Kidnapped by the Billionaire

The fourth Nine Circles romantic thriller (after You Are Mine) is as steamy, gritty, and explosive as the earlier installments. Elijah Hunt despises criminal kingpin Evelyn Fitzgerald, but he had to work for her while waiting seven long, hard years to take her down. When the Nine Circles Club gets to Evelyn first, Elijah still goes through with his plan to kidnap Violet, Evelyn’s daughter. His new goal is to use Violet to lure out and destroy a different crime boss, but the Nine Circles—which includes Violet’s best friend, Honor St. James, and Violet’s half-brother, Gabriel Woolf (featured in Mine to Take)—has problems with that scheme. Meanwhile, Violet and Elijah are growing closer. The sex has tones of domination and violence, but underneath is tenderness and sweetness. Elijah and Violet grow with every trial and torture thrown their way as they learn to let go of their reservations and fear. Happiness is tantalizingly within their reach, and they just need to take a leap of faith. The ending brings redemption for Elijah while setting the stage for the next installment. Agent: Helen Breitweiser, Cornerstone Literary. (Mar.)