Out of jail, but free?
I loved this book, I love the spunk of Mickey, not wanting to let herself when all things around her is crumbling. She’s free from jail, but jail stays a bit in her. She tries with all her might to build her life again and with the help and their mutual desire she manages, just. I admired the way Kelly Collins wrote her – a fire within her of passion and true feelings of friendship for the friends she left behind in jail. I liked the rawness of the descriptions of people, places and things, all the things which mattered – all this came true in this wonderful book of Second Chances.
When twenty-four-year-old Mickey Mercer walks out of the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility, she has two things on her mind: the friends she left behind and the rough road ahead. All she has in the outside world are a vengeful ex, a run-down ranch, a pickup truck ... and an unlikely ally—the cop who gives her a ride home. Kerrick is bossy and irritating. He’s also a big, sexy hunk of distraction. She’s torn between sending him on his way and giving in to the desire sizzling between them.
Detective Kerrick McKinley’s job is to protect and serve. The job consumes his life, until he gives a pretty, prickly ex-con a ride on a dusty road. But when they discover something is wrong out on Mickey’s ranch, Kerrick must either steer clear, or stand between her and the danger that prowls her range. She may be out of prison, but she’s still in trouble … too bad there’s nothing sexier than trouble in tight blue jeans.
This unlikely couple must look deeper to learn that sometimes people aren’t what they seem. Sometimes they’re better.
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Thank you to Kelly Collins for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After spending time in prison Mickey Mercer is released, leaves the jail behind her and starts walking since nobody is there to meet her. Tired and hot she gets into Kerrick McKinley’s truck only to find out he is a detective on the police force. By the time she gets home she realizes all of her assumptions about returning home, her ranch, her bank account and her life are completely different than expected. She is strong and willing to make changes but still has to contend with a scumbag abusive ex-boyfriend.

This is a wonderful story of a strong woman with great female friends made in prison that will star in their own stories in this series. It is also the story of Mickey creating the future she wants and deserves - I loved the fact that no matter what hurdle Mickey faces she has the guts and gumption to find a way over it and to move on. I found Kerrick a bit weaker than Mickey but a good guy for her once he began to get over his past hurts. In addition to Kerrick there are at least three men introduced in this book that no doubt will be snapping up Mickey’s women friends when they are free women again.

Great story – looking forward to reading Set Aside as soon as I can! ( )