He’s determined to solve the cold case…

And save the woman he’s never forgotten.

Star Special Victims Unit detective Lucas Winchester never forgot the criminal who brutally attacked his fiancée and shattered their lives forever.

So five years later, when Gwen Kind seeks him out, looking for help after she receives a chilling threat, he’s determined to finally solve the haunting cold case.

But as hard as Lucas works to keep Gwen safe, it may not be enough to foil her cunning predator…

Titles in the Heartland Heroes series include — SVU Surveillance – Protecting His Witness – Kentucky Crime Ring – Stay Hidden – Accidental Witness (March 2022) – To Catch a Killer (April 2022) –

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Possible Trigger Warning for abduction, mention of rape, stalking

Title:  SVU Surveillance
Series:  Heartland Heroes #1
Author:  Julie Anne Lindsey
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Published:  March 2021
Publisher:  Harlequin Intrigue
My Rating:  4.5 stars

As it turned out, I binge-read all the titles in this series over this past weekend — once I got into this world I didn’t want to leave it and I had all the titles released so far… so why not?  I’m very glad I did read it in this fashion for I was able to stay totally in this world and not have my memories of the previous books hesitate on who was who and where they fell within this world.  (and admit it, we all have to think sometimes about which brother or sister was in the previous book three books back sometimes *grins ironically*)  Whether you get to binge-read this series or take them individually spaced out, I do believe you’ll enjoy the experiences of the Winchester family and the ladies who come into their lives through various dangerous situations.  So, let’s get on with the first review:

SVU Surveillance begins the Heartland Heroes series with an intense romance full of second chances, regrets, danger, and the chance to get things right… finally.  Luke and his fiancée Gwen’s lives change on the turn of a dime in the hands of a deranged madman.  They were students at a local college, newly engaged and ready to set out on their future together.  Then an abduction, a rape, and a painful recovery were all that was left of that bright future as Gwen ended the engagement and both had no choice but to move on with their broken lives.

Now, years later, Gwen is back in her college town, the scene of so many painful memories, once again fighting against a madman who has resurfaced and is determined to have Gwen for his own.  But this time Lucas is better equipped to handle the terror facing the woman he still loves as he is a devoted SVU detective now and he will do everything within his power to keep Gwen safe.  The question becomes; will Lucas’ knowledge be enough?

I was so quickly wrapped up in this story, and by extension, the lives of all the Winchester men (brothers and cousins) for this is a family who believes in the law, in all of its forms and variances and they are very tight-knit as a family unit.  It’s possible to still feel the pain through the pages coming from Gwen and Lucas, although they’ll both deny that for a while.  One event, one monstrous act changed their lives – so I’m not surprised that those emotions flow through the words as well.

I admired Gwen’s growing strength as she faced what was done and is now being done to her life.  She’d played it safe for so many years, and what did that get her?  Certainly not safe, so now she’s changing again with the man she still loves back in her life.  I also admired Lucas, a man who never stopped loving his fiancée but let her do what she felt was best for herself in the past – but now he’ll move heaven and earth to bring in a deranged rapist and finally give Gwen some peace from the past.

There are twists and turns, other Winchester men involved in the search, and clues scattered about before we come to a final conclusion to the case.  It’s intense, intriguing, and kept me on my toes throughout.  I also wanted to know more of the other Winchester men and was content to know that one day I’d get their complete stories.  I loved watching how this couple’s trust in each other grew, how they were finally able to reach out to each other instead of turning away and hoping for a bright, danger-free future for them.  In all, SVU Surveillance was an excellent beginning to this series with enough world-building to explain but not so much that it becomes overload.

If you love intense romantic suspense or want to start a new engaging series then this story and series would be perfect for you.

I own a Kindle Edition of this title.

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader