A smooth-sippin' blend of familiar plot elements, characters, and relationships, written with Michaels's trademark good-enough-on-the-first-draft facility, this contemporary thriller-romance is set primarily in Miami and the Florida Keys. Patrick "Tick" Kelly, former homicide detective, lost his family to a drug killing in 2002. Kate Rush lost her DEA career to the machinations of Lawrence Tyler, a slimy field office chief, in 2009. Now it's 2010, and these two displaced souls converge on Mango Key, where an empty mansion becomes suspiciously active at night. Drug smuggling? Human trafficking? The DEA quietly re-hires Kate "off the book" for an undercover investigation with Sandy, her former DEA teammate, right next to reclusive Tick's stilt-house beach property, where his twin brother, Pete, happens to be visiting. Family bonds, tragedy, exotic locales, big guns, redemption, and a single, sweet kiss-it's all here with no surprises in a comfort read of the highest order for Michaels's fans. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

After losing his wife and children in a horrific crime, police detective Patrick Kelly retreated to secluded Mango Key, where a talkative parrot was his only company. His reclusive existence is threatened when his twin brother, Pete, tracks him down, then two DEA agents move in just down the beach. Kate and Sandra are investigating a drug lord's compound nearby, which may now be the front for even more unseemly dealings. As the foursome become entwined in uncovering what's happening at the compound, they also become involved romantically. Popular author Michaels' latest release is uneven; a second story line involving the women's boss being blackmailed lacks suspense and confuses the main story. Although the plot involves a lot of buildup, the resolution is lackluster, followed by an extremely schmaltzy ending. However, Michaels' many loyal fans are likely to snap this up, despite its shortcomings.--Walker, Aleksandr. Copyright 2010 Booklist