Title:  Falling for the P. I.
Series:  Still Harbor #1
Author:  Victoria James
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  August 10, 2015
Publisher:  Entangled Bliss
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

She could never trust a cop…

Teacher Kate Abbott’s fresh start in Still Harbor was the beginning of the life that she and her two best friends always imagined for themselves. Still, being a working single parent of a special needs daughter hasn’t exactly improved Kate’s love life. But Kate’s preference for nachos over men quickly disappears when she meets the oh-so-sexy Matt Lane.

Until she finds out he’s a cop.

Matt is a former cop-turned-private investigator, and he knows fear when he sees it. A cop clearly spooked Kate…or hurt her. Still, something about the gorgeous professor catches his attention, and despite his “no settling down” policy, he can’t resist her. But all of the attraction in the world won’t be enough to overcome Kate’s past.

Read on for my thoughts on Falling for the P. I.   No true spoilers, promise.

Still Harbor is a new beginning, a place to set down roots and grow for Kate, her daughter Janie – as well as for her created family of two other sisters and their children.  Kate has discovered that blood does not make a family, but friendship bonds certainly can develop a new kind of family based on more than simply a shared gene pool.  A professor who really doesn’t want, need or expect anything in life beyond her family, Kate is about to find out that what you think you need and what truly matters are two different things.

Matt’s been there, done that and has the ratty tee shirt and broken mug to prove it.  He has absolutely no interest nor intent of being tied down to one woman ever again.  Once a cop always a cop, even when you can no longer be a cop – Matt now has his private investigator work to keep him on his toes and on the edge of a career he once loved.  And he’s going to need those skills when he feels the sparks fly between him and one lovely lady who wants absolutely nothing to do with a former cop.  To her.. once a cop, always a cop — and never, ever a cop in her life.

Falling for the P. I. is the exciting beginning of a new series.  The first book in a series will always set the bar as to whether I will pick up the rest or leave them on the shelf.  Perhaps that is harsh, but in a world with thousands of new titles each year and only so much time to read in a lifetime, I pick what I want to read long term very carefully.  The Still Harbor series started off very strong, with an engaging couple, a mystery, touches of suspense and secondary characters that I want to learn more about… and that is why the first novel is important to me.  It sets up the emotions and the desire to know more… or not care at all.  On this one – I care.

Matt is loving and gentle with Kate’s adopted daughter, Janie – as the parent of a special needs child myself, this rang true and perhaps moved this novel and series into the favorite category for me because this can be tricky to get right and not ignored or over the top.  Matt would do just about anything for his two lovely ladies, keeping them safe and in his life has become a priority.  Kate has had an extremely painful past, and it is so easy to understand why she has trust issues.

Kate and Matt are a spark filled, likeable, interesting couple.  And their love story, while rocky at points, proves that love with the right person is worth the risks.

I would highly recommend Falling for the P. I. for romance readers who enjoy a small town feel, deeply engaged couples and secondary characters who make you long to move time forward so you can get to their stories.

*I received an e-ARC of Falling for the P. I. from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle