This fast-paced story follows Angie and Detective Paavo Smith through a myriad of investigations, near misses on Angie’s life and several killings, related it seems to some goofy recipes that Angie puts in the Shopper News where she has a food column. The recipes had been provided by a sweet, old man named Sam, who Paavo knows as Sammy Blade, found dead in the park just before Angie’s bombing.

Following the two of these around is fun and games. They often seem to be working at cross-purposes because they don’t realize the whole thing is inter-related. Of course, Paavo has trouble seeing past Angie’s wealth -- after all, she can afford two bodyguards (named Joey and Rico). Paavo is of very modest means, with a very sad and lonely background and trusts no one.

The burgeoning romance of the two adds real zest to the story. The characters are very believably drawn and true to life. Angie has a sassy attitude that is refreshing. Even though Paavo is a “hard” policeman, one can see his softer side and how he feels about Angie, against his own best regard.

Of course, it is really not that hard to figure out the brains behind all the attempts on Angie’s life, but this is a fun, tingly romantic suspense yarn to read. Keep them coming, Joanne Pence!

--Kay Black