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Don't Call Me Hero #5
Grave Mistake
William Desjardin was dead: the victim of an interrupted home burglary, according to the police. Cassidy returns to Embarrass with Julia to support her with the funeral details, rehoming Julia’s mother, and settling the Desjardin estate. For Cassidy, being back in the small, northern Minnesotan town has brought back a number of good memories—most starring Julia herself. But it’s also triggered some memories she’d rather leave buried. And when an unexpected life insurance policy implicates Julia in her father’s death, the short visit turns into much more than a trip down memory lane.
Book 5 in the Don’t Call Me Hero series.
Book 5 in the Don’t Call Me Hero series.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2021
98 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Lentzski
30 books852 followersEliza Lentzski is the best-selling author of sapphic fiction, romance, and erotica including the Winter Jacket and Don’t Call Me Hero series. A historian by day, Eliza is passionate about telling the stories of marginalized communities.
Born and raised in the upper Midwest—a landscape that often shapes her novels—Eliza now lives in Boston with her wife and their cat, Charley.
Born and raised in the upper Midwest—a landscape that often shapes her novels—Eliza now lives in Boston with her wife and their cat, Charley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 12, 2021
Julia Desjardin has my heart. Has had it since book 1, of course! I love a good ice thawing. She was melting throughout the earlier books but Julia’s emotional growth in book 5 stands out. Still told in the first person from Cassie’s POV, the story focuses on Julia and her family.
This series shouldn’t be read out of order. Do yourself a favor if you haven’t already and read DCMH 1. It’s one of my favorite series and Lentzski has a special way of connecting these two seemingly opposite characters. The chemistry in the first book is amazing and carries through the rest of the series. I guess what I talk about below is spoilerish if you haven’t read the previous books, so be warned!
Can’t believe after 5 books it’s only been a year into Cassie and Julia's relationship. Sounds drawn out, right? But it certainly doesn't feel it - it's a natural progression of two different people falling in love and navigating their first real relationship.
I'm normally not a fan of flashbacks, but the Afghanistan memories/nightmares that Cassie experiences are integral in understanding her character and the extent of her PTSD. Her memories add another layer to the story in book 5 with the reader getting further insight into her friendship with Pensacola.
I can’t believe we still don’t get to find out Julia’s age!! I can almost see Lentzski having a chuckle seeing some of the reactions from her committed (yet distraught) readers. I know I'll continue reading all future editions just for this reason alone... But luckily the story is good enough to keep me interested anyways! :)
Not a lot of police work or investigation happens for the majority of the book - unlike the previous ones. You’re told Julia’s father is murdered from the beginning and expect Cassie to take on an investigation, but by 60% the story centers more around Julia dealing with the ramifications and her extended family. Cassie does get to stretch her detective legs after this point, and it’s a great pick up from there.
This gets an easy 4.5 and rounds up to a 5 - the same rating I've given to the previous books too.
PS - it’s as steamy as ever and never boring or repetitive - it's that collar-pulling kind of heat, if you know what I mean!
PPS - I guesstimate that Julia is between 35-42 years old. What do others think?
This series shouldn’t be read out of order. Do yourself a favor if you haven’t already and read DCMH 1. It’s one of my favorite series and Lentzski has a special way of connecting these two seemingly opposite characters. The chemistry in the first book is amazing and carries through the rest of the series. I guess what I talk about below is spoilerish if you haven’t read the previous books, so be warned!
Can’t believe after 5 books it’s only been a year into Cassie and Julia's relationship. Sounds drawn out, right? But it certainly doesn't feel it - it's a natural progression of two different people falling in love and navigating their first real relationship.
I'm normally not a fan of flashbacks, but the Afghanistan memories/nightmares that Cassie experiences are integral in understanding her character and the extent of her PTSD. Her memories add another layer to the story in book 5 with the reader getting further insight into her friendship with Pensacola.
I can’t believe we still don’t get to find out Julia’s age!! I can almost see Lentzski having a chuckle seeing some of the reactions from her committed (yet distraught) readers. I know I'll continue reading all future editions just for this reason alone... But luckily the story is good enough to keep me interested anyways! :)
Not a lot of police work or investigation happens for the majority of the book - unlike the previous ones. You’re told Julia’s father is murdered from the beginning and expect Cassie to take on an investigation, but by 60% the story centers more around Julia dealing with the ramifications and her extended family. Cassie does get to stretch her detective legs after this point, and it’s a great pick up from there.
This gets an easy 4.5 and rounds up to a 5 - the same rating I've given to the previous books too.
PS - it’s as steamy as ever and never boring or repetitive - it's that collar-pulling kind of heat, if you know what I mean!
PPS - I guesstimate that Julia is between 35-42 years old. What do others think?
November 21, 2022
Absolutely loved this series
💜 Julia
💜 Julia
June 12, 2021
I love this series
I love this series and am so glad it is still continuing and definitely can't wait for the next one but gosh darn it how old is Julia?!?!?!? To have it dangled in front of us to only be covered with a hand on the mouth. Gosh darn you Eliza Lentzski!!!
All that aside this one was not as dective-y as the last few but it did give more of glimpse to who Julie was or is or how she is perceived. It also gives different look into Cassidy's time in Afghanistan. Where in the first few books we know of the explosion in this one we see a bit of what happens after. I liked that and I really liked the ending. Maybe in the next book she actually goes home with Julia and tells her parents...maybe.
I love this series and am so glad it is still continuing and definitely can't wait for the next one but gosh darn it how old is Julia?!?!?!? To have it dangled in front of us to only be covered with a hand on the mouth. Gosh darn you Eliza Lentzski!!!
All that aside this one was not as dective-y as the last few but it did give more of glimpse to who Julie was or is or how she is perceived. It also gives different look into Cassidy's time in Afghanistan. Where in the first few books we know of the explosion in this one we see a bit of what happens after. I liked that and I really liked the ending. Maybe in the next book she actually goes home with Julia and tells her parents...maybe.
June 7, 2021
Amazing!!! Guys you gotta read this!!!!
November 25, 2023
So I shall never look at an Adirondack (Muskoka) chair the same way again. Holy hot damn walking through Atlanta in July. And at first I was like "the logistics do not make sense on that one" but I was at a cottage this wknd, sitting in said chair, and realized yup, totally could have happened. Ms. Lentzki did her research.
I've said it before, but I truly love this series, and it continues to hook me for the relationship alone. The side stories are just that, on the side, actually kind of weak, but the centre stage is Julia and Cassidy. I absolutely adore how the author paired these two opposites. Cassidy had a few very immature moments of selfishness in this one, but the Adirondack (Muskoka) chair scene made up for it.
I've said it before, but I truly love this series, and it continues to hook me for the relationship alone. The side stories are just that, on the side, actually kind of weak, but the centre stage is Julia and Cassidy. I absolutely adore how the author paired these two opposites. Cassidy had a few very immature moments of selfishness in this one, but the Adirondack (Muskoka) chair scene made up for it.
July 25, 2021
I guess this is the end of the road for the series DCMH given that there is an epilogue in book 5. An enjoyable read, still, though I’m kinda bummed that even at the end of it all, the author didn’t divulge Julia Desjardin’s age.
June 15, 2022
I’m going to miss Julia Desjardin :)
June 30, 2021
Disappointed
I was so looking forward to book 5 of this series. Unfortunately I was disappointed. There was very little story and pages and pages of sexual experimentation. The entire first half concentrated on what room, what countertop, what dining room table etc, Cassidy and Julia would have sex. Then there was a mini mystery that only partially gets solved. But no real story here.
The part I did enjoy was the scenes from the past describing Cassidys Afghanistan experience. And especially her Thanksgiving telephone conversation reuniting her with her father. This is the content I was looking for. But there was all too little of it.
I feel the first 2 books were great, but then 3, 4 and 5 took a downward slide.
For those of you that are not familiar with this author, do not be deterred. Lentzski is a wonderful author. I love her other books. Her "Hunter" series is fantastic. This one just didn't hit the mark with me.
I was so looking forward to book 5 of this series. Unfortunately I was disappointed. There was very little story and pages and pages of sexual experimentation. The entire first half concentrated on what room, what countertop, what dining room table etc, Cassidy and Julia would have sex. Then there was a mini mystery that only partially gets solved. But no real story here.
The part I did enjoy was the scenes from the past describing Cassidys Afghanistan experience. And especially her Thanksgiving telephone conversation reuniting her with her father. This is the content I was looking for. But there was all too little of it.
I feel the first 2 books were great, but then 3, 4 and 5 took a downward slide.
For those of you that are not familiar with this author, do not be deterred. Lentzski is a wonderful author. I love her other books. Her "Hunter" series is fantastic. This one just didn't hit the mark with me.
June 18, 2021
There's more than a few intimate scenes between Cassidy and Julia, but I swoon for Julia so I didn't mind so much. The story that comes out about her father and bits and pieces of Julia's past makes you understand a bit more of why Julia is the way she is.
I thought Cassidy was really great in this, the way she had Julia's back and was there to support her through it all. The Thanksgiving scene with their friends was sweet AF too. Another great read in the Don't Call Me Hero series.
I thought Cassidy was really great in this, the way she had Julia's back and was there to support her through it all. The Thanksgiving scene with their friends was sweet AF too. Another great read in the Don't Call Me Hero series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2022
I tightened my arms around her waist and pressed my lips against her temple. "It's you and me, babe," I murmured into her hair. "Always."
. . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆
I cannot stress enough how much I love this series. This 5th book might be my favorite out of all of them aside from the first book. In this one, we can finally know Julia beneath the surface and understand why/how she is who she is. We might've only glimpsed a bit of Julia's personality from the previous books but her character and personality here really outshine everything. There's been a huge character development for Julia and also for her and Cassidy's relationship. I can't say more but their moments together definitely made my heart swell. And might I say, this book has more sex scenes compared to the other one (and I'm obviously not complaining XD). The author never fails to write the sex scenes because all of the scenes weren't repetitive so there was so much stuff to look forward to! A total 5-star read 💗
July 26, 2022
How come Cassidy gets to know how old Julia is and we don’t? I need this information!
Yet again a great book in this series. I did notice a quite a few spelling mistakes (or just simple typos), that was slightly annoying.
I feel like the author is giving us a lot in these books, but a full resolution to a case, or the full story of Cassidy in Afghanistan is never told. Even though I love this series because it is just like real life, messy and not everything has a conclusion, I just feel like that final piece in each of these stories is missing.
All I can hope for is another book in this series.
Yet again a great book in this series. I did notice a quite a few spelling mistakes (or just simple typos), that was slightly annoying.
I feel like the author is giving us a lot in these books, but a full resolution to a case, or the full story of Cassidy in Afghanistan is never told. Even though I love this series because it is just like real life, messy and not everything has a conclusion, I just feel like that final piece in each of these stories is missing.
All I can hope for is another book in this series.
July 14, 2024
4 Stars
Cassidy has really stepped up this time and proved her love and loyalty to Julia. It’s so heartwarming. Book 5 also highlighted Julia’s family side and the dynamics of the Desjardin clan.
Cassidy has really stepped up this time and proved her love and loyalty to Julia. It’s so heartwarming. Book 5 also highlighted Julia’s family side and the dynamics of the Desjardin clan.
June 2, 2021
Getting Closer to the reveal of Julia’s Age!. . .
My Gawd I’ve been waiting for this next installment and sooo not disappointed. I’m loving this series more and more. Cassidy and Julia just get hotter and hotter, definitely my favorite couple from this author.
Yes, their lives are filled with troubles, both mental and physical, but I love how they are growing together and work through things. The two even do some investigation work together in this book.
Now my only disappointment is I finished the book and have to wait for more from this series to be released again. Buut totally worth the wait and read.
**Oh and we totally get a lot more clues to Julia’s age . . imma guess she definitely at least 33 maybe 35.**
My Gawd I’ve been waiting for this next installment and sooo not disappointed. I’m loving this series more and more. Cassidy and Julia just get hotter and hotter, definitely my favorite couple from this author.
Yes, their lives are filled with troubles, both mental and physical, but I love how they are growing together and work through things. The two even do some investigation work together in this book.
Now my only disappointment is I finished the book and have to wait for more from this series to be released again. Buut totally worth the wait and read.
**Oh and we totally get a lot more clues to Julia’s age . . imma guess she definitely at least 33 maybe 35.**
June 1, 2021
This Series only gets better and better
I really really loved this one... Julia really let her emotions go and it was breath taking. I hope things get even better. I just wished Julia would have included Cassidy on her medical decision... Im saying medical cuz i dont want to give out a full spoiler 😊Other than that this book will surprise u Julia will surprise u... I loved it!!!! Now the wait for the next one😣
I really really loved this one... Julia really let her emotions go and it was breath taking. I hope things get even better. I just wished Julia would have included Cassidy on her medical decision... Im saying medical cuz i dont want to give out a full spoiler 😊Other than that this book will surprise u Julia will surprise u... I loved it!!!! Now the wait for the next one😣
June 2, 2021
Worth the wait!!!
Since I’m patiently waiting the other master pieces to come to out in audios form, book 5 will be in my repeat reading collection. I’m already on my second read, there’s never enough Julia in my opinion. There are a lot of memorable moments but I jumped out of my chair thinking fans would learn Julia’s age 🤭. Read this book ASAP!
Since I’m patiently waiting the other master pieces to come to out in audios form, book 5 will be in my repeat reading collection. I’m already on my second read, there’s never enough Julia in my opinion. There are a lot of memorable moments but I jumped out of my chair thinking fans would learn Julia’s age 🤭. Read this book ASAP!
June 22, 2021
Goodness! Such a guilty pleasure reading this series.
I have been a reader from the start.. 6 years..
And reading that the story still revolves less than year from
The first book gives me a feeling of the pre-pandemic normalcy.
Julia is one of my favorite Ice queen MC ever, she’s actually one of the reason why I fell in love with Ice queens.
Cassidy is also charming but 4th and 5th book really showcase her character development.. from being childish to this very sweet and reliable partner to Julia. So its a plus.
Hoping in Book 6 Julia’s age will finally be revealed. Although I’m guessing she’s around 40? Or almost?
4 stars because I want moreeeee
I have been a reader from the start.. 6 years..
And reading that the story still revolves less than year from
The first book gives me a feeling of the pre-pandemic normalcy.
Julia is one of my favorite Ice queen MC ever, she’s actually one of the reason why I fell in love with Ice queens.
Cassidy is also charming but 4th and 5th book really showcase her character development.. from being childish to this very sweet and reliable partner to Julia. So its a plus.
Hoping in Book 6 Julia’s age will finally be revealed. Although I’m guessing she’s around 40? Or almost?
4 stars because I want moreeeee
June 5, 2021
I've been waiting for this book since I finished number 4 of DCMH and it didn't disappoint. I really like Eliza Lentzski's writing style and have enjoyed the development of the characters and their relationship over the course of the series. Cassidy and Julia are such real characters, people you'd like to know. (Um, personally, Julia Desjardin. Just saying.) What's left to say, other than, thank you, Eliza Lentzski, for the reading pleasure.
June 2, 2021
Book 5 of Don't Call Me Hero is here!
Eliza Lentzski is and amazing writer and tells a wonderful story. I loved the fast moving pace and the challenge of who did it. I love LOVE this series. This might be done of the best. I will be holding my breath for more.
Eliza Lentzski is and amazing writer and tells a wonderful story. I loved the fast moving pace and the challenge of who did it. I love LOVE this series. This might be done of the best. I will be holding my breath for more.
June 16, 2024
It has been a nice revelation for me to see characters especially the main ones thaw and show more of themselves. Right now, i am liking the pair as a unit compared to the past.
June 1, 2021
Excellent as always
Lentzski does it again. An excellently written next episode in the lives of Cassidy & Julia. The push & pull of the protagonists relationship, embedded with the twist of this novel works well. Hopefully, there will be another installment, because I feel their story, isn't quite over just yet.
Lentzski does it again. An excellently written next episode in the lives of Cassidy & Julia. The push & pull of the protagonists relationship, embedded with the twist of this novel works well. Hopefully, there will be another installment, because I feel their story, isn't quite over just yet.
June 2, 2021
Can never get enough of Cassidy and Julie
I really enjoyed the book. I liked knowing more about Julia past and how Cassidy changed her. The twist of Julia dad murder was a surprise!!!!
The love and connection between two totally different woman is hot!
I really enjoyed the book. I liked knowing more about Julia past and how Cassidy changed her. The twist of Julia dad murder was a surprise!!!!
The love and connection between two totally different woman is hot!
August 28, 2024
Grave Mistake? Reading it, I felt like I had made a Big Mistake.
After five books in this series, I seriously have no idea of the thinking behind so many of the creative choices. With that in mind, my review will be as random as these books.
Why, for example, is the overall story moving so slow? I'm fairly certain from the first book to this one, it's only gone from March to Thanksgiving...of 2018 despite the 5th book being published in 2021 and the 6th in 2023 doesn't look to be deviating from this timeline.
A book series can be connected without picking up RIGHT when the last one left off. Making it such a compressed time frame doesn't make it feel more in-depth or immersive. Rather, in this case, it highlights how slow-paced and rather boring it all is.
But, some may say, how can a book with such a body count be boring? Over five books there have been:
3 Suicides (one before the first book, one to a character no one cared about, one in about the unlikeliest way anyone, especially a woman, would commit suicide)
1 Assisted Suicide/Murder (Unsolved)
1 Faked Attempted First-Degree Murder (Convicted for the fake but see: unsolved murder)
1 Involuntary Manslaughter (Solved based on confession of the ex-boyfriend who blamed the ex-girlfriend who provided the gun to the ex-girlfriend used and then gave it to her again when she supposedly committed suicide)
1 First Degree Murder (Unsolved)
Can the best cop in Minnesota (not you, Lucas Davenport) please have a solve rate that doesn't look like a coin flip?
Whatever the case in book 5, too much time is spent doing things that make no sense and reveal nothing new about the characters except more questions about their sanity.
On the eve of the estate sale for her father--an estate sale that shouldn't be occurring only a handful of days after his murder. But, no it's already been cleaned and now they are selling off potential evidence. Julia, we know, likes to destroy evidence so it fits.
So, on the eve of this estate sale, instead of, you know, preparing, Julia brings home two pumpkins because she had deliberately sabotaged Cassidy's Halloween plans and felt bad about it after the fact. Sure, it's two weeks later and carving a Jack O' Lantern is pointless and (see: sanity). Yet, carve they do, and a few pages is spent carving and admiring those two ghoulish squashes. Then a wind blows and immediately extinguishes the candles. What deeper meaning is revealed? None. Move on.
Cassidy, not to be outdone, as they are driving out of town to go home, they stop by Julia's lake cottage so they can winterize it (shutting off water/antifreeze in pipes etc). Cassidy decides to strip and jump in the lake then cajoles Julia to do the same. Though the water is probably 40 degrees or something, they barely register it beyond the initial shock. So, they decide to stay at the cabin for the weekend and, as people do with jobs to go to or at least notify, turn off their phones/leave them in the car. What's the worst that could happen?
The real reason for both of these events is that the plot is finally going to get moving 70% into the book as Julia has become the prime suspect in her father's death. So, the cabin trip makes it urgent and the estate sale was to get rid of her father's computer and manufacture that tension. Will they recover the internet search history? How desperately thrilling!
So, Julia, widely touted as the smart one--brilliant in fact--flakes and gets two pumpkins, then sells her father's personal computer without removing any files or doing a memory wipe, then buys back the computer after almost immediately locking onto the search terms: "double indemnity" and "pancreatic adenocarcinoma"--but because she only took the hard drive and not the monitor, they can't do anything else.
I admit, I lost it after the way the Cassidy and Julia reacted to the search terms. I immediately realized that him being shot in the abdomen was probably to destroy evidence of pancreatic cancer. Cassidy doesn't figure that out until almost the very end--but that is perhaps forgivable. What is not forgivable? I'm glad you asked.
When they see the term "Double Indemnity", Cassidy asks, "What's that." And, Julia responds, "I don't know." If they didn't know the film (starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson) that's fine--it's a sad comment on their cinematic tastes--but it's fine. So, they do a Google search (these ace cops/attorneys) and they see the first result, probably the Wikipedia entry for the movie--and they stop. So, neither of these two adults, one in law enforcement and one with a law degree, know the term double indemnity in any fashion?
Even I'm supposed to believe that these two women, touted as the best in their field (by each other, mostly, it is true), don't know a common term either from a pop cultural or legal angle (both really, since it's a plot element in numerous things), does the author really think that most of her readers are that ignorant too? Given the 5-star reviews, it's a fair bet. However, in my Utopia of Common Knowledge, what this does is put the reader in the position of being more competent than the protagonists, which is aggravating.
As for that other search term, Cassidy wonders "Carcinoma--that's cancer right." Geeezus.
As such, it is not surprising that they don't even have an idea about what truly happened. As with Tracy from Book 3, they know the method of death, but not the perp. Further, as with Book 4 and Kennedy, they've made an assumption about what happened, but don't really know for sure. Yes, yes, many of life's questions go unanswered. It's endlessly frustrating. The thing about fiction though is that, the author has complete control and can provide the answers. If I wanted to shrug, "Oh Well" at a tragic story that had no answers and I could do nothing about, I can listen to the news.
As for the relationship, Cassidy and Julia are growing closer, true. They still shouldn't be together, mind you, but they are closer. To her credit, Cassidy does note that Julia has an odd way of dealing with stress and emotions, by trying to have rough sex in inappropriate places.
"My dad was killed. Let's do it on this public pool table."
"People are roaming about the house in an estate sale that I hosted--let's have sex in the closet."
Or, all the way back to book 1, "You, Cassidy, were clearly attracted to me, so I will arrive at your home without invite and essentially sexually assault you then leave and act like I did you a favor."
After Cassidy has that moment of clarity, she probably get Julia into therapy and perhaps suggest they take a break (at the least). She does nothing. She Does Nothing could be the alternate title for this series.
Cassidy isn't perfect either. No way. Within a day of Julia having torrid sex with her and making her feel so loved and special, when Julia has to go take care of some familial matter, Cassidy immediately reverts to "I'm feeling neglected. Abandoned. Isolated!" Run, don't walk to a therapist woman--and I don't mean for those boring repetitive nightmares about your time in Afghanistan when you were hunting Osama Bin Laden (who had been dead for a year) and then committed your own war crime or two.
I keep saying this but, perhaps Book 6 will somehow tie this together. Why have three of the people that died here been gut shot? Are they somehow connected? Will the MCs realize that merely admitting they have issues doesn't make what they do okay? Will Cassidy actually solve a first degree murder? Will Julia defend a case and win, on the page, without breaking the law and abusing the trust of friends and associates? So many questions! So many disappointments sure to come.
Tune in next time for: Book #6 STOLEN HEARTS!
Who are you talking to in these reviews? One or two people? Hundreds, if not thousands, have read the books you are criticizing.
And your point is?
After five books in this series, I seriously have no idea of the thinking behind so many of the creative choices. With that in mind, my review will be as random as these books.
Why, for example, is the overall story moving so slow? I'm fairly certain from the first book to this one, it's only gone from March to Thanksgiving...of 2018 despite the 5th book being published in 2021 and the 6th in 2023 doesn't look to be deviating from this timeline.
A book series can be connected without picking up RIGHT when the last one left off. Making it such a compressed time frame doesn't make it feel more in-depth or immersive. Rather, in this case, it highlights how slow-paced and rather boring it all is.
But, some may say, how can a book with such a body count be boring? Over five books there have been:
3 Suicides (one before the first book, one to a character no one cared about, one in about the unlikeliest way anyone, especially a woman, would commit suicide)
1 Assisted Suicide/Murder (Unsolved)
1 Faked Attempted First-Degree Murder (Convicted for the fake but see: unsolved murder)
1 Involuntary Manslaughter (Solved based on confession of the ex-boyfriend who blamed the ex-girlfriend who provided the gun to the ex-girlfriend used and then gave it to her again when she supposedly committed suicide)
1 First Degree Murder (Unsolved)
Can the best cop in Minnesota (not you, Lucas Davenport) please have a solve rate that doesn't look like a coin flip?
Whatever the case in book 5, too much time is spent doing things that make no sense and reveal nothing new about the characters except more questions about their sanity.
On the eve of the estate sale for her father--an estate sale that shouldn't be occurring only a handful of days after his murder. But, no it's already been cleaned and now they are selling off potential evidence. Julia, we know, likes to destroy evidence so it fits.
So, on the eve of this estate sale, instead of, you know, preparing, Julia brings home two pumpkins because she had deliberately sabotaged Cassidy's Halloween plans and felt bad about it after the fact. Sure, it's two weeks later and carving a Jack O' Lantern is pointless and (see: sanity). Yet, carve they do, and a few pages is spent carving and admiring those two ghoulish squashes. Then a wind blows and immediately extinguishes the candles. What deeper meaning is revealed? None. Move on.
Cassidy, not to be outdone, as they are driving out of town to go home, they stop by Julia's lake cottage so they can winterize it (shutting off water/antifreeze in pipes etc). Cassidy decides to strip and jump in the lake then cajoles Julia to do the same. Though the water is probably 40 degrees or something, they barely register it beyond the initial shock. So, they decide to stay at the cabin for the weekend and, as people do with jobs to go to or at least notify, turn off their phones/leave them in the car. What's the worst that could happen?
The real reason for both of these events is that the plot is finally going to get moving 70% into the book as Julia has become the prime suspect in her father's death. So, the cabin trip makes it urgent and the estate sale was to get rid of her father's computer and manufacture that tension. Will they recover the internet search history? How desperately thrilling!
So, Julia, widely touted as the smart one--brilliant in fact--flakes and gets two pumpkins, then sells her father's personal computer without removing any files or doing a memory wipe, then buys back the computer after almost immediately locking onto the search terms: "double indemnity" and "pancreatic adenocarcinoma"--but because she only took the hard drive and not the monitor, they can't do anything else.
I admit, I lost it after the way the Cassidy and Julia reacted to the search terms. I immediately realized that him being shot in the abdomen was probably to destroy evidence of pancreatic cancer. Cassidy doesn't figure that out until almost the very end--but that is perhaps forgivable. What is not forgivable? I'm glad you asked.
When they see the term "Double Indemnity", Cassidy asks, "What's that." And, Julia responds, "I don't know." If they didn't know the film (starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson) that's fine--it's a sad comment on their cinematic tastes--but it's fine. So, they do a Google search (these ace cops/attorneys) and they see the first result, probably the Wikipedia entry for the movie--and they stop. So, neither of these two adults, one in law enforcement and one with a law degree, know the term double indemnity in any fashion?
Even I'm supposed to believe that these two women, touted as the best in their field (by each other, mostly, it is true), don't know a common term either from a pop cultural or legal angle (both really, since it's a plot element in numerous things), does the author really think that most of her readers are that ignorant too? Given the 5-star reviews, it's a fair bet. However, in my Utopia of Common Knowledge, what this does is put the reader in the position of being more competent than the protagonists, which is aggravating.
As for that other search term, Cassidy wonders "Carcinoma--that's cancer right." Geeezus.
As such, it is not surprising that they don't even have an idea about what truly happened. As with Tracy from Book 3, they know the method of death, but not the perp. Further, as with Book 4 and Kennedy, they've made an assumption about what happened, but don't really know for sure. Yes, yes, many of life's questions go unanswered. It's endlessly frustrating. The thing about fiction though is that, the author has complete control and can provide the answers. If I wanted to shrug, "Oh Well" at a tragic story that had no answers and I could do nothing about, I can listen to the news.
As for the relationship, Cassidy and Julia are growing closer, true. They still shouldn't be together, mind you, but they are closer. To her credit, Cassidy does note that Julia has an odd way of dealing with stress and emotions, by trying to have rough sex in inappropriate places.
"My dad was killed. Let's do it on this public pool table."
"People are roaming about the house in an estate sale that I hosted--let's have sex in the closet."
Or, all the way back to book 1, "You, Cassidy, were clearly attracted to me, so I will arrive at your home without invite and essentially sexually assault you then leave and act like I did you a favor."
After Cassidy has that moment of clarity, she probably get Julia into therapy and perhaps suggest they take a break (at the least). She does nothing. She Does Nothing could be the alternate title for this series.
Cassidy isn't perfect either. No way. Within a day of Julia having torrid sex with her and making her feel so loved and special, when Julia has to go take care of some familial matter, Cassidy immediately reverts to "I'm feeling neglected. Abandoned. Isolated!" Run, don't walk to a therapist woman--and I don't mean for those boring repetitive nightmares about your time in Afghanistan when you were hunting Osama Bin Laden (who had been dead for a year) and then committed your own war crime or two.
I keep saying this but, perhaps Book 6 will somehow tie this together. Why have three of the people that died here been gut shot? Are they somehow connected? Will the MCs realize that merely admitting they have issues doesn't make what they do okay? Will Cassidy actually solve a first degree murder? Will Julia defend a case and win, on the page, without breaking the law and abusing the trust of friends and associates? So many questions! So many disappointments sure to come.
Tune in next time for: Book #6 STOLEN HEARTS!
Who are you talking to in these reviews? One or two people? Hundreds, if not thousands, have read the books you are criticizing.
And your point is?
June 9, 2021
AMAZING!!!!!!
Totally worth waiting!!!!
How happy I am with this 5 book! It didn't disappoint me at all, quite the contrary, now I'm looking forward to book 6!
It's so nice to follow all the evolution of Cassidy and Julia's relationship, at the same time as we follow their evolution as a person. Julia especially has evolved so much since the first book, I'm really proud of her. Generally, the tendency of a big book saga is to get boring or tedious, but MY GOD, that doesn't happen here, Cassidy and Julia are very real and that's what I love the most about this saga! It is a pleasure to follow your journeys (AND WHAT A PLEASURE...). The mystery of how and who killed Julia's father was also cool, I liked seeing Julia and Cassidy working together.
I had so much fun reading this book, I laughed a lot with Cassidy and Julia, the scene of Cassidy asking Julia about her pictures being black and white or not made me laugh so hard! I almost couldn't stop laughing. I'm not going to lie I'm curious to know how old Julia is, at the same time the mystery of it makes Julia more... I don't know, like an enigma I want to unravel! Now that Cassidy knows Julia's age, I'm hoping we can find out too soon, I have my theories, but I'd like to know for sure, Julia is... Well, no need for introductions.
I'm looking forward to book 6, Cassidy and Julia getting back to their routines, I feel they still have a lot of story to tell. Story I would love to read!
It was a wonderful read, the wait was worth it, I laughed a lot with Stanley too, and I'm looking forward to Cassidy getting back to teamwork! I missed Sarah in this book, I'm also curious to know whether or not Julia will accept the "dream job" at the firm.
I really root for Cassidy and Julia, I really wanted to see them married and with a beautiful family! It would be a dream ! But I know it's still too early for that and I feel that there's still a lot to happen! I'm anxious. <3
I recommend this reading! It's worth it, each book is better than the other! (you have to have read the previous books to be able to read this one!)
PS: I already miss Cassidy and Julia! :-(
Totally worth waiting!!!!
How happy I am with this 5 book! It didn't disappoint me at all, quite the contrary, now I'm looking forward to book 6!
It's so nice to follow all the evolution of Cassidy and Julia's relationship, at the same time as we follow their evolution as a person. Julia especially has evolved so much since the first book, I'm really proud of her. Generally, the tendency of a big book saga is to get boring or tedious, but MY GOD, that doesn't happen here, Cassidy and Julia are very real and that's what I love the most about this saga! It is a pleasure to follow your journeys (AND WHAT A PLEASURE...). The mystery of how and who killed Julia's father was also cool, I liked seeing Julia and Cassidy working together.
I had so much fun reading this book, I laughed a lot with Cassidy and Julia, the scene of Cassidy asking Julia about her pictures being black and white or not made me laugh so hard! I almost couldn't stop laughing. I'm not going to lie I'm curious to know how old Julia is, at the same time the mystery of it makes Julia more... I don't know, like an enigma I want to unravel! Now that Cassidy knows Julia's age, I'm hoping we can find out too soon, I have my theories, but I'd like to know for sure, Julia is... Well, no need for introductions.
I'm looking forward to book 6, Cassidy and Julia getting back to their routines, I feel they still have a lot of story to tell. Story I would love to read!
It was a wonderful read, the wait was worth it, I laughed a lot with Stanley too, and I'm looking forward to Cassidy getting back to teamwork! I missed Sarah in this book, I'm also curious to know whether or not Julia will accept the "dream job" at the firm.
I really root for Cassidy and Julia, I really wanted to see them married and with a beautiful family! It would be a dream ! But I know it's still too early for that and I feel that there's still a lot to happen! I'm anxious. <3
I recommend this reading! It's worth it, each book is better than the other! (you have to have read the previous books to be able to read this one!)
PS: I already miss Cassidy and Julia! :-(
October 7, 2021
Plot: Cassidy and Julia head back to Embarrass to arrange Julia’s father’s funeral and care for Julia’s mother. Cassidy supports Julia in every way she can think of while Julia goes through this difficult process. Julia’s extended family unexpectedly shows up. When Julia makes it clear to her family that they are in a romantic relationship Cassidy feels loved.
Cassidy has more nightmares than usual while in Embarrass. Cassidy acknowledges that she has been slacking on keeping up on her dream journal. After talking to her therapist she realizes she needs to take better care of her mental health in order to be a good partner to Julia.
The police in Embarrass are still furious with Julia after she defended her father in court. When they illegally obtain circumstantial evidence they try to pin Julia’s father’s death on her. Julia and Cassidy decide that they need to investigate the crime themselves because the police are uninterested in finding the real criminal. They figure out what happened and return to their home.
Characterization: Cassidy is a supportive girlfriend durning this trying time for Julia. She struggles to prioritize her own needs but is starting to learn that she needs to.
Julia finally learns to lean on Cassidy during this book. By the end they are one cohesive team.
Writing: This was written in first person perspective. There was a continuity error in this book. In a previous book the author stated that Cassidy made Amir turn around before shooting him. In this book Cassidy says that she didn’t make Amir turn around. There was also a adjective used when it should have been an adverb.
Cassidy has more nightmares than usual while in Embarrass. Cassidy acknowledges that she has been slacking on keeping up on her dream journal. After talking to her therapist she realizes she needs to take better care of her mental health in order to be a good partner to Julia.
The police in Embarrass are still furious with Julia after she defended her father in court. When they illegally obtain circumstantial evidence they try to pin Julia’s father’s death on her. Julia and Cassidy decide that they need to investigate the crime themselves because the police are uninterested in finding the real criminal. They figure out what happened and return to their home.
Characterization: Cassidy is a supportive girlfriend durning this trying time for Julia. She struggles to prioritize her own needs but is starting to learn that she needs to.
Julia finally learns to lean on Cassidy during this book. By the end they are one cohesive team.
Writing: This was written in first person perspective. There was a continuity error in this book. In a previous book the author stated that Cassidy made Amir turn around before shooting him. In this book Cassidy says that she didn’t make Amir turn around. There was also a adjective used when it should have been an adverb.
February 3, 2024
This was the fifth installment in the Don’t Call Me a Hero series. Lentzski is one of my most favorite lesfic authors. My favorite thing about this book was how she really showed the love, romance and genuine feelings that Cassidy and Julia had for each other. There were different times during the story when there were paused moments and small gestures, glances or caresses that validated their deep feelings for each other.
In this book, Julia had to go back to Embarrass, MN to take care of things when her father died. Cassidy was so cute, insisting on tagging along to help. She reminds me of an adorable puppy who only wants to please. Having Cassidy along also proved to be valuable in helping to solve her father’s murder.
The disappointing thing about this book which I found tedious, and was only my own personal feeling, was that I didn’t find some of the secondary material very interesting or necessary to read. In addition, and maybe this is just me, because I usually love sex scenes, but there seemed to be an excessive amount of such scenes that I ended up skimming through. I guess I became numbed by them, feeling that seeing so much sexual content greatly reduced the emotions they were intended to induce.
Overall, I have loved the series. I’m just disappointed that this one didn’t meet my expectations. 3.5
In this book, Julia had to go back to Embarrass, MN to take care of things when her father died. Cassidy was so cute, insisting on tagging along to help. She reminds me of an adorable puppy who only wants to please. Having Cassidy along also proved to be valuable in helping to solve her father’s murder.
The disappointing thing about this book which I found tedious, and was only my own personal feeling, was that I didn’t find some of the secondary material very interesting or necessary to read. In addition, and maybe this is just me, because I usually love sex scenes, but there seemed to be an excessive amount of such scenes that I ended up skimming through. I guess I became numbed by them, feeling that seeing so much sexual content greatly reduced the emotions they were intended to induce.
Overall, I have loved the series. I’m just disappointed that this one didn’t meet my expectations. 3.5
March 6, 2022
I re-read the earlier books (of just Julia and Cassidy's scenes together) and realized that in book 1 Julia was this tantalizing, dangled carrot that propelled me forward in the book because I couldn't get enough of her. In book 2, there were lots of Julia scenes, book 3 was more of a half and half split, and book 4 was much more 70-30 split with mystery-Julia. My struggle with book 4 is that the mystery itself wasn't very engaging unlike the previous ones, and it felt a bit more bland with less Julia. It also tread on a lot of the same grounds for Cassidy's flashbacks, etc. I like book five because it returns to the earlier dynamic of books 2/3 where there's way more scenes with Julia and we find out lots more about her, of Cassidy, and of their relationship.
June 6, 2021
Intriguing Book 5
Don’t Call Me Hero Book 5 was intriguing on so many levels. We were pulled into a murder mystery that impacted Julia and Cassidy and the town of Embarrass, Minnesota. We learned more about the 2012 events in Afghanistan when Cassidy and Pensacola were making their way through the desert, Cassidy pulling Pensacola’s severely wounded body. And we saw the relationship between Julia and Cassidy grow closer with all of the challenges they faced. Throw in some spicy and varied sex scenes to the equation and this book did not disappoint. Eagerly awaiting Book 6.
Don’t Call Me Hero Book 5 was intriguing on so many levels. We were pulled into a murder mystery that impacted Julia and Cassidy and the town of Embarrass, Minnesota. We learned more about the 2012 events in Afghanistan when Cassidy and Pensacola were making their way through the desert, Cassidy pulling Pensacola’s severely wounded body. And we saw the relationship between Julia and Cassidy grow closer with all of the challenges they faced. Throw in some spicy and varied sex scenes to the equation and this book did not disappoint. Eagerly awaiting Book 6.
June 5, 2021
#5 is certainly alive...and another great read
I've been waiting for this book since I finished number 4 of DCMH and it didn't disappoint. I really like Eliza Lentzski's writing style and have enjoyed the development of the characters and their relationship over the course of the series. Cassidy and Julia are such real characters, people you'd like to know. (Um, personally, especially Julia. Just saying.) What more can be said, except, thank you, Eliza Lentzski, for the reading pleasure.
I've been waiting for this book since I finished number 4 of DCMH and it didn't disappoint. I really like Eliza Lentzski's writing style and have enjoyed the development of the characters and their relationship over the course of the series. Cassidy and Julia are such real characters, people you'd like to know. (Um, personally, especially Julia. Just saying.) What more can be said, except, thank you, Eliza Lentzski, for the reading pleasure.
June 9, 2021
Love this series! Nothing much happens in the first half and that’s perfectly fine - these are characters I simply enjoy spending time with and the evolution in their relationship is palpable. In the second half there’s some intrigue and investigation going on but some plot holes are fairy evident. Still, another delightful installment to the series and I hope Eliza has more in store for us. Can’t wait to see Cassidy coming out to her parents and more of their discussion about “frozen eggs” and potentially having kids. :)
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