Critical Alliance had a lot to live up to and didn’t disappoint. The first two books in the Rocky Mountain Courage series were excellent, as was this third offering.

This story does a deep dive into the world of cyber crime and high end technology. Family outcast Mackenzie Hanson made some silly mistakes as a teen trying to be a modern day Robin Hood. However, her skills do set her up for a successful career in cyber security. She’s pulled back to her family business in Montana after an old friend warns her of a terrifying threat.

Alex Knight works as an agent with the Diplomatic Security Services but when a memorial to his late father is repeatedly vandalized, heads home to the same state to investigate. He didn’t anticipate running into Mackenzie, a woman who grabbed his attention when she interviewed with his agency in DC. Before he gets the chance to reintroduce himself, bullets start flying and he’s thrust into protecting her. From there, the pair team up to try and figure out who is targeting Mackenzie, and how to stop them before the body count rises.

Critical Alliance is an intricately woven story. Because the plot twists and turns, I was kept guessing about who the bad guy was (very clever). The backstory was obviously meticulously researched. This comes highly recommended to those who enjoy romantic suspense.