Ko Brandi Michaels odkrije, da je njen zaročenec skočil na letalo in se odpeljal v Las Vegas, da bi se tam poročil s svojim dekletom, zastavi svoj zaročni prstan, si kupi krasno obleko in preživi strastno noč v objemu čudovitega tujca, Italijana po imenu Roberto Bartolini. Ko Brandi postane tarča morilca, nima druge izbire, kot da se obrne na Roberta – moškega, ki mu je usojeno, da postane njen rešitelj ali pa jo potegne s sabo v propad. Ampak nekaj je gotovo: Brandi se ne namerava predati kar tako brez boja…
New and Now! —MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... — THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... — A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all… https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... — WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... — WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... — GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear. When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be? Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge. Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!" Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
This is not one of my favorite Christina Dodd books. It was decent, but I expect more than decent from her. I think it's a timing thing. Being an extremely moody reader, it's hard when I read something and it doesn't fit what I am feeling at the time.
The Not-So Good: *I never fell in love with the storyline, to be honest. I didn't like how Roberto and Brandi got together. She picked him up to make herself feel better after her fiance dumped her. Imagine her telling her grandkids that story. I don't like the fling/hook-up/one night stand storyline at all. Furthermore, I just couldn't get behind Roberto as a glitzy, celebrity count who happened to be a jewel thief (and the subsequent reveal on this). I couldn't suspend my disbelief on that one. And the connection between that and the men who were stalking Brandi was highly tenuous. *Love scenes were too short, not satisfying to me. Christina Dodd writes good love scenes, but these didn't set this book on fire for me. *The suspense part didn't work for me. It was a bit too thin and didn't come together well. *Roberto didn't blow me away or hit me hard like many of Christina Dodd's heroes. He wasn't a bad hero. He just didn't do much for me, except for his beautiful gesture at the end, and how he stood up for Brandi with her ex-fiance'. Those were a few sigh-worthy moments on his part. It might be that I am just not into the Italian allure when it comes to guys. They don't do much for me. And I especially don't go for the high profile ladykiller type like he was. *Sometimes I didn't get Brandi. She acted in ways that didn't make sense and didn't seem like something a logical, goal-oriented type person would do. She had some esteem issues from her dad and I could see that in her. On the positive side, I respected her for taking control of her life and helping out her mother when her father failed them.
The Good: *This was a quick, fast-paced, breezy read, which is nice if you want a quick pick-me-up. *The humor was good *Interesting storyline *Smart, independent heroine *I loved Roberto's grandfather. He was adorable! *Despite not liking how Brandi and Roberto met, I did like their chemistry together, although it didn't grow as fully-bloomed as I would hope. This read like an expanded short story instead of the full-fledged novel it was. *I thought Brandi's relationship with her sister and mother added to the book, but her father was a full-on jerk.
Would I Recommend This Book?
Honestly, I would say avoid this one if you haven't read any Christina Dodd. I think she has written better. If your expectations aren't very high, you will probably find it to be a serviceable read, and you might enjoy it. I just expect so much more from her, and maybe I wasn't in the right mood when I read this. It's like ice cream. If the ice cream tastes pretty good even if it's not great, it's still better than no ice cream at all. But you'd rather eat really good ice cream if you're going to splurge on those calories. That's how I would describe this book.
This is my first time reading a book by Christina Dodd.
Mrs. Dodd hit the nail with hammer in showing how some fathers can be selfish and not care about anyone, but themselves. In this book, the heroine - Brandi's father showed how her loved himself. He didn't even see Brandi as a person in this book. He wouldn't claim her as his child. He married her mother Tiffany. To him, Tiffany was nothing but a woman that loved to be pretty and spend his money. He hated the fact that she enrolled Brandi in ballet and gymnastics. He thought that Brandi should be like his oldest daughter, Kim and play sports, so that she could get a scholarship. He had put his oldest daughter by a different wife, on a pedal stool. Tiffany had told him, Kim's secret and he didn't want to believe it, but later on he knew. This man that shouldn't be anyone's father left Tiffany to be with his secretary, who had a son for him that he didn't care for as well. The boy didn't want to follow in his father's foot, play sports like his father. People have to realize, just because you were something in school, doesn't mean your children will want to be that.
Brandi has gone to college to be a lawyer. What I hated in this book, in regards to Brandi and her mother is that she called her mother Tiffany. I know some children call their parents by their first name and their parents don't care, but I do. I would never want to be called by my first name by my children. Even the hero - Roberto found that strange that Brandi called her mother by her first name.
Brandi was engaged to a guy named Alan. They have dated for four years and then gotten engaged. The two timer betrayed Brandi's love. He went to Vegas and married his girlfriend. A girl that he has gotten pregant and the stupid thing is, he blamed Brandi, all because she moved to Chicago to be close to him and work for her uncle Charles. She gets even with him though. She pawns the $10,000 diamond ring he brought for her. Not only that, she goes out looking to hook up with another man and that's what she does. She meets Roberto, an Italian Count at her uncle Charles party and they hook up later at his hotel room.
Monday, she's introduced to Roberto again. He's her client. Brandi wasn't looking to ever see Roberto again, but that changed. Roberto knew they would meet again.
Roberto is a jewel thief. His grandfather, his mother's father is a jewel thief as well.
Although, Roberto is a jewel thief, he's also a good guy. He helps the FBI bring down a bad guy. One that he was happy to help bring down. The man broke his grandfather's hand with a hammer.
Roberto and Brandi gets a HEA. He's her dragon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Series: Fortune Hunters, book #1 Publication date : August 1, 2006
Brandi Michaels moves to Chicago to be near her fiance and start her career as a lawyer. She doesn't even have the boxes unpacked when her fiance calls to tell her shocking news: he's in Las Vegas and married to another woman. When he asks for the engagement ring back so he could give it to his new bride, it's the last straw for Bradi. She takes the ring to a pawn shop instead. She decides that a hot night with a stranger will help her get past the break-up. Dressed to kill, she goes to a party and meet with a sexy and mysterious stranger, Count Roberto Bartolini. They decide to spend the night together - without exchanging names or anything. When Brandi returns home from the sultry weekend, she discovers that her apartment has been ransacked, it also turns out that Roberto is a suspected jewel-thief and she's the new lawyer assigned to his case and on top of all - someone is trying to kill her ...
When Brandi Michaels’ cheating fiancé elopes to Las Vegas, she decides to pawn his engagement ring and treats herself to a one night stand in the arms of a gorgeous stranger. Little does she know that said stranger, Roberto Bartolini, is about to become a whole lot more familiar come morning . . .
A cute read, but Brandi and Roberto’s chemistry is lukewarm at best and the suspense plot lacks any real excitement.
Aside from their mutual attraction, Brandi and Roberto’s relationship is not all that believable. She is intelligent and resourceful, but also organized, rational and looking for security. He is charming and debonair, but not exactly stable considering his secrets. Although their sexual close encounter is reasonable given the circumstances, the rest of the romance plot doesn’t make much sense.
The suspense sub-plot involving Roberto’s sideline business reads like a paint-by-numbers robbery caper with events unfolding one after the other in a predictable fashion and connections made rather conveniently and coincidentally. The climax lacks any real tension and the big reveal is obvious.
All in all, a quick, light read but Dodd has certainly written better.
This was an odd book for me. I really liked the main plot - a young attorney's new guy turns out to be an international jewel thief who's being forced to steal a famous jewel for the Chicago mob. It felt like the plot of a Cary Grant movie. Or maybe Reese Witherspoon. :) And the final scene with the dragon had me laughing out loud, which is always a plus for me.
But the MCs relationship was based only on sex, and the MCs were so gorgeous and desirable that they kind of turned me off. I prefer people who are a little more human. Also, the heroine's family relationships didn't make sense to me, and neither did his motivation. So a hit-or-miss book that at least left me smiling at the end. 2.5 stars
Author: Christina Dodd First published: 2006 Length: 279 pages Setting: Contemporary, Chicago. Sex: Explicit. Reasonably frequent. Hero: Wealthy Italian count from a family of thieves, suspected to be a jewel thief. Heroine: Newly graduated lawyer.
Surprisingly enjoyable.
Very strong, independent heroine who uses her assets, physical and mental, to move through life. Somewhat whimsical secondary characters and a hero who manipulates but Brandi’s strength pulls the story through for me. There are silly things, ridiculous plot points, unnecessary sexual encounters.
Somewhat HFN for Roberto with issues of his paternity left up in the air, picked up in later books.
Overall, the book still works and I enjoyed it.
Fortune Hunters: Book 1 Trouble in High Heels - Brandi Michaels and Roberto Bartolini Book 2 Tongue In Chic - Devlin Fitzwilliam and Meadow Szarvas Book 3 Thigh High - Nessa Dahl and Jeremiah MacNaught Book 4 Danger in a Red Dress - Hannah Grey and Gabriel Prescott
Trouble in High Heels is a fun book. It was entertaining to listen to and provided a lovely break from the darker more suspenseful books I've been reading lately. Brandi is a girl with serious daddy issues, she is a beautiful girl desperate to prove she is more than a pretty face. When her fiance leaves her to marry his girlfriend, she decides to splurge on herself and have a sexy night of fun. That sexy night lands her in bed with a wealthy Count and suddenly her entire life is turned upside-down and she is in the middle of a jewel-heist conspiracy.
I listened to the audio version of this book and overall, I simply enjoyed the experience. There are some seriously cheesy lines, and the plot was fairly simple. Nevertheless, the characters were interesting and witty and I liked both Brandi and Roberto. I even liked Brandi's mother Tiffany, who was touted as a trophy wife for much of the book.
Sometimes a light-hearted, fun book is just what I need to kick back and relax with, and lift my mood. Trouble in High Heels fit the bill for me. So, thank you audible for the book sales, without which I may not have ever read this book. :)
Every once in a while, I pick up a book just for the hell of it, just for a fun read. Sometimes, I need a break from the nail-bitting suspense or the horror and terror of other books. This one was refreshing! I laughed a few times, feeling what Brandi was feeling (near the beginning because of the 'ex-fiance' and near the end thinking and feeling like a doormat), tears and laughter make for a pretty good book. I liked Brandi's character, the way she developed is something I enjoyed. No holds barred. At the end, when she refused to be the 'doormat' she thought he was playing her, even if unknowingly sticking herself in a dangerous situation, took a lot of guts, more than I can say for some characters I've read. What I enjoyed most was the 'idiocy' of Roberto showing up at her office with the dragonsuit on. 'Do what you gotta do to win back the girl'. I really like that motto, I've read the things the guys had done to win back his girl, but this one tops them all off. Sure, injury to pride and dignity, but he won back his girl. Couldn't have asked for better.
I picked this book up during a sale on Audible and I'm so glad I did! This was a very enjoyable listen with lots of action and heat! I will definitely continue this series.
This is a pretty great book, especially for Dodd, who is better known for her historicals than her contemporaries. Brandi Michaels is a kick-butt new attorney who, at the beginning of the book, is dumped by her fiance for his pregnant mistress. Instead of getting mad, Brandi decides to get even, right into the arms of an Italian Count who is in legal trouble for suspected jewel theft. It's supposed to be a one night weekend stand, but of course it's discovered that Brandi is on the legal team defending Roberto and the hijinks start.
One thing I enjoyed about this book is the way Brandi isn't some perfect Mary Sue waiting for an alpha male to reform. She's kind of a bitch and not always in the good way. Luckily, the book addresses these issues and calls Brandi out on them instead of just waiting for the magical peen to cure her of her bitchy behavior. This also means that in several scenes when a lot of romance FMCs would be swooning with lust, Brandi swoons, then remembers the topic, and gets right back into it. Her backbone is pretty refreshing on the feminine side of a romance novel.
Roberto is also atypical for an Italian alpha male in that he's funny. He doesn't rampage around expecting Brandi to just fall in line for him and the aforementioned magical peen. He's got a good sense of humor and while he knows his appeal toward the opposite sex, you get the genuine impression he respects Brandi, rather than simply wanting to have sex with her until she submits (although I'm sure he wants that, he just knows that it wouldn't work with her). This book also features a pretty bad-ass grovel scene combined with a marriage-proposal-gone-wrong-in-the-right-way that made me giggle the whole time. Violet, my inner Angst Whore, was happy.
There are certainly some slow bits in the book, and it does take a bit for the book to really get going, but for me the book was all about the characters, rather than the plot, so that made it okay for me.
Very good read. I had trouble putting it down this weekend and finished it in a couple days. I guess I was in need of a little old fashioned romance. lol
When Brandi Michaels uproots her life to move to Chicago to be with her fiance Alan she never suspects that her life is about to change in the way that it is. The day she moves into her new apartment during one of Chicago's coldest winters she gets a phone call from Alan telling her that he has flown off to Las Vegas to marry his pregnant girlfriend. She decides to pawn Alan's engagement ring and goes out on a mission to find the perfect stranger to have a one night stand with to help her forget Alan. What she finds in Count Roberto Bartolini, a notorious Italian jewel thief. After a passionate night like nothing she has ever experienced before, Roberto convinces Brandi to stay the weekend. Since she starts a new job on Monday at a prestigious law firm she agrees to this last fling.
When she is introduced to her first client Monday morning, imagine he shock when she discovers that it is Count Roberto Bartloni whom she will be defending. Being thrown back together ignites the flames and both Brandi and Roberto find themselves consumed by their desire for each other. Getting involved with this notorious jewel thief is not what Brandi had in mind but she is drawn further and further into the danger of his world.
A wonderful read with just the right amount of heated romance, humor, and intrigue. I am ordering the other books in the Fortune Hunter series since this one was so much fun.
bro 😭 what did i just read only giving it 2 stars bc i didn't take it seriously n read it for entertainment purposes only n well, it was entertaining n unintentionally funny when it tried to be serious i don't recommend it tho 💀
I really liked this, maybe it's just my mood, because I know there isn't much substance to it. Brandi was what I think all women wish they were when they grew up: witty, smart, gorgeous, successful, self confident, although slightly vulnerable, and don't forget flexible (***smile***hehe). What girl wouldn't want to be all of that? And Roberto, of course he's a perfect hero for this story. And if I'm being honest, probably too perfect. But the whole thing was very enjoyable and easy. A great sexy, smart and romantic jewelry- mystery caper.
This was an entertaining read. I had read the second book in this series, "Tongue in Chic", previously and enjoyed that one more. So far, this particular series does not need to be read in order. I enjoy Dodd's style because there is always a lot of humor in her stories. I would recommend it for a beach book or when you want to read something light.
This wasn't a literary masterpiece but it was a really fun read that I couldn't put down. Loved the relationship between Brandi and The Count. It was sweet and a lovely happily ever after. Since it is a series, I can't imagine what is next. I will look into it and probably listen to more. The reader did a really nice job.
I'm afraid this book falls into the "books I wish I hadn't read" category. Totally. The dialogue was too smarmy for words, the plot was over the top ridiculous, and the heroine was way too sarcastic to be likeable. Not funny at all. I was bummed by the whole thing. It was too bad too because the summary on the back sounded cute and funny, and I love the cover art. Oh well.
I loved this book! Fast paced, straight to the point. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but it didn't go that way. Brandi is very goal oriented, and knows what she wants...or thinks she does, until her fiancé calls to say he's married and it's all her fault. I love how she stays strong and finally finds what she's really looking for. A great read!
Definitely a fun read, and a delightfully humorous one. The story may have been a little too light for some, but the characters and humor made up for it. It was actually quite a refreshing change from some of the books I've been reading recently.
Brandi Michaels, Vanderbilt Law School Magna Cum Laude, has just moved from moderate Nashville to below frigid Chicago to be near her fiancé. It is so cold that her new apartment has lost heat and the water pipes are frozen. She’s feeling pretty down and irritated at fiancé Alan when he calls to tell her he’s breaking their engagement. He got another girl pregnant and eloped to Las Vegas to get married.
Brandi is over the top PO’d: she pawns her engagement ring, trades in for a pair of stunning sapphire earrings, a drop dead dress and shoes and pampering at a spa. She is going to go on the town, find a handsome stranger, have a torrid affair, and never see him again.
Needless to say, her plan doesn’t work out as proposed. She does find a handsome count, she does have a torrid affair, but ‘never see him again?’ Not hardly. He’s her first client at her new law firm.
We have a jewel heist, misunderstandings, adorable relatives, vicious hoodlums, and the FBI. Brandi and the Count have a scorching attraction and professional aggravation. Is he playing her or does he care? Does he trust her; should she trust him? Some shooting and near death experiences before the eventual HEA. An entertaining romp and beginning of a new series from Dodd. Recommended.
Readalikes/Similar Authors: Linda Howard - Cry No More; Karen Robards - Sleepwalker; Elizabeth Adler - Meet Me in Venice; Meggin Cabot - She Went All the Way; Maya Banks - Just One Touch; Christina Skye - My Spy; Kat Martin - Against the Sky; Cynthia Eden - Deadly Lies; Cindy Gerard - Taking Fire.
Pace: Fast Characters: Well-developed; good backstories; strong women; good secondary characters Story: Plot-driven Language: Engaging Tone: Steamy; moderately suspenseful; Frame: Chicago; Contemporary
หนังสือเล่มใหม่ล่าสุดของ Christina Dodd ที่ชื่อ Trouble in High Heels เรื่องราวที่ทนายความสาวสวยที่เพิ่งถูกแฟนหนุ่มทิ้ง จึงแต่งตัวออกไปล่อตะเข้ และหิ้วท่านเคาน์หนุ่มหล่อที่บังเอิญเป็นพระเอกของเรื่องกลับมาค้างอ้างแรมด้วย
Dnf'd at 20% because I would have screamed if I read the FMC refer to her coat as 'London Fog'. If it was some signature famous brand, it might have been okay. Also the FMC had a whiplash personality imo. Like she did not want to be judged because of her looks yet wears clothes that accentuate the said features. She pretty much says she knows her boobs look good yet a few pages later, this happens "With a faint sense of dread, she watched Roberto’s expression. After all, Alan had complained about her breasts —they were too abundant, the nipples were too large, too rosy, too sensitive. . . ." She wants to be taken seriously as a lawyer yet on her very first day, she had her head in clouds and didn't even prepare for case. I think her personality just rubbed me wrong. Also the MMC was too cliche. Also, on the note of being petty, it just pulled me out when she mentioned that he is 6 feet 2 inch talk who was described as someonewho looks like ian sommerhalden and but in the next sentence, he is johnny depp. Uh what? You know what, I just disliked it for very petty reasons but I just couldn't...
bad book, I mean the scene when the elevator is going down because the Italian gangsters are trying to kill the lovers, then it stops abruptly & what does lover boy do? take a knife to cut his educated temporary bimbo's panties. I mean come on, I know this is fiction but there is fiction & then there is seriously tasteless stupid fiction. He's trying to protect her from the gangsters during the parties & in the diner but uses a knife in the elevator as a sexual turn on? what if the elevator started again & his hand jerks & he nicks her? Plus she is a lawyer, I mean I know she's trying to get her vengeance but to sleep with the first hottie she finds, who turns to be a criminal & it's a family trade, hmmm. After years of trying to better herself & saw what men can do when they are jerks & self centered, she does a classic cliche & hooks up with the first drop dead gorgeous guy, nevertheless she just had a bad breakup.