cover image A Good Excuse to Be Bad

A Good Excuse to Be Bad

Miranda Parker. Kensington/Dafina, $14 trade paper (336p) ISBN 978-0-7582-5950-9

Parker's choppy debut introduces Georgia bail recovery agent Angel Crawford, an alluring package of physical toughness with enough romantic insecurities to foil almost every man bold enough to approach her. Angel can take down a bad dude by herself, as she does bank robber and bail skipper Cade Taylor, but a hot hunk like her pastor at Greater Atlanta Faith church, Justus Morgan, throws her for a loop with a simple touch. When Angel's twin sister, Ava, wife of Bishop Devon McArthur, is found kneeling next to the bishop's still bleeding body, Angel has her work cut out for her, especially since Ava is unwilling to defend herself. Meanwhile, the overwhelmed Angel must cope with three kids%E2%80%94her daughter, Bella, and Ava's two, Lil' D and Taylor%E2%80%94as well as her overbearing mother, Virginia Carter. Parker combines murder, romance, and church scandals amid plenty of suggestive sexuality, but in a recipe that never quite gels into a tasty whole. (July)