REVIEW: FALLING FOR THE P.I by VICTORIA JAMES

In Falling for the P.I (Still Harbor #1) by Victoria James, Matt Lane doesn't believe love and relationships are for him. Yet, the moment he spies Kate at the bar and starts flirting with her, it seems she might just change his mind. Except, her discovery that he was once a cop, has her running scared. Which makes him determined to discover the reason behind her fear.

 

Kate Abbott loves her daughter, and couldn't imagine life without her. Yet, a night out with her two best friends, is actually doing her good. Meeting a man as sexy as Matt could be the start of a new relationship. Except, there's the problem that he's an ex-cop.

 

Ms. James never ceases to impress me with her books, and this one was absolutely delightful to read. The plot was compelling, well-written and I loved how it started with Kate meeting Matt, and then running scared when she learns certain things about him.

 

As for the dialogue, there are so many aspects to it. It's a combination of sweet, intense, playful and emotional. The sweet moments are between Kate and her daughter, Janie. As well as between Matt and his sister. Those moments were the most memorable. Janie and Matt's sister seem so cute, and I couldn't help but like the pair as much as the two main characters. However, the playful dialogue was also just as memorable, as it reveals a different side of Kate that I didn't expect. Because until the moment she meets Matt, she seems so serious, so uptight. That I wasn't sure she knew how to be anything but. While with the intense and emotional dialogue, was all due to their back stories.   

 

Immediately, I liked both Kate and Matt. They're well-developed, and their back stories make them the great characters they are. Kate's relationship with her daughter is a very special one. It seems Kate is trying to recapture some part of her past, and Janie helps her do that. Then there are the secondary characters that provide their own uniqueness to the story. Kate's two best friends are a real hoot, especially when they're trying to convince Kate to take a chance. 

 

The sex scenes were scorching, and illustrated the intense chemistry these two had from the start. They were perfect where they were in the story, and Kate couldn't have been in more capable hands. The fact that she trusted Matt enough to get up close and personal with -- despite his past profession and her fear for cops -- was remarkable. Because I wasn't sure they'd be able to get over that particular hurdle. 

 

Overall, this was an excellent start to a new series for this author, and I can't wait to read the next one. I would recommend this to all romance readers, but especially those that love a hero willing to prove that love can overcome the painful memories of the past.

 

OVERALL RATING:

 

 

  

 

BOOK INFO:

 

Publication: August 10th, 2015 / Entangled Publishing (Bliss) / Still Harbor #1

 

Teacher Kate Abbott's fresh start in Still Harbor was the beginning of the life that she and her two best friends always imagined for themselves. Still, being a working single parent of a special needs daughter hasn't exactly improved Kate's love life. But Kate's preference for nachos over men quickly disappears when she meets the oh-so-sexy Matt Lane.

Until she finds out he's a cop.

Matt is a former cop-turned-private investigator, and he knows fear when he sees it. A cop clearly spooked Kate…or hurt her. Still, something about the gorgeous professor catches his attention, and despite his “no settling down” policy, he can't resist her. But all of the attraction in the world won't be enough to overcome Kate's past…