Fell in love with Ali, reporter, and Cope, CIA, right off the bat. Talk about two people getting off on the wrong foot, omgosh, it showed what a spitfire Ali was. I was so laughing, it was as if Cope didn't quite know what to do with this beautiful creature who basically told him to shove it, because why? He really had been rude to her but didn't realize it, so he does try to make it up to her and succeeds ... at making it worse lol. Cope though, after all, was a gentleman, and tenacious enough so when he figured out he really wanted this woman he pulled out all the stops, but wouldn't cross the line of using his position in the CIA to dig deep on Ali. Maybe he should have. Ali has a few secrets of her own that won't make anyone happy, or safe, including herself. They do give in to their attraction so it gets pretty hot and steamy in a few places, and so yum.
I did feel I got to know these two characters personally, even through this investigational journey of espionage with the mysterious and twisted plots of prior murders, sold-out agents and countries alike, maybe even a few souls, I'm sure it felt like to some.
Then even more nail-biting, edge of your seat reading when, and I couldn't determine either, who was being targeted, Cope, or Ali, or both! We get an intro to some new characters, and a few of our beloved characters from prior reads with cameo apprearances to enhance this journey. Not necessary to read the priors of this author, but I think new readers will want to read those delicious and sexy, suspenseful stories, all complete, and all with their very own hot heroes.
My mind was officially blown away with all the intricacies of this who dun it, and as I read along, the answers layering in, it is very well written, and just so freakin' believable.
Cope and Ali had that snap, but so many obstacles in their way, they didn't see how it could ever work. They learned a few valuable lessons here and true love is worth fighting for.
This can stand alone with a Happy Ending for Cope and Ali. It is part of a series and has more goodness before and after Handled.