I really enjoyed reconnecting with these characters. This was a fast paced, fun read. I love how Katie Mettner weaves a story.

As a woman with PTSD this hit close to home. Such a good, but hard, romance. Again I stayed up all night reading.

Cal is doing everything he can to keep Marlise a witness to a case protected at all costs. At numerous occasions they have close calls but Marlise and Call wants to make sure to put the madam after her behind bars.

This was a pretty good book it was a very fast paced read. There's a bit of romance between the two main characters that was pretty good. I love that there was so much going on to keep me interested and seeing how they were working together to keep safe and also figure out a way to take down the madam before any more lives are impacted by her. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

In Katie Mettner’s The Perfect Witness, Security expert Cal Newfellow’s top priority is protecting Marlise, a star witness in a high-profile trial against her ex-boss, a dangerous criminal. However, keeping Marlise and himself alive tests their will and courage when someone attacks and forces them into hiding. Injured and traumatized but unbroken and on the road to healing and recovery, Marlise’s life mission becomes doing whatever it takes to put her ex-boss and associates behind bars forever. Achieving her goal means trusting Cal—a man haunted by and battling his own demons—who has sworn to help her heal and survive this experience.

I started reading and was halfway through the novel before I even knew it. However, I felt like it had already begun, and I was dropped in the middle of the action. Possibly because this picks up sometime after Book 1, in which Mettner introduced Marlise and Cal’s characters and story and initiated the development of their relationship? I haven’t gotten a chance to read that one yet, but I will be reading that ASAP.

Book 2 is my first time reading Mettner. I like her active, down-to-earth, straight-to-the-point writing style. She wastes none of her words, and her pacing is excellent. Her vivid writing and detailed descriptions drew me in, and well-constructed action and fight scenes that, combined with gripping suspense, kept me on the edge of my seat. The Perfect Witness reads like an excellently written/directed episode of a criminal investigation show, crime drama, or mystery/thriller.

Mettner develops and evolves genuine, complicated, fallible, empathetic, intelligent, and likable characters. The novel features fantastic disability and mental health representation with its security team of disabled and recovering trauma survivors. Their humorous, snarky, supportive, and emotional interactions have a found-family feel. I love the funny, emotional, sarcastic, supportive, and loving interactions among the team members, with a found-family feel.

Cal is an ex-military special forces veteran injured in a military operation that went bad. He and Marlise work for his brother’s private security firm, Secure One. Cal excels at keeping people safe, but he doesn’t trust that things will work out because experience has taught him safety is an illusion. A protective, meticulous brooder without roots, Cal is hard on himself and stuck in the past. Cal never plans to fall in love again, but he doesn’t expect Marlise. She came to the team broken and afraid. He trained her in self-defense and gun safety. Now, he feels responsible for her.

Intelligent, fierce, strong, injured, traumatized, but unbroken, and on the road to healing and recovery, Marlise becomes Secure One’s cook. But she’s hiding secrets from her time at Red Rye House. After being homeless for years and then controlled by her ex-boss, she’s experienced humanity’s dark side. At the limit of not having control of her life, she takes control despite being emotionally and physically scarred.

I love the development of Cal and Marlise’s relationship. They work well together as partners. Cal and Marlise work perfectly as partners. Despite their fiery, deep connection and attraction, each believes they aren’t good enough for the other and avoids getting too close. Mettner develops their relationship through interactions charged with sexual and romantic tension. Their sexy, steamy, and intimate love scenes reveal and evolve their characters and the plot.

The Perfect Witness is a fast-paced, captivating, suspenseful, dark, intense, steamy, emotional, and intriguing romance that explores themes of forgiveness, letting go of the past, self-belief, rediscovering passion, self-identity, finding love, finding family, overcoming fear, and healing and recovery.

An advanced review copy was provided by HARLEQUIN - Romance via Netgalley for review.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was an okay read for me. I loved Marlise and Cal but I just could not get into the storyline. It seemed unrealistic to me at times.

I definitely would try another book by this author though and continue reading.

Terrific continuation of the Secure One series. This book picks up about eighteen months after Going Rogue in Red Rye County. The Madame and her husband are about to go on trial, and Marlise and Mina are the key witnesses. Because the Madame's second in command, the Miss, is still on the loose, Cal and Roman take extreme measures to keep the women safe. The story begins with a rush as they are attacked on the way to their court appearance. The intensity is off the charts as Cal and Marlise race to escape their determined pursuers.

With the trial on a two-week pause because of the attack, Marlise, Cal, and the others are determined to find the Miss and capture her. Marlise and Mina will never be safe unless they do. I was glued to the pages as the team from Secure One threw everything they had into their search. I could feel their frustration at the lack of usable information and their hope when Marlise confessed to having some evidence - if only she could retrieve it. That hope gets a boost with the arrival of another one of the women from Red Rye and the information she brings with her. The tension ramped up as they closed in on the Miss's identity and location, and desperation led to a risky plan. The final confrontation kept me glued to the pages as Marlise and Mina faced their worst nightmare. The ending was terrific, with an unexpected twist in the epilogue.

I loved watching the development of Cal and Marlise's relationship. Cal was protective of Marlise from the moment they rescued her, and that hasn't changed since then. He isn't just protective, though; he also encourages and supports her as she heals. Cal has feelings for her but refuses to acknowledge them. A past trauma has caused him to wall off his feelings, and he refuses to risk loving again. I loved seeing the changes in Marlise. In the time she has been at Secure One, she has become more confident. She's worked with Cal on self-protection and found a place cooking for the group. There are still hints of vulnerability, but being close to Cal gives her confidence. She loves him but is convinced that her past makes her wrong for him. I loved watching her stand up to his overprotectiveness and insist on being an active participant in capturing the Miss. The danger of the final confrontation finally breaks through the barriers keeping them apart. I loved Cal's big moment at the end.

The Perfect Witness by Katie Mettner is about security expert Cal Newfellows and his crew’s current job is keeping a key witness, Marlise safe until trial. It takes both the skills and dedication of his team to succeed in keeping her and then alive. They have to hide but they can’t make it to trial without a fight so a fight is how it has to be. There is romance, mystery, suspense, and characters that can even make you smile. A quick read that you will enjoy. Marlise may be small but Cal soon learns she isn’t going to be taken easily. Thank you NetGalley, and Harlequin for this eARC I think many Harlequin followers will enjoy.

Book 2 of the Secure 1 series was absolutely amazing!!!Katie Mettner has taken the series starter, and extend the world we know as Secure one. Marlise is trying to start over. Not only does she want to leave her past behind her, but she wants those responsible to pay. Cal has made an empire at Secure 1 protecting people. But can he protect Marlise? This book will have you turning pages. While you do not need to read book 1 Going Rouge in Red Rye County to enjoy this book, I highly recommend it to make the experience even better! Plus Mina and Roman are such fantastic characters- you will wan their story too.

An Enjoyable Read!

In The Perfect Witness prepare to be plunged into a gripping tale of courage and redemption. Security expert Cal Newfellow's top priority is protecting Marlise, the key witness in a high-profile trial. But when they're attacked and forced into hiding, their journey becomes a test of will and determination.

The plot is fast paced with compelling characters, and themes of courage and redemption. This is an outstanding romantic suspense story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Marlise has been in hiding she is waiting to testify in a court case. Cal is a security expert that has been hiding her at his headquarters. When trying to reach the courthouse there was an attempt on her life. Cal and Marlise are now on the run from The Miss. Marlise has been attracted to Cal and knows he is not interested in a relationship. Marlise and Mina find a way to go undercover to find The Miss. Wonderful story with lots of action and of course a HEA.

Katie Meitner does it again!! Wow what a high action, edge of your seat romantic suspense!

The Perfect Witness continues a broader storyline carried on from Rogue in Red Eye County, Secure One Book 1, but the story also focuses on two characters from book 1 as the main focus of this one. Marlise, aka Mary, was rescued from a big sex trafficking ring that occurred in Book 1. She was one of the main cooks in the house and she knew a lot of secrets and was expected to be a witness in the trial against The Madame. So many times you see her vulnerableness but yet her strength and will to do what is necessary no matter the cost is endearing and admirable. Despite her trauma, her inner strength is what draws you to her...that she uses her trauma and experiences in a positive way vs negative and you begin to see her healing through it all. Cal Newfellow, ex-military and security expert of Secure One (security firm), was a part of the take down of The Madame. He has his own skeletons he has to work through while protecting and getting to know Marlise. He is not only has a strong physique and persona, but he is also fierce and loyal and the type of man that you want on your side. You get a little more background on him in this book and you can't help but feel the pain and trauma he has endured and how this experience with Marlise allows personal growth there too.

The Madame, you learn was arrested at the end of Book 1 but her second in command, "The Miss", managed to escape being captured/arrested by authorities. With Marlise being the star witness of the trial, everyone knew The Miss was out to make sure she would not make it to the courthouse. Will they be able to stop and capture The Miss? Will there be enough time to confess true feelings?? Read and find out!! You won't be disappointed!

The author does a great job with Cal and Marlise's relationship. I knew after book 1 I was rooting that they would be the romantic focus for book 2 and that's exactly what I got!! They are both absolutely perfect for each other....they have more in common than they at first realize. It took the broken Marlise to help the broken Cal. Their chemistry was on point and their passion was evident in several tastefully done scenes. I appreciate that there was clean language in this book and even though the passionate scenes were open door, most of it was implied and not described in full and graphic detail, which was perfect!

I can't wait for book 3!! I read an advanced copy of this book and the opinions are all my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Intrigue for the advanced copy!!

I didn't love this one but I also didn't hate this one. However I'm not sure how I feel about this one.

The perfect witness is the second book of this series, I have not read the first but was able to pick it up and understand what was happening and who the characters were. It would work as a stand-alone but I definitely recommend reading book 1 since it sounds like the story really picks up where it left off! A sexy slow burn with wonderful characters, I really enjoyed this one and will absolutely read the rest of the series

The Perfect Witness is action packed and I was captivated in the first chapter! Never a dull moment and plenty of twists and turns to keep your interest! Actually the second installment in a three part series so to get the full story line it would be beneficial to read in order. There are enough flashbacks though one can follow the plot easily.

The Perfect Witness is a well written romantic suspense. Edge of your seat page turning plot. I received an advance book from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Book Two in the Secure One series, The Perfect Witness, is more than just a romantic thriller; it's a story about the resilience of the human spirit and the power of trust. As part of the Harlequin Intrigue line, this novel indeed delivers thrills, solves crimes, and serves justice in a package that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. This book is a must-read for fans of romantic thrillers that not only get the adrenaline flowing but also touch the heart.

Marlise is a former cook from the Red Rye house. The Madame is on trial for all of her sins while The Miss remains a looming threat. Cal from Secure One is here to keep her safe so that she can testify against the operation without becoming a victim of the elusive The Miss.

This book is the second of a series of three. It helps to have read the first book and you will definitely want to if you didn't before this book but it can stand alone. Katie Mettner does a wonderful job of recapping with flashbacks that will give you enough information if you only chose to read this installment.

I love the way Cal empowers Marlise in this book. Everything from teaching her to shoot to his words and actions show the best of relationships bring out the best in each other. This is one of those relationships.

I really like the way Katie Mettner always incorporates characters who are especially abled. An amputee, a survivor of burns, etc really shows that all people are beautiful and highly capable in spite of a few setbacks in their lives. It gives hope to everyone out who struggles with similar issues. With a variety of characters in her novels with different issues, she is sure to eventually touch everyone who can relate.

Nice fast paced read. Really looking forward to more action like this when the 3rd book comes out!

I love everything book that Katie writes. This series is filled with of action, suspense and fierce protectiveness. Her characters are so strong, yet vulnerable, and will do what’s needed to bring justice.

Cal is a fierce protector of those he cares about. He has some previous trauma that keeps him from getting close to people…however, Marlise is bringing out emotions he has not felt in a long time, but he is scared.

Marlise has so much trauma she’s trying to put behind her…she is brave, determined and a bit stubborn. I love that she puts herself before others to make sure everyone is protected.

Val and Marlise make a great team along with those around them. They head into danger without second thoughts to get rid of the threat. This story will have your heart pounding with the action and adventure.

With each of Katie’s books I learn about people who deal with life challenges each day. This is another fantastic reads. Looking forward to the additional books in the series.

An exciting, romantic suspense story that remains clean despite its topic of the sex trade. It kept me turning the pages. Fast paced and engaging tale. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.