Thin mystery wrapped around a romance between a suspect (Annie) and the CIA agent (Pete) who's supposed to be investigating her alleged involvement in a smuggling operation. Solid writing as with almost all the Brockmann books I've read so far. ( )

Brockmann is doing well here keeping my attention, but I have to wonder at the instant attraction between the two main characters... ( )

This book is an early novel by Suzanne Brockmann. If you have followed her Navy Seal series you know that her writing has only gotten better over time. That said I did enjoy this story.

When Pete Taylor first offered his services as a bodyguard, Annie Morgan wanted nothing to do with him. She was sure that the death threats against her weren't serious. While the Native American mask she was working on was valuable, it wasn't worth killing for.

One murder attempt later, Annie was glad to have Pete around. She owed him her life. Suddenly she was beginning to believe in heroes—and dreams. But Pete wasn't a fantasy—he was real, and at the moment he was the only person she could allow herself to trust, no matter who he was. ( )

Dr. Anne Morrow (archaeologist, art historian and professional artifact authenticator) is under investigation for bombing and robbing a couple museums. CIA operative, Captain Kendall "Pete" Peterson is assigned the job of finding the information proving her guilt (yes, I know how that sounds but that's the way they were playing it). After she receives numerous death threats from an organization referring to themselves as Stands Against the Storm, supposedly connected to the Navajo tribe, wanting her to return a Navajo death mask she's authenticating, Capt. Peterson has his "in", posing as a bodyguard (Pete Taylor) assigned to her safety. The more he gets to know her, he realizes she is innocent but has to find out who is framing her before one or both of them get killed. ( )

That's good - Brockmann style good. Very realistic characters, with interesting backstories and very good reasons for not giving in to attraction - she even managed to make bodyguard attraction work, Pete kept control until they were in a safe place. I figured out the scam before they did - one odd phrase told me the general outline of it. It was a good mystery as well as a good romance - she even managed to sneak in a small second romance. And Pete paid for his lies - a nicely balanced setup, between her not forgiving him for lying and an eventual happy ending. With just a bit of superheroic action to spice up the climax. Good story. The only thing that would make it better would be if it were a series... ( )