Casee‘s review of Anything But Mine (Hearts of the South Series, Book 4) by Linda Winfree.
Public Defender Autry Holton, honor-bound to defend an accused serial killer, is in a “shunned if she does, disbarred if she doesn’t” position. To complicate matters, she’s pregnant and hasn’t yet told her ex-lover he’s the father. The reason? She’s pretty sure he won’t want the baby.
After raising one family and suffering a failed marriage, Sheriff Stanton Reed never believed he was the right man for Autry. Then an attempted break-in at Autry’s home highlights the real danger she faces, and all he can think of is protecting her. When she tells him the truth about their baby, the past doesn’t matter. He wants both her and their child in his life.
But just as Autry dares to hope there’s a future for them, an act of homegrown terrorism shatters her trust—and threatens their lives.
This book was an emotional roller coaster ride. While I’ve expected this series to pack quite the emotional punch, I wasn’t prepared for the level of it that came in this book.
Autry is a Public Defender. Reed is the Sheriff. Hello, Conflict of Interest.
By the time that Autry is appointed to defend accused serial killer (and former police officer) Jeff Schafer, Autry and Reed had already called a halt to their relationship. Then Autry starts receiving threatening letters and phone calls that she is almost positive are related to the case. To top it all off, she’s pregnant and hasn’t yet brought herself to tell Reed she’s pregnant with his child.
After an attempted break-in that Reed responds to, Autry knows that the time of truth has come. Telling him was something she dreaded, just b/c she knew that he didn’t want more children. Something she didn’t expect was his adamant stance on protecting her…by moving her to his house.
Reed admits to himself that he effed up with Autry. While he has tried to tell himself if was their jobs and his lack of wanting to commit, he knows the truth. Autry brings too many feelings to the surface, something that Reed is far from comfortable with. He’s forced to face his feelings for her when her life is threatened.
They agree to disagree about their jobs. Autry doesn’t want to defend Schafer, but she has no choice. On the first day of of the trial, the unthinkable happens; a bomb goes off in the courthouse. Reed was outside taking a call while Autry was in front of the jury box making her opening statement. Right before the bomb explodes, Reed decides that he has to tell Autry that he loves her.
It all went downhill (emotionally) from there. Winfree did such a good job of engaging me into this book, I felt like I was at the courthouse. Not only is Autry missing, but Tick is also. Caitlin and Reed (usually adversaries) now have a bond that they wish they never had.
Eventually Reed finds Autry. Spoiler alert: Autry has gone into premature labor. She’s in a coma and they have to deliver the baby (at 29 weeks). After a few days, Reed had to make the decision to either let their daughter die peacefully (no respirator) or keep her on the respirator, which would just expand her lungs painfully. I cried. When Reed made the decision and sat in the rocking chair with the baby while she took her last breath, the tears were freely flowing. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that scene. End Spoiler.
The whole book was just one emotional time bomb. It was fantastic.
4.25 out of 5.
This book is available from Samhain Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Other books in the series:
This book absolutely made me cry. Lots. And I loved it!
Loved this one, too. And the whole series is just so damn good.
I cried, too. 😉
Thanks for the great review, Casee — I’m glad you enjoyed the book. 🙂