This courtroom drama deserves standing-room only as a cast of villains and vigilantes attempt to eradicate justice from the personal and professional lives of two unlikely heroes.

When Victoria Lord meets Steve "Slash and Burn" Solomon, it's hate at first sight. Lord, a young prosecutor with the Miami/Dade County District Attorney's office, is a by-the- book officer of the court. She's heard about Solomon's sleazy courtroom tactics, but she's confident that her poise and professionalism will rule.

Unfortunately, the only rule these two abide by is a contempt of court charge when the judge throws them both in the slammer. Something clicks, and it isn't just the lock on the cell.

Solomon and Lord find themselves partners defending Victoria's old acquaintance, Katrina Barksdale. Katrina's husband, Charles, has managed to choke himself to death with a leather whatever (trust me, you really don't want me to go into the details here) during some unusual sexual enhancement activity and the D.A. isn't buying Katrina's story.

It appears that Katrina has a short attention span when it comes to men; motive and opportunity are appealingly pointing to the grieving (?) widow. Realizing this case could be "Larry King Big!" the two combatants vie for the fee and the notoriety the publicity will provide.

It's now up to Solomon and Lord to put hate on hold long enough to free Katrina, to prove Steve Solomon is a fit guardian for his autistic nephew, and oh yes, to fall in love.

Can the two survive a conniving gubernatorial hopeful, a judge who hates them and each other? Good luck and good reading.