Caught in the Middle

by Cassie M. Shiels

Against her better judgment, Annie Grey decides to give her ex-boyfriend one more chance. But when their ill-fated reunion spirals into a nightmare, Annie is ensnared in a terrifying web of crime and deceit. All she can do now is run and hope the danger doesn’t catch up to her—but she doesn’t make it far before her mad dash throws her directly into the path of a mysterious stranger.

Sam appears out of nowhere at the exact moment Annie needs help. Unsure whether he’s a good guy or just another liar on the wrong side of the law, she has little choice but to trust him and is soon drawn into a perilous operation with a handpicked crew of criminals. Sam promises his protection while they work together toward a common goal—if only there were a way for Annie to protect her heart from the romantic tension simmering between them. As enemies close in from every side, she is left with no choice. Annie must play her part well if she wants to survive.

Genres: Suspense, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Romance, Christian, Audiobook, Fiction

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Cassie M. Shiels was born in Idaho, but moved around the Pacific Northwest while growing up. She has always enjoyed books and was one to be found, reading late into the night, on the school bus or before she did her homework. In middle school she determined that she liked creating her own stories as much as she liked reading them; so she decided she wanted to be a writer and keeps working on making that dream come true with every story idea that bounds into her head. Cassie and her writing, visit her website: www.cassiemshiels.com

Reviews

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was definitely a page-turner! Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The suspense kicks off almost immediately, with danger escalating at every turn, and the romance sneaks in just when you least expect it. The suspense is the driving force in this story, but as a romance lover, there was just enough to keep me hooked and guessing throughout! This story is full of layers, so I won’t spoil too much, but here's what I can share: Annie makes the mistake of reconnecting with an ex-boyfriend, and it quickly puts her life in jeopardy. Thankfully, she’s not alone... Sam and his team are there to protect her. In exchange, Annie must join their mission. She needs Sam, his team, and her faith in God to survive, while Sam and his team need her trust to keep her safe. The more Annie spends with Sam, the less she is able to ignore the feelings growing between them. But Sam can't be attached to anyone. And he's only there to keep her safe, and then she goes home. But can they find a way to break those plans and rewrite new ones? Can they keep her safe & pass Sam's mission?

If you're a fan of romantic suspense, this book is definitely for you! Personally, I gave it a 4.5, rounding up to 5 stars. I'm really curious to see what Cassie will write next... My guess? Annie & Sam's story isn’t over yet?! But that may be wishful thinking on my end.

I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Holly (IG Hollys_Book_Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I see the good in you, and those are the things I care about, because that's who you are inside. You're a good person, [redacted]. A person who deserves happiness. Who deserves to know that you are worth it."

Caught in the Middle by Cassie M. Shiels

Oh Man!!! What a rollercoaster this book was!
Romantic Suspense fans, rejoice, because I have a recommendation for you! It's like Person of Interest, Leverage, White Collar, and Oceans 11 were all meshed into one amazing heart-pounding and thrilling book!

Caught in the Middle is a high stakes romantic suspense with twists and turns with every chapter. There were so many things I didn't see coming. Cassie kept me guessing all the way through.

I loved the swoony romance between Annie and a mysterious stranger with lots of secrets. I won't mention his name here because you have to discover that for yourself. This is a slow burn romance. They get to know each other as he keeps her safe from harm. They are so perfect together.

Annie Grey gets caught up in the middle of a whole bunch of schemes, when her boyfriend asks her to help him with some illegal activities. Some things happen, and then she finds her life in jeopardy at every turn. She is fierce, independent, intelligent and strong of character and mind. I really liked her character and her faith she has in God. I also appreciated her grandmother who gives her sage advice about life and God.

I definitely recommend this clean romantic suspense, which contains Christian themes and elements.

Favorite Parts:
Hair dyeing
High stakes suspense
Hidden identities
Mysterious stranger
Clothes shopping
Swimming pool
Undercover
Twists and turns
Pulling off the heist

Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door-Kisses (Passionate, non-descriptive)
Violence/gore: Mild-death (on page) with some blood, peril, character gets chased, mild violence involving guns, hit on head which results in bloody wound, broken wrist
Substance Use: none
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: Christian themes throughout-prayer and following God’s path
Other: thievery/heist (talked about), parental death (past), Anxiety/Panic attacks (on page)

Book Info:
Series: standalone Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Romance Level: Closed-door 2
Release Date: Available Now-Deseretbook, Deseretbook shelf+, Amazon
Publisher: Covenant Communications
POV: single
Genre Debut

Thank you to the Author and publisher for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Fantasy.Gobbler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get an Advance Reader Copy of this book and WOW, does this one grip you! Basically from chapter one my heart was thumping, shoulders up to my ears, a sense of dread that wouldn’t quit. I loved the cat-and-mouse feel where the mouse has a handsomely dressed, armed, 007 at her side. I never felt like I really got to settle down, which I loved. Because even in the moments of reprieve, I just knew it wasn’t over. That made this book, for me, a page turner.


If I had one gripe, I did struggle to connect with Annie at first. I was hoping for a stronger heroine. And while I did end up enjoying her story a lot, I did have to kinda reframe my expectations of her for a while. But in the end, a lovely book, and I 100% recommend picking it up if you like no-spice, Christian romantic suspense.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like The Sting? Or White Collar? I'm a big fan of the morally gray people working with the good guys to bring down the bad guys. And that's what Caught in the Middle is! It instantly hooks you and keeps your interest the entire time!

If you like light thrillers, romance subplots, funny books, wrong place at the wrong time, and books with content you can recommend to anyone, definitely check this one out.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Hannah!! This is a fast-paced, high-stakes romantic suspense that pulls you in from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. It begins with Annie Grey making the mistake of giving her ex-boyfriend one last chance—a decision that quickly unravels her life and lands her in serious danger. What follows is a breathless escape that throws her straight into the arms of Sam, a stranger who may be her only chance at survival—or he could be another threat in disguise.

The tension in this story doesn't let up. There's the constant physical danger and the emotional undercurrent between Annie and Sam. Their reluctant alliance is gripping to watch unfold, especially as Annie navigates her fear, doubt, and growing attraction to the one person who might be able to protect her—or betray her. The criminal crew and covert operation they’re caught up in add layers of complexity, with twists that kept me guessing right up to the final pages.

Annie is super easy to root for—she’s smart, strong, and real. And Sam? He’s got just the right mix of mysterious and charming to keep things interesting. The chemistry between them is great, with just enough tension to keep you wondering what will happen next.

This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last! If you love stories where the stakes are high, the romance is slow-burning but intense, and danger lurks around every corner, Caught in the Middle will keep you flipping pages late into the night. It’s a thrilling ride with just the right touch of romance.

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was action packed from beginning to end, and immediately hooked me. It’s a fast paced romantic suspense with an exciting blend of intrigue, danger, romance, hidden identities, and some fantastic plot twists. It kept me guessing, because nothing and nobody were what they seemed! It had a fun Oceans 11 vibe that I really enjoyed.

The suspense, action, and adventure were expertly mixed with humor, friendships, faith elements, and a lovely slow burn romance between Annie and Sam.

Caught In The Middle was an impressive debut novel, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting this author’s next release!

I received a complementary copy, but a positive review was not required.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

New author for me and I’ll be keeping tabs on her releases!

This is a cliff hanger ending. Characters, Annie and “Sam” have great dialogue and personalities. Annie is the small town girl who has dreams of culinary school and follows her boyfriend, Dillon to CA to make some quick money in sales. It doesn’t work out as planned and Dillon gets mixed up with the wrong crowd. Annie gets dragged in by association and a hitman is after her.

Sam, “ the fixer” promises to get her home to ID safe to her grannie. In the process, they encounter, gunman, disguises, friendships, trust issues, and a heist of their own, but for the good guys.

[Edmond Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. The characters were not believable. The romance was soft. I felt cheated by the ending.

[Tiffany (Work Kids N Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy cow, this book starts with a bang! No punches were pulled in this debut novel. This story did not read like a debut and has The Italian Job vibes. I am here for it!

Annie was content to live her quiet life with her Granny. Who knew that when she took a chance to move to LA that she would find herself in the middle of cops, thieves, and mobsters. Her resilience and willingness

According to Annie, Samuel has no right to be as handsome as he is when fixing is what he does. He looks like James Bond, acts like a suave Jason Bourne, and has a mind like Danny Ocean. What’s not to like?

I loved the diverse cast of characters! Seriously, my favorite character was a side character. Midnight all the way! IYKYK

If you are looking for a good suspense with unpredictable plot twists and dynamic characters, this is the read for you!

Read this book if you like:
👀 Single POV
👀 James Bondesque
👀 Christian Themes
👀 Speaking Italian
👀 Wrong Place, Wrong Time
👀 Fancy Clothes
👀 Infiltration
👀 Mobs
👀 Zip Lining
👀 Plucky Comic Relief
👀 Found Family

Content: suspense, life-threatening situations that come with heists, romance-kisses only.

Thank you to Cassie M. Sheils and Shadow Mountain for the #gifted copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH.MY.WORD!!!!!!

Annie Grey finds herself caught in a terrifying, high stakes situation and forced to trust Sam, a mysterious stranger full of secrets.

In order to reclaim her life, Annie has no choice but to follow Sam's plan. While embroiled in the dangerous mission, Annie must guard her true identity while also protecting her heart from the one man she can never have a future with.

What you'll love:
romantic suspense
single pov
forced proximity
plot twists
White collar and Ocean’s 11 vibes
hidden identity
swoony romance
THAT KISS!!!
protective hero

Okay, Cassie, I SEE YOU!! This book was absolute dynamite and possibly the most unique romantic suspense I have EVER READ. I went in completely blind (and so will not give any spoilers so that you can too) and was quickly caught up in Annie's story of intrigue and danger and hidden identities.

Loved all of the crazy plot twists and reveals as I realized that nothing and no one were what they originally seemed. The heart pounding suspense, action and adventure were interspersed with wit and humor, loyal friendships, and of course, the ever simmering romantic tension between Annie and Sam. I heart them SO MUCH and cannot wait for their story to continue in the next book...

This may be the first romantic suspense book by but you can bet I will be first in line for all of the amazing books I know are coming from her down the road. If you are a fan of romantic suspense, you just found a new author to add to your must-read list!!

Content: no swearing, kisses only, high stakes suspenseful and dangerous situations

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always up for a new romantic suspense novel and loved this debut romantic suspense book from Cassie M. Shiels. This story felt like nothing I had read before in the genre with the main characters being anything but traditional. Annie is the definition of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and literally finds herself caught in the middle of a heist job gone wrong between two competing parties. When Sam rescues her, she is pulled in even deeper to help Sam and his group of unconventional thieves pull of an impossible heist while maintaining their covers.
I really liked the fast pace of this book. There was always something happening to move the story along and I was never sure where exactly things were going which gave it a nice amount of unpredictability. I really felt for Annie, who didn't want to be involved with any of it, but found herself trapped in circumstances beyond her control. Her resilience and strength were really well written.
Though this book was told from Annie's POV only, Sam's character really intrigued me and I loved how he was walking both sides of the line. I honestly cannot wait for the next book to continue to learn more about Sam and his motivations.
The romance was woven in nicely with a slow burn and added to the high stakes of everything. The book has some Oceans 11 and The Italian Job vibes I quite enjoyed.
This is a clean romantic suspense novel. The ending sort of resolves, but it definitely is open for the next story. I recommend this book and can't wait for what's next to come.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If only she could bottle this feeling up and spray it on herself every morning like perfume... His kiss said what he could not. He cared about her. She could feel it." pg 239

This book brings a Leverage vibe with a Mastermind, grifter, hacker, and thieves working together to bring down the bad guys and help a "civilian" in need. They live for the thrill of the heist and the cut when the job is complete.

This story does keep you interested with the constant danger and the unexpected issues that arise as they try and complete the job. Annie has to continually turn to her faith as she asks for divine help in getting out of the situation she never thought she'd end up in. She does have moments of bravery, but the majority of the time she is the perfect damsel in destress that needs the help of Sam and Jeremy to keep her safe and alive.

This book is going to turn into a series, right?!? We will get another book with Annie and Sam and the crew, right?!? Please tell me there is another book - Shiels can't end this book the way she did without the promise of the story continuing!!

[Elizabeth Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect mix of heart-pounding suspense and irresistible romance! From the first chapter, I was hooked—Annie’s world turned upside down so fast, I could feel her fear and uncertainty with every page. The tension never lets up, and just when I thought I knew where the story was going, the twists kept me guessing.

The chemistry between Annie and Sam is electric, making every moment they share feel like it’s charged with both danger and longing. The author’s storytelling is so vivid that I felt like I was right there, running alongside Annie, questioning every shadow and second-guessing every smile.

If you love thrillers that keep you up way past bedtime and characters you can’t stop rooting for, this is a must-read. It’s the kind of story you finish with your heart racing and your mind already replaying the best scenes.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Brief: Annie says absolutely no to her ex-boyfriend’s attempt at reconciliation. He doesn’t get the message and shows up on her doorstep with all kinda of trouble.

The Debrief: Bookstagram made me do it and I’m so glad I found this story. Ok. No spoilers, but it’s a thrill from the very first suspenseful page. Annie is amazingly resilient and Sam an unlikely hero. It’s fast paced adventure and left me wanting more. Please hurry and continue the story! My inner thoughts will be summed up in the following:

🤯😅😳😭🥹🤨🥸🧐☹️😠🫠😯😮

The Rhyme: Annie just wants to go back to her grandma’s house in Idaho. Can Sam offer her safety or will she live the rest of her life on the go?

Highly recommend this new to me author. My thoughts. I listened to the audio and was 100% invested.

[Teya Teya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Except for leaving me wanting more at the end this was beyond an amazingly written book. I think this is Cassie's best written book and I've read all her books and have my favorites, however, this is now my favorite, I think. I desperately need the next book to know if this is my favorite for sure. It had so many twists and turns, ups and downs, good vs evil. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first word and you have no idea almost 7 hours (audio) have flown by because it's constant action. Make sure you have time on your hands before you start this epic adventure because you're not going to want to put it down.

[Tiffany the_chronic_bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride! This suspense driven story grabbed my attention from the first chapter and never let go. I was completely pulled into Annie’s world, the twists and turns kept me guessing throughout the book.

This was my first read by Cassie Shiels, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ll be checking out more of her work for sure!

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, clean read that’s hard to put down, with just a hint of a cliffhanger to keep you wanting more. Bring on book 2!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I liked it. I loved that it was clean. I was disappointed by the ending, I'm more of a "happily ever after" kind of reader with everything all wrapped up neatly and tied with a bow. That didn't happen here and I'm left wondering if there will be a sequel and if so, when.

I was a bit annoyed by Annie at first, but grew to like her more as time went on.

I might at some point look for other books by this author.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like I was reading or living in Mission Impossible movie. Action on every page from the beginning to the end. A quiet girl from Idaho living in LA finds herself in the middle of a shoot out, and escapes only with some help from a mysterious stranger. Who can she trust? Is she safe to go home to her Grams in Idaho, or will danger follow her? Are the police even safe?

It's full of action, danger, mystery, and a touch of romance.

[M Summ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was really good, quick moving, and well written. The characters however left a lot to be desired. Main character Annie was immature and insecure for most of the book and what could have been her turning point ended being a speed bump. Best friends aren’t made in a fortnight of dangerous doings.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts right off with adventure and grabbed me! It really kept moving and I didn't want to stop listening. I liked the mystery and suspense. It ended on a cliff hanger, so I'll need to find the next one!

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this author. I saw the book at Deseret Book and I was interested so I purchased it. It did not disappoint. I loved it. Such a fun and exciteing story. Really glad I took a chance. I can't wait to read more from Shiels.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best suspense book I've read in a long time. It had the feel of the Italian Job/Oceans 11 which is totally unique. The best part, a moral code and captivating characters. Cassie, give us another one soon!

[Alison Jenks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, clean suspense story.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

maybe a sequel next?

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great suspense

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

mystery, suspense, romance...
I loved it!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast paced action adventure. I loved Annie and Sam and Jeremy as a team within a team. I would love to see them have more adventures in the future.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this action with a touch of romance story. I'm hoping this book will turn into a series as it's obvious there's more to the story.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute romantic suspense book.

[Suze Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this and cannot wait for more!