Lawman to the Core - Delores Fossen (HI #2115 - Jan 2023)

Series: The Law in LubbockCounty (Book 3)

 
A Texas lawman will do anything to protect a woman and baby.
 
The woman who broke into ATF special agent Nick Brodie’s home and aimed a gun at him isn’t a stranger. Neither is the baby with her. Seven months ago, the lawman and former ATF agent Hallie Stanton rescued the newborn from a black market ring. Now on the run, they must join forces to escape the abductor hot on their trail. As their taboo attraction heats up, can Nick and Hallie keep the baby safe and stay one step ahead of a merciless killer?

Another wild ride of a story from this author. There was nonstop action from the first page to the last as Nick and Hallie raced to keep a black market baby ring infant safe.
 
The book starts with a rush as Nick arrives home to find Hallie aiming a gun at him, desperate to discover if he was responsible for an attack on her and baby Davy. Several months earlier, they had been involved in shutting down a weapons/drug/baby trafficking ring and were wounded in the process. Hallie left the ATF to become a PI and is in the process of adopting Davy, but someone has other plans for the boy.
 
I loved the balance of romance and suspense in this book. Nick and Hallie worked together in the ATF for several years, and their sparks were undeniable. But as the team leader, having any relationship with Hallie was out of the question, so he suppressed those feelings. Like Nick, Hallie felt the same attraction but never acted on it. With that barrier gone, anything is possible - once the threat to them is gone.
 
I liked watching the relationship between Nick and Hallie develop. Because they already know each other well, the rapid progression is believable. I liked how moved Nick was by Hallie's obvious love for Davy and how quickly Davy wiggled into Nick's heart. Nick and Hallie grew closer as they worked together to discover who was behind the attacks, but it took nearly losing each other for them to realize how deep their feelings were.
 
The story's suspense had me glued to the pages from start to finish. From the beginning, the attacks clearly have something to do with the black market baby ring, but what is behind them? And why are Nick and Hallie being set up to look like they are involved in a cover-up? I could feel their frustration as every trail they followed led to a different suspect, and the attacks on them escalated in intensity. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Nick and Hallie fought for their lives against someone determined to keep his secret.
 
I liked seeing more of Leigh and Cullen from Sheriff in the Saddle, as both played significant roles in this book. Now I can't wait to read the next book in the series.