Molly Ballard, age 24, has a lot on her plate at the moment. She is the sole provider for four younger siblings, and she's just quit her job as a groom in a racing stable after one too many episodes of butt-grabbing by the boss' son. Returning to the barn in the early morning hours to collect her last paycheck, she finds a feed sack stuffed with cash in the feed room of the barn and decides what the heck. She grabs it and takes off for home.

Unbeknownst to Molly, FBI Agent Will Lyman has caught the theft on tape. Will is in Kentucky to try and uncover a horse-swapping racket in which racehorses are switched at the track, dodging the racing odds. He follows Molly home and demands her help in the investigation if she wants to keep her pretty face out of jail.

Molly, being a young lady of some spunk and having a huge chip in her shoulder, initially tells him to go to hell, but after a few minutes thought she realizes she's trapped. She will try to get her job back and act as Will's spy. And she'll try to ignore the fact that this 39-year-old divorced father of a college-aged son turns her on like crazy.

Will has his own set of problems. He doesn't want an involvement, but can't keep his mind, or his hands, off Molly. He also can't help getting drawn into the lives of Molly's siblings. I really liked the way Robards set up the sexual tension in this book. Molly is no innocent, and when they finally do get together, it's Will who is almost undone. A nice twist on the "older hero" story line.

There are two mysteries in this book. The first, the horse-swapping, is solved midway through, but the deeper, more sinister mystery involves the disappearance of a young girl thirteen years earlier. This tragedy comes home to Molly's doorstep after she and Will both panic at the strength of their feelings for each other and part ways. It's a tense read at the end, and I think readers will be surprised.

Robards writes a particularly tight story, which I admire. Her settings and descriptions all serve a purpose; none read like filler. She can also write dialogue with the best of them. My only complaint was that I felt Molly and Will didn't spend enough time together as lovers. The sex was hot, but they were so busy fighting their feelings for each other that there was little tenderness or softness, and I think the book could have used more of each to balance the rather gritty backdrop of Molly's life.

All in all, this book is a real treat for the readers. If you are a fan of romantic suspense, Hunter's Moon won't let you down.

--Cathy Sova