The Justiss Alliance is a clandestine black-ops unit formed by former military operatives who operate outside government red tape to deliver justice where the law fails. Hardened sniper and covert specialist Brett “Rex” Archer is a man driven by duty and lethal discipline, completely closed off to emotional distractions.
That discipline is pushed to the edge when he is tasked with protecting Sydney Buchanan, a feisty, independent wildlife rehabilitation expert who accidentally witnessed an assassination connected to an international cartel. Brett expects a routine babysitting job, but Sydney’s raw bravery and fiery defiance disarm his defenses. On the run across rugged terrain with killers closing in, the ferocious physical chemistry between protector and witness threatens to shatter their tactical focus.
Tina Wainscott delivers an action-packed, pulse-pounding romantic suspense adventure. With visceral firefights, high-stakes military tradecraft, and explosive romantic passion, this opening mission launches an addictive series for romantic thriller fans.
What makes this thrilling: Wainscott combines intense tactical combat, high-stakes protection drama, and scorching romantic heat into an unstoppable, adrenaline-fueled military romance.
Kat Makris is used to her boisterous Greek family being an absolute handful, but matters reach an entirely new level of absurdity when she inherits an uncanny gift: the ability to see and communicate with the dead. Just as she is trying to wrap her head around spectral sightings and ancient family curses, a bizarre supernatural homicide drops right into her lap.
When a spectral visitor demands that Kat clear their name and track down a ruthless killer, she is pulled into the eccentric magical underbelly of Chicago. Juggling overbearing relatives who insist on meddling in her love life, a cynical detective who is suspicious of her miraculous insights, and an unruly mob of quirky ghosts, Kat must use her wits and humor to solve the crime before she becomes a spirit herself.
Alex A. King serves up a fast, laugh-a-minute paranormal caper filled with vibrant Mediterranean culture, quirky ghostly antics, and witty dialogue. Kat is an irresistible, self-deprecating heroine whose hilarious escapades keep readers thoroughly delighted.
Why this delights: King blends laugh-out-loud family humor with charming paranormal sleuthing, delivering an energetic, supernatural mystery bursting with heart and big laughs.
Lady Sophia knows that a high-society scandal has ruined her marriage prospects in the polite drawing rooms of Mayfair. Disillusioned with aristocratic hypocrisy and desperate to protect her family from bankruptcy, she makes an unconventional decision to take control of her own fate, seeking out financial independence away from the suffocating judgment of the *ton*.
Her path crosses with Luke, a dangerously attractive, self-made gaming hell owner who clawed his way up from London’s gritty streets into immense wealth. Luke despises aristocratic pride, but when Sophia proposes an audacious business partnership, he finds himself captivated by her fierce intellect and courage. As their high-stakes venture brings them into close contact, their practical pact transforms into a passionate romance that defies every societal taboo.
Diana Bold crafts a rich, emotionally layered Regency romance that juxtaposes Mayfair elegance against London’s shadowy underworld. Sophia’s modern spirit and Luke’s protective intensity make for a deeply satisfying romance about finding redemption and passion outside society’s rules.
What makes this captivating: Bold delivers an evocative, passionate historical romance rich with class tension, clever plotting, and a magnetic connection between two societal outcasts.
A Matter of Trust (A Mia Quinn Mystery Book 1)
Mia Quinn is a dedicated Seattle prosecutor who has barely begun processing the sudden death of her husband when a horrific tragedy strikes her office: her colleague, an ambitious senior prosecutor, is assassinated in broad daylight. Thrust into taking over his volatile caseload, Mia suddenly finds herself juggling single motherhood, crippling financial debts, and a high-profile homicide inquiry.
Teaming up with Charlie Carlson, a perceptive and tenacious detective with a reputation for playing by his own rules, Mia sifts through the dead prosecutor’s active investigations. Was the execution orchestrated by a vicious street gang, an abused spouse pushed to the brink, or someone walking the corridors of city hall? As Mia gets closer to unmasking the truth, the killer sets their sights on her and her vulnerable children.
Former federal prosecutor Lis Wiehl, writing alongside bestselling author April Henry, infuses this fast-paced procedural with authentic courtroom realism and emotional warmth. Mia’s relatable strength and ethical clarity make her an inspiring sleuth in a world rife with moral ambiguity.
Why this captivates: Wiehl and Henry craft an engaging, smart legal procedural combining authentic criminal courtroom drama, small-town family warmth, and heart-pounding suspense.
Megan McBride is living a waking nightmare. After escaping an abusive marriage and moving across the country with her young son to establish a peaceful, anonymous life, her sociopathic ex-husband tracked them down, leaving behind a trail of violence. Now, having testified against him and believing him dead, Megan attempts to rebuild her shattered sense of security in suburban Seattle.
Her hard-won peace is obliterated when cryptic, menacing messages begin appearing in her home, accompanied by sightings of a figure who looks and sounds exactly like the monster she buried. As her close friends and neighbors begin suffering brutal, fatal “accidents,” Megan realizes an obsessive predator is staging a meticulous campaign of psychological terror designed to strip away her sanity before claiming her life.
Kevin O’Brien is a master of unrelenting domestic suspense, delivering a pulse-quickening cat-and-mouse game where no character is safe and paranoia lurks behind every corner. The sharp pacing and clever twists build to a frantic, claustrophobic showdown that will keep psychological thriller fans on edge.
What makes this chilling: O’Brien delivers a dark, relentlessly terrifying stalker thriller that masterfully exploits domestic vulnerability, keeping readers guessing through every twist and turn.
Renowned forensic sculptor Eve Duncan has stared into the faces of countless victims, but nothing could prepare her for becoming the prey herself. Targeted by Jim Doane, a psychotic, calculating sadist seeking vengeance for an old grievance, Eve is kidnapped and dragged into the dense, mountainous wilderness of Georgia.
Doane has planned every stage of his game with chilling precision, viewing Eve as both a prize and an instrument of terror. Cut off from all assistance, Eve must use her sharp intellect, iron will, and deep survival instincts to navigate treacherous terrain and outmaneuver her captor. Meanwhile, her partner Joe Quinn and former CIA agent Catherine Ling unleash an unrelenting federal dragnet across the Appalachians, racing against daylight before Eve’s trail vanishes forever.
Iris Johansen ratchets up the psychological tension in this breathlessly paced installment of the bestselling saga. Balancing raw visceral dread with fierce courage, Eve Duncan proves that maternal devotion and personal endurance can survive even the darkest human malice.
Why this thrills: Johansen crafts an edge-of-your-seat wilderness cat-and-mouse manhunt that pushes its iconic heroine to her absolute limits of survival, bravery, and grit.
… See the rest of today ‘s Book Picks here on page 3Page 3