Good book with an uncomfortably realistic premise. Marcus is the acting police chief of the small town of Knoware, Washington. He's disturbed when a notification from DHS to all law enforcement says that there is a credible threat of a terrorist attack in the US and to be cognizant of strangers. He's fairly certain his town is safe but it's the height of tourist season so he stays vigilant, which leads him to Erin.

Erin arrives in town to take over running her sister's shop while Morgan is on maternity bed rest. Erin is a rolling stone who jumps from job to job, always searching for something. The call for help came at a good time, as Erin had been fired for the first time. There is also a failed relationship in the mix. Helping Morgan will allow her to regroup and decide what to do next.

I loved the first meeting between Erin and Marcus. Erin arrived at the shop early, ready to jump in. Unfortunately, Morgan forgot to tell her about the newly installed security system. Erin was startled by the sudden appearance of Marcus, gun drawn and ready for trouble. They quickly resolve the misunderstanding, and Marcus turns a little flirty. I had to laugh at his dismay when Erin didn't immediately accept his dinner invitation and asked for time to think about it. They separate and move on with their day.

We then get a look at two men who are searching for Erin. They used her to get something from Paris to the States, and now they must retrieve it before she finds it. The older man is the brains and has the patience to be careful. The younger man is headstrong and impatient but has the skills needed to carry out their mission.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Marcus and Erin. The sparks were there from the beginning, but there were obstacles. Erin doesn't plan to stick around after Morgan has her baby, and Marcus isn't looking to settle down. When strange accidents happen to Erin, Marcus's protective instincts are aroused, even though he also suspects Erin hasn't been entirely honest about her past. I liked the scenes of them getting to know each other but wished Erin would be more open with him. When Marcus invites her to stay with him for safety reasons, the sparks between them grow stronger. I was a little disappointed in Marcus when he allowed his curiosity and suspicions to make a slightly questionable choice that would come back to haunt him later. Their growing feelings for each other hit a road bump when professional requirements force Marcus to keep a big secret from Erin. His lack of trust understandably hurts Erin, but it doesn't take long for her common sense to show her the truth. It takes surviving a dangerous situation for Marcus and Erin to admit their feelings to themselves and then to each other. I liked the ending and look forward to seeing more of them in the next book.

The suspense of the story was fast-paced and believable. Erin has no idea that she is an unwitting courier and a target. Her experience at her previous job has left her reeling and wondering what went wrong. Her first encounter with the two bad guys makes her wonder why they look familiar, but it doesn't bother her for long. The second encounter was creepy, but she put it behind her. We get to follow the bad guys with their frustrations over being unable to retrieve their property. The attacks on Erin and others show their desperation. I liked Marcus's protectiveness toward Erin and his suspicions of the two strangers, especially their interest in her. The intensity ramps up with the arrival of the FBI agent. There are some tense moments during his questioning of Erin. I liked that Erin was smart enough to figure out what was going on so that the awkwardness didn't last long. The final confrontation was a nail-biter when the takedown didn't go as planned but ended most satisfactorily.

I liked seeing more of Blade and Daisy from the first book and can't wait to read Jamie's story. ( )