His to Claim

March 12, 2018
Software developer Ryder McKay, the conflicted hero in Bell’s second emotional erotic thriller set in Michigan (after At His Mercy), dominates in and out of the bedroom. When he meets beautiful, intelligent Jane Cooper, they immediately hit it off. With zero relationship development, he introduces her to a tame form of BDSM, only to be disappointed to wake up the next morning and find her gone. After secret files from his computer are given to his criminal billionaire father, from whom he’s been estranged for years, he assumes Jane is the thief. A year later, Ryder and Jane meet again when Ryder’s older brother, Finn, marries Jane’s mother, Ciara—and Ryder learns that Jane has recently given birth to his son. Ryder’s easy transition into fatherhood is surprisingly plausible, as it resurrects a side of him that he buried when he first discovered the truth about his father’s vile behavior. The chemistry he and Jane felt on their single night together is as strong as ever, and they look for ways to indulge their kinky desires despite their familial connection and Ryder’s distrust. A revelation involving incestuous child abuse warrants a warning label, but Bell handles it soberly and without gratuitous description of the molestation. This Fifty Shades–flavored tale is a well-written, action-packed, and full of charm, wit, and suspense. Agent: Jessica Alvarez, BookEnds Literary.