Relentless

Adair’s fast-paced third Lodestone romantic thriller (after Hush and Afterglow) delivers a healthy dose of action, sensuality, and romance. Connor Thorne, on leave from MI5 following a terrible injury, is hired by Isis Magee, daughter of a prominent Egyptologist, to find what might be the lost tomb of Cleopatra. With his special forces training and psychometric ability to track where objects come from, and her intimate knowledge of her father’s work, it should be a snap, but old enemies want them dead, turning every step of the journey into a life-or-death struggle. Sizzling chemistry and adrenaline-charged action scenes propel the story, but the tension is hamstrung by the resolution mostly taking place offscreen. The ruthlessness and effectiveness of the antagonists vary depending on plot needs, but the erotic and romantic components make up for the occasional implausibility and convoluted schemes. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, Trident Media Group. (Apr.)