New York’s Finest Rebel combines many of my favourite ingredients in a romance: A man in uniform, a fun loving woman who drives him crazy, and two people who have known each other for years before they realize what’s been standing right in front of them.  As I write this I can’t help but think when it comes to the latter it’s an appropriate bookend for my time with Harlequin Romance. Back in 2005 my first book had a similar moment of realization for the characters and now, with my last before I move to the new KISS imprint, it feels like I’ve circled back to where it all began.

But let’s talk Danny and Jo, shall we?

When Jo briefly appeared in The Inconvenient Laws Of Attraction, I was intrigued by her. I knew she’d been homeless, but I didn’t know why. I knew she’d come a long way since then, but I didn’t know how. What I discovered along the way was a feisty, independent heroine who needed a very special hero before she would surrender her heart. Danny was that guy from the first moment he appeared on the page in pursuit of a pair of red stilettos which had caught his eye while he was stuck in an archaic elevator. He didn’t expect the woman wearing those shoes to be his long-time nemesis or to suddenly discover he was looking at her differently. How he attempted to handle the situation made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion.  This Marine-turned-cop wasn’t going down without a fight!

‘She might have unwittingly caught his interest with a pair of red stilettos, but she knew exactly what she’d been doing on the train. Just as he knew exactly what would happen if she discovered he was attracted to her and used it against him.

Unfortunately, when he’d rolled out the heavy artillery, he’d discovered he was dealing with guerrilla warfare.  She’d hit him hard and fast, disappeared behind the woman who’d bugged him with very little effort, then hit him again when he attempted a temporary ceasefire by doing something nice.

Those boots had a lot to answer for.’

All told this book proved to be the most fun I’ve ever had at the keyboard. The characters hold a very special place in my heart, partly because they made their story such a joy to tell but mostly because they renewed my love of writing.  If you enjoy New York’s Finest Rebel I hope you’ll track down the last two books in the Brannigan family saga. Details of Tyler’s story-Her Man In Manhattan-can be found on my website at www.trishwylie.com