B

Variable Onset

In a world of lockdowns and panic-buying, I want two things in a romance novel: suspense and sex. This book gave me both.

Meet Carter Warren, a Special Agent with the FBI, who moves from one undercover assignment to the next with nary a home base in sight. He’s buff, smart, and a little cocky. Now, allow me to introduce you to Lincoln Monroe AKA Mr Homebody. He’s a professor at Quantico and a silver fox (a personal predilection of mine) Yes, Bitchery, we have two hot heroes who are hot for each other. To quote my teenage self: “hubba hubba.”

Eight years ago, Carter was a student in Lincoln’s class on forensic genealogy at Quantico. Carter was a smart-ass, cocky nightmare of a student. He also had a raging crush on his teacher. Lincoln had no idea of course. Pleasingly, there is not a single hint of gross teacher-student interaction.

In the present day, Lincoln and Carter have been sent undercover together as a married couple. Their goal is to lure Dr Fear out into the open. Dr Fear (possibly the worst name for a serial killer ever) abducts couples and then tortures them with their biggest fears, until eventually they beg to be killed. It’s a little forced as a plot device but anything that keeps Lincoln and Carter in the same room is alright with me because they are H.O.T. together. I loved the chemistry between the two. The cock-sure (snortle!) Carter and the “pissy housecat” Lincoln are a dynamite pairing. There’s banter, there’s good-hearted teasing and the air positively crackles between them, but the two also share some wonderfully tender moments.

I read this book so quickly that upon reflection, I am missing some plot details, or perhaps they missed me. There were some gaps in the story, such as unexplained notes from the serial killer and scenes that ended abruptly, but the pace was so fast and the chemistry between the two so good that I just kept going. With a little less plot and action, and more care taken with scenes completed and missing clues covered, the mystery would have been as strong as the romance.

– Lara

To catch a killer, a special agent and his former student will need to get close—to their target, and each other. Layla Reyne returns with a stand-alone romantic mystery.

When the serial killer known as Dr. Fear seemingly reemerges after a cooling-off period, Special Agent Lincoln Monroe wants on the case. He knows his research on the calculating criminal, who targets couples and uses their worst fears to kill them, could prove invaluable. But nothing can prepare Lincoln for the agent waiting for him in Apex, Virginia: a brash and cocky former student. Carter Warren is everything Lincoln is not, and somehow everything he wants. And they’ll be going undercover. As newlyweds.

For Carter, seeing Lincoln again—and flustered to boot—pokes his raging bear of a crush something fierce. He thinks posing as lovers will provide the perfect bait for Dr. Fear. But pretending to be married forces them to confront fears of their own…like giving in to the very real chemistry between them.

With evidence pointing to the possibility of a copycat killer, Lincoln and Carter will have to race to separate truth from fiction. But when another couple goes missing, finding the killer will test every ounce of their training, skills and the strength of their bond like never before.