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KENDALL

I swore to avenge my father’s death. I have to do it not only for my peace of mind, but to make sure everyone, from my family to the Biancos, knows that I am in charge now.

It’s lonely at the top. Jess is exactly who I need by my side, and I can’t let her go, even knowing about the danger that’s coming. Even after I learn of her true identity…

JESS/ROBYN

I began this undercover mission with good intentions and an infatuation for my target, Kendall Mancini, heir to a crime empire. My mission: to convince her to give up her vendetta and work with the authorities instead. For that, I had to get close to her.

I did get close to her. I couldn’t resist.

Now there’s no way back.

If we both want to survive this, we must do the impossible: Trust each other.

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2022

119 people are currently reading
354 people want to read

About the author

Barbara Winkes

99 books212 followers
Barbara Winkes writes suspense and romance with lesbian characters at the center. She has always loved stories in which women persevere and lift each other up. Expect high drama and happy endings.

Discover a variety of genres, serial and standalone. Women loving women always take the lead.

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5 stars
171 (48%)
4 stars
117 (32%)
3 stars
50 (14%)
2 stars
13 (3%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Diane Wallace.
1,448 reviews171 followers
November 8, 2023
**'When trying to tell any ongoing stories, be precise, be knowledgeable and also be patient because what you scribble on paper might not be good enough to hold your readers..'

3.5stars!
An entertaining and somewhat enjoyable storyline.
Recommended book #1!
Profile Image for Conny B.
324 reviews53 followers
April 2, 2022
What a combo we get here. On the one hand we have Kendall, the heir of a crime empire wants to continue her parents legacy and to avenge her father‘s death. Robyn (or her alter ego Jess) on the other hand is an FBI agent who wants nothing more to get Kendall (in every sense ☺️).

I was sucked into the story right from the start. We get to witness Robyn in action when she tries to find a way to gain Kendall’s trust in an undercover mission. Kendall who keeps her distance and only has flings doesn’t know what hit her when she meets Jess (Robyn). Having the urge to spend more and more time with a woman isn’t something she is used it. Robyn also didn’t expect this instant attraction. Flirting yes but not what actually happens then. Both realise that whatever this is between them makes it more and more difficult to follow their individual plan. Both become a huge complication to each other. But what can you do when you fall more and more for the last person you should?

Of course this question and so much more will be revealed in this fast paced and exciting story. I was engrossed in Kendall’s and Robyn‘s investigations. The longer the story goes on the more dangerous it becomes for both of them and trusting is more and more difficult. I couldn’t put it down and am so happy that we will get to see more of these two. 😊

What I also would like to add is that this story is written in first person and it switches between both characters. That means the individual chapters are written from one characters POV. It’s not often I get to read a story from this POV but I totally enjoy it if it’s written well. For me Barbara Winkes definitely excels in it and I am so glad I got to read it. It actually helped me a lot to distract myself during a difficult time and I definitely recommend it to everyone who loves to read books of this genre. 😊

I received an advance reader copy from the author and voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sam.
837 reviews114 followers
August 30, 2022
I haven’t had the best of luck with my KU reads so I wasn’t expecting much. This book is great! I was pleasantly surprised.
This is also a new to me author and I must say I can’t wait to read more! Diving into the next books in this series right away, just because I want to know what happens next to our FBI agent and head of a crime family.

This book strikes that perfect balance between a connection between the two MCs and a crime storyline, I’m here for all of it.
Profile Image for Carol Hutchinson.
1,124 reviews72 followers
April 13, 2022
A dramatic start!

Kendall is out to avenge her father’s death and make it known she is heading things up for the family now. Jess is on a mission that involves tracking Kendall stopping the plans she has but getting to close to Kendall was more complicated than she anticipated. When Kendall learns the truth, it becomes a case of needing to trust one another if they want to survive.

This was such an intense read, and as usually Barbara Winkes has delivered a story packed with intrigue, anguish, highly unpredictable situations, and a great sense of mystery. With Jess being on an undercover mission, there was much at stake for her, but more so when she and Kendall developed more of a connection that she had expected. The truth about who she is could threaten everything for her and Kendall and so that built in an added level of drama, the wonder of what those consequence might be.

I adore the fast pace of the story, it has all the action packed adventure you’d expect for a character who is undercover, and another who is involved in crime, but it also packs in the drama and uncertainty with each and every chapter, building up to those action scenes and the uncovering of information. We really are on a journey with these characters, a complex and not so straight forward one.

While Kendall and Jess are worlds apart they are also so alike. Determined, strong women with a goal. That urge in both of them makes trusting one another all that more difficult because to trust is one of the most difficult things when your life might be at stake. I love the connection that formed between them, and that loyal sense they had for one another, especially when they really understood the bigger picture for one another.

I am most excited for what the future holds for Kendall and Jess, and am most uncertain as to what that might be so can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Annette Mori.
Author 55 books169 followers
June 2, 2022
Excellent book, fast paced with great characters. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I am a big fan of her books and how they move along so well.
394 reviews7 followers
April 8, 2022
I was a little nervous about what I would think about this book because I'm not a big fan of main characters who are criminals we are supposed to like. But I am a big fan of Barbara Winkes' books, so I really wanted to read this.

The setup of this book was not far-fetched. The cop main character goes undercover as "Jess" to get close to Kendall, the crime boss. They get a little too close, and things go from there.

The twists and turns, the deciding when and how to come clean (or not yet), the other decisions the main characters and others make, really keep this story moving along and I hated to have it end. I can't wait for more books in this series.
Profile Image for Kim.
280 reviews10 followers
April 12, 2022
Can you find love undercover
Robyn has a job to do, infiltrate a crime organization as Jess and try to stop a war in their city.
Kendall is under pressure to avenge a death, but she isn’t really a hardened mob boss. Her new assistant, Jess, helps her at the office and in bed, but is she really who she says she is?
A good suspense/thriller with strong characters and an interesting storyline that will keep you reading. Barbara has written another book that you won’t want to put down. Grab this one and find out if Robyn/Jess can save Kendall, while she steals her heart.
Profile Image for Vita L. Licari.
917 reviews46 followers
September 9, 2023
Kendall has taken over the family business because of the murder of her father, then the death of her mother. She has promised to seek revenge on her father's murderer.
Jess/Robyn is an undercover FBI agent who's trying to bring down the Bianco family, rivals of Kendall by compromising Kendall.
Things go well for awhile, until the men of the family interfere. And more...
This is a page turner and so interesting, I'm ready for Redemption ( Crossing Lines 2). 5 stars!!!
Profile Image for Tory.
392 reviews10 followers
June 4, 2022
Surprisingly Good

I wasn’t sure if I would like this after the first couple chapters but it hooked me right after that. Good thing the next book in the series is out already so I can go right on to read it. I highly recommend this book and this author.
Profile Image for Louisa.
257 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2023
I was expecting more emotion, tension and spice 😭

loved the concept, the execution was unfortunately mid

I unfortunately feel like there wasn't that much distinction between our main characters, and the writing style felt a little rushed while also feeling incredibly slow at the same time? Idk I think this just wasn't it for me
Profile Image for Marsha.
203 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2022
Good story, but watch out for that cliff

Nice story. A great start to a new series. I am definitely looking forward to the next book. This was quite enjoyable. That cliff though was a bitch.
Profile Image for Mari Stark.
257 reviews6 followers
April 12, 2022
Intriguing characters and a page-turning plot

Kendall is the head of the most important crime family, who is tired of the old ways. She wants to do things differently and keep the legacy. First, she needs to find out who killed her father and fulfil her mother’s last wish. Vengeance is the name of the game, avoiding war with the rival families, is the challenge; until she meets a charming woman who isn’t the sweet interior designer she thought she was.
Jess/Robyn is an FBI agent with a clear goal in her mind, she goes undercover to work on the biggest and most important mission of her life. Distractions are not on the menu, but everything changes the moment she meets her target. What happens when you cross lines you shouldn’t, also, not only you don’t want to go back, it is impossible to.

This is book 1 of the Crossing Lines trilogy and it is a stellar way to start the trilogy. I loved this book! It had adventure, intrigue, romance, and awesome characters. The storyline moved along flawlessly and kept me totally involved. I was hooked from the first lines, was a really interesting story with so many twists and turns that I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to see these characters in the next adventure, I am so ready for the ride.

Barbara did an excellent job with the storytelling. The development of the plot and the reveal of every piece bit by bit was simply brilliant. Kept me enthralled and wanting to read more. I felt like I was in the middle of the action.

I love both characters and their chemistry got me rooting for them all the way. I really like them both individually and as a couple. Another thing that I liked very much, is that is told from both POVs, which gives us a wider view of the action.

I am looking forward to the next book in the trilogy, that ending makes me want to read book two asap.

If you like a well-written book, with a great plotline, enthralling characters, a lot of action and intrigue, this is the book for you. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC copy of the book and voluntarily left my review.
973 reviews4 followers
November 30, 2022
3.5 stars. There is much in here that I like: I like the main characters. The plot is interesting. But… I also have a couple of problems that take a bit away from my enjoyment. One of them is wrapped up in the plot: I don't know how to react to a crime family… how to deal with people who are fiercely loyal and supportive in one setting, but ruthless and vicious in others. The other is more difficult for me to identify. If I had to guess today, I think it's something to do with the narration, because I had a similar reaction to another book of this author's. It just feels… a little flat.

I don't know if the other book was the same, but in this one… it almost feels like a third-person narration that's been re-written to be in first-person. Because, it's written in first person… but it doesn't feel to me like there are any insights that come from that: I don't think we learn anything of the narrator's thoughts that wouldn't be obvious from the action. I could be wrong, because I had this idea after I'd finished reading the book, so I haven't gone back to check. But that seems a possibility.

It also has "the series problem," common to most authors of series these days, it seems. Where the story that the book resolves is not the one I care about most. And to learn about the ending of the storyline that matters most to me, I'm expected to read multiple further books.

I'm really not sure what I will do, because I want to learn more about these characters and especially the unlikely pairing of our two main characters, but… I don't know if I want to spend the time reading more books to find out (especially because so many of the family members are… people I don't want to spend any more time with).
Profile Image for Ummi Shedd.
107 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2024
Do you know that feeling when every book you pick suddenly becomes so incredibly slow and boring that your mind just can not focus on it, so you read several pages but can not even remember exactly what happened in those pages?
This was the state of mind I was in before I randomly decided to buy this book; the author is unknown to me, the title of the book is very simplistic to the point of boring, but I was very desperate to find something new to kill the time...

Do not go anywhere just yet! I was never so happy to be taken completely by surprise because once I started this book, the only time I stopped reading is to make sure I have the second one and the third available for reading immediately after finishing this one, I can not get enough of it, Barbara Winks has completely stolen my heart and commanded it to beat steadily through the phase of this book, she keeps me on my toes with the easiness and sweetness of this story I love both of the protagonist they have so much character and personality the story is engaging

I will recommend this book too all the people I love so you should read it too!
Profile Image for Clara Addicted to sapphic books.
366 reviews267 followers
January 18, 2023
It’s my first time reading a sapphic story around family crimes. The first book set the basis with the dynamic with the three families that are ruling the city : the Mancinis, the Biancos and the Rossis.
When Robyn crosses the line with Kendall, she herself doesn’t know if it’s to accelerate the mission or out of real attraction. Things are blurred. I was suprised Robyn barely question it at first.
Kendall is a bit of mystery, struggling to hold the family and the business together, ruling in the shadow of her parents. After her parents death, some members of the family refuse to be ruled by a gay woman. I found the power dynamic was really interesting.
I don’t know if it’s because she is used to live in a world full of lies and manipulations but she is barely mad when she learns the truth about Robyn and i found her too nice !
Overall the book is a page turner : mystery, lies, tension, threat, death, plots and of course some romance. Violence level is bearable for a chicken like me. It’s the kind of book that makes you suspicious of every one and i liked it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for J H.
526 reviews12 followers
August 31, 2022
First book in a new mystery/thriller series

SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: full-time writer, not a romance, unusual job, out of your comfort zone, favorite trope, possibly other categories

Undercover was a bad girl/good girl story with a bit of romance on the side. A mob boss and an undercover FBI agent fell for each other while the crime family was dealing with a power struggle for the top spot. The characters were likeable and it was a good plot, but I had a difficult time getting invested in the story. It felt like it took a long time for the story to build, and it dragged on. I definitely liked the Carpenter/Harding series a lot more.
154 reviews4 followers
April 10, 2022
I have read and enjoyed many of Ms. Winkes books and this one is no exception. It pulled me in right from the beginning. I fell in love with the characters and the story had me on the edge of my seat. The plot makes this a book you can’t put down. Yet another book from this author that I stayed up way too late to read! The characters are well written and interesting. There are a couple of twists that kept me interested. I totally recommend this book and I can't wait to read the second book in the series!!
256 reviews6 followers
November 21, 2022
Great book

This is my first book by Barbara and it will not be my last. FBI agent Robyn/Jessica goes undercover to bring down a crime family before a war breaks out. Kendall's father was killed during a botched FBI raid. Then her mother dies heartbroken. Kendall swears a vendetta when she finds out who did. One problem. There is a immediate attraction between Jessica and Kendall. Then all heck breaks loose. Winkes has a very good easy to read writing style. I enjoy reading lesfic books that crime drama. Highly recommend.
87 reviews
April 13, 2023
This book has me a bit perplexed.......I enjoyed it very much but felt there was too much innuendo and way too many questions left unanswered......not sure why Robyn's father opted to keep things from his daughter but suddenly gets more involved......and what really was going on with the rerst of the family.........loyalty seems like it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth........I appreciate that the story progresses in further books and whilst I enjoyed this and it very much worth a read it did leave me scratching my head just a tad!
573 reviews5 followers
February 21, 2024
Egads, my heart is in over drive!

This story is so intense, the characters are brilliant, and I am so tense right now there is no way I can go to sleep! I must start the next book in the series but I have a full day tomorrow, Argh…. I am not used to such intense writing. I do like it. Ms Winkes style is delicious, I am anxious about the continuation of the series and yet I am debating waiting a few days to begin book 2, decisions decisions!
513 reviews10 followers
November 26, 2022
This is the book one in Crossing Lines series, an exciting and unique romance between a FBI undercover agent and an Italian Mob boss. The story has twists and turns and keeps me guessing, the writing smooth and easy, the love between Mains are tender and moving and worthy of the making of an crime TV show.
Profile Image for namenumberword.
16 reviews
June 4, 2023
cool concept, but idk i don't like the writing style. i would've enjoyed more if the characters had more like mannerisms or descriptions, or if it was from one POV (so we have the unpredictability of the other side of the duo). the story itself is solid i just didnt feel immersed in the setting or characters.
Profile Image for Alexa Steli.
626 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2025
3,25/5
For such a short book sure a lot of things kept happening.

One reason I love reading the "undercover" trope is that when the character finds out she has been betrayed there's a lot of angst and the whole "was it even real?" which did not happen in this book,in fact we move past this thing as if they were sharing chilhood memories
303 reviews
April 10, 2022
Not as good as I would have liked…

I didn’t like the ending. I haven’t read any books by Barbara Winkes in a while but I recall liking all the others.

This was a disappointment. The characters didn’t ring true to me.
1 review
April 10, 2022
Great beginning to a new series

This was a great introduction to a new series for Winkes. Its a good combination of intrigue and romance with well developed characters. I'm excited to see what is next for Robyn and Kendall.
Profile Image for Cathy R.
233 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2022
Good! Just really good!

I love Barbara Winkes way with women and words. So happy to be starting another fantastic series from her! Ready now to read “Redemption”, Book 2 in the Crossing Lines series.
821 reviews19 followers
May 4, 2022
Fantastic storyline

Wow fantastic storyline I loved the main characters chemistry and the twists and turns were exceptional I couldn't put it down can't wait for the next book congratulations
31 reviews
June 17, 2022
800-thread Count

The plot was thick and finely woven. The story and characters developed effortlessly but not necessarily predictably. I was happy to see that this is only Book 1, because I can’t wait to continue with this saga.
Profile Image for Milena.
419 reviews
July 16, 2022
Cool story

Enjoyed reading the story about Kendall and everything that happens. I'm glad there's a 2nd book because we don't know how everything will end. I'm glad I read this book by Ms Winkes and it's the 1st. I will read more!
Profile Image for Angela.
Author 22 books15 followers
July 27, 2022
Romance, suspense, and intrigue, this novel did not disappoint. A cop undercover falls for a woman being taken advantage of by her kin caught in the middle of a bad situation. Jess/Robyn swears not only will she help her get revenge, but not tolerate her family taking her down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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