Authors: Connie Brockway
Hot Dish
Raves for the Novels of Connie Brockway
Hot Dish
“With her contemporary debut, Connie Brockway blasts into modern times with her rapier wit and dazzling prose fully intact. Regardless of the time period, Brockway writes sheer magic. I’d say, ‘Welcome to the twenty-first century, Connie!’ but, quite frankly, I’m not sure I need the competition.”
—Elizabeth Bevarly
“A dazzling contemporary debut!”
—Christina Dodd
“A hilarious, bittersweet look at going home. Connie Brockway proves she’s got the contemporary chops to go the distance.”
—Eloisa James
“Connie Brockway’s contemporary debut is wry, witty, and wonderful! This cast of unforgettable characters will tickle your funny bone and your heartstrings.”
—Teresa Medeiros
The Rose Hunter Trilogy
My Surrender
“By brilliantly blending an exquisitely sensual romance between two deliciously stubborn individuals into a plot rife with danger, deception, and desire, and then wrapping the whole thing up in … elegant writing, Brockway deftly demonstrates her gift for creating richly imagined, completely irresistible love stories.”
—
Library Journal
(starred review)
My Seduction
“A well-crafted, engaging read.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“A fabulous love story … wicked, tender, playful, and sumptuous. Too wonderful to resist.”
—Lisa Kleypas
My Pleasure
“This is why people read romance … an exceptionally good read.”
—All About Romance
Bridal Favors
“A scrumptious literary treat … wonderfully engaging characters, a superbly crafted plot, and prose rich in wit and humor.”
—
Booklist
“Never predictable, always refreshing, wonderfully touching, deeply emotional, Ms. Brockway’s books never fail to satisfy. Connie Brockway is simply one of the best.”
—All About Romance
The Bridal Season
“Characters, setting, and plot are all handled with perfect aplomb by Brockway, who displays a true gift for humor. Witty and wonderful.”
—
Booklist
“If it’s smart, sexy, and impossible to put down, it’s a book by Connie Brockway.”
—Christina Dodd
The McClairen’s Isle Series
The Ravishing One
“Skullduggery, bitter English-Scottish hatreds, and harrowing cat-and-mouse pursuits fill the ebb and flow of this eighteenth-century romance.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Exquisite romance…. Brockway’s lush, lyrical writing style is a perfect match for her vivid characters, beautifully atmospheric setting, and sensuous love scenes.”
—
Library Journal
“If you’re looking for passion, tenderness, wit, and warmth, you need look no further. Connie Brockway is simply the best.”
—Teresa Medeiros
The Passionate One
“Rich, romantic, and intense.”
—Jill Barnett
My Dearest Enemy
“Brockway’s respect for her audience is apparent…. This rare story introduces social issues without preaching, characters who are well-developed, and enough passion, humor, and pathos to satisfy most readers.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Connie Brockway is a master at creating sparkling chemistry.”
—Laura Kinsale
As You Desire
“Smart, sassy, sexy, and funny. Connie Brockway has a way with humor that not only makes you laugh, but touches your heart.”
—Romantic Times
My Scottish Summer
“Romance with strength, wit, and intelligence. Connie Brockway delivers!”
—Tami Hoag
Once Upon a Pillow
“(Brockway’s) work brims with warmth, wit, sensuality, and intelligence.”
—
Amanda Quick
Connie Brockway
A SIGNET BOOK
SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, November 2006
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright © Connie Brockway, 2006
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-1-101-56283-3
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
Printed in the United States of America
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.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work 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.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
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.
This one is for you, Doodah.
With all my love, Mom.
The decision to strike out in a new direction is always fraught with excitement and trepidation. So many people helped me make this book happen in so many different ways. Doris Egan, Bob Howard, Jay Halvorson, Kent-Erik Halvorson, and Kyle Mairose lent me their expertise in making sure the devil stayed out of my details, and I most gratefully thank them. The following people were always there to offer encouragement, direction, and most importantly, their unswerving confidence in me and my craft. Thank you, Damaris Rowland, who as my agent for more than a decade has always made me feel like a star and encouraged me to follow one. Thank you to my editor, Claire Zion, who provided a desperately needed lantern when the way got murky and I could barely feel the road beneath my feet let alone see it. Thank you to the Squawkers (Liz Bevarly, Christina Dodd, Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, and Terri Medeiros); a finer, more talented group of friends would be unimaginably hard to find—a more generous one, impossible! And finally, thank you, David, best friend, unflinching critic (a few flinches now and again would be appreciated), most trusted adviser, and wittiest companion. You put every hero, real or imagined, in the shade, and I love you.
Prologue
Present day
Blue Lake Casino, Blue Lake Reservation, Minnesota
Fifteen miles northeast of Fawn Creek, Minnesota
I hate this town
.
Jenn Lind dragged her gaze away from the crowd held back from the poker table by a velvet rope and peered through her wraparound sunglasses down at the cards lying on the green baize table. She spat out a strand from the black polyester wig that kept finding its way into her mouth.
“Your bid, Ms. Uri,” the dealer said. When she’d given the dealer her pseudonym it had seemed appropriate.
“Yeah. I know.” She notched back the corners of the two cards, squinting at them again in the futile hope she’d been mistaken. She hadn’t. She sighed.
Crap. Now what am I going to do
?
Jenn lowered her head further, using the black plastic curtain of hair—it had begun life that morning as a witch’s wig in Pamida’s Dollar Bargain Bin—as a shield.
“Miss Uri?” the dealer prompted again.
“I’m thinking.” He could prompt until he went hoarse. There was no time limit on making up your mind. And she had some serious contemplation to do.