Can he keep the key witness from harm…
before it's too late?
After escaping a terrifying encounter with a serial
killer, RN Kiera Connell lands in the protection of US Marshal Travis Johnson.
In order to make sure she stays alive to testify, Travis has to thwart whatever
danger comes her way. Normally, for a pro like Travis, that's not an issue. But
focusing on the mission becomes his greatest challenge as Kiera's exposure
threatens to unravel all his best-laid plans.
Good mix of romance and intense suspense. The intensity
starts immediately as Kiera is abducted while walking home from work late one
night. The precariousness of her situation is clear from the outset as she
wakes bound and gagged only to hear what her captor has planned for her. She is
terrified, but she also refuses to go down without a fight. I was incredibly
impressed by Kiera right from the start because of her determination to escape,
and I was glued to the pages as I rooted for her success.
As the only survivor of this serial killer, Kiera's
testimony is vital to the conviction of the suspect. She is understandably on
edge, which makes her introduction to the lead marshal on her protection detail
unexpectedly intense. I had to laugh at Travis's chagrin at being caught
unaware and liked that he kept calm and understood Kiera's wariness. There is
tension between them as Travis, who believes that this is more of a babysitting
detail than protection, gets an earful of Kiera's disgust over law
enforcement's refusal to believe her when she tells them there was more than
one abductor.
I liked both Kiera and Travis. Kiera is strong,
determined, and more than a little stubborn. She also has a kind and loving
heart, as shown by the way she cares for her patients and how selflessly she
gives of herself in various volunteer pursuits. Travis is dedicated to his
work, quick-witted, and honorable. He is close to his family and protective of
those he cares about.
I liked the development of the relationship between
Travis and Kiera. There were sparks between them from the start, but both tried
to ignore the attraction and keep to a professional relationship. That became
more difficult as the danger increased, and Travis found himself emotionally
invested in keeping her safe. I laughed a little at his realization that he
followed in the footsteps of other family members who fell fast and hard for
their mates. For Kiera it was the kindness and comfort Travis offered that
worked its way into her heart, filling a hole she hadn't realized was there. The
ending was terrific, especially Travis's acceptance and enjoyment of Kiera's
quirks.
The suspense of the story was gripping all the way
through. As readers, we know that there was a second person involved in Kiera's
abduction, which makes it doubly frustrating that law enforcement blows off
Kiera's story. I liked that she never gave up on making them see the truth.
Though skeptical at first, it didn't take too long for Travis to realize that
she was telling the truth. The escalating attempts on Kiera's life kept the story
moving along, with very little let-up in the tension. I was a little surprised
at the mistakes Travis made, something I didn't expect from an experienced
marshal like him. The same with two of his fellow marshals. James especially
bugged me with his refusal to believe that Kiera was telling the truth. The
final confrontation was a nail-biter to the very end.
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