"heated romantic suspense"

For her birthday, the girls take patrol officer Jody Dupree to a strip joint where she watches Logan Hart perform. That night Jody and Logan celebrate her birthday by themselves. However, by morning light Jody is gone.

New Orleans Gazette columnist Logan challenged his readers to send him jobs to perform as he insists he can handle anything for a shift even stripping. His next assignment is patrolling the mean streets of the Big Easy alongside of Jody. As their attraction grows, Logan senses a mystery with Jody. He makes inquiries and soon learns of an unsolved murder from her childhood. If he reveals her secret he could make his career but endanger the woman he loves that is if he understands the threat to Jody if he publishes his report.

Karen Kelley provides a heated romantic suspense starring two likable protagonists, the return of the lead couple from SOUTHERN COMFORT (cleverly closing their tale), and a journalistic ethics issue to add to the solid drama. The story line starts off in an amusing way, but twists into a hot police procedural as Logan patrols with Jody before spinning into a private investigative plot when he makes inquiries into her mysterious past. The transitions are smoothly done as are the romance and love between the lead duet. Ms. Kelly writes a gripping thriller that the audience will wonder whether Logan chooses fame and fortune or love.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 3, 2005