Death and Her Devotion (Rogue Vows Book 1)

Although this is a separate series, but it still part of Rogue River series with the same town and the same characters we love. So while the main story is a standalone story, the characters’ story is a continuation from previous 6 novellas set in Solitude. It would be much more enjoyable to start reading from the first novella.

This novella’s main characters are Zane Duncan and Stevie Taylor. They were only days away from their wedding when a murder happened in their town. A Hollywood movie star death to be precise. On top of solving the murder, they had to handle the press and groupies that coming down to town for some juicy stories.

As a novella, this book packed a punch. I love these two characters, I invested in them. I love that they finally going to tie the knot. The main story itself was so poignant, it was heartbreaking. All I can say is, Ms. Elliot did it again with this novella. She really can write. Not many authors could do what she did; a short story with so many emotions running rampant. I love it…

I voluntarily reviewed an e-ARC from NetGalley. I was not compensated nor required to write a positive review. This review is solely expressing my opinion.

Death and Her Devotion by Kendra Elliott is a short novel (100 Pages) I downloaded through Kindle Unlimited (KU).

Chase Ryan is dead, his body hanging from a tree with a belt around his neck. His best friends and crew had been with him the night before and all professed to have been asleep. They had heard nothing. The four adults and team mascot Brandon, a child of one of the four, had been camping in a commercial campground. They had rented many adjacent lots to ensure privacy. The privacy was necessary because Chase Ryan was an A-list movie star of a currently top-rated TV series. The town nearest the campgrounds, Solitude, was small. When news of the actor’s death became public, the town would be overwhelmed with reporters.

Police Officer Stevie took the initial call to the scene. She did all the necessary coordination to call in police supporting assets but eventually the Police Chief, Zane Duncan, would be called as he was in overall charge of the department. Officer Stevie and Chief Duncan were to be married in a few days. Maybe the marriage would have to be called off until the investigation finished. Neither Stevie nor Duncan wanted that to happen.

For this novel, the race is on between finding Ryan’s killer and getting married as planned. The situation is complicated by all the principal suspects standing by stories that were untruthful to protect actor Ryan’s reputation. There was also a pyromaniac on the loose who burned down the proposed site of the wedding and a building where Ryan’s friends, now suspects, were staying.

This is truly a story that attempts to say love conquers all adversity. It is a light, completely on-the-surface uncomplicated short read that is an entertaining way to break a boring routine day. There is a surprise so blandly presented that I almost missed the idea it was supposed to be a surprise. My overall impression is that this is a novel written by an author on the way up as far as development of writing technique. Entertaining but not quite there yet.

Solitaire hadn’t had a murder since December and then Stevie just got notified there was a body at Crying Indian Campground. It was in the woods. Stevie was to get married this weekend, Stevie was actually happy that she could avoid all wedding talk for the next ten hours. Zane was Stevie’s fiance and the police chief. It turns out that an A list actor Chase Ryan had been murdered. Chase was the star of a national detective television show and Chase’s body was posed in the same way as a crime Chase’s character had investigated. Chase was with his brother Spider and two childhood friends Josh and Toby and Spider’s son Brandan for a week of camping. Once the word gets out Solitaire’s is over run with all kinds of people include paparazzi and news media from all over. Zane and Stevie get together a long list of suspects who all seem to be hiding something such as: Chase’s manager, a stalker, and fans of the show to name just a few. Also the people Chase had been camping with all painted a different picture than the cops were finding out. Then the night before Stevie and Zane were to get married the reception hall is set on fire and burned down to the ground.
I loved this book it had a little of everything in it : a small town, close family, betrayals, secrets, lies, murder, intrigue, a popular actor, paparazzi, many suspects, a stalker, romance and so much more. This novella was a quick paced read. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this book as well as the stress of a coming up wedding. Where this gets really heptic when the reception hall burns down which starts Stevie wondering if the wedding should be cancelled until after the murderer is found. Stevie has a good heart and mine went out to here the stress of the wedding and then a murder. This story definitely drew you in and kept you until the end of the book. I didn’t realize this was the first part of a two part story or I probably would have waited to have both parts before I read this. There was questions still to be answered. But the writing was very good as was the plot. The characters were great and the ins and outs are also very good. I highly recommend.

(Review of both series books)

Though you can absolutely read the Rogue Vows series without having read the other two (Rogue River #1-4 and Rogue Winter #1-2; I've read the second series but not the first--yet) but you really need to read both of the books in this series in order to get the full story.

And don't accidentally start with book two, as I did--thankfully I realized it a few pages in, but it did already tell me more about the first one than I wanted to know ahead of time...still, even already knowing a few crucial details of book one before I read it, I really enjoyed both of these books.

This time around, our two couples--Solitude's police chief and fellow officer Zane and Stevie in Elliott's book, who are finally this close to their wedding day and Leigh's detective and social worker and nine years married Seth and Carly--are trying to solve the unexpected and rather gruesome murder of a major television star. There are all kinds of suspects--are Chase Ryan's friends really his friends?, family secrets, and a pyromaniac stalker. Things throughout the books are not always as they seem, and the resolution we achieve at the end of book one might not last for long.

Who is the real murderer?

And throughout it all, relationship questions remain--will Zane and Stevie's wedding actually happen? Can Seth and Carly resolve the mystery (and live to tell the tale!) and still celebrate their anniversary with some alone time?

I'm not going to tell you--give these two books a read and find out for yourself! They're novellas, so it won't take you long to satisfy your curiosity :)

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of these books.

Chase Ryan a famous & popular TV star & his entourage, his brother Spider, childhood friends Josh & Toby as well as Spider's son Brandon, have made their annual trip to Solitude, Oregon to camp at Crying Indian Campground along the Rogue River. To everyone's surprise, Chase has been murdered not far from their camp site. Police office Stevie Taylor is the first on the scene, thinking 7 a.m. is early for a dead body as she yawns from her late night. Her family kept her busy half the night discussing wedding & reception music selections for the coming weekend. Police Chief Zane Duncan, Stevie fiancee, arrives at the murder scene shortly after she does. While the small town police department try to solve the murder as quietly as possible someone leaks the story that Chase has died in Solitude. The town becomes a circus of characters from national news channels to a stalker of Chase. As the investigation proceeds, hidden truths start to make there way to the surface regarding the players in this case. All the while, Stevie & Zane are preparing for the upcoming wedding. When the night before the wedding the reception hall is burned to the ground, luckily no one is hurt, Stevie questions whether or not the wedding should even happen. But who sets the grange on fire? Did it have anything to do with Chase's murder? Will they find Chase's murderer? Will Stevie & Zane still get married?

First off, I am a fan of Kendra Elliot's writing. This was a good short story murder mystery with plenty of twists. You'll think you might know who did it, but it won't be who you think. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the genre & anyone one interested in branching out beyond what they normally read. I will be reading more of her books in the future!

I voluntarily reviewed a NetGalley.com copy of this book.

A fantastic, romantic suspense that is a MUST read! This story captured me right from the start, and stayed long after the last word was read. With it's unique storyline, interesting characters that you can't help but love, humor, mystery, suspense, intense situations, and intriguing twists, this story will have you on the edge of your seat till the end. An excellent beginning to the Rogue Vows series by Kendra Elliot.

Zane and Stevie are finally getting married! Even though they've only been together for a year, it has been a long road for them. With only days left before they say their "I do's," they end up with an A-list actor murdered in their small town. When word gets out, it seems like half of Hollywood has shown up in their small town, which of course makes it difficult for their investigation, but also brings more trouble than they're ready for. 

Will they find the killer in time? Will they have to postpone their wedding to insure that justice is served? When another form of trouble occurs, will it be another reason to postpone the wedding? Or will they get the miracle they deserve, and get their HEA after all? 

This is the first book in the Rogue Vows series, and it is fantastic! If you haven't read Rogue River or Rogue Winter series by the amazing writing duo Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh, I strongly suggest that you do! Not only will you get to read excellent stories, you'll learn more about each couple, their history with the small town of Solitude, and all about the friends and family, and the dynamics between them. It is not required to read either series prior to reading this one.
I strongly recommend this book, series, and the amazing writing duo!

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest and unbiased review.

Police Chief Zane Duncan and Officer Stevie Taylor are both thinking of their
upcoming wedding. Zane just wants to marry the love of his life. Stevie wants
the same ... but she's having to deal with her mother and sister over all the
wedding details. I'm sure elopement has been mentioned a lot .. by Stevie.

The day before the nuptials, a dead body is found at a nearby campground. Looks
like the wedding might not happen ... the dead body is that of a very well-known
actor .. and he was murdered.

The victim was spending the weekend with his brother and two friends.
Investigating, Stevie finds that everyone had a motive. Digging deep, Stevie and
Zane find lies, secrets, and betrayals. Throw in the girlfriends and ex-wives
and it's a free-for-all.

Less than 100 pages, this is the first book in a 2-book series and it's packed
with everything you would expect from a 300 page novel... a victim that
shouldn't be dead, lots of suspects, and the added stress of trying to get
married. Solitude is a small Oregon town and the residents are all that you
would ever need in the way of friends and neighbors.

I have read several books by this author and have never come away disappointed.
I look forward to reading Book 2 --- BURNED BY HER DEVOTION by Melinda Leigh.

Many thanks to the author / the store Publishing / NetGalley who provided a digital
copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I have enjoyed the two previous "Rogue" novella series immensely! I'm very happy the co-authors found time to collaborate on another winning novella series taking place in the small town of Solitude on the Rogue River! The strong characters of these novellas were introduced to us in the books of the earlier series. The main characters, and their extended family, have varied and interesting backgrounds, and strong personalities. They now feel like old friends to me, friends I've known for a long time, friends I care about!

Another mysterious event has taken place in their small, normally quiet and close-knit town. As the Police Department of Solitude mobilizes to investigate, they have no idea what they will find, the dispatcher just said there was, “a body in the woods”, near the campground on the Rogue River, they had no idea what it would bring to their streets, their town and their people! As the mystery deepens and the suspense builds, they all wonder -- are they on the right track or are they being played, is anything as it appears?

It’s a short book, as all novellas are, yet it still imbibes the sense of suspense and intrigue, desperation too, and with that, a feeling of foreboding like perhaps something else, something unsuspected, is taking place just under their radar . . . .

Will Stevie and Zane go through with their plans? Can they? Oh, yes, I think they built the tension exactly right!

A bit of Crime Drama mixed with romance and throw in a a psycho stalker just for fun!

The MC's Stevie & Zane - 2 small town police officers (well one is the Police Chief) are derailed on their way down the Aisle. A Famous TV Star is found dead and the town is overflowing with media and paparazzi as well as a "girlfriend" stalker.

Stevie & Zane, and all the townies in Solitude was likeable and well developed characters. Each with their own quirks and flaws. Felt that Stevie was my favorite - a good copy, took her time interviewing the people closest to the victim and followed the clues logically. She really wasn't into her wedding stuff but that was OK because all she really wanted was to get down the aisle and get the "show" over. But when things start catching fire around down it looks as if maybe the wedding will be derailed.

I've definitely put the previous stories in this community on my to be read list.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this title through NetGalley and was not compensated in any way.

For this book to be complete, the author should have concluded what happened with Cyndee. This conclusion should have been in this book, not used as a means go get the reader's go buy the next book in the series. I took off a star or two for that. No matter how good the current book might be, if the reader is left feeling cheated out of the complete story at the end, the reader will NOT have good opinions about the book or the author. This type of behavior by the author just makes me NEVER want go read another book by this author. I want to feel satisfied that I was able to read and enjoy a good, well-written, complete book with closure at the end. You will not get that with this author or this book. The author only made a half-hearted attempt at best to satisfy the reader's.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

This is a novella and I was very surprised to find that there were several before this one. I've read several of Kendra Elliot's books, but completely missed these suspense novellas. This one is great and I'm going to get my hands on the others.

Stevie and Zane are getting married, but have a complication just days before the big event. A hot TV star had the misfortune to get himself murdered in their town. Bummer, for Stevie and Zane, and for Chase Ryan and his millions of fans who descend on them when his murder becomes known. Tough enough to solve a murder without the spotlight of the national media shining on their little town. As Stevie and Zane investigate, they uncover several things that shed a whole different light on this media darling.

Kendra Elliot! Melinda Leigh! Two of my favorite authors!!!
I have several favorites. These are two author's who have never disappointed me.
I can always count on them for interesting, mesmerizing, intriguing stories. With EXCELLENT characterizations!
NO typos! NO noticeable errors! The 2 author's mentioned above, take pride in their work, enough so that they read through their finished product, besides having them proof read by others, BEFORE putting it out for us, the general public.
That can't be said for far too many self-publishing authors these days!!!
I LOVED THIS STORY!!

The first novella in the Rogue Vows series a great mix of mystery, suspense and romance. It is set in the same town of Solitude as the Rogue River series and contains many of the characters from those books. It is a standalone series and you do not have to have read the Rogue River series to understand and enjoy this one. Stevie and Zane are both great characters and their trials and tribulations in this story makes them even more appealing. Murder, secrets, betrayals, intrigue and the paparazzi cause chaos in both in the town of Solitude and in Stevie and Zane's lives, as they try to solve Chase Ryan's death, and get married. I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

While Death and Her Devotion is the first book in Rogue Vows I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a town and relationship that I should have met before. I think had I realized and read the previous Rogue River and maybe even the Rogue Winter novellas I would have enjoyed this a lot more. With that said I still enjoyed the book. It was a quick, face-paced and fun read with some interesting characters, a nice romance and some suspense. I will definitely go back and read the Rogue River books to see how everything started with Stevie and Zane.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

DEATH AND HER DEVOTION by Kendra Elliott
As though the days aren't hectic a enough for Stevie and her wedding coming with police chief Zane. Throw in a murder, not just a murder, but of a TV star. An innocence fishing trip, with the 4 guys, who live, work and play together in LA. So what went wrong, was it the stalker that Chase had, jealousy, or what. The story maybe short, but packed full of suspects, and the wedding ,also. Great read, love books by Kendra Elliott, and this won't disappoint . Given book by Net Galley and my voluntary review for my honest opinion of which I have given.

"Death and her Devotion" takes the readers back to Solitude and the investigation of another murder, this time the murder of a TV star that force Zane and Stevie away from their wedding planning.

It's a slow paced investigation but interesting in revealing some secrets between Chase, the dead man, and the three men, his friends, he was spending time with at Solitude and how it almost stopped Zane and Stevie's wedding from happening.

I simply loved the ending! It was the most endearing thing and I hope to return to Solitude and meet this sweet couple again.

The Rogue novellas are my favorites. This is the third group set in Solitude, Oregon around the Taylor family. Stevie, daughter of the former police chief, is engaged to the current police chief, Zane. Just before their wedding a murder must be solved and it's a doozy. The town struggles with the overcrowding due to the identity of the victim, but it works. Solitude is a place that is quiet, full of friends and family, and has a wonderful police staff when crime rarely happens. My copy was given through Netgalley and m review was written voluntarily.

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent novella. It's an action driven tale that intrigued the reader. I know I was held captive throughout the entire story. For such a short book, the character development is quite good. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.Happy ☺reading ?!

I am really enjoying all the books in the different Rogue River series. They are set in the small town near the river and have the same main characters. The stories are very interesting, with many surprises.

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent novella. It's an action driven tale that intrigued the reader. I know I was held captive throughout the entire story. For such a short book, the character development is quite good. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.Happy ☺reading ?!

I am really enjoying all the books in the different Rogue River series. They are set in the small town near the river and have the same main characters. The stories are very interesting, with many surprises.

Ohhhh another winner for Kendra Elliot!
The book has a great flow to it, and the characters are like family now. I love the way Kendra draws you into the story, and you feel like you are right there in the midst of the action.
Love Zane and Stevie ( the main characters), and the way Kendra makes their small town appealing even with a murderer hanging around.
Suspense, humour, and a great read. I'm always excited to read something that Kendra writes, and this novella was fantastic.
Bravo Kendra..
Well deserved 5 stars

Read this in one afternoon. Have read a number of Ms Elliott's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one? Not so much. It felt rushed. I bought the second book in this series first by mistake, so I will read it now and hope it's better than this one.

The short books develop fast and end just right. No waste of words, just good story- telling. I always enjoy the series books. Rogue Vows 1 is entertaining and easy. Great characters that have close family & friends. Crime interferes with personal plans. Enjoyable.

Come to Rogue River country with heroes and heroines abounding. Romantic but not sappy. Definitely a great short read for the mystery lover. Read it and weep, laugh, and then exhale as the end is reached with satisfaction to all. My first short by this author but not my last.

No spoilers here, just an unexpected ending and that's always good. The only thing I will say is there is a reason why people recommend never using names that start with the same letter, very confusing. Otherwise good short read.

Once again I loved this book. Zane and stevie are my favorites. Their chemistry and love for each other is priceless. I was a little thrown by the murderer, but it is an awesome novella. Only wish this was a movie or tv series. Then id really be in heaven.

If you love a good mystery with romance and suspense which is cleverly written, then this book is for you. The storyline flows well and the characters are real to life. I found this book hard to put down. Read in one night.

Started slow and then just ended. Guess I need to pay more attention to the number of pages. If this story is going to play out like this, just a few chapters here and there to make a full book I'll pass.

Kendra Elliot always keep you evolved in her stories. Love her characters with a lot of fun but with a twist. You don't have to read books in order. Just make time to finish (otherwise you will stay up all night like I did!)

The Rogue River novellas are impressively detailed and well paced. The characters continue to develop throughout the books. I highly recommend this series for a quick yet satisfying romantic suspense read.

I enjoyed this novella, but found myself lost numerous times. I'm not sure if there was a book prior to this that I should have read, but past events were referenced that I had no knowledge of and it seemed like there was no character development. Was I already supposed to know these characters? Otherwise a fun, quick read!

I just can't believe how this book came together. Mystery and murder has never been more exciting. Their heroine is so much more exciting each time. I love when these two authors team up. They get it right each time.

Great easy read. Fell in love with the book after the first chapter as usual. Absolutely love Kendra Elliot's writing. Makes my heart smile after every book I read. Thank you for sharing it with all of us

Love this series. Very quick suspenseful read. Loved the story line of the actor who was murdered in their small town. You can figure out from the beginning who was the killer but still a good mystery. Loved it!