The Crime and Passion Stalk City Hall Series by Valerie J. Clarizio

To prove his undying love and loyalty, he'll risk sacrificing her trust. Ben Deprez has been secretly in love with Cori for years and knowing of her wounded heart has him waiting impatiently for the right time to make his move. Now is the time, and Cori seems receptive, but Ben's past still haunts him. He's never been that guy who can say or do the right thing when it comes to women. His divorce is proof... moreTo prove his undying love and loyalty, he'll risk sacrificing her trust. Ben Deprez has been secretly in love with Cori for years and knowing of her wounded heart has him waiting impatiently for the right time to make his move. Now is the time, and Cori seems receptive, but Ben's past still haunts him. He's never been that guy who can say or do the right thing when it comes to women. His divorce is proof.Cori Pierre-Simon has had about all she can take working two jobs to support her family since her ex left without a trace ten years earlier. The last thing she needs is to get involved with another man who would surely disappoint her.Just when Cori decides to open her heart to Ben, women he holds key information about turn up dead. Then, when she uncovers an unusual connection between Ben and another woman, she realizes she should have never trusted him and his womanizing ways. When Cori's son finds himself in an illegal predicament, he turns to Ben for help. Ben answers the call for aid full-well knowing that in helping the teenager he will risk losing Cori's trust, the very thing he's worked hard to earn. Ben is left hoping she loves him enough to forgive him for the decisions he's made to right the wrongs of her son and himself. less

Widowed Police Chief, Daxon Mertz, suffers from an irreparable broken heart.Municipal Treasurer Natasha Kane is a divorcee who has sworn off men.Out of nowhere, love knocks, but can their relationship survive a financial fraud investigation?A drug investigation turned deadly for Daxon Mertz. Witnessing the murder of his wife and unborn child, he left his big city job to become the police chief of a small town. Closing his heart, he threw himself into his work, to forget all he’d lost... moreWidowed Police Chief, Daxon Mertz, suffers from an irreparable broken heart.Municipal Treasurer Natasha Kane is a divorcee who has sworn off men.Out of nowhere, love knocks, but can their relationship survive a financial fraud investigation?A drug investigation turned deadly for Daxon Mertz. Witnessing the murder of his wife and unborn child, he left his big city job to become the police chief of a small town. Closing his heart, he threw himself into his work, to forget all he’d lost.Divorcee, Natasha Kane lives with the small town gossips still whispering about her cheating ex-husband and the much younger woman he preferred. Building a wall around her heart to avoid further hurt and scandal, she fulfills her days as the finance director for the city and safeguarding taxpayers’ money.When over a quarter of a million dollars goes missing from the city’s treasury, Dax finds himself investigating Natasha, the person with access to the treasury and most recently, his heart.Feeling the hurt all over again at the betrayal of a man she loves, Natasha finds herself Dax’s prime suspect. What will the gossip mills say now?How do they overcome suspicion, betrayal of the heart, and scandal? less