Series: Undercover Billionaires (Book 3)
There was a time when Eden’s entire world revolved around Owen Forbes. They were inseparable childhood sweethearts. They planned a life together. Then, without so much as a goodbye, Owen vanished. Now, after ten years, he’s returned to town as the hottest new firefighter on the force. Whatever secrets pulled them apart, Eden can’t fight the sparks reignited by the man who broke her heart.
Owen knows he did Eden wrong. If only he could tell her why. As body meets body, he’s whispering for a second chance -- wanting her back so bad it hurts. It can also be dangerous. An arsonist is targeting the small town of Edmonds, and Eden with it. And it’s Owen himself who’s become engulfed in suspicion.
Eden knows that with a past as hot and mysterious as Owen’s, their future together could go up in flames. Because the one man she’s afraid to trust is the only man she desires -- and the only one who can save her.
Good combination of second chance romance and suspense. The story opened with the teenage Owen and Eden happy with their relationship and plans for the future. That happiness came crashing down when Owen received a phone call and left town without so much as a goodbye to Eden, much less an explanation as to why he left. Ten years later he returned to town, older, wiser, and determined to win Eden back. Eden was crushed when he left and never really got over it. Determined to protect her heart, she tried to avoid him during the time since he came back. Finally, determined to get him out of her system once and for all, she showed up at his house, where their inflammatory chemistry took over. But her life was turned upside down once again, as her father died while she was with Owen, leaving her with wracking guilt that she could have saved him if she hadn't been with Owen.
Six months later Eden was still trying to get her life back on an even keel. She had lost her mother as a child, then Owen left, then her father died. But Owen's return stirred up so many feelings that she didn't want to deal with. She tried hard to convince herself that she was over him, but lying to herself was never her way. Now things were going from bad to worse. There was an arsonist setting fires around town and in the hills, threatening the very existence of the town. Eden has been tagged to do some interviews of some possible suspects (not sure why someone from a lawyer's office is doing arson investigation work). Investigators believe that the fires may be an inside job, and Owen's recent return puts him on the list. She found it hard to believe, but she also didn't know him well any longer.
Owen refused to give up on his feelings for Eden. He took every opportunity to put himself in her path, but the fires weren't helping. Being a firefighter was a huge part of who he was. When it was him versus the fire, it didn't matter how much money he had in the bank, or if people like him, just defeat the fire. I ached for him as he lost friends and coworkers, and loved his determination to see it stopped.
I liked the rekindling of the relationship between Eden and Owen. The chemistry between them was always there, with Owen all for it and Eden trying to resist. I felt bad for Owen when he was suspected of being the arsonist, especially with Eden being the one to investigate. I liked that Eden's common sense made her realize that there was no way that Owen would be involved. Working together to find the truth gave them the chance to get to know each other again. The biggest obstacle was Eden's reluctance to trust Owen again. I loved how Owen's protectiveness kicked in as the arsonist focused on them. There were some beautiful moments between the two of them as Owen took care of Eden, and Eden supported Owen against the suspicions of his involvement. I also loved how she was there for him when the losses got to him. The rebuilding of their relationship had some ups and downs. I loved seeing them open up about their pasts, their mistakes, and what the future might hold. But Eden especially had difficulty believing that happiness was within her reach. Her fears caused her to pull back several times, and I wanted to shake her each time. Owen had amazing patience with her. I loved how he was able to wait until she worked through her feelings and realized that they belonged together. The ending was both fun and emotional. His gift to his fiancée was amazing, and I loved how it showed how well he understood her. The scene at the wedding reception was sweet, moving, and heart-wrenching at the same time.
The suspense of the story was great. Even though I haven't (yet) read the first two books, there was enough background given that I didn't feel lost. There was the feeling that the fires were part of something bigger, and the ending confirmed it. The suspense began early as some events were shown through the eyes of the bad guy, whose issues with Owen and Eden put them in extreme danger. The escalation of the attacks against them had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. I loved Eden's strength of will and presence of mind during the confrontation at the end, along with Owen's understandable reactions. I liked the lead-in to the next book and can't wait for Declan's story.
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