Big Uneasy

When an aspiring illustrator attracts the attention of a New Orleans mob family, and secrets long hidden are unearthed from the past, a handsome homicide detective may be her only chance of surviving the Big Easy. The oldest of thirteen, Alex Baker does two things: he solves murders and avoids children. Until the day Nell Whitby foils a carjacking, knocks Alex off his feet and turns his life upside down. When the shots start flying and every rock he turns over reveals another wise guy, Alex decides he needs to stick close to the quirky yet captivating children's book author while he discovers who is behind a series of mob hits. But can he resist the urge to kiss the kid magnet now in the crosshairs? A relative newcomer to New Orleans-with no family but her college friend-Nell spends her days in seeming obscurity, sketching tourists in the French Quarter and serving canapés for her friend's catering business. When a chance encounter makes Nell the target of a mob hit, the only silver lining is meeting the cute cop who is determined to protect her. But when she finds herself at the head of a second line made up of goons and gangsters, and secrets start bubbling up out of her own past, Nell must figure out what she's made of so she can live long enough to kiss the cop again...

Nell's not sure why the mob wants to have dinner with her. She is sure she wants a cop at her side. Alex wouldn't let Nell dine with the mob without him, despite much unease from his many siblings. But as the dark and stormy night's dinner progresses, Nell wonders if she's putting Alex's life in danger. Can they survive dinner with the killing cousins?

Laura Baker has seen a lot during her job as a New Orleans EMT. She has responded to just about every type of emergency known to man. An unexpected act of kindness during one call puts her on the news-and her life and heart at risk. Archie Gunn receives an unexpected tip that sends him to the beautiful and mysterious city of New Orleans. His trip opens up more than he expects —and a bayou full of danger. There is a lot going on in New Orleans and it isn't all good times and Mardi Gras.

Embark on a thrilling journey through the vibrant chaos of New Orleans during Mardi Gras in this humorous romantic suspense series by USA Today Bestselling author Pauline Baird Jones. NOPD Homicide Detective Ben Baker's "just friends" dynamic with a mysterious redhead careens into a murder mystery that pulls him deep into the unpredictable world of Maia Henry and her eccentric family. As Mardi Gras unfolds its crescendo, the complexities of their romance become the least of Ben's worries. For data scientist Maia Henry, a routine visit to her mother becomes a whirlwind of unpredictability when she crosses paths with Ben Baker. With beads flying, masks concealing more than faces, and shadows revealing old grudges and new challenges, Ben and Maia must navigate the city's parades, jazz melodies, and culinary delights. Every turn exposes a new twist—where loyalties are tested, secrets unveiled, and the ultimate puzzle Ben seeks to solve is the one within his own heart. Immerse yourself in the ninth installment of the “Big Uneasy” series and unravel the latest escapades of the Baker family in a tale brimming with suspense, humor, and the enchanting spirit of New Orleans.

The Big Easy ain't always easy. Crime solving is very much a family affair in The Big Uneasy series, where gruff patriarch, Zack Baker, and his "Baker's Dozen", protect and serve, tangling with lawbreakers, love, and each other in post-Katrina New Orleans. This boxed set includes Relatively Risky, Family Treed, Dead Spaces and Louisiana Lagniappe.