As this continues with a story arc from the first book in the series I would recommend reading that one first.
Sawyer Branson knocked his boss out in the previous book to save his brother’s love interest. That got him two week suspension and now what he considers a boring babysitting job but at least he is not stuck behind a desk. Turns out there were two Ghost Machines (software program) made and the second one is in the hands of a traitorous FBI agent who is working with a bad group called DS-13 who wants to sell it to the highest bidders.

Megan Fuller was part of the team that created Ghost Machine which was supposed to be used for good but when she saw that it could also be used as a weapon if it fell in to the wrong hands – like terrorist – she decided to turn it over to the FBI for safe keeping not knowing the FBI agent she trusted also worked for the bad guys.

So Sawyer’s boss sends him to Megan to ask her to finish something she and her team started but never finished. They need them to create the countermeasure to Ghost Shell to bring it down should DS-13 ever get the 2nd one up and running. Neither Sawyer nor Megan had any idea that DS-13 was aware of this and that they would go to any lengths to stop it from happening which means killing Megan.

The romance between these two was slow building. There was instant attraction but with Megan being a child prodigy she doesn’t have much experience in that department and Sawyer likes his life of being the flirt and has no intention of settling down like he watched his brother do in the previous book. Well fate has a different plans for them.
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Very good book with some intense action along with a fun romance. Sawyer is an agent with Omega and is used to assignments with a bit more importance than watching over some scientist. But he ticked off his boss (see the end of Infiltration) and this is his punishment. But far from being some absent minded professor type, Megan is young and beautiful, and gives Sawyer a whole new outlook on his assignment. Things get far from boring when Megan is attacked and it becomes obvious that someone doesn't want her to finish her project.

I really liked Megan and Sawyer together. He gets off to a rough start with her when he mistakes her for the receptionist, but it doesn't help that she's so flustered by him that she can barely speak. There are some sparks flying as Sawyer explains the urgency of the need for her countermeasure, but they subdue them in favor of keeping on task. When Megan is attacked, Sawyer finds that his need to protect her goes far deeper than just business. I loved seeing the two of them getting to know each other. especially Sawyer's appreciation of Megan's "giant brain". The attraction burns hotter, thanks to the intensity of all they are going through, and both begins to realize that there's more to what they feel, if they can just stay alive to pursue it.

One of the things I enjoyed about the book was that both Sawyer and Megan feel like real people. She's scary smart, but has insecurities also. She is also physically affected by the stress of what is happening, just like any normal person. Her moments of weakness are natural, and I loved seeing Sawyer's tender side come out as he takes care of her. I loved seeing Sawyer kind of blindsided by his developing feelings for Megan, especially after the way he had been making fun of Cameron. I also liked the reality of the injuries he received at the end. He went through a lot and it would have been strange to see him come out with just a few bruises. It also set up the ending quite nicely. He was pretty amusing in his desperation, and I loved seeing the part his family played in it. I wasn't surprised by her solution, but loved how it played out.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. I felt the premise was quite realistic and was completely riveted as I read, waiting to see how it would turn out. There was a good mix of both physical and mental action. I admit that I had the inside person figured out, though I did have a couple moments of doubt about one of the other characters. The final confrontation was really intense and could have gone in several directions, especially as there are more books in the series. I liked the way this one turned out and am looking forward to the next one. I just wish I didn't have to wait until June! ( )