cover image Deadly Desires

Deadly Desires

Ann Christopher. Kensington/Dafina, $6.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-0-7582-3545-9

Christopher follows Deadly Pursuit with a notably less steamy romantic suspense adventure. Kira Gregory walks out on her recently arrested drug-dealer husband, Kareem. Shortly afterwards, he’s killed in a gas explosion while under house arrest. Freed from worrying about the jealous Kareem, two men begin to pursue Kira: drunken Kerry Randolph, the snitch who gave away Kareem’s operation, and Special Agent Dexter Brady, Kira’s government confidant and the man who took Kareem down. Suspense and paranoia thread through the book, as Kira keeps thinking Kareem is still alive and secretly watching her. Brady’s protectiveness of Kira and willingness to break protocol to pursue the relationship feels opportunistic, inappropriate, and creepy even when Kira finally welcomes it, leaving this installment devoid of sizzle. (Oct.)