Genre: Contemporary, Small Town, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
He isn’t looking for love, there’s a killer on the loose.
The last person Andre expected to see in Cooper Springs was Dante Castone. He left Dante and the rest of his old life behind him when he moved to Washington State and what he thought would be a quiet job in a small town by the ocean.
Dante Brown went into WITSEC for his sister’s kid–sort of.
In reality, Dante’s DIYing it; he isn’t the trusting sort. Daniella was the only witness to her mom’s brutal murder and needs both protection and anonymity–plus as normal a life as possible. It’s just a bonus that Cooper Springs has Andre Dear too.
He and Andre have a history, and Dante wants to see if they might have a future. Someone is gunning for Andre and, like it or not, Dante is going to protect him. And yeah, feed him too. Does the man never eat?
Andre needs Dante’s help even if he doesn’t want to accept it. Dante’s ready to settle down but he’s going to have to prove himself before Andre lets him in again.
Together, they need to catch a killer and maybe find each other in the process.
Red Flagged is book three in the Reclaimed Hearts series. A second-chance, older-lovers redemption story and thrilling romantic suspense set in the wilds of the Olympic Peninsula.
The Review
Enter the weird world of Cooper Springs, where Big Foot is the main topic of conversation.
US Marshall Andre Dear wanted an uncomplicated life, something easier before retirement. He made the decision to take the job as police chief in the little town of Cooper Springs. He also needed to get away from Dante Castone, DEA undercover operator. The sex between them was better than good, but there was no commitment, and that’s what Andre really needed in a relationship.
But Cooper Springs, isn’t as peaceful as it seems. Dear is soon faced with discovered bones, missing people, unidentified bodies, and two young people with a questionable home life. He also has to deal with an understaffed office and budget issues that stand in the way of just getting the job done, and he has to watch his step with Officer Trent, a thorn in his side. At least he can rely on Detective Lani Cooper and dispatcher Carol Page.
Dante Castone has made a decision after his sister, Simone Maddison’s traumatic death. He now needs to protect his niece Daniella, who witnessed her mother’s murder. Castone won’t take witness protection – he can take care of that himself. He knows just where to go. He’s got his niece packed up and arrangements made for a small house in Cooper Springs. He’s also got unfinished business with Andre Dear. It was a shock to Dante when he went to Andre’s home and found out that he didn’t live there anymore.
Besides all of Andre’s other headaches, he now has to deal with Dante again. Will they finally have a serious conversation about their relationship? Can they make it work, and do they want it too? Or will it be too late, when someone is aiming for the kill shot?
Keaton knows how to bring fast-paced action and twisted danger to the page. Red Flagged, the third book in the “Reclaimed Heart” series, will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
I also enjoyed the hard working women in the story: Detective Lani Cooper and Carol Page. Lani with the haunted house, and Carol, who has a great suggestion to bring in Nick Waugh as her replacement. That should get interesting! The West Coast Forensics gets involved too, as Ethan Moore comes to identify the bones and Sacha Bolic and my favorite, Niall Hamarsson, come along for the ride. To top it all off, Morrison is an interesting character, and Chris Hatch seems to be hiding a secret.
I highly recommend Red Flagged – it’s a quick-moving story that will keep you engaged all the way through. There are plenty of mysteries mixed in to keep the reader guessing, along with fun banter and steamy moments between Andre and Dante. The danger is off the charts as bullets start flying, and you never know who will be next. This was one wild ride. I loved it!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
