Portland, Oregon – Present Day

Detective Natasha Morgan is, unhappily, going through the trash of a possible murder suspect in the police parking lot when her partner reminds her of the rehearsal dinner for her cousin's wedding. She'd rather go through garbage than do another girlie thing; on top of being maid of honor she's attended numerous showers and girl parties over the past weeks. Oh, Lou, her partner, will make her pay big time for skipping out on the joys of garbage. Damon Pfeiffer is going down for murdering his brother, and Tasha has a feeling that there is still something out there she hasn't noticed yet, but her cousin and family must come first today. But, while walking into the dinner, Tasha meets Rick Chance, uncle of the groom, and a definite black sheep from what everyone tells her immediately. If she wants to pursue a relationship, she'll have to wait until after the wedding.

Herbert Beebe is looking for his true love, Jessamyn Chance's, new address in Portland. The Creep as Rick calls him, thinks Rick has kept her hidden in his house for months, and it is up to Herbert to free her to be with him forever. He followed Rick from Chicago, where the supposed torture of Jessamyn started, and now Herbert has a careful plan to find where she is in the house and maybe free her while her husband is away. If not, Herbert will do anything for his precious love. He begged her to come with him the last time he saw her, but she seemed scared of him. Everyone knows women kept as prisoners for long periods of time are afraid of rescue, so he has to be very kind and tender with her when he frees her.

When Rick almost beats up a deliveryman with flowers for Jessamyn, Tasha and Lou are closest to the scene and she finds out just what kind of ghosts he has hidden in his closet. After taking him in and questioning him, Tasha gets drawn into his trouble, to the distress of her partner, who feels finding a real murderer is more important than the sparks flowing between Rick and Tasha. Rick is not married to Jessamyn, but just who she is and how she relates to Rick is at the heart of this insidiously funny yet serious story. When trouble escalates around Rick he must hide away, and Lou and Tasha try to protect him outside official circles and yet still try to solve their murder. Tasha's famous instincts are on full alert, and of course with the pressure on, sexual feelings come to the forefront. Can Tasha handle the problems that come with Rick and his secret, and is Rick ready to reveal himself to the world?

Front the first page, Kristine Dexter pulls you into two creative and unique characters. Rick is running from his stalker and has been under siege for over a year. He has returned to Portland, but since he left under a cloud of lies he is not quite sure how family and friends will relate to him. He can tell at the dinner they still believe the lies and think of him as the basest kind of womanizer. Tasha lives with knowing her upper class family hates and despises her job, and they pretty much do not accept her the way she is. She tries to keep the peace, but everyone thinks if she could find just the right man with enough money she would leave her job and let someone else take care of her. That is sooo not Tasha. Her job is her life; she's good at it, and though it makes relationships hard, it's what she's dedicated to. Ms. Dexter insinuates The Creep into the action along with the murderer that Tasha is trying to find whose case keeps getting in the way of Rick and his stalker. Each situation is handled deftly, and the fast pace held my interest all the way through.

Tasha's partner Lou is the first to see what is happening and tries to keep Tasha from mixing pleasure with her job. Herbert Beebe, The Creep, has made it his life's crusade to free Jessamyn from her prison of torture, and every day gets closer to using violence to achieve his ends. But it is Jessamyn and her connection to Rick that is the true mystery in this story. Trust me, you'll LOVE IT.

THE PERFECT MAN has hit all the high marks for me, interesting characters to relate to, intriguing situations, and a deliciously decadent love story that will send tingles up your back. Find THE PERFECT MAN this month, and you'll have the first exceptional reading experience of springtime.

Carolyn Crisher