Going Rogue in Red Rye County

Secure One #1

by Katie Mettner

She’s on a mission
And dangerously off the grid…

After an undercover mission gone wrong, agent Mina August is on the run from the FBI and The Madame, a ruthless brothel owner. Her mantra: trust no one. But alone and permanently disabled, the cunning beauty must trust her ex-partner Roman Jacobs to take her side in a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Can she fight her true feelings for Roman to stay professional…and alive?

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2023

About the author

Katie Mettner wears the title of 'the only person to lose her leg after falling down the bunny hill' and loves decorating her prosthetic leg to fit the season. She lives in Northern Wisconsin with her own happily-ever-after and spends the day writing romantic stories with her sweet puppy by her side. Katie has an addiction to coffee and dachshunds and a lessening aversion to Pinterest — now that she’s quit trying to make the things she pins.

Read about more of Katie's adventures as an amputee writer at http://katiemettner.com/
Come chat with Katie on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiemettner/
Are you a Pinner? Pin with Katie
https://www.pinterest.com/katie_mettner/

Reviews

[Lisa Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrill ride! I loved this book! Mina is a badass FBI agent you will absolutely adore. After an undercover assignment goes all wrong, Mina is on the run with a badly injured foot. Very bad people are after her because of what she learned on her assignment. She believes she cannot trust anyone-even her former, long-time partner, Roman. But Roman is determined to find her and prove to her that he will always have her back. He's also determined to help her bring down the vast criminal organization that tortured her and has been trying to kill her ever since. This book is fun and fast-paced with a beautiful, engrossing love story that will give you all the feels and leave you wanting more. The mystery is intriguing, and you'll get great satisfaction following Mina as she unravels the tangled skein behind the criminal organization. What I love about this romance is that it is between two people who respect each other as equals. Roman truly admires Mina for the highly intelligent, strong, gritty, amazing woman she is; he believes in her deeply; and their chemistry is off the charts. What is perhaps most fabulous about this book is the way that Mina's injury is seamlessly woven into the narrative in a realistic way. Hats off to Harlequin for publishing an ownvoices story--a love story--featuring a main character with a disability. A home run. I can't wait to read more in the Secure 1 series.

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll start out saying I need the next book!

Now that I have said my peace…

What a fast paced read. I really enjoyed this romantic suspense. I’m not typically a Harlequin reader but I adore this author. And this did not disappoint.

This has my pulse pounding and rushing towards the finish line. Mina was a total bada$$. And Roman…sigh.

It was hard to watch the heroine suffer with the pain of her disability. Having been a sufferer of many surgeries on my left ankle, this was a scary visual. And knowing what the end result was going to be was hard. It was written so well. And I love how this author represents people with disabilities. Representation matters.

I can’t wait until the next book!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an exciting romantic suspense story. There are mystery, thriller, procedural, and romance elements of this suspenseful book. I love that even though there is a connection between the two main characters from the beginning, the focus of most of the book is on the investigation. Mina is brave and smart, but I didn't connect with her right away. However, as the story progressed, I began liking her as much as I did Roman, who was her FBI partner and the person Mina eventually allows to help with the investigation. 

Enough of the case is resolved to give the book a satisfying ending. No release date is given, but there is supposed to be another book in the Secure One miniseries. There are enough unanswered questions (and chemistry between two supporting characters) to carry through to a follow-up book. I enjoyed this book and will definitely be keeping an eye out for the upcoming sequel.

I was gifted a copy of this book, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. 

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

[ I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Going Rogue in Red Rye County by Katie Mettner is a suspense story with a dash of romance.

Mina is on the run from both the FBI and a person known as The Madame after an undercover operation goes wrong. She doesn't know who to trust but she puts her faith in her ex-partner Roman. She must find out the identity of The Madame before they take her out for good. The last thing she should be doing is giving in to her feelings for Roman but Roman almost lost her once and refuses to let that happen again.

This was a decent suspense story with action and life or death moments for our main characters. Unfortunately I had trouble connecting with them though, we are kind of thrown into the thick of things right from the start. The romance between Mina and Roman felt a bit one-sided to me. I believed Roman's feelings but Mina not so much. The romance is very low steam and I was kind of left wanted more focus on their actual relationship.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, if this is going to be a series I can't wait to read book two. My first Katie Mettner book but definitely not the last. Not sure what genre this was thriller,suspense, mystery or romance? A bit of everything . Great character development, great story and definitely leads for a book two. I recommend it,you won't be able to put it down.

[Karen Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense of this book will not only keep you on the edge of your seat, but will make you want to keep reading! Mina is on the run after leaving the hospital, after getting injured in an unfortunate incident. She’s has a bad leg that she has to deal with now. Will this work against her? Trying to stay hidden and not get caught by the Madame which she was working an undercover mission. Her partner, Roman, finally is able to find her after about a year of not seeing her. Why is that? You will have to read to find out. Can Mina trust him, keep her safe, find out who this Madame is and take her down? There are many challenges along the way they face. Also, Mina has feelings for Roman and he may just have feelings for her. They were partners for several years and Roman had a policy about not dating his partner. The chemistry is definitely there. Will their feelings for each come out? Can Mina trust Roman’s friend Cal who gives them somewhere to stay? Will he be able to keep them safe and help find who they are looking for? When and if the Madame is found, who could it possibly be? I know I was shell shocked at the results. Be prepared to say what did I just read!

[KristieReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie writes so many amazing and different types of books. Going Rogue in Red Eye County is one of my top favorites.

From the moment you start reading you will not be able to or want to put the book down.

The intensity of the story will have your heart pounding and the many twists and turns will have you guessing until the end.

Mina is on the run, she injured and alone but they doesn’t stop her. She is a true badass who is determined to find justice.

Roman wants to help Mina but she pushes him away…until his help is absolutely needed. He is tough, a protector and badass extraordinaire.

Mina and Roman have undeniable chemistry but they are both focused on their mission. Trust is a big issue for Mina that she has to work through…she has to trust someone or she may not come out alive.

I really enjoyed this action packed story that takes on a tough and disturbing topic but shows us even with disabilities people are able to perform the most heroic feats.

Fantastic read…highly recommend. Looking forward to the other books in the Secure One series.

[Patricia Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this.
Mina is on the run from The Madame and the FBI. She’s been hiding out for awhile and it seems they have finally found her.
Roman is determined to keep her safe.
I loved the chemistry between these two.
This book had a good amount of suspense and emotions. Loved it.

[Lawrence Sapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really good book.
I definitely recommend this one.
A great story line.

[Courtney Capone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I couldn't put it down and read it in nearly one sitting (husband said I needed to eat something... rude.). Highly recommend! Great book by a great author!

[Annmarie Kuyath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agent Mina August is disabled and on the run from the FBI and The Madame brothel owner. She doesn't trust anyone, including Roman, her ex-partner, who finally tracks her down. Will Mina learn who she can trust and get answers, or will she continue to live life on the run?


Katie Mettner is one of my favorite authors. This book is different than the others I've read of hers. It's good and kept me hooked from page one, with a strong story line and great characters! 

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

going rogue in red rye county.
Katie Mettner.

Suspense romance Harlequin sweet read.

Mina is a strong woman,
This was simply a quick read. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat. Wanting to get to the very end to see what Mina goes through. To pull out all the stops to get to the bad guy or gal.
books with strong characters . [women]are my very favorites. And this one definitely did not disappoint.

This author did an amazing job on this story absolutely loved it and will be reading many more of her books..
Thank you Katie for a wonderful story loved it. Also love that this was based in Kansas.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series (Secure One). After reading the first book in this series, I cannot wait for the next one! Mina August is an FBI agent who was in an undercover op when something went terribly wrong. Since the incident, Mina has been on the run for her life. She does not trust anyone, including her ex-partner, Roman. She believes he left her to die, although she does not know why. She is still determined to take down the large criminal enterprise she was able to infiltrate. They are using young girls for their own financial gain. To make matters even harder for Mina, she is on the run with a bum foot, and I do mean a bum foot. She did not let her injury stop her for her sole mission of taking these criminals down!

When Roman Jacobs finally convinces Mina that she can trust him, he vows to help her bring these criminals to justice. Both Roman and Mina are fighting their true romantic feelings for one another, but they may lose that battle.

They end up at Secure One which is a safe place for them to hide out while working on their strategy. I will not share any more about Secure One, so you can read about it, but this place was impressive!

I admired the character of Mina because of her toughness and tenacity. She was headstrong and stubborn, but these characteristics kept her alive. I also fell a little in love with the character of Roman. He was also stubborn and was not going to be happy until he found Mina and tried to keep her safe, all while knowing she was going to fight him because of her own strength. His protective instincts came from a place of love and his innate need to protect her because he feels responsible for her and her injury, and it is immediately obvious that he has romantic feelings for her as well.

This mystery was very suspenseful and intriguing. One final twist in the story will leave you with your jaw on the floor! I did not see it coming! I knew that Katie Mettner was a talented romance author, but she proved to me that she is also a talented mystery writer as well. I look forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dana Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The action in this book never lets up, from the first page to the last. I loved it so much. It’s a true and honest romantic suspense. I immediately connected with the kickass FBI Agent, Mina August, and related to her intense fear. It’s a palpable fear that sinks in on the first page and follows her through most of the book. She knows someone is out to kill her, and they have the resources to do it.
The book starts with Mina in hiding. She’s been in hiding for over a year after a case went wrong, leaving her permanently injured and alone.
Worse than her case going wrong and being left with severe injuries, she believes it could have been her partner who betrayed her. As if all that isn’t enough, she’s also hiding from the crime syndicate she was investigating when her world exploded. Left with no partner, no connections, and hiding from a group that has already failed to kill her, she’s suspicious of everyone. When she’s alerted that someone has found her, she goes on the run again. Fortunately, she runs into an unexpected ally. This ally helps her team up with the Secure One group, giving her the resources and the protection she needs to solve the case, and Mina refuses to rest until it’s over.
I don’t want to give too much away, but I will tell you that this book had it all. Betrayal, action, love, intrigue, suspense, an intelligent, badass woman, a twist you’ll never see coming, and one hell of a happy ending.
It’s an intensely satisfying read that you won’t want to put down. I’ll also add that I loved the inclusion of Mina’s disability. Katie Mettner didn’t shy away from Mina’s injuries but made them a large part of the story in a very realistic way. It’s good to see Harlequin Intrigue including #dislit in their catalog, and nobody writes disability romance as well as Katie. Going Rogue in Red Rye County is an excellent read! I cannot wait for more in this series!

[Leslie Marshman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved Going Rogue in Red Rye County

Katie Mettner’s Going Rogue in Red Rye County is a slow-building romance filled with non-stop action. FBI Agent Mina August is on the run after an undercover assignment went south. She’s seriously hurt and has lost trust in everyone, even her FBI partner, Roman Jacobs.

When Roman finally catches up with her, Mina doesn’t know if he’s there to help or to finish her off. But with others still hunting her and her damaged foot slowing her down, she decides that working with Roman is the best option, so long as she sleeps with one eye open and focused on him.

The heroine is a kick-butt woman who refuses to stop until she accomplishes her goal. But Ms. Mettner has infused Mina with authentic doubts and concerns that impact someone suffering a life-altering injury. Add in the sexual tension between Mina and Roman, as well as escalating danger around every corner, and Going Rogue in Red Rye County is a book you’ll want to read.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going Rogue in Red Rye County by Katie Mettner

FBI Agent Mina August is on the run after a mission goes wrong. Not knowing who to trust, not even her ex-partner Roman Jacobs, she has a lot to contend with. Her injured leg, the ruthless Madame and her entourage, may be a challenge (but) one she is definitely up for. Add her feelings for Roman, making her life more challenging.

A fast paced thrilling story with a likable female lead. Engaging dialog, attention to detail pulled me in from the start. The perfect mix of suspense, thrills and romance made for a perfect read. I highly recommend Going Rogue in Red Rye County and look forward to more in this series.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mina is a bad ass FBI agent who is sent undercover. Everything goes bad, and she is left thinking her partner didn't have her back. She is on the run and trying to figure out not only what the hell happened but also how to take down the people and organization she was supposed to while undercover.

This story will pull you in and take you on a great ride with its twists and turns. It has everything I look for in an intrigue romance story! Suspense, romance, and twists and turns.

I loved Mina and Roman! The secondary characters were just as great and didn't want this story to end. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Who can Mina trust if she can't even trust her own partner? Is she right about that, or is she wrong? One click this on February 21st to find out! You won't be disappointed. I highly recommend this story!!!

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of suspense, action, great characters, and surprises. After her undercover operation goes wrong, Mina is left wondering who she can trust. Her instincts tell her to disappear, which she does even though she is severely injured. Then a year later when her partner catches up with her, she has to decide whether to trust him.

This story had me turning the pages from the start to the finish and holding my breath at several parts of the story. I loved how strong of a character Mina was and how she held her own with all of the alpha males. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Jennifer Bowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I really loved it. I used to have a couple subscriptions to harlequin when I was younger. One of them was intrigue. Reading this book reminded me of why I loved them back then.

I loved Roman and Mina. Towards the end my mind was blown! I didn’t see that coming. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series and also checking out other books by Katie.

Thank you Katie for an ARC! I was very blessed to be able to read and review this book ♥️

[Renee Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! Mina and Roman both were special agents in the FBI when Mina went undercover. The perfect plan was in place until it went terribly wrong. Mina, was on the run and couldn’t trust anyone including her partner. Roman spent a year looking for her, but who was he really working for. I highly recommend this book that is full of action , suspense, and will keep you guessing.

[Emily O'Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! I haven't read anything like this before in a good way! I couldn't put this book down! I was reading every second I had. I can't wait to see what the next book brings. So many twists and turns that I didn't expect and I loved that! Sometimes you can tell what is going to happen but in this book you can't.

I can't wait to see how Mina's and Roman's relationship grows... but I'm also nervous to see what happens next.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I like that the author had a cast of characters list at the beginning of this book.) I enjoy reading romantic suspense and this book did not disappoint! FBI agent Wilhelmina "Mina" August is trying to stay alive. She has a severely injured foot and has been on the run since an undercover mission went horribly wrong. For a year her dedicated partner, Roman Jacobs, has been searching for her. Knowing that she has to trust someone, when Roman finds her, she agrees to go to his friend's encampment where they'll both be protected. What ensues is a dangerous adventure to find and take down The Madame and her sex-trafficking operation. I liked this book and look forward to more books in this Secure One series.

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Lisa Regan for recommending this author and to Katie for her generosity in offering her story.
I really enjoyed reading about this special agent Mina, she's one kick a$$ woman. After an undercover op went terribly wrong she has survived a year with a crushed foot hiding out and not knowing who to trust. Her partner Roman is determined to find her and prove he has her back now and for always. The chemistry between these was simmering, it was time to talk.
Mina and Roman are determined to solve this mystery, find out who stood to gain by possibly sabotaging the case.
Who knew? Not me! Great conclusion and what a fantastic plot with interesting characters.

[Ruth Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to pick one word for this book and it's characters it would be GRIPPING 100%.
The main characters are very real feeling. I couldn't put it down because I had to know who was responsible for the botched operation. Will definitely be reading this again.

[Kristin Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one hit the ground running. As soon as you start reading there is action and adventure. This only intensifies as the pages keep turning. I could not put the book down. Mina and Roman are a perfect team, they know each other inside and out and can have a conversation with just a look, but they have a secret that they keep from each other. Watching them together and how everything unfolds is gripping. I found myself scowling, smiling, laughing, gripped in anticipation and crying while reading this amazing story. I am so glad I read it and hope there is more to the story. Cal and Marlise have an interesting beginning that I would love to see unfurl.


I received this as an ARC.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. I liked all of the twists and turns in this story.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing start to an amazing series!!! I loved every second of this book! Suspenseful and ull of twists that will shock you. Mina and Roman's story is terrific!!!

[Vickie Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book with romance and intrigue. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new series starter. Mina and Roman are partners in the FBI. This books starts about 1 year after an undercover job went south. Mina is on the run, unsure who she can trust. Roman is set on finding his partner. This is the story of a criminal investigation but also of the early stages in facing a new disability and at heart, a love story. 4.5 stars.

[Robin Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic storyline! From the very beginning, it was hard to put down. You'll be guessing until the very end! Must read.