Taryn runs PR for a firm set up by former American football players, in the Fool's Gold series. There's a bodyguard school in town, and one of the bodyguards approaches Taryn in the coffee shop one morning. She's only been living here for a few months and is still finding her feet. This Harley-riding man, a former sniper called Angel, doesn't seem to have the usual social skills. Is she wise to feel attracted?

WHEN WE MET continues the theme of Score, the footballers' firm, mixed with the bodyguards, in a town which relishes holding festivals. Taryn Crawford needs to be a recent arrival, because after several exciting romantic books, the town's ladies are mostly snapped up by now, and clearly the single gentlemen will move fast to catch her interest. She wears totteringly high heels which she kicks off under her desk because they hurt, with a power suit for business deals, and a ready attitude in a crisis. No wonder the footballers depend on her to run their schedule. Dating a man who doesn't need his life micro-managed, and doesn't throw mock punches around the office, would make a pleasant change.

Angel volunteers to teach a group of kids about the terrain and nature of the mountains. They'll also learn some culture of the earlier inhabitants and basic art. It's not his usual style, but how hard can it be? Then he finds out that he'll be in charge of seven-year-old girls. Panicking, he turns to Taryn, who as it happens has just been signed up for a camping trek by her guys. Maybe they can help each other and learn the skills they'll need.

The fun starts then, with hair braiding and pink handbooks the least of Angel's problems, while climbing a sport rock wall is a major issue for Taryn, who bravely keeps tackling the artificial face. Neither of these people expects to find a happy ever after, but happy right now would be pretty good.

I got to like Taryn and Angel and to understand why they were so mentally isolated and hardened by experience when it came to being in love. Friends from previous books, like Felicia, are present but not in such numbers as to drown out the current story. There's also a venomous snake or two, a menu with a pulled pork nacho plate and a flash flood. WHEN WE MET is one of the better books in the Fool's Gold romance series by Susan Mallery, with plenty to keep you reading to the last page.