She's Got the Look
Leslie Kelly
HQN, Sep 2005, $5.99
ISBN: 0373770588

Eight years ago when she learned that preadolescent boys were masturbating to her modeling pictures, Melody Tanner quit. Her mom seeing the meal ticket over deserted her, which did not surprise Mel. Two years later Mel was to marry Atlanta dentist Dr. Bill Todd; the night before she and her pals drew up a list of five hunks they would like to sleep with. Her fist choice was the marine on the cover of Time. Not to long ago she divorced her womanizing spouse, but he got everything because she destroyed his dental business by defacing his advertising billboard.

Mel refuses to dwell on the past and plans to use her camera to make a living. Her best friend Rosemary Chilton mentions that two from her list recently died. Rosemary tells her boyfriend Savannah Police Detective Dex Delaney who arranges for his partner Nick Walker to discuss this with Mel. When Mel sees Nick who wants to look at and discuss the list she realizes who he is, her dream lover from years ago. As they become acquainted they fall in love, but someone wants to eliminate the competition to have Mel for himself only.

SHE'S GOT THE LOOK is a fine chick lit police procedural starring a fiery female (epitome of a woman scorned) and a wonderful hunk who was her fantasy sex partner a few years ago and now is her reality sex partner and more if she takes a chance on love. The romance turned murder list storyline contains an intriguing twist that will fool the audience though the answers are in plain sight and keeps the tale from falling into a trite climax. Leslie Kelly shows she has the talent to provide fans with a delightful romantic suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner