Patchwork pieces of crime, intrigue, and romance fall into place perfectly.
This Philadelphia police procedural serves as a backdrop for a romance between two broken but highly attractive detectives.
Detective Alexandra “Lexi” Danvers “was hollow inside...in a way no amount of sex or whiskey seemed able to fill.” That doesn’t stop the feline-eyed beauty from trying. Because of self-destructive behavior that includes getting served too many drinks and hooking up regularly at “cop bars,” her reputation on the force is that she’s unfit for duty in spite of her good work record. Her train-wreck conduct began three years ago when her husband, Robert, a police officer, chose suicide after a failed investigation into the kidnap and murder of 8-year-old Donald Palmer. Arthur Book’s confession to that crime was thrown out due to allegations of police coercion. Book walked free and successfully sued the city. Now, Xavier Knight, Lexi’s sexy new partner (“He’s got a great ass”), has a hidden agenda. Police Capt. Jack Barrett brought Knight from the Baltimore police force to Philadelphia to evaluate Lexi’s fitness. Knight also has a backstory that led to a damaged life. As soon as the two detectives are partnered, another 8-year-old boy is kidnapped and murdered, and Book starts tormenting Lexi. In addition to looking for the killer, shielding Lexi from Book, and keeping his mission to evaluate his partner a secret, Knight finds himself falling in love with her, as she does with him. As good as Flade’s storytelling is, the murders and suicides (yes, plural) are upsetting to read about, but they are not presented with over-the-top gore. And the flirtations that lead to something deeper balance the darkness of the crimes. In addition, the police investigation feels authentic. For example, Knight notes that the kidnapper/killer hunts in neighborhood parks but not in the crowded parts of the city because the snatch may be fast and anonymous there, “but the escape is near impossible.” There’s often welcome humor in the patter between the two detectives, as when Knight says: “For crying out loud, Danvers, don’t talk with your mouth full. And use a fork.”
Patchwork pieces of crime, intrigue, and romance fall into place perfectly.Pub Date: Nov. 30, 2021
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 253
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Soapy, suspenseful fun.
A remembered horror plunges a pregnant woman into a waking nightmare.
Tegan Werner, 23, barely recalls her one-night stand with married real estate developer Simon Lamar; she only learns Simon’s name after seeing him on the local news five months later. Simon wants nothing to do with the resulting child Tegan now carries and tells his lawyer to negotiate a nondisclosure agreement. A destitute Tegan is all too happy to trade her silence for cash—until a whiff of Simon’s cologne triggers a memory of him drugging and raping her. Distraught and eight months pregnant, Tegan flees her Lewiston, Maine, apartment and drives north in a blizzard, intending to seek comfort and counsel from her older brother, Dennis; instead, she gets lost and crashes, badly injuring her ankle. Tegan is terrified when hulking stranger Hank Thompson stops and extricates her from the wreck, and becomes even more so when he takes her to his cabin rather than the hospital, citing hazardous road conditions. Her anxiety eases somewhat upon meeting Hank’s wife, Polly—a former nurse who settles Tegan in a basement hospital room originally built for Polly’s now-deceased mother. Polly vows to call 911 as soon as the phones and power return, but when that doesn’t happen, Tegan becomes convinced that Hank is forcing Polly to hold her prisoner. Tegan doesn’t know the half of it. McFadden unspools her twisty tale via a first-person-present narration that alternates between Tegan and Polly, grounding character while elevating tension. Coincidence and frustratingly foolish assumptions fuel the plot, but readers able to suspend disbelief are in for a wild ride. A purposefully ambiguous, forward-flashing prologue hints at future homicide, establishing stakes from the jump.
Soapy, suspenseful fun.Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781464227325
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Poisoned Pen
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
This captivating, deeply emotional, and incredibly sexy romance is a balm for the soul.
A blossoming romance infringes on a successful businesswoman's professional aspirations, making her reevaluate her priorities.
At an exclusive party, talent manager Hendrix Barry has an instant connection with billionaire tech mogul Maverick Bell. When he learns that she’s navigating her mother’s Alzheimer's diagnosis, he relates to what she’s going through, having had similar experiences with his grandfather. Maverick makes Hendrix feel seen and understood like no one else, but he’s the recent ex-boyfriend of a woman Hendrix is going into business with as she works toward her goal of executive producing a television show. She tries to set boundaries that would keep him as a friend despite their obvious mutual attraction, but when he expresses interest in her venture capital fund focusing on Black women–led businesses, it leads to spending more time together, and the lines of friendship, business, and pleasure become tangled and blurred. Ryan excels at crafting thoughtful, mature characters who have to manage complicated situations with care and grace. Maverick’s dogged pursuit of Hendrix and the delicious ways he woos her using his wealth and persistence frame him as a determined, headstrong hero. Paired with a weaker heroine, he could have been overbearing, but Hendrix is his perfect match, equally as strong-willed and tenacious. They bring out each other’s softer, more vulnerable sides as well, and both have compassionate hearts. The spicy romance is the core of this satisfying story, but the novel doesn’t shy away from—and is made richer for the inclusion of—hardships like caring for an aging parent and confronting racism in the world of business. The tale also highlights the importance of community and the value of supportive, platonic love through the wonderful cast of side characters.
This captivating, deeply emotional, and incredibly sexy romance is a balm for the soul.Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781538706855
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
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