Code Wars Cleveland

By Barbara Howard

In the heart of Cleveland's tech scene, two brilliant minds are about to collide-two rivals, one conspiracy, zero margin for error.

Kennedy Wyatt's cybersecurity firm is her life's work, built from the ground up to protect minority-owned businesses from digital threats. But when a mysterious wave of attacks begins targeting companies like hers, she discovers a conspiracy that runs deeper than mere code.

Enter Isaiah Binutu, a charismatic rival CEO whose innovative software seems suspiciously similar to Kennedy's latest project. As their professional rivalry heats up at Cleveland's prestigious TechCLE conference, a series of escalating threats forces them to consider the unthinkable: working together.

With their lives under attack, their companies at risk, and a shadowy corporation pulling strings, Kennedy and Isaiah must navigate a maze of betrayal, corporate espionage, and their own complicated feelings for each other. The stakes? Their companies' futures-and their lives. From the bustling West Side Market to the serene shores of Lake Erie, this romantic suspense races through Cleveland's landmarks as two competitors-turned-allies fight to expose a conspiracy that threatens everything they've built. But in a world where digital footprints can be erased, identities stolen, and time is running out to separate friend from foe. Can they really believe in each other?

In a digital battlefield, trust is the ultimate hack.

Tropes:

Strong Female Protagonist (FMC)

Forced Proximity

Only One Bed

Rivals to Lovers

Corporate Espionage

Protective Hero/Heroine

Slow Burn Romance

Underdog

Second Chances

Emotional Healing

If you love forced proximity, cybercrime mysteries, and powerful Black leads, this is your next obsession.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GL96J84Y
• ISBN13: 9798233702013
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Barbara Howard Media
• Length: 502 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.5"