Just One Look
Joanne Rock
Harlequin Blaze, Mar 2007, $4.75
ISBN: 0373793154

NYPD Detective Warren Vitalis investigates the shooting at Tabitha Everhart in her apartment as he heard the telltale noise while walking his dog Buster in the West Village. However, the cop who prides himself on his objectivity is attracted to Tabitha from the first moment he sees her, before even interviewing her. Upon his questioning, Tabitha is stunned that she wants this cop as she vowed off men after dumping her cheating former spouse.

As he works the case double time because he wants to see her and keep her safe, Warren and Tabitha fall in love. However, neither trusts this dangerous emotion having been burned in the past. Still they cannot ignore their feelings, but first a sly killer who already murdered an actor must be stopped before he harms the actress.

The heated romance between the detective and the actress will cause Al Gore restless nights as it melts the polar icecap while the investigation and bodyguard subplot takes a somewhat back seat though well written. Warren and Tabitha desire one another, but neither has lost perspective as her safety comes first. Joanne Rock provides a strong, Night Eyes, police procedural, romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner