CRAZY THING CALLED LOVE

Straitlaced Jayda Tillman, better known as Hanging Judge Tillman in the courtroom, and rakish criminal defense attorney Jason McNeal are an unlikely couple, but their lively banter and scorching physical chemistry heat up the pages of Louis's debut romance. Jayda hopes her new Paradise mansion apartment in Port Arthur, Tex., will be just the change she needs to help her recover from a devastating divorce, but her noisy upstairs neighbor swiftly shatters her newfound peace. When Jayda tries to confront the offending individual, she is shocked to find herself facing Jason, a handsome and renowned womanizer. Still recovering from her sleazy ex-husband's verbal abuse and unimpressed by Jason's cocky demeanor, Jayda vows to keep the attraction she feels for her gorgeous colleague under wraps. The upcoming, high-profile murder trial of a man who has ties to the Jamaican Mafia diverts Jayda's attention, but she soon finds herself receiving hate mail and death threats—and around-the-clock protection from both the police and Jason. Louis's breezy writing style and smooth dialogue help maintain the narrative's brisk pacing. Although the suspense element occasionally feels forced, there are plenty of plot twists to keep readers riveted to the page. (Aug.)