In this modern action/suspense
romance novel, Tom Paoletti is a Navy SEAL lieutenant who recently received a head injury
in the line of duty. He goes home to New England, but he is unable to find the rest and relaxation he needs to recover because he thinks he sees a terrorist called the Frenchman that Tom tried to capture years earlier. But due to the fact that the
Merchant is believed by the intelligence community to be dead and because one of the side effects of Tom's head injury is possible hallucinations, Tom has trouble convincing his superiors, and even himself, that what he is seeing is real.
Also staying at home, in the house neighboring Tom's childhood home, is Kelly Ashton. They were mutually attracted to each other in high school but because of age differences, the attraction never lead anywhere. Now they are both all grown up and their attraction has grown as well. But Tom still sees Kelly as the young girl she used to be while Kelly is reluctant to enter into a serious relationship after barely escaping her first failed marriage.
Tom is living with his uncle Joe while Kelly takes care of her ailing father Charles. Both men served together during WWII and throughout the novel they have flashbacks where they relive how they met, what they did during the war, and the woman they both feel in love with while in France. Though they managed to be friends after the war neither of them truly got over their loss.
Upon hearing the news that a ceremony will be held to honor veterans of WWII with ambassadors from several european countries attending, Tom realizes that this is the Merchant's target and the reason that he has resurfaced. Tom's supervisors still don't believe him so Tom puts together a small team of trusted professionals and coworkers to help him take down the Merchant.
This novel is full of realistic suspense and emotional angst. The characters and their dilemmas are realistic and moving. One downside is that there are so many subplots that can be distracting but all of the stories are heartfelt.