Good second chance romance. The story opens as Gideon, a social worker, gets a call about an abused child in the hospital. How much he cares about the children he helps is immediately apparent as he rushes to the hospital. He didn't expect to find the woman who broke his heart sitting by Charlie's side. Sophia knew it was possible that Gideon would be the one called. He's the best at dealing with scared kids. How much would it hurt to come face-to-face with the biggest regret of her life?

Both Gideon and Sophia focus on Charlie while trying to suppress their reactions to each other. I liked that they didn't allow their personal history to affect their interactions with Charlie. Their efforts to calm the boy go well until his abusive father shows up. I loved seeing the soft-spoken Gideon turn into a superhero, getting between Rick and Charlie. His actions were swift and effective and a joy to watch. Unfortunately, Rick escapes from the security guard after vowing vengeance on Sophia. Despite their past, Gideon's protectiveness kicks in, and he escorts her home. A good thing he did, as they spotted the man lurking in the shadows around her house. Gideon insists that she can't stay there, so he takes her to his mother's home. There the stress of the night comes out in an unexpected and passionate encounter, leaving both wondering what's next.

I enjoyed watching the rekindling of the relationship between Gideon and Sophia. Both of them are wary of getting involved again. Gideon remembers the heartache he felt and is hesitant to take that risk again. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to deny those feelings. Sophia never stopped loving Gideon and regretted the breakup as soon as it happened. Growing up with a perfectionist father and a detached mother, Sophia has spent her life trying to live up to expectations and constantly feeling that she comes up short. Those feelings bled over into her relationship with Gideon, and she broke up with him because she thought he could do better than her.

Sophia and Gideon spent a good share of the book inside their heads, constantly second-guessing their own and each other's actions and words. Many times, I wanted to shake them and tell them to talk to each other. With two years apart, I liked how Gideon realized how hard Sophia is on herself. The more he hears of her father's treatment, the more he tries to make her recognize the emotional abuse she experienced. Sophia thinks a lot about how much she regrets her actions but keeps that to herself for too long. She dreams of starting the relationship again but tells herself it is too late without saying anything to Gideon about it. I loved when she finally worked up the courage to talk to him and ached for her when he didn't react. Gideon's wariness was understandable, and it took him a few days and a conversation with his mom to let go of his fears. I loved their big moment at the end. I also loved their visit with Sophia's father and its well-deserved outcome.

The suspense was good. We get a good look at the abusive father and the results of his abuse early on. His appearance at the hospital and his attempt to get to Charlie show how dangerous he is. Gideon's protectiveness kicks in when he escapes custody and later turns up at Sophia's home. The tension builds as there are a couple of sightings, but Rick eludes capture. There is a terrific scene as Gideon, Sophia, and a local police detective confront someone who has been helping him. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I loved seeing how it worked out. ( )