Terrific book that sucked me in from the start and didn't let go until I turned the last page. Gillian is a dedicated US Marshal sent to Alaska to bring in Harrison Prescott. He is wanted as a material witness against government officials with shady dealings in oil leases on public lands. Harrison left Colorado and went into hiding in Alaska to protect his family after his brother was murdered as a warning.

I liked both Gillian and Harrison. Gillian is confident, hard to fluster, and determined. I also thought that she was a little bit naïve in trusting her fellow agents after things started going wrong. Harrison is smart, loyal, and protective. He believes that the only way to protect his family is to disappear, but he misses them.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Gillian and Harrison. There were sparks between them from the start, though they tried to ignore them. Gillian knows better than to get involved with a prisoner/protectee, and Harrison doesn't want to endanger anyone else. When the bullets start flying, Gillian and Harrison have to learn how to trust each other. I liked seeing them get to know each other and discover things they had in common that had affected who they were today. I also liked the conversations they had that changed Harrison's view of his actions. The sparks between them also continued to grow, complicating their situation. The danger forced both Gillian and Harrison to face their feelings and what they wanted to do about them. I loved the scene at the end with Gillian's father. The epilogue was a great wrap-up for the suspense and their future.

The suspense of the story was fantastic and kept me hooked from beginning to end. It started with a bang as Gillian and Harrison were attacked shortly after she arrived to take him back to Colorado. Their progress through the wilderness was full of danger, both natural and man-made. As they drew closer to civilization, things became even more complicated. There were twists and turns involving rogue marshals, and situations I didn't know how Harrison and Gillian would escape. The ending was a nail-biter, keeping me up way late so I could finish it. That final confrontation was intense, and I loved how it was resolved.

Besides Harrison and Gillian, my favorite character was Harrison's dog, Tally. From moose and bears to bad guys, she was right there protecting them. She also provided a few lighter moments to break up the tension. ( )