Jon Blackhawk is an intelligent straitlaced FBI agent who is
doggedly being chased by several women whom his mother
deems to be just right for her son who is just too busy to
have a social life. If truth be told, Jon just isn't
interested in getting married and that's why he isn't
looking. Joceline Perry, his administrative assistant,
works tirelessly on his behalf to help him avoid his
mother's traps.
Joceline and Jon have a rather intriguing
work relationship after five years. Joceline has a quick
wit and biting sense of humor which, if Jon would admit,
keeps him on his toes. Both Joceline and Jon consider
themselves rather conservative but don't confuse that with
boring -- the repartee between them is comical and
entertaining and if they were honest with themselves it
borders on flirtatious. But Joceline's life is based on a
series of lies she has somewhat mastered. Having a child
out of wedlock is something that was very out of character
for Joceline but when she found herself pregnant after a
one night encounter she knew abortion was out of the
question -- she wanted this child. Being a single mother was
difficult enough but dealing with an asthmatic son with
attention problems and facing being ostracized even in this
modern day made Joceline's edginess almost a defense
mechanism.
But now Jon and Joceline are facing a very
precarious situation. It seems that they have become the
target for retribution from the family of a man who they
helped capture and convict. Even from within prison, orders
are being carried out. Jon realizes that his entire
family's safety is at stake and even Joceline has received
threats which put her and her son at risk. Secrets can be
damaging and even deadly and now Joceline is concerned that
her secret will be revealed and increase the danger to her
and her son. But Joceline isn't the only one with secrets.
Someone close to the Blackhawk family is keeping a secret
which could leave the entire family vulnerable. And as
the facts are uncovered the family realizes that there
could also be a connection to the murder of Jon's sister-in-
law and his young niece. The tentacles of the killer are
spreading and getting ready to strike again. There is
a fine line between evil and madness. As the killer gets
closer, the feelings between Jon and Joceline are harder to
fight and pretty soon it's their future they are fighting
to protect.
Palmer not only reinvents the relationship between two
quirky characters in this latest Jacobsville story but
manages to finally bring closure to a story from a previous
book. Interestingly, the reader doesn't realize that there
was any need for closure. Just enough plot twists to keep
everyone guessing.
Can she convince a man to let down his defenses when he’s
set on guarding his heart?
Tall, dark and eligible?
That’s all that matters to the women of Jacobsville when it
comes to handsome and aloof FBI agent Jon Blackhawk. But if
it were up to him, he would never settle down. Luckily, Jon
has the best gatekeeper: his efficient and reliable
assistant, Joceline Perry. Without her help, he’d be at the
mercy of husband hunters—but the
more he comes to rely on her, the more he notices how
invaluable she really is…
While Joceline can’t deny that her boss is attractive, as a
single mother with responsibilities she’s determined to be
professional. But when Jon is accosted by a criminal seeking
revenge, she comes to his aid—fueling the spark that is
growing between them.
As the attempts on Jon’s life increase, Joceline stands by
his side. But when the smoke clears, will the man who
avoided love realize that all he ever needed was right there
all along?