
Part of Series
It’s bad enough when your business partner buys a property without consulting you, but when she accidentally acquires a brothel, it’s enough to make Rowena Summerfield want to throw away her hammer. Still, the house is a bargain, and maybe it’s just what Ro and her daughter need to turn around their home renovation business. As Ro, a former homicide detective, comes to terms with the deal, she gets a shock when the former owner—and madam—turns up dead. Soon someone from Ro’s past shows up at the work her ex-partner, who needs a temporary sidekick to help him solve the case. Reviving their investigative team isn’t easy, especially when Herc gets jealous of the hunky deli owner who takes an interest in widow Rowena. Until now, she was fine with one man in her life—her cuddly cat, Jason. Ro and Herc discover the previous residents of the house, including the victim’s daughter, have less than fond memories of their former boss. The bordello’s old customers have a lot to lose if their secrets surface, and the unhappy neighbors still bear a grudge. As the sleuths dig deeper, they unearth a flimsy foundation of anger, greed and fear framing the walls the suspects have built around themselves. Can Ro and Herc find the culprit before someone plays another deadly trick?
Author

I characterize myself as a contemporary culture junkie. Translated: I changed my undergraduate major from anthropology to American history when I learned I'd have to do field work (no air conditioning) to obtain my graduate degree, but I never lost my interest in observing current lifestyle trends. I'm a TV addict. Sitcoms are my real passion, sitcoms done well, with ensembles that click and witty writing that never fails to amuse. I love to bake chocolate chip cookies and spend my spare time playing Mah Jongg. In my former life I was a human resources analyst, so the jobs of my heroes and heroines almost become secondary characters in my contemporary romance novels. I was married on D-Day, June 6 (my degree's in history, remember), and have two incredible grown children and eight grandchildren who make life worth living. I spend my winters in Florida (my office allows a view of four palm trees) and my summers in my home state of Iowa. To learn more about my books, please visit my website at http://www.barbarabarrettbooks.com.