The Last Man on Earth

In historical romance author Warren’s zippy yet soulful first contemporary, boardroom and bedroom passions flare between advertising exec Madelyn Grayson and her audaciously self-assured coworker and rival, Zack Douglas. Madelyn is hungry for success, but she holds firmly to a code of ethics. Zack is equally hungry for Madelyn, and his business instincts are far more mercenary. Madelyn blames Zack for stealing an account she coveted, but her competitive drive is hard to maintain around a man who causes “a wave of pure, unadulterated feminine lust” in her. The mutual attraction turns into a secret, very satisfying connection, albeit one fraught with mistrust as the two jockey for position at their cutthroat company. When simple pleasure evolves into love, the stakes get even higher as Madelyn and Zack realize how different their goals are. Deeply relatable characters and strong writing make this a good start to a connected series. (Jan.)