Series:
Secure One (Book 3)
Confronting their pasts
…to stop an
infamous killer
When a fourth woman is found dead in a river, security
expert Mack Holbock takes on the search for a cunning serial killer. A disabled
vet, Mack is consumed by guilt that's left him with no room or desire for love.
But while investigating and facing danger with Charlotte -- a traumatized
victim of sex trafficking -- he must protect her and win her trust…without
falling for her.
Terrific book that kept me hooked from start to finish.
In the earlier books, the operatives at Secure One successfully stopped a
trafficker and her subordinate, rescuing women who had been held captive. In
both books, some women's bodies were found floating in rivers. The killer was
dubbed "The Red River Slayer" and has remained unidentified for
several years. This is Mack and Charlotte's story. Both were supporting
characters in the earlier books.
Mack served in the military with the other team members
and was injured in a mission that went wrong. His memories haunt him, and he
feels guilty that he couldn't stop what happened. Charlotte escaped the
clutches of The Miss, but her experience left her traumatized and wary of
trusting anyone. Mack has been protective of Charlotte since the day she
arrived at Secure One. I loved seeing him support her and work at building her
confidence.
As the book opens, Secure One provides security for a
senator's daughter's birthday celebration. When the body of a murdered woman
washes up on the riverbank, Charlotte recognizes the woman as another of The
Miss's captives. The team believes she is another victim of the Slayer, and
there is a connection between the murder and the cases they worked on. They
suspect that it is just a matter of time before there is another victim.
This action and suspense-filled story kept me glued to
the pages from start to finish. Mack and Charlotte take the lead in the
investigation with the backup of the rest of the team. Charlotte's artistic
skills come in handy as they plot the killings and try to make sense of them.
They get help from the senator's daughter, who brings a different perspective.
There is also an unexpected arrival from Charlotte's past, which provides a
link that sends her and Mack on a desperate journey. The final confrontation
was a nail-biter with a surprise revelation.
I enjoyed the development of Mack and Charlotte's
relationship. Mack is such a tough guy on the outside, but his kindness and
sensitivity toward Charlotte show a softer side to him. I loved watching him
build up her confidence and show her the respect she deserves. The more time
Mack spends with her, the harder he falls, but he is convinced he doesn't
deserve anyone's love. I loved watching the changes in Charlotte as she healed.
She has confidence in herself and her abilities. She is also very empathetic and
sees past Mack's tough-guy façade to the hurting man inside. The picture she
drew of him was heartbreaking and blew him away with her perceptiveness.
Despite her self-assurance, she believes her past makes her unworthy of anyone.
It takes nearly losing each other to realize they are exactly what each other
needs.
One of the things I love about this series is the
author's matter-of-fact treatment of her characters' physical challenges. They
aren't made a big deal of; they are simply part of who the characters are.
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