Two former lovers/CIA operatives put aside their past hurts to reunite and save a teen from becoming a pawn in a deadly game. This is second chance, with plenty of pining and regret for the way they split apart. It’s high action and conflict, keeping the pace moving quickly. They have good chemistry and she’s as smart and capable as he is - equal footing in the agent/former agent department.

This is the first in a series and his retired SEAL
brother and another former police detective are likely the next installments. I liked this one enough to pick up the next books in the Wyoming Warriors series.

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Harlequin Romantic Suspense (April 2025)
Series: Wyoming Warriors #1

LEO: yes, she’s current CIA, he’s former CIA. There are corruption themes and dirty LEOs here across the board, but not sympathetic to the bad actors in LEO

Setting: rural Wyoming

BIPOC Characters: neither main character

Steam/Spice Level: open door, soft focus, lots of lusty thoughts but low level spiciness on page for how fiery their chemistry was suggested to be

POV: third person, past tense, both MCs and occasionally the teen girl in danger. Worked well in the story.

Standalone or Series: series starter

Does the Dog Die? Nope! K-9 does good work and comes out without a scratch

Terrific start to the new series, with great action, suspense, and an emotional second chance at love. Trace was a CIA operative until he became disillusioned with the trustworthiness of his employer. He bought a ranch in Wyoming and, along with his brother, Garner, a former SEAL, and their friend, Jake, a former Vegas cop, trains horses. They also occasionally took on activities that utilized their skills. Trace specializes in finding missing persons. The last person he expected to show up was his former partner and the woman he can't forget.

Nicola is desperate to find a missing asset. Olivia is a teenage girl with mad computer skills and a connection to an investigation Nicola is part of. Olivia disappeared, and Nicola, unlike in the past, doesn't know who she can trust. Trust was never an issue with Trace, so she tracks him down to get help.

I knew this would be a terrific book when Trace and Nicola's reunion started with her holding a gun on him. As details of their past emerged, I could see the conflict that complicated their relationship. Nicola is a by-the-book agent who believes their agency has the world's best interests at heart. Trace had no problem thinking outside the box regarding the rules. He also had/has a cynical view of his coworkers' trustworthiness. The end of their affair coincided with Trace's departure and harsh words exchanged.

Each believes that they have moved on. However, seeing each other stirs up old feelings, even though they try to resist. Working together to find Olivia allows them to face their past and acknowledge mistakes. Their feelings continue to grow, but what happens once they find Olivia? I loved the full-circle ending.

The suspense kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Nicola's worry about Olivia sent her to Trace for help. The intensity ramps up when they become the target of attacks. As Trace and Nicola dive deeper into Olivia's disappearance, the question becomes, are these attacks related to her disappearance, or are they personal? And if they are personal, who is the target - Trace or Nicola? I loved how they made Olvia's rescue their top priority, even as the truth of what they are up against becomes clear. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a twist I didn't expect. I loved how it turned out.

"Renegade Reunion" weaves a gripping tale of suspense and rekindled passion amidst the high-stakes world of espionage. Trace Withrow and Nicola Miles, once formidable CIA partners with a smoldering past, find themselves drawn back together by a dangerous new mission. Trace left the agency and retreated to a Wyoming ranch where he lives off-the-grid. His approach to life and the job has always been “whatever it takes” to get the job done, which contrasts sharply with Nic's steadfast adherence to rules, a divergence that fractured both their professional partnership and personal relationship. When Nic uncovers unsettling truths within the CIA, and a girl she feels drawn to is missing, she turns to Trace, the only person she knows she can trust. Their mission: rescue a vulnerable young girl, plunging them into a complex conspiracy where old wounds and buried secrets resurface.

The novel excels in character development, presenting Trace and Nic with emotional depth and layers as they navigate unresolved feelings amidst the chaos. Supported by Trace's ex-SEAL brother and a seasoned retired police detective, they unravel a web of deception that threatens not only their lives but also their intertwined destinies. With each revelation, the plot intensifies, building to a crescendo of suspense and unexpected twists. As violence escalates and motives blur, alliances and motivations are questioned until the final, explosive resolution.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Fox and Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Trace Withrow is former CIA out of the DC area; he has bought a ranch and lives in Wyoming now. His former partner Nicola Miles shows up asking for his help. She has brought trouble his is home; he lives with his brother and best friend now and raises horses. Nicola was always a by the book agent and Trace was not. After he left town and moved away, she was assigned to a task force keeping watch on a teenager who is now gone missing. This is a wonderful suspense story.

I really liked this book. I love a good suspense story and this did not disappoint. The story was interesting and kept me on my toes!