There has never been anything romantic between Laura and Jake, just a strong and long lasting friendship. Laura and Jake marry when it appears that Jake's ex-wife, an alcoholic with an unstable personality, may gain custody of their son, Timmy. During their in name-only marriage, Laura and Jake maintain separate living arrangements.
Laura attempts to adopt Timmy legally so that the threat of his birth mother gaining custody is eliminated. In the middle of this domestic situation, the stuff of which romance novels are made, the world of high-tech special ops creeps in.
Jake is still an active special ops agent. He is assigned to investigate a group of possible domestic terrorists with access to biological warfare agents. He finds three dead operatives and one of them is clutching a photo of Laura, leading him to suspect her of duplicity with the terrorists. The plot is predictable in some ways, but completely surprising in others and the ending takes a totally unexpected twist. It is clear that Hinze's knowledge of Air Force special ops is extensive and first hand. She takes us behind the scenes in a way that can only be born of knowledge.
In between the romantic scenes of domestic serenity is a roller coaster ride of suspense and terror. I don't quite know how to classify this work. I think that Vicki Hinze, who also writes under the names of Victoria Barrett and Victoria Cole, may just have initiated a new genre.
Shades of Gray is a book definitely worth taking the time to read. It is a page turner from beginning to end.
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