Dream Keeper

The entertaining standalone that wraps up the Dream Team series (after Dream Spinner) is a solid example of bestseller Ashley’s ability to combine tense action with steamy but heartfelt relationship building. Though single mom Pepper has seen many of her fellow Denver exotic dancers couple off with the members of a local team of security expert “commandos,” she’s focused on providing a safe, stable environment for her eight-year-old daughter, Juno, and resolutely ignores her attraction to commando Auggie Hero—even after she realizes Juno is playing matchmaker in the background. Pepper tries to leave Auggie out of it when she asks his commando team for help finding her estranged brother and figuring out why everyone at her parent’s church is acting increasingly odd. But Auggie inserts himself into the investigation as he and the team uncover much more than religious fanaticism driving the strange behavior. As the action ramps up, Pepper and Auggie overcome their hesitation and sweetly commit to each other. Meanwhile Ashley weaves in enough slightly younger commandos to spin off into her next set of romantic thrillers and delightfully redeems the shady Cisco, a baddie from earlier in the series who here turns Juno’s guardian angel. Fans are sure to be satisfied. Agent: Emily Sylvan Kim, Prospect Agency. (Nov.)