Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter’s face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation.
Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he’s definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she’s attracted to him in a way she can’t explain.
Ellie heads home to Winston Falls, South Carolina, to attend her sister’s wedding. Shortly after she arrives, though, she receives a surprise visitor: Max Daniels. The Landrys have been captured, and she’ll be called to testify. But they’ve been captured before, and each time the witnesses are scared into silence—or disappear before they can take the stand. Max vows to be Ellie’s shadow until the trial, and it isn’t long before sparks fly. . . . (Synopsis from Barnes & Noble.com)

Ellie Sullivan has it all…she is young, beautiful, and a gifted trauma surgeon. Unfortunately, she is also the witness to a murder, has been stalked since her pre-teen years by a man from her home town, and has to go home for her sister’s wedding to Ellie’s ex-fiancé. She meets FBI agent Max Daniels at the murder scene and there is instant attraction between them. Because of the history of disappearing witnesses against the killers, Max becomes her “plus one” at the wedding to keep her safe.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. Ellie is feisty and independent even after having her life disrupted by her crazy neighbor. She and Max have major chemistry and both have been traumatized by events in their early life which make them somewhat wary in relationships.  The unfolding of their relationship is classic romance and yet the suspense element is always there.  There were some good bits of humor in this book as well. I especially enjoyed a scene where they go out to eat and Max eats a ginormous BBQ meal which leads Ellie to realize she doesn’t have to worry about him being killed at work because his cholesterol will kill him first.  There is also a very funny part about an air conditioner that is in the bedroom they share.

The subplot with her “bridezilla” sister Ava adds tension and humor to the story. I would have liked to see Ava get a little more comeuppance than she gets, but she is Elli’s sister after all. There is an interesting twist with Ava’s twin, Annie. The back home section of the book dealt very realistically with the stress on a family when a member is threatened. Max’s brother adds a little bit to the story as well.

This book is a page turner from beginning to end. Ms. Garwood always does a great job with her characters and plot and this book is no different. I can’t wait for the next book to arrive!

RPL NOTES: This book will be available in the New Fiction section as of August 9, 2011. The audio version will also be available after that date.