Jason Pinter, Hide Away

Rachel Marin—not her real name—is a mother bent on protecting her children at any cost after the gruesome murder of her husband. But she's also keen on righting wrongs unrelated to her family, and this can land her in trouble. In this first book in what is currently a two-book series, Rachel's vigilantism puts her at odds with the police department in Ashby, Illinois, where the family lives in hiding. I was initially very attracted to Rachel's character. Early on, we see her defeat a would-be rapist, and she comes off as smart and well-trained, a kick-ass supermom. (She even has a secret lair in her basement.) Then her character gets a little muddled. She does stupid things that get her in trouble with the police and put her family at risk—so much for protecting the kids. It almost seemed as if she was a different person from the hero we met in that alley early on. I was still rooting for her, but she became forgettable. I don't think I'd bother reading more in the series.