Illicit Intent
Debbie Baldwin
366 Pages
Published January 1, 2021
Gatekeeper Press
Heart-racing passion, heart-stopping suspense, heartwarming romance
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This is the second book in the Bishop Security series, following False Front. Each book can be read as a standalone book. They have overlapping characters and are set in the same world but can easily be read separately.
Summary:
Calliope Garland’s newsdesk assignment was fairly straightforward—dig up the dirt on the sketchy CEO of a Wall Street hedge fund. But when the man is murdered and valuable data destroyed, a simple investigation turns deadly. Calliope is unwittingly in possession of vital financial information and a priceless work of art; either of which may get her killed. With an ever-growing list of people who want to harm her, Calliope must set aside her reservations and turn to the one man she knows she can trust.
Miller “Tox” Buchanan is a study in contradictions: kind but lethal, passionate but distant, self-possessed yet hesitant. He knows he should keep his distance, but when Calliope is hurled into danger, Tox will stop at nothing to protect her. Fans of Lori Foster, Sandra Brown, and Toni Anderson will love Illicit Intent.
Be advised: this story contains scenes of violence equivalent to an R-rated movie and explicit sexual situations.
My Review:
I had forgotten how much I like contemporary suspense, especially when it includes a romance with a well-crafted plot. This book really worked for me. While this is technically the second book in the series, you will have no problems if you haven’t read the first book. It’s the same book universe with different characters in the spotlight.
I like that the chemistry between Calliope and Tox is right from the start. They are both such likable characters that you just want to see good things happening for them. And I also loved how Tox and his team are the family he’s never had. That was so well portrayed in the book. We started with a lot of characters and it was a little challenging keeping track of them, but once I figured them out, the story was easy to follow. It moved at a fast pace and there were surprises along the way.
There is definitely more suspense than romance, but if you’re a fan of contemporary suspense, you should pick this one up and watch for the author’s new book coming out in November: Buried Beneath.
Author Bio:
Debbie Baldwin is a successful print media and television writer. She is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Debbie and her husband live in Saint Louis, Missouri with their puggle, Pebbles. They have three children in college.
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