Leave Me Breathless

Malpas (This Man) whips up a very satisfying mix of dizzying intrigue and steamy romance in this heart-pounding contemporary. Former MI5 operative Ryan Willis is just seeking some downtime with his beloved 10-year-old daughter, Alex, in his sleepy English hometown. Then he runs into Hannah Bright, the owner of the village’s new art shop. Their chemistry is immediate and overpowering, and despite Hannah’s efforts to resist it, she lets Ryan in. It’s soon apparent to Ryan that Hannah’s hiding something—but what? Malpas intersperses views of the past and present to answer that question, teasing out clues until the reader is shivering in fear right along with Hannah, whose secrets are linked to a threat from her past. Readers will enjoy the multilayered main and supporting characters (hilarious and precocious Alex deserves a book of her own when she’s of age), sizzling erotic scenes, and a taut plot loaded with plenty of twists and turns. Malpas will charm her current fans and win new ones with this strong romantic thriller, perfect for those who love a good alpha male and a damsel in distress who doesn’t wait for someone else to rescue her. Agent: Andrea Barzvi, Empire Literary. (Nov.)