Lone Witness by Rachel Dylan

Back Cover: 

She's the Only Witness to a Brutal Crime. Now She Can't Outrun the Target on Her Back.
Prosecutor Sophie Dawson has taken a new role at the Fulton County DA's office, and her first case involves a local bank employee who may be cheating customers. She's determined to bring justice to those who've lost their savings . . . but her life is turned upside down when she becomes the only witness to a double homicide involving a vengeful gang. 

With her life at risk, friends and family convince her that she needs protection, and private security guard Cooper Knight is hired as a bodyguard. But as threats escalate, neither Cooper nor Sophie knows whom they can trust. 

Unwilling to back down on either case, Sophie pursues the truth at any cost. But her bank litigation gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from taking the stand. With all sides closing in, steadfast Cooper is the only man she can lean on. But drawing close may be the distraction that costs both of their lives. 

Review: This was a great read. Rachel Dylan did an admirable job of weaving two mysteries plus a believable romance into a single, fast-paced novel. Her cast of characters were highly dynamic and original. I found myself admiring her character development throughout the entire novel (and perhaps feeling a touch envious of her skill!). I appreciated how it was hard to vilify even the worst of her characters as she wove strands of humanity into all of them. Too often in TV shows and books the 'bad' characters are evil through and through. It's much harder - and way more believable - to create a character that is both good and bad. The villains in this story walk that line oh so well. 

I also really liked how there were two simultaneous mysteries going on at once. The interplay made the story very exciting and added a degree of curiosity that wouldn't have otherwise been present. To be honest, I was caught off guard by a couple of the 'who-done-it' revelations at the end. Love being surprised!

As for Cooper and Sophie....they are so sweet. Sophie just wears her whole heart on her sleeve, and Cooper is the ultimate protector. Their relationship is a hesitant one, but beautiful. I was cheering for them the whole time.

I would definitely recommend adding this book to your summer reads list.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing House for sending me a copy of this book. I really enjoyed it :)