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Like No One Else

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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...

410 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

45 people are currently reading
189 people want to read

About the author

Maureen Smith

69 books795 followers
pseudonym Naomi Chase

Maureen Smith is a USA Today bestselling author who has garnered critical acclaim for her sensual romances and heart-pounding romantic suspense. She has won a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award (nominated for seven total) and numerous Emma Awards. She also writes sexy women’s fiction under the award-winning pen name Naomi Chase.



Before becoming an author, Maureen interned with a former U.S. presidential candidate, worked at the famous Watergate complex, and enjoyed a stint as a reporter and freelance writer. She is married to her college sweetheart and they have two children.



Visit Maureen’s website and join her mailing list to receive updates about new books, current projects, and upcoming appearances.

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5 stars
188 (49%)
4 stars
129 (34%)
3 stars
53 (13%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Fareeda.
90 reviews3 followers
August 1, 2024
If you ignore that this took space in under a week/pretend it’s over a longer span of time, this will be a very good read.

Timeline and minor unrealistic bits aside, I really enjoyed this! I think this was my first romance/thriller and I was not expecting to enjoy it as much I did. Truly deliciously binge-worthy in an intoxicating way.
Profile Image for scthoughts.
312 reviews62 followers
Read
July 6, 2024
I decided last month that I will reread some romance books from throwback authors but on audio this time.

Two things I've noticed/remembered so far in my rereads:
1) Romantic Suspense needs a comeback in my daily reading.
2) Hearing the word engorged has me thinking the audio aspect might be a bad idea. 😂
Profile Image for Page Turner.
1,439 reviews
January 13, 2020
I liked this book. It wasn't that predictable and I liked the viewpoints of each of the characters. I thought the relationship progressed at warp speed without much more than the lust factor however. At any rate, I still enjoyed the book.
Profile Image for Whit.
3,586 reviews49 followers
June 4, 2020
What a super hot page turner! This book has everything: love, sizzling romance, jealousy, betrayal, shocking suspense, and an ending that I did not see coming!
Tommie Purnell is so beautiful that men lie, cheat, and kill to get next to her. Seriously! So if hot homicide detective, Paulo Sanchez is not careful, he could spend 24/7 just trying to solve all of the crimes being committed by the men obsessed with her!
Profile Image for Brenda.
369 reviews
May 30, 2014
Oh my goodness! I don't know how this book got pass me! I loved it! Mystery, murder, HOT passion ... from the first to the last page, this book is action packed. This is s MUST read if you haven't read it already!
307 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2018
Well....did not see that coming. I don't understand one thing, why was he so obsessed with her? I mean beautiful women are everywhere but you don't stalk and kill them.
Profile Image for Zee.
964 reviews16 followers
July 6, 2024
3.5 stars

This was a real page tuner. Unfortunately, I felt very disappointed with the ending as it felt very anticlimactic. It makes zero sense that everything happened within a week including a proposal! We didnt actually see the couple grow into their relationship or deal with the aftermath of the stalker. While I really liked Tommie I expected more from Paulo. I just couldn’t seem to move from his manwhore image and I still hate how unapologetic and amused he was at humiliating Tommie the first time they met years ago. I just can’t believe he went from fighting his lust for Tommie to confessing his love and a proposal in only one week. It also seems pretty far fetched for every man who mets Tommie to became obsessed with her to the point of murder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vonetta Augustine.
326 reviews
February 8, 2025
Interesting couple who found a second chance at love and redemption. Tommie and Paulo are exciting. This was great mystery. You don’t see the twist until the end. Lots of naughty men especially orbiting Tommie (Roland, Julius, and Richard).

In the end, she saved herself.
2 reviews
September 28, 2025
AMAZING! 🤩

My first time reading a Suspenseful Romance and my god, it definitely won’t be the last. Just when you thought you knew where it was going … 😂. 10/10 I can’t wait to dive deeper into her catalog
14 reviews
August 9, 2019
Awesome twist of pkit

Riveting plot and keeps you guessing who did it. Did not expect who the killer turned out to be. Excellent story writer.
Profile Image for Jessica McKnight.
7 reviews
October 26, 2019
Breathtaking

This book kept you on the edge of your seat with each turn of every single page. I loved the suspense as well as the passion. It was definitely a great read.
Profile Image for Yvette P Carter.
209 reviews1 follower
June 9, 2022
Mystery and romance.. Phew!

What a great piece of literature. From the opening to the last line and every chapter in between a Riviting explosion of suspence. Thoroughly enjoyable!
3 reviews
July 27, 2022
A Great Murder Mystery

This was an excellent read. It kept me guessing on who the murderer was the entire time. Full of passion and mystery. Highly recommended!
67 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2024
This truly is like no one else!

This ploy involved so many twists and themes. It was an arresting, detailed story that holds your attention until the finale..
17 reviews
May 24, 2025
Romance and Suspense

I could not put this book down. Good read from beginning to end, love your attention to detail with your words.
Profile Image for Brandi.
621 reviews31 followers
July 4, 2010
Detective Paolo Sanchez is on a mission to find a murderer and get Tommie Purnell off his mind and catching the murderer is the more sure of the two. Tommie Purnell is a dancer making a name for herself as an instructor in Houston but she has an admirer who will do anything to get close to her. Paolo and Tommie have met before and have never been able to forget each other and now due to a murder and family connections, they can't stay away from one another. This is one sexy book. Paolo is good looking, funny, and protective in a way that makes him a perfect hero. In typical cop fashion, he's been divorced and is a womanizer. He' s wanted Tommie since the first time he laid eyes on her and lets her know it at every opportunity. Tommie wants to be able to resist what Paolo is offering without falling completely under his spell but it might not work.

There is a real mystery going on here and you won't get it until the end and you'll wonder how you missed the clues. But there are no clues. Ms. Smith really keeps her murderer under wraps until the very end, so that means everyone is a suspect---even Paolo. But of course, good wins in the end but what a ride getting there. This is a very good, page-turning read.

P.S. There are some connections to previous novels by Maureen Smith (Weapon of Seduction and Whisper My Name) in this book, my suggestion is to read those books as well. Eventhough this book can be read as a stand alone, the other books are just as hot and mysterious.
Profile Image for Deena.
540 reviews10 followers
November 14, 2012
This one kept me guessing right up until the killer was revealed - and I was beyond shocked to find out who it was! I don't want to give anything away, so all I'll say is that the killer was probably the only person I didn't suspect. Really interesting cast of characters in this book. I was initially hesitant about reading this one because I thought that the interracial romance would be the focus, so I was pleasantly surprised that the author didn't make a big deal of it. Maureen Smith has become one of my faves, and she definitely didn't disappoint with this one. Glad I took a chance and read it!
Profile Image for Daphne Douglas.
Author 3 books5 followers
July 3, 2012
This was the first book I read by this incredible author. I absolutely loved my journey through the pages of this book. The combination of a great mystery and a steamy love story was awesome. I also loved the fact that I didn't figure out who the killer was until just before she revealed him. Bravo...
Profile Image for she_ill_22.
280 reviews21 followers
March 29, 2015
Afro-Latino love twisted with suspense

Romance suspense is not my favorite genre, but I'm slowly being pulled to the other side! Maureen Smith is the truth with the suspense and steam...wowzers. I would've never guessed who the stalker/killer was! The chemistry between and Tommie and Pablo had literally twisting in my seat! Highly recommended.
12 reviews
August 22, 2015
Great book

Awesome storyline. Mystery, suspense, passion, excitement all in one place. Maureen Smith had me anxious to get to the end and had me second guessing myself throughout the plot as I tried to guess who the killer was.
Profile Image for Shun Harper.
47 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2016
Murder mystery and passion

The author started out slowly but as you keep reading the twist and turns pick up. The mystery was not unraveled until the very end. There were several potential guilty parties to choose from. Paulo and Tommie had chemistry and passion galore.
Profile Image for Debra Crosby.
484 reviews14 followers
September 21, 2011
Like No One Else delivered! A love story and a mystery! Did not even suspect the person that was the killer
Profile Image for Cf.
516 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2014
Ms. Smith is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The whole murder twist was intriguing.
Profile Image for Crystal.
391 reviews2 followers
January 4, 2015
I loved the story of Tommie and Paulo, it was filled with murder, mystery and mayham!
Profile Image for Chey.
48 reviews
September 14, 2015
Lovedddddddddd it

This was such a great read! I loved the suspense, I even found myself yelling out loud ! I was just that deep in! Great job!
Profile Image for Felice Foster.
891 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2016
Instant favorite. The characters were well written and the story-line had me guessing as to who done it right up until the end!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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