Series:
Cutter's Code (Book 14)
She taught him the meaning of love…
But will his past ruin their second chance?
An abusive home drove Trip Callen into crime -- then
prison. Only Kayley McSwain recognized the goodness in Trip and stood by him as
no one ever had. When Trip and Kayley are targeted by a vengeful criminal
syndicate, the Foxworths and their remarkable dog Cutter offer them protection.
But can Trip keep Kayley safe and uncover the threat to her life in time?
I love the Cutter's Code books, and this was no
exception. I love how the author finds new storylines for Cutter and the
Foxworths rather than variations on the same theme. In some earlier books, we've
learned how the Foxworth Foundation got its start helping people who have been
let down by or fallen through the cracks of the justice system. It all started
with the theft and recovery of a little girl's locket many years ago. In
Operation Alpha, sixteen-year-old Emily brought a friend to the Foxworths for
help, and we learned a little more of the story. In Operation Payback, we get
the story of the man who stole, and ultimately returned, Emily's locket.
Trip has paid his debt to society, and now that he is out
of prison, his first thought is to thank the person who stood by him while he
was away. Kayley had been his girlfriend's roommate and, unbeknownst to him,
had a massive crush on him. They became friends while he dated her roommate,
with Kayley seeing a different side of him. When his girlfriend dumped him
after his arrest, Kayley stayed his friend. I ached for Trip because of how he
ended up going down the wrong path. An abusive home life made him feel accepted
by a gang of criminals. Though he willingly participated in the robberies, he
reached a point where his conscience started to bother him. That came too late,
as he was arrested shortly after that. He never knew that the person
responsible for his capture also arranged for other incarceration options.
Trip is so lost when he leaves prison that he can't think
past seeing Kayley. He knows he doesn't want to end up back in prison. I loved
how Kayley took him in and gave him a way to adjust. I loved Cutter's appearance
in her yard and how he stood there staring at Trip before leaving. I knew right
then that Cutter had found his newest mission. I could feel Trip's shock when
he learned who Cutter belonged to and got the story of Foxworth's continued
involvement in his life. When Trip discovers that his old crime boss has put out
a hit on him, his first thought is to leave to protect Kayley. Kayley has other
ideas and immediately drags him to the Foxworths, and the rest is history.
I loved watching Quinn and company do what they do best.
Quinn and Hayley are out of the picture for most of the book, with Rafe
providing most of Foxworth's support. Trip is immediately placed in a sort of
protective custody at the Foxworth building, with Cutter in charge of watching
over him. I loved Cutter's effect on Trip, from calming to bringing him out of
his shell. The suspense builds as Trip and Rafe track down the threats and the
person behind them. As the threats intensify, Trip worries about Kayley's
safety. When the final confrontation came, I loved Trip's determination, willingness
to accept help from Rafe and the others, and Cutter's superb acting and
protection skills.
As much as I enjoyed the suspense portion of the book,
the development of Trip and Kayley's relationship was my favorite. Kayley had
always seen the good in Trip, even when he was running with the criminals. Trip
doesn't understand why she is so kind to him when he can only see the mistakes
he made. She is determined to help him in any way possible, including standing
by him as he deals with his troubles. As a reader familiar with Cutter's
matchmaking instincts (as are Rafe and the others), it was great fun to see
Cutter "nudging" Trip and Kayley together at every opportunity. With
them spending so much time together, coupled with Kayley's acceptance of Trip's
past, it is no surprise that Trip finally realizes that his friendship with her
has grown into more. The problem is getting him to believe in himself enough to
accept her love in return. When he does, there is no holding back. In keeping
with the Foxworth policy of not accepting payment for their service, only that the
recipients pay it forward, I loved the solution Hayley found that would help
them both.
I loved seeing characters from previous books. Quinn and
Hayley appear only briefly, but their presence is always there. Liam and Ria help
show Trip that he's safe, and Liam plays a significant role in the
investigation and resolution. Gavin de Marco (
Operation Notorious) lends his
support. It warmed my heart when Emily showed up to see Trip. Rafe plays a
central role in this book, as Quinn and Hayley leave him in charge. Rafe has
grown and changed since the early books, and I can't wait until he finally gets
his own story. There are further hints as to his future, but I suspect he isn't
quite ready to face it.
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