Series: Omega Sector: Critical Response (Book 3)Omega Sector (Book 7)
One secret can change everything
It's been eight years since Liam Goetz has seen his ex-fiancé. Vanessa Epperson had everything: beauty, brains…and a family fortune. He chose her, while she chose a life of luxury and never imagined their paths would cross again. An unexpected phone call from Vanessa -- desperate for his help in a human trafficking case -- resurrects old longings. As they work together to save hostages and catch a predator, Liam begins to learn some shocking truths -- about himself and the woman he thought he once knew so well…
Very good book with intense suspense and a roller coaster of emotions as Liam and Vanessa reconcile their pasts and their present. I was hooked on their story from the very beginning. Vanessa was out for a walk on the beach, trying to decompress after a stressful day at work as a social worker, when she stumbled on a young girl washed up on the beach. It didn't take long to find out that she was most likely a victim of human trafficking. When she also discovered that local law enforcement might be involved, she can only think of one person who might be able to help her, and she hasn't talked to him in eight years.
Liam couldn't believe it when he received a forwarded voice mail from Vanessa. He's not too keen to see her, but he hoped it would enable him to finally put the past behind him. He was also curious about what kind of situation would cause her to reach out to him after so many years.
I loved their first meeting after so many years. Liam gets quite a shock when he sees her, as nothing is like what he expected. Vanessa is no longer the naïve, carefree, party girl that he left behind. Unknown to him, words he spoke to his friends before leaving town made their way to her, convincing her that she wanted to make changes in her life. No longer heedless of other's feelings, Vanessa has become a caring and compassionate social worker, turning her back on her wealthy lifestyle. Liam sees signs of pain and loss in her eyes, but she won't talk about it to him. Liam has gone through some changes of his own. After his breakup with Vanessa, he became quite the playboy, flitting from woman to woman, but never getting close to any of them. However, he's recently backed off from that life, after seeing some of his friends and coworkers finding love and settling down. But before he can find that for himself, he has to let go of his past.
I really enjoyed the rekindling of Liam and Vanessa's relationship. It's obvious from the start that the physical attraction between them is still alive and well, but neither one is happy about it. Liam is still hurt and angry over what he saw as her betrayal, and Vanessa is equally certain that if he had truly loved her, he never would have walked away so easily. I liked seeing Liam get to know the new Vanessa as they worked together. I loved his growing respect for her and his admiration of her strength. He was also determined to earn her trust so that she would tell him whatever it is he is sure that she is hiding. Vanessa is surprised by the depth of caring and protectiveness that Liam shows toward their young victim. It goes a long way toward softening her attitude toward him and encouraging her to tell him the truth of what had happened eight years earlier. I ached for Liam when he found out the details and how he blamed himself for not fighting for her. Once their pasts were dealt with, it became easier to give in to the growing feelings between them. I loved Liam's big moment as he confessed his feelings and showed Vanessa just how deep they were. The ending was fantastic with a couple of unexpected but wonderful twists.
The suspense of the story had me riveted throughout the entire book. Discovering Karine on the beach, then finding out that someone in law enforcement might be involved, made it imperative that Vanessa find help that she could trust. The arrival of the deputy practically on Liam's heels created quite a desperate situation, and I loved the way that he handled it. The tension of the encounters with law enforcement, wondering who could be trusted and who couldn't made their job more difficult. Knowing that there were seven more girls out there somewhere, in imminent danger, kept me on the edge of my seat, as Liam and the other Omega members worked feverishly to locate them. The final confrontation was intense, with an unexpected complication adding to the danger. There was a surprisingly sweet moment with the youngest of the girls, in the middle of all the action, that really warmed my heart. I especially liked Vanessa's strength and courage as she stood up to the bad guys and then protected Karine in the aftermath. The ending was terrific, and I loved following what happened with the girls.
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