Writing in a style uncluttered by romance clichés and trite descriptions, Taylor (In Too Deep) delivers a well-crafted romantic suspense set in Washington, D.C. When Jordan Curry's best friend, Phoebe, asks Jordan to take care of Spencer, her four-year-old son, for a while, Jordan doesn't hesitate, even though Phoebe's ominous parting words—"Nobody can know he's here... it's a matter of life and death"—leave Jordan confused and on edge. Jordan, a successful caterer, hasn't a clue how to feed or entertain a small child, so she turns to her blind date, wealthy workaholic Beau Somerville, for pointers. Beau, whose wife and son died when he lost control of the small plane he'd been piloting, is willing to help, but he doesn't want to get emotionally involved. He manages to keep his distance until he learns that Spencer's parents have been murdered and it appears that Jordan and Spencer are next on the killer's hit list. In an effort to keep them safe, and to help himself come to terms with the loss of his own family, Beau moves Jordan and Spencer to a remote beach house where his protective skills are put to the test. Although the suspense in this offering is on the thin side, well-drawn characters and a richly developed romantic subplot more than make up for the loss. (July)
