review 1: I can't quite put my finger on exactly why, but I really enjoy these books... in spite of the fact that there are several things about this authors writing that drive me crazy.I enjoy the overall storyline.I enjoy the characters, both the heroes and the villain's, they are well written.I enjoy the humor, it's not usually hard hitting in your face humor but rather subtle and it makes me chuckle.I enjoy the setting of the story both being Australia and a small, backwoods little town.I enjoy the relationship, usually, between Finn and Tess.I don't enjoy that this author loves for her leading females to constantly get beaten up... badly... over and over... while the men rarely get even a scratch, in fact the men are rarely around when the women need them. In this book, right ... moreoff the bat, Tess is shot and then before she even gets out of the hospital she's stabbed. Every book in this series and the Heller series, the female is always seriously injured.I don't like that this author writes her females as strong when facing the world but then a total doormat when around the "special" men in her life (in this book it's Jake & Finn). She's always apologizing for things she shouldn't and forgiving actions the men have done when they haven't even apologized and should have! I hate that she settles for what she gets from Jake, she deserves better but she defends him to the end. And Finn gets on her case over stuff that is out of her control. If it happened occasionally that would be one thing, but it's all the time in both series.I don't like how this author drags the relationship that we want to see happen out soooo long. Seriously, I get that sexual tension can be a good thing in a story but it's almost like this author doesn't know how she would write a book if the heroine were actually in a good relationship. Like there couldn't be a good story to tell if the main couple were finally together. It's as if this author won't let the couple be together as long as there are more books in the series that she wants to write, they will have to wait until the very last book is written, and then probably until the last page of that book. There are so many series out there where the "couple" finally get together and are a good team in fighting evil. Those authors still manage to keep the story awesome even though they are together... ex: Night Huntress, Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson, Barrons & Mac from Fever series, etc. And throw in a few more juicy intimate details too! Some authors go over the top with the sex, but this series doesn't have enough. :)I think those are the main points. So while I do enjoy this series I also want to throw the book against the wall (well, maybe not my Kindle). I wish the author would work on these few things and then I believe the series would rock!! The Heller series especially needs help because those books could drive me to murder (well, murder Heller anyway). review 2: Update 11/10/2014Loved everything about this book! So glad I decided to read the whole series again before I read the new one that just came out! I love this series!!Again another great continuation of Tess's life at Little Town. I am finding it hard to put these books down and get anything done!! Super excited to start the next one and see what her next crime to solve is in the town!! Loving it!!! less
