cover image The Sapphire Affair

The Sapphire Affair

Lauren Blakely. Montlake Romance, $12.95 trade paper (237p) ISBN 978-1-5039-3547-1

Blakely’s first Jewel contemporary romance sizzles with intense attraction between a bounty hunter and a vacation tour guide on parallel quests. Steph Anderson is leading a rock climbing and diving tour for her company in the Caymans. She agrees to help her mother look into allegations that her mother’s ex-husband, Eli, stole money from his company to start a new club there. While in the Caymans, Steph meets Jake Harlowe, a recovery specialist who is working for Eli’s former business partner to find out where he hid the skimmed funds. The attraction between Steph and Jake is instantaneous, and when they realize they’re both searching for the money, they join forces. The suspense continues to escalate, but Steph and Jake’s attraction is too great to ignore. The only disappointment in this no-holds-barred romantic thriller the cliffhanger ending, which will hopefully be resolved in the next installment. Agent: Michelle Wolfson, Wolfson Literary. (July)