"Interesting police procedural romance"

In Treetop, Wyoming, Deputy Sheriff Sophie Ryan knows immediately who is driving the motorcycle fifteen miles over the speed limit though he has not been in town in over fourteen years. Sophie arrests her teenage lover Luke "THE MAVERICK" Salinger as he has charges of arson, vandalism, and breaking and entering on the books from fourteen years ago. Sophie wants nothing to do with Maverick or any other of the wealthy Salingers who forced her to raise her son Joey by herself.

Upon seeing Sophie, Luke thinks back to the fire in the lawyer's office that changed his life. He was about to turn himself in after seeing his girlfriend Sophie, but was stunned to overhear she ratted on him. Instead of going to the law, he fled town. Later he learned she had a kid. Not comprehending he might be the father, he assumed she cheated on him too. At Luke's present day hearing on the old charges, Judge Entwhistle makes a surprising decision by appointing Sophie as Luke's watchdog to see that he behaves while in town. Sophie knows she must do her job, but wonders how to do it when she still loves the man she thought she hated.

THE MAVERICK is an interesting police procedural romance starring two fine lead protagonists learning that love is forever. The story line is fast paced as the lead couple struggles with an attraction that threatens to engulf both of them as well as with misconceptions about their past. Though the villain is a more of a caricature than a realistic person, readers will relish Carrie Alexander's super romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 22, 2002