This was a gripping and emotional conclusion to a trilogy that kept me intrigued and hooked from the first page to the last. Sarah Lomax started the ball rolling in this series when she and her dog Joey found Mallory Jameson's remains while out walking. In this book, Sarah is the killer's next target. The only thing standing between Sarah and death is the sexy deputy who would do anything to protect her.

I loved Jack. He uprooted his life to move to the same town as his sister and help with her four kids while her husband is away for his job. His scenes with the children are always fantastic, and it's evident that he would be a terrific father. He's dedicated to his work as a deputy, and like the others, takes the problems of the Mallory case personally.

I also loved Sarah. In her work as a teacher, it is obvious that she loves children. I loved her comments about the challenges of working with them and how they showed how much she cares. She also loves her younger sister and worries about her. The reasons for that worry are heartbreaking, and the description of their childhoods explains why Sarah made the decisions she did about her future.

I loved the development of the relationship between Sarah and Jack. They met when Sarah found Mallory's remains, and Jack was impressed by her steadiness and ability to focus on the questions he needed answered. Since that time, he's considered asking her out, but couldn't figure out a way to do it with the Mallory case still open. He eventually worked up the nerve and was surprised and a little hurt when she turned him down flat, especially since he'd had the feeling she was interested in him too. I ached for Sarah, who was attracted to Jack but had a heartbreaking reason for avoiding relationships. I liked his determination to try to get past her walls and had hope when he talked her into going to dinner. The evening didn't end happily though when they arrived back at her home to find a note like the others tacked to her door. I loved Jack's protectiveness and occasionally wanted to shake Sarah for trying to keep him at a distance. I did like that they could talk honestly about what held her back, and that Jack was also honest about his feelings. I liked the conversation he had with his sister and how it gave him a different perspective and something to think about. But it took coming face to face with the killer for both Jack and Sarah to realize what was most important.

The murder of another young woman ups the tension in the town. When a link is discovered between Mallory's murder and that of the recent killing, law enforcement finally feels like they might have a chance of finding the truth, but the leads still don't come fast enough. It doesn't help anything that the local newspaper editor is continuously on their case, accusing them of incompetence. I loved seeing the department begin putting pieces together, as seemingly unrelated things started to line up. The final confrontation was scary as the killer finally revealed himself. His motivations were truly disturbing, and I was on the edge of my seat as Jack raced to reach Sarah in time. I liked that she actively worked toward saving herself, remaining calm to keep her options open. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

I loved this trilogy and how each book built on the previous one. I was fully involved in each one, rooting for each couple to find their HEA, and anxious to find out the truth behind Mallory's death. Cindi Myers has a talent for sucking me into her stories and not letting go until the end. ( )