Series:
Cowboy State Lawmen (Book 3)
The toughest negotiation of his FBI career
Includes her and their unborn baby
When tough-as-nails FBI agent Becca Hammond becomes an
unwitting hostage, top negotiator Jake Delgado faces the toughest crisis of his
life. Becca's not only a trusted colleague, but she's also pregnant -- with his
child. Jake's got to figure out why the kidnappers are so desperate. Can he do
that before it's too late for the town, Becca…and their future together?
Terrific book that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
It was fast-paced, with a believable scenario and sympathetic characters. Though
the action took place over 24 to 36 hours, it did not feel rushed. In addition
to the main characters, Jake and Becca, previous characters Nash and Lynn (
Wyoming Winter Rescue) also play significant roles in this book.
Jake and Becca are FBI agents who have a friends-with-benefits
relationship. They've known each other since they attended the FBI Academy,
where a simmering attraction underscored an intense rivalry. After meeting
again recently, they began a no-strings, no-commitment relationship, indulging
their passion without risking their hearts. But that is about to change.
As the book opens, Becca breaks the news that she's
pregnant with his baby. She wants to know where he sees their relationship
going. Stunned by the news, Jake isn't sure how to react. He tells her he likes
things the way they are, sticks his foot in his mouth about the baby, and is
distracted by a drive-by shooting. They are at the local library waiting to
pick up Becca's nephew. As gunmen approach the library, Becca rushes in to
attempt to get her nephew and his friends out but gets taken hostage along with
the others.
Jake, an FBI hostage negotiator, steps up to help local
officials deal with the situation. He's still reeling from Becca's news but has
to bury those feelings to do his job. However, knowing she is in danger makes
him realize how much he cares for her. He's avoided commitment because of a
disastrous past relationship, but his feelings for Becca are strong enough to
overcome those fears. He just has to keep her alive long enough to tell her.
I loved the depth of detail in the book, from the actions
taken by the characters to their thoughts and motivations. Jake's patience and
determination are stellar, and I loved seeing him work his magic with the head
hostage taker. He has to deal with outside influences, and I enjoyed seeing him
shut them down. Jake's fear for Becca is palpable as the negotiations go on.
Meanwhile, Becca, who has not disclosed that she is an FBI agent, is determined
to do whatever she can to help Jake and the others succeed. She took several
risks that could get her killed and drew the attention of the least stable of
the gunmen, and I held my breath at several close calls. The final
confrontation at the library was a nail-biter.
Then an unexpected discovery reveals that the threat
isn't over. The time to prevent a disaster is short, and the agents are left
scrambling to get the information they need. I loved that Becca knew where to
find the weakest link, thanks to her time as a hostage. Her methods of getting
the required information were precisely what was needed. The intensity was
incredible as she, Jake, and other agents raced to the scene. Of course, Becca
was the one who found what they were looking for and had the training to handle
it.
I loved the ending. I liked seeing how the events they experienced
affected Jake. Initially, though he knew Becca was excellent at her job, he
constantly questioned her judgment and actions. This frustrated her, and I
sometimes wondered why she stayed with him. I liked how she called him out on
it. I liked how he finally gave her the respect she deserved, though he still had
a little work to do. His confession of his feelings was emotional, awkward, and
sweet. I hope to see more of them in later books.
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