Border Line from Kristi Belcamino is the latest in the Gia Santella series. This volume not only makes a wonderful addition to the series it also marks even more growth in Gia as a person.

This story touches on some contemporary issues in society yet does so from a very personal level, not a in preachy or didactic manner. Like all large illegal operations, there is plenty of responsibility to go around for it being powerful, much of that responsibility being outside the organization.

If you've read previous Gia stories, you know she is a strong and independent woman. She has grown in every novel, usually incremental steps as she moves further in time from the events that helped harden her. This time she exhibits some major growth in areas that would naturally require time to happen. So while the change (or prospective change) is large it still falls into the realm of natural and believable. It also take her from a well-rounded but somewhat stunted character (I mean that in a good way, trauma stunts us whether permanently or temporarily) to a far more reflective person open to at least considering change. To quote a favorite movie: baby steps, baby steps.

The action, the characters, the writing, the intersecting plotlines, this novel satisfies on so many levels. I would recommend this to anyone interested in a kickass protagonist who is also a lot of fun. If you're new to the series, maybe consider starting from the beginning, but you can probably read this as a standalone, you'll just have to fill in a couple things from comments the characters make. Quite possible, I think, but if you don't like doing so, start with the first volume and work through this one by the time the next one comes out. ( )