Having just finished My Spy I had to rush on and read the second part of the story. A group of undercover officers are trying to prevent terrorists from smuggling weapons across the Mexican border. In My Spy one officer found that he and a lady deputy sheriff made a good team. SPY IN THE SADDLE continues seamlessly as the group tries to ferret out the identity of the Coyote gang boss and pin down the location to be used. If they don't succeed, the National Guard will be called in to seal the border, and the terrorists will see this and just draw back from the Rio Grande and wait for another opportunity.

Shep Lewis is one of the officers and he is stunned when an FBI advisor sent to assist them turns out to be a girl he used to know. Lilly Tanner had a heck of a temper when he knew her, and caused him a lot of trouble, and just the sight of her has the hardened men drooling. Before the end of the first chapter there's gunfire, and a car burning rubber as it speeds away. What has Lilly walked into?

Shep and Lilly have discussions about the turns their lives have taken. Lilly doesn't ask before getting herself a job as singer with a local band in a bar linked to smuggling. She gets found in an awkward spot once too often.... Shep and his team reckon the local fair might be a way for terrorists to travel unnoticed, so they're staking out the rodeo and other attractions. They don't know that Lilly is already a captive being taken to Mexico.

There's tension and violence in this story, as with the deadline looming closer the officers and smugglers both are getting more desperate. The hardened officers are well contrasted with ordinary citizens and the open nature of the landscape adds flavour to the scenes. When Shep first knew Lilly she was just seventeen with an untrusting attitude, but now she's a grown woman they can't resist an adult romance. Other touches include a chipotle chicken and shrimp platter, intended for sharing and big enough to cover the entire table. Author Dana Morton doesn't do things by halves in this exciting book and anyone who's read the first installment will want to see how the story concludes. With a higher body count than the usual romantic suspense, try SPY IN THE SADDLE for a fast-paced read.