Former psychologist Tameka Jones has been living outside Refuge, North Carolina for barely a week when Deputy Chadleigh Wilson pulls up alongside her car on the road into town. Thinking he's passing her, she smiles at him, and suddenly something in Chad's life clicks into place. When his wolf demands to meet the owner of the beaming smile, he pulls her over. Chad knows he's stepping over the line, but what he does next with her on the hood of her car in board daylight, could easily get him fired!

Tameka is shocked by her sexual escapades with the handsome, if daunting, deputy, especially when she keeps letting him charm her into bed. All she'd wanted when she moved to Refuge was peace and quiet and to work as a beautician, far away from the strain of her former profession. She thought she'd found paradise in Refuge until she finds out she's surrounded by people who think they're werewolves. And Chad thinks she's his mate!

Growing up in foster care among humans hadn't prepared Chad for Tameka. Even though he's been a member of Raven Pack for two years, he's still a lone wolf, ignorant of what it means to find his One, the one human woman who is his soul mate. All he knows is that he must convince her to accept their bond. Regardless, his wolf will keep her safe from the stalker determined to run her off her property. Having inherited custody of the land from her grandmother she's not about to sell, even if she could. The land actually belongs to Raven Pack, but her stalker is too busy harassing her to know that. When bullets start flying, not only Tameka but those she loves are caught in the fanatic's sights. Will Sheriff Roan Barrio and his deputies be able to apprehend the shooter before she, or worse yet someone she loves, dies?

Zena Wynn's True Mates series is one of my all-time favorites. The characters are always personable and well-developed. While there will never be any objectionable material in a Zena Wynn novel, her love scenes are hot enough to scorch your panties. In my opinion, the opening scene in Tameka's Smile rivals the opener in True Mates 1 for the best sex scene ever written. This book also offers readers more whodunit intrigue than its prequels. It has a couple of atypical situations that surprise and a quick moving plot, with amusing, quick-witted dialogue. While you can read it as a stand-alone, I recommend you read this series in the order it's written for better familiarity with ongoing characters and story elements.

As usual, Ms. Wynn hints in Tameka's Smile at a future book for NeeCee, Tameka's sister, and Bull, Chad's best friend and fellow deputy. According to Ms. Wynn's webpage, True Mates 5: Claiming Shayla (Finally! Shayla and Rory's story!) will be released in late 2010 or early 2011 and will introduce characters for a new spin-off series.

Reviewed by: Merrylee