Books like Friction by Sandra Brown

Crawford Hunt, a Texas Ranger who had fallen into a downward spiral after his wife’s death, has rebuilt his life and earned the chance to win back custody of his five‑year‑old daughter, Georgia. The case goes to Judge Holly Spencer, an ambitious and confident jurist temporarily filling the seat of her recently deceased mentor. With an election looming, Holly must demonstrate her worthiness to secure a permanent judgeship. During a tense custody hearing, a masked gunman barges in and targets the judge. Crawford instinctively intervenes, but the wrong man is apprehended, leaving the real threat at large. Torn between the obligation to protect the court and the need to prove himself worthy, Crawford’s actions could jeopardize his fight for his daughter. Meanwhile, the intense courtroom drama sparks a forbidden attraction between Crawford and Judge Spencer, adding complexity to their growing partnership.

First publish date: 2015