Tara Taylor Quinn

Good second chance story. Mallory and Braden divorced after their infant son died unexpectedly. Mallory still wanted to have a family but had no plans to remarry. Instead, she planned to conceive through artificial insemination and raise the baby on her own.

This was a very unusual story. Braden and Mallory were divorced, but they remained friends. Their divorce came about because Mallory's grief was all-consuming. She felt guilty because the baby had died while she and Braden were out on show more their first overnight since the baby was born. She blamed Braden for them being away and felt guilty because she had been enjoying herself. The guilt made it impossible for her to be intimate with him. Braden was a man who was always in control of his feelings, and he had no idea how to handle Mallory's grief. Time with a therapist was no help because he didn't understand the advice he was given.

Three years after their divorce, Braden, and Mallory were still a big part of each other's lives. They couldn't seem to let go of some part of their relationship. However much they still cared about each other, each of them realized that they needed to take steps to move on. Mallory was determined to have a baby and wanted Baden's support of the idea. Braden was ready to break the news to Mallory that he was going to move from San Diego to LA, putting some physical distance between them. I loved how they were able to talk openly with each other about their plans, but there was also that part that was always held back. Braden has always kept a tight rein on his emotions, thanks to the drama he endured growing up. It wasn't a problem until after the baby died when he was unable to handle Mallory's grief. His need to distance himself drove her to hide her own emotions when he was around. There was no way that their marriage could sustain that.

Braden was shocked by Mallory's plan but listened to everything she had to say. But after their dinner was over, he couldn't forget about any of it. It was interesting to see that he had trouble dealing with the idea of her having a baby with an unknown man, even though he tried to convince himself it was out of concern for her. Mallory was stunned by his suggestion that he provide the sperm. She saw all the drawbacks, in spite of his assertion that he would be hands-off. But as the months went on and her pregnancy advanced, Braden couldn't stop himself from becoming more and more involved. There were many sweet scenes of him doing things for Mallory, and it was easy to see that his love was growing stronger. But he still had trouble dealing with intense emotions. Mallory fought hard against allowing herself to depend on Braden. The thought of going through the same issues of him pulling away when she needed him made her reluctant to put her heart at risk again. Both Braden and Mallory spent a great deal of time and energy second-guessing every decision they made, with each one bringing another issue to the surface.

The further along in the pregnancy, the more intense their feelings became. I liked how this pregnancy caused both Mallory and Braden to recognize the mistakes made during their marriage and resolve to change things in their current situation. It was occasionally frustrating to see how much in love Mallory and Braden were, and how afraid they were to take a chance on it. The final straw came when Braden's logical mind dictated one action, and Mallory's fears and memories made her certain that it wouldn't work. I ached for Braden as she laid out the issues as she saw them, and he couldn't understand what the problem was. It looked like it would be the end of their friendship also. Mallory was determined to ride out the pain of the loss and do what was right for the future. Braden's "aha" moment came at the hands (paws?) of an unexpected source. I loved seeing how that broke through his long-established barriers, and he finally understood what Mallory and the therapist had tried to tell him. His big moment at the end had all of the intensity of emotion that Mallory could hope for. I must admit, I would have liked an epilogue that included the birth. show less

Terrific book that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Luke is a hotshot firefighter who was found unconscious and injured near a fire, with no memory of who he was or how he got there until a woman came to the hospital to identify him.

Shelby had known Luke five years earlier when she had an interview with him. They had an irresistible attraction that they gave into until the morning she awoke, and he was gone. No goodbye, just a thank you note and an envelope of cash. Hurt and show more furious, she wrote him off until she discovered she was pregnant. When she confronted him, he called her a liar and slammed the door in her face. She has raised her son on her own.

But when Shelby left the hospital, she never planned to see him again. Unfortunately, on her way home, someone ran her off the road in such a way that she could have died. When the police investigated, they discovered her car had been tampered with.

Thus began a roller coaster ride of action and suspense mixed with the emotions of dealing with their past. Luke's memory begins to return, but some events remain MIA. An investigation into Luke's life reveals some financial irregularities and actions he can't believe he did. Luke and Shelby, along with the people of Sierra's Web, work to keep them safe and try to figure out what is going on. The action and suspense are intense as the bad guy stays on their tail no matter what precautions they take. I began to suspect part of the truth, but the twist at the end shocked me. The final confrontation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.

The rekindling of the relationship between Luke and Shelby was full of obstacles. Shelby is understandably wary of trusting Luke but can't deny the sparks that still fly between them. Luke adamantly denies he would have treated her the way she claims. As they spend time together, Shelby sees the man she thought she knew but also knows what he did to her. I ached for Luke and his emotional turmoil when he learned about Carter. They have much to overcome, and it takes honest conversations to make it happen. The ending was terrific, and I loved the scene with Carter. show less

Terrific book that kept me engaged from start to finish. The story is fast-paced and intriguing. I loved Joe's unwavering insistence that he was innocent and willing to do whatever was necessary to prove it.

Joe was the CFO of a large software company when accusations of fraud cost the company millions of dollars in losses. He was tried but found not guilty (not innocent) because the prosecution couldn't prove that he was responsible. Investors lost vast amounts of money, and Joe has show more received threats since his release. He hires Sierra's Web to find the evidence that will prove his innocence and accepts their insistence that he take a bodyguard to keep him safe.

McKenna has been working as a bodyguard for years. Her appearance is deceptive, which has proved advantageous in the past - I loved the story of her "interview" with the head of Sierra's Web. She is focused and determined. Their cover is that they are a married couple sightseeing by RV.

The first meeting between Joe and McKenna is awkward. He is initially skeptical of her qualifications, and McKenna has a long-standing dislike of wealthy people whose sole focus is on making more money. She is familiar with his story and doesn't believe he is innocent, though she swears that won't keep her from doing her job. There is a power struggle between them until they work out their differences. I liked that Joe trusted her capabilities and agreed to follow her lead.

There is tension between Joe and McKenna from the start. Some of it is the question of guilt vs. innocence, and more of it is the simmering attraction that neither wants to admit. Despite the accusations against him, Joe is honorable and will never make uninvited advances toward her. Forced into 24/7 proximity and struggling to stay ahead of those chasing Joe, McKenna's determined distancing from Joe doesn't last long. I liked seeing them get to know each other better as little bits of their backstories emerged. We learn why McKenna has such a problem with rich people and why Joe is so focused on accumulating wealth.

Their attraction continues to grow, accelerated by the occasional need to get physically close. Because of their differing lifestyles and outlooks starting something could only end in heartbreak. But when the case is over, will they be able to go their separate ways without regret?

The suspense of the story was excellent. Joe has been trying to figure out who set him up on his own and has accumulated an impressive amount of meticulously organized information. Even though he gives the information to the people at Sierra's Web, he ponders the problem himself. It becomes evident that someone out there doesn't want him unearthing the truth, and the efforts to find him are intense. It seems they can barely keep one step ahead of their pursuers, leading them to believe there may be a leak somewhere. I loved McKenna's solution of a safe place to go and laughed out loud at her surprise over his method of "hiding." When the final confrontation came, I wasn't shocked at who it was, but I was surprised by the level of their hands-on involvement. I liked how it went down - go, McKenna! - and that Joe was part of it, too.

I loved the ending and the changes that Joe and McKenna experienced during their time together. I hope they show up in later books, as I'd love to see how their lives turn out.

I enjoyed the connection between this book and the author's Shelter Valley series. It's always lovely to catch up on the lives of past characters.

#netgalley show less

Terrific book that kept me hooked from start to finish. Ezra is home on thirty days' leave from the army and stops at the senior care center where his Aunt Alice lives. She is the one he went to as a kid/teen when his family life was too much for him to handle. Even though she no longer knows him, he still visits whenever possible. As the book opens, he remembers the good times with her and is saddened by her unresponsiveness. Then a dog bursts into the room and makes a beeline for her, show more followed by two little girls. Ezra, who has no experience with children, is enchanted by the two girls. He is also amazed to see his aunt respond to the dog. I loved watching the girls interact with Ezra. They are followed closely by their mother, Theresa.

Theresa lost her husband a year earlier and is coping with being a single parent. Her daughters, Neve and Claire, are the center of her life. She is dealing with a lot of stress because her in-laws, doomsayer conspiracy nuts, have filled the girls' heads with their fears. She's stopped allowing them to take the girls on outings, only allowing visits she supervises. However, she's become aware of them hanging around and fears they may try to kidnap the girls.

The early part of the book was filled with interactions between Ezra, Neve, Claire, and Theresa. I loved watching the two girls wrap Ezra around their little fingers and how he enjoyed every minute of it. For a man who believes that he is not a family man, Ezra has a fantastic rapport with them. At the same time, he is puzzled by his reaction to Theresa. The attraction he understands, but the closeness and feelings of protectiveness confuse him. He does his best to bury them because he will leave in a month, and he thinks she still grieves the loss of her husband. Theresa feels the same attraction but refuses to consider giving her heart to a man with a dangerous job. She's lost one husband and refuses to put herself and her daughters through that pain again.

The action soon picks up when Theresa's in-law's stalking picks up. Ezra sees her fear and uses the excuse of painting her house to keep an eye on things. But when the unthinkable happens, and the girls are taken, Ezra jumps into action. First, I loved that he immediately used his contacts with family and friends to get help in the search. Brother Dominic, the FBI agent, plays a crucial role in the search, both in feeding information to Ezra and trying to keep Ezra from going too far. Theresa refuses to be left behind and is by Ezra's side every step of the way. I loved the trust that she placed in him and her willingness to do whatever it took to save Neve and Claire. The intensity ramped up the closer they came, and I could feel their frustration at every dead end. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that had my heart pounding until it was over.

All that was left was for Theresa and Ezra to figure out they belonged together. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of communication that has each thinking the other doesn't care. Theresa must also decide if Ezra's job is the deal-breaker she's considered it for the entire book. At the same time, Ezra has slowly realized that what drove him to stay away from his family for so long no longer drives him. The emotional conversation between Ezra and Theresa at the end was heartwarming and promising. I look forward to seeing them in later books.

I can't finish this review without mentioning the adorable Neve and Claire. They are twins but have distinct personalities. Both fell hard for Ezra, and I had a lot of fun watching them vie for his attention. They are sweet girls with big hearts, and I loved how they visited the people at the senior center. I ached for them and the fears that their grandparents instilled in them. They are also smart for their age, as evidenced in their actions during their kidnapping. Ezra will have his hands full when they get older! show less