Title:  Cop On Her Doorstep
Series:
Author:  Karen Docter
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  August 25, 2015
Publisher:
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

In the six years since her husband was killed by S.W.A.T., Carrie Padilla has spent long hours at work, rebuilding a life for herself and her son. The little time she has at home is spent keeping her eight-year-old son out of trouble, but he is all too eager to try to be the man in the house. When a handsome cop shows up on her doorstep, her errant son in tow, Carrie’s heart stutters. The sexy Italian cop sets off all kinds of bells in her system, and she knows there’s only one thing she can do to save what is left of her family, her husband’s memory, and her heart…avoid her new neighbor at all costs.

S.W.A.T. officer Jake Stafani already lost one little boy to gang violence, the dead boy’s older brother is missing, and Jake’s not about to let the same thing happen to a neighbor’s son. He drags the youngster home only to discover much more than a passing interest in the boy’s beautiful, but wary, mother. Forced to take a leave of absence after a bust goes awry, Jake can think of nothing better to occupy his time than to keep Carrie and her son safe, and locate the missing teen who holds the key to taking the gang off the streets, once and for all.

But Jake doesn’t count on his stubborn, intriguing neighbor distracting him from his job, or the passion that flares between them. He doesn’t expect her amazing son to steal a piece of his heart. Jake is ready to risk everything for Carrie, body and soul. But it’s not all up to him. If their new love is to survive, Carrie will need to be strong enough to see the man’s beating heart behind the badge, to look beyond the pain of her past, and decide that loving again is worth the risk.

Read on for my thoughts on Cop On Her Doorstep.  No true spoilers, promise.

Jake is definitely hero material.  His charm, his caring attitude comes through in every single scene.  He believes so strongly in what he does, what he is … a cop who cares about the people he serves and protects – and at times tries to keep them from making mistakes that would follow them for a lifetime.  I wish there were more “Jakes” in law enforcement.  I’m sure there are, we just hear more about the other ones.

Carrie on the other hand… *sigh* Carrie.  There were times when I understood her fears and why she’s acting like she does.   And then there were the moments when I simply wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her.  She had this amazing man in love with her and her son, yet she is still trapped in the past with issues that she is afraid to let go of.

I think what touched me the most was Jake’s attitude about Carrie’s fears and trust issues.  He loved her.  H wanted to build a life with her and Eric but if she didn’t feel the same way, if she couldn’t give back to him what he offered her… then perhaps it is best that they move on with their lives.  He wasn’t going to “make” her love him.  Here’s a guy who realizes that if love isn’t a two way street, if the badge is all she will ever see and not the man who loves her wearing the badge – then they really have no future.  That is not an attitude that you’ll encounter much in romance novels and it was refreshingly realistic and made me love Jake even more.

I enjoyed Cop On Her Doorstep and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good, solid romance.

*I received an e-ARC of Cop On Her Doorstep 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