A fast-moving action comedy with all the thrills of a summer blockbuster.
Exes get pulled into another heist—and back into each other’s orbit—in this fun sequel.
Desai’s To Have and To Heist (2023) introduced readers to Simi Chopra, Jack Danger, and their ragtag crew when they stole a multimillion-dollar necklace as a means to clear Simi’s best friend Chloe’s name. A year later, no one is where they expected to be—their reward money didn’t go as far as they thought it would, and Simi and Jack’s relationship couldn’t stand up to his demanding schedule as a mysterious thief. Now a mafia boss shows up at Simi’s office demanding the necklace—plus millions in interest—so Simi has to get the gang back together—including her hacker BFF, a tough-girl driver, a wannabe MMA fighter, and, unfortunately, Jack. He’s back in town and willing to do whatever it takes to show Simi’s he’s ready to settle down (as much as an international thief ever can) and be there for her no matter what—which includes helping her with this heist. Unfortunately, the necklace is in the hands of Jack’s ex, a very angry thief named Clare—and she’s not willing to forgive or forget how Jack abandoned her. But Simi and company have to work with Clare if they have any hope of getting the necklace back and saving their lives. Although the story is packed with action, near-death experiences, and plenty of violence, Desai keeps the tone light. Simi and Jack’s banter, by turns annoyed and romantic, helps things stay breezy—even in the most dire of situations, those two can’t keep their hands off each other. Simi’s slightly quirky but ever loyal group of friends keep spirits high as they refuse to give up on the job or each other. The details of the jewelry theft can get a little convoluted, but it’s best to simply focus on the fun and excitement that Simi’s crew brings to the process.
A fast-moving action comedy with all the thrills of a summer blockbuster.Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2024
ISBN: 9780593641316
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
Two hot people confronting their trauma, making passionate love, and solving violent crimes! ’Nuff said.
A heartbroken man lusts after his therapist while seeking revenge on a drug kingpin and his enforcer.
Mitch Haskell’s wife, Angela, died two years ago of an apparent suicide, but Mitch has always believed the scene was staged. Certainly, she would never have willingly left their young son, Andrew, behind. Consumed with a thirst for vengeance, Mitch—a former Marine and undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration and currently a police detective—is struggling with alcohol dependency and uncontrolled rage. Andrew is living with his in-laws, who are making not-so-subtle suggestions that they might apply for permanent guardianship if Mitch can’t get it together. So his boss and best friend, John Bowie, mandates that he go into therapy, which puts him in the path of sexy Dr. Dylan Reede. Within a few days, Mitch makes a connection between two new murders and the death of his former partner; finds a big clue that points to the truth about Angela’s death; goes undercover as a homeless man; takes on a vicious drug cartel; and obnoxiously bullies Dylan with a charm offensive that leads them inevitably to bed. While Mitch seems to lean into the stereotype of the ex-soldier/cop with deeply buried trauma who believes that the ends justify the means—at least in law enforcement—Dylan offers the strength and sweetness to help him start breaking down his walls, allowing herself to be vulnerable in turn. Is passionate sex enough to ground a relationship and a family for the long term? For these characters, and the breakneck speed of this thriller, it’s as good a foundation as any.
Two hot people confronting their trauma, making passionate love, and solving violent crimes! ’Nuff said.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781538743027
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Review Posted Online: Dec. 11, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
With captivating dialogue, angst-y characters, and a couple of steamy sex scenes, Hoover has done it again.
After being released from prison, a young woman tries to reconnect with her 5-year-old daughter despite having killed the girl’s father.
Kenna didn’t even know she was pregnant until after she was sent to prison for murdering her boyfriend, Scotty. When her baby girl, Diem, was born, she was forced to give custody to Scotty’s parents. Now that she’s been released, Kenna is intent on getting to know her daughter, but Scotty’s parents won’t give her a chance to tell them what really happened the night their son died. Instead, they file a restraining order preventing Kenna from so much as introducing herself to Diem. Handsome, self-assured Ledger, who was Scotty’s best friend, is another key adult in Diem’s life. He’s helping her grandparents raise her, and he too blames Kenna for Scotty’s death. Even so, there’s something about her that haunts him. Kenna feels the pull, too, and seems to be seeking Ledger out despite his judgmental behavior. As Ledger gets to know Kenna and acknowledges his attraction to her, he begins to wonder if maybe he and Scotty’s parents have judged her unfairly. Even so, Ledger is afraid that if he surrenders to his feelings, Scotty’s parents will kick him out of Diem’s life. As Kenna and Ledger continue to mourn for Scotty, they also grieve the future they cannot have with each other. Told alternatively from Kenna’s and Ledger’s perspectives, the story explores the myriad ways in which snap judgments based on partial information can derail people’s lives. Built on a foundation of death and grief, this story has an undercurrent of sadness. As usual, however, the author has created compelling characters who are magnetic and sympathetic enough to pull readers in. In addition to grief, the novel also deftly explores complex issues such as guilt, self-doubt, redemption, and forgiveness.
With captivating dialogue, angst-y characters, and a couple of steamy sex scenes, Hoover has done it again.Pub Date: Jan. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2560-7
Page Count: 335
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
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