Detective Mitch Ransom has everything going for him in his work. He loves his job but a case from a couple months ago is putting his life at risk. At work he's known as a hard ass and workaholic who never has fun. Everybody knows though that this case is high profile and every witness, including him, is important. The thing is that he never expected to be kidnapped and stuck with a beautiful woman like Tiffany Golden. He's seen her at the office and always thought she was just another blonde badge bunny. Yet being in close quarters with her has him seeing what has been missing in his life. Tiffany. Can he find out who his kidnappers are before the case is over?

Tiffany Golden has one mission to accomplish: to become a cop. All her life she has been ridiculed and made fun of because of her hair color. They see a blonde and they think she is dimwitted instead of being brave and smart. One man though she can't forget about is Mitch Ransom. As a detective she knows he will never pay attention to her but now they are stuck with one another. Gone is the serious, hard working detective and now she's faced with a man who is getting under her skin. Everybody knows that Mitch is the key witness to sending the serial killer behind bars for years but why anybody would want her is a mystery. Can she figure out what her part is in this whole kidnapping before they end up dead?

Melanie Atkins has done it again in a tale of suspense, betrayal and a chance at love in an unusual place in Shield of Valor. I loved that the story continues from the last one, Marked for Murder-about a serial killer trying to stay free. Now Mitch Ransom is the only man who knows what needs to be said during the court case to put the killer in jail for life. The book though was funny in a way seeing how a woman like Tiffany tries so hard to be something else. I loved that even though she is a woman she just wants to be normal and taken seriously. All in all it was a good book. Melanie Atkins did a great job with these kidnappers messing up but keeping the story suspenseful with the main characters trying to outmaneuver them.

Reviewed by: Melinda B.