Operation Payback - Justine Davis (HRS #2195 - Aug 2022)

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. 

Operation Whistleblower - Justine Davis (HRS #2157 - Nov 2021)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 13)

He'd sacrificed everything to right a wrong…
Now he needs help to do it again.
 
Becoming a whistleblower against his corrupt boss left Parker Ward homeless and jobless. But when a friend needs help proving a kidnapping, Parker teams up with remarkable dog Cutter and Detective Carly Devon. As Parker and Carly face danger together, their incendiary attraction explodes, but can they get justice while keeping themselves safe?
 
Another terrific entry in the Cutter's Code series. The story opens as Parker visits his friend Ray, taking Ray's dog Woof along for a visit. He's stunned when Ray tells him that he witnessed a kidnapping, but no one believes him. I loved that Parker knew Ray well enough to believe him. Unfortunately, the sheriff's deputy who came out to take the report was skeptical. The next morning, while drinking his coffee, Parker saw Woof take off with another dog and ran after them. The dog was Cutter, who led Parker right to Quinn Foxworth with that look that says, "This man has a problem you need to fix." I always enjoy peoples' first impressions of Cutter and his unique abilities, and this was no exception. Quinn's immediate belief in Ray's story surprised Parker, as did his call to the sheriff's office.
 
Detective Carly Devon works with Detective Brett Dunbar (Operation Power Play) and is familiar with Cutter's reputation. She's a bit skeptical until she meets Cutter and suspects the stories are true. I loved how she listened to her instincts and followed up by talking to Ray and visiting the possible crime scene. Her easy way with Ray was sweet, and I loved their banter.
 
I had to laugh when the group that went to visit Ray got back in the car to visit the crime scene. The two Foxworth people, Teague and Laney, were in the front seat, with Parker and Carly in the backseat. Rather than ride in the back, as usual, Cutter got on the back seat, too, pushing Carly up against Parker. Teague and Laney (Operation Blind Date) looked at each other with raised brows because they also have personal experience with Cutter's other talent - he has a 100% success rate as a matchmaker.
 
As is usual with a Cutter's Code book, I was sucked into the story and couldn't put it down until I was finished. Carly is a by-the-book detective and is very good at what she does. But without actual evidence of kidnapping, there isn't anything she can do officially. With the help of Cutter and the Foxworth Foundation, they begin to piece together the clues until they get enough information to go official. There are some interesting twists as they delve further into what happened, and I enjoyed following their investigation. The final confrontation and resolution kept me glued to the pages. The danger created a nail-biting intensity that didn't let up until it was all over.
 
I loved watching the development of the relationship between Parker and Carly. Parker has had a rough go of it lately. The son of self-centered and uncaring parents, he found himself in a tough spot when he took a job they recommended him for. He blew the whistle on the company owner who was running a Ponzi scheme. He also refused to keep any of his earnings, leaving him jobless and homeless. He's very down on himself for not seeing what was happening sooner and depressed over his prospects. Looking after Woof for Ray came at the perfect time. When Parker met Carly, he was immediately attracted to her but felt unworthy of doing anything about it. Carly was just as attracted to him and very impressed when she learned who he was.
 
I loved Carly's support of Parker as she learned more about him and his past. There were quite a few times I wanted to shake him for constantly putting himself down. Even though many people told him what a great thing he did and called him a hero, he refused to see it. One of the things I loved about Carly was the way she'd call him out when he started wallowing in his past. I loved how Parker realized that being around Carly made him happy in ways he'd never felt before. It was entertaining to see Cutter assist in pushing Carly and Parker together. Everyone around them can see what is happening, though Parker is oblivious until Carly fills him in. Once he realizes his feelings, Parker's self-doubts keep holding him back until he gets some good advice from Ray. As the resolution of the kidnapping grew closer, I loved the shifting dynamics as Carly's professional abilities took precedence over Parker's protectiveness. Teamwork won the day though not without consequences.
 
I loved the ending. It was a great wrap-up to the book. I felt for Parker as he faced another trial and loved his realization that this one would be different, thanks to Gavin de Marco (Operation Notorious). The new dynamic of Carly, Parker, and Ray (and Woof) as a family was fantastic, though Parker's future was still a dark spot in his attitude. I loved Cutter's assistance in taking care of that issue. Haley put it best: "You see, Cutter doesn't just demand we fix things. He sometimes shows us how to fix things." "Are you sure that's just a dog?" Ray asked. "Nope," Haley said. "Not at all."