"The Detective and the Bad Boy"

Cassidy Blake is an undercover policewoman. After the death of her husband and son, she puts everything into her job. The current task is to get the goods on bad boy, Derek Mansfield, part owner of an upper-class hotel. Even though, Cass feels an immediate attraction to the handsome Derek, she is determined to put him behind bars where he belongs. She knows he has been meeting with a crime boss and is convinced that he is up to no good. She and her partner, Grey, are working at the hotel.

Derek has returned with his own agenda and although he is attracted to the beautiful and sexy Cassidy, he only wants to do what he came to do and not get tangled up with an attractive woman. He cannot seem to stay clear of her and all of his plans to do so seem to backfire. He is protective of his younger brother, Brent, and his nephew, Ryan.

Some of the circumstances and smart dialog in SMOKE AND MIRRORS seems unlikely. Cass is a bit too wisecracking and Derek is certainly not "Mr. Sensitive Nice Guy" at the beginning of the book. It was difficult to warm up to either character for the first few chapters. We find out the underlying tragedies in their lives and begin to feel more sympathetic toward both characters. We see how protective Derek is toward his family and how kind he really can be. Cass has built a shell of protection around herself until she meets the handsome Derek. Ms. Mills' writing is easy to read and moves along well with SMOKE AND MIRRORS coming to a satisfactory ending.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted April 9, 2002

Summary

Undercover cop Cassidy Blake's top priority is to infiltrate mercenary millionaire Derek Mansfield's life—and take him down. Cass expects to find a ruthless criminal; instead she finds a darkly handsome man whose bone-melting intensity blurs the line between duty . . . and desire.

Derek Mansfield has returned to Chicago to settle a score, not become entangled in a seductive game of cat and mouse with the intriguing Cass. But the secrets in her eyes and her searing kisses make him hungry for more than revenge. Can either of them risk their hearts in this perilous game of smoke and mirrors?