Harlequin Intrigue books get me every time! And this one was no different. But I will say this is the first book I've read by Shelly Bell and I was beyond impressed. It was just so freaking good! I'm a hardcore Harlequin fan and pretty much read every Intrigue and Romantic Suspense novel they put out each and every month and have been since I was about twelve. And I have a habit of going back and reading the ones that were published before I got into them as well. So I have a lot of favorites and reading all of them has definitely helped me to create a list of authors that I keep an eye out for. And after this, Shelly Bell is absolutely going on that list!

Julia and Rhys were smoking hot together and the chemistry between them easily came through every word on every page. And while that was more than enough to keep me hooked, there was also enough action to have me flipping the pages faster and faster. Getting to the end was inevitable, as it always is, but it was certainly worth it with this one. And as a bonus, it's only the first one in a new series. So you know I'll be eagerly awaiting the next one! I know that sometimes multiple authors get in on one series when it comes to Harlequin, so I'll also be sure to be on the lookout for anything else by Shelly Bell because she has made a fan in me! ( )

Terrific mix of second chance romance and suspense. Rhys is an FBI agent assigned to find a serial killer plaguing his hometown. The biggest clue is the music tattooed on the back of each victim. A break in the case comes when the town prodigy recognizes it as a piece she wrote. Now Rhys needs Julia's help to catch the killer.

Rhys and Julia have a history together. They were in love as teenagers, making plans for their future, when Rhys suddenly broke up with her. Brokenhearted, Julia left for Europe and hasn't returned for twelve years. Tired of the stress of constant performances, she plans to rest, relax, and spend time writing music and playing with the local symphony. The last thing she wants is to risk her heart by getting involved with Rhys again, but she can't say no to helping stop the killer.

Matters become complicated very quickly when Julia is attacked. Determined to keep her safe, Rhys moves into Julia's house to stay close to her. It is immediately apparent that the sparks between them have never died. Rhys refuses to contemplate renewing his relationship with Julia, as his reasons for the breakup haven't changed. I ached for Rhys and the events that had such a devastating effect on him and his family. Julia also prefers to protect her heart from being broken again. Rhys and his family were the only people she felt loved by until that brutal rejection by Rhys. I hurt for Julia and her lonely childhood and how that extended into her adult life. Her music is the only thing that gives her joy.

I liked watching the rekindling of their romance. No matter how they try, there is no denying that they still care for each other. The more time they spend together, the harder it is to maintain a "friends-only" distance. I loved seeing Julia welcomed back into the circle of Rhys's family and how his brothers and father tried to make him see that they belonged together. Julia can tell that Rhys is hiding something from her that keeps him from giving in to their growing feelings. It takes nearly losing her to the killer for Rhys to realize the truth behind his fears and overcome them. I loved the ending and seeing them looking toward their future together.

The suspense of this story was outstanding. I was sucked into the story immediately by the unusual actions of the killer. Once Julia came on the scene, the action and suspense built quickly. Besides the serial killer and his apparent link to Julia, there was also a stalking mystery to be solved. It was interesting that Julia had received threatening letters as a teen and started up again after she returned. Are there two different criminals haunting Julia, or are they the same person? As the investigation continued, Rhys felt that they were finally closing in on the killer, then an unexpected twist tossed a new player into the mix. The final confrontation was terrifying, and I was glued to the pages until it was all over. There was a twist at the end regarding Rhys's mother, and I wonder if that will continue into the next book.

I liked Rhys's brothers and father. I understood Rhys's anger at his father over the tragic events of his childhood. While it brought the three brothers closer together, seeing its effect on their father was painful. I liked how their father ultimately took responsibility for what he did (and didn't) do and was taking steps to mend their rift. I loved that all three brothers were in law enforcement and that they worked together to solve the case. The current sheriff is worse than useless, and it is hard to fathom his actions regarding his treatment of Julia. I'd love to see Rhys's brother, Joshua, become sheriff.

#netgalley ( )