Excellent second chance story combined with riveting suspense. Eighteen months earlier Zane and Caroline had had a passionate and volatile relationship. Zane was a police detective, and Caroline was an EMT. Then Caroline was brutally assaulted, and in a fit of guilt, because he hadn't been there to prevent it, Zane quit the police force and his relationship with Caroline. Now she's in danger again and he'll do whatever he must not to fail her.

Caroline has worked hard to overcome the effects of her assault. She's back on the job and has taken steps to prevent becoming a victim again. Though she wants to think she has put Zane behind her also, seeing him again proves that her feelings for him are just as strong as they ever were. But, what happened that night has changed both of them.

I liked both Zane and Caroline from their first appearance in Fully Committed. Caroline is a lot stronger than she thinks she is. I loved the reality of seeing the ongoing effects of the assault, such as the fear of a knock on the door, or being reluctant to go home to an empty house. But she's also determined that it won't completely derail her life. I loved seeing her back doing the work she loved. I also understood her frustration with the way people still treated her with kid gloves when she wanted them to stop seeing her as a victim. Zane is a man who is haunted by what he sees as his failure. I ached for him as he gave up the work he loved because he'd lost confidence in his ability to do it. However, his innate protectiveness can't be denied, especially when it comes to Caroline. At the first hint of danger, he's right there with her.

I loved the rekindling of their relationship. Zane's determination to keep her safe makes him come on a little strong at first, which makes Caroline dig in her heels about the trip she has planned. Not to be dissuaded, Zane horns in on her camping trip. In addition to the protection, it gives Caroline a chance to confront Zane about what had happened after her attack. I loved her honesty as she explained to him exactly what she needed from him. I ached for Zane, who had allowed his guilty feelings to drive him away from Caroline. I loved that he understood her feelings when she explained them. It wasn't easy for him to let go of the guilt and give his feelings free rein. I loved seeing them grow closer as they fought the danger they were in. The passion is still there but without the volatility thanks to the maturing of the characters and the relationship. I loved the ending, especially the gift that Caroline had for Zane.

The suspense was fantastic. As was shown in the first book (Daddy Defender), the villain in this series has a very convoluted and devious mind. We know from the start that he has it in for Zane and Caroline, but you never know exactly how he will carry out his plans. The attack on the trail and subsequent sabotage of Zane's plane had me glued to the pages as they raced to stay ahead of their attacker. The attacks continued after they got home, increasing in intensity. I was on the edge of my seat through several twists and turns, as just when I thought they were safe, something else would happen. The final confrontations were amazing in their proof of the bad guy's twisted and manipulative ways. ( )