Abduction
4 Stars

Series note: This book is connected to Eden's Killer Instincts series. In terms of chronology, it should be read before the prequel Gathering Dusk. That said, I read it following After the Dark and it did not affect my enjoyment of the story.

After a case ends badly, FBI agent Jillian West returns to her hometown for some much needed rest. Once there, she learns that the new sheriff is none other than her childhood sweetheart, Hayden Black. Once the town bad boy, Hayden became a hero when he saved Jillian from a vicious predator. Now, he and Jill join forces to hunt down the killer who escaped justice before he strikes again.

The investigation revolving around discovering the identity of the man who took Jill and later killed another girl is suspenseful. Nevertheless, it is pretty easy to guess the culprit simply due to the lack of suspects. The inclusion of characters from the Killer Instinct series is a bonus and it was interesting to see Samantha and Blake when they first became partners.

Jill and Hayden's second chances romance is the real focus of the book. They are likable as individuals and engaging as a couple with strong chemistry.

One minor issue that I've noticed in Eden writing is her overuse of the word "guy". It appears far to often and has become so noticeable as to be annoying.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading the rest of the Killer Instinct series. ( )

Good combination of second chance romance and suspense. As a teenager, Jillian had been kidnapped. Hayden had witnessed the abduction and saved her, going from town troublemaker to town hero in one evening. Jill and Hayden became good friends, and later much more. But he walked away to become a SEAL and Jill went on to become an FBI agent.

Ten years later Jill and Hayden are reunited when she returns to Hope, burned out on her job dealing with child abductions and still haunted by what had happened to her. She is determined to reopen the case and find the man who had kidnapped her and murdered another girl. She doesn't expect to find Hayden also back in town, now serving as sheriff. They hadn't forgotten each other, or their feelings and the attraction flared hot once again.

I liked both Jill and Hayden. Jill is smart, capable and very good at her job. Her past as a kidnappee has made given her extra motivation in her work but has also made some cases harder to bear than others. I ached for her and the pain she felt at each loss. Hayden was terrific. He is honorable, protective, and has a surprisingly soft heart. I loved how he had turned his life around when he met Jill, determined to be someone worthy of her.

I really enjoyed the rekindling of Jill and Hayden's relationship. It is obvious from the start that their feelings for each other had never died, in spite of the way they parted. Jill was broken-hearted when Hayden left, not knowing that he believed he wasn't good enough for her. Leaving was the hardest thing that Hayden had ever done, but he thought he was doing the right thing. I loved the bits about how they had kept track of each other over the years. With Jill's arrival back in Hope, Hayden sees it as a chance to show her that they belong together and that he isn't going to let her go. Jill is a bit more cautious, knowing that risking her heart again could have devastating consequences for her. As they worked together on the case, they also got to know each other again. I loved that they were able to talk about their past and make the decision to move forward and see where things go. I loved Hayden's big moment at the end - his vulnerability and nervousness were sweet and his words so heartfelt.

The suspense of the story was really good too. From the prologue to the conclusion, the intensity built steadily. Jill's determination to solve the mystery became stronger when she was attacked. The glimpses into the mind of the killer show that he is equally determined to finish what he started. I loved seeing the pieces start to come together and was on the edge of my seat as they raced to save another victim. Though I had figured out the bad guy, the final confrontation was intense in the way it happened.

I liked the support that Jill got from her friend Samantha. That woman was scary good at what she does. Besides her work on helping to identify the killer, I loved Sam's "profiling" of Hayden and her comments to him. ( )

Enjoyable second-chance romance/suspense. Jill is an FBI agent. Hayden was formerly a SEAL and is now the town sheriff. The setting is a small Florida town by the sea. Jill returns home for some much needed time off, but instead ends up facing some old demons. She also reunites with former love Hayden who is still crazy-in-love with her. I loved the small oceanside town of Hope and the likable leads who seemed like they were meant-to-be. On the romance side, sometimes the thoughts and conversations tended toward repetitive at times, but the suspense side was very well done and kept me entertained throughout. ( )