cover image The Insiders

The Insiders

Tijan. Griffin, $17.99 trade paper (384p) ISBN 978-1-250-21077-7

The attempted kidnapping that opens this overloaded romantic suspense novel and series launch from Tijan (Nate) plunges plucky heroine Bailey Hayes into a world of danger and privilege. The kidnappers targeted Bailey to get to the father she never knew she had—Peter Francis, the tech mogul she’s idolized for years. Now 22-year-old Bailey must hide out with her newly discovered stepmother and half siblings—all also targets—in her father’s tightly secured mansion. Kashton Colello is more than just Peter’s head of security. He takes care of every member off the Francis family and, in many ways, has more power in the Francis estate than Peter himself. When Kash and Bailey are thrown together, Kash is as turned on by Bailey’s intelligence as she is his alpha-male magnetism. But as Kash’s fiercely guarded secrets keep him from opening up, there’s not much talking going on between the two, relegating their chemistry almost entirely to the bedroom. The charm and humor of Bailey’s narration helps break the tension, but it doesn’t negate the danger the Francis family faces, which includes another attempted kidnapping, a poisoning, infidelity, and the threat of Kash’s wealthy, dangerous grandfather. The result is a whirlwind of high-stakes suspense that settles into a balmy cliffhanger. (May)