Shades of Gray by Vicki Hinze was a thriller that captivates. Laura has become one of my favorite female characters. She is a former Special Ops Intelligence Officer. The reason she is a former was interesting and showed her strength. Jake is a Special Ops soldier that works situations with low survival statistics. Jake and Laura marry to help him keep his son. This is no typical marriage of convenience story. The ex-wife is crazy. The reason Laura agrees to marry Jake won me over too. Jake’s son was absolutely adorable. His comments when he would describe Laura were hilarious. There is so much I want to share about this book but I don’t want to ruin any of it for you. Vicki created a wonderful balance of the action adventure of the mystery and the story of Laura and Jake getting to know one another as more than friends. I am now looking for more books by Vicki. I could not finish the book fast enough.
Sexual content: There is a physical relationship behind closed doors for a married couple.
Violence: lots of violent activities. Kidnapping, shootings, car accidents, bombing, chemical warfare, etc
Drinking: the exwife is an alcoholic/drunk not shown in a positive light.

Captain Dr. Laura Taylor and Special Ops Office Jake Logan are best friends and have been for 10 years and have seen each other through all kinds of personal and professional trails. When Jake's ex-wife Madeline sues him for custody of their son. Jake's lawyer suggests that since it would be a toss up between the alcoholic ex and Jake because of his highly dangerous military job. That marriage would give him a better chance of keeping Timmy. Laura suggests that the 2 of them get married for Timmy's best interests. Since Jake had a disastrous first marriage with Madeline he tells Laura that he won't fall in love with her. Shortly after their marriage Madeline backs out of the custody fight and starts drinking again, Jake suggests a divorce but Laura says no because she knows that Madeline will just get custody of Timmy if any thing happens on assignment to Jake so they file for step-parent adoption, which ends up taking 2 years to come to the final stage because of Madeline's backing out on the 2 previous occasions. The night before going to see the judge Jake is called in for an assignment to go rescue or recover 3 CIA operatives that missed their rendezvous. That leaves Laura to handle the adoption on her own. with a different judge than they thought, When Jake finds the agents dead covered in dust and one of them has a picture of Laura in his hand he gets doubts about his wife and her possible connection to the terrorist group ROFF, Mean while Laura hasn't told Jake that she's been put off and on back on active duty occasional as a consultant which had for this Op. She was going to tell him before Madeline show's up drunk at their house and he's called to active duty, Jake and his boss Connor are finally convinced that Laura is innocent. Connor sends them home with surveillance, and when they get home the emotions explode and heat up. When an explosion wakes them up and they are called in the base STAT the situation keeps going from bad to worse. To keep Timmy safe Laura won't trust anyone but Judge Bear Barton who made Timmy's adoption possible. ROFF besides coming after Laura and Jake are also going to taint the water supply of a major Florida city since they're headquarters are in the Florida Everglades. After the car bomb attempt on Laura, Connor puts her into protective custody, while Jake gets ready to go on another mission to protect the water system, Before that can happen Laura's motherly instincts kick and she know Timmy is in danger, When Jake goes in for his briefing he finds out that there was just a message from Mrs. Barton that her husband has been shot and Timmy was kidnapped with the note being sent to Connors office. Laura and Jake are now sent together to go exchange her for Timmy. They're ambushed and Laura has to save Timmy herself and then hope that she can send a team back for Jake since he was taken hostage during the ambush. Laura and Jake figure out who is behind the ROFF and realize in the chaos that they love each other and are sure that the other doesn't feel the same and are trying to honor the marriage the agreed to in the beginning. The people behind ROFF end up being people from their past with the help of someone that didn't think was capable of the deceit that has been perpetrated. Timmy has key information that helps to break the case. And Laura reveals a last secret to Jake that she thinks will make him angry and he surprises her with his reaction about why she left the military. Just when you think the danger is over its not. Shades of Gray made cry and smile and hope that the good guys prevail and safe the world and they family.

I've read several Vicki Hinze books in the past, but somehow I must have missed this one. Most of the time the books available for request on Net Galley are new releases, but once I saw the author of this one, I had to request it, new or not. I'm thrilled that I did. Vicki Hinze always does a great job of creating realistically complicated characters. Laura and Jake have been married for a couple of years. They have always been best friends, but their marriage is completely platonic. Laura acts as a mother to Jake's son as he fights for custody with a vindictive ex.

Just when things in their lives seen to be taking a positive turn, Jake gets tagged for a dangerous mission and Laura is left to deal with less than optimal conditions at home. This mission though, it changes everything and makes Jake question every choice he's made. Either his wife is actually his enemy, or she needs him more than she knows.

The story had plenty of intrigue and action as well as a smoldering passion simmering just under the surface of a marriage never meant to be consummated. I was very engrossed and hated to put it down.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for honest review.

Shades of Grey is a wonderful suspense/romance. I loved the plot, Florida Everglades setting and the characters. I also enjoyed the author's writing and will certainly be reading more of her books in the future. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good edge of your seat type suspense with a dash of romance.

3 1\2 out of 5
This is the first book I have read by Vicki Hinze. I found the first few chapters of the book was a little bit difficult because she was setting up the characters and developing them but it made the story move along at a snails pace which could turn off readers. I would say if you don't understand military terms you will want to keep your computer close by to type in the acronyms because Vicki Hinze uses them all the time which again can be confusing for readers.
The story starts to build after readers are introduced to characters and it picks up speed with twist and turns as well as a better understand what are gray areas in life and the military. if you love mysteries you will find it predictable but she does throw in a few parts to keep you reading and wondering.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy.

Vicki Hinze just went on my "must read" list.

This book is 5 stars and Full of suspense, love, and intrigue. I read but didn't want it to end. The only thing I would have changed even slightly is the end and *spoiler* would like to have it states that our hero has a position that lets him live to a ripe old age.

Now I need to go and look on Amazon to see what else this author has available.