Thursday, May 18, 2023

Malice at the Marina - Carol Ericson (HI #2122 - Jan 2023)

Series: Lost Girls (Book 4)
 
He wants his missing sister back.
She needs her escaped witness.
 
All the years Detective Billy Crouch has searched for his missing sister, she's been in witness protection. Now she's fled…with criminals in pursuit. And US marshal Mia Romano must locate her before it's too late. Joining forces, Mia's focused on recovering her witness, while Billy just wants to keep both women safe. But the searing attraction he and Mia share may prove to be a distraction they can't afford.
 
Terrific book. Billy "Cool Breeze" Crouch has been a secondary character in the previous series, Kyra and Jake Investigation, and this series, Lost Girls, as Jake McAllister's partner. Billy comes across as a playboy, is known as a sharp dresser, and can be amusing to be around. He is an excellent detective with the LAPD, and for five years, he has also searched for his missing sister, Sabrina. Then he gets a hint that his sister is alive, and it's off to the races! Billy will take any chance to find his sister. Is there a connection to the beautiful woman he keeps running into?
 
Mia Romano is a US Marshal looking for the witness who walked away from protective custody. Mia has a good idea where she's headed and needs to catch up with her before the criminals pursuing her do.  She figures her best bet is to keep an eye on her witness's brother. But when he falls for a red herring, Mia breaks cover to keep him out of trouble.
 
I loved seeing Billy and Mia together. Their partnership was rough until Billy realized that Mia had a better handle on what was happening and a clearer vision. Though he is an experienced detective, his personal involvement interferes with his usual ability to think objectively. When he stopped thinking like a brother, he and Mia meshed well. The nonstop action and suspense kept me glued to the pages as they dealt with the danger they faced, and the need to find Sabrina intensified. The ending was a nail-biter with a surprising resolution.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Mia and Billy develop. Their chemistry was immediate and intense - not just the attraction but also the connection that drew them together. I loved that Mia understood Billy's feelings about Sabrina and her situation and didn't try to cut him out of the investigation. Billy's respect for Mia's abilities and willingness to listen to her was also a plus for their relationship. Seeing "Cool Breeze" flustered by his attraction to her was fun.
 
I loved the epilogue. There is the sense that everything is working out for Billy and Mia, and we get a glimpse of Mia with Billy's sons. There is a fun interchange with Jake, who is back from his honeymoon with Kyra, and whose wedding opened the book. I laughed out loud at seeing Sabrina with her nephews and then at Billy's reaction to her upcoming date with one of his coworkers.



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