A Single Kiss

Courtroom drama, workplace attractions, and a laundry list of family secrets keep the action and heat coming in historical romance star Burrowes’s first contemporary novel, which launches the Sweetest Kisses series. Single mom Hannah Stark’s budget is decreasing by the day, so she’s thrilled to accept a position as an attorney with a respected law firm in Maryland. Her job is temporarily chock full of family law cases, which bring up awful memories and make her bitterly unhappy, but she’s determined to plow through them and prove herself. Her handsome and chivalrous boss, Trent Knightley, takes an instant liking to Hannah’s tell-it-like-it-is attitude, impressive work ethic, and classic good looks. Although Hannah is secretive to a fault, she begins to surrender to her attraction to Trent and his soothing charm. But when an unhinged lawyer decides that Hannah is the enemy, she must grapple with the stunning collision of her past and future. Burrowes (What a Lady Needs for Christmas), a former family law attorney, sustains a solid plot with slowly unraveling secrets and nicely balances realistic courtroom activity with the heartfelt emotions behind the law. Sweet and believable chemistry warms up the pages of this realistic and satisfying contemporary. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Literary Agency. (Jan.)