He protects the vulnerable but his new employee might
also need his help
Scott Sherridan is an undercover cop offering vulnerable
people a safe place to hide. When Scott hires former LAPD officer Nella
Bresdall, he tells himself that his growing feelings for her won't be a
distraction. But when a threat against Nella's life arises, Scott realizes he
might have to lose her to keep her safe…
Good book with an interesting concept. I liked the idea
of an animal shelter also doubling as a shelter for people in danger. Scott is
a cop with the local police department, but his primary duty is running the
Chase Animal Shelter. His "managers" are also law enforcement, while
the "staff" are the people who need protection. I loved seeing the detail
Scott and the Chase PD put into making the shelter as safe as possible.
Nella is a former LAPD officer who left the department
after losing her partner during a gang-related shooting. Her boss recommended
the shelter as a good place for her to work, and Nella's enthusiasm for it is
evident as she arrives for her interview. As Nella waits for her interview,
another woman comes looking for a "job" and is obviously afraid. Even
though she doesn't yet work there yet, Nella's actions show she's a good fit.
I liked the development of the relationship between Scott
and Nella. The attraction is there from the start, though neither intends to do
anything about it. Both are cognizant of the employer/employee dynamic and how
inappropriate it would be. But the connection between them won't be denied, and
they can't stay away from each other. When the texted threats start, Scott's normal
protectiveness toward the shelter and its inhabitants ramps up even further to
keep Nella safe. While Nella appreciates Scott's protection, she isn't one to
stand back and let someone else take all of the risks. She makes it clear that
she has a stake in her own safety. As the days go on, Scott and Nella spend a
lot of time together, both alone and with the others, and it is easy to see their
feelings grow stronger. Despite a speedbump in their relationship caused by
Nella's reluctance to endanger the others, their big moment at the end was
great.
The suspense of the story was well done. When the first
threat arrives, Scott and Nella aren't sure who it is directed to. I liked
seeing Nella use her newness at the shelter to get to know the others' stories
and see if those lead anywhere. Once the threats focus on Nella, the tension
steadily grows. I could feel their frustration at the lack of progress in identifying
the source of the threats. Nella is convinced that it is one of the gang
members from her last operation, but her former boss doesn't make any progress
either. As the book neared the end, I suspected the source of the threat and
the reason. However, I never saw the twist that came along with the final
confrontation. I was on the edge of my seat until it was over and loved how it
happened.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the
prominent part the animals played. I loved meeting the various critters and how
they had their own personalities. My favorites were Spike and Baby. It was sweet
to see how Nella connected with them. I also liked the attention paid to their
training and the vetting of the potential adopters. I enjoyed getting to know
the human residents and look forward to seeing more of them in later books.
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