cover image Pedal to the Metal

Pedal to the Metal

Jesse J. Thoma. Bold Strokes (boldstrokesbooks.com), $16.95 trade paper (240p) ISBN 978-1-62639-239-7

Sassy and sexy meet adventurous and slightly nerdy in Thoma’s much-anticipated sequel to The Chase. Max Winters is the self-proclaimed computer guru for Holt Lasher’s bond enforcement crew in Providence, R.I. She’s been wanting to do more fieldwork, helping to apprehend people who jump bail, but she’s as surprised as anyone when Holt graduates her to primary agent on a tricky case—and lead babysitter for Whitney “Dubs” Williams, an unrepentant, irreverent, gorgeous car thief who’s going to help Holt’s crew break an auto larceny ring. Dubs has done part of the time for her crime and leaps at this opportunity to wear a white hat, hoping to at least briefly escape the boredom and monotony of prison life. She doesn’t count on being shot at, chased, or handcuffed to Max, the one woman she finds utterly irresistible. Tongue-in-cheek wit keeps the fast-moving action from going off the rails, all balanced by richly nuanced interpersonal relationships and sweet, realistic romance. (Mar.)