Good book. Deirdre is an FBI agent on forced vacation after breaking too many rules during an investigation. So she steps in, on her own time, to help her New York cousins in their search for a suspected "Black Widow" serial killer. The story opens as she arrives in Wyoming to talk to Micah about his former stepmother, who may be the woman the other Coltons are looking for.

Micah is a single dad with his hands full, raising his son and working his ranch. He also has problems with escalating sabotage on his property. Despite multiple visits from the police, no one has been able to catch the perpetrator. Though he's always believed his stepmother murdered his father, he has no interest in revisiting that part of the past.

Deirdre is a city girl, through and through, as is shown by her reaction to Wyoming's wide-open spaces. She can't wait to interview Micah and catch the next plane back to DC. Fate has other plans for her. She arrives as Micah is dealing with another episode of vandalism and is in no mood to cooperate with her. When the sheriff comes to take Micah's report, he's interested in Deirdre's presence, especially when he learns of her "vacation." It doesn't take long for him to coerce - umm, convince - her to help his short-handed department with Micah's problem. Micah agrees to answer her questions if she helps him. Neither expects the sparks of attraction that flare between them.

I enjoyed the combination of suspense and romance. Deirdre and Micah spend a lot of time together looking for leads to the vandal and working on the ranch. Seeing Deirdre's growing appreciation for the peace of Wyoming and life on the ranch was fun. I liked seeing her and Micah develop enough mutual trust to share the more painful parts of their pasts and grow closer. I also enjoyed seeing the quick connection between Micah's son, Derek, and his "Dee-Dee."

When the latest intrusion at the ranch threatens Derek, Deirdre suggests they all fly to New York for a few days to keep him safe and give the sheriff and his deputies a chance to catch the perpetrator. This will also allow Micah to see if any sites jog his memory about his stepmother. There are meetings with the New York Coltons as they try to get closer to finding their quarry. A lucky memory brings hope and action, but mistakes also bring heartache and disappointment.

A return to Wyoming brings them face-to-face with Micah's tormentor. The intensity of the confrontation kept me glued to the pages until it was over. I wasn't surprised by the identity of the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Micah and Deirdre's relationship hits some bumps in their road to happiness. Neither can let go of the fears that keep them from giving in to their love. It takes some well-meaning interference from Deirdre's brother, Aidan, to set up an emotional reunion between them. I liked the ending and look forward to the next book.

The overarching series mystery of Humphrey's disappearance is partially solved in this book, but another part will continue in the next book. ( )