4 Stars! ~ As U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Cassidy's father is an influential man and also one under constant threat from the human traffickers he is determined to put out of business. After the murder of her missionary friends, Cassidy travels to Brazil to assume her role as guardian to their two year old daughter, Alexis. At the orphanage Cassidy is kidnapped by rebels who hate her father. Gabe is an ex-Navy SEAL, who two years before had been in command of the mission that took Cassidy's brother's life. When Cassidy's father asks him to go to Brazil to save her, his guilt over Micah's death won't allow him to refuse. After a perilous escape, Gabe and Cassidy make it safely back to the U.S. with Alexis. Their attraction to each other is strong, but Cassidy still holds anger towards Gabe for refusing to divulge the details of her brother's death. When further attempts are made on Cassidy's life, Gabe aids the police in finding out who wishes her dead.
This debut from Ms. Eason had me hooked from the first pages. I adore Navy SEAL heroes and Gabe filled his role deliciously. Cassidy is a very strong heroine, one easy to relate to. There's a lot going on in this story, but Ms. Eason balanced the action-suspense and the developing relationship very well. The elements of faith are very well done and appropriate to the storyline. The child, Alexis, was a lovely way to bring out Gabe's tender side, and to aid Cassidy to see him more completely. While Gabe was a hero-in-charge in Navy SEAL mode, he was also a man struggling with his own demons from the past, and fears for a future without Cassidy in it. Ms. Eason very cleverly added a tiny cliff hanger to the close of this story that has me very eager to read the next in this trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed this love story