Thomas Sawyer Kincaid learns of an event that compels him to leave his families side during a tragic time for them all. Melissa Teague’s life was once again being threatened and Sawyer was determined to do all he could to protect her, again. While waiting for Melissa he becomes acquainted with her son and mother, both of whom he is taken with immediately. Melissa herself had always been a draw for Sawyer and he was just as impressed with the new Melissa, who was now trying to piece together a life and show the world the strong women she always was. Understandable Melissa was a bit wary of getting to involved with anyone but there was just something between Melisssa and Sawyer that had to be acknowledged. Sawyer is aware of all that Melissa has to overcome and is very patient with her while he becomes more and more involved with Melissa’s whole family. How will Melissa handle having her life once again under threat? How does Sawyer balance Melissa’s independent bent with his protective instincts? Will the end be just a temporary fix for Melissa or end the threat to her forever?
This book was good, even though I hadn’t read the first installment of this series. Sawyer is great with Melissa’s son/mother and so understanding of what Melissa is dealing with, both in the present and her past, that you can’t help really hoping the two stay together. It was wonderful seeing Melissa successfully deal with all she had gone through and even get a possible HEA almost from the beginning, if she could believe enough to seize the moment. Again, Sawyer’s patience and understanding of things made him totally irresistible. I liked how he balanced his caution with him continuing to be himself. Both showing his emotions and taking care not to scare Melissa. The thread that runs through this series was pulled forward a bit for the reader although the characters still have a ways to go in solving the mystery. 
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Use the talents you have, for the woods would by silent if no birds sang except the best. (from a flip inspiration book-'Thoughts for my daughter')
If you haven't all ready
If you haven't all ready picked up Armed and Devastating, the second book in this series, I would strongly recommend it. Of course, I strongly recommend all of Julie Miller's HIs.
J
Hi Blake, Hi J - I love all of Julie's books too
glad that the other two in this series come out this year
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Hi J, Sadhbh
This is the first book I have read in this series. I will have to keep an eye out for the others. I was thinking this was book 2 but from your comment I am thinking maybe book 3. Sadhbh, so does that make this a 5 book series or am I still getting it wrong?
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Use the talents you have, for the woods would by silent if no birds sang except the best. (from a flip inspiration book-'Thoughts for my daughter')
Hey, Blake! First, thanks
Hey, Blake! First, thanks for reading the book. I'm pleased to see that you enjoyed it. And I appreciate you blogging about it.
Maybe I can clear up some confusion for you.
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS is the first of a 4-book mini-series I've written for Intrigue. So you haven't missed anything with the Kincaid brothers. The four books have/will be released this year.
PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS-June
ARMED AND DEVASTATING-July
PRIVATE S.W.A.T. TAKEOVER-October
KANSAS CITY CHRISTMAS-November
However, I have been writing an ongoing series for Intrigue since 2004, called THE PRECINCT. These stories are connected by the setting--the fictional Fourth Precinct in Kansas City, Missouri. The heroes/heroines are people who live and work in KC. Because I've created this community of cops, characters will often appear as a supporting character in one or two or several books before becoming the hero/ine in his or her own story. Also, several characters who've already been the hero/ine will come back in stories as supporting characters.
I think that's what folks are talking about. John, Sawyer and Atticus Kincaid first appeared as supporting characters in two of my Intrigues that were out last year, UP AGAINST THE WALL and NINE-MONTH PROTECTOR. Melissa Teague and Ace Longbow also appeared in UP AGAINST THE WALL. Sawyer worked with the hero on an undercover op, and Melissa happened to be the waitress at the casino where they were working. Ace, being the loveable kind of guy that he is (
insert sarcasm), was bound to show up wherever Melissa is.
Does that help clear things up? I don't think you have to have read the previous books to understand the dangers/conflicts in PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS. But, if you want to know more about the character's lives before that story, you can check out the earlier (and future!) books.
Again, thanks for reading my book!
Julie Miller
PRIVATE S.W.A.T. TAKEOVER (Holden's story)--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge miniseries--Intrigue--October 2008
KANSAS CITY CHRISTMAS (Edward's story)--Intrigue--November 2008
OUT OF CONTROL--Blaze--April 2009
Also, Blake,
"The Precinct" mini-series is a spin-off of Julie Miller's "The Taylor Clan" mini-series, which is also an HI mini-series. The first book of the Taylor Clan was re-issued not to long ago. It is another that I would highly recommend. In fact, I would saying finding her backlist of books would include some excellent reads--although it might be a little time-consuming.
I would have to agree that the books stand alone well, and you do not necessarily have to read the Precinct books which came before this particular mini-series for Protective Instincts and Armed and Devestating to make sense, BUT I think that the books which came before are definitely good stories that Julie Miller fans would not want to miss. However, I like authors like Julie who give us characters that we get a continuing relationship with. It is nice to see the characters that we met in previous books again, whether they are playing a starring role or a supporting role.
Hey Julie - nice to see you in here
I like "linked" books even if the link is light enough not to prevent you reading the book as a standalone, because most of us don't actually live on desert islands. Connections are made and discovered every day because that's life, and it's nice when books reflect that
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
No more excuses, just READ!
Thanks Julie !
Thanks for the overview of things Julie. I totally got what was going on in 'Protective Instincts' but thought I may have missed a book or two. I am glad to hear that wasn't the case. Now I see that I have more additions to my large TBB list/TBR pile. As Sadhbh & J said, it is nice to read about characters from previous books in other stand alone books. It can come as a pleasant surprise as well if you hadn't expected it.
I have read your books before, Julie, and have always enjoyed them, although I can't quote titles as I stopped writing them down after HS. I started reading way to many books now in any case. Do you happen to have the numbers on the next few books in this series? For the categories I write them down only by number, although I do look for the series name on the sides as well, and your name usually catches my eye anyway, so I should have no problem there. Thanks for all the enjoyment.
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Use the talents you have, for the woods would by silent if no birds sang except the best. (from a flip inspiration book-'Thoughts for my daughter')
Here are the series numbers
Here are the series numbers for the last two Kincaid brothers:
PRIVATE S.W.A.T. TAKEOVER--Intrigue #1090
KANSAS CITY CHRISTMAS--Intrigue #1099
Thanks,
Julie Miller
PRIVATE S.W.A.T. TAKEOVER (Holden's story)--The Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge miniseries--Intrigue--October 2008
KANSAS CITY CHRISTMAS (Edward's story)--Intrigue--November 2008
OUT OF CONTROL--Blaze--April 2009
I'm looking
I'm looking forward to reading these in my future. I'm catching up with all her books and I've just read the first couple of Taylor Clan and now reading some Montana Confidential's so I can read Julie's book in that series. All her books are really good exciting reads so if you come across some of her older ones pick em up and give them a try.
The D2K Paranormal Junkies ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Thanks again!!
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Use the talents you have, for the woods would by silent if no birds sang except the best. (from a flip inspiration book-'Thoughts for my daughter')