Title: The Only Witness (Callahan Confidential)
Author: Laura Scott
Pages: 220
Year: February 2017
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Miles Callahan’s best friend has just been murdered. One of the prime suspects can’t be found, so Miles decides to question the suspects ex-wife to see if she knows anything. He arrives at her house as gunshots are fired. He leaps into action, getting the woman and her young daughter out of the house and away from danger. He calls his boss to explain but won’t bring them in until he discovers what is going on. The woman, Paige, and her daughter, Abby, appear to be innocent of any criminal activity. Why then is someone out to kill them?
Miles also has been investigating his father’s murder in his off hours. Could that have something to do with Paige and Abby? He doesn’t see how, but he must consider everything. He soon learns that Abby has seen something when she was in contact on the internet with her father. However, she is too traumatized to verbalize it or anything else. On the run from motel to motel, Miles really needs to know what Abby saw to help keep them safe and to help him hunt down a murderer. His protective instincts are in full force where Abby and Paige are concerned, and he quickly feels more than friendship for Paige. But the timing is not right to start a relationship, plus he has told himself again and again he doesn’t want to commit to any long-term relationship. As the killer gets closer, Miles and Paige get closer to each other and solving the mystery.
These are my favorite travel books. I keep one in my car or purse, so if I have some spare time waiting on someone, I can pick up a book and read a few chapters. The action begins on page one and entices the reader to continue on until the last page. Even in the midst of being shot at, Paige is praying. She also prays before eating in front of Miles, who has put a distance between himself and God. She lives out her faith for anyone to see, and I like that. ( )

Miles Callahan finds out his friend, Jason, has been murdered. He heads over to the house of the man he thinks is responsible only to find the man's ex-wife and daughter under fire from a gunman. Miles manages to get Paige Olson and her daughter, Abby, someplace safe. But Abby witnessed something while video chatting with her dad and now she's stopped talking. Meanwhile they can't find Paige's ex-husband to question him about Jason's murder. Miles retrieves something Jason mailed to him the day before he died. He's hoping it will shed some light about what's going on but Miles doesn't understand it because to him it's all scientific mumbo jumbo. What could Jason be trying to tell him?. And somehow, now matter what they do, the gunmen always seem to find out where they are. Miles is in full-on protective mode and beginning to see Paige (and her daughter) as something more precious than just people he's protecting. Not knowing who to trust, Miles calls on his brothers for help. Will they figure out what the papers mean, what happened to Jason and Paige's ex-husband, and who is behind the whole mess before it's too late?

This is the second book in the Callahan Confidential series and it was just as good as the first. I have fallen in love with the Callahan family. The author's note in the back of the book says "The Callahan family has a legacy of choosing careers that support and protect their community, but these jobs also put them in constant danger." That's a great description but what I thoroughly enjoy is their interaction with each other; their camaraderie. They are close knit and help each other out. Paige and her daughter, Abby, really make this story special. At their lowest point, with everything going on, they still encourage Miles in his faith. At the same time, Miles shows Paige what a man of integrity looks like. This is one of those stories that is hard to put down because there is always danger lurking around every corner. There were several gasping moments and twists I didn't expect, which I love. There was one aspect that I didn't feel was resolved but it wasn't anything major. Each book in the series can be read as a stand alone but the thread of the Callahan family runs through each book so they are best read in order to see the correct timing of family activities. If you enjoy romantic suspense then you will thoroughly enjoy The Only Witness! Can't wait for the next one!

*This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A few favorite moments:

"Hey, Maddy, do you think I can have a few minutes alone with Paige?" "Sure, but keep in mind that Miles saw her first." Maddy winked at Paige before relinquishing her chair to her brother.

"It's very nice of your mother to offer." "Oh, don't thank us, yet. I think she's hoping to grill you about your relationship with Miles, " Michael said with a quick grin. She hoped her blush wasn't too noticeable. "There's nothing to tell. He saved our lives and almost died for his effort. I'm surprised she's not upset with me." Michael rose to his feet and began clearing away the debris from their table. "She was the wife of a copy for a long time..."

For more information about his book or other books by Laura Scott, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.laurascottbooks.com ( )