OK, first, I need to admit that I didn't realize what kind of book this was when I started it. Apparently, this is from the "Romance/Suspense" genre. So, I may have lost a few masculinity points in even admitting that I read this book. However, I must say, it didn't read like what I thought a romance novel would read like. Instead, it was a thoroughly engaging story of high-stakes industrial espionage.

The main characters are an ex-CIA operative and a current NSA analyst. Cassandra James is the ex-CIA agent who now works for her father’s private security company. She has an interesting past that includes being shot in the line of duty. While working there on her first big case, she crosses paths with Trevor Bauer who is the NSA top “techno-geek”. And sparks fly from the moment they meet. They are sparks of anger. And they are sparks of something else.

Cassandra’s relationship with her father and boss is strained following her mother’s death. She is intensely suspicious of men and determined never to fall hard and suffer the intense pain of loss that her father did. After failing to protect a top secret drug formula, Cassandra takes on a chase to recover files stolen right out from under her nose. And in an effort to prove to her father, who is also her boss, that she is a capable woman, she follows the digital trail. And this trail that leads her directly into the world of Trevor Bauer, the NSA analyst who appears to have his own interesting past.

Trevor Bauer is haunted by the mystery surrounding his parents' disappearance. And Trevor’s recurring nightmares have forced him to use some of the assets at his disposal to look into a death that seems to have more than a few missing pieces. In doing so he has put aside any personal dreams and goals until he has some answers.

The initial clues in the industrial espionage case point to Trevor and Cassandra jumps into the case with enthusiasm abounding. Cassandra James confronts Trevor Bauer and derails every one of his plans to avoid a relationship until he can find the closure he desperately seeks. Bauer, intrigued by her beauty and inner strength, he accepts her request for help in recovering the files that she's hunting. This begins an adventure that takes them across the ocean and into a world of intrigue and violence in the lucrative market of stolen industrial secrets.

As things between them begin to heat up, they both realize something very important. Trevor realizes that, if he is ever to win Cassandra's heart and the future he craves, he has no choice but to reveal all his secrets. And Cassandra realizes that if she will ever experience the joy of real love, then she must be willing to risk some pain.

This book held my attention the whole time. I thought I knew “whodunit”. But I was wrong! The action is fast paced and the technical aspects of the book make it believable if you have any kind of IT background. I thought some of it was a little too “steamy”. But, I guess that goes with the genre.