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Cutter's Code #6
Operation Homecoming
Let romance keep you warm this winterA hero with a secret returns home…and goes into rescuer modeAWOL in times of family tragedy, Walker Cole doesn't expect a warm welcome home. Nor does he expect to see Amy Clark—his sister's nerdy friend who had a mad teen crush on him—now a smart, sexy woman. Though Walker knows he's caused Amy pain and hatred, his own pain is worse. He can never tell the truth about his hellish years away. But when Amy's paralegal work endangers her, Walker jumps at the chance to guard her irresistible body and prove himself worthy of trust and forgiveness. Even Cutter, the Foxworth dog with a nose for trouble, has his back when trouble explodes!From Harlequin Romantic Danger. Passion. Drama.Read the Cutter's Code series from the beginning! Book 1: Operation Midnight Book 2: Operation Reunion Book 3: Operation Blind Date Book 4: Operation Unleashed Book 5: Operation Power Play Book 6: Operation Homecoming Book 7: Operation Soldier Next Door Book 8: Operation Alpha Book 9: Operation Notorious Book 10: Operation Hero's Watch Book 11: Operation Second Chance Book 12: Operation Mountain Recovery Book 13: Operation Whistleblower Book 14: Operation Payback Book 15: Operation Witness Protection Book 16: Operation Takedown Book 17: Operation Rafe's Redemption
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2015
106 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Justine Davis
257 books218 followersAuthor biographies are supposed to give you all those statistics, books written, awards won, etc. and I will, I promise...but first let me tell you about this ornery little tomboy (back then, the boys had all the fun...) who was always the one to make up the stories the neighborhood kids would "play". For those who came of age in the computer game era, this is something that was done usually in the backyard, by any number of summer-bored children, with props where appropriate. (Did you know a 55 gallon drum tied to a picnic bench makes a very cool horse?) It wasn't until much later that this tomboy realized two things: A) not everyone made up stories in their heads all the time, and B) in real life, the boys that had already had all the fun now seemed to always be winning.
But I digress. I was born on a farm down in Iowa....well, not quite, but close; Boone, Iowa is in the middle of farm country, but I arrived at a hospital. In a snow storm. Make that a blizzard. My sister tells me she knew my destiny when I was very young, because when I first saw the Disney classic Old Yeller, I was apparently so upset that I promptly went home and rewrote the story. In my version, the dog lived, of course. Should have been a clue.
Possibly in response to that blizzard I was born in, I've been a West Coaster since before I was a year old, and intend to stay that way. I have a history of staying. I started my first full time job right out of school (well, there was a very brief sojourn at a place where they made, among other things, burial vaults, but I prefer not to recall that one...) and stayed for twenty-one years. I've been married to the same wonderful guy for going on two decades now. We lived in our last house for seventeen years. (I won't even mention how many dumpsters we filled moving after that long....)
Readers seem as fascinated by my first career as they are with my writing. My time in law enforcement was many things, exciting, nerve wracking, and irritating, but most importantly never, ever boring. It was fascinating enough that I didn't think about writing seriously for several years. I kept a journal, and wrote long letters, collected quotes, mentally rewrote movies, and still made up those stories in my head, but never dreamed of actually writing for publication. I was having too much fun helping to catch bad guys, and being continually amazed at the situations people get themselves into. And eventually I walked away with a wealth of background and story ideas, and knowing some truly great people who work very hard to keep all of us safe. I'm proud to have been one of them, and I'm very aware that I have had the great good fortune of having had two jobs in my life that I love. Many people don't get even one.
But now that I'm in the delicious position of being able to make a living telling those stories in my head, I promise my readers two things: A) I'm staying--I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading, and B) in my stories, the girl--tomboy or not--always wins!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And now, the official stats:
Justine Dare Davis sold her first book in 1989, and followed that up with the sale of nineteen novels in less than two years. Her first four books were published in 1991, and she saw all reach the finals for either the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award or the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA Award. She has since won the RITA award four times, along with several Reviewer's Choice awards and three Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. At the 1998 national conference, Justine was inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame, making her one of a very select group of just eight writers. She also had four titles on the Romantic Times "Top 200 of All Time" list. Her sales now total more than 45, and her books have appeared regularly on best seller lists, including the USA Today list. She has been featured in several local newspapers and nationwide by Associated Press, has appeared on CN
But I digress. I was born on a farm down in Iowa....well, not quite, but close; Boone, Iowa is in the middle of farm country, but I arrived at a hospital. In a snow storm. Make that a blizzard. My sister tells me she knew my destiny when I was very young, because when I first saw the Disney classic Old Yeller, I was apparently so upset that I promptly went home and rewrote the story. In my version, the dog lived, of course. Should have been a clue.
Possibly in response to that blizzard I was born in, I've been a West Coaster since before I was a year old, and intend to stay that way. I have a history of staying. I started my first full time job right out of school (well, there was a very brief sojourn at a place where they made, among other things, burial vaults, but I prefer not to recall that one...) and stayed for twenty-one years. I've been married to the same wonderful guy for going on two decades now. We lived in our last house for seventeen years. (I won't even mention how many dumpsters we filled moving after that long....)
Readers seem as fascinated by my first career as they are with my writing. My time in law enforcement was many things, exciting, nerve wracking, and irritating, but most importantly never, ever boring. It was fascinating enough that I didn't think about writing seriously for several years. I kept a journal, and wrote long letters, collected quotes, mentally rewrote movies, and still made up those stories in my head, but never dreamed of actually writing for publication. I was having too much fun helping to catch bad guys, and being continually amazed at the situations people get themselves into. And eventually I walked away with a wealth of background and story ideas, and knowing some truly great people who work very hard to keep all of us safe. I'm proud to have been one of them, and I'm very aware that I have had the great good fortune of having had two jobs in my life that I love. Many people don't get even one.
But now that I'm in the delicious position of being able to make a living telling those stories in my head, I promise my readers two things: A) I'm staying--I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading, and B) in my stories, the girl--tomboy or not--always wins!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And now, the official stats:
Justine Dare Davis sold her first book in 1989, and followed that up with the sale of nineteen novels in less than two years. Her first four books were published in 1991, and she saw all reach the finals for either the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award or the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA Award. She has since won the RITA award four times, along with several Reviewer's Choice awards and three Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. At the 1998 national conference, Justine was inducted into the RWA Hall of Fame, making her one of a very select group of just eight writers. She also had four titles on the Romantic Times "Top 200 of All Time" list. Her sales now total more than 45, and her books have appeared regularly on best seller lists, including the USA Today list. She has been featured in several local newspapers and nationwide by Associated Press, has appeared on CN
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 8, 2015
"Well, hello again, Cutter."
He gave a short yip, and she bent to pet him. The moment she stroked his dark head she felt an odd sensation of relief, as if suddenly she knew it would all work out, it would all be all right. All the fears seemed to not vanish but at least recede.
In that instant, the welcoming dance stopped. The dog leaned into her, staring up into her face. Something in the intense gaze, or in those gold-flecked dark eyes, was mesmerizing, and she couldn't seem to look away.
And then he moved. He turned, sat down at Amy's feet and looked up at Hayley. And Hayley, oddly, stopped mid-motion as she was putting her own purse in the car. Her eyes flicked from the dog to Amy.
"Uh-oh," Hayley said.
"What?"
"Are you all right?"
Amy hadn't expected that. At least, not so soon. "Fine," she said. And health-wise, it was true. Otherwise, not so much. But she needed to work up to discussing that. "I may need your help loading this up, though," she said, gesturing at the large blue suitcase.
"Hmm." Hayley sounded doubtful, but she seemed to accept the answer. She looked back at the dog. "I got it, boy. I promise."
Cutter gave a low, soft whuff and a movement of his head that looked startlingly like a nod.
...
You want to tell me what's really wrong?" Hayley finally asked when they were parked in line for the big ferry that would take them across the sound. "Because Cutter says something is."
Amy blinked. "What?"
"He knows you have a problem. And," Hayley added in a dry tone, "he expects action."
"What are you talking about?"
"That look he gave me, after you petted him. That's his 'fix it' look."
Amy remembered the moment when the dog had sat at her feet and looked at Hayley. Was it possible the dog had sensed her turmoil? From what her friend had told her, the dog was incredibly empathetic.
I love this series and I adore this dog. In this one, Amy has come to Seattle to see her best friend and talk to her about a problem she has at work, one she isn't sure how to deal with. She knows that talking to Hayley will help her see how to proceed. Though she knows that Hayley's dog Cutter is something special, she's never understood just how special before this. Cutter seems to sense her turmoil, and just petting him makes her feel better. But it's his apparent insistence that his "people" at Foxworth can help her that really has her floored. Just as she's about to unburden herself to them, an unexpected visitor throws them all into turmoil.
Walker Cole, Hayley's brother, left home right after graduation. Though he stayed in touch at the very beginning, for the last five years no one has heard from him except for a couple texts. He didn't come home when their mother was diagnosed with cancer, for her funeral, or for Hayley's wedding. All we know, as readers, is that he was involved in something dangerous that he can't talk about. Both Hayley and Amy, who had a crush on him as a teenager, have been incredibly hurt by his actions and harbor a great deal of anger toward him. Walker accepts this, but really wants a chance to mend fences with them both.
There was so much emotional turmoil in this book that it was sometimes painful to read. Walker was hurting so much because of everything he had been through himself, and because of the guilt he felt about what he had done to them. Though he didn't like it, he accepted Quinn's first reaction to seeing him. I ached for him when his sister and Amy were so cold to him. Even Cutter seemed to be withholding acceptance of him. I loved his surprise at the changes in Amy, and how his attraction to her blindsided him.
The crush that Amy had had on Walker, and how much she had looked up to him, made his actions seem even worse to her. Her protectiveness to her friend really showed in the way she read him the riot act. She also couldn't believe that she still felt an attraction to him. This added to the turmoil she felt around him, and helped to feed her anger.
When she tells Quinn and Hayley about the issue that brought her to them, Walker is at first kept at a distance. No one is sure whether he can be trusted. It was interesting to see who it was that brought him into the loop. Walker finds himself feeling very protective of Amy, and I loved seeing how that protectiveness began to change opinions of him.
As the group returned to LA to continue the investigation into Amy's problem, I really loved how Walker began to began to earn a bit of respect. His insistence on being Amy's guard surprised them all, especially when he demonstrated his capability by taking on Quinn. Forced into spending a lot of time together as they carry out their plans, Amy begins to suspect that Walker isn't as changed from the boy she knew as she had thought. I loved how her feelings for him continued to change and grow. Walker had accepted his own feelings, but was quite certain that they would never be returned thanks to the secrets he's had to keep.
The investigation of Amy's boss by the people of Foxworth was fantastic. Each step was carefully taken to ensure Amy's safety. As each clue was uncovered the danger continued to increase. I began to suspect that everything wasn't quite as straightforward as it seemed and the final confrontation had a very interesting twist to it. When it was all over, another part of the wonder of Foxworth came out, and that was the sense of them being one big family. The request that Quinn had made of Rafe yielded results that surprised them all. I loved the fact that it only confirmed what they had already begun to understand about Walker. Their final demonstration of their love and trust was fantastic and I loved seeing what it meant to him.
As always, Cutter has a starring role in the book. I really enjoyed the way that he watched Walker before showing him any kind of acceptance. It's always fun to see how the people defer to his judgment. He also seems almost human in the way that he observes Walker and Amy and expresses his feelings over their actions. There were many places that had me laughing out loud over what he was doing. The scene as they left for the office party was especially funny. Of course, his sweet side had nothing on his protective side, and his part in the final confrontation was awesome. It's also fun to see that by the end of the book, his matchmaking skills are still undefeated.
I can't wait to see see who is up next in this series. Both Liam and Rafe are still running free. I'm especially looking forward to Rafe's story, as I suspect who he is going to be paired with. That should be a book with some amazing fireworks.
He gave a short yip, and she bent to pet him. The moment she stroked his dark head she felt an odd sensation of relief, as if suddenly she knew it would all work out, it would all be all right. All the fears seemed to not vanish but at least recede.
In that instant, the welcoming dance stopped. The dog leaned into her, staring up into her face. Something in the intense gaze, or in those gold-flecked dark eyes, was mesmerizing, and she couldn't seem to look away.
And then he moved. He turned, sat down at Amy's feet and looked up at Hayley. And Hayley, oddly, stopped mid-motion as she was putting her own purse in the car. Her eyes flicked from the dog to Amy.
"Uh-oh," Hayley said.
"What?"
"Are you all right?"
Amy hadn't expected that. At least, not so soon. "Fine," she said. And health-wise, it was true. Otherwise, not so much. But she needed to work up to discussing that. "I may need your help loading this up, though," she said, gesturing at the large blue suitcase.
"Hmm." Hayley sounded doubtful, but she seemed to accept the answer. She looked back at the dog. "I got it, boy. I promise."
Cutter gave a low, soft whuff and a movement of his head that looked startlingly like a nod.
...
You want to tell me what's really wrong?" Hayley finally asked when they were parked in line for the big ferry that would take them across the sound. "Because Cutter says something is."
Amy blinked. "What?"
"He knows you have a problem. And," Hayley added in a dry tone, "he expects action."
"What are you talking about?"
"That look he gave me, after you petted him. That's his 'fix it' look."
Amy remembered the moment when the dog had sat at her feet and looked at Hayley. Was it possible the dog had sensed her turmoil? From what her friend had told her, the dog was incredibly empathetic.
I love this series and I adore this dog. In this one, Amy has come to Seattle to see her best friend and talk to her about a problem she has at work, one she isn't sure how to deal with. She knows that talking to Hayley will help her see how to proceed. Though she knows that Hayley's dog Cutter is something special, she's never understood just how special before this. Cutter seems to sense her turmoil, and just petting him makes her feel better. But it's his apparent insistence that his "people" at Foxworth can help her that really has her floored. Just as she's about to unburden herself to them, an unexpected visitor throws them all into turmoil.
Walker Cole, Hayley's brother, left home right after graduation. Though he stayed in touch at the very beginning, for the last five years no one has heard from him except for a couple texts. He didn't come home when their mother was diagnosed with cancer, for her funeral, or for Hayley's wedding. All we know, as readers, is that he was involved in something dangerous that he can't talk about. Both Hayley and Amy, who had a crush on him as a teenager, have been incredibly hurt by his actions and harbor a great deal of anger toward him. Walker accepts this, but really wants a chance to mend fences with them both.
There was so much emotional turmoil in this book that it was sometimes painful to read. Walker was hurting so much because of everything he had been through himself, and because of the guilt he felt about what he had done to them. Though he didn't like it, he accepted Quinn's first reaction to seeing him. I ached for him when his sister and Amy were so cold to him. Even Cutter seemed to be withholding acceptance of him. I loved his surprise at the changes in Amy, and how his attraction to her blindsided him.
The crush that Amy had had on Walker, and how much she had looked up to him, made his actions seem even worse to her. Her protectiveness to her friend really showed in the way she read him the riot act. She also couldn't believe that she still felt an attraction to him. This added to the turmoil she felt around him, and helped to feed her anger.
When she tells Quinn and Hayley about the issue that brought her to them, Walker is at first kept at a distance. No one is sure whether he can be trusted. It was interesting to see who it was that brought him into the loop. Walker finds himself feeling very protective of Amy, and I loved seeing how that protectiveness began to change opinions of him.
As the group returned to LA to continue the investigation into Amy's problem, I really loved how Walker began to began to earn a bit of respect. His insistence on being Amy's guard surprised them all, especially when he demonstrated his capability by taking on Quinn. Forced into spending a lot of time together as they carry out their plans, Amy begins to suspect that Walker isn't as changed from the boy she knew as she had thought. I loved how her feelings for him continued to change and grow. Walker had accepted his own feelings, but was quite certain that they would never be returned thanks to the secrets he's had to keep.
The investigation of Amy's boss by the people of Foxworth was fantastic. Each step was carefully taken to ensure Amy's safety. As each clue was uncovered the danger continued to increase. I began to suspect that everything wasn't quite as straightforward as it seemed and the final confrontation had a very interesting twist to it. When it was all over, another part of the wonder of Foxworth came out, and that was the sense of them being one big family. The request that Quinn had made of Rafe yielded results that surprised them all. I loved the fact that it only confirmed what they had already begun to understand about Walker. Their final demonstration of their love and trust was fantastic and I loved seeing what it meant to him.
As always, Cutter has a starring role in the book. I really enjoyed the way that he watched Walker before showing him any kind of acceptance. It's always fun to see how the people defer to his judgment. He also seems almost human in the way that he observes Walker and Amy and expresses his feelings over their actions. There were many places that had me laughing out loud over what he was doing. The scene as they left for the office party was especially funny. Of course, his sweet side had nothing on his protective side, and his part in the final confrontation was awesome. It's also fun to see that by the end of the book, his matchmaking skills are still undefeated.
I can't wait to see see who is up next in this series. Both Liam and Rafe are still running free. I'm especially looking forward to Rafe's story, as I suspect who he is going to be paired with. That should be a book with some amazing fireworks.
March 12, 2024
This is one of the best series that I have read in a while. This book I could feel Walker’s pain and heartache. He just found out his mother died, and his baby sister got married while he was away. His sister Hailey wants to know where he was. I can understand that. I would too. She sent messages, and she would get a one or two word reply over the last few years. She took care of her mother until she died. She needed her big brother there. When he showed up, Hailey’s husband Quinn punched him. Walker only said he had that one coming. He can’t tell them where he was or what he was doing. By the end of the book, he won them over, and they all forgave him. Cutter was back at it. He knew both Amy, and Walker was in distress. He took to both of them. He also worked his doggy match making skills, and brought the two together. We need more dogs in the world like Cutter. I enjoyed this book! I’m looking forward to the next book!
July 19, 2015
Another great read featuring Cutter, the amazing dog, and the team at Foxworth. It's lovely to catch up with a lot of the characters that have featured in other books in this series, whilst there is plenty attention for the main characters of this book to develop their own story.
Looking forward to the next book, whomever may be the H in that one. Probably too soon for it to be Rafe, but that story I really really look forward to!!!
Looking forward to the next book, whomever may be the H in that one. Probably too soon for it to be Rafe, but that story I really really look forward to!!!
August 19, 2021
The Prodigal Returns
Hailey Cole Foxworth's wandering brother Walker Cole returns home after 5 years with only a few terse texts from him, uncertain of the reception he'll receive. Her lifelong friend Amy turns up knee deep in trouble. Amy has always loved her best friend's brother. When her life is threatened, Walker steps up with surprisingly effective skills. What has he been doing?
Walker can't tell them about the hell he's lived through. And everyone is not so sure what they think of Walker. But Amy has matured into a beautiful woman & she finds him equally compelling.
Will Amy & Walker get the chance at forever or will his past and the missing years keep her too angry at him for what his sister went through? A great, intrigue and marvelous romance about different kinds of heroes.
Hailey Cole Foxworth's wandering brother Walker Cole returns home after 5 years with only a few terse texts from him, uncertain of the reception he'll receive. Her lifelong friend Amy turns up knee deep in trouble. Amy has always loved her best friend's brother. When her life is threatened, Walker steps up with surprisingly effective skills. What has he been doing?
Walker can't tell them about the hell he's lived through. And everyone is not so sure what they think of Walker. But Amy has matured into a beautiful woman & she finds him equally compelling.
Will Amy & Walker get the chance at forever or will his past and the missing years keep her too angry at him for what his sister went through? A great, intrigue and marvelous romance about different kinds of heroes.
October 26, 2019
Cutter is the hero of this entire series. I loved how he was goofy and all protective of his people. And i loved that he kept bringing cases to be solved and helping out people in need by bringing them to Foxworth and his team of men's attention. Well, the suspense is well paced and the romance and steam blend in with the suspense making it a good stress relief read. The light hearted moments with cutter were heartwarming. :) This entire series is SAFE and manwhores free! So its my kinda series!
February 18, 2022
Loved it. First book I have read by this author. Cutter is just too much. If only everyone could have a Cutter. Amy had a few moments where she kept spacing out from what was going on around her. This got to be annoying. Other than that I enjoyed the book.
October 1, 2017
HRS #1861 = 3.5 stars
January 4, 2019
Decent enough harlequin. See through the plot twist pretty quickly, but it was still an interesting story with likable characters.
March 21, 2016
I won this book from the author's giveaway. It is the first book that I have from from the Cutter series, which is book 6, so while it can be read and enjoyed alone, I'll go back and read the earlier books and then read this one again. Cutter is an amazing dog with empathetic talents among others.
Walker Cole comes home from a long absent, missing his mother's death and his sister's wedding and finding his sister, her husband and his sister's best friend so angry at him that he doesn't know if they will ever forgive him. They don't know that he has been undercover and only found out about his mother's death and his sister's marriage until two days before, be he also can't tell them what he was doing that he couldn't come home when he was needed. The best friend, Amy, thinking she might have stumbled upon some illegal activity on the part of her boss who she really respects, and has come for help from Quinn, Walker's brother-in-law. Cutter is also a matchmaker and a body guard. Although I haven't read the previous books I did figure out who the real guilty party was before it was revealed, Still worth the read.
Walker Cole comes home from a long absent, missing his mother's death and his sister's wedding and finding his sister, her husband and his sister's best friend so angry at him that he doesn't know if they will ever forgive him. They don't know that he has been undercover and only found out about his mother's death and his sister's marriage until two days before, be he also can't tell them what he was doing that he couldn't come home when he was needed. The best friend, Amy, thinking she might have stumbled upon some illegal activity on the part of her boss who she really respects, and has come for help from Quinn, Walker's brother-in-law. Cutter is also a matchmaker and a body guard. Although I haven't read the previous books I did figure out who the real guilty party was before it was revealed, Still worth the read.
March 19, 2016
Walker Cole has been gone from home for too many years and when he returns, he has no good reason for not having come back, even for his mother's funeral. His sister and her best friend, Amy Clark, aren't sure whether to forgive him.
As a paralegal, Amy suspects her boss may have done something illegal, and when she is threatened, Walker's sister's husband's firm takes on the case, intent on keeping her safe. Walker volunteers to be her bodyguard, having recognized that he's attracted to her. The almost clairvoyant dog is a nice touch, too, particularly when real trouble threatens and who knows is going to survive the encounter.
As a paralegal, Amy suspects her boss may have done something illegal, and when she is threatened, Walker's sister's husband's firm takes on the case, intent on keeping her safe. Walker volunteers to be her bodyguard, having recognized that he's attracted to her. The almost clairvoyant dog is a nice touch, too, particularly when real trouble threatens and who knows is going to survive the encounter.
Read
January 12, 2016"Secrets are revealed as their feelings for each other grow. A sizzling chemistry between Amy and Walker and a solid plot with an especially sensitive dog at its center make this a charming romance" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: Cutter's Code
Miniseries: Cutter's Code
March 15, 2016
I enjoyed this second of the series – it was nice that Walker came back home, how he was greeted and included into the family. His past life was interesting, I particularly enjoy Cutter, the dog who protects all the good guys! The ending surprised me and made me happy! A pleasant fun read!
June 28, 2016
Wonderful Story
I have read sever of books written by Justine Davis and lo ed them all. This story was special and I ESPECIALLY loved Cutter the special Dog. I am sure that anyone who reads this book will love the story and especially Cutter.
I have read sever of books written by Justine Davis and lo ed them all. This story was special and I ESPECIALLY loved Cutter the special Dog. I am sure that anyone who reads this book will love the story and especially Cutter.
April 11, 2016
Really Really Good
Justine Davis really hit it on the mark.The mystery,thrills,adventure never stop.This is a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
Justine Davis really hit it on the mark.The mystery,thrills,adventure never stop.This is a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
June 13, 2021
A really good read
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews