by Karen Rose
First published 2007
Ethan Buchanan works as a security consultant, not a cop, but he made a promise to his friend Randi Vaughn that he cannot break. Her son Alexandre, a young deaf boy, has been kidnapped, and Ethan will not stop until he brings him home. His investigation leads him to Chicago and a shelter for battered women run by Dana Dupinsky. The moment Ethan meets Dana, he feels drawn to her, but she remains wary and clearly hides secrets from her past. What Dana does not realize is that someone is manipulating her, pulling strings she cannot see. Ethan knows the clock is ticking. He must find Alexandre before it is too late and keep Dana safe from the danger closing in around her. But Dana has to let him help her first, and trust does not come easily to a woman who runs a shelter for abuse survivors.
Genres: romance, suspense, mystery, crime, action, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, secret-past
Setting: Chicago
409 pages · Mass Market Paperback · J'ai lu
Content warnings: abuse, kidnapping