Aces

“Welcome to Aces, Devon.” So begins a story of suspense and romance that leaves Devon Dawes wondering who she can trust.

The director of an activity center for troubled youth, Devon is dealing with her own personal heartbreak and the tragedies of her past. She moves across the country to start her life over and winds up in a town called Aces. After a TV appearance publicizing her youth center, she begins receiving anonymous threatening calls, leading her to hire a security firm in spite of her deep fear and distrust of anyone in the law enforcement profession. Rick Trevino is an ex-cop who runs Marshall Security, and something in Devon touches him deep inside from their first meeting.

Devon and Rick each have scars, both physical and emotional. She is grieving for her 14-year old brother, who stole a car and went joyriding, resulting in an accident that claimed his life when the local police gave chase. Rick carries visible scars from an undercover sting operation that went bad, resulting in a pair of broken ribs and wounds that took nearly thirty stitches to repair his face. He lost his love that day, along with his ability to trust, and nearly lost his life when his lover betrayed him. He isn’t looking for a relationship, but finds himself drawn to Devon’s hidden vulnerability.

When a problem at the Youth Center results in an injury, Rick blames himself and reaches out for comfort, bringing them closer together. As the stalker closes in on Devon, she finds herself relying on Rick more and more.

In a stunning turnaround ending, Devon learns the identity of her stalker, and must depend on Rick to save her from a certain death. When Rick finds out exactly how much danger Devon has placed herself in, he realizes the depth of his feelings for her. Do they have a future together or will Devon’s stalker prevent their happiness?

This book was fast-paced and well-written, with plot twists and turns that herald a master-in-the-making. I loved the believable characters and the profound healing that takes place as they both learn to trust again, only to have that newly-found happiness threatened yet again by the ghosts of their past. An excellent work; I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book by Jaye Roycraft!

Reviewed by: Michelle