Karma

Bestseller Phillips rounds out her sexy trio of contemporary romances set in Serendipity, N.Y. (after Serendipity and Destiny) with another well-crafted tale. Officer Dare Barron hates dealing with the frequently drunk and disorderly Brian McKnight. The only benefit is seeing Brian’s sister, Liza, as she bails Brian out yet again. When the handsome cop confesses his attraction, Liza tentatively agrees to see where things go despite fretting over her brother being a public nuisance. Liza’s habit of enabling her brother keeps tripping up the relationship, but Dare will do anything to keep her safe when she’s targeted by her brother’s menacing creditors. Phillips creates sympathetic and interesting characters who realistically grow and mature despite their unhappy past actions and experiences. Excellent writing, deft plotting, believable situations, and a satisfying romance add up to a winner. Agents: Kimberly Witherspoon and David Forrer, InkWell Management. (May)