After a devastating relationship Carlene Ledbetter found herself pregnant and alone. She left the security of her sister's home in Kentucky to visit her Aunt Vi in Florida to rebuild a new life for herself and her unborn child.

From the opening sentences of chapter on through to the surprise climactic ending in the final chapter, I was hooked on Joyce Brennan's book "Don't Dance on My Heart."

A twist of fate brings Carlene Ledbetter and undercover police detective John Santos together. Neither Carlene nor John was ready for a serious relationship. Carlene embittered and insecure was afraid to give her heart to another man. John recognized the dangers of his career did not lend themselves to love, a successful marriage or a family.

The book is paced filled with intrigue, embezzlement, muggings, a stalker, and under cover police detectives in a fast moving adventure which keeps the reader guessing. Brennan weaves her way through intricate plot twists, and vindictive characters, while balancing romance, danger, secret locations, and coded phone messages. Brennan skillfully builds her plot and creates strong characters. Much of the story is moved forward through credible dialog and authentic characters. I developed a strong sense of compassion for the protagonists.

The non-stop action, stimulating dialog, and fascinating characters make "Don't Dance on My Heart" a book easily adapted for a movie script. Joyce Brennan's writing is strong and just keeps getting better.