Terri Reed never disappoints. I first read her romantic suspense through the K9 squad stories. Even with no dog in sight, I love this story. Senior bank employee Abby Frost is FORCED TO FLEE after being targeted by vicious criminals, through no fault of her making.  
 
Abby, who lives in Washington State, is closing the bank one night when she notices the car parking lot lights are broken. As she nervously moves to her car, a man grabs her and tries to drag her away, but her self-defense classes return to her mind and she manages to escape, with the help of pepper spray. By the way, where I live, we are not allowed to carry pepper spray, because it is classed as a weapon. Abby does not know why she was targeted, but the assumption is that it was related to the bank.
 
Jace Armstrong is on hand next time Abby is assaulted. He’s a US Marshal from Texas, and he is tracking a Mexican drug cartel run by Tomas Garcia. One of their shady operatives discovered a connection between Abby and a man the Marshals were keeping in a witness protection program. Jace is assigned to keep her safe, without telling her anything.
 
The action shifts between Washington State with its greys and greens, and Texas with its reds and browns, reminding me of Twilight. The suspenseful scenes are full on, with desperate action and bravery. I love that at times Abby is the strong one who must make decisions, take steps and use her physical strength. Letting the lawman Jace take complete charge would have been easy for the author, and rather boring by comparison. Abby, who has led a staid life behind the bank counter, is challenged to be more and do more than she ever expected, also using her analytical thinking.
 
A good example is provided of a relationship lasting over the years despite the stresses of assignments. But cowboy Jace doesn’t believe going undercover is conducive to a stable romance. Despite this, FORCED TO FLEE fits the category of romantic suspense. I recommend the read.

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