Kept in the Dark

Action sequences and espionage meet charged erotic love scenes in the first romance in the Locke and Keyes Agency series from Cochet (Diamond in the Rough). A one night stand between former Army ranger Álvaro Montero and CIA agent Caiden Cardosa ends with Álvaro murdered and Caiden’s mission sabotaged by a mysterious foe. The shadowy Locke and Keyes Agency resurrects Álvaro, offers him a new identity as “D,” and recruits him to work as a vigilante assassin. Two years later, the agency contacts Caiden, promising to help him figure out who blew his cover and almost got him killed. When Caiden arrives at Locke and Keyes, he and D are shocked to be reunited. Though initially distrustful of each other, Caiden and D are unable to resist their mutual attraction as they work to get revenge on the man who upended both of their lives. The deeply personal stakes of the mission keeps the tension high throughout, though the suspenseful plot plays second fiddle to the love scenes. This passionate series opener is sure to have readers tuning in for the next installment. (Jan.)