The first book in the new series is a good blend of suspense and second chance romance. Thea is an FBI agent who works on cold cases involving children. As the story opens, she is headed back to her hometown in Florida to be with her estranged mother, who finds herself at the center of another missing child mystery. Twenty-eight years earlier, Thea's twin sister Maya disappeared from their bedroom without a trace. That disappearance undoubtedly influenced Thea's choice of a career. Now another child has disappeared from the same house and the same room. While she supports her mother, Reggie, Thea also questions what happened in both cases.

Jake heads the FBI unit CARD (Child Abduction Rapid Deployment) tasked with finding the missing Kylie. His awareness of the chances of success with each passing hour keeps his determination to succeed fueled. He will take whatever help is offered.

Thea and Jake have a history together. They were a couple while both worked for the FBI in DC until Jake received the promotion that sent him to Florida. A bit of pride and some lack of communication pulled them apart, but neither had forgotten the other. Both are dedicated to their careers, but their old feelings don't take long to resurface. I liked their realism, trying to keep things professional while working on the case and finding the time to reconnect. I loved the ending, as they realized that the blame for their split belonged to them both. I wasn't too surprised at the resolution.

The suspense of the story kept me hooked from beginning to end. The similarity of the abductions of Maya and Kylie was especially intriguing, considering the time difference between them. One common factor was Reggie, and Thea's memories stir up questions she wants answered. Meanwhile, Reggie's boyfriend from during that time was recently released from prison and appears to have a grudge against her. Add in a creepy neighbor, an odd doll shop owner, and some bones found in a cave, and there are plenty of suspects to go around. The final confrontation was a nail-biter. The motivation behind the kidnapping was heartbreaking, but I had little sympathy for the kidnapper. I loved seeing Thea's confidence in standing up to the kidnapper and seeing Jake come through as backup at just the right time. While one mystery was solved, there are still unanswered questions about Maya's disappearance. I'm looking forward to learning more and hopefully getting a good result.

The relationship between Thea and Reggie is also a big part of the book. The tension is palpable as Thea's memories make her question things about her mother. While I ached for Reggie, I also had questions about her past actions. Thea and Reggie's interactions have been strained for many years, starting after Maya's disappearance and worsening as the years went on. Reggie has changed her life since then, and those changes seem to improve their ability to talk to one another. Things have improved between them by the end of the book, though questions remain.

#netgalley ( )

I can't even imagine Thea Lamb returning home, and having to relive her own nightmare. Another child has gone missing from her mother's home, again? From the same window?
Add to this equation Thea's ex boyfriend, FBI Agent Jake Stillwell, is working this crime.
While Thea relives the original crime, all the while searching for Kylie, and flashing back to Maya her twin.
We keep meeting suspects, and there are a lot of twists and turns, and some answers are forthcoming, was I surprised? Yes, but in the end, I was left with a lot of unanswered questions, and wondered if justice for all will ever be served.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

This was an excellent romantic suspense title. FBI agent Thea Lamb returns to her home town to support her mother when a child is abducted from her home. This disappearance echoes the disappearance of Thea's twin when they were four years old. No trace of her sister Maya has ever been found. That disappearance is likely why Thea joined the FBI and specializes in child abductions. It also has a lot to do with why Thea and her mother are estranged.

FBI Agent Jake Stillwell and his team are assigned to the case of finding little Kylie Buchanan. Jake and Thea were once involved, but a promotion for Jake separated them. Neither was willing to ask the other anything that would keep them together, but that doesn't mean that they have forgotten each other.

This was a very atmospheric title. From the local scenery to the town, things are eerie. Both Thea and Jake have "feelings" that might be paranormal if either believed in that sort of thing. There are also a number of suspicious characters around including Kylie's abusive and sociopathic father, a creepy next door neighbor, and an old flame of Thea's mother who has recently been released from a tough Florida prison and is looking to even the score.

I enjoyed the mystery and really liked both Thea and Jake. ( )