First published 2011
Patrick "Tick" Kelly retreats to a Florida beach house after his family's murder destroys his life as an Atlanta homicide detective. Years later, he has found sobriety and success as a writer, but remains isolated on Mango Key despite his brother Pete's efforts to reconnect him with the world. Former DEA special agent Kate Rush arrives on the island with a covert mission to investigate a fortress suspected of human trafficking operations. Initially, the Kelly brothers fall under suspicion, but Kate quickly recognizes that Tick presents no threat beyond the attraction that sparks between them. As Tick becomes drawn into Kate's investigation, they uncover a complex criminal network involving betrayal and corruption. Working together, they navigate mounting dangers while Tick discovers something he thought lost forever: the possibility of love and happiness again.
Genres: romance, suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, second-chance
Setting: Atlanta, Florida, Mango Key
Period: contemporary
248 pages · Hardcover · Kensington
Content warnings: trafficking, violence