Very good second chance romance with some intriguing suspense to complicate matters. Paul and Simone have been an on-again-off-again couple since they were in college. Two years earlier, they split up when Simone refused to accompany Paul on one of his medical mission trips. When Paul discovers that medications from a particular company are contaminated he knows that Simone is the best person to help him.

The book started with a bang as Paul returned to Chicago from Africa to find that the samples he sent to his brother Oliver were stolen, along with the compiled data. Tension increased when two suspicious characters showed up at the restaurant where Paul was meeting Simone. Simone spotted them, and I loved how she handled it. When someone shoots at Paul and Simone as they leave the restaurant, Paul realizes they need to get somewhere safe.

I liked the rekindling of the relationship between Paul and Simone. It is evident from the start that there are still feelings between them. Both are independent and stubborn. We get a good look at the emotions of both of them in the first chapter, as each reflects on what went wrong in the relationship. Each is honest in their self-examinations, but both have trouble communicating their feelings. I had some trouble liking Simone because she was so melodramatic at times. Her volatility and short-fuse irritated me because she had a habit of exploding when she should have shut up and actually listened to what Paul had to say. As they holed up in Paul and Oliver's house In the Canadian woods, Simone and Paul had the chance to reconnect. It wasn't long before their old chemistry burned as hot as ever. However, though they admitted they still loved each other, there was still a lack of communication between them. Just as Simone starts to make progress in coming to terms with her fears life throws her a curveball that stirs everything up again. I loved how steady Paul was in his love for Simone, and how determined he was to make their relationship work. I loved his conversation with her father. It took a near-tragedy and an illuminating discussion with her mother for Simone to overcome her fears. I liked that they took time to finally talk to each other and work out their future together. The ending was terrific.

The suspense of the story was good. The subject of big pharma was right out of current headlines, and I enjoyed the way the author handled it. I could feel Paul's frustration and anger as the problems with the medication became apparent, and his determination to do something about it. The tension as the first set of samples disappeared was magnified by the attack on Simone and Paul. They and Oliver fled to the house in Canada to use the backup samples to reconstruct the results. I liked the realism of the process taking weeks rather than days. I felt the anticipation build as they came closer to their goal. That progress also put them in danger, as those responsible became more desperate to stop them. Paul's conversation with the drug rep and the attack at the news conference ramped up the tension. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Paul put himself in the bulls-eye to bring the perp to justice.

This was the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. I will go back and read the previous books in the series. Simone's family is fantastic, and I can't wait to read more about them. I loved their closeness and support of each other, as well as the loving teasing that went on. I especially liked Mingus and his way of getting things done. I look forward to the next book and seeing what happens with the bombshell that their mother dropped at the family dinner. ( )