White Lines III: All Falls Down

Skillful storyteller Brown wraps up the White Lines urban romance series (after White Lines II: Sunny) with this splendidly engrossing finale, set on the mean streets of New York and filled with ambition, desire, and betrayal. Jada, a former addict and sex worker, and Born, a neighborhood kingpin, teeter on the precipice between being star-crossed lovers and finding lifelong bliss together. Jada’s heart will only ever belong to Born, but she feels obliged to defer to her emotionally damaged and controlling son, Sheldon, who has made it clear through his suicide attempt that he does not want Born in their lives. A series of threats and attacks draws Jada and Born together as they try to figure out what’s going on and how to stay safe. The novel is full of vibrant, complex characters, ingenious plotting, and vivid imagery. Secondary characters and story lines add a dramatic richness, as secret betrayals, individual ambitions, and questions of loyalty and family swirl around the couple. Loose ends are nicely tied up in this fast-paced story, leaving readers hoping to hear from the characters again. Agent: Sara Camilli, Sara Camilli Agency. (Nov.)