Shadow of a Doubt

Snow’s breathless second Tangled Ivy espionage romance (after In His Shadow) keeps up a fast pace and comes to an abrupt ending. Bank teller Ivy Mason, who bemoans her model-like looks as “more of a curse than a blessing,” lives in St. Louis in the apartment of her sexy and elusive boyfriend, British spy Devon Clay. He mysteriously appears in her bed in the dead of night and is gone by the morning. Clive, his recently widowed longtime rival, blames Devon for the death of his wife and targets Ivy in turn. Devon reunites with Ivy to protect her, and suddenly their relationship solidifies into romance. As Ivy proves that she is no helpless damsel in distress, she begins falling in love with Devon, though he insists that he can never return her sentiments. Intriguing twists and turns keep the suspense plot balanced with the very sexy romance. Readers who want a solid ending should beware; the cliffhanger finale will leave them very anxious for the final series installment. (May)