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The Rayburn Mysteries #2
Skinned
Hunting a killer is easy. Learning to love is hard.
Josephine 'Jo' Rayburn's life was finally falling into place. She has a man she loves one who accepts her prickly personality, snarky attitude, addiction to knitting along with all her other quirks. Everything was going so well she is ready to take the next step in their life together.
Then bodies start dropping, and her past catches up with her.
Rhysian 'Rhys' Harrison loves Josephine. Her porcupine-like defenses shield a warm a gooey center that only he's allowed to see. That she accepts and cares for his mentally challenged brother as well is the icing on the chocolate cake. He's ready to ask her to marry him.
But when his ex-fiancée crashes back into his life, the picture-perfect future he sees with Josephine begins to unravel.
Amidst bitter betrayal, misunderstandings, crazy family, and dodging hitmen can Josephine and Rhysian find a way to forge their path to the future they crave? Or will this case be the one that tears them apart for good?
Josephine 'Jo' Rayburn's life was finally falling into place. She has a man she loves one who accepts her prickly personality, snarky attitude, addiction to knitting along with all her other quirks. Everything was going so well she is ready to take the next step in their life together.
Then bodies start dropping, and her past catches up with her.
Rhysian 'Rhys' Harrison loves Josephine. Her porcupine-like defenses shield a warm a gooey center that only he's allowed to see. That she accepts and cares for his mentally challenged brother as well is the icing on the chocolate cake. He's ready to ask her to marry him.
But when his ex-fiancée crashes back into his life, the picture-perfect future he sees with Josephine begins to unravel.
Amidst bitter betrayal, misunderstandings, crazy family, and dodging hitmen can Josephine and Rhysian find a way to forge their path to the future they crave? Or will this case be the one that tears them apart for good?
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2020
3 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
CeeRee Fields
16 books79 followersI'm a geek, a gamer, a music lover, and a voracious reader. I love Star Trek and B-grade movies like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and Sharknado. I enjoy figuring out software and learning new things and applying them to whatever book I'm currently working on.
I write romantic adventures. I live vicariously through my characters. I can be a knife-wielding forager who saves her family from deadly kidnappers or a slinky thief who must outmaneuver her sadistic cousin. My male characters aren't cookie-cutter either. There's so much diversity in the world that one size does not fit all. It's the same for love. My male characters range from he-men, alpha types to nerds in glasses who can kickass when needed whether in a board room or in a parking garage.
The one thing they all have in common is they are people who learn to move past their hurdles and find love.
I write romantic adventures. I live vicariously through my characters. I can be a knife-wielding forager who saves her family from deadly kidnappers or a slinky thief who must outmaneuver her sadistic cousin. My male characters aren't cookie-cutter either. There's so much diversity in the world that one size does not fit all. It's the same for love. My male characters range from he-men, alpha types to nerds in glasses who can kickass when needed whether in a board room or in a parking garage.
The one thing they all have in common is they are people who learn to move past their hurdles and find love.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 3, 2020
Overall, the good parts of this story far outweigh the flaws, and that makes this a gripping and intense read!
Read full review in the 2020 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2020 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 20, 2020
That was really good......
Second book in the series. Same characters as in the first book.
Does it make a difference if you don’t read the first one?
I loved Josephine “jo” all her little quirks, the partnership she has with Sullivan (her work partner) is close, their banter made me chuckle. The closeness she has with Rhysian was lovely, they just fit, they complement each other perfectly. Her wildness needed his calm to keep her grounded.
Her tolerance for her more “prettier” half sisters, she never resented them, she just accepted them.
Her put downs were hilarious, fast coming and usually relentless, most people never got a word in or a quick enough comeback. She’s protective of the ones she loves, she’ll defend them and will always have their back.
She has no filter whatsoever, the amount of times I laughed out loud.
Rhysian was pretty unflappable, living and loving Jo gave him peace he never thought he’d have. He loves that she’s so careful with his brother Rian, it only makes him love her more, and now she’s said yes to marrying him, he’s hopeful that a live in carer he’s hired will help him look after his brother, and get Rhys back to finish off his training to be a paediatric doctor, all is right in his world. Well it was.....
We have a killer that is skinning it’s victims, could it be linked to a previous case? Things are all pointing that way, but Jo isn’t convinced, she’s certain it’s someone else, but who? It’s bringing back terrible memories of a past case, and her own past, could it be the same person?
A murder mystery book, but more!! It’s the first time I’ve read a book like this, and not been able to put it down.
This would make a great film, in fact I could see is being made into a series.
The characters all come to life, they gel, the words flowed, no jumping around. I really liked it. I almost spat my coffee out when I read where Jo’s mother wanted Rhys’s input on tantric sex!!! I laughed till I had tears. Too funny.
And the scene where he almost proposes to her, she’s covered in blood and vomit, but the conversation has so funny.
I must admit, I didn’t think Rhys ex-fiancé was needed in the book. But the further I got into the book, the more I realised he had needed to see her and to put her in the past where she belonged. Was there any chemistry between Sharon and Rhys ? Absolutely none, and that made me smile, she had her chance and she blew it big time.
So, do you need to read the first book? I don’t think so, but I feel I’m missing something, so I may just have to go back and read the first book.
🦋
Second book in the series. Same characters as in the first book.
Does it make a difference if you don’t read the first one?
I loved Josephine “jo” all her little quirks, the partnership she has with Sullivan (her work partner) is close, their banter made me chuckle. The closeness she has with Rhysian was lovely, they just fit, they complement each other perfectly. Her wildness needed his calm to keep her grounded.
Her tolerance for her more “prettier” half sisters, she never resented them, she just accepted them.
Her put downs were hilarious, fast coming and usually relentless, most people never got a word in or a quick enough comeback. She’s protective of the ones she loves, she’ll defend them and will always have their back.
She has no filter whatsoever, the amount of times I laughed out loud.
Rhysian was pretty unflappable, living and loving Jo gave him peace he never thought he’d have. He loves that she’s so careful with his brother Rian, it only makes him love her more, and now she’s said yes to marrying him, he’s hopeful that a live in carer he’s hired will help him look after his brother, and get Rhys back to finish off his training to be a paediatric doctor, all is right in his world. Well it was.....
We have a killer that is skinning it’s victims, could it be linked to a previous case? Things are all pointing that way, but Jo isn’t convinced, she’s certain it’s someone else, but who? It’s bringing back terrible memories of a past case, and her own past, could it be the same person?
A murder mystery book, but more!! It’s the first time I’ve read a book like this, and not been able to put it down.
This would make a great film, in fact I could see is being made into a series.
The characters all come to life, they gel, the words flowed, no jumping around. I really liked it. I almost spat my coffee out when I read where Jo’s mother wanted Rhys’s input on tantric sex!!! I laughed till I had tears. Too funny.
And the scene where he almost proposes to her, she’s covered in blood and vomit, but the conversation has so funny.
I must admit, I didn’t think Rhys ex-fiancé was needed in the book. But the further I got into the book, the more I realised he had needed to see her and to put her in the past where she belonged. Was there any chemistry between Sharon and Rhys ? Absolutely none, and that made me smile, she had her chance and she blew it big time.
So, do you need to read the first book? I don’t think so, but I feel I’m missing something, so I may just have to go back and read the first book.
🦋
June 6, 2020
I received an ARC of this book as CeeRee is a friend of a friend. I was worried I wouldn't like it but in fact it was superb - way better than the usual cop drama! The drawing of the characters was so detailed that I really cared what happened to them. The storyline was interesting and unusual and the action fast paced. In short it was unputdownable and I finished it in a couple of days - as my frequently shushed husband will confirm! Coming to the end of the book was as sad as saying goodbye to an old friend. But I understand it's part of a series so I will go and find the other/s now.
February 21, 2021
Jo has a very strange family. But, when they are needed, they are there no matter what. Jo is very prickly and Rhys is the only one who can take her and her attitude. She is a good cop and when their cases keep piling up with dead bodies, Jo is determined to solve every one of them. The FBI is brought in to help, but Jo and her team will solve it in spite of the FBI. There is a mole in the department and there are very few people she trusts to help her solve all of this. It turns out that one of the FBI people is Rhys's ex and if Jo wasn't so busy, she would take care of her. No one will interfere with their relationship. Will they find the mole before anyone else is killed?
July 23, 2020
Skinnned is definitely one of those books that will have you hanging onto the edge of your seat. With tons of steamy romance, witty banter, and a healthy dose of suspense, it was a fantastic read. I’m really eager to read more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 4, 2020
I was so lucky to get a copy of this book. I am an avid reader and I couldn't put this book down. Now I am going to have to wait for the next book in the series. I highly recommend the return series. This is my first book with this author and I am so glad I stumbled into getting a chance to read it. Come on book 3, I can't wait to see what happens next.
July 7, 2020
Jo has a convoluted family and a birth father that no one talks about. Luckily she also has boyfriend Rhys and his brother Rian. He loves her even though she's hard and tough and a little porcupine. He sees a soft inside that nobody else gets to see. She and her squad are on the hunt for killers. Then Rhys' ex shows up. Grrr, how does that happen - she's coming to work with them? Finding the killers is hard when you don't know who you can trust. The only people she knows for sure she can trust are Rhys and her sister, maybe even her mysterious birth father. This is a good story with danger, mystery, and plenty of action.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 7, 2020
I've been waiting to read the next in the series, ever since I finished the last book and Skinned doesn't disappoint.
More snarky banter, lots of heat (there's plenty of police action too ;-)), and a great thriller.
I love how the relationship between Jo and Rhys is developing. Now I just need the next book, please... 😊.
More snarky banter, lots of heat (there's plenty of police action too ;-)), and a great thriller.
I love how the relationship between Jo and Rhys is developing. Now I just need the next book, please... 😊.
read-e-books
July 24, 2020ooo my!!!
May 25, 2025
Loved the narration from Meredith McGlinchey
Jo family may be unconventional and a birth father that no one talks about. When push comes to shove they stand together. Jo has a boyfriend Rhys and his brother Rian. Rhys loves her even though she can be prickly and hard and tough, for he sees the gentle side of her. Jo with her team are on the hunt for killers.
We have danger, mystery, and plenty of action. With spice and romance.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jo family may be unconventional and a birth father that no one talks about. When push comes to shove they stand together. Jo has a boyfriend Rhys and his brother Rian. Rhys loves her even though she can be prickly and hard and tough, for he sees the gentle side of her. Jo with her team are on the hunt for killers.
We have danger, mystery, and plenty of action. With spice and romance.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2025
This is the fifth book I've read written by CeeRee Fields; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
This is the second book in the Rayburn Mysteries Series; it can be read as a stand-alone book. It is another story is about Detective Jo & Rhys.
This is the second book in the Rayburn Mysteries Series; it can be read as a stand-alone book. It is another story is about Detective Jo & Rhys.
July 13, 2025
I really loved this story. Very entertaining. Y'all have got to get this one. It's so good. I couldn't put it down. Enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews