(While it isn't required to read all of the stories in this series, it does help to understand how the characters relate to each other and all the trouble they've managed to get themselves into this past year :) )

I was super thrilled to see Drake hit it out of the park again - delivering a story full of danger, emotion, humor and thrills. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I felt like there was a bit of a misstep in the last one when it came to her hero. Here, though, everything comes together just perfectly.

The friendship between Sophie and Brandon is just awesome, but returning readers know that they are both hiding deeper feelings. We just aren't sure why they are fighting it. And with excitement and danger coming at the start, we don't have long for things to come to a head. (I don't think many people will be surprised by the "who" in the who-done-it part, but Drake ties everything together very well and keeps things engaging.)

The pacing is done skillfully too - mixing the relationship development with the suspense portion but not cheating either of them. Drake also does a great job of fleshing out the characters we've gotten glimpses of in the first two books and explaining why they've never done anything about their obvious attraction.

All of it makes sense and keeps you glued to the page until you can make sure that they make it out of their troubles (both physical and emotional), getting a HEA together that they deserve.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***