My interest in the novel became stronger as I tuned in on Paulo. In other words, I thought about the lives of detectives and policemen. Maureen Smith in bold color paints the life of a detective in true colors. Men like Paulo who work protecting their community's lives try to piece crime puzzles together of murderous minds while at the same time never taking their attention off the most significant people in their lives. Paulo always had time for Tommie. She remained in his thoughts constantly. Plus, he could still play romantic games with her mind when he got to her loft in Houston, Texas. Of course, these scenes are hotter than a steamy day.
Still, my mind continued to think about the appreciation we owe detectives and policemen, I thought about women working and living alone. These single women without children living ordinary lives are definitely in need of society's particular protection. Is it possible to think that single women are too emotionally strong to need help or protection? Is it possible to think they have it altogether? After all, they have a nice home or an apartment in an exclusive, secluded area, these women wear sharp as a tack clothes, have a top paying job, and they know how to have fun. In Maureen Howard's words, Tommie "answered to no one but herself."
Is society aware of what is missing? There is no husband or lover to walk with that woman from her car to her door every night. There is not a man to look around the apartment when there is a strange noise in the night making the woman with "everything" feel as though her skin is crawling with fear. One of the character's in "Like No One Else" says in one single sentence what women like Tommie might need in their lives.
'"And she needs a strong man by her side. Someone she can trust. Someone who can take care of her, help heal those wounds."
Guess who fits those big shoes? Paulo. He is the guy every girl dreams about who rides in on a white horse and rescues her from the bad guys . Paulo does not ride a white horse. He does have a cruiser. That cruiser always arrives at just the right time whether it is day or night. Tommie is a woman who is fully aware of the sexy, intelligent prize she has won. The final and most pressing question is "Can love save her life?"
