"Fine character driven thriller"

In San Diego, retrieval specialist Samantha Ballanger knows her current assignment will be one of her most difficult if not the toughest because the object of her mission will most likely not cooperate; on the other hand her object has perfect buns. Sam must abduct reporter Matt Granger to keep him from destroying an FBI probe into the Russian Mafia.

Sam successfully kidnaps Matt, but he assumes she works for Renkov. As they drive east danger mounts as mobsters give chase. Making the flight thornier is the fact her "victim" tries to escape because he does not trust her and to go back to what he does best, investigative reporting. When the peril mounts with Sam obviously trying to keep him safe, Matt decides to cooperate; of course it helps that he wants his kidnapper to share his bed with him. As they elude the gangsters chasing after them, but struggle to make it to the safe house, neither seems capable of eluding their hearts beating as one to the tune of love.

The chase is often amusing as "life" such as soccer moms has a way of interfering with the lead protagonists' fleeing for their lives, but never loses focus of the gravity of the situation as Renkov and his thugs continue their efforts to eliminate the reporter. The action- packed story line is fast paced as expected with an on the road show chase tale while the evolution from retrieving to loving enhances a fine character driven thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 11, 2005