Review: Troublemaker by Linda Howard

Troublemaker by Linda Howard

Blurb from Goodreads:

For Morgan Yancy, an operative and team leader in a paramilitary group, nothing comes before his job. But when he’s ambushed and almost killed, his supervisor is determined to find out who’s after the members of his elite squad—and why. Due to worries that this unknown enemy will strike again, Morgan is sent to a remote location and told to lay low and stay vigilant. But between a tempting housemate he’s determined to protect and a deadly threat waiting in the shadows, keeping under the radar is proving to be his most dangerous mission yet.

The part-time police chief of a small West Virginian mountain town, Isabeau “Bo” Maran finally has her life figured out. She’s got friends, a dog, and a little money in the bank. Then Morgan Yancy shows up on her doorstep. Bo doesn’t need a mysterious man in her life—especially a troublemaker as enticing and secretive as Morgan.

The harder they fight the intense heat between them, the closer Morgan and Bo become, even though she knows he’s hiding from something. But discovering the truth could cost Bo more than she’s willing to give. And when Morgan’s cover is blown, it might just cost her life.

My Review:
There is a reason that I pre-order and anticipate and read all of Linda Howard's books and have for the past twelve plus years—they are just so damn good!  For me, she is the pinnacle of romantic suspense with just the right mix and she always, ALWAYS writes such incredible chemistry.  I would have preferred a bit more suspense in this one but  Troublemaker was still so fun. Bo Maran has gotten used to living alone with only her dog Tricks for company when she reluctantly agrees to let her stepbrother's operative recuperate at her remote West Virginia barn.  Of course, neither her stepbrother nor Morgan, the operative, tell Bo the whole story.  You can take it from there in terms of the plot but I cannot underestimate Tricks as a character in this story -- I am a dog lover so this was easy for me to accept but she kind of was the star of the book.  This hits many tropes -- pet lovers, small town, a bit of enemies to lovers -- and it all worked for me.

Troublemaker came out last week on May 10, 2016, you can purchase HERE, and I definitely recommend this to fans of romantic suspense and any contemporary romance fans that are also dog lovers!

It was like before—the hot taste of him, the thrill of recognition, the instant hunger.  But it was different, too, because neither of them was riding the knife edge of anger.  There was a slowness to the way their mouths clung together, a laziness to the dip and stoke of his tongue.  Did laughter give a different, lighter taste to his mouth?  Did it to hers?  He wasn't holding her head now; instead his hands were gripping her waist, the heat of his palms burning the softness of her skin as he brought her body close against him.