Ride the Tide

The addictive third romance in Walker’s Deep Six series (after Devil and the Deep) delivers a high-octane blend of suspense and sexual tension. Former SEAL Mason McCarthy’s ex-wife convinced him that he is “not normal” due to his years in the military. Now Mason keeps to himself save for his partnership with his former brothers-in-arms at Deep Six Salvage and the occasional no-strings-attached romp. Alexandra Merriweather, a 27-year-old historian working with Deep Six to find a long-lost treasure, has it bad for Mason. But Alex is a virgin, and Mason doesn’t believe her repeated assurances that she’s not looking for commitment. Their will-they-won’t-they dynamic comes to a head when an enemy from Mason’s deployment in the Middle East tracks Mason down to avenge his family by killing Mason and everyone he cares about. Though the cartoonish characterization of the Iranian villain is disappointing, the chemistry between Mason and Alex is palpable and the plotting is taut. Snappy prose and hair-raising danger keep the pages of this steamy suspense novel flying. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, the Seymour Agency. (Nov.)