Stevie‘s review of Second In Command (Fairview Station, Book 2) by VK Powell
Contemporary Lesbian Romance published by Bold Strokes Books 11 Dec 18
I love the family at the centre of the Fairview Station series, and their various careers in and around law enforcement and other public service professions. This time the focus turns to Jazz, the adopted member of the Carlyle family and Lieutenant to her Police Captain older sister. Jazz’s time in the care system has led to her being very concerned about other at-risk and fostered children, and that concern has led to her only professional reprimand to date. When she comes across a runaway girl while on duty, Jazz can’t resist getting involved, even though she’s once again risking her chances of progression in the force by interfering.
Jazz’s interference brings her back into contact with Emory Blake, a social worker who knew Jazz as a teen, and who has recently moved back to the area following the end of a relationship. Emory understands Jazz’s worries about the girl she brought in, but is unable to help directly since her colleague is dealing with the case. The two women agree to keep in touch, and not only because of the latent attraction between them. However, Emory is reluctant to get involved personally or professionally. Her job is likely to be outsourced soon and she needs to consider her options, and Jazz is well known as a player who generally has short-term relationships with women more classically stylish and attractive than Emory.
Jazz, for her part, feels as if she wants a change of relationship style, and maybe to settle down with someone like Emory. She’s seen her siblings planning for and raising families and worries that she might miss out, if she doesn’t re-evaluate her priorities. As Jazz keeps an eye on the runaway – now back in care – she realises that she knows the perfect adoptive family for the girl, but the girl’s criminal father has other ideas. Meanwhile, Emory feels powerless to help Jazz with her plans, since adoptions are already being handled by an external agency, but, as she follows the case from afar, she begins to realise that not all is as it is presented in terms of the agency’s record of success and the figures it is putting forward in support of the tender to take over Emory’s department.
Once again, I greatly enjoyed the scenes involving the whole Carlyle family and was cheered to see various of the more peripheral members find their own place in the scheme of things. I liked how the various plot threads were woven together and how Jazz was able to call on her family for support, while Emory had a strong network of friends to support her. At times, the progression of their relationship felt a little jerky, but overall this was another strong addition to the series.
Grade: B
Summary:
Lieutenant Jazz Perry finds a young girl wandering the downtown streets alone late at night. As the child becomes attached to her, Jazz is reminded of her own experiences in foster care and takes a personal interest even when she knows she should maintain professional distance.
Social worker Emory Blake is good at her job helping children in challenging situations. She believes in the system and knows it works if you let it. When Jazz starts interfering in the case and bypassing the rules, Emory is torn between her responsibilities and an unwelcome attraction she can’t deny.
When on the job responsibilities collide with desires of the heart, becoming personally involved is the only choice.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
