Like No One Else [Paperback]

Maureen Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2009

She Can Run

Ballet dancer Tommie Purnell has finally left her troubles behind her. After a devastating scandal derails her dancing career in New York, she flees to Houston for a fresh start. Once her new dance studio takes off, the rest of Tommie's life follows suit. But when a local woman connected to Tommie turns up dead, Tommie is petrified. . .and doesn't know where to turn.

But She Can't Hide

When veteran homicide detective Paulo Sanchez walks through her door, Tommie wonders if her troubles have just doubled. She and Paulo had a torrid attraction years ago. . .but she's sworn off men because of too many broken dreams. Yet their sizzling attraction can't be denied, and as their passion intensifies, the killer's body count also rises. That's when all clues point toward the one person Tommie thought she could finally believe in...

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers who like a pinch of plot to a pound of seduction will love Smith's sizzling suspense novel, which reads like the screenplay for an erotic film. There's not a lot of romance but plenty of sex as dance teacher Tomasina Tommie Purnell and homicide cop Paulo Sanchez strut their unbelievably hot bodies through a couple of murders. Smith (No One but You) takes a refreshingly casual, low-key approach to interracial dating. Paulo and his partner, Julius Donovan, are well drawn and the minor characters are memorable, but Smith goes over the top with Tommie, a former stripper with sexy curves who improbably became a prima ballerina at age 29. The investigation is written in a smooth, flowing style, but the prose turns purple whenever Tommie and Paulo get together, and sex often overrides suspense. (Dec.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Dafina; 1 Original edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758227418
• ISBN-13: 978-0758227416
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #411,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maureen Smith is the author of seventeen novels and one novella, including the award-winning novel With Every Breath. She writes romantic suspense for Kensington (Dafina) and contemporary romance for Harlequin (Kimani). She received a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) with a minor in creative writing.

As a former freelance writer, Maureen's articles were featured in various print and online publications. While working as a freelance writer following the birth of her second child, Maureen penned her first novel. To her delight, Ghosts of Fire was nominated for a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Reviewers' Choice Award and an Emma Award for Favorite New Author, and won the Romance in Color Reviewers' Choice Awards for New Author of the Year and Romantic Suspense of the Year. Maureen's second novel, With Every Breath, was also nominated for a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Reviewers' Choice Award, and garnered four Emma Award nominations in the categories of Favorite Hero, Favorite Romantic Suspense, Author of the Year and Book of the Year. Maureen's novel, Secret Agent Seduction, won the 2010 Emma Award for Best Romantic Suspense. To date, Maureen has received four Romantic Times nominations and fourteen Emma nominations.

Maureen lives in San Antonio, TX with her husband, two children, and a beloved miniature schnauzer named Pippin.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Maureen has done it again!, January 4, 2010

By 

Essence (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Like No One Else (Paperback)

It was 4 years ago that Ballet Dancer Tomasina "Tommie" Purnell first met Veteran homicide Detective Paulo Sanchez at her sister Frankie's wedding rehearsal dinner. The chemistry and attraction between them was sensational from the moment they locked eyes, but after Tommie caught Paulo in her sister's bridal suite making out with a brunette, she knew he was a complete womanizer and a bad boy to boot.

A humiliating and devastating scandal caused Tommie to flee from New York to Houston in hopes of leaving her past behind and to have a fresh start. From the moment Tommie's eyes met and held Paulo's in the mirror at her dance studio, there was still an intense attraction that neither of them could deny, even after 4 years.

But,

There is a killer on the loose and a local woman that is connected to Tommie ends up brutally murder in her own home. Paulo and his partner, Julius Donovan, are the lead investigators on the case. The case hits to close to home for Paulo and he finds himself seeking the company of Tommie and soon their sizzling attraction turns into an undeniable passion. But Tommie can't help the eerie feeling that someone is watching her...

If you have not done so you should read Weapon of Seduction and Whisper My Name so that you can get a better understanding of Tommie and Paulo and even some of the secondary characters. These 2 books are just as good as this one.

I like that Smith brings a low key, fresh and casual approach to interracial dating between Tommie and Paulo, and his family. I also like that this is not a cheesy romance novel were the leading lady is perfect and can do everything and anything. Tommie Purnell is real and even though she is a very beautiful woman she is vulnerable. Fine as sin Paulo Sanchez is not your typical leading man. Smith does not paint a picture perfect gentlemen, he has secrets and baggage of his own, maybe that's why he and Tommie are drawn to each other like a moth to a flame.


Two troubled souls on their journey to finding love and a killer on the loose makes this book a perfect romantic suspense.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Exciting!!!, December 17, 2009

By 

Eleanor Wilcox "Sheree Wilcox" (Valdosta, Ga) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Like No One Else (Paperback)

I am a huge fan of Maureen Smith and i was so excited to read this book. I was not dissapointed. Being able to tie in all the characters and families from the other books and give a good story with suspense, great mystery and beautiful love story was awesome. I very much recommend this book to readers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maureen Smith never lets me down..., May 4, 2010

By 

Miss Redbone "Reading Lady" (Grand Prairie, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Like No One Else (Paperback)

This was a smokin hot love story wrapped up in and edge of your seat murder mystery!!!! GREAT READ!!!