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Survivor #1

Because Of You

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Alex Turner is the chief of police in a small town. He lives a modest life. Truth, honor, and safety are his hard and fast rules. He won’t bend them. He won’t break them. In a world where chaos reigns supreme, he’s happy with his lowly, uncomplicated lifestyle. . .until Juliette Jones enters the picture.

Jules is a successful lawyer, and heiress to the Jones family fortune. She wears red bottom heels and has an ever-expanding wardrobe of designer labels. Her and the grumpy chief have absolutely nothing in common... until they meet in the bedroom. Then all bets are off and rivalries are set aside.

Alex and Jules have the world against them, but can they overcome it all before another blonde-haired, blue-eyed, twenty-something year old woman turns up dead on Alex’s doorstep?

Because of You is a sexy whodunnit that will have you laughing on one page and swooning on the next. Scroll up to one-click this heart-thumping romantic suspense and find out what all the fuss is about.

360 pages, ebook

First published March 1, 2018

1751 people are currently reading
709 people want to read

About the author

Emilia Finn

95books1,478followers
Emilia Finn is an Amazon Top 20 bestselling, Australia-based author with more than 55 books written and published to date.

She's a mom, a coffee addict, a collector of quirky coffee mugs, and before she had kids, she was a real-life full-contact fighter.

Her experience on the fight circuits helped her pen her first ever book—Finding Home—featuring a world champion MMA fighter Bobby Kincaid, and his leading lady and equal in every way, Kit Reilly. What was only supposed to be a once off experience instead turned into a career for Emilia, a thriving empire, and a daily grind she never wants to be rescued from.

Join Emilia's mailing list for exclusive material and new release alerts.

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5 stars
1,352 (60%)
4 stars
615 (27%)
3 stars
205 (9%)
2 stars
45 (2%)
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10 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
Profile Image for M..
507 reviews736 followers
January 15, 2020
"Alex Turner rocked my world last night. So soft and gentle. So hard and demanding."

3.5� | This book was difficult to rate for me, there were parts that I really liked and others that... not so much, but considering that this is Emilia Finn, I'm ready for this new series to give me ALL the feelings.

Juliette Jones, I freaking love you. First, she is a lawyer and that's enough for me, but also she was such a refreshing character; funny, smart, driven, sexy, sassy and I could go on all day. Oh, and my favorite part, she didn't take Alex's bullshit and always called him out in his behavior.

As for the romance I really enjoyed it, even if it started in an awkarwd way. They had a good banter and it felt real, I really loved their chemistry. And there's also the mystery factor, which I think was not so mysterious?? but in a classic Emilia Finn way it worked in the end. So much drama in such a small town...

I think the only thing that didn't work for me was Alex. I didn't particularly dislike him, but sometimes he had me like UGGGGGHHH. Now, I know he was just stubborn, a little grumpy and overprotective and that despite everything he had a big heart BUT I don't like the alpha male type that borders on chauvinism and cave man disguised as chivalry. but he was a cop so I didn't expect so much tbh. Also, all that hate which really isn't hate against the Rollers? I'm sorry deputy, but that's my family and I take it as a personal offense, and yeah it was funny in Britt's book and at the beginning of this one but after a while it gets boring.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews95 followers
Want to read
March 28, 2018
💝 FREE on Amazon today (3/28/2018)!💝

Blurb:
Alex Turner is a small town chief of police. He lives a modest life; truth, honor, and safety his hard and fast rules. He won’t bend them. He won’t break them. In a world where chaos reigns supreme, Alex is happy with his lowly and uncomplicated lifestyle.

Juliette Jones is a successful lawyer and the heiress to the Jones family fortune. She wears red bottom heels and has an ever-expanding wardrobe of designer labels.

Alex and Juliette only have one thing in common; and it’s that they have absolutely nothing in common.

Murder, secrets, families, and careers come between this couple. Can they overcome it all? And will they do it before another blonde-haired, blue-eyed, twenty-something year old woman turns up dead on Alex’s doorstep?
Profile Image for BookLover.
650 reviews4 followers
July 21, 2022
Because of You

Oh my god l love X (Alex). We first meet Alex in previous books through the rollers series, he’s Brit’s (Bambie’s) older brother, he’s a police office and he’s a bit on the grumpy side. But in this story we see a very different side of Alex, he’s funny, sweet and very very lonely. He’s not looking for love until one night when on duty he receives an emergency call from Juliette, a woman with a sexy voice and he finds himself flirting. Juliette is a solicitor moving to X’s town for a new job, unfortunately X can’t stand solicitors, he doesn’t like them at all. Juliette’s night is not going well and she requires the service of a police officer 👮‍♀� Can X put aside he dislike of solicitors and his loneliness to find love with Juliette? You’ll need to read this for yourself to find out 💕
Profile Image for Harlow James.
Author38 books1,244 followers
December 31, 2019
Emilia Finn has become one of my favorite authors in just a month's time. I binged her Rollin' series over Thanksgiving and was SO ready to continue with this series, which is connected to the Rollin' gang. These characters are like a family you feel you're a part of, and I loved Alex's story. He and Juliette were so funny together, but balanced each other out so well. And the mystery throughout the book gave a great hook to keep me shocked til the end! Emilia is definitely a one-click author for me, and I can't wait to make my way through the rest of her books.
Profile Image for Kim (Chipperbooks) .
1,206 reviews8 followers
April 20, 2024
Because of You- Alex and Jules

Although not necessary, I would recommend the Rollin series first. They make appearances throughout the book, so if you want their details, start with them.

Alex is chief of police in their small town, and his family means everything to him. His sister married into the Rollin family, so you have the connection. He adores his sister and has a love/hate relationship with her husband and his family. It does make for some fun banter. Alex is also a bit envious of their relationships as he is still single and tired of the stigma and loose women. He’s bored and no one in his town peaks his interest.

Jules is packed up and headed across the country. She comes from money and now she is leaving that behind to start to her law career. She was brought up to marry the right guy, stay quiet, stay married, look rich, and she is so far different from that persona, she wants out. She is hard working, stubborn and very independent. As Jules is nearing the town exit, the person in front of her keeps swerving all over the road. She finally decides to call for help. She wakes up in the hospital.

Alex is smitten from the time he answers the phone. As he leaves the station he is shocked by the accident that unfolds in front of him. Alex and Jules don’t exactly get a fun meet cute. When Alex finds out that Jules is a lawyer, he thinks all is lost. He hates lawyers. They are both independent, very stubborn, and want their way but all that arguing leads to fire and hot chemistry.

Profile Image for Britt Chaotic Creatives.
1,414 reviews95 followers
April 7, 2018
Starting off an entirely new series, Emilia Finn once again brings an amazing story of love, family, and friends that hits you right in the feels. I didn’t think anything would top her Rollin On series, but as she has proved time and time again her books get better every time. Because Of You takes it to a whole new level, still with her signature humor but packing an emotional punch and delicious heat that will leave you breathless.

Alex has been on my radar since he was first introduced. A bit of a jerk sometimes, I just knew there was a beautiful heart inside of him. I was not disappointed. This stubborn, sexy, overprotective officer had me totally melted into a big pile of swooning fan girl. Let’s not even get me started on how insanely hot this man can get. Because he will have you reaching for a fan. Juliette was his perfect match, a bit of opposites attract, but not fully. The sparks were instantaneous between these two making for incredible heat.

With appearances from the Rollers we’ve all come to know and love (and obsess over, I’m looking at you Jack) and learning more about Alex’s family and friends this is an amazing start to a new series that you will quickly become addicted to!
Profile Image for Jessica Herald.
215 reviews22 followers
January 14, 2020
A fun flirty romance

I enjoyed this love story
It was a fun flirty kind of love
The ending of the crime had me a little confused maybe that was the point
556 reviews8 followers
May 7, 2023
3.5 stars rounded down

Spoilers at the end.

I like the storyline and I like the characters for the most part, but just like with the Rollin On series... It falls short and lacks detail. And the "I gotcha back" for "I got your back" just makes me want to throw my book. But my book is also my phone. So I won't throw it. Sigh.

I'm currently camping and I had a few notes at home for things that stuck out as terrible. But I can't remember all of them at this point. The first was the I gotcha back garbage. And then there's the typical phrases and words that aren't used in the US that are in this book that's allegedly set in the US. Also super annoying.

Beyond that, there was the coffee date.... They had a coffee date at the diner. He had sugar in his coffee during the date. So then they finally hook up and she's at his house and is going to make coffee but doesn't know how he drinks it and thinks of how he probably drinks it... Um. Dummy. You literally had a coffee date with him!! Are you that obtuse?! How are you a lawyer then?! Sigh.

So that was dumb.

And then there's him... The chief of a small town who is dealing with dead bodies and a murderer... Now. I've known a lot of cops (even dated one for a long while) and you can bet your ass he showered every day when coming home from work. But this chief? Nah. Dead body investigation all day... Super tired... And his attitude is, "I'll shower tomorrow". 🤢🤮 And to make matters worse, he was then talking with his girl and went over to her house for nookie!! All without showering. 🤢🤮 So gross.

And actually, that may have been all my notes at home. The characters are just inconsistent in everything and true are so many redundancies. Maybe instead of cutting off the stories and awkward moments with no real closure/conclusion on things, cut the crap redundancy and give a proper ending!!

Oh. And i was really hoping to find out if Bobby or (OMG I'm drawing a blank at his name!!) the kid won the fight against each other. And the book talks about it in the first couple chapters or so, but doesn't say who won!! How lame! That was half my reason for reading the damn book in the best place! Ugh.

Since I'm camping another night, I may check out Oz's book. But I'm just kinda meh about it. I assume part of it will be worries about his chief buddy and his recuperation but then the series "survivor" makes me wonder if all of them are going to be as crappy as this one?

Three women get killed. Jules is the 4th taken and is beat up quite a bit. She clings to Oz when he finds her and the chief is shot by fellow officer Thomas. And Oz kills Thomas. Chief in the hospital and then home to recover and they go for a motorcycle ride when he's not fully recovered and probably shouldn't be riding with his still-injured shoulder. So Jules really is just an idiot who cares only about herself. Sigh. Actually the more I think about the book, the less I like her. Haha.

Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

Edit: I'm not sure why I thought oz was the next book. 🤦🏼‍♀� It's Scotch next. Sigh.
372 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2023
1.5 stars.
Because:
1. the overwhelming number of characters from a previous related series. It completely derailed the good beginning.
2. The strongest relationship developed in this book is Alex with his sister and her husband, Juliette was an after thought until the halfway point, and even then it doesn't improve much.
3. I didn't like Alex, he was sanctimonious and didn't show Juliette much respect IMO. To the point I was hoping he died.
4. I hated the epilogue, it highlighted all the things I disliked about Alex.
Profile Image for Jeni.
395 reviews7 followers
September 2, 2019
Did not work for me

The writing was decent, story and plot were ok but the characters crossed the lines into unlikable. I can honestly say I was repelled by the interactions between just about everyone and no matter how hard I tried could not develop a mental link with either of the MC's. Bummed, but sometimes it happens.
Profile Image for Jenni Lennen.
180 reviews2 followers
January 7, 2020
Amazing

So glad I found this new author. I absolutely love the way she writes. All of these love stories are more real kid than most romance books I’ve read. Can’t wait to continue the series.
Profile Image for Sandra.
3,240 reviews11 followers
May 6, 2018
With a murder and the cop & lawyer as the leads in the blurb I was (quite reasonably) expecting a romantic suspense about them and a murder mystery. Instead we seem to have a sappy family drama with story predominantly featuring Alex's pregnant baby sister and every person she ever met with occasional glimpses of Alex & Juliette our supposed leads. I mean at least a third of the way in and so far Alex has spent more time with his sister and moaning about his in-laws than with Juliette. It is obvious that the majority of these people were in other books but i haven’t read that series so I don’t know who they are or care about them so having them clutter up the story detracts from it from my perspective. From about half way in the story focuses more on A & J and their relationship. The murders are basically a non event in story terms. Several blonde women are raped and murdered. There are no leads. A & J fall in love. J is taken by the killer. They stumble across her just it time. Also the murderer is blatantly obvious as there is literally no other character it could be. It wasn't bad and once the actual story got started (after the parade of every character from every other book finished) i enjoyed Alex & Jules. They were cute & sexy together. I think it was just i had diff expectations. This is not a murder mystery or a rom suspense it is a straight up contemporary romance.
Profile Image for Kate G.
46 reviews
August 13, 2020
Here we go, book 1 of a new series from Emilia Finn featuring some of my favorite side characters from the Rollin On series. My expectations were so high, because come on, its EMILIA FINN... and she deserves all caps.
I have to start by saying this book redeemed itself greatly but... I was very bored for the first part. I loved Jules from the start; she was witty, funny and fun to read about. Alex irritated me. I found him to be boring, dull and rude. I kept putting the book down and had to force myself to push past the first bit. HOWEVER (don't throw rocks at me yet!), once I made it to the 40%-ish mark I found the deeper layers of Alex and started to like him and, by the end, I was in love with him too.

Alex is a chief of police investigating the murders of woman being dumped around his town. Jules is the new local lawyer who comes from riches but seeks a better life (happiness/money).

I can say I was SHOCKED by the ending (the murderer and the very last line of this book).
Give this book a try, keep at it til you get to the good stuff because TRUST ME, it's good!!!

Also, for those who did read (& I won't say anything that way I dont spoil for anyone who hasnt read)
I think I missed a point of the plot for a character. Who is Shirley? I felt like the ending was the first time I'd even heard her name
Profile Image for Debbie.
2,669 reviews48 followers
June 13, 2024
Because of You is the first book in the Survivor series by Emilia Finn. This is Alex (Chief) Turner and Juliette (Jules) Jones� book.

Alex is the police chief of the small town where Jules moves. He answers the phone when she calls 911 to report a bad driver who ends up ultimately wrecking into her. Alex is attracted to Jules immediately but it takes a little time before he gets up the courage to ask her out.

Jules is an attorney who has moved to the small town to escape the stressful complications of her family. She loves it there and likes all the new people she meets. Jules especially likes the hot police chief and says yes when he asks her out.

There were a lot of pages to get through before Alex and Jules finally get together. Alex spends a great deal of time with his sister Britt and other family members before the story finally leads us on the road to his and Jules� HEA. Because I have not read all of this author’s other series, there were a lot of characters whose back stories I didn’t know. It didn’t really take away from this story, there’s just a lot of people who I wasn’t sure how they were connected to one another. Oz is Alex’s best friend and my favorite side character. There’s some police drama, some sweet moments and some funny ones.

I enjoyed this book and plan on continuing to read the other books by this author.
Profile Image for Lisa.
Author10 books48 followers
July 4, 2018
Because of You was my first read by Emilia Finn, and I’m just gonna say it…I’m hooked. The characters were so real, so fleshed out, that I easily fell into their world and cared about what happened to them. I adored Juliette (with an extra T and E at the end!) and found it really easy to connect with her. Finn writes feelings and emotions so beautifully, which means I felt ALL THE FEELS while reading this book. The opening scene practically explodes off the page right off the bat, and as I read on I was happy to find excitement and mystery and humor woven in with this beautiful (and hot!) love story. And speaking of love…Juliette and Alex? What can I say� My cynical heart beat wildly for these two. And can I just say that I also fell a little bit in love with Oz? *sigh* So you see? That right there. THAT’S the thing. Finn makes you feel for ALL of her characters. This fictional world was so real that my own reality faded completely while reading this book. And the best part? This is only the first book in the series…I’m definitely looking forward to devouring the rest!
Profile Image for Karen Voitik.
3,219 reviews
April 2, 2019
>Book Review � Because of You
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 1st book in the Survivor series and ends in an HEA. The Survivor series is a spin-off of the Rollin On series. The same characters reappear in this series. Britt and Jack have their baby and the Kincaids all appear, but the story focuses on Britt’s brother, Alex. Alex is the Chief of Police and overprotective brother of Britt. He has to keep up the pretense of hating Jack, but her really likes him. Alex’s BFF and fellow office, Oz is a huge source of humor. Oz playing the wingman is really funny, especially when Alex gets an unexpected case of shyness when he meets Jules.
>The story starts out with a bang and never lets up. There is a serial killer mystery and a huge red herring to hide the true killer. Jules has a strange backstory. She is from wealth, but wants to go her own way. She is a successful lawyer opening a new practice in Alex’s town. Why her family’s wealth is that important is not relevant to the story, really.
>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this book 5 stars. There is a lot of mystery and danger, along with humor and the Rollin On characters.
497 reviews
May 28, 2020
This is the first book in the Survivor #1 series but is a continuation of the same characters in the Rollin� On series by author Emilia Finn.

This is a standalone book with a HEA and NO cliff hanger ending. But it does look back at the previous people in previous books.

I will say that after 6 books in a row, that all these characters are intertwined in the stories, we have known the main male and female characters since the fifth book. The reader will be doing themselves a favor if they read the previous book because this book's humor and inside jokes rely on the reader already knowing some information.

This book is about two very bull-headed, argumentative, strong people who find each other. That is something special and all around them know it right away. There is drama and danger in this book as there was in the past books. This story has lots of heat, some sweetness, some pettiness, a little danger, and a great deal of humor and sarcasm (which I really love). I laughed out loud in some sections, and my heart melted in others.
Profile Image for C. Soto.
Author7 books104 followers
July 14, 2021
My review

Read the Rollin on series first.

This was book one to a spinoff series..

This one wasn't as good as the first six books. Alex and Julliette's story wasn't as fine tuned as her other six books.

I will say you should read the rolling on series first before this book otherwise the side characters will be lost on you.

The crime portion didn't start until the book was half way through, which is fine, but when it did show up, the investigation wasn't really executed with you believing the process.

I don't think in the middle of two dead bodies would the chief of police leave his small town with an hour's notice to hop on a plane to follow a girl (they weren't fighting nor was she in danger) to her mom's wedding especially for how his character was portrayed as the serious type.

I'm now going on to book 2 as I loved the first six books and even though this one wasn't my favorite i loved the first series so i know I'll get to see my favorite characters again and i have no doubt the spin off series will be awesome.
Profile Image for Riley K. .
767 reviews11 followers
March 22, 2018
The story of Juliette and Alex starts off with a crash. Juliette is breaking free from her past to start a fresh new life away from the prying eyes of her mother. Alex is the sheriff of the town and is intrigued by the new resident of the town he is sworn to protect.

The flirtatious banter between Alex and Jules is off the charts amazing. I really love that we get to see the characters from the Rollin On series. This story has a few plot twists where a serial killer is on the loose. The author really knows how to create a suspenseful story while creating a beautiful mix of laughter and dark.

The story was believable, the dialogue was on point, and realistic. There was great character development. The characters seem to come to life when you read the author’s words. She has a way of making you feel like you are right there with them.

I will definitely recommend this story to others. I give it 5/5 Platypires.

Profile Image for Teri.
3,918 reviews36 followers
March 17, 2018
I have no idea where I got this book from but I am so thankful I got the chance to read it. Right now my head is still spinning that there aren't more reviews. This author writes a story that hits you like no other. I laughed so hard I cried and yes it was at their expense but I have to say the entire group had me rolling and laughing like a loon. These two do a verbal match that will have you shaking your head but are so perfectly matched you can't help but laugh along. But the author doesn't stop there, she's got to add in some intrigue and stuff that has you holding your breath. I especially like the coffee with the band, that scene had me crying.

Great story and yes the characters leave their mark. I haven't read this author before but I plan on reading a whole lot of her work, especially this series.
12 reviews
August 25, 2018
Alex Turner is your modern day "Knight in Shining armour" from the very start of this book albeit he is adorable when he goes shy and lost for words at times, he stands tall for all he believes in! And Juliette can totally match that with all her sass and smarts which makes for a very entertaining read you definitely can't put down once you start! But you also fall in love with new characters as well as moments with my favourite Rollin family which Emilia Finn has done an awesome job of mixing it all together whilst keeping them separate! Never a dull moment in this book which in true Emilia Finn fashion has all the feels!!! Can't wait for the next one!
1,193 reviews3 followers
December 14, 2018
I absolutely loved all the characters in this book. Normally in a good book you have two or three vibrant, well developed characters, but all of the characters fit that description. Alex and Juliette are the couple we all want to be. The storyline was extremely interesting and it included first meetings, young love, steamy romance, irritating family members, unusual animals, a serial killer, and betrayal. Absolutely excellent read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Toni Benton.
667 reviews3 followers
March 12, 2019
Emilia Finn never disappoints

I love how even tho the Rollin On Series is over, & this starts the Survivor series, Emilia still gives you plenty of your Rollers. Her transition into a whole new series is masterful.
Alex seems to be a little of an overbearing big brother & a little comedic relief in previous books, but here he shines. He cares & loves deeply & knows exactly what he wants and needs. Juliette is fierce & stubborn and exactly what Alex needs to balance him out. Perfect match!!!!
210 reviews
Read
April 16, 2020
Alex found a firecracker!

Soft voices on a quiet night. Sounds perfect, right? What about what comes after?

Alex is the Chief, in a small quiet town, but when the emergency line rings, he's all business.

He comes across as a grumpy caveman, but when family and feelings get involved, he's worse.

Karma brings in a feisty, gorgeous, young lady, and Alex is done. Good, bad, and ugly are brought to Alex's station, he's stuck in the middle.

Very good read, even Mr. Grumpypants.
16 reviews
August 26, 2020
So Alex makes appearances in the Rollin On series. I was not expecting to like him from those appearances. But I should have known that Emilia Finn would have changed my mind. She did an excellent job on backstory with Alex. And I am not ashamed to admit that I definitely loved him and Juliette together. The back and forth with those two. I can relate to Juliette because she reminds me of me. And her not being afraid to give it right back to anyone who might think she won't stand up for herself.
Profile Image for Shandi Boyes.
Author119 books2,124 followers
March 6, 2018
I found this one a little more humuorous then the Rollin book I read, even with some serious elements happening behind the scene. The last few chapters were heart thumping. You’re trying to work out what is happening while hyperventilating into a paper bag. Alex was a surprise, all sides of him. I think I liked dominate Alex the most. And Juliette was a strong female lead who had the right amount of sash to keep X in line.
4,727 reviews29 followers
December 11, 2018
Alex is a sheriff in a small town and likes things simple but when Juliette who is a lawyer from the city arrives in town he knows she's trouble. When a serial killer starts leaving dead bodies that look a lot like Juliette he has his hands full and he also knows she is hiding some secrets. Story filled with suspense, murder and romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Darcy.
1,609 reviews9 followers
December 14, 2018
I liked the idea of the book, the characters and the flow of the story. However, there were times the author tried too hard with banter and the characters came off as immature. Other times there were too many secondary characters making it confusing, if you weren't familiar with previous books in the series. I did enjoy it, but didn't absolutely love it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jackie.
1,061 reviews
December 24, 2018
Slow start

This book started off so incredibly slow & awkward that I almost quit! It didn’t really get interesting until maybe halfway through but it picked up in an amazing way. I loved Alex & Jules they are hot together 🥰 and the secondary characters are funny and lovable. If you want a slow burn love story with funny hijinks, steamy love scenes, and a ending that I didn’t see coming this one is for you!
Profile Image for Vinessa.
1,951 reviews23 followers
March 24, 2020
Alex and Juliette so awkward.
Alex is not what you would expect in a leader. He wss all over the place personality wise.
And Juliette just sat back and watched it unfold.
There were so many professional errors in hers and his. Lack of follow through and information.
Legal errors. Location Time and anything and everything.
The supporting characters were more interesting than the main characters

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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