemies" with the upcoming release of What Doesn't Kill Her. Definitely recommend, especially for fans of Dodd's work!

[Emilie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I cannot wait for the next book. This is not your typical mystery/romantic suspense work of art. There are stories within stories in this series and the characters are complex. So much so that each book reveals another layer of the characters' personality. Keep up the good work!!

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short- very short- novella has tickled my interest enough that even though I did not read the first book, I'm looking forward to reading the second. Dodd seems to have laid out the facts and her plot: Kellen isn't really Kellen, she's Christina. Christina's ex-husband meant to kill her but he got Kellen instead so Christina took on Kellen's persona. That's getting harder to maintain, however. I admit to being a bit confused but this is well written and it's got a nice sense of danger lurking at the margins. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

[Dsbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novella that would be numbered 1.5 in this series. I have read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it. This novella was very good too but as a novella always is, way too short. I am waiting on book 3 and will grab it as soon as I can. This author does a great job of writing mysteries that grab you from page one

[Partfam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This review isn't going to be long. I'm not a huge fan of a review rehashing the entire plot and spoiling it for everyone.

I enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud, and cried. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

[Cali Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this quick yet highly entertaining visit to this emotional, sexy and engaging adventure filled with thrilling and chilling action packed twists and turns. This gimps into Kellen Adams world moves very fast but still leaves you with the idea of how intriguing this series is and was a very enjoyable read.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Short Story
For those of us enjoying the Cape Charade series, this is a good bridge between the latest two novels. The story explores Kellen a little more and sets up for her travels to live with Max and her daughter. Kellen confronts her past in visits with her Aunt and learns a little more about life working in a soup kitchen. I don’t want to give it all away but this was a very good short story and I generally dislike them. Can’t wait for the next in this series.