Good book with a nice balance of romance and suspense. Lucas joined Dark Alley Investigations for the freedom to investigate his sister's murder the way he wanted. He believed that the woman who had an affair with his brother-in-law knew more than she revealed. He was determined to find out what it was. Meanwhile, Rachel was trying to move on with her life. It wasn't easy, especially when she was constantly looking over her shoulder at the past that wouldn't go away.

The relationship between Lucas and Rachel got off to a rocky start. Lucas charmed his way into her life with lies and manipulation. He had already judged her as a person and saw nothing wrong with his actions. Rachel was wary of this man who suddenly appeared in her life, but gave him the benefit of the doubt. When she discovered the truth, she was justifiably hurt and angry. The good thing was that now that the truth was out there, Lucas could ask his questions directly. Unfortunately, both he and Rachel have deep trust issues. His ex burned Lucas, and at the beginning, Rachel reminds him of her. With Rachel's history, Lucas has a difficult time believing her when she tells him anything. It doesn't help that she has been keeping something secret for four years. Because of how her affair with Jared turned out, Rachel is leery of trusting any man. Lucas's deception added fuel to that fire, making her reluctant to confide in him. Neither one can deny the attraction that burns between them, but giving in to it is not an option.

To make matters worse, Lucas's arrival stirred up a hornet's nest. Rachel received threats telling her to stay away from Lucas. Those threats quickly turned to attacks. It seemed that they could not catch a break, with one attack following another. My heart was in my throat when Lucas's house was set on fire with them inside, and then what happened as they tried to escape. Each time that they turned up a new lead, someone else was added to the list of possible suspects. There were some unexpected twists that created even more questions. I wanted to shake Rachel at the end when she went off on her own to follow up on an idea she had as she ended up falling right into the bad guy's hands. However, I was impressed with her strength and ingenuity as she refused to give in to him. I also liked that she had been smart enough to leave a bit of a trail for Lucas to follow when he realized she was gone. The final confrontation was very intense, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

With all the time that Lucas and Rachel spent together, eventually, they began to break down each other's walls. I liked seeing them exchange the stories of the events that made them who they were. I was clear that they were much more alike than either wanted to admit. The chemistry between them continued to build, but on those few occasions when they gave in, their trust issues would rear up and push them apart again. Lucas received some advice from a very unexpected source which helped him see the truth of his feelings. I loved his big moment at the end as he let go of the past and embraced his future. ( )