Trouble Walks In

Readers will be enthralled by the perfectly flawed protagonists of this heart-pounding romantic thriller, the second in Humphreys’s McGuire Brothers contemporary series (following Brave the Heat). Maddy Morgan fled tiny Old Brookfield for Manhattan, hoping to start a new life away from memories of her deceased boyfriend. Becoming a successful real estate agent, she immerses herself in work. But no matter how much she tries to run from her former life, there’s a constant reminder: NYPD K-9 officer Ronan McGuire. Ronan has wanted Maddy since high school, but she was involved with his friend. She doesn’t want to be in a relationship, so Ronan settles for being just her friend, stifling his physical and emotional attraction to her. When a serial killer targets women in Maddy’s profession, Ronan makes it his mission to protect her at all costs; Maddy insists on every possible degree of independence. Soon, they find themselves caught between the need for safety and the risky desires of their hearts. Readers will swoon over Ronan, and dog fanciers will especially appreciate his delightful canine companion, Bowser. A choice of suspects, each with clear motives, and a few red herrings make this sexually charged whodunit a deeply satisfying read. Agent: Jeanne Forte Dube, Forte Associates. (Aug.)