Troublemaker - Linda Howard
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 favorite Linda Howard books are all of them, but especially ones that feature a military-esque guy and a plain jane gal who isn't helpless. Those are my favorite, and that is what this one is. Where this one doesn't win is the plot ending, it didn't have the satisfied ending that I wanted but then the more I thought about it, it's kind of refreshing to not have everything tied up neatly. When does that ever happen in real life, anyways?
So in this book we have Morgan, fresh off a mission out to enjoy a day a fishing only to end it by being shot and almost dying in a parking lot. Then we have Bo (can I just mention here I hate her name? I hate it.) a would be town sheriff with a side job who suddenly finds a recuperating Morgan on her doorstep (literally) thrust upon her. Her ex-stepbrother is the ringmaster here and offers her an ungodly amount of money to just let this guy crash at her house, help him out, and that's it. Financial security and the fact that the guy looks like he's going to pass out on her step wins out and she reluctantly agrees.
Commence shenanigans.
They are a rocky duo, neither one of them are cut out for being with others for an extended period of time but he's in no shape to do anything different and she gave her word (and accepted the money). Time goes on, months, and they start to like each other, then like each other, but the greater question of why Morgan was shot is unanswered and until then, he can't go back.
We find out the kind of why's, we figure out the who's but nothing really comes of it in my opinion so that was kind of meh for me. I wanted real justice but I suppose it's the way things operate in the world we don't really know about, right? The romance is slow and steady and what's great about these books is that while there aren't any overt sex scenes with descriptions of things, you know what's going on and it's enough. Maybe that's what I like so much about her books. Overall though, I'm giving this one 3.5 stars only because I wasn't sold on the plot.