Good second chance story mixed with riveting suspense. The story opens as Colt is on a mission for the security company he works for, looking for information about arms trafficking. When he overhears something about auctioning a biotoxin, the mission quickly changes. Colt is injected with the drug when his team is attacked, leaving him only six days to live. Any hope of living rests in the hands of his ex-fiancée, Marina, if he can get to her in time.

Three years earlier, Colt abruptly ended his engagement with biochemist Marena without explanation, then disappeared from her life, leaving her devastated. Colt is the last person she expects or wants to find on her doorstep. He doesn't get a warm reception until he collapses at her feet, burning up with fever. She may still be hurt and angry, but she doesn't want him dead. As soon as she hears the details of the biotoxin, she springs into action to find the antidote to save him.

It won't be easy. Marena has been away from her former job for a long time but still has contacts in the business. Knowing that her formula was redesigned as a weapon gives her further motivation. The tension remains high throughout the book as Marena and Colt scramble to assemble everything they need. At the same time, the toxin continues to work its way through Colt's body, causing debilitating effects. I loved Marena's determination and her refusal to let Colt give up.

Unlike many other suspense stories, we know who is behind the attack on Colt and why. However, trust is in short supply, and there are some interesting twists as the story plays out. They agree on the need to find Colt and retrieve the information he took before the auction takes place. I could feel their frustration as their quarry stayed one step ahead.

I was on the edge of my seat as zero hour drew closer. Marena gets some unexpected help, enabling her to make faster progress on the antidote. Colt's condition worsens rapidly, leading her to take extreme measures. As readers, we can see the bad guys closing in, and the tension ramps up quickly. The final confrontation was intense, with surprising revelations and rapidly changing players. The resolution was a nail-biter, and I loved how it went down.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Marena and Colt. Neither of them had stopped loving the other, but Marena was wary of trusting Colt with her heart again. Colt knows he made a mistake leaving her and is determined to mend their relationship. He finally confesses why he broke their engagement, and while I understood his reasons, his execution was faulty. He would have done much better talking to her about it first. The crisis brings them closer, though they do nothing about it until after everything is done. Even then, Colt holds back, determined to earn her trust first. Fortunately, he gets a kick in the pants that moves him along. Marena has also been holding back and gets a push from an unexpected source. I loved the ending. Colt was adorably flustered but managed to say what he needed to say. I loved Marena's response.

There are some interesting family dynamics in this book that play essential roles. Love, loss, and stubbornness create situations that have long-term consequences. I liked how the crisis brought people together and forced reevaluations of old arguments. Colt's parents and grandfather had a lot to overcome, but their love for Colt brought them together in the end. Marena's father's protectiveness was understandable if a little over-the-top, but even he could change. I liked Marina's brother, Lucas, and hope there will be a book for him - something about a woman named Alexa...

My only quibble with the book is that thirty-three years old is unrealistically young for a retired full colonel. It typically takes 21 to 23 years of service to reach the rank of Colonel. Colt would have most likely been a major at that age. Most military retirements only happen after you've put in twenty years of service (medical retirements not included).

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