Dash of Peril

Bestseller Foster (Getting Rowdy) upends her tried-and-true romantic suspense thriller format for the satisfying fourth Love Undercover novel. Ohio police lieutenant Margaret “Margo” Peterson is devoted to discovering who is behind a series of videotaped sexual assaults on local women, so she goes undercover in bars when she’s off the clock, hoping to draw the predator. Her friend Dashiel “Dash” Riske wants to deepen their relationship, but Margo refuses to get romantically involved. When Margo is attacked and injured, Dash helps fight off the attackers and appoints himself to be her caretaker while she mends. But even Dash’s sexy charm and persistence may not be enough to break through the barriers created by Margo’s family dynamics, dedication to her job, and fear of vulnerability. Foster skillfully balances steamy seduction and police work as Margo and Dash learn to be a team in and out of the bedroom. Agent: Karen Solem, Spencerhill Associates. (Apr.)