Book Review: In the St. Nick of Time by K.M. Daughters

A sexy, suspense-filled mystery concludes the award-winning Sullivan Boys series by K.M. Daughters.

In the St. Nick of Time finds Kay Sullivan Lynch returning to the Chicago Police Department, much to the dismay of her family. She's not sure it's the right move for her either, but the widow needs to make a life for her and her children so they can move past their loss.

Captain Flynn Dowd transfered to the CPD to escape his own troubles. He hasn't thought about having a woman in his life for a long time, but beautiful and dedicated Detective Lynch sets his pulse to racing. When Sidewalk Santas collecting to feed the hungry are dropping dead all over Chicago, Kay and Flynn are hard pressed to find a motive or MO. They do however, find a strong mutual attraction they can't deny.

Racing against time, Kay and Flynn try to connect the pieces of this strange murder mystery, while exploring their feelings for each other. Will the Lynch children's opposition force Kay to choose between her family and her man?

I am both excited and upset at the same time. I've loved The Sullivan Boys series since the first book, Against Doctor's Orders. Now that the series has come to an end, I'm sad to know I won't have more Sullivan family stories to look forward to.

In the Saint Nick of Time is a romantic, suspenseful conclusion to a great series. The strength of this series has always been its characters. K.M. Daughters creates wonderful, complex characters whose stories you want to follow. You root for these couples to get past all the obstacles standing in their way.

We see the focus shift to the one girl in the Sullivan family, Kay. Having given up her job with the CPD years ago in exchange for life as a wife and mother, she is at a crossroads. Her husband is gone, her children are growing up, and she's not quite sure what she should do. She's only sure that being a depressed, grief-stricken widow isn't the only thing in her future. Her decision to be reinstated is met with mixed feelings in her family. Add in her attraction to Flynn, and her plate is more than full.

What I truly appreciated about In the Saint Nick of Time is that we get to experience all of Kay's doubts and triumphs with her. When she and Flynn are together for the first time, we see the shyness of a mature woman who is exploring a new relationship, unsure if she is still attractive after giving birth to four kids. We see how she is accepted by her peers, despite that her brother Pat doesn't give her a break and treats her differently than the rest of the members of the department. We witness Kay in all her roles: mother, detective, sister, and daughter.

While Bobbie and Joe's story in Beyond the Code of Conduct remains my strong favorite (I still re-read passages from it), In the St. Nick of Time is a close second. The motive and modus operandi are unique, the storytelling spectacular, and the conclusion very satisfying.

I highly recommend In the St. Nick of Time by K.M. Daughters. If you want sexy romance and suspense, you'll find it in this book.

Title: In the St. Nick of Time
Author: K.M. Daughters
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
ISBN-10: 1601549032
ISBN-13: 978-1601549037
SRP:  $11.99
Also available in a Kindle edition.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation of any kind to provide this review.

Guest Blogger: K.M. Daughters, Author of All's Fair in Love and Law

Today's special guest is K.M. Daughters, the sister writing team behind the romantic suspense Sullivan Boys series. The fourth installment in this series, All's Fair in Love and Law, will be released on Friday.

The enchantress on stage at an amusement park review captivates new Chicago Police Department Captain Patrick Sullivan. Stunned to learn she’s the infamous defense attorney, Charlie Demarco, who substituted for her twin at the performance, Pat battles Charlie in and out of the courtroom. With CPD cutbacks and a serial murderer to apprehend, Pat struggles to uphold the law and his reputation, while Charlie seems determined to undermine him. Chained to her job to restore her family’s finances, Charlie has no choice but to defend the criminals Pat wants behind bars. Her biggest battle yet involves defending her heart against Patrick Sullivan.


A K.M. Daughters Christmas


Since we have resided in separate parts of the country since Pat was twenty-five, we have only celebrated Christmas together three times: once when Kathie’s first born son was six months old (he’s married now and the father of her first grandchild, eight year old, Natalie), and twice at Pat’s house in the Chicago suburbs when all the kids were still single.

Although apart, Christmas celebrations in each “Daughter” household are quite similar stemming from cherished remembrance of Christmases past when both our parents were alive.

The season officially begins when Santa Claus “sleighs” into Herald Square at the conclusion of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The annual TV time slots are staggered, so Pat, the last to witness the jolly man’s entrance into the Square, telephones Kathie with loving Thanksgiving wishes – invariably two teary-eyed women cling to each end of the connection. We are sentimental Irish women and tears flow during the holidays and at each airport good-bye.

We load our Christmas music collection into CD players or play-list holiday songs through docked Ipods, despite overt groans from children who once shared our households, and now, still don’t avoid escape if they want their presents. :)

Christmas Eve is the “big deal” for us. Festivities always involve lots of food, beverages to suit, gift giving and our beloved family circuses. The season wouldn’t be complete without watching our favorite Christmas movies each year.

So here is our top ten list!

White Christmas
Holiday Inn
It Happened One Christmas (the remake of It's a Wonderful Life with Marlo Thomas...K.M. Daughters LOVES her and grew up wanting to be That Girl!)
Christmas Vacation
The Christmas Story
Frosty The Snowman
Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
Bells of St Mary's
Going My Way
and Twilight.....every girl deserves to spend Christmas with Edward


We have one thing to add – since the publication of Against Doctors Orders, “The Daughters” have a favorite tagline: All We Want For Christmas Is A Sullivan Boy!”

Peace, love and cherished remembrances for all during this sacred season!

Sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare write as K.M. Daughters. Their penname is dedicated to the memory of their parents, Kay and Mickey, the "K" and "M" in K.M. Daughters. All's Fair In Love And Law is the fourth book in the author's acclaimed Sullivan Boys Romantic Suspense Series. K.M. Daughters writes romantic suspense for The Wild Rose Press, inspirational romance for White Rose Publishing and contemporary romance for Sapphire Blue Publishing. Contact K.M. Daughters at http://www.kmdaughters.com.

Book Preview: All's Fair in Love and Law by K.M. Daughters

Coming in December 2010, the Sullivans return in the fourth installment of The Sullivan Boys series by writing team K.M. Daughters!

The senseless death of their brother-in-law, Mike Lynch, has left the Sullivan boys reeling. Still coping with the death of their brother, Jimmy, they are pulling together to help their sister Kay deal with the loss of her husband as she slips into depression.

During an outing with Kay's twin girls, Patrick Sullivan, a new captain at the Chicago Police Department, comes face-to-face with a woman who gets his body tingling all over. Little does he know he'll see this woman again all too soon--in the courtroom.

C.J. Demarco, also known as, Charlie, is a shining star of a defense attorney at Schotz, Pearson and Freemont. When she gets a perp off on a technicality, Patrick's department isn't looking too good and he has to answer for it to the media. But he has much bigger issues to deal with. Someone is brutally killing prostitutes and dumping them in the trash in the city's alleys. The Garbage Man Murderer case is going  to take all of Pat's limited resources to nail; not an easy task considering the recent budget cuts.

Despite working on seemingly opposite sides of the law, Charlie and Pat can't deny their attraction to each other. When Charlie is set to defend a high-profile case, Pat can't believe she would be involved in trying to get such a creep off. But Charlie isn't about to reveal why she does the type of work she does or the reason getting too involved with Pat scares the hell out of her. Their budding romance is threatened. And for Charlie, one mistake, could be a fatal one.

In one word, this book is, "Awesome!" I have loved this series from the get-go and each book keeps drawing me in. The Sullivan Boys series blends intriguing plots, complex characters, and loads of conflict to keep you turning page after page.

In All's Fair in Love and Law, a new Sullivan brother takes the spotlight. Patrick is definitely the type of hero every woman has been waiting for. Strong, sexy, and with a deep sense of right and wrong, Pat isn't the kind of guy to abuse the law. He hasn't exactly been looking for the perfect woman, but she finds him, and he's totally captivated by the alluring defense attorney who is part teddy bear, part barracuda.

K.M. Daughters proves over and again that they have mastered the art of storytelling. I can't put one of their books down, despite the late hour, despite the fact that I'm facing an early morning with my kids, despite knowing I'll be sitting at my desk gulping caffeinated soda the next day just to stay awake at my PC.

The cover art on this one isn't my favorite, but I'm willing to forgive that because the story is superb.

The perfect blend of romance and suspense is what you'll find in All's Fair in Love and Law!


Title:  All's Fair in Love and Law
Authors:  K. M. Daughters
Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press
ISBN:  Not yet available

Keep an eye on the K.M. Daughters' website for information on this book's release. The final installment is on its way too. I'll be sad when this series is over, but I would read them again in a heartbeat.

Capturing Karma by K.M. Daughters -- Book Review

The Sullivan Boys series by K.M. Daughters continues with a powerful new installment titled, Capturing Karma.

While racing to get to his brother's wedding, Brian Sullivan's car is struck by another vehicle. Instantly Matilda (Matty) Connors, the woman with the hypnotic eyes who had once delivered a message from his dead brother, is quickly back in Brian's life. She has a message about the case he has been working on for the past few months. Determined not to get involved, Matty shares the message but wants nothing more than to go back home and back to the veterinarian clinic where she works with her brother. The last time she officially got involved in a case, she ended up with a murdered fiance and nightmares that never go away.

Brian is the reputed ladies man in the Sullivan clan, but Matty quickly lays claim to his heart. She's quite taken with him too. The problem is that Brian isn't so sure about her abilities, despite the fact that history has proven her to be right every time. And when it appears that Matty might be leading the investigators down the wrong path, trouble arises in their budding romance. Then once Brian fits all the pieces together, he's not sure he'll be in time to save the woman he loves.

For some reason I thought this was the fourth book of the series, but it is the third, and what an outstanding addition to a spectacular series this is. In Capturing Karma, Brian Sullivan is the main focus of the story. A woman from his past returns with a bang into his life and he's instantly reminded of his attraction to her.

Matty's gift is so impressive that Danny Sullivan teaches a class to the Academy about how she lead the police to the Firing Squad Rapist. Brian isn't too sure about her methods, despite his brother, fellow officer, Joe Sullivan, and half the force singing her praises. This sets up a nice source of conflict between Brian and Matty; a conflict that could have tragic circumstances.

What I've loved about The Sullivan Boys series from the beginning is that it always offers a riveting plot surrounded by complex characters you really care about. There's the job aspect for each of the Sullivan men, the big family angle with people offering all types of support and unwanted advice, and also the conflict with their romantic partner to deal with.

Even though in Capturing Karma the reader is quickly introduced to the huge Sullivan family, you're never lost. K.M. Daughters brings them in, and whether through physical characteristics or banter, you know who is who, who is married to whom, and exactly where it all falls into place. The authors, because K.M. Daughters is a sister writing team, sprinkle in enough backstory that if you pick up this novel first, you won't be lost; but for a reader like me who has been with the series since the beginning, it's nice to see how each character is developing over the course of time. And since each book focuses on a different Sullivan brother, you get to see how their romances impact the family as a whole.

I have to admit, this time, I had the villain figured out way before it was revealed. I didn't know why this person did what he/she did, but I knew he/she did it. It didn't matter, however, because the suspense came from seeing if Brian could make that final decision to accept Matty as she is and then find her in time.

Capturing Karma is another fabulous addition to a great series. I can't wait for Book 4!


Title: Capturing Karma
Author: K.M. Daughters
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
ISBN-10: 1601547218
ISBN-13: 978-1601547217
SRP: $10.99

Against Doctor's Orders by K.M. Daughters - Book Review

Against Doctor's Orders is romantic suspense at its best!

Detective Danny Sullivan is brought into Dr. Molly Jordan's ER with a bullet wound. While Molly has never found herself attracted to a patient before, Danny stirs something inside her that she thought was buried alongside her husband, Eddie, a cop killed in the line of duty. Left to bring up their daughter alone, even after all these years, Molly is opposed to the cop life and all it entails; and Danny certainly isn't looking to get involved with another woman after his divorce left him bitter and not trusting women. But neither of them knew how their chance meeting might change their lives.

In this first book of The Sullivan Boys series by sister writing team, K.M. Daughters, readers are treated to a riveting plot that includes a mysterious serial killer who has a thing for red-headed women, a cast of complex and engaging characters whose lives you become totally immersed in, and a satisfying conclusion that will leave you wanting to read the book all over again. Though the cover of this one makes me shiver, it's perfect for the book.

I read the second book in this series, Beyond the Code of Conduct, last summer, and as soon as I read Against Doctor's Orders, I remembered how much I enjoyed Beyond the Code of Conduct and was tempted to pick it up again. Now that I know Bobbie Leighton's and Joe Sullivan's backstory, because they are secondary characters in Against Doctor's Orders, I'm sure I would be even more satisfied if I read Book 2 again, though they are perfect stand alone books too.

Romantic suspense novels are close to becoming my favorite genre because they offer so much, and K.M. Daughters has mastered that genre with a plot that pulls you in right away and characters you get so involved in that it's almost like they are part of your family. You just have to keep turning page after page until you reach that superb ending.

Now that Book 3, Capturing Karma is due out on January 13th, I am eager to read that book as well.

K.M. Daughters is a writing team to watch!


Title: Against Doctor's Orders
Author: K.M. Daughters
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 1-60154-350-6
SRP: $11.99 Paperback, Kindle edition $4.50

Sisters Collaborate To Write About Brothers: K.M. Daughters and Beyond the Code of Conduct

We have a special treat for you today. The writing team of K.M. Daughters is here to talk about collaboration. The idea of sharing the effort with another writer has always intrigued me. How does it come about? How much effort does each person contribute? What happens if two people have different visions for the same piece of work? And while collaborating can be challenging, what happens when you're writing a book with one of your sisters?

It certainly looks like the sister writing team of K.M. Daughters has figured out a way to make it work.

K.M. Daughters is the multi-published writing team of sisters Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. Their penname is dedicated to their parents Katherine and Michael, the “K” and “M” in K.M. Daughters. Their author career began in January 2008 with contracts from The Wild Rose Press for an inspirational romance, Jewel of the Adriatic, and a romantic suspense novel, Against Doctors Orders, Book #1 in The Sullivan Boys Series. Beyond The Code of Conduct, Book 2 in the series, is rated 4-stars, compelling, page turner, by Donna M. Brown, Reviewer for Romantic Times Book Reviews (June 2009 Issue #304). A contemporary romance, Past, Present and Forever is available in E-book from Sapphire Blue Publishing. Residing in Illinois and New Jersey, the sisters continue to work on The Sullivan Boys Series. Book #3 will release later this year and two additional books are anticipated to complete the series. You can visit their website at www.kmdaughters.com and follow them at http://twitter.com/kmdaughters.

Here, K.M. Daughters talks of how they have collaborated to write about brothers.

Sisters Collaborate To Write About Brothers
by K. M. Daughters

We’re not forgetting about Kay Lynch nee Sullivan, the only sister among six brothers in our Sullivan Boys romantic suspense series. But, to date, each of the books in the series focuses on one Sullivan brother in the hero role searching for his perfect match.

Beyond The Code of Conduct, Book 2 in the series tells Joe Sullivan and Bobbie Leighton’s story. Introduced as secondary characters in Book 1 (Against Doctors Orders), the pair have a history clouded with what Joe considers tragedy. Although he saved Bobbie’s life in the midst of crisis in the first book, Joe was gravely injured. His bravery cost him his career as an active homicide detective.

We had a blast writing these characters. Joe overcompensates to prove to his superiors he’s fit for active duty and as the book opens he’s “Iron-man” conditioned and a rather forbidding attitude – wonderful to write. Bobbie has finally found a career fit at the end of a long line of odd jobs. She thinks she’s moved on and forgotten Joe until they’re brought together again. Behind the scenes manipulations not only require their partnership working an undercover operation but also that they live under the same roof posing as a married couple.

Bobbie and Joe’s physicality in conflict versus book one’s Molly and Danny’s subtle maturity appealed to us and was fun to write. As we continue the series we’re discovering the personality differences among the brothers – a real family dynamic considering birth order, sibling rivalry, etc.

Since we’re each other’s only siblings our family dynamic is simple – oldest, youngest, duke it out. We tried to knock each other brainless when we were kids and had our share of screaming matches when we were teenagers. When the first of us went off to college, we acknowledged an astounding truth. We hated separation. It’s ironic that we live half a country apart considering that sentiment is no less true a couple decades later.

Maybe that’s why our writing collaborations are so special to us. Long distance or not, when we’re writing, we’re living in the same worlds with the same immediacy. And in the case of the Sullivan brothers, we can play out all those things that make us different yet uniquely close as siblings.

More about Beyond the Code of Conduct:

FBI Agency Brass and Sullivan family connections force Special Agent Bobbie Leighton into an undercover operation with inactive Homicide Detective Joe Sullivan.

Posing as a cattleman and his arm-candy wife the couple is assigned to infiltrate NY attorney Bradley Sterling’s illegal operation. Suspected of baby trafficking, Sterling maybe be connected with Joe’s brother, Jimmy Sullivan’s murder.

How do Bobbie and Joe adhere to their professional code of conduct living under the same roof? Can they forget their personal history, ignore their volatile feelings for each other and ensnare their target when they might be next on Sterling’s victims list?

Now available from Amazon.com.