Filthy Rich

Ryder’s latest erotic romance gets down and dirty. Southern California lawyer Celeste Connor has to go all the way to Alaska to find a man whose very presence fills her with longing. Unfortunately, he’s also filthy rich, and she’s had it with wealthy men and their control issues. Her most recent ex, Caspian Devitt, is in prison for assault; Celeste, determined to protect herself from anyone else who wants to abuse her, has been studying martial arts. At first she dismisses Apache stud Nartan Lupan out of hand, thinking she knows his type, but their physical attraction is too powerful for her to resist. Plenty of sensual heat keeps the story going until the unsurprising appearance of Caspian, fresh out of prison and determined to stake his claim to Celeste. Ryder (Out of Bounds) ably ties the solid story together with a smart blend of love and lust. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Feb.)