One woman is caught up in a dance of desire and deception in this “sizzling suspense novel” from the USA Today –bestselling author ( Publishers Weekly ). 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 the sparks between them 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 . . . Praise for Maureen Smith and her novels “Smith is a master crafter of sensually robust, endearing, and page-turning romantic fiction”— USA Today “With a deft touch and solid cast of characters, Smith gives equal credence to spicy romance and nail-biting suspense on her way to an explosive conclusion.” — Publishers Weekly “A spicy boy-meets-girl tale that will keep you turning the pages . . . Make sure you wear flame-proof gloves!” — Romantic Times
Author
pseudonym Naomi Chase I have enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of knowing I had a “literary gift” was as a third grader, when I wrote and illustrated a story about a child who stumbled upon a bird’s nest and decided to nurture the orphaned chickadee until its mother returned. I can’t recall whether the story had a happy ending or not, but my teacher, Mrs. Bennett, was so impressed that she predicted I would someday become a writer. During the summers as a teenager, I preferred the sticky discomfort of my bedroom to hanging outdoors with friends. I would lock myself away for hours, churning out endless stories and surfacing only for quick meals. Is it any wonder my parents and siblings labeled me a certifiable recluse? I received a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland College Park, with a minor in creative writing. As a former freelance writer, my articles were featured in various magazines, Web sites, and newspapers including the Baltimore Afro-American and Prince George’s Journal. I did a brief stint as a third grade teacher at a private school in Washington, DC—a gig requiring the patience of Job! I now live in San Antonio, Texas with my wonderful husband and our two children. When I’m not tending to their incessant needs, I can be found at my computer, sweating over a deadline. Since the publication of my debut novel in 2002, I have been nominated for four Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards and numerous Emma Awards. I have won the Romance in Color Reviewers’ Choice Awards for New Author of the Year and Romantic Suspense of the Year (Ghosts of Fire). In 2010, I won the Emma Award for Best Romantic Suspense for Secret Agent Seduction. In 2011, I was nominated for the RT BOOKreviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Kimani Series Romance for Recipe for Temptation.
