Covet, the first book in J.R. Ward’s new “Fallen Angels” series debuted on the New York Times’ Paperback Best Seller list last week.

In the latest from the erotic paranormal romance writer (her words), tough guy Jim Heron’s performance on seven tasks will determine the fate of the world. If he’s successful, the angels win and hell and its minions disappear. If he fails, the demons win and the world as we know it and all the angels up in heaven go bye-bye.

His first mission is to save the soul of driven businessman Vin diPietro. At first Heron thinks he is supposed to help Vin commit to his mysterious girlfriend Devina. But no, Vin’s soulmate is really Marie-Terese, an abused single mother on the run from her her powerful ex who only works as a prostitute to keep her son safe. (And, yes, the movie “Pretty Woman” is referenced half a dozen times.)

The book is a traditional romance in that the main story becomes the relationship between Vin and Marie-Terese and they do get their happily ever after. There are several steamy sex scenes, but fewer than one might expect in nearly 500 pages from a best-selling erotic romance writer. Faithful readers of Wards’ Black Dagger Brotherhood series will enjoy the focus on alpha-males on a mission. Fans of both series may also enjoy:

Lara Adrian
Midnight Breed series
Book 1 “Kiss of Midnight”

Keri Arthur
Riley Jenson series
Book 1 “Full Moon Rising”

Christina Dodd
Chosen Ones series
Book 1 “Storm of Visions”

Christine Feehan
Carpathians series
Book 1 “Dark Prince”

Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark-Hunter series
Book 1 “Night Pleasures”

Alexis Morgan
Paladins fo Darkness series
Book 1 “Dark Protector”

C.E. Murphy
Negotiator Trilogy
Book 1 “Heart of Stone”

Lynn Viehl
Darkyn series
Book 1 “If Angels Burn”