Risk It All

Plenty of adventure can’t make up for the underdeveloped hero and bland heroine of the second romantic suspense novel in Ruggle’s Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters series (after In Her Sights). Cara Pax dreams of leaving behind her family’s bounty hunting business to become a kindergarten teacher, but when Pax Bail Recovery hits a financial rough patch, she’s determined to help. Despite her lack of experience in the field, Cara attempts to pick up a high value bounty on accused murderer Henry Kavenski, but he catches her tailing him almost immediately, confronts her, and scares her off. Cara tries to play it safe by leaving Kavenski to her more experienced sisters and instead pursuing Geoffrey Abbott, a white-collar criminal wanted for tax evasion, only to discover that Abbott is far more dangerous than he seems. When the two cases violently collide, Henry saves Cara’s life, and she goes on the run with the handsome, shockingly caring, likely innocent Henry. Predictable situations give rise to a few fun action sequences, but the lackluster love story slows the pace. Ruggle’s fans will be disappointed. Agent: Jessica Waterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Jan.)