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Cops and Docs #1

Blurred Lines

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Kelli McCabe is a no-nonsense detective with a tough exterior. Only a select few know her as a loyal, loving friend. To a fault, she is committed to her family, friends and her job.
As a surgeon, Nora Whitmore is used to being in control. The hospital is her life. There is little else. Respected by her colleagues but ridiculed by the residents, Nora takes what she needs and keeps everyone else at arm’s length, creating unexpected enemies.
Tragedy brings them together in a clash of personalities. As the chaos around them continues, they find the lines between them blurring. A friendship forms, understanding grows, and attraction soon follows. Together, they may conquer their own misgivings, but will the outside forces keep them apart?

Themes: lesbian · medical · police

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published February 3, 2016

114 people are currently reading
1930 people want to read

About the author

K.D. Williamson

10 books300 followers
KD (aka Minerva/Rizzleslvr72) is a Southerner and a former nomad, taking up residence in the Mid-West, east coast, and New Orleans over the years. She is also a Hurricane Katrina survivor. Displaced to the mountains of North Carolina, she found her way back to New Orleans, where she lives with her partner of ten years and the strangest dogs and cats in existence.
KD enjoys all things geek, from video games to super heroes. She is a veteran in the mental health field working with children and their families for over ten years. She found that she had a talent for writing as a teenager, and through fits and starts, fostered it over the years.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
Profile Image for Diane Wallace.
1,396 reviews149 followers
March 4, 2018
For all the high praise that this book got well i'm not fooled,hugely disappointed with all the on-call 'f-bombs' being used unnecessarily..bad dialogues at times...felt that both lead were force to interact and act on their feelings much too quickly...another thing wrong with story was both had a lot of major flaws and family issues in their life dealing with but the author chose to ignore this part of the story..i think she should have wrote about them(leads)attending some kind of therapy to help with their deep seeded problems..this story was a bit choppy with no depth but it had some good enough family drama,a bit of intense and interesting action to keep the readers glued..also the good thing is that you had these other spiteful colleagues who wanted to get a piece of her(Nora) and that was the only juicy part of this story i can tell...hopefully book 2 is much better and can explain in depth their hopes and problems because they have them in spades..nice family showing .. whoopi!
Profile Image for Pin.
457 reviews382 followers
February 10, 2017
Blurred Lines started as a Rizzoli & Isles fanfic. Kudos to Ylva for recognizing another very good online author, so thanks to that, a very good fanfic was turned into a very good published novel. Jane Rizzoli became a redhead outgoing cop named Kelli McCabe, and Maura Isles became a brilliant but socially awkward surgeon named Nora Whitmore. Bass the African spurred tortoise became Phineas the kunekune pig -- funny and equally unusual. :D
The most important part of the story is the relationship between the main characters. And it is done very well with particularly excellent witty dialogue. The plot is just a little bit stretched out in the middle, but I noticed that this happens often with fanfics published online chapter by chapter.
I recommend this book, and am looking forward to Crossing Lines -- the second book in the Cops and Docs series.

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
Profile Image for Lex Kent.
1,683 reviews9,784 followers
March 16, 2017
I was beginning to feel like I was the last one in the LesFic universe to read this. I found there to be so much hype surrounding these Cops and Docs books, I just had to know what everyone was talking about. I sometimes find myself not liking universally loved books, so I was worried that might happen again. Luckily I was not disappointed, this was worth the hype.
There are plenty of other reviews, so I'll just keep this short. I really enjoyed this. Both characters are likeable, and as they grow in the story, you like them even more. I know some people complained about the all the swearing Kelli did, but it didn't bother me. I live in the US, most of us have sh*t mouths anyway:) And to me it fit with her hard-nosed cop attitude. Nora's character really grew on me, I loved seeing the cracks in her facade the more she hung out with Kelli. I also really enjoyed their romance, how both characters made each other better. I liked how they interacted, the teasing and joking. The romance didn't feel rushed, they truly fell for each other more and more as time went by, and I appreciate that.

If your looking for a good romance with quirky characters different from what you are use to, grab this book. I'm absolutely looking forward to reading book 2.
Profile Image for Tiff.
385 reviews236 followers
February 10, 2016
Reading romance novels is one of my two hobbies. If and when I do have down time, I choose to do the two things that make me deliriously happy. I read or I run. Running tends to take precedence since I continuously talk myself into running marathons, some might say this is masochistic, but hey we all have our flaws. Why I am I telling you this? Let me ramble for a moment and I’ll get to my point.

Yesterday, the weather was 65 degrees and sunny in FEBRUARY! This is the absolute perfect running temperature for a winter hating individual like me. Did I go run my eight miles as scheduled? Nooooooo! I skipped it. I skipped my run on a beautiful spring-like winter day. Why you ask? Because of this darn book, Blurred Lines by K.D. Williamson, it was so amazing, so fabulous, it literally consumed me. You couldn’t have pried it out of my hands, even for calorie free pizza. Nope no way, I fell in love with this book. This book is great! This book is everything I yearn for every time I pick up a romance novel, every damn time!

Of our two leading ladies, one is a Seattle detective named Kelli McCabe. Blurred Lines begins with Kelli being rushed to Seattle Memorial Hospital with two gunshot wounds. This detective is a hardworking, family loving kind of lady. She’s rough around the edges, can drop F-bombs like no other, but her heart is what makes her so awesome. If you are one of her people, Kelli McCabe will love you fiercely. The detective takes care of everyone, she is her family’s go to person when they need help, and she does so amiably. While she is crass and sarcastic at times, she is also good natured and a virtual beacon of strength in a storm.

Doctor Nora Whitmore has enough idiosyncrasies to fill large boat. The doctor has spent her life alone. Her parents have passed, she has no friends, no family and she is shunned by her colleagues because of her prickly nature. She does not let anyone in. You could almost say that Dr. Whitmore is a robot. She does everything precisely. She gets up at the same time, eats the same breakfast day in day out in her monochromatic showpiece of a home. She lives for her routine. To Nora even having sex is like a business transaction. This all changes when the cocky detective ends up in the ICU. Kelli makes it her daily entertainment while in recovery to ruffle Nora’s feathers and get under her skin any chance she gets. And boy does she ever rattle her!

This book is all about the slow burn. K.D. Williamson builds this book like a bonfire, and when she finally struck the match, BOOM! Was it worth it, oh yeah! Blurred Lines has depth, character development, dialogue, plot and conflict. The writing was smooth, and the romance was smoking hot. I can honestly say this book flew right on to my favorite’s shelf. K.D. Williamson can write with the best of them. So I’ll run today in colder weather, but it was worth it, totally.

Thank you to to Ylva Publishing for the copy of this book.
Profile Image for geekyfangirlstuff.
195 reviews470 followers
April 11, 2023
no cudowne to było, oh gooood

czytając takie książki odczuwam tak wielki brak książek wlw z dorosłymi bohaterkami (takimi nawet 30+) u nas w PL, że moje serce płacze…
Profile Image for Kara.
720 reviews1,268 followers
August 22, 2018
“Blurred Lines” is a VERY fun book! We have police drama, hospital drama, family drama, a slow burn romance, terrific main and secondary characters, and FANTASTIC narration of terrific prose and banter!

I was SO crushing on MC Kelli throughout the story! Many reviewers were turned off by her frequent use of profanity. I thought it really fit in with her character, and it didn’t f’ing bother me a bit! Actually, I kept visualizing Jennifer Carpenter, the hottie who played the potty-mouthed police woman on the Dexter serial killer TV series. Kelly is truly hilarious throughout the book. Here’s an interaction between Kelli and a nurse:

“What are you, two?”

“What are you - eighty? Didn’t you get the memo, retirement age is 65.”

“I can do this anally….it’s a more accurate reading anyway.”

“Touch my ass, lady, and they will be fitting you for a prosthetic.”


And another time:
“This, is a pulse oximeter. It should look familiar to you, just like the blood pressure cuff, so you know it won’t hurt. Should I call your mother just to be sure?”

Shit, the nurse was getting better with her snark. Kelli was going to have to step it up. “No…but you sitting in my lap might help.” Sexual innuendo was always great to throw people, especially strangers, off their game. The nurse reddened, and left so fast that Kelli thought she saw wisps of smoke behind her.”


Her banter and snark with MC Nora is even more delightful. Nora is more difficult to like. She views sex as a biological necessity, but romance, friendships and even being around people are difficult for her.

There is definite chemistry between Kelli and Nora, but with all the other professional and family issues in the book, our MCs don’t even kiss until 6 hours into the book. At one point, Kelli realizes she ”was chasing a woman who had no idea if she wanted to be caught. She should have backed off a long time ago, but she couldn’t.” Well, it’s good that she couldn’t, because eventually Nora, err…comes around, and realizes she wants ”to share more than her body with Kelli.”

“Blurred Lines” is a terrifically entertaining book, but the ending feels unfinished. It’s the first in a three book series (“Cops and Docs”), and book two, “Crossing Lines”, continues exploring the relationship of Kelli and Nora. Hoping for more of Sarah Grant’s fantastic narration, I’m eagerly awaiting book two! Highly recommended with 5*
Profile Image for Jem.
408 reviews303 followers
May 5, 2016
I've read so many romance books about cops and docs (though not necessarily together) that I thought this would be like just another variation of the same theme. Add to that the book's fanfic roots and a rather nondescript cover that feels so 'vanilla romance lite' and I was ready to give it a pass. Fortunately, the cover of the second book managed to hook me in, or I would have missed one of the better (possibly best?) romances of the year. Which in itself is surprising because I was actually expecting more cop/doc action than romance.

This is a Romance. Not a police story. Not a medical thriller. There is no crime to solve, no bad guys to catch. (Well, there was a crime, and there were bad guys, but there's no catching or solving here. :) There's a subplot involving some medical issues but basically, pop off the cop/medical veneer and you've got a pure, unadulterated, slow burn romance between two successful career women who are at the top of their game. Their paths cross when the cop is seriously injured and needs PT. But things don't really heat up until the doc is slapped with a sexual harassment suit by a subordinate, and our two protagonists have to support each other through their respective ordeals. And this is where the book really shines.

The two leads can't be more different in temperament, demeanor, background and taste. Detective Kelli comes from loud, boisterous families--both her biological and her work one. And it shows in her colorful language, her outgoing personality and her unfailing sense of humor. She loves Metallica, beer and street food.

Dr. Nora Whitmore comes from money. But a sterile life, awkwardness in social relations and a naturally introverted personality has turned her into an aloof and emotionally detached 'ice queen'. She dreads live patient interaction and prefers the sanctuary of the operating room. (Despite the book's Rizzoli and Isles inspiration, Dr. Nora reminds me a lot more of Dr. Bones Brennan than friendly, smiley Dr. Isles.) When hurricane Kelli blows into her perfectly ordered life and threatens to crack her carefully fortified shell and uproot a lifetime worth of inhibitions, Nora holds on with the steadfastness of a coconut tree. She bends backwards from the force of the wind but springs back just as fiercely, stubbornly hanging on to her sheltered self..and heart.

Before I start singing praises, let me get the misfires out of the way first. Dr. Rader, the antagonist, as written isn't very realistic. There was a bit of hero-worshipping at the start of the book when the two protagonists were being introduced. And Kell's feelings of guilt over her supposed failure to protect her partner seemed overdone. Also, throughout the book, people kept turning red or purple at the drop of a hat.

Now on to the good parts. Which is just about...the rest of the book. This is a very dialogue heavy book, with lots of interactions between characters. The subplots involving Kelli's brothers, partner and ex-partner are all very well done. The supporting characters (excluding the bad guys) all have quite distinct and authentic voices. I enjoyed all the banter and the badgering. They talked like real people, not characters in a sanitized lesfic novel for women. ;) I especially liked the quieter moments. The facial expressions and/or hand gestures. The choked syllables. All the different emotions they convey with a look, or a stare or a glare. In one word: Nuance. Loved it.

The best part of the book, is of course, Kelli/Nora. Their chemistry is off the charts. It starts off slow. Nora thought Kelli's face was 'aesthetically pleasing', lol. So the journey from that kind of thinking to what we have at the end, that's the most enjoyable part. And Kelli is just the person to thaw her. Warm, straight-talking, pushy but not overly aggressive, Kelli doesn't ram down Nora's walls, but pokes at them like an itchy finger at a scab, and then soothes over the pain with humor and compassion. Nora, for her part, recognizes an honest soul when she sees one--someone she can trust completely. But a lifetime of walls isn't going to come down in a day, or after a date. And Nora being Nora, she hems and haws and pushes back. What makes her different from the usual annoying indecisive lesfic heroine is that she also gives in...a little at a time. This breaking-down-the-great-wall-of-Nora seems to go on forever, but it's never boring and doesn't wear off its welcome because the author infused these scenes with just the right combination of smart, sexy repartee, instrospection and quiet moments.

The author has a fun way with words. I like her metaphors and her visuals--they're smart but don't try too hard. I seldom waste time highlighting passages in books because, well, there usually isn't anything worth remembering about the prose. This book is officially my most highlighted one. Let me copy/paste some choice samples.

"She turned away, putting her back to the past so she could keep the present moment to herself."

I just don’t want to share you.

Fuck,” Kelli whispered. ....That one word—dirty and vulgar—was her complete undoing. "

Is this the ‘let’s just be fiends’ speech, then?” Okay I'm pretty sure that was a typo, but I had a good laugh there. Lets see if the publisher fixes it. ;)

"Kelli’s yawn was wide enough to swallow her entire head."

Cancer sticks, all of them.” (cellphones)

I need pre-payment. On our bet” (read the book to find out. this is one of the sexiest lines, imho)

"Shit, what was this? The death of her, that’s what this was." (again...read the book for what prompted that thought from Kelli. Had me ROFL)

Rating: 4.75 stars

ARC from YLVA
Profile Image for Tara.
783 reviews367 followers
April 14, 2017
I loved this one. Quality snark leading to quality banter. Moving from sparring partners to friends to lovers in a way that's compelling and believable, and leaving things in a place that's entirely appropriate for the characters. I can't wait for the next one and luckily I won't have to wait long! 4.5 stars

2017 reread: loved it even more

Full review here: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/blurr...

Podcast episode: https://thelesbiantalkshow.podbean.co...
Profile Image for Agirlcandream.
748 reviews3 followers
February 24, 2016
There are slow burn romances and then there are two protagonists who spar and spar and slowly discover how much each enjoys their daily dance. In Blurred Lines we have two leading ladies with disparate personalities. Rough, tough, foul-mouthed Detective Kelli McCabe hides a heart of gold under her show of bravado and carries her family and squad mates on her shoulders. Dr. Nora Whitmore is cold, clinical and detached. She is all business and is disliked by her residents. She is the proverbial ice queen at work while hiding a need to venture into the wild side just to feel something in her private life.

It was a pleasure to watch the relationship between Kelli and Nora grow as they battle personal and work struggles. The author has a way with dialogue and phrasing which had me highlighting several poignant moments in the story. This from Kelli when she realizes her brother Antony is using drugs again; “Anger came for Kelli first, and sadness was right behind it. Hopelessness was late to the game, but it was a strong chaser.” 1474

I did have some issues with the book and they stem from its fanfic origins. Scenes would build with Kelli and Nora with much anticipation and then fade to black. New chapters would find our leading ladies moving on with the next work or family related crisis on a new day with little warning to the reader. I found the flow disjointed but I soldiered on hoping for my HEA. There were a couple of editing issues which pulled me out of the story, but not enough to not enjoy seeing these two strong women find a connection we all wish we had with someone.

Issues with flow aside, I enjoyed the slow burn romance between Nora and Kelli along with Kelli’s work-mates, family and friends. Williamson has built a strong foundation and I look forward to the next book in this Cops and Docs series.



ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley
Profile Image for Fia.
78 reviews35 followers
May 9, 2016
I'm kinda scared to post my review, because everyone seems to love it, but not me.

So I'll be very quick.

For me this was very average. It felt like reading a fanfiction the whole time. I know this was a fanfic (and I don't even watch Rizzoli & Isles) and I'm all for fanfic authors becoming famous and writing books, because there are very good fanfics which definitely deserve to become a book.

I am not saying this one didn't deserve it. The readers who love the book are the proof that it does.

But. When I read a book, I want to feel like I read a book. And this time I felt like I was reading a fanfic.

Also from the very beginning I wasn't a big fan of Kelli and that never really changed. On the other side, from the beginning I was a fan of Nora. But that went away as well. I was a fan when I didn't know much about her, but as I was getting to know her, she got kinda boring.

But the chemistry between them was very interesting and hot from the very beginning. The scenes they shared were screaming 'sexual tension' and I liked that. The thing is, I was more interested in their relationship before they actually got together.

And which I found so incredibly annoying was that the phrase 'their gazes met' was used so damn often.

After all, it was an okay book.

That wasn't as quick as I hoped. Dammit.
Profile Image for lov2laf.
714 reviews1,098 followers
April 3, 2017
I'm a sucker for great dialogue and 'Blurred Lines' has it in spades. Give me interesting characters that can have revealing and entertaining conversations page after page and I will hang with them forever. This was a really well written slow burn romance with an excellent cast of characters, secondary and main. Really enjoyable. Recommend.
549 reviews10 followers
October 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this. I read it immediately following a reread of Truth and Measure, which is a very hard act to follow. This is the first K.D. Williamson book I've read. I am considering diving right in to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for M.
289 reviews65 followers
March 24, 2016
Excellent. Wonderfully written and paced, funny and touching all at the same time.

Can't want for the next in the series.
Profile Image for Eva.
80 reviews
May 9, 2016
Most of what could have been said about this book has already been said so I will add what I think it has not been mentioned yet.

This pair had so much chemistry together, that I kind of missed more explicit sexual encounters. I know this is a slow burn, and it was a very good one, but the sexual tension was so high that I kind of found myself expecting some kind of sexual climax, at its very end. When I could not find one I found myself a bit defleated. Maybe I'll find it on the sequel... In any case, I enjoyed every bit of it.

Do not skip this one, or you'll regret it
Profile Image for Corporate Slave.
356 reviews5 followers
May 17, 2016
Not a big fan of this book. Whoever said that the act of swearing would result in you having a macho strong character was really wrong! There was also nothing interesting about this book! Anyway, I thought of giving it a second shot with the new sequel and to be honest I couldn't even go further than 10% of the book. Same old shit: characters are not likeable, connection is quite strange, no story line so yeah I'm not a fan sorry :)
Profile Image for Betty.
649 reviews90 followers
September 3, 2019
I’ve always loved a good medical drama. I love the stories even better when the author mixes a medical tale with cops. Knowing my love of a good cops and docs story, it’s strange that I missed the Cops and Docs series that begins with Blurred Lines by K.D. Williamson. Thankfully, I’m reading this series now.

We meet Kelli McCabe when she and her partner Travis are shot, and both are brought to the hospital with life threatening wounds. There we meet Dr. Nora Whitmore, who eventually becomes Travis’s surgeon, but who also can’t seem to stay away from Kelli’s hospital room. As Kelli slowly recovers, the two become friends, though the chemistry between them hints at much more. Kelli is very gregarious, outspoken, and definitely has a potty mouth which becomes even more pronounced as she recovers. Nora is the ultimate ice queen. You would think these two could never mesh. Never say never though. When tragedy threatens both of them in different ways, the two work together to help each other leading to a gradual friendship and maybe more.

This is a charming slow-burn romance that had me hooked from the first page. It has everything you need for a great cops and docs romance from the two main characters, the chemistry between them, the outside forces they must overcome, to the slow growth of friendship that turns eventually to something more. This is the first of a series of books about these characters, so the story doesn’t completely end with this book, thank goodness. I can’t wait to start the second book and find out more about these wonderful characters.

I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Profile Image for Margaret.
353 reviews56 followers
February 11, 2016
Detailed score: 3.5

Blurred Lines has all the right ingredients for a cracker lesrom - ice queen, uber competent doc and dedicated cop wounded and restless. Add in a couple of family and legal dramas to overcome and stir.

But. (Sigh).

I love me an ice queen, job-dedicated, looking for love all along but didn't realize it till the right woman came along character. Love. Them. But I really couldn't get a handle on Dr Nora Fuller. In one minute she's drawn to (cop) Kelli despite herself, feeling new warm n fuzzy feels etc but in the next scene she's pushing Kelli away / giving her nothing, can't commit etc. It's really hard to describe because I get the 'no no I shouldn't, I can't, I'm scared' is pretty common trope for this sort of character but this was ... different [not in a good way]. I just could not get into the headspace for this character -- didn't see growth, didn't feel warmth. I felt more drawn to her at the start of the book when I knew less about her than I did by the end.

Kelli, on the other hand, is almost too good to be true. Pillar of the community, holds her family together etc. Her 'worst' feature was that she swears a lot. But she was fine - I'm happy for a perfect hero with slight flaws in lesrom land.

I also found the storyline a bit oddly paced. A lot of book energy was directed to a particular storyline [slight spoiler ] when it was obvious from the outset how it was going to resolve. It wasn't that interesting or mysterious - I felt it sat really...heavily... likewise a family matter that Kelli has to deal with. I'm sure others will disagree but, as I say, I just found how it played out a bit... odd.

Having said that, I'm giving this 3.5 stars for a reason. The book definitely has somewhat of an x factor that I found made it rather unputdownable despite the niggles above. Half with through I probably would have given it a 4. The book has clearly been set up for a sequel / series so it will be interesting to see how things play out.

Overall, I think this is one where it will be difficult to work out if the book is for you based on reviews alone. If you find the blurb in any way compelling then it's worth picking up this book and seeing for yourself.
Profile Image for Kexx.
2,276 reviews94 followers
January 23, 2021
A really strong story with two maverick MCs who need each other but don't initially get it. Great back characters - especially the family of Kelli. Highly recommended and looking forward to part 2!
Profile Image for Kaila.
760 reviews13 followers
July 10, 2020
3/5 stars

I really don’t have much to say here. For me, this book was an okay read, I enjoyed it, but it didn’t feel like anything special. While I enjoyed the budding relationship and the characters enough to keep reading, now that it’s been a couple of days after I finished it and I’m really not thinking about them at all. I’ve read so many great romance books this year, so I do think my expectations are much higher than normal. I also do think that many people will enjoy this book (already I’m pretty sure many people have read it already and I’m very late to the party), especially if you want to read this story over multiple books. As someone who tends not to enjoy contemporary romance that spans over multiple novels (unless I feel like there is a very good reason to continue), I’m not sure if I’ll be continuing with the series.
Profile Image for ~ * K E L L I E * ~.
144 reviews34 followers
May 8, 2016
Apparently I added Blurred Lines to my 'want to read' list on June 24, 2015. Then, a few months ago I started reading my GR friends' ARC reviews. Whilst most were signing the book's praise, there were a number which commented on the crude and crass language used by one of the main characters. Don't get me wrong, I still wanted to read it, but Blurred Lines slipped down my reading list.

Fast forward to a few days ago - a friend posted her review and didn't hesitate to recommend Blurred Lines with a comment "let's just say if someone asked for a lesbian romance recommendation, I wouldn't hesitate to put forward this title, alongside The Blind Side of Love and And Playing the Role of Herself. It's a pretty safe bet it'll be loved." So, I thought to myself, why not? I'd 5-starred the other two books on the list. What have I got to lose?

Now to today - off I went to set up my Kindle with Blurred Lines. By the 16% mark I was wondering what I'd gotten myself into. I have no issues with f-bombs but I absolutely hate c-bombs with a passion and they were dropped twice in quick succession (chapters 4 & 5) along with a reference to "see you next Tuesday". Thankfully, for me, that was the last of them, lol

Anyway, long story short, I continued with Blurred Lines and absolutely loved it! I loved Kelli's character with her colorful language and Nora's reserved demeanor. I loved the supporting characters. I even loved Nora's pet pig, Phineas.

Needless to say, I read this in a few hours and as soon as I was finished I moved directly onto book 2, Crossing Lines, and blitzed through that in record time too. I can't wait for book 3 to be released (whenever that might be).

To anyone hesitant about either book because of the crass language, don't pass up on these gems - you hear much worse in action movies or even walking down the street ;-)

Profile Image for Just a man's point of view.
100 reviews67 followers
May 26, 2016
This book is not perfect, but it certainly made me feel 5 stars, so it's getting a full 5 stars from me.

Let's start to say what the book could be, but it is not.
It isn't a crime novel.
Somehow I was expecting a crime novel; you know, Cops and Docs series sounds like police cases and legal medicine. Also, hints about Rizzoli & Isles fanfic made me think in that direction.
So I read it with this kind of anticipation.
At the beginning, when Kelli and her partner were shot by some criminals, I thought we were going to search, find and nail them.
Later, when Nora gets in trouble, I thought Kelli was going to be the police superdetective, to solve the matter and be her heroine.
Well, no way. This is not a crime novel at all.

So what is this book?
In two words: pure romance.
But oh, what romance! Psychology is great. I never saw two characters more in tune with each other. They really, affectionately, wholeheartedly like each other.
Attraction, flirting, sweet anticipation, reciprocal consideration (with thoughtful speech and actions), dialogue, friendship, true desire to be together, it's all there.
Now, to state the truth, the whole thing is not very realistic. Indeed it's a bit pushed. Nora's isolation was a bit too much to keep her a healthy human being if it was real. Kelli is a little too perfect. Also Nora's trouble at work sounds a little created as a pretext for romance development.
But hey! The result is wonderful.
Yes, I do have a soft spot for "defrosting ice queens", but Nora was really moving for me. So helpless in her compulsive refusal to get involved in any sort of human relationship and yet we clearly see she is so great and innocent inside. I was totally sold out for her.
And Kelli was so a perfect match for her. All butchy, but with a feminine heart as big as the sea. A very lovely contrast. And her crass speech is so funny and cathartic with bullies!

I'm almost afraid to read the sequel, fearing that some mess may come between those two.

Blurred Lines got to my heart, and goes straight to my favorites.
Profile Image for Betty.
286 reviews8 followers
February 15, 2020
4.5*
I enjoyed this. The characters were engaging. And the way it is written grabbed my attention and kept me reading. Not many lesfic books do that.

I understand that it arose out of fanfic, but I don't watch the relevant show, nor do I read much fanfic. I did read the Gerritson books, so I am aware of the setup. That said, that didn't hinder the story, it is a book in its own right.

The only downside is that it meandered in parts, and I would have liked a little more about Nora's background and more hints as to why, exactly, she was so standoffish. I was expecting more - probably because I liked her character and wanted more from her. On the whole I enjoyed this a great deal.

I have added book two to the to read pile.
Profile Image for Amanda.
344 reviews9 followers
March 2, 2016
I loved it

I really enjoyed this book. I will read this author's future books. I'm glad I took a chance and ordered it. Most YLVA books turn out great.
Profile Image for lauraღ.
2,305 reviews157 followers
June 3, 2021
“You give… you just give, and I want to make sure I’m giving back.”

3.5 stars. Another book that was kind of a gamble for me. I don't do well with books about police; I love a good detective story, but it's way more charming and personable when they're amateur detectives. There are also, of course, all the little cultural horrors about police that are so ingrained in popular culture that we don't notice them. Prime example in this book, "jokes" about using police power to beat up suspects or just personal enemies. Yikes! So I didn't start off this book loving Kelli. Not only for that reason! A lot of her humour missed the mark for me, and I am not overly fond of characters who take friendly teasing into obnoxiousness, which imo, she did all the time. The thing with her antagonising the nurses in the beginning was just kind of annoying and uncomfortable? 

But I clearly ended up enjoying this for the most part, and that comes down to a few simple things. The romance was so so good!!!! Chemistry out of this world! Really really really satisfying slow burn between two women who aren't used to commitment, slowly becoming friends and taking up a place in each other's lives that they hadn't really ever envisioned being filled by anyone. The way Kelli thawed Nora was so freaking good, irritating though I found Kelli to be sometimes. I really loved the journey that Nora went on, and that not all of her character development was about Kelli. Kelli herself did grow on me eventually, and I loved her protective side. The tension between them was amazing, and when it finally came to a head I just... ahhhh. That moment in Nora's office? 🔥

I also liked this because there was very little police stuff here, lol. The plot mostly revolved around the repercussions after Nora's ex tries to come for her career, and some family stuff with Kelli that I assume will be part of the next book. Not very engaging, as far as plots go? I really don't like when a plot hinges around a gross, bitter ex? But the relationship and character interaction were more than enough to keep me invested.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Sarah Grant, which I really liked! I thought she did a great job especially with Kelli, with her gruffness and sarcasm. I'm honestly not sure if I'd have liked this as much If I'd read it myself, so, kudos!

I had my other little nitpicks, but this was overall a good experience. I won't continue with this series immediately, but I definitely see myself coming back to it in the future, and just to Williamson as an author!

Content warnings:
Profile Image for Cheri.
1,082 reviews83 followers
December 5, 2024
I was hesitant to read this book for several reasons... I saw all the great ratings and reviews and was immediately skeptical. I also read the author's first published book many years ago and didn't care for it much at all - again for several reasons. And lastly, I'm still not sure how I feel about published fan fic when it's so very obviously fan fic. I regularly debate this last one with myself and friends. It certainly makes me much more critical of the published version, at the very least.

With all that right out there, I enjoyed this book a lot. I have a soft spot for well done Rizzles fics (Rizzoli and Isles) and I thought the author did a great job of capturing the spirit of those characters. I'm also pretty sure that if I had no idea who the characters in this book were based off of, I'd still have had a very enjoyable experience - maybe even moreso. I don't think I would have really gotten why Nora was so out of touch with popular culture - unless I missed that in the book, which is possible I suppose.

I thought the protagonists had a good deal of depth - which doesn't seem to happen as often as it should in published fan fic - and the secondary characters weren't flat either. The dialogue was good and flowed well and the story arcs were interesting. I liked pretty much the whole damn thing. I wish it had been different enough from the show that I would have been able to not see Jane and Maura and everyone else in the characters but it was a good, fun read. I enjoyed the author's voice which seemed so much different from her first book.

I'm glad I finally caved to peer pressure and read Blurred Lines and I honestly look forward to reading the next in the series.
Profile Image for Female Person.
66 reviews51 followers
February 22, 2016
For Netgalley

I read the fanfiction long before I read this and I'm somewhat less critical of fanfiction, so my review of this might not be 100% fair. I don't think so though because while there aren't many changes from the fanfiction, this is still an interesting and entertaining read with perfectly acceptable grammar.

The selling point of this novel is the relationship between the main characters Kelli and Nora. Kelli is a tough, uncouth cop that is loyal, gentle and compassionate under her prickly layer. Nora is a a clinical and detached doctor who essentially lives an emotionless life without any sort of relationship. I was hooked from their first interaction. When I read lesfic novels I usually rush/skim through the main characters' initial interactions to the point where they are engaging/entering a relationship, but not with this book. Kellli and Nora's banter is witty and engaging. The progressions in their relationship was quite clear and steadily paced. It really is just fun to read about their interactions. This novel is centred around the romantic relationship between these two (just the way I like it). There are two storylines that are centred around Nora and Kelli separately that I didn't care much for. They seem like tacked on extras with a very obvious outcome but they didn't mar the story for me and in some instance I suppose it helped to develop Kelli and Nora's relationship.

I'm looking forward to Crossing Lines, the second book in this series.
Profile Image for cloverxheart.
183 reviews7 followers
June 19, 2025
I've had this on my TBR for over a year and I'm glad I've finally read it!

I didn't enjoy the first 50-60 pages. The writing felt weird and choppy and I didn't like Kelli at all.
Thankfully it got better!
I don't really know what changed but the writing felt different and I actually liked Kelli.
I really loved Nora, she's just the type of character I usually prefer.

I honestly didn't care about the stuff going on with Kellis family and stuff, I ended up skipping most of that.
I honestly expected something different from the plot.
I enjoyed the plot but the execution felt a bit lackluster.
I was just expecting something more interesting.
Profile Image for Maria.
47 reviews
September 18, 2016
I didn't realize this was a fanfic turned into a book until later on, after I already read it, so thats a good thing. It means it was well written and well adapted, which seems easy but it is not.

The book starts with Kelli McCabe, the cop, being rushed into a hospital with gunshot wounds. She is the typical tough cop, who keeps her conversations blunt and right to the point. Her stay at the hospital is only enlivened by her tormenting of the hospital staff, in particular of Dr. Whitmore.

The most compelling part of reading this book is the charisma of Kelli, the cop, and the complete lack of social skills of Nora, I found the later very charming. Their interactions are therefore very fast paced and fun to read, and as they start adapting to one another you can feel their bond develop further. The two characters are very different and complicated, each in a way, but for me the emotional detachment of Nora, and how she starts, little by little, leaving behind her aloofness and her routines, despite her fear of change is beautiful and engaging.
For me the whole point of the book is the way Kelli finds an opening into Nora and they trust each other to follow this weird chemistry they have, and how she stomps on Nora's walls trying to break them down and get to her, the real her. Also, their interactions are always so nuanced and detailed, the quality of the writing is pretty good.
Profile Image for Les Rêveur.
461 reviews146 followers
October 19, 2016
Didn't expect to love this as much as I did.

My Review

Detective Kelli MacCabe is tough and nothing penetrates her hardened exterior. Dr Nora Whitemore is a surgeon and a loner. She keeps life simple in her life by concentrating primarily on work. Kelli and Nora paths cross when Kelli and her partner are shot. Their relationship gets off to a Turbulent start but as in all good romances the things that drive each other crazy begin to make their attraction stronger. A scandal at Nora's work turns everything on its head and Kelli ends up being the only person that she can trust and be herself with.... It's a love story that's different to the norm and keeps you turning the page.

I thoroughly enjoyed Blurred Lines. The main characters Kelli and Nora are hilarious together. Their relationship takes 'Opposites attract' to a whole new level. The secondary characters where a great addition and have some well plotted scenes that added to the storyline but also made the two protagonists more relatable to the reader.

I only learned today (and then I realised how obvious it was) that the novel began as a Rizzoli and Isles FanFic.

Great Book.... I am looking for the next instalment of Cops and Docs!

4.5 Stars
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