Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific book that kept me engaged from start to finish. The story is fast-paced and intriguing. I loved Joe's unwavering insistence that he was innocent and willing to do whatever was necessary to prove it.
Joe was the CFO of a large software company when accusations of fraud cost the company millions of dollars in losses. He was tried but found not guilty (not innocent) because the prosecution couldn't prove that he was responsible. Investors lost vast amounts of money, and Joe has received threats since his release. He hires Sierra's Web to find the evidence that will prove his innocence and accepts their insistence that he take a bodyguard to keep him safe.
McKenna has been working as a bodyguard for years. Her appearance is deceptive, which has proved advantageous in the past - I loved the story of her "interview" with the head of Sierra's Web. She is focused and determined. Their cover is that they are a married couple sightseeing by RV.
The first meeting between Joe and McKenna is awkward. He is initially skeptical of her qualifications, and McKenna has a long-standing dislike of wealthy people whose sole focus is on making more money. She is familiar with his story and doesn't believe he is innocent, though she swears that won't keep her from doing her job. There is a power struggle between them until they work out their differences. I liked that Joe trusted her capabilities and agreed to follow her lead.
There is tension between Joe and McKenna from the start. Some of it is the question of guilt vs. innocence, and more of it is the simmering attraction that neither wants to admit. Despite the accusations against him, Joe is honorable and will never make uninvited advances toward her. Forced into 24/7 proximity and struggling to stay ahead of those chasing Joe, McKenna's determined distancing from Joe doesn't last long. I liked seeing them get to know each other better as little bits of their backstories emerged. We learn why McKenna has such a problem with rich people and why Joe is so focused on accumulating wealth.
Their attraction continues to grow, accelerated by the occasional need to get physically close. Because of their differing lifestyles and outlooks starting something could only end in heartbreak. But when the case is over, will they be able to go their separate ways without regret?
The suspense of the story was excellent. Joe has been trying to figure out who set him up on his own and has accumulated an impressive amount of meticulously organized information. Even though he gives the information to the people at Sierra's Web, he ponders the problem himself. It becomes evident that someone out there doesn't want him unearthing the truth, and the efforts to find him are intense. It seems they can barely keep one step ahead of their pursuers, leading them to believe there may be a leak somewhere. I loved McKenna's solution of a safe place to go and laughed out loud at her surprise over his method of "hiding." When the final confrontation came, I wasn't shocked at who it was, but I was surprised by the level of their hands-on involvement. I liked how it went down - go, McKenna! - and that Joe was part of it, too.
I loved the ending and the changes that Joe and McKenna experienced during their time together. I hope they show up in later books, as I'd love to see how their lives turn out.
I enjoyed the connection between this book and the author's Shelter Valley series. It's always lovely to catch up on the lives of past characters.
#netgalley
Joe was the CFO of a large software company when accusations of fraud cost the company millions of dollars in losses. He was tried but found not guilty (not innocent) because the prosecution couldn't prove that he was responsible. Investors lost vast amounts of money, and Joe has received threats since his release. He hires Sierra's Web to find the evidence that will prove his innocence and accepts their insistence that he take a bodyguard to keep him safe.
McKenna has been working as a bodyguard for years. Her appearance is deceptive, which has proved advantageous in the past - I loved the story of her "interview" with the head of Sierra's Web. She is focused and determined. Their cover is that they are a married couple sightseeing by RV.
The first meeting between Joe and McKenna is awkward. He is initially skeptical of her qualifications, and McKenna has a long-standing dislike of wealthy people whose sole focus is on making more money. She is familiar with his story and doesn't believe he is innocent, though she swears that won't keep her from doing her job. There is a power struggle between them until they work out their differences. I liked that Joe trusted her capabilities and agreed to follow her lead.
There is tension between Joe and McKenna from the start. Some of it is the question of guilt vs. innocence, and more of it is the simmering attraction that neither wants to admit. Despite the accusations against him, Joe is honorable and will never make uninvited advances toward her. Forced into 24/7 proximity and struggling to stay ahead of those chasing Joe, McKenna's determined distancing from Joe doesn't last long. I liked seeing them get to know each other better as little bits of their backstories emerged. We learn why McKenna has such a problem with rich people and why Joe is so focused on accumulating wealth.
Their attraction continues to grow, accelerated by the occasional need to get physically close. Because of their differing lifestyles and outlooks starting something could only end in heartbreak. But when the case is over, will they be able to go their separate ways without regret?
The suspense of the story was excellent. Joe has been trying to figure out who set him up on his own and has accumulated an impressive amount of meticulously organized information. Even though he gives the information to the people at Sierra's Web, he ponders the problem himself. It becomes evident that someone out there doesn't want him unearthing the truth, and the efforts to find him are intense. It seems they can barely keep one step ahead of their pursuers, leading them to believe there may be a leak somewhere. I loved McKenna's solution of a safe place to go and laughed out loud at her surprise over his method of "hiding." When the final confrontation came, I wasn't shocked at who it was, but I was surprised by the level of their hands-on involvement. I liked how it went down - go, McKenna! - and that Joe was part of it, too.
I loved the ending and the changes that Joe and McKenna experienced during their time together. I hope they show up in later books, as I'd love to see how their lives turn out.
I enjoyed the connection between this book and the author's Shelter Valley series. It's always lovely to catch up on the lives of past characters.
#netgalley
