What do you think?
Rate this book
A Cop in the Family #1
Family Secrets
As if stumbling over a dead body isn't enough, Crystal Cartwright finds herself playing surrogate mother to two small boys when their father--her neighbor--doesn't come home. The kids aren't much trouble, but the thieves, drug dealers and kidnappers they're about to encounter are. Detective Jack Dunlevy, a cop down on his luck, draws the cases no one else wants.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2010
33 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Hill
41 books66 followersJamie Hill was born and raised in a beautiful, mid-sized town in Midwest, USA. At various times she wanted to be a veterinarian, teacher, cheerleader, TV star or a famous singer. The one thing she always wanted to be was a writer. Starting at about age ten, she penned romance as she envisioned it in one spiral notebook after another.
When she's not working at the day job she loves, Jamie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and watching movies (the scarier the better!) In her ‘spare time’ she can often be found writing, editing, or doing something more mundane like housework. After that, she's probably taking a nap. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to drop her a line.
When she's not working at the day job she loves, Jamie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and watching movies (the scarier the better!) In her ‘spare time’ she can often be found writing, editing, or doing something more mundane like housework. After that, she's probably taking a nap. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to drop her a line.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 12, 2013
This was a great read. I have never read anything by this author before. But I will be continuing this series. I just adored Jack. He was a complete sweetheart, but written in a way that showed he wasn't perfect. Chrystal was more rough around the edges. But they were perfect for each other. Now I have to say that I loved the whole ready made family in this one because its not the usual. The bonding with those boys were really sweet and felt real. The suspense was good to. I really didn't see that little twist at the end coming.One complaint was the constant smoking. Not my thing. Other than that I really enjoyed it.
December 22, 2014
I liked this book it was well written and a joy to read but in saying that there was something that wouldn't let me give it 4 stars.
Crystal Cartwright considers herself to be white trash which she isn't. She looks after the neighbors two kids, Mark and Devon to earn some extra money as well as being a waitress at the diner.
On their way home the three of them find a dead body, the neighborhood homeless guy Manny. Enter the cop who is down on his luck Jack Dunlevy. Throughout the story they can't fight their attraction. Along with the kidnapping, drugs, multiple murders this was a good book. I liked that the author showed that people still smoke in books. The ending was not to my liking as in will Crystal do something with her life apart from having a ton of babies???
I have Family Ties to read on my list soon as well and I can't wait as I did enjoy this read but for me it was a filler more than anything else.
Crystal Cartwright considers herself to be white trash which she isn't. She looks after the neighbors two kids, Mark and Devon to earn some extra money as well as being a waitress at the diner.
On their way home the three of them find a dead body, the neighborhood homeless guy Manny. Enter the cop who is down on his luck Jack Dunlevy. Throughout the story they can't fight their attraction. Along with the kidnapping, drugs, multiple murders this was a good book. I liked that the author showed that people still smoke in books. The ending was not to my liking as in will Crystal do something with her life apart from having a ton of babies???
I have Family Ties to read on my list soon as well and I can't wait as I did enjoy this read but for me it was a filler more than anything else.
September 16, 2013
Crystal Cartwright is going into her apartment building with two small boys she is looking after when they see that they can't get through because there is a dead man in their path. The boys father doesn't come home so Crystal continues to look after them.
Detective Jack Dunlevy is investigating the death and questions Crystal about the body since she had known him. Crystal calls Jack for help tracking down Dave (the boys father) when he doesn't come home for several days. Jack investigates and find out that Dave has been killed which leaves Crystal with the two boys.
Hill did a remarkable job with character description. I could easily picture all the characters. Jack was humorous, smart and loved the kids. The boys were adorable and well mannered. I appreciated that. I liked that Crystal wasn't absolutely perfect. She was terrific with the boys, encouraging them to feel good about themselves but she had low self esteem. That seemed to be the reason she worked as a waitress and lived in shabby apartment building.
I was disappointed with Crystal's smoking. I can only imagine that smoking was OK at the time this book was written. And then Jack starts smoking after he had quit years earlier. Not good. I must admit that I wondered several times how Jack could kiss Crystal with the smell and taste of smoke on her.
The story-line was well thought out and suspenseful. The ending was a complete surprise and I loved it.
Detective Jack Dunlevy is investigating the death and questions Crystal about the body since she had known him. Crystal calls Jack for help tracking down Dave (the boys father) when he doesn't come home for several days. Jack investigates and find out that Dave has been killed which leaves Crystal with the two boys.
Hill did a remarkable job with character description. I could easily picture all the characters. Jack was humorous, smart and loved the kids. The boys were adorable and well mannered. I appreciated that. I liked that Crystal wasn't absolutely perfect. She was terrific with the boys, encouraging them to feel good about themselves but she had low self esteem. That seemed to be the reason she worked as a waitress and lived in shabby apartment building.
I was disappointed with Crystal's smoking. I can only imagine that smoking was OK at the time this book was written. And then Jack starts smoking after he had quit years earlier. Not good. I must admit that I wondered several times how Jack could kiss Crystal with the smell and taste of smoke on her.
The story-line was well thought out and suspenseful. The ending was a complete surprise and I loved it.
November 30, 2019
Excellent read!!
freebies
September 21, 2020Jamie Hill Triple Threat - box set
October 5, 2023
Really good story line. I enjoy how fast the story moved along and a story had good context,I was excited to read the next book! I can't wait to read the next book!
January 12, 2011
Ms. Hill is a genius! Family Secrets is the first book in the series followed by Family Ties. I had reviewed Family Ties (outstanding book), so I wanted to go back and read the first book in the series. This book is truly one of the best I've read in 2010. Crystal's character was less than perfect and I fell in love with her immediately. Sassy and brassy, this lady could hold her own. Jack's character was the kind of gentleman every reader wants as their hero. He was fiercely protective of Crystal and her unplanned little family. He won my heart right away. The plot line was AMAZING. It was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. It amazes me how Ms. Hill can fit in so much action, romance and just about every emotion under the sun, into a book that is only 138 pages long. Ms. Hill has become a favorite author of mine and I consider her to be an automatic add to my "to be read list". If you are a serious suspense loving reader who loves to form bonds with the characters, this is definitely the book for you! I loved it and can't wait to read more of Ms. Hill's books, she has the gift of knowing what the reader wants and then hitting you with an ending you certainly don't expect. Two thumbs up!
December 11, 2011
It takes a lot for me to give any book 5 stars. Especially a book by an author I've never read before. This was a freebie on my Kindle so I decided to give it a shot. What a great book! I'm not going to go into what the book is about as that's already been done. But I will say this..... this author took a idea that did not seem like much (in my opinion) and turned it into one of the better books I've read this year. It has children (two little boys), an almost burnt out police detective, a woman barely making ends meet, a dog, a couple of homeless people, and a dad who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, murder, kidnapping, fairly decent sex and a love story. I fell in love with all of the characters. The story was written very well. It never seemed bogged down with unnecessary details. I have read tons (and TONS) of books. Normally if there is a so-called mystery involved, I can usually figure out the mystery of who the bad guy is early on. In this book, I had no clue until the end. I kept trying to figure out how certain aspects would be resolved. The surprise at the end tied it all up in a nice, neat bow.
As I mentioned, this is my first by this author. It most definitely will not be my last.
As I mentioned, this is my first by this author. It most definitely will not be my last.
August 16, 2017
There were good to great aspects in this book but there were also as many ridiculous ones. The drama of the story was good, although I'm not quite sure of how many people were killed-why was it necessary to kill the last homeless guy who clearly wasn't talking. The brains behind the whole operation was a great twist. The tension, the danger, all bits of drama were very well developed and jumped off the page. Devon and Mark wee great, although sometimes very far in the background almost like props instead of characters. But when they were drawn out, they were vivid. Jack was pretty well developed too. There was a lot of baggage with both his and Crystal's characters. I think it was a little much to have so much serious baggage in ALL of the main characters. And yet, somehow, they all managed to overcome that baggage early on to form a family of their own even before anyone had thought it through. The attraction/relationship between Jack and Crystal seemed forced at the beginning, or just not natural given the situation. However, as the relationship went on, it became more and more like a real relationship, with each party getting irritated and taking it out on one another.
Read
February 15, 2016romantic suspense, 302pgs, spicy, a cop in the family bk 1
302p As if stumbling over a dead body isn't enough, Crystal Cartwright finds herself playing surrogate mother to two small boys when their father--her neighbor--doesn't come home. The kids aren't much trouble, but the thieves, drug dealers and kidnappers they're about to encounter are.
Detective Jack Dunlevy, a cop down on his luck, draws the cases no one else wants. A simple investigation involving a dead homeless man quickly changes as Crystal enlists Jack's help with the children. Drawn into a mystery that none of them could have anticipated, they're faced with a situation that will change their lives forever.
Don't miss Family Ties, Book Two and Family Honor, Book Three of A Cop In The Family
302p As if stumbling over a dead body isn't enough, Crystal Cartwright finds herself playing surrogate mother to two small boys when their father--her neighbor--doesn't come home. The kids aren't much trouble, but the thieves, drug dealers and kidnappers they're about to encounter are.
Detective Jack Dunlevy, a cop down on his luck, draws the cases no one else wants. A simple investigation involving a dead homeless man quickly changes as Crystal enlists Jack's help with the children. Drawn into a mystery that none of them could have anticipated, they're faced with a situation that will change their lives forever.
Don't miss Family Ties, Book Two and Family Honor, Book Three of A Cop In The Family
September 3, 2020
The fact that the characters smoked in this novel really put me off. Perhaps this book was written when smoking was fashionable, but I do wish the author or publishers would had have it overhauled before posting it onto the site.
I felt that credibility was strained over the boys, though the overall-plot was okay. The boys were a little too well adjusted under the circumstances which took their - admittedly rather horrible - father, but one would have expected them to be at least bewildered.
I feel ambivalent about the story, though many sections of it were good.
I felt that credibility was strained over the boys, though the overall-plot was okay. The boys were a little too well adjusted under the circumstances which took their - admittedly rather horrible - father, but one would have expected them to be at least bewildered.
I feel ambivalent about the story, though many sections of it were good.
September 23, 2012
This is the first book I read by Jamie Hill. I love the mystery in the story. I loved how Crystal cared for Devon & Mark like they were her kids. I loved how Jack saved & gave Crystal, Mark, & Devon the family they deserved after all they been through. This book is definitely worth every penny. I will definitely read more books by this author.
March 17, 2012
This took a little determination to get through. Found the main female character hard to relate to. Personal prejudice against smokers (I am terribly allergic.)
Good twist at the end to round up the bad guys, which I wasn't expecting.
Good twist at the end to round up the bad guys, which I wasn't expecting.
April 17, 2012
Jamie Hill writes an action-packed mystery/romance filled with real people and real possibilities, plus a magnetic, sexy attraction between the heroine and hero. Her characters are so life-like, they practically leap off the (electronic) pages. This book is a page-turner, for sure!”
June 26, 2012
I really liked the premise of the story, and the mystery was really good, I had no idea of who the main bad guy was until the very end. have already read it a couple of times but will definitely read it again.
July 21, 2014
4****I enjoyed this book made a change. Lots of romance,drama and action. Our heroine is trying so hard to keep her head above water financially. Then gets 2 beautiful boys left with her. The hero has to help her sort things. Sweet story
September 10, 2013
Good story. I enjoyed the back and forth of this relationship, though at times the romance was a bit repetitive. Through it all, the two romantic leads managed to keep the relationship going. The plot was a good read. All in all, a very fun read.
December 15, 2010
An exciting, sexy good read. I'm looking for more by Jamie Hill
December 15, 2010
Love Jamie's Cop in the Family series.
Read
March 16, 2012Loved this book!
March 28, 2012
LOVED IT! Similar writing style as James Patterson, with longer chapters, which made this a quick read. Looking forward to the second in the series.
June 14, 2012
A good plot but lacking in emotion
July 7, 2014
Family Secrets
I enjoyed reading this book. Didn't like the bad words that was used. I really liked the mystery of the two boys. I liked the way the book ended.
I enjoyed reading this book. Didn't like the bad words that was used. I really liked the mystery of the two boys. I liked the way the book ended.
January 24, 2016
Realistic. Intriguing. Can't wait to read the rest.
to-read-owned
February 13, 2016tbr
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews