Beverly Long

Good mix of romance and suspense. Trey is a member of the Wingman Security company. When he gets a call from his best friend asking him to check on the man's younger sister, he jumps right on it. He remembers Kellie as the gawky little sister from when he and Anthony were in college. He's stunned by the grown-up Kellie and immediately attracted, though she's off-limits as his friend's sister. Though she makes it clear that she is fine when he talks to her, Trey gets the feeling that she show more isn't telling the truth.

Kellie has recently taken a job in a mining company owned by another of her brother's friends. After receiving a couple of puzzling emails, she realized that there was something strange going on. Further investigation revealed irregularities involving explosives and the possible collusion by people close to her. Kellie isn't sure who she can trust, so she is suspicious of Trey when he shows up.

I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kellie and Trey. There is an immediate connection between them that is impossible for them to deny. Trey is willing to risk Anthony's displeasure to pursue whatever it is, but Kellie is resistant. Though she is equally attracted to Trey, his connection to her boss makes her suspicious. Trey is gentleman enough not to push when Kellie suddenly pulls back, but he's also suspicious of the sudden withdrawal. I loved the protectiveness that he showed, both at the club and later, when he realized just how much trouble she was in. I loved his determination to find her and get to the bottom of the problem. It was easy to see Kellie's conflict between her suspicions and her instinctive trust of Trey. Once she took the leap of faith and confided in him, their connection grew even faster. I liked the way that Trey was protective without being overbearing and smothering and that he respected Kellie's intelligence and abilities. I liked seeing Kellie's barriers come down as she came to trust Trey. She also saw past the reputation that her brother had given him to the man that he was. They also developed fantastic teamwork that was essential for their survival at the end of the book. I loved seeing them share their dreams for the future and their confidence that they would make it happen.

The suspense of the story was really good. The seriousness of the danger Kellie was in was obvious from the beginning. Her unwillingness to trust anyone made it even more difficult. I was impressed by Kellie's resourcefulness as she tried to get away. I also loved Trey's determination to find her and protect her. I loved the scene in California when Trey caught up with her, and her attempt to get away again. Kellie's realization that she could trust Trey came just in time as the bad guys' pursuit of them intensified. I loved seeing Trey's talents in security figure out how to evade capture. The depth of their danger became more obvious as they decoded the emails that Kellie had received. Their capture and subsequent stranding had me on the edge of my seat as I followed their attempts to save themselves. I loved that it didn't go smoothly or easily, as that added an extra level of intensity. I loved the epilogue and hearing how it was resolved. I especially loved Kellie's comment that set Trey to laughing. show less

Terrific conclusion to the series. Layla has been waiting and preparing for this day. Almost two years earlier, she had provided the testimony that sent Douglas Glass to prison for fraud. He made it clear to her that he would kill her when he got out of prison, but nobody believed her. So she prepared to run with a new identity and everything else she'd need. When she received word that he'd been released early, she knew it was time to go. She didn't expect to be involved in a car accident.
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When Jamie got the call about the accident on a rainy night, as the doctor on call, he took the mobile unit to the site of the crash. Something about the beautiful woman gets under his skin, and he feels an instant connection with her. Though he gives all of his patients his best attention, this one compels him to do more.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Jamie and Layla develop. The connection and sparks between them are immediate, but Layla knows better than to give in to them. She has to disappear. I loved seeing Jamie find it impossible to stay away from Layla. His late-night Thanksgiving feast with her in the hospital was sweet as he tried to get to know her. When Layla disappeared from the hospital, Jamie was determined to find her for medical and personal reasons. His friend and police chief, Marcus, joins him in unraveling the mystery surrounding her. What he learns makes him more determined.

I understood Layla's fear and reluctance to trust anyone (especially Marcus). Her escape is complicated by issues caused by her injuries. I loved her persistence and ingenuity in finding a hideout where she could heal. She didn't count on Jamie's tenacity and was stunned when he found her but also grateful for his medical expertise. I loved seeing them grow closer as they got to know each other. Jamie falls hard for her and Layla for him, but her fears make her ready to run as soon as possible. I ached for Jamie when she pushed him away and loved how he refused to give up. The epilogue was a great wrap-up for the book and series.

The suspense was excellent. There are several sections told from Glass's point of view, showing his ruthless determination to carry out his promise. Meanwhile, we follow along with Layla's attempt to disappear while simultaneously seeing Glass's progress tracking her down. The suspense kept me glued to the pages as Glass closed in on Layla. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a twist I didn't see coming. show less

Good book with an uncomfortably realistic premise. Marcus is the acting police chief of the small town of Knoware, Washington. He's disturbed when a notification from DHS to all law enforcement says that there is a credible threat of a terrorist attack in the US and to be cognizant of strangers. He's fairly certain his town is safe but it's the height of tourist season so he stays vigilant, which leads him to Erin.

Erin arrives in town to take over running her sister's shop while Morgan is show more on maternity bed rest. Erin is a rolling stone who jumps from job to job, always searching for something. The call for help came at a good time, as Erin had been fired for the first time. There is also a failed relationship in the mix. Helping Morgan will allow her to regroup and decide what to do next.

I loved the first meeting between Erin and Marcus. Erin arrived at the shop early, ready to jump in. Unfortunately, Morgan forgot to tell her about the newly installed security system. Erin was startled by the sudden appearance of Marcus, gun drawn and ready for trouble. They quickly resolve the misunderstanding, and Marcus turns a little flirty. I had to laugh at his dismay when Erin didn't immediately accept his dinner invitation and asked for time to think about it. They separate and move on with their day.

We then get a look at two men who are searching for Erin. They used her to get something from Paris to the States, and now they must retrieve it before she finds it. The older man is the brains and has the patience to be careful. The younger man is headstrong and impatient but has the skills needed to carry out their mission.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Marcus and Erin. The sparks were there from the beginning, but there were obstacles. Erin doesn't plan to stick around after Morgan has her baby, and Marcus isn't looking to settle down. When strange accidents happen to Erin, Marcus's protective instincts are aroused, even though he also suspects Erin hasn't been entirely honest about her past. I liked the scenes of them getting to know each other but wished Erin would be more open with him. When Marcus invites her to stay with him for safety reasons, the sparks between them grow stronger. I was a little disappointed in Marcus when he allowed his curiosity and suspicions to make a slightly questionable choice that would come back to haunt him later. Their growing feelings for each other hit a road bump when professional requirements force Marcus to keep a big secret from Erin. His lack of trust understandably hurts Erin, but it doesn't take long for her common sense to show her the truth. It takes surviving a dangerous situation for Marcus and Erin to admit their feelings to themselves and then to each other. I liked the ending and look forward to seeing more of them in the next book.

The suspense of the story was fast-paced and believable. Erin has no idea that she is an unwitting courier and a target. Her experience at her previous job has left her reeling and wondering what went wrong. Her first encounter with the two bad guys makes her wonder why they look familiar, but it doesn't bother her for long. The second encounter was creepy, but she put it behind her. We get to follow the bad guys with their frustrations over being unable to retrieve their property. The attacks on Erin and others show their desperation. I liked Marcus's protectiveness toward Erin and his suspicions of the two strangers, especially their interest in her. The intensity ramps up with the arrival of the FBI agent. There are some tense moments during his questioning of Erin. I liked that Erin was smart enough to figure out what was going on so that the awkwardness didn't last long. The final confrontation was a nail-biter when the takedown didn't go as planned but ended most satisfactorily.

I liked seeing more of Blade and Daisy from the first book and can't wait to read Jamie's story. show less

Terrific second chance story. The book opens with Trish remembering her life with her husband, and that this is the fourth anniversary of his death. She thinks back to how they met, and the short time that they had together. Her friend Milo, the cook at her diner, tries to cheer her up by offering to take her to a movie. About that time, Trish's twin sister arrives home early from her honeymoon, knowing how hard today will be for Trish. Then Milo is stabbed and left for dead outside the show more diner, his last words "Tell Rafe they know" driving a stake through Trish's heart. Desperately needing to get away, she takes her dog and heads to a rental cabin in the Ozarks.

While there, she is attacked, and tied up, her dog is shot, and her captors tell her that she is the means to an end. What she doesn't know is that Rafe is actually still alive. He had faked his death to protect her from the terrorists he is trying to bring down. When he finds out what happened to Milo, he's on the first plane back to Missouri to make sure that she's ok. Only to find out that she's missing and no one knows where she is.

I liked both Trish and Rafe. Their initial romance had been fast, with Rafe giving up his undercover life for her. But his belief that he could walk away was shattered when his former team members were murdered, and he knew he would be next. I liked the protectiveness that had him taking such extreme measures to keep her safe. I thought that Trish had been a little naive about him, as his paranoia about everything having a place and reactions when they weren't should have been a clue. I felt for her grief over his death, and how hard it has been to get past it. I really liked the way that she kept her head pretty well when the bad guys tied her up. Her mind was actively trying to find a way to escape. Her shock at Rafe's appearance was understandable, and I rather liked that she didn't just fall all over him.

I really enjoyed the steady buildup of the tension and action in the book. From Rafe's first inkling that something was wrong, he had a plan all ready to go. I loved his attention to detail. His involvement of Summer's husband got him the information he needed to make a start at finding Trish, and I enjoyed seeing how he did it. The number of bodies he found made him increasingly worried about her safety. Once he found her and got her away, the next steps were to end the threat. I loved seeing Trish's strength of will in convincing Rafe to give her a key role. The buildup to the final confrontation at the lake was nervewracking, and I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened. Just when it looked like all was well, there was an unexpected twist that put her back into danger. Definitely a heartpounding conclusion.

The repair and renewal of Rafe and Trish's relationship wasn't a smooth or easy thing. Trish was understandably angry at being left to suffer for four years, believing Rafe to be dead. She did get a little bit of revenge by letting him know that she had started dating again. I loved seeing how Rafe hadn't been able to stay completely away, and had taken periodic trips to Ravesville to watch her. Being together again made it obvious that neither had stopped caring, but that they did have to find a way to overcome the past before they could have a future. I liked seeing how they did it. There was also a really sweet surprise at the very end. show less