Colton 911: The Secret Network (Colton 911: Chicago Book 1)

My first book by Ms. Ferrarella. I will definitely be reading the rest in the series. This book was heartwarming, heartbreaking. It had danger, compassion, family values, and passion. When Social Worker January Colton meets up with her sisters planning a little vacation she plans to follow through. But her sisters know that won’t hold up. How is January to know her boss is going to ask her help with a case? She’s the only one that can help. When she heads to the police station to meet with Detective Sean Stafford, and there witness to a terrible incident. Yet there’s already someone there but can’t get through. What that find out is the poor girl is deaf. The only way is for her to stay on.I truly like the book a lot. I felt for the little girl Maya. I was on the edge of my seat at times. I was moved when January and Sean were concentrated on Maya..making sure got what she needed. The only thing that had me aggravated was January and Sean constantly arguing. The bantering back and forth was a little tiring. The book ended with a cliffhanger. I don’t like them. I’m sorry to the author.So Sean asked January something and it was never answered. What happens next? Will be told in the other books? Guess we have to wait.One thing I don’t know who’s counting the pages for these books but they say 288, but the book actually stops at 281, and the rest are advertisements.My final review level is 3.5

Terrific start to the new series. January Colton, a social worker specializing in children with special needs, is about to go on a long-needed vacation when she gets a call from her boss. A little girl, found at a murder scene, doesn't respond to the detective who found her. Detective Sean Stafford needs to a) find out who she is and b) discover what she saw. She may need protection from the killer.I loved the first meeting between Sean and January. It takes her about five minutes to figure out what the problem is - little Maya is deaf. Sean is chagrined at having missed something so obvious, and January has a little too much fun jerking his chain about it. But both agree that Maya could be in danger. As a certified foster parent, January takes charge of Maya, while Sean arranges protection. When that protection fails, Sean takes it personally and takes over their safety by moving them into his apartment.There is one significant drawback to that plan - the attraction that simmers between Sean and January. After a tragedy involving his former partner, Sean closed himself off from relationships of any kind. Meanwhile, January tries to resist because she "doesn't have time" for men in her life. There are some sweet scenes as the adorable Maya cracks the walls around these two stubborn adults' hearts. Sean's attempt to learn sign language touches January's heart, and the two grow closer in their efforts to unlock the mystery surrounding the little girl. The interactions between them are fun, flirty, and occasionally intense as their feelings for each other grow. A dangerous confrontation causes them to realize the depth of their feelings for each other. Sean's big moment doesn't go quite as planned, though the expected outcome is pretty obvious.The suspense of the story was excellent and kept me hooked just as much as the romance did. Little Maya appears to be a key element in Sean's search for the murderer if they can only find out if she saw anything. The attempt on Maya and January at the beginning was a wake-up call, and Sean's protectiveness kicked in. I could feel his frustration as his investigation went nowhere. A shocking twist broke the case open. Stubborn January put herself at the center of a trap to catch the bad guy that nearly went very wrong. The confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was over. The ending was a complete shock and likely sets up the story arc for the rest of the series. I'm glad I already have the next book!

An explosive kick off to a new Colton series is sure to please all romantic suspense fans! THE SECRET NETWORK by Marie Ferrarella delivers top notch danger, compelling characters and so much adorableness when a possible pint-sized witness snags everyone's heart. Colton 911: Chicago promises to be breathtaking with the way the ending of this first book in the series played out!Social worker January Colton is take charge and attention grabbing when she makes sure to stand up for her little charge quickly.Detective Sean Stafford has quite the backstory to go along with his broody heart of gold and I liked him from the start.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of a feel good story mixed in with their intrigue and suspense. There's a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that promises to deliver an emotional rest of the series.

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the Colton 911: Chicago series. I did like the characters, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book series. The romance in this book was not the best, but I did feel the two main characters fit together very well. The mystery/suspense in this book was really good, but I did not love how this book ended.

The author captures your imagination and runs with it happily to the end. The plot was well done and the future is remarkable.

I have enjoyed reading this first book in a new series of The Colton 911: Chicago. I was so engrossed in reading it that I had to finish reading it before I could put it down. I can't wait to read the next book in this new series, I would recommend it to anyone who has been reading about the different Colton Family.