Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She's not a victim, she's a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she's determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can't stay safely over the border in America--unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

Melissa Koslin throws you right into the middle of the action in this high-stakes thriller that poses the question: What is the price of freedom?

MY REVIEW

 

There are many books out there about human trafficking but this one is different because it features someone who risks their life everyday to rescue those who have been kidnapped. It was intriguing to see how the author unravels a dangerous game that puts Meric in a position that could cost him more than his reputation. I loved how the author brings Meric and Liliana together at a truck stop. After trying to escape her captors, it is hard to trust anyone. Will Liliana let down her guard and let Meric convince her he is there to save her? 

There is plenty of suspense as Liliana finds herself in a strange apartment with someone she barely knows. The author surprised me with what measures Meric would do to keep Liliana close by him to know she was safe. Meric is a mystery to most everyone. He is very private and wealthy but why are women coming forward and saying things about him that would damage his credibility or possibly put him in jail? As the two start to get closer we begin to see that Meric is trying to heal from something. He is gentle with Liliana and  always protective of her but he won’t allow her to know anything about his past. I did admire how he put his life before hers and at times found  himself having to fight off people to  keep her safe. 

We do witness a softer side to Meric that made the story so emotional. All this time he has been doing everything he can to let Liliana heal from her past, but the author delivers a twist in the story that helped me understand Meric better. In a tender moment Meric explains that he was attracted to her for more than her beauty. He admired her strength and how she has compassion for others. What happens when his past catches up with him? 

The ending is an adrenaline rush and the author illustrates how faith can heal the broken-hearted while showing them unconditional love. Get ready for action, surprises and a little romance in this book. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. The review is my own opinion.