Austin Mendez is in Conard County to unwind and assimilate back into society. He\'s been undercover along the Mexican border for six long years. Conard County is far enough away that he will not be recognized here. The local sheriff is a friend of a friend who brings Austin to Corey Donohue's place to rent a room for a few months, since she's between tenants right now. Corey usually rents to only women, because of her view of men. She witnessed a man murder her mother 18 years ago, when Corey was only seven. She shuts most men out of her life, as well as many other painful memories.

Just before Austin arrives, Corey receives a mysterious note saying, "I remember you but you don't remember me." She thinks it's just a prank and dismisses it. But when a second note arrives, mentioning her late mother, Corey becomes frightened. She shares the note with Austin, who in turn makes a visit to the sheriff's office to learn all he can about Olivia Donohue's murder. When a third note appears, they are certain the notes are coming from Olivia's killer. Can they catch this man before he claims Corey as well?

DEFENDING THE EYEWITNESS is a page-turner full of mystery and suspense, keeping the reader engaged every step of the way. Rachel Lee masterfully develops the characters of Austin and Corey, gradually building a trust between them, so that Corey trusts Austin enough to allow him to help her. But in the process, will Corey tear down the walls she's built around her heart? Will this lead to disaster? This romantic suspense is a quick read and another installment from Ms. Lee's Conard County: The Next Generation series.

Book Summary

Return to New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lee's Conard County, where a killer lies in wait…

The note wasn't a threat, exactly. But for Corey Donahue, who'd witnessed her mother's murder as a child, it felt very menacing. Surprisingly, the one person she trusted to show the note to was a man merely renting a room from her – Austin Mendez. Traumatized since childhood, Corey had never trusted men – until Austin moved in.

Six years undercover had caused Austin to shut everyone out – until Corey. The vulnerability she hid from others made him yearn to break down the walls she'd erected around her heart. And with a killer closing in, two lost souls were discovering the trust they'd lost — and much more — in each other's arms.