A one-night stand and a mysterious attack complicate the "just friends" relationship between a Drug Enforcement Administration agent and the younger sister of his two best friends.Jay Bennett and Alina Cooke can't resist their attraction while attending the double wedding of Alina's brothers. The aftermath of their fling quickly leads to a dizzying back and forth of returning to formality and then jumping back into bed. While it's clear their chemistry is the motivation for their trysts, both are worried about anything more serious. They know the life of a DEA agent is dangerous. Jay doesn't want to leave Alina worrying about whether or not he'll come home safely. Alina doesn't want to live with that constant uncertainty either considering she's already spent time fretting over her brothers, who are fellow agents. Whatever fun the two are having, as they wind up in each other's beds, is dashed by a frightening incident when Alina's car is purposefully run off the road. Jay isn't sure if his work as an agent has engendered Alina or something else is at play. The suspense element is the most interesting part of the book; unfortunately, it doesn't mesh particularly well with Jay and Alina's romance. Often, the story feels like two different books were Frankenstein-ed together, with neither plot getting the depth it needs to be satisfying. Many characters are superfluous, with their introductions having little relevance to the main story. Jay's DEA assignments and career history provide some insight to his actions, but they still seem more like filler than anything else. Admittedly, Alina and Jay are adorable together, with Jay's protectiveness and worry making him a caring, thoughtful hero. Alina's constant waffling over her feelings for Jay isn't as endearing. With the added action and threat of danger, this should have been a fast-paced read, but it never truly reaches a level above tepid.Expect a lot of skimming to get to the good parts. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Sister to the heroes in the series' previous books (Protected by Love; Escape to You; True to You), Alina Cooke knows the perilous life Jay Bennett leads as a DEA agent and colleague of her brothers. Alina and Jay also realize that what was supposed to be a one-night fling may be the beginning of something special. But navigating this new relationship means dealing with her siblings, Jay's mother, and some persistent drug baddies. Jay is concerned his life has brought danger right to Alina's doorstep, while Alina struggles with loving a man who puts his life on the line every day. Ryan gives us what is in essence a delightful love story and places it squarely in the middle of the opioid epidemic, with all the violence and tragedy that go along with the criminal element of drug use. Ryan wraps up her series, but reading the previous titles is not essential to enjoying Alina and Jay's story. VERDICT Recommended, especially where romantic suspense titles are popular.-Sarah Sheehan, Manhattan Coll. Lib., Riverdale, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.