Texas Hold ’Em

Craig throws two love stories, crime, investigation, and the kitchen sink into the third Hotter in Texas contemporary (after Blame It on Texas). Rafael DeLuna framed PI Austin Brook for murder, and now Austin is on his tail. His informant, Roberto, has become unreliable, so Austin targets Rafael’s half-sister, veterinarian Leah Reece. When he goes undercover as a day trader, bugging her apartment and listening to her phone conversations, he is surprised by their attraction. Though the creepy duplicity of Austin’s spying on Leah is jarring, their connection is sweet and genuine, their childhood scars and adult histories making them slow to open up, despite their mutual interest. Two prominent subplots both involve Roberto: a crime story about him infiltrating Rafael’s group, and a gentle romance involving him and Leah’s assistant. Austin and Leah’s story is often dark, and the mysteries, histories, and subplots make the romance feel like an afterthought, but fans of fast-paced thrillers and Craig’s other books will feel at home. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds. (Feb.)