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The Precinct: Vice Squad #2
Nine-Month Protector
Morning sickness used to be Sarah Cartwright's biggest problem—until she became the only witness to a murder. Now, newly pregnant, she had a killer on her trail—and Cooper Bellamy, KCPD's finest, by her side. Her brother's best friend and her sworn protector, it was impossible to keep Coop at arm's length. Yet the mother-to-be discovered the safest place to hide was in his strong arms. They found out soon enough they each needed the other—but would it be too late before a cold-blooded hit man made them take vows of permanent silence?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
21 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Julie Miller
295 books369 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
USA TODAY Bestselling author Julie Miller writes breathtaking romantic suspense. She's won a National Readers Choice Award and two Daphne du Maurier Awards among other prizes. She was also honored to receive a Career Achievement Award from RT BookReviews and has been a finalist for many national and international awards. Her books have appeared on the USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Amazon and BookScan Top 100 Romances bestseller lists.
Writing about Kansas City cops, Julie has crafted bestselling, award-winning books for Harlequin Intrigue. In addition, Ms. Miller publishes romantic suspense books with a military twist. Millions of copies of her books have been sold in print and digital formats around the world.
USA TODAY Bestselling author Julie Miller writes breathtaking romantic suspense. She's won a National Readers Choice Award and two Daphne du Maurier Awards among other prizes. She was also honored to receive a Career Achievement Award from RT BookReviews and has been a finalist for many national and international awards. Her books have appeared on the USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Amazon and BookScan Top 100 Romances bestseller lists.
Writing about Kansas City cops, Julie has crafted bestselling, award-winning books for Harlequin Intrigue. In addition, Ms. Miller publishes romantic suspense books with a military twist. Millions of copies of her books have been sold in print and digital formats around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 11, 2016
I loved this book. I loved how the story flowed, the little details, and the emotions I felt while reading this book. I felt bad for both Sarah and Cooper when Sarah first told Cooper she was pregnant. I could feel the emotions that they felt. I know Cooper was angry, and hurt, but he still took care of Sarah when she almost fainted. I loved the end of this book too! I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I could see myself reading this book again.
Here is a sample from chapter 8
The bullets started flying and Sarah dropped to the floor and crawled toward the opening. It's Mc Donough! C'mon, babe! Move It. Coop was on his stomach, returning fire. McDonough's path must have been blocked by rubble. Or she'd done some real damage to his eyes. His shots went wide. She scraped her fingers over the splintered wood, pinched her foot in a tumbling pile of bricks. Come on. Mc Donough's cursing abruptly stopped, and she heard footsteps scrabbling through the debris, then running to the back of the house. He has the lock codes. Sarah warned, pushing herself up onto her hands and knees. He'll escape out the back. Let him run. Coop grabbed a fistful of her shirt and helped pull her through the last few inches. She tumbled into him and clung to his solid, real warmth. But just as quickly, he was pushing her away, pulling her to her feet. Are you all right? She was breathless, achy, scared.
Here is a sample from chapter 8
The bullets started flying and Sarah dropped to the floor and crawled toward the opening. It's Mc Donough! C'mon, babe! Move It. Coop was on his stomach, returning fire. McDonough's path must have been blocked by rubble. Or she'd done some real damage to his eyes. His shots went wide. She scraped her fingers over the splintered wood, pinched her foot in a tumbling pile of bricks. Come on. Mc Donough's cursing abruptly stopped, and she heard footsteps scrabbling through the debris, then running to the back of the house. He has the lock codes. Sarah warned, pushing herself up onto her hands and knees. He'll escape out the back. Let him run. Coop grabbed a fistful of her shirt and helped pull her through the last few inches. She tumbled into him and clung to his solid, real warmth. But just as quickly, he was pushing her away, pulling her to her feet. Are you all right? She was breathless, achy, scared.
June 8, 2022
Sarah is a nice girl and school teacher. She decides to live a little but she has no idea what is in store.
"You can tell your father we're square." Not exactly the romantic pillow talk she'd expected after their first time together. "What?"
"The $260,000 Austin owes me. Owed me.
Yeah, her father basically pimped her out to cover a gambling debt. Nice huh? Then she heads to the bathroom to puke and ends up witnessing a murder. This night sucks so far! She calls 911 & rushes home. In the meantime Sarah's twin brother calls his partner Cooper to go check on Sarah (unaware of what happened). He has always wanted Sarah but she was off limits per Seth. She is reeling and after giving her statement, she needs Coop like never before. She begs him to hold her, then kiss her...
When she'd asked for a kiss, he hadn't been able to resist. That kiss had seemed to go on and on. Instead of stopping, it had altered, deepened -demanded-and comfort had given way to passion. It had been quick that first time. Crazy. She'd needed him she said. And Coop had wanted to help her so badly-had wanted her so badly- that he hadn't been able to summon the common sense to to refuse her anything she asked. "I'm sorry." She'd started apologizing before they'd even had all their clothes back on.
Coop thinks his dreams have come true & this is a beginning, but Sarah is pushes him out and ignores him for 3 months. Then she contacts him to break the news.
"I'm pregnant."
"Do you want me to say congratulations or are you lookin' for backup before you tell your old-fashioned brother that you're having a baby without benefit of a husband first?"
"Don't joke, Coop. I'm 3 months along. That makes you the father."
"Impossible."
"You and I didn't use any protection that morning. And I wasn't on the pill because I'm not... I wasn't ... sexually active."
"It isn't mine."
"Look, I'm not telling you this because I expect something from you. I'm not looking for a wedding ring or child support or anything."
"Hell. Those things I can give you. You slept with someone else. Or was I the fling? Old Coop wasn't good enough? Being together didn't mean a damn thing to you, did it?"
"It meant everything. I needed you. I needed... But it was too soon..."
"I can't father a child. You know I had cancer, right?" Coop was raw inside. He never talked about this. But Sarah's news hurt so damn much. It was like the army officer's at the front door. The no-nonsense doctor in the tiny exam room. Sarah wasn't his-never had been. Still, he felt betrayed. In a perfect world, he'd be the only man in her life. But there was nothing perfect about his dad being killed in action, then finding out the same month he had a tiny tumor growing on his prostate gland.
"I'm sterile."
Then the threats and danger start and although they are hurting, Coop will still do anything to protect Sarah and the baby she's carrying.
Why had she turned to another man for sex and a fling when Cooper's arms had been waiting for her all along? Because he was another big brother? The sidekick? The comic relief? Because he wasn't man enough for her? How could making love with her feel so perfect, while loving her just messed up his head?
Just what she needed to be doing in the middle of her classroom, lusting after a man whom she'd hurt down to the bone. She wasn't good enough for Coop. Not the other way around.
For a moment, Sarah was stunned by the unexpected ferocity of Coop's embrace. But as he rubbed his rougher cheek against hers and whispered husky endearments against her ear, she realized he simply wanted to hold her. He needed to hold her. And she needed to be held.
"Babe, I shouldn't let it get to me this much. I shouldn't care.... But I do....care.
Sarah has to go to a safe house for protection, be rescued and then is on the run with Coop where bullets fly, someone is killed and there is an explosion.
"Don't go." "Sarah-" "Please, I know I hurt you." She snuggled closer and Coop squeezed his eyes shut against the instantaneous fire that bloomed across his skin. "But this is where I feel safest."
AH, hell. His arms were around her and his lips were in her freshly washed hair... She was all delicate, all female, and-for this moment, at least-all his. "I've gotcha, babe. I've gotcha."
"I'm scared to death Coop."
"I will always be there for you, Sarah. Always." He whispered the vow against her lips before covering them with his own.
"Talk to me sweetheart." "He wanted to kill my baby." Smooth-talking Cooper didn't have the words to say what he felt. All he had was his faith in her strength and the love in his heart. Before the next tear fell, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He leaned forward and tenderly kissed her belly, claiming Sarah and her baby as his own. "Nobody's hurting either one of you. Not while there's breath in my body." He loved Sarah Cartwright. And he'd fallen in love with her baby, too.
Coop wasn't sure when the first tear leaked from the corner of his eye, but Sarah noticed. "Oh, Coop," she whispered. "It's okay, sweetheart. We'll be okay." The endearment fired something in his brain- a need to be cared for, to be wanted- desired- as deeply as he wanted, no needed her. "I need you, Sarah." He needed to bury himself inside her. Find a balm for his grief, respite from his fears, a celebration of safety and loving and surviving.
"You can tell your father we're square." Not exactly the romantic pillow talk she'd expected after their first time together. "What?"
"The $260,000 Austin owes me. Owed me.
Yeah, her father basically pimped her out to cover a gambling debt. Nice huh? Then she heads to the bathroom to puke and ends up witnessing a murder. This night sucks so far! She calls 911 & rushes home. In the meantime Sarah's twin brother calls his partner Cooper to go check on Sarah (unaware of what happened). He has always wanted Sarah but she was off limits per Seth. She is reeling and after giving her statement, she needs Coop like never before. She begs him to hold her, then kiss her...
When she'd asked for a kiss, he hadn't been able to resist. That kiss had seemed to go on and on. Instead of stopping, it had altered, deepened -demanded-and comfort had given way to passion. It had been quick that first time. Crazy. She'd needed him she said. And Coop had wanted to help her so badly-had wanted her so badly- that he hadn't been able to summon the common sense to to refuse her anything she asked. "I'm sorry." She'd started apologizing before they'd even had all their clothes back on.
Coop thinks his dreams have come true & this is a beginning, but Sarah is pushes him out and ignores him for 3 months. Then she contacts him to break the news.
"I'm pregnant."
"Do you want me to say congratulations or are you lookin' for backup before you tell your old-fashioned brother that you're having a baby without benefit of a husband first?"
"Don't joke, Coop. I'm 3 months along. That makes you the father."
"Impossible."
"You and I didn't use any protection that morning. And I wasn't on the pill because I'm not... I wasn't ... sexually active."
"It isn't mine."
"Look, I'm not telling you this because I expect something from you. I'm not looking for a wedding ring or child support or anything."
"Hell. Those things I can give you. You slept with someone else. Or was I the fling? Old Coop wasn't good enough? Being together didn't mean a damn thing to you, did it?"
"It meant everything. I needed you. I needed... But it was too soon..."
"I can't father a child. You know I had cancer, right?" Coop was raw inside. He never talked about this. But Sarah's news hurt so damn much. It was like the army officer's at the front door. The no-nonsense doctor in the tiny exam room. Sarah wasn't his-never had been. Still, he felt betrayed. In a perfect world, he'd be the only man in her life. But there was nothing perfect about his dad being killed in action, then finding out the same month he had a tiny tumor growing on his prostate gland.
"I'm sterile."
Then the threats and danger start and although they are hurting, Coop will still do anything to protect Sarah and the baby she's carrying.
Why had she turned to another man for sex and a fling when Cooper's arms had been waiting for her all along? Because he was another big brother? The sidekick? The comic relief? Because he wasn't man enough for her? How could making love with her feel so perfect, while loving her just messed up his head?
Just what she needed to be doing in the middle of her classroom, lusting after a man whom she'd hurt down to the bone. She wasn't good enough for Coop. Not the other way around.
For a moment, Sarah was stunned by the unexpected ferocity of Coop's embrace. But as he rubbed his rougher cheek against hers and whispered husky endearments against her ear, she realized he simply wanted to hold her. He needed to hold her. And she needed to be held.
"Babe, I shouldn't let it get to me this much. I shouldn't care.... But I do....care.
Sarah has to go to a safe house for protection, be rescued and then is on the run with Coop where bullets fly, someone is killed and there is an explosion.
"Don't go." "Sarah-" "Please, I know I hurt you." She snuggled closer and Coop squeezed his eyes shut against the instantaneous fire that bloomed across his skin. "But this is where I feel safest."
AH, hell. His arms were around her and his lips were in her freshly washed hair... She was all delicate, all female, and-for this moment, at least-all his. "I've gotcha, babe. I've gotcha."
"I'm scared to death Coop."
"I will always be there for you, Sarah. Always." He whispered the vow against her lips before covering them with his own.
"Talk to me sweetheart." "He wanted to kill my baby." Smooth-talking Cooper didn't have the words to say what he felt. All he had was his faith in her strength and the love in his heart. Before the next tear fell, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He leaned forward and tenderly kissed her belly, claiming Sarah and her baby as his own. "Nobody's hurting either one of you. Not while there's breath in my body." He loved Sarah Cartwright. And he'd fallen in love with her baby, too.
Coop wasn't sure when the first tear leaked from the corner of his eye, but Sarah noticed. "Oh, Coop," she whispered. "It's okay, sweetheart. We'll be okay." The endearment fired something in his brain- a need to be cared for, to be wanted- desired- as deeply as he wanted, no needed her. "I need you, Sarah." He needed to bury himself inside her. Find a balm for his grief, respite from his fears, a celebration of safety and loving and surviving.
December 2, 2021
I have a hard time putting her books down after I start reading them!
January 2, 2020
Back Cover: The Baby was a Blessing... but Cooper Bellamy was a Miracle.
Morning sickness used to be Sarah Cartwright's biggest problem--until she became the only witness to a murder. Now, newly pregnant, she had a killer on her trail--and Cooper Bellamy, KCPD's finest, by her side. Her brother's best friend and her sworn protector, it was impossible to keep Coop at arm's length. Yet the mother-to-be discovered the safest place to hide was in his strong arms. They found out soon enough they each needed the other--but would it be too late before a cold-blooded hitman made them take vows of permanent silence?
The second in Julie Miller’s The Precinct: Vice Squad mini-series closes a few loopholes left open in the first book of the series Up Against The Wall but you have to expect that when the male lead from book one is the twin brother to the female lead in book two. Both stories involving the main couple spill over into the other’s story but nothing is too major that it will lose you if you only read one of the stories.
However, I do recommend picking up both just for Cooper Bellamy. In the first, he plays the sidekick/best friend of our hero Seth Cartwright but finally gets his girl in Nine-Month Protector. And for those of you not playing the home game, that girl is his best friend's sister, Sarah. Yep, talk about a sticky situation if it doesn’t work out. Throw in the fact that Sarah is pregnant and you have a whole barrel of potential conflict right from the get-go.
But Ms. Miller doesn’t leave us with just that. The baby Sarah is carrying could be Cooper’s or it could be a mobster’s child. A mobster involved in a number of deaths relating to the casino he runs. It was there at that casino Sarah witnessed a murder and now the killer is on her trail.
Cooper vows to protect her but will the cancer survivor jeopardize his heart to keep Sarah and her unborn child safe, regardless of who the father is?
An awesome romantic suspense novel Nine-Month Protector keeps you turning pages until the end. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Ms. Miller throws something into the mix you haven't thought it. FABULOUS!!!!
Edited to Add: I normally read these stories for the romance and suspense elements as it relates to the hero/heroine, but I've got to mention the villain in this one. While he appeared as one of the bad guys in the previous book, it wasn't until this story that is pure evilness really showed itself. While the man who hired him to kill Sarah gave a (temporary) reprieve on the hit when he found out she was pregnant, this devil incarnate had no compassion. He wanted to kill the woman anyway just because she saw him murder another woman and he didn't leave loose ends, child or not. The pure coldheartedness of the man totally creeped me out.
I'm really glad I purposely didn't' pay much attention to the description of the villain. Otherwise, I might have been suffering from a few of my own nightmares.
These kinds of villains are normally seen in books by the big-name Thriller/Suspense writers like James Patterson, etc. Not at all what I expected for a Harlequin novel given their length restrictions and such but Ms. Miller outdid herself with this one.
Morning sickness used to be Sarah Cartwright's biggest problem--until she became the only witness to a murder. Now, newly pregnant, she had a killer on her trail--and Cooper Bellamy, KCPD's finest, by her side. Her brother's best friend and her sworn protector, it was impossible to keep Coop at arm's length. Yet the mother-to-be discovered the safest place to hide was in his strong arms. They found out soon enough they each needed the other--but would it be too late before a cold-blooded hitman made them take vows of permanent silence?
The second in Julie Miller’s The Precinct: Vice Squad mini-series closes a few loopholes left open in the first book of the series Up Against The Wall but you have to expect that when the male lead from book one is the twin brother to the female lead in book two. Both stories involving the main couple spill over into the other’s story but nothing is too major that it will lose you if you only read one of the stories.
However, I do recommend picking up both just for Cooper Bellamy. In the first, he plays the sidekick/best friend of our hero Seth Cartwright but finally gets his girl in Nine-Month Protector. And for those of you not playing the home game, that girl is his best friend's sister, Sarah. Yep, talk about a sticky situation if it doesn’t work out. Throw in the fact that Sarah is pregnant and you have a whole barrel of potential conflict right from the get-go.
But Ms. Miller doesn’t leave us with just that. The baby Sarah is carrying could be Cooper’s or it could be a mobster’s child. A mobster involved in a number of deaths relating to the casino he runs. It was there at that casino Sarah witnessed a murder and now the killer is on her trail.
Cooper vows to protect her but will the cancer survivor jeopardize his heart to keep Sarah and her unborn child safe, regardless of who the father is?
An awesome romantic suspense novel Nine-Month Protector keeps you turning pages until the end. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Ms. Miller throws something into the mix you haven't thought it. FABULOUS!!!!
Edited to Add: I normally read these stories for the romance and suspense elements as it relates to the hero/heroine, but I've got to mention the villain in this one. While he appeared as one of the bad guys in the previous book, it wasn't until this story that is pure evilness really showed itself. While the man who hired him to kill Sarah gave a (temporary) reprieve on the hit when he found out she was pregnant, this devil incarnate had no compassion. He wanted to kill the woman anyway just because she saw him murder another woman and he didn't leave loose ends, child or not. The pure coldheartedness of the man totally creeped me out.
I'm really glad I purposely didn't' pay much attention to the description of the villain. Otherwise, I might have been suffering from a few of my own nightmares.
These kinds of villains are normally seen in books by the big-name Thriller/Suspense writers like James Patterson, etc. Not at all what I expected for a Harlequin novel given their length restrictions and such but Ms. Miller outdid herself with this one.
June 18, 2015
I liked it. I appreciated the action and the result in the end. I loved how Shaw got his ass handed to him by his boss when his true intentions were discovered. I especially loved that the baby was really Cooper's. I wish there was a flash forward epilogue to the new family's life after the life threatening stuff was over. It would've be adorable.
Read
June 16, 2011A Romantic Times Award finalist for Best Harlequin Intrigue.
November 7, 2024
Who's Your Daddy?
School teacher Sarah Cartwright and Detective Coop Bellamy are on the run. Bullets are flying and cars are exploding wherever the pair go. There must be a traitor feeding information to the crooks. Fast paced action, romance and surprises that will keep you turning those pages. Enjoy!
School teacher Sarah Cartwright and Detective Coop Bellamy are on the run. Bullets are flying and cars are exploding wherever the pair go. There must be a traitor feeding information to the crooks. Fast paced action, romance and surprises that will keep you turning those pages. Enjoy!
July 21, 2020
Awesome
I just finished reading this book and it was awesome from beginning to end! The characters are interesting and the dynamic between them was captivating!
I just finished reading this book and it was awesome from beginning to end! The characters are interesting and the dynamic between them was captivating!
October 16, 2020
Cheesy. Not good. We skipped three months right when the romance started which was annoying.
The mystery started out really strong and then it quickly unraveled. Really didn’t work for me.
The mystery started out really strong and then it quickly unraveled. Really didn’t work for me.
Read
June 24, 2024“A Wise Man’s Soul”
Exciting Roller Coaster of Action, Adventure and Romance! Whew, Julie Miller has penned another thrilling suspense novel you won’t want to put down.
Exciting Roller Coaster of Action, Adventure and Romance! Whew, Julie Miller has penned another thrilling suspense novel you won’t want to put down.
March 3, 2017
This is one of my favorite books in the KCPD series and it's all because of my crush on Cooper! Cooper and Sarah's romance is a great balance of sexy/sweet. Add the action, suspense, and meddling family members and you end up with one great read!
September 28, 2013
This is a book.
For a full review, please go to:
http://mlleelizabeth.booklikes.com/
GoodReads's policies no longer comply with my review policy. Therefore my reviews will be posted at BookLikes going forward. Thank you for following my reviews here. I hope to continue discussing books with you on BookLikes.
For a full review, please go to:
http://mlleelizabeth.booklikes.com/
GoodReads's policies no longer comply with my review policy. Therefore my reviews will be posted at BookLikes going forward. Thank you for following my reviews here. I hope to continue discussing books with you on BookLikes.
April 15, 2009
I'm starting to really enjoy Julie Miller's "Precinct" series and all of the books connected with that series.
September 25, 2009
Victorian
October 29, 2020
First read July 2014.
Reread.
Reread.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews