This novel is the twelfth in a series, and although I had not read the other books, it was easy to follow the characters and the story. If you like romance with suspense, then you will enjoy this read.
The story centers around Cordie Kane, who was raised by her father and has always had a crush on her best friend’s brother, Aiden. Her father dies unexpectedly, leaving Cordie devastated not only by his death but also with the news that her mother, whom she thought had died in a car crash, is still alive. In reality, she abandoned her family. Cordie decides this is the perfect opportunity to let go of the past (her crush on Aiden) and move forward with her life. Her first goal is to find out why her mother left her and her father so many years ago.
Aiden Madison is a workaholic who has placed Cordie in the friend zone because he watched her grow up. It’s not until after an impromptu kiss that he realizes what a beautiful woman she has become. When Cordie tracks her mother to Sidney, Australia, Aiden is steamrollered into accompanying her. There the two find themselves involved in a mystery involving her mother’s wealthy family, who will do anything to keep the secret of her birth buried. This leads to multiple attempts on Cordie’s life, which make Aiden realize that he may lose the one person he never knew he wanted.