Book three in the Tacoma Mounted Police series, although this will definitely stand alone if you haven’t read the previous stories. This is a sweet and gentle romance with a frisson of crime drama.

Billie Mitchell is a vet with PTSD who has found a place in the Tacoma Mounted Police. Despite considering herself a nomad after a disruptive childhood and years in the army, she is settled in Tacoma and has made friends in the neighbourhood and on the force.

Merissa Karr comes from a very privileged background and although she lives on her grandfather’s estate and runs a polo team, she is determined to make her own way as a project manager and designer in urban renewal. When her boss is shot the suspect list is small, and the motive hard to believe, but she needs both Billie’s protection and understanding in the aftermath of murder, and she is determined to find out why her boss and friend were killed.

As always with Karis Walsh’s books the characters are well drawn and the inter-relationships well developed. The friendships grow as the books unfold, and these are people we can genuinely care about and want to succeed. Ms Walsh has a subtle and enjoyable way of developing her characters and portraying their interactions, with an excellent narrative balance and a writing style that makes the plot flow.

There isn’t a huge amount of tension, and the crime is solved quite easily, but the crime is a vehicle for the romance, and I always enjoy Karis’ gentle and sweet stories. Well written and edited, this is an easy read, but definitely a great way to send the evening in front of the fire.

'NetGalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'Constantly challenge your tastes as a reader..Writing is rarely easy or enjoyable,but it pretty much always ends up being rewarding..'

Impressive story!
I must confess that i liked this book/storyline a little more than i originally thought i would:- the theme was very mysterious in nature which involved the protagonist's intensive search & investigation of the killing of her boss and friend,the plot and pacing were laid out well-- though there were a few slow scenes throughout the story readers will observe. I myself got absorbed in both leading character's storyline to which it was either gonna be a good or bad mix with these two being in such difficult scenes that drew all the suspense of this storytelling. Though the romance was a bit minor and just a subtext in this book or i should say a beta plot to the story i do not think it was as important as anything for the author because she rarely mention others or a love story but minimal supporting cast that energize the story and that unexpected ending was incredible for them. Recommended!

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This was a nice quick romantic suspense read. I liked Merissa and her and Billie's journey to find out who killed Dennis. The suspense kept me reading as I did not feel the romance all of the time. I felt that these two did not connect as much as some previous couples that Karis Walsh as written together, which is why it only received three stars. The suspense portion of this book went well and made me continue trying to figure out who it was.

I confess that i like this book a little more than i originally thought i would,liked the theme of the mystery which involved the protagonist's intense search/investigation of the killing of her boss/friend,the plot and pacing were laid out well..though there were a few slow scenes,i got absorbed in both main character's story to which there was a good mixture of difficult scenes that drew the suspense right in..the romance was a minor subtext or i should say a beta plot to the story but its as important as anything that the author did mention and others in the story...good supporting cast and the ending was not what one expected..everyone should have a go at this book..do recommend!!

I really enjoyed the characters in this book as well as the plot which had an interesting backstory beyond the romance. Well crafted and nicely paced.

Merissa works at an urban design consulting firm and dreams of the opportunity to design her own city. One day Merissa and her boss are out searching for renovation ideas and he is shot dead. It seems Merissa may be the only witness to his murder and the police are anxious to ensure her welfare.
Billie is a mounted policewoman with a sad past. Her service partner was killed in action and she struggles with PTSD. Joining the mounted police gives her a new focus in life and the support of close friends and colleagues help her to heal although it is a very slow process. She is assigned to work with Merissa to gather information relating to the murder as her memories resurface. Soon Billie is struggling to balance pain of the past with her growing feelings for Merissa.
Merissa was one of my favorite characters as she was rich without being stuck up and determined. She also didn’t have the emotional baggage Billie did and was able to accept there was a connection between them. Also I am a horse fanatic and really enjoyed those parts of the book.
There were a few spots in the story where I felt like skimming through but didn’t. I’ve tried to work out why this might be so and there wasn’t anything obvious I could put my finger on. Overall I enjoyed this book and would still recommend it to other readers particularly those who enjoy LGBTQIA and/or romance.

This is the third in Ms. Walsh’s Tacoma Mounted Patrol series. Even though it is a book written as part of a series, it could be considered a standalone book. I have read the previous books and found them to be very entertaining.

Amounting to Nothing is a murder mystery with romance spun around the two leads. The two main characters are Billie Mitchell and Merissa Karr. Billie is a mounted policewoman who is suffering from PTSD. Merissa Karr is an heiress who has inherited a great deal of money and property. Merissa wishes to do something with her life so she has been working as an urban renewal architect. Both characters are developed beautifully and provide an excellent backbone for the story. Billie’s friends on the mounted police are interesting and funny. Since they are in the earlier books, too, they add to the storyline.

The story itself is interesting and will keep your attention through to the end. I also found several sections humorous which helps to lighten the story. Since Billie is a mounted police officer, horses are central to the theme. However, there is an added element in that polo is also played.

I recommend this book and give it 4 stars out of 5. I also recommend that readers pick up her first two books and read them.

I was given this ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

Another in the Tacoma Mounted Police Series. In this one, it's Billie's turn to find love or try to at least. She gets called in when a woman, Merissa, is the only witness to the shooting death of her boss Dennis.

That shooting opens up a can of worms for both women.

Billie is still trying to recover from her experiences in the military, and the loss of her best friend Mike.

Merissa is trying to get her bearings back after being in the passenger seat when Dennis was shot.

They slowly get closer as well when Billie is ordered to Merissa's farm to both protect Merissa and keep an eye on the police horses boarding there too.

The mystery was quite interesting and the twistiness of it was super, super twisty too. And even though I thought that I knew who I thought it might be, Walsh kept me guessing if I was right or not until the end.

It was another really cool entry in the Tacoma series.

I got this ARC through Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.

Amounting to Nothing focuses on mounted police officer Billie Mitchell and her relationship with crime witness Merissa Karr. Billie, who has suffered from PTSD after losing her best friend on a military mission, is called in to work with traumatized witnesses in order to get as much information as possible. Merissa is one of these traumatized witnesses, after her boss and mentor is shot and killed in an apparent drive-by shooting while Merissa was a passenger. They immediately are drawn to each other, but there is a wide chasm separating their two worlds. Merissa is a very wealthy designer who plans to raze Billie's lower-income neighborhood to build fancy condo buildings. When Merissa's life seems to be in danger, Billie moves in to her horse ranch to protect her.

I felt like I was missing information. Billie didn't seem as well-developed a character as she should have been. This book is the third in a series. I would suggest starting at the beginning, as I may have missed something by not reading the first two.

The mystery was fairly easy to predict and can't be considered as more than a plot device to have the two characters interact. The romance was sweet but not exciting. Still, it was an enjoyable enough read and I would go back to read the first two titles in the series.

This is a romance first, with the mystery storyline taking a backseat, which was fine by me. It's part of a series but it can be read as a standalone book - I haven't read the rest of the series and I didn't feel confused. The book is well written, the main characters have interesting backgrounds and the author has handled PTSD very well. However, the pacing was a little slow.

When mounted police officer Billie Mitchell is tasked with looking after the witness to a shooting her life changes forever. Merissa Karr, urban renewal consultant was in the car when her boss was shot and could be in danger herself. As they are pushed together they find something in each other that was missing. This was a really great story, with mystery, tension and a blossoming romance. I loved both Billie and Merissa and appreciated how Karis Walsh made me care about them. Billie had trauma from her time in the military to deal with and being around horses helped her. Merissa had different issues but her love of horses played a part in letting her move on. A gripping book that had me enthralled.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley and Bold Stroke Books in return for an honest review.

3 1/2 Stars. This is the third book in the Mounted series, and unfortunately my least favorite. The book was good, it just didn't quite grab me like the previous two did.

The story is about Billie, a mounted police officer. Billie, is called in to assist with a witness of a murder. Merissa, a land developer, was riding in a car with her boss, when he was shot. The police don't know if the shooting was random, or if Merissa might be in danger. As Marissa decides to play amateur detective, Billie does everything to keep her safe. Feelings soon develop, and Billie must decide if she can follow her heart and still protect Merissa.

I was excited to have a story about Billie. Billie, was in the previous two books, but was always a bit of a mystery. We knew she was in the military and started to ride horses to help with her PTSD. We also knew she was good at talking to victims, but that is about all we know. I was happy she got her own story. I found her character to be likeable, and I enjoyed Marissa's too.

When it came to the romance, I just felt something was missing. I believed why these two would be attracted to each other, but I didn't feel the connection as much as I hoped. There was a lot of thinking both characters did in their head, I wish they actually talked about things more. There was some sweet moments that had to do with Marissa comforting Billie, I just wished there was more moments like that.

The mystery was pretty basic. It is very obvious who the "bad guy or girl" is. There was still some exciting scenes, that kept the book moving, I just think the book is more of a romance than a mystery.

This book does included characters from the previous two books, but I still think it can be read as a standalone. I personally would suggest, if you are new to the series, start at book one. It is the best of the series and a really good book. If you have read and liked this series, you will probably enjoy this book too.

An ARC was given to me by Bold Strokes Books, for an honest review.

For two women with a common love of horses, this is a tale of mystery and romance for an ex-military police officer and a privileged urban planner. Both women have PTSD from witnessing traumatic events. Though still haunting her, Billie’s PTSD is from her military past, while Merissa’s is from witnessing a recent shooting that is a mystery to be solved. Before they can free up their hearts they must be able to deal with the painful past. The various confessions of criminal conduct might not withstand criminal procedure analysis, but the plot is entertaining.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29502573-amounting-to-nothing" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Amounting to Nothing" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1464352531m/29502573.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29502573-amounting-to-nothing">Amounting to Nothing</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4595785.Karis_Walsh">Karis Walsh</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1904247984">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a romantic mystery with central characters Billie, a police officer (ex-military) and Merissa, a rich budding urban development designer. PTSD is deftly handled and explored and a romance builds slowly interwoven with the mystery and a discovered mutual love of horses. I particularly enjoyed reading about the game of polo. Ms. Walsh's books are usually clear and descriptive and she doesn't disappoint with this one.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

Very enjoyable. I like the romance factor with this author. It's always a hit when the book is well written. Strong detailed characters with a realistic dialogue. Nice approach to the PTSD issue. Someone did their homework. I would recommend this book.

If you are looking for a mystery book, I think that this cannot be considered of that style. It is more of a romance with a subplot of mystery. With this said, the book is a pretty interesting romance, whit two very different main characters, both with some  difficult background.  And both finding some stability in life through horses. I have found the book to much slow paced in some parts, but at the end I have enjoyed it.

Karis Walsh is known for quality books. Her characters are likable and well developed, her stories have interesting/realistic dialogue. She is one of my go-to authors for an easy, enjoyable read.

Billie Mitchell is one of the mounted patrol officers for the Tacoma Police Department. As a former soldier, Billie suffers from PTSD from her time in the Middle East. She uses her past to help others as an in-house counselor of sorts. She is readily available for the department to help victims who have experienced trauma and grief. This skill leads her to Merissa Karr.

Merissa has just witnessed a murder. Driving around a less than desirable inner city neighborhood, Merissa and her boss, David were scouting locations for their newest housing development. As Merissa leaned down to pick up a dropped piece of paper, David was shot and killed. Why would a successful architect be murdered for no apparent reason? Billie becomes Merissa's contact with the TPD, trying to find bits of information that may help uncover the killer's identity.

This is a mix of mystery and romance. Each part is done with enough balance for the other. As the mystery is uncovered piece by piece, you have the two main characters moving closer together to solve the crime. Their interactions with each other a cute and slowly draw you into the story and hold your attention. The book was slower than expected for a murder mystery, but I found myself enjoying it's less than frantic pace. The story and the romance build slowly and cautiously. Overall, I really liked this one more than I suspected I would. 4 stars.

Karish Walsh delivers!

Great book!

The author does an amazing job with sweet & funny dialogue between Billie & Merissa. I felt their connection at the start of the book. I also appreciate how the author took on the sensitive subject of PTSD. Walsh crafts Billie beautifully to lead her from emotionally defensive & closed off, to opening up and allowing Merissa to witness her vulnerable side. It's heart warming.

Merissa is well written as well. Merissa is strong, yet also emotionally available to Billie. I enjoyed the intimacy between Merissa and Billie. It was nicely paced.

The book also touches on the ethical dilemma of restoring old parts of cities. It gives insight into questions I never thought about in redevelopment.

Again Karis Walsh delivers a beautiful romance & thriller!

Mounted police officer Billie Mitchell has come back from the memories of war to a place of peace: a job she loves, partners she trusts, and a new home in Tacoma’s
rough and neglected Hilltop Area. But when a businessman is murdered and one of
her neighbors becomes a suspect, her calm shatters yet again.

Heiress Merissa Karr has earned her own fortune working in urban renewal. After she witnesses her boss’s murder, she becomes the next likely target, and for once,
money can’t buy her out of trouble. She needs to rely on Billie and other Hilltop
residents—people who amount to nothing in her social circles—for her very survival.

On pristine polo fields and run-down city blocks, two worlds collide. Can hearts and minds open wide enough for acceptance and friendship to expand into love?

I've enjoyed a couple of books by this author so I've decided to give it a go. This book is number 3 of the Tacoma Mounted Police series but there's no need to read them in order. However, there are a few references to characters and events of the previous books that I couldn't put in the right context.

According to the publisher, this book's genre is intrigue & thriller / romance but it's more of the latter. The murder investigation is in the background most of the time, like an excuse to showcase the romance. So if you are looking for a thriller, you are going to find something like an armchair detective investigation instead, a bit like an Agatha Christie book with the murderer's self confession included.

Regarding the pace of the story, I found it sometimes too slow and descriptive and other times too fast and telling facts as an afterthought. The romance part was ok but nothing extraordinary there either.

Overall, an ok read if you like Agatha Christie with a lesbian twist. 3 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing extraordinary about the quality of the work that Ms. Walsh can produce when she integrates the themes at which she is best at portraying into one volume-equal parts romance, suspense and equine fondness, the whole was robustly drawn. I savored the development of the Billie/Merissa relationship immensely, specifically in the subtle discomfort that each woman experienced when considering pairing with someone so outside of her ordinary comfort zone. They achieved a comfortable intimacy and were supported by secondary characters that enhanced their idiosyncratic tendencies. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and was grateful for the opportunity to read it.