A Date at the Altar - Cathy Maxwell (Avon - Oct 2016)

Series: Marrying the Duke (Book 3)

Will the third time be the charm? A duke can’t marry just anyone. His wife must be of good family, be fertile, be young. Struggling playwright Sarah Pettijohn is absolutely the last woman Gavin Whitridge, Duke of Baynton, would ever fall in love with.

She is an actress, born on the wrong side of the blanket, and always challenges his ducal authority. She never hesitates to tell him what she thinks.

However, there is something about her that stirs his blood . . . which makes her perfect for a bargain he has in mind: In exchange for backing her play, he wants Sarah to teach him about love.

And he, in turn, has a few things to teach her about men . . .

Good book. I was glad to see Gavin finally get the girl, after losing out (to his own brothers!) in Match of the Century and The Fairest ofThem All. In the first book the woman he's been engaged to all his life because of a family arrangement, has actually been in love with his brother Ben for years. In the second book he loses out to the twin brother who has been missing for years and suddenly reappears.

For the most part in the first two books, I liked Gavin. I also felt a bit sorry for him. As the heir, he was raised very strictly by his father, with a sense of responsibility and importance of appearances drilled into him. He's been so intent on his responsibilities as duke that he has never taken the time to cut loose like others of his class. It has made him rather stiff and awkward around women, and he usually has no idea what to say to them. He is also no real believer in love, though when he sees it in the previous two couples he does the right thing and steps back. He's not perfect, though, and has his moments of reacting badly. At the end of the previous book, he is in pursuit of Jack and Charlene, who are eloping to Gretna Green. With him is Char's Aunt Sarah, who rubs him the wrong way. They arrive before the wedding, but Gavin sees the light and lets Char go, leaving him alone again.

Sarah is an independent woman with a mind of her own and plans for her future. She is a survivor of a life that hasn't been easy. She is the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman and his mistress. For years she watched her mother go from man to man and vowed she wouldn't follow in her footsteps. She married a man who turned out to be abusive, causing her to doubt her judgment about men and keep them at a distance. After the death of her husband she became an actress to earn the money to care for her orphaned niece, then worked as an assistant playwright. She is determined to put on a play of her own writing. She makes a deal with a pair of theater owners to do so, but things don't go the way she planned. Gavin ends up rescuing her from a dangerous situation.

I loved the relationship that built between them. In the previous book there had been sparks of antagonism, but those were mixed with sparks of attraction. Gavin's rescue of Sarah brings his attraction to her to the surface. There is also a need to protect her when he discovers the conditions she's living in. The protection he offers isn't what she wants, as it goes against everything she wants for herself, and she has no problem telling him so. But circumstances cause her to have to take him up on it. This is where Gavin shows his true self. He wants her very much, but is sensitive to the fear he senses in her. I loved the way he backed off and talked things out with her. I loved Sarah's confusion, as she had very definite expectations and Gavin didn't match any of them. The connection between them when they finally came together was not what either expected. Over the next few weeks they got much closer, as Gavin found himself wanting to spend as much time as he could with her. I loved the way they shared their lives, sharing bits about their days and supporting each other. Sarah made a good sounding board for his problems, and he was an active supporter of her play.

But Gavin still has to find a wife, because as much as he wants her, Sarah doesn't fit the requirements he's been looking for. He's understandably reluctant, even as his mother and aunt find the "perfect" woman. I ached for Sarah as she realized that she had fallen in love with Gavin, but that nothing could come of it. I loved how she picked herself up and went on, because that is what she does. I also ached for Gavin, who wanted what he believed was impossible to have. I loved the conversation with his first fiancée's father, and the difference it made to his outlook. Gavin's big moment at the end was sweet and romantic, and so out of character for him that it was irresistible.

There wasn't much in the way of secondary characters except for one fellow nobleman. Though he had started out as a friend of Gavin's, he turned out to be a real loser. Rov's pursuit of and attitude toward Sarah earned him Gavin's enmity. The duel scene showed just how awful a person he was, and that wasn't even the end of his troublemaking. I enjoyed the final confrontation with him and how Gavin dealt with him.

Tracker's Sin - Sarah McCarty (Spice - Oct 2010)

Series: Hell's Eight (Book 4)

WED BY NECESSITY...JOINED BY DESIRE

Before his trade became his name, "Tracker" Ochoa was a scrawny Mestizo runaway. Now as fearsome as he once was frightened, he's joined the notorious Hell's Eight...and they have a job for him.

He must rescue kidnapped heiress Ari Blake and deliver her safely to the Hell's Eight compound -- by any means necessary. Turns out that includes marrying her, if he means to escort her and her infant son across the Texas Territory. Tracker hadn't bargained on a wife -- especially such a fair, blue-eyed beauty. But the erotic pleasures of the marriage bed more than make up for the surprise.

Tracker's well-muscled bronze skin and dark, dangerous eyes are far more exciting than any of Ari's former debutante dreams. In the light of day, though, his deep scars and brooding intensity terrify her. But he's her husband and she's at his mercy. With the frontier against them and mercenary bandits at their heels, Ari fears she'll never feel safe again.

Tracker, too, remembers what fear feels like. Though he burns to protect Ari, to keep her for himself always, he knows that money, history -- and especially the truth -- can tear them apart.

Good book. Tracker is a member of the Hell's Eight "family" who have been working hard to find the missing twin sister of Desi, from Caine's Reckoning, who was kidnapped by Comancheros. All of them are also Texas Rangers. I have read two of the three earlier books, though not the first one. Fortunately, there has been enough backstory in each one that the story is easy to follow. Each man has a lead to follow in order to find Ari, with Tracker having a feeling that his is the right one. He is right, but things are not what he expected when he finds her. She is living quite happily with an elderly Mexican couple, who claim her as their daughter-in-law and her son as their grandson. However, she has no memory of her past, and Tracker is afraid to tell her the truth for fear of the effect it could have on her.

I liked both Tracker and Ari. Tracker is twin brother to Shadow (Shadow's Stand). Both are Mexican/Indian who suffered greatly as kids before they were taken in at Hell's Eight. He's a hard man, but is also very loyal to those he cares for. From the beginning of the search, he has felt a connection to Ari, one that he knows could destroy him if he let it. I loved his patience when he found her, as the sight of him brought a flashback to what happened to her. He's determined to get her back to her sister as soon as possible, no matter how he has to do it. I also liked Ari. She is much stronger than she gives herself credit for. Now that she is starting to heal, she has begun to have questions about the past she can't remember, and hasn't been entirely satisfied by the answers she gets. After their initial meeting, she discovers that she feels a sense of safety and trust when she is with Tracker, though she isn't sure why. I also liked how, with his help, she began to overcome the fears that periodically hit her.

I liked the development of their relationship. There is a definite and strong attraction between them, though Tracker tries to resist it. Because of who and what he is, he knows that a relationship with a white woman is sure to bring trouble to both. But the only thing that matters to Ari is how she feels when she is with him. Not to say there aren't some bumps along the way. With the bad guys breathing down their necks, the only way to get Ari to leave with him is to kidnap her, which she doesn't take well. Though once she is aware of the danger, she steps up and does her best not to slow them down. I loved how protective he was of her, and that she became just as protective of him. Ari is just as attracted to him and has far less interest in resisting. As a matter of fact, she becomes quite determined in her pursuit of him. I loved that his heritage has no effect on her feelings for him. There are several scenes where Ari brings out a softer side of Tracker, where he shows a depth of feeling he didn't know he could have. There are also a couple of really sweet scenes of Tracker with Ari's baby. When they make it back to Hell's Eight, Tracker is sure that Ari will see how impossible a relationship between them is, and is stunned when she continues her pursuit of him. I loved their big moment at the end, as they make their promises to each other.

Part of the story involves their escape from the men pursuing Ari and why they are so determined. As is revealed in earlier books, and expanded in this one, both Ari and Desi are heiresses of a fortune back East. Their kidnappings and abuse have been instigated by a crooked lawyer who is after their money. The men of Hell's Eight are determined to find the man and put an end to the threat. The pursuit of Tracker and Ari as they escape from Mexico to Hell's Eight was intense. The descriptions of the chase and the landscape were vivid, and I could practically feel the heat and hear the gunfire. When they got Ari to safety, then went after the lawyer, things did not go entirely as planned, with Shadow taking matters into his own hands.

There were also some deeply emotional moments as Ari and Desi were reunited. Thanks to the machinations of the comancheros who kidnapped them, Ari had been left thinking that she had been betrayed by her sister. It takes some rather forceful efforts by Tracker to get Ari to listen to Desi's side of the story. I ached for them both as they tried to find their way back to each other, and wept a few tears when their reconciliation was complete.

I loved the support that all the men of Hell's Eight give each other. Their teamwork is incredible, as is shown in the various confrontations they experience. Though none are "touchy-feely" with each other, they don't have trouble pointing out when someone is being and idiot emotionally. I loved seeing the ease with which those who have found love are able to show it, and provide the example for those whose turn is yet to come.

Can't Fight This Feeling - Christie Ridgway (HQN - July 2015)

Series: Cabin Fever (Book 3)

Blue-collar landscaper Brett Walker has no interest in the Hollywood vacationers flocking to his hometown in the California mountains. But the scarred ex-soldier does have a duty to protect Blue Arrow Lake -- and the family ski resort -- from a serial burglar. So when he suspects a break-in, he takes action…and ends up catching sinfully tempting down-on-her-luck heiress Angelica Rodriguez. She reminds him of trouble, but he can't deny her a safe place to stay -- in one of his cabins.

Angelica has plenty of reasons to distrust -- losing her money to her father's legal woes being one of them. Getting up close and naughty with rough, tough and sexy Brett tempts her out of her comfort zone and into the arms of a man who's not from her wealthy world. She's after safety and he's chasing justice, but the fire between them might reveal that all they want is each other.

Good book. Brett is the oldest of the Walker siblings. He came back to Blue Arrow Lake after his time in the military and started his landscaping business. He takes care of the lawns of the rich tourists who come to the lake each summer. He's also been keeping an eye open for a burglar who has been hitting those summer houses. When he spots an intruder at one of the houses, he's surprised to find Angelica - who lived in that house - behaving in a suspicious manner.

Angelica is the daughter of a wealthy financier who has been arrested for fraud. His accounts have been frozen and she's no longer able to stay in the house. To top it off, her father had helped himself to her money also, so now she's broke and homeless. She sneaked into the house  to get some of her clothes and other things while she still could. Being discovered by Brett, the man she'd been crushing on all summer, was not her idea of cosmic justice.

I really liked Angelica. She isn't one to feel sorry for herself, she just picks herself up and carries on. She has found a part time job working with her friend Glory at the hardware store and is living in the local cheap motel, until it shuts down for the season. She also has more than her share of pride, and spends two nights sleeping in her car rather than ask for help. I loved the way that she took to living in the mountain town, where she quickly made a place for herself among people who are slow to accept strangers.

I liked Brett too, though he was a little harder to warm up to. He has a reputation as a serial dater and confirmed bachelor. He doesn't allow any woman to get too close, having been burned before. He feels that he has lost the ability to love or be loved, at least in his own eyes. But his caring relationship with his family shows otherwise, and that same protectiveness comes out when he's around Angelica.

I liked the development of their relationship. First up is the obvious chemistry between them, but both try to resist it. That doesn't work for long, as the attraction is just too strong. Though he tries to tell himself that he doesn't trust her, Brett can't help but watch out for her. I especially loved his reaction to her sleeping in her car, and what he did about it. There's still a lot of antagonism between them, as Brett's mistrust is obvious and she refuses to put up with it. I really liked seeing her blow his expectations every time. Every time they start to get a little closer, Brett gets spooked and does something to put distance between them. He's not very good at thinking before he speaks, and manages to say some rather cruel things while trying to protect himself. He always apologizes, in his own rather bumbling way, which comes across as a bit sweet and vulnerable. I ached a bit for Angelica, because she knew her feelings and what she wanted, but couldn't get Brett to let go of his own issues to see what they could have together. He almost left it too long, but in the end got it right. He did have a rather unusual "big moment" in how and when he confessed his feelings.

There was a secondary love story involving Glory and a newcomer named Kyle. There's definitely attraction between them. But Glory has spent most of her life working the family hardware store and doesn't see that changing anytime soon. Kyle is very interested in her and unceasing in his pursuit of her. But there's something about him that she doesn't know and it would put a whole different outlook on what she's starting to feel. I really liked Kyle's patience, though he should have told her the truth sooner. He could also see that she wasn't as happy with her future as she thought she was. It was interesting to see how hard she was fighting against what her heart wanted. I loved the scene at the hardware store at the end when she made her decision.

I liked seeing more of Brett's sisters and their lives. It was neat to see how Poppy (Take My Breath Away) and Sage (Make Me LoseControl) were doing after they found their HEAs. It was fun to see how close they all are and the support that is always there if needed. I also enjoyed seeing them all weigh in on Brett's life and relationship with Angelica. I liked getting to know Mac a little better and can't wait to read the story of her and Zan.

There was also a little bit of suspense running through the book. There had been a rash of burglaries around the town, and everyone was on edge wondering who it could be. I had a suspicion of who it was fairly early on and just had to wait to see if I was right. The motivation was also important, and was a little bit of a lead in to the next book.

Taming Deputy Harlow - Jennifer Morey (HRS #1924 - Dec 2016)

Series: Cold Case Detectives (Book 4)

To solve a forty-year-old murder in her remote mountain town, sheriff's deputy Reese Harlow needs advice from the best. That means finally meeting her biological father, the founder of Dark Alley Investigations. But after one passionate night with her dad's sexy head of security, Reese finds that her heart is at risk…

Jamie Knox has never met a woman quite like Reese. Determined to open her eyes to just how good they'd be together, he volunteers to help her crack this cold case. He can almost sense the wedding bells in the distance, but someone is dead set on stopping them from solving the murder…or getting anywhere near the altar!

Good book. Reese is a detective in a small town in Colorado, who has stumbled on some hidden money in a her new house. It leads to a decades old murder mystery, one she is determined to solve. She plans to use this case to meet the biological father she just found out about - Kadin Tandy of Dark Alley Investigations (A Wanted Man). When she arrives in Wyoming, one of the first people she meets is Jamie Knox, her father's new head of security.

Jamie spent several years in the military, then as a member of a private security firm. When he discovered that that firm was doing things he didn't agree with, he left, but only after dealing with some trouble the owner tried to cause him. He's living in New York City when Kadin comes to recruit him for DAI. Jamie decides that it would fit well with his desire to live a more normal life, including finding a wife and starting a family.

The sparks fly between Reese and Jamie from the moment they meet, but each reacts differently. Reese is attracted, but not interested in anything permanent. She has her future all planned out - do her best as a deputy, then become sheriff when the current one retires. She's quite happy to have a quick fling with him though. On the other hand, just a short time in her company has Jamie thinking that Reese might be the one he's looking for. The problem is convincing her.

I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. It's unusual to see a romance between a career driven woman and a man who wants to settle down. I loved some of their interactions, as his cheerful pursuit of her and optimism that he can change her mind, gives him a pretty positive attitude through most of the book. But Reese has been focused on her goals for so long that she doesn't know what to do with the feelings that he is stirring up. The more he tries to tempt her, the more she digs in her heels. In the end, he has to hope that love will win out over stubbornness.

The suspense of the story was really good. There was the money that Reese found in her house, and the discovery that a previous occupant had been murdered. When her house is ransacked, it becomes obvious that someone is very interested in that money. Then there is the question of who the murdered woman really was, and was there a connection to another missing woman. There is also the mystery of who has been shooting at Reese and Jamie. When the shooter is caught and there seems to be a connection to Jamie's past, is there a connection between that past and the mystery money and murder? The final confrontation is intense, with an unexpected consequence.

I also enjoyed the secondary story of Reese getting to know Kadin. Thanks to a less than emotional childhood with her adoptive parents, Reese is wary of Kadin's desire to get to know her better. I loved Jamie's efforts to smooth the way between them. It was a slow process, but Reese began to open herself up to Kadin and his family. I especially loved seeing Reese with Kadin's baby son.

Conard County Marine - Rachel Lee (HRS #1911 - Sept 2016)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 31)

The arrival of a single black rose signals danger to come for Kylie Brewer. Recovering from a brutal attack that claimed three years of her memory and her chance at a promising career, Kylie just wants to pick up the remaining fragments of her life. She returns to her hometown of Conard City to live with her sister but soon learns that putting the past in its place won't be easy.

Marine sergeant Evan Cooper -- a trusted family friend who agrees to help Kylie -- can't ignore his protective instincts. Or the steadily growing desire he feels for a woman who has overcome so much. He vows to help keep Kylie's demons at bay…but someone else has plans to finish what they started.

Very good book with excellent suspense and a sweet romance. Kylie was attacked and left for dead, the trauma leaving her with a three year gap in her memory. She returns to her hometown of Conard City to stay with her sister Glenda and try to put her life back together. She's nervous around people and plans to take some time alone to try to heal. She's shaken to discover that her sister has the cousin of a family friend staying with her, too.

Evan Cooper is on leave from the Marines and has come to visit his cousin Connie (A Soldier's Homecoming). With Connie's house full, Coop accepts Glenda's offer to stay with her. He notices Kylie's nervousness around him right away and tries to stay out of her way, but quickly finds himself drawn to her.

Kylie is understandably freaked out by her loss of memory and the underlying fear that whoever tried to kill her is still out there. It doesn't take long before her nervousness around Coop is replaced by a feeling of safety whenever he is near. I loved his incredible patience, understanding and tenderness around her. Coop has seen his own fair share of misery during the war and is able to use his own experiences to help her. When he steps in to provide her protection, the time they spend together allows them to get to know each other well. I especially loved how Coop shared things with her that he never talked about with others. I liked how he kept her protected but still encouraged her to push her limits.

There is also an intense attraction that affects both of them. Kylie is surprised to feel it, given her injuries and emotional distress. Coop tries to resist his, because of Kylie's vulnerability and the fact that he doesn't do serious relationships. I loved seeing how careful he was around her, trying so hard not to take advantage. The more time they spent together, the stronger it grew, as did the feelings that went along with it. I loved Coop's surprise as he started thinking in terms of a future with her. Kylie falls for his tenderness and understanding and the way she feels when she is with him. I loved the ending with the directness and honesty of how he expressed his feelings.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. Because we get the attacker's viewpoint at several points during the story, there is an added layer of intensity. Though his identity was revealed early on, I suspected him from the moment he appeared. The creepiness of how he used the children of the town to further his plans only added to the sense of complete evil that emanated from him. I thought it was interesting that Kylie's subconscious seemed to be warning her that she wasn't safe back in her hometown because the trouble hadn't been left in Denver. The final confrontation was intense. I liked how Kylie kept a pretty level head, enabling her to hang on until Coop found her.

One of the things I loved about the book was the amount of time and importance given to the effect of the war on Coop. It wasn't just his time over there, but also the trials of adapting to being back stateside. The description of his "graveyard" was especially moving. I also liked that there was some good included, such as the soccer games with the local kids.

The only issue I had with the book, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the author or the story, was a problem I have consistently noticed with Harlequin books. Their editors cannot get it through their thick heads that Marine is always capitalized. Coop was a Marine, not a marine. He is a member of the Marine Corps, not the marine corps. The Marine Corps is referred to as the Corps, not the corps. Grrr.

Looking for Trouble - Victoria Dahl (HQN - Aug 2014)

Series Girls' Night Out (Book 1)

A good reason to be bad…

Librarian Sophie Heyer has walked the straight and narrow her entire life to make up for her mother's mistakes. But in tiny Jackson Hole, Wyoming, juicy gossip doesn't just fade away. Falling hard for the sexiest biker who's ever ridden into town would undo everything she's worked for. And to add insult to injury, the alluring stranger is none other than Alex Bishop -- the son of the man Sophie's mother abandoned her family for. He may be temptation on wheels, but Sophie's not looking for trouble!

Maybe Sophie's buttoned-up facade fools some, but Alex knows a naughty smile when he sees one. Despite their parents' checkered pasts, he's willing to take some risks to find out the truth about the town librarian. He figures a little fling might be just the ticket to get his mind off his own family drama. But what he finds underneath Sophie's prim demeanor might change his world in ways he never expected.

Good book. Steamy, but also deeply emotional. Sophie is the town librarian, with a prim and proper look, who has never stepped out of line. She behaves this way because she's trying to live down her mother's reputation. Twenty-five years earlier, her mom had run off with a married man, leaving her husband and two children behind. But things aren't always what they seem. The bodies of her mom and the man were discovered recently (Too Hot toHandle), showing that they hadn't really run off together. And though Sophie may appear prim and proper on the outside, but underneath is a passionate woman who wants to come out and play.

Alex is the youngest son of the man who disappeared with Sophie's mom. He had a rough childhood with a mom who never believed that her husband had gone away on his own. She was constantly dragging him and his brother on wild goose chases looking for him. When Alex was eighteen, he left home and hasn't been back in sixteen years. In that time he has become a tattooed, motorcycle riding bad boy, who has a job as an engineer that keeps him on the road. He has reluctantly come back to town to participate in a memorial service for his dad, but has no intention of sticking around any longer than necessary.

Then Alex and Sophie meet, and the chemistry between them is explosive. At first, neither knows of the connection between them. Once Sophie realizes it, she wants to back off, but the heat between them is too much to resist. Alex doesn't want to add to the family drama, so they agree to keep what's between them quiet. Neither is looking for anything permanent, as Alex will be leaving in a few days, and Sophie has devoted her life to taking care of her brother and stepfather, only giving in to her wild side once in a while and with strangers.

I loved seeing the two of them together. Alex doesn't judge Sophie based on what her mother did. He likes her just the way she is. As they get to know each other, he sees past the good girl surface and naughty girl underneath, to the woman who has been deeply affected by her mother's actions. She has spent her life taking care of her stepfather and brother, making sure she has "earned" her place in their lives. She dreams of travelling, but is afraid of leaving and finding out that she isn't needed after all. Alex sees all of this and wants to help her break free. Sophie sees Alex as a man who is still affected by the crazy actions of his mother. He dealt with it all by leaving it all behind and making his own life. Coming back is hard for him, as he has to face the results of his actions. She sees that he needs to reconnect with his family, even if he doesn't realize it at first.

I liked seeing them slowly fall in love with each other. It wasn't something they expected or wanted, since their lives are so different. What they had moved from just the physical to a connection that neither could deny. I liked seeing how they tried to protect each other. Alex would attempt to deflect his mother's attacks on Sophie. Sophie tried to protect Alex from the results of her brother's actions. But they also had to find a way to deal with their own issues before they could hope to have something together. There was a heartbreaking confrontation between them as each tried to protect their own heart by pointing out what was wrong with the other. It took facing their own fears, with a little helpful pushing from others, before they could see a way forward. I loved the ending, especially with the peek at Sophie's plans for after Alex returns from his latest trip.

I enjoyed the secondary characters, too. I liked seeing how Shane and Merry are doing together. I also liked how Shane and Alex were eventually able to repair their relationship. I really liked Sophie's dad and his practical method of dealing with the drama of his wife's disappearance. The conversation between he and Sophie at the end showed just how much he loved her. Sophie's friends were terrific. Their support of her through all her troubles was great. There were also some pretty funny scenes with them, like Lauren's delivery of the cinnamon rolls, and their determination to get Sophie out of her house and to the bar after her confrontation with Alex.

Dr. Do-or-Die - Lara Lacombe (HRS #1930 - Jan 2017)

Series: Doctors in Danger (Book 2)

Two doctors are on thin ice as they race to save the world from a deadly disease.

Epidemic researcher Dr. Avery Thatcher has studied countless illnesses…but nothing prepares her for what she finds at a remote Antarctic base: the man she never wanted to see again and a mysterious ailment ravaging inhabitants. Avery will do whatever it takes to discover the illness's cause, and she vows to keep her heartbreaking history with Dr. Grant Jones in the past -- even if reignited passion brings them dangerously close.

For Grant, ending this outbreak and regaining Avery's trust are vital. As their hunt to contain a lethal pathogen escalates, he'll put everything on the line to avert disaster. But will another insidious threat stop them both cold?

Terrific second chance story with the added benefit of some excellent suspense. Avery is a investigator for the CDC who is sent to a remote base in Antarctica when several people are taken ill from an unknown disease. The last person she expects to see there is her college sweetheart, Grant. Grant is the head doctor at the base and determined to find its cause and stop it. He's happy to get the assistance of the CDC, but stunned to find Avery heading the team.

I loved the rekindling of their relationship. They had been torn apart ten years earlier, but had never forgotten their feelings or what had driven them apart. Avery has held on to the hurt and anger all these years, while Grant eventually came to terms with his part in what happened. I ached for both of them as they were haunted by their memories. Once they got over the shock of seeing each other again, there was no denying that the attraction between them was as strong as ever. I loved how, with the added maturity of ten years, they were able to talk to each other about what had happened, and clear the air between them. I liked the advice that Avery got from her friend Mallory, helping her to move forward. Then Avery is stricken by the disease. I absolutely loved the vividness of the description of what was happening to her, of her feelings and what was keeping her anchored. The depth of Grant's feelings for her was beautifully portrayed. The sharing of their feelings afterward was so emotional I couldn't wait to see how they would make their relationship work. I loved the ending and seeing how they managed it.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. The fact that part of it was based on a real event, and with the state of today's world, the sense of realism in the book made it even more gripping. With their step by step efforts to pinpoint the source of the disease, and the occasional viewpoint of those behind it, their fears of the possibilities was obvious. The tension increased as the number of cases grew, and they were running out of time to stop it. The final confrontation was intense as I wondered just how it was going to turn out. There was a twist at the end that I hadn't expected.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.