Only one thing could pull Reid Armstrong away from a vacation he’s earned with every muscle in his finely honed body -- learning that his former fiancée has disappeared on a top-secret science expedition in the middle of nowhere. Second chances don’t come often in Reid’s business, and he needs to prove his worth to Cara Layne or die trying.
Waking up to find her camp destroyed and her colleagues missing, Cara is a walking target. She can’t trust anyone, least of all Reid. Even if his skills get them out alive, he’s a heartache waiting to strike twice. Yet being in close proximity proves their connection burns hotter than ever.
The body count is rising, the enemy is getting closer, and soon Reid will be right back in the position that cost him everything -- forced to choose between the woman he loves, and the job that’s his only hope of saving them both . . .
Good second chance romance wrapped up in a terrific action/adventure story. Reid and his teammate Parker are supposed to be on an enforced vacation in Montana, as members of Delta Team recover from the losses sustained in Facing Fire. Instead, they are sneaking around in Russia, trying to find out what happened to Reid's ex-fiancée, Cara. The documentary team she is with hasn't been heard from and her brother is worried. While she may have destroyed his heart when she walked out on their engagement, he can't NOT go looking for her.
When Cara woke to wind and pain and the sensation of being dragged away before passing out, she thought she was a dead woman. Waking again to find her coworkers missing and the camp destroyed she's not sure which way to turn - until Reid comes walking out of the woods. While she trusts him and his abilities to keep her safe, trusting him with her heart again is another matter entirely.
Sixteen months earlier, Reid and Cara had fallen in love and gotten engaged only two weeks after he'd rescued her. The passion between them was fast and furious and freaked out Cara's logical mind. She was certain that it was an adrenaline-fueled reaction that Reid would quickly regret, so she ended things before he could. But Reid never gave up on his love for Cara and is determined to prove it to her. But first, they have to get out of this alive.
I really liked the rekindling of the relationship. Cara is smart, feisty, and a kick-ass woman. She has no trouble standing up to Reid when she feels that he isn't taking her seriously. She also has no trouble following directions when the situation calls for it. Reid is tough, a bit rough around the edges, and still head-over-heels for Cara. He doesn't understand why she walked away from him, but he's determined to win her back. I loved the banter between the two of them, as Cara tried to get him to understand what she needed from him, and Reid resisted talking about things that he thought shouldn't matter. There were some terrific scenes that were right out of a Mars/Venus playbook and frequently had me laughing out loud. The chemistry between them was still just as intense, also, and found its expression in some very interesting places. I loved seeing Cara finally realize the truth of Reid's love, and Reid accept that strong and silent isn't always the best option. I loved the conversation she had with her brother right before she went after Reid.
The suspense of the story was really good also. While initially, it looks like a case of someone wanting the data that the scientist have collected, it turns out that there were multiple players and objectives. Cara and Reid, with Parker's assistance, are often barely one step ahead of whichever bad guy has gotten close. Each bit of information they uncover is another piece of a puzzle that doesn't always add up. Backing them up is Alliance's head honcho, Tasha, who seems to have an unlimited supply of useful contacts and information that can get her what she needs. Her scenes with Niko were awesome, as she had him right where she wanted him. There were quite a few twists and turns before all was revealed. The final confrontation was intense, and the final revelation not at all what I expected.
The two secondary characters I liked the most were Cara's brother, Caleb, and Reid's teammate, Parker. Caleb is the quintessential protective big brother, who will do anything to keep his sister safe. That he has contacts that are more than your average man would have is just icing on the cake. Since he is a part-time hacker (oh, that word!) with Alliance, that makes things even more interesting. Parker was a riot. I loved everything about him, from his belief in things like Bigfoot and Yeti to the way he gave Reid a hard time about being in love. It was fun to see Cara try to rein in him and Reid when they would get going. I'd love to see him get his own story.
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