Dangerous Ladies

Table of Contents

 

 

 

“Dodd delivers a high-octane, blow-out finale. . . . This romantic suspense novel is a delicious concoction that readers will be hard-pressed not to consume in one gulp.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Warm characterizations and a caperlike plot make Dodd’s hot contemporary romance a delight, and the cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eager for the sequel.”

—
Booklist

“Dodd brings her unique sense of plotting, character, humor, and surprise to this wonderful tale. You’ll relish every word, cherish each poignant moment and ingenious plot twist, sigh deeply, and eagerly await the sequel. Dodd is clever, witty, and sexy.”

—
Romantic Times

“Dodd adds humor, sizzling sensuality, and a cast of truly delightful secondary characters to produce a story that will not disappoint.”

—
Library Journal

“Strong and likable characters make this an enjoyable read. Ms. Dodd peppers the story with interesting secondary personalities, which adds to the reading pleasure.”

—The Best Reviews

“Sexy and witty, daring and delightful.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Teresa Medeiros

“A master romantic storyteller.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Kristin Hannah

“Christina Dodd keeps getting better and better.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Debbie Macomber

“Treat yourself to a fabulous book—anything by Christina Dodd!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Jill Barnett

CHRISTINA DODD’S THE CHOSEN ONES SERIES

 

CHRISTINA DODD’S DARKNESS CHOSEN SERIES

 

CHRISTINA DODD’S ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

New American Library
Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3,
Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia
(a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,
New Delhi - 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand
(a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196,
South Africa

 

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Trouble in High Heels
and
Tongue in Chic
were previously published in separate Signet editions.

 

First New American Library Trade Paperback Printing, October 2009

Trouble in High Heels
copyright © Christina Dodd, 2006

Tongue in Chic
copyright © Christina Dodd, 2007

All rights reserved

REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

 

Set in Adobe Garamond

 

 

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

eISBN : 978-1-101-14537-1

 

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

These are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

 

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

 

The way to fight a woman is with your hat. Grab it and run.

The guy who said that was a wise man. He knew what most men don’t—women are powerful creatures who should be handled with care, or they can become very, very dangerous.

When I wrote
Trouble in High Heels
, I knew exactly how lawyer Brandi Michaels would react when she discovered her lousy, deceitful fiancé got his girlfriend pregnant, then had the guts to ask for her engagement ring back. I knew she would become as dangerous as a wounded lioness, pawn the ring, and use the money for a new gown and killer heels. Then she would go to a society party looking for revenge. And a fabulous revenge she would find . . . in Roberto Bartolini.

Roberto is an Italian count, sex in an Armani suit, Johnny Depp without the eyeliner. He has more than money, more than breeding, more than looks—he radiates power. Brandi considers him as challenging as Everest, and she’s ready to scale his heights.

What Brandi doesn’t know is that Roberto comes from a family of famous robbers; he’s been accused of jewel theft; and he’s in town to steal the magnificent Romanov Blaze, a priceless cursed diamond. Nor does she know that she’s part of his defense team.

Brandi is in deep trouble.

When I wrote
Tongue in Chic
, I knew Natalie Meadow Szarvas was a different kind of dangerous lady—less sophisticated, more wholesome, but just as determined to complete her mission of recovering her grandmother’s painting, even if it involved breaking and entering—and getting caught by the mansion’s owner.

Though Meadow is a fast thinker, Devlin Fitzwilliam is a fast
talker gifted with the face of a dark angel. In Meadow, he recognizes the opportunity for revenge against her family, but he’ll soon discover the real reason he can’t seem to let the rash, eccentric, laughing artist escape his control . . . or his heart.

Brandi and Meadow are the kind of dangerous ladies I love to write—intelligent, funny, willing to stand and fight for what they believe, and oh so surprised when love sweeps them off their feet.

I hope you enjoy this chance to enjoy two of my favorite novels in one volume, and remember—in the right circumstances, every lady is dangerous.

 

Warmly
,
Christina Dodd
www.christinadodd.com
For the wild at heart!

 

 

 

Some books come to fruition without struggle.

So I’m told.

My thanks to my editor, Kara Cesare, for holding my hand through the battle, and to Kara Welsh, for being so patient through disaster and flood. To my plot group, Lisa Kleypas, Connie Brockway, Susan Kay Law, and especially Susan Sizemore and Geralyn Dawson, who answered my panicked phone calls with brutal wisdom and witty banter. And to my agent, Mel Berger, thank you for being a sounding board, mentor, and friend.