Midnight Alias

Kennedy’s second Killer Instincts romantic thriller (after Midnight Rescue) balances the gritty side of humanity with sizzling passion. Mercenary Luke Dubois is on a find and rescue mission involving tedious hours of stakeouts—at a strip club, last known location of an undercover DEA agent. Action-oriented Luke is bored until he’s told to focus on gorgeous dancer Livy Lovelace. Dancing allows Livy to pay for school and her mother’s expensive chemotherapy. Unfortunately, her slimy and sadistic boss, Vince Angelo, thinks she should be his mistress, willing or not. Livy knows Vince is willing to kill anyone who stymies him, so she spurs Luke’s offer of help until Vince murders one of her friends. Soon risk-taker Luke and ever-cautious Livy are exploring their fiery passion and wondering whether they can make it permanent. Intriguing good guys and brutal bad guys, gory violence, twisty intertwined plots, and sassy dialogue overcome the clichés to keep readers turning the pages right up to the cliffhanger ending. (Feb.)