Two Souls Hollow- The Gates # 6- by Paula Graves is a 2015 Harlequin Intrigue publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

IT guy Anson Daughty and payroll/accounting girl Ginny Coltrane may make unlikely suspects, but both are being considered by “The Gates” as possible moles. When Ginny's alcoholic brother, Danny, is attacked in the parking lot of a seedy bar, Anson comes to the rescue. This act of heroism gets him beat up and sets off a chain of events that will put himself and Ginny in extreme danger. Forced together by circumstances, the couple forges a fragile bond amid accusations and mistrust, that will soon become unshakable.... if they survive.

Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances always makes a compelling read. Anson was not inked, did not have cartoonish muscles, nor would he ever be described as an alpha male. Instead he is the smart guy, which made him super sexy to me, plus he still has all the traits we look for in a hero. Ginny is a woman with a lot on her plate, but Anson is drawn to her quiet ' girl next door' qualities.

“ Kittens. Bunnies. Lemon icebox pie with with whipped cream. The real stuff, not that gunk that comes out of a can. That was Ginny Coltrane. Soft, sweet, and delicious.”

The mystery is the primary focus here and the plot is well executed. There are a couple of intense moments of suspense, blending with action, as well as a few twist thrown in that kept me guessing all the way to the end.

I applaud the author for her realistic portrayal of the effects alcoholism has on the family and the serious problems an alcoholic can bring down on not only themselves but the ones closest to them. Anson's own dealings with the disease helps Ginny realize she has to make some changes where her brother is concerned or he will drag her down with him.

“Danny's all I have in the world. Everyone else is either dead or gone. Maybe you have enough family to be able to turn your back on someone just because she annoys you, but -”
“She's the only family I have,” he interrupted. “But, unlike you, I don't let her walk all over me.”

The romance is low steam, but with one major crisis after another, hot erotic sex just wasn't too realistic. However, I did hope for a last minute surge of passion once the mole was discovered. The ending was cute but just a little anti-climatic.

'She wasn't the type of girl who could see sex as purely recreational, and that was the only kind of sex he intended to have. Relationships, happily-ever-after- those were things other men could indulge in if they dared. He knew what it was like when the happiness died and all that was left was the endless ever- after'

This is the style of romantic suspense that made me such a fan of the genre in the first place. If you like romantic suspense in it's purist form, you will enjoy this one. (4 stars) ( )

I loved this book. In the previous two books, Deception Lake and Killshadow Road, it was discovered that there was a mole in The Gates security firm. Anson is one of two people who was suspected of being the leak because of his work as the IT director. He has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation takes place. Not being the type to sit back and wait, he's doing his own investigating, which leads him to Ginny.

Ginny is the payroll person at The Gates. She also has access to a lot of information, making her a possible suspect for the leak. Anson is watching her one night as she goes to the local bar to retrieve her inebriated brother. He witnesses her being accosted by four very large men and steps in to rescue her, getting beat up in the process. Ginny is accustomed to taking care of herself, and isn't sure what to make of Anson's interference. She feels guilty about his injuries, but also grateful for his help. When additional attacks take place, Anson is determined to keep her safe.

I loved Anson and Ginny. Neither one is the stereotypical superman/superwoman security agency operative. Ginny is an office worker, trying to keep her brother out of trouble. But she is stubborn and independent and very smart and tries to keep Anson out of her troubles. Anson isn't a field agent, and hasn't been trained as one. He is a computer nerd, working his magic on the Gates' computer systems. He's in good shape, but not musclebound, so when he tries to stop her assailants he doesn't come out on top, but does manage to hold them off until help arrives.

It quickly becomes obvious that the trouble Ginny is in has something to do with her brother. Anson is determined to keep her safe until they find out what the connection is, and also if there is a connection to the mole. There is a strong attraction between them that has them wanting to believe in each other, but both of them have some trust issues that stem from their own pasts. Those same issues have caused each of them to avoid relationships in the past, but with each other they want to believe that it's possible.

I really liked the buildup of the suspense, both from the previous books and in this one as the mystery continues. There are things that happen that make Anson and Ginny doubt each other's innocence even as their growing feelings insist that trust is possible. The emerging clues led me to bounce between a couple people as suspects, and I was glad to see that my initial suspicion turned out to be correct. The final confrontation was intense and I loved Ginny's quick thinking to help them save themselves.

As the investigation went on, I really enjoyed seeing how Quinn was always there to support his people. I also loved seeing his reactions as those same people don't always do as he wants or expects. There are a couple of pretty amusing places where his frustrations are obvious. I really hope that he ends up with his own story, with a woman that can stand up to him. ( )