Bøker av Jenna Bennett

London, early June, 1926The last Friday of every month, Christopher Astley, in the guise of his alter ego Kitty Dupree, has attended a covert drag ball somewhere in London. In April, the ball was interrupted by a police raid that Christopher escaped by the skin of his teeth, only because he was yanked out of the nightclub before the raid started by someone who knew that it was going to happen. This month, the gathering has moved from the last Friday of the month to the first Saturday of the next, and the arranger has found a new venue. On the first weekend in June, everyone gathers in the old Rectors Club on Tottenham Court Road for a grand old time.All this is why Christopher's cousin Philippa Darling is alone in the flat she shares with Christopher when Christopher's other cousin, Crispin, Viscount St George, sails through the door three sheets to the wind from celebrating his twenty-third birthday with his usual crowd of extremely fast Bright Young People. And when a sozzled St George, along with an always-inquisitive Pippa, decide to get dressed up and crash Christopher's drag ball, the night ends with the dead body of a tabloid reporter on the floor of a Mayfair flat, and enough motives for murder to populate an entire wing of Wormwood Scrubs Penal Institution. Now Pippa and Christopher must determine who wanted the gossip hound dead badly enough to do something about it, all while trying to keep Crispin's name out of the press and their own heads above water.

London, early June, 1926The last Friday of every month, Christopher Astley, in the guise of his alter ego Kitty Dupree, has attended a covert drag ball somewhere in London. In April, the ball was interrupted by a police raid that Christopher escaped by the skin of his teeth, only because he was yanked out of the nightclub before the raid started by someone who knew that it was going to happen. This month, the gathering has moved from the last Friday of the month to the first Saturday of the next, and the arranger has found a new venue. On the first weekend in June, everyone gathers in the old Rectors Club on Tottenham Court Road for a grand old time.All this is why Christopher's cousin Philippa Darling is alone in the flat she shares with Christopher when Christopher's other cousin, Crispin, Viscount St George, sails through the door three sheets to the wind from celebrating his twenty-third birthday with his usual crowd of extremely fast Bright Young People. And when a sozzled St George, along with an always-inquisitive Pippa, decide to get dressed up and crash Christopher's drag ball, the night ends with the dead body of a tabloid reporter on the floor of a Mayfair flat, and enough motives for murder to populate an entire wing of Wormwood Scrubs Penal Institution. Now Pippa and Christopher must determine who wanted the gossip hound dead badly enough to do something about it, all while trying to keep Crispin's name out of the press and their own heads above water.

England, early May, 1926After the funerals of the late Duke of Sutherland and his daughter-in-law, Charlotte, (and of course Grimsby, the blackmailing valet), the younger members of the family-Philippa Darling, her cousins Christopher and Francis, and Crispin, Viscount St George-are invited to a weekend party at the Dower House in Dorset by Dowager Lady Peckham's children, Constance and Gilbert. Once in Dorset, things go sideways very quickly. Lady Peckham's ward, the lovely Dutch emigree Johanna de Vos, has been making a dead set at Crispin, and has had him all to herself for the past few days. Constance's time has been monopolized by Francis, while Pippa wouldn't throw Crispin a rope if he were going down for the third time. However, the house party also includes the beautiful Lady Laetitia Marsden, a former dalliance of Crispin's, and she doesn't take the competition for his affections-or his title and fortune-lying down. As a result, when the lovely Johanna is found murdered, the suspects are plentiful. Did Lady Laetitia decide to remove her rival? Did Lord Geoffrey, her brother, the handsy one, lose control and strangle the woman he was trying to seduce? Or perhaps Crispin was tired of the relentless pursuit, and took matters into his own hands? When Lady Peckham also dies, miles away in Wiltshire, the case develops yet one more wrinkle. Now Pippa, with some help from Christopher, must figure out who wanted the two women dead, hopefully before the murderer can consign them to the same fate.

England, late April, 1926 When Henry Astley, Duke of Sutherland, turns up dead in bed at the end of an afternoon spent calling his family on the carpet, everyone assumes that the excitement finished the old boy off. He was quite old and also quite vociferous in his opinions, so it isn't an unreasonable assumption. It isn't until the next morning, when the duke's valet and confidant is found shot to death in the hedge maze, that the whole thing takes on a more sinister cast. Bright Young Thing Philippa Darling, her best friend Christopher and his brother Francis, as well as their parents, Lord and Lady Herbert, have all been summoned to Sutherland Hall for a dressing down. So has cousin Crispin, the future duke, along with his parents, the Viscount and Viscountess St George. Everyone has a string of small peccadillos they're trying to hide, along with a few guilty secrets they don't want anyone to know about. The only question is, which secret was worth killing for? Pippa isn't worried on her own behalf. She had no reason to want the duke dead. But when it looks like suspicion might fall on Christopher, she has no choice but to step up. She'll sacrifice Francis if she has to, and would throw Crispin to the wolves without a second thought, but Scotland Yard will arrest Christopher over her dead body. And it might just come to that.

England, early May, 1926After the funerals of the late Duke of Sutherland and his daughter-in-law, Charlotte, (and of course Grimsby, the blackmailing valet), the younger members of the family-Philippa Darling, her cousins Christopher and Francis, and Crispin, Viscount St George-are invited to a weekend party at the Dower House in Dorset by Dowager Lady Peckham's children, Constance and Gilbert. Once in Dorset, things go sideways very quickly. Lady Peckham's ward, the lovely Dutch emigree Johanna de Vos, has been making a dead set at Crispin, and has had him all to herself for the past few days. Constance's time has been monopolized by Francis, while Pippa wouldn't throw Crispin a rope if he were going down for the third time. However, the house party also includes the beautiful Lady Laetitia Marsden, a former dalliance of Crispin's, and she doesn't take the competition for his affections-or his title and fortune-lying down. As a result, when the lovely Johanna is found murdered, the suspects are plentiful. Did Lady Laetitia decide to remove her rival? Did Lord Geoffrey, her brother, the handsy one, lose control and strangle the woman he was trying to seduce? Or perhaps Crispin was tired of the relentless pursuit, and took matters into his own hands? When Lady Peckham also dies, miles away in Wiltshire, the case develops yet one more wrinkle. Now Pippa, with some help from Christopher, must figure out who wanted the two women dead, hopefully before the murderer can consign them to the same fate.

England, late April, 1926 When Henry Astley, Duke of Sutherland, turns up dead in bed at the end of an afternoon spent calling his family on the carpet, everyone assumes that the excitement finished the old boy off. He was quite old and also quite vociferous in his opinions, so it isn't an unreasonable assumption. It isn't until the next morning, when the duke's valet and confidant is found shot to death in the hedge maze, that the whole thing takes on a more sinister cast. Bright Young Thing Philippa Darling, her best friend Christopher and his brother Francis, as well as their parents, Lord and Lady Herbert, have all been summoned to Sutherland Hall for a dressing down. So has cousin Crispin, the future duke, along with his parents, the Viscount and Viscountess St George. Everyone has a string of small peccadillos they're trying to hide, along with a few guilty secrets they don't want anyone to know about. The only question is, which secret was worth killing for? Pippa isn't worried on her own behalf. She had no reason to want the duke dead. But when it looks like suspicion might fall on Christopher, she has no choice but to step up. She'll sacrifice Francis if she has to, and would throw Crispin to the wolves without a second thought, but Scotland Yard will arrest Christopher over her dead body. And it might just come to that.

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... When Savannah Martin's fellow Realtor and friend Lila Vaughn is robbed during an open house, Savannah rushes to the rescue with tea and sympathy, or at least a really good lunch and a shoulder to cry on.However, Lila seems more peeved than distraught, and her main gripe is that the sexy robber who tied her to a kitchen chair-for her own good-didn't follow her suggestion to tie her to the bed instead.Lila's description of the man fits Savannah's old school-mate Rafael Collier to a T. Rafe has recently turned up in Savannah's life again, and he isn't above doing a little breaking and entering. Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tamara Grimaldi is of the same opinion, and when Lila turns up dead, tied to her bed and strangled, Rafe becomes a suspect.Now Savannah must get busy finding the real murderer before Detective Grimaldi can arrest the wrong man.

"The hilarious dialog and the tension between Savannah and Rafe will delight fans of chick-lit mysteries and romantic suspense." Jo Ann Vicarel, Library JournalSavannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm.If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs...Savannah is delighted to be back in her hometown of Sweetwater, surrounded by family and friends, even if it's only temporarily. The house in Nashville is in the process of being repaired after the fire. Baby Caroline is alive and well and getting bigger every day. And Rafe is all recovered, and is working for Tamara Grimaldi and the Columbia PD, at least for the time being. That probably won't last, but for now, Savannah's content.There are flies in the ointment, however. Savannah's best friend from high school is back in town, and seems to be setting her cap for Savannah's brother Dix. Savannah has been rooting for Dix and Tamara Grimaldi to get together, and this new development doesn't make her happy. Sure, she loves Charlotte... but Charlotte already has a husband, and shouldn't need another one. She especially shouldn't need Dix, not when Savannah wants Grimaldi to have him.And then there's the case Rafe is working on. Katie Graves was a teenager when she disappeared fifteen years ago. Now she's back-or at least her remains are. And the evidence in what looks like a case of homicide points squarely to one of Savannah's nearest and dearest. With another Martin on the hot-seat, and Rafe and Grimaldi duty-bound to serve the law, it's up to Savannah to keep her family safe and out of prison."I have loved this series since book one and have enjoyed being along for the ride as Savannah has grown from the princess on the hill who tried to live up to her mother's outdated expectations into a strong woman who stands up for her own beliefs and the man she loves. Jenna Bennett has tackled a sensitive subject with honesty, Southern charm, and laugh out loud humor. And the series keeps getting better. I can't wait for the next one." Amazon Reviewer Karli

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm.If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs...When Savannah's husband Rafe loses his position with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, Savannah gets excited about the prospect of them taking their new baby and moving back to their hometown of Sweetwater. Rafe has already received a job offer from the Columbia Police Department, and although he doesn't seem terribly interested in accepting, Savannah would enjoy having her family around, not to mention Rafe's grandmother Mrs. Jenkins.But before they can make any decisions, Rafe's former boss at the TBI turns up dead. And Rick Goins, the MNPD detective in charge, seems determined to prove that Rafe had something to do with it. Detective Tamara Grimaldi, former colleague of Goins and now Chief of Police for Columbia, swears that while it might take him some time, Goins usually comes up with the right solution in the end.But with fresh victims dropping like flies, and someone seemingly doing their best to fan the flames of Goins's biases, Savannah isn't sure she can wait for the detective to come to his senses. Because while she'd like to move back to Sweetwater, she doesn't want it to be because her husband is behind bars...

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... The end is near.The end of Savannah's pregnancy, that is. Less than a month to go, and she'll be the mother of what will surely be the most adorable baby boy or baby girl in the world.But before that, there's Thanksgiving with the Martins to get through. Not to mention a little spot of murder at the group home where Mrs. Jenkins, Savannah's grandmother-in-law, lives. A spot of murder that leaves Mrs. Jenkins covered in blood, and with no memory of who else might have hurt night nurse Julia Poole.With Savannah's friend, homicide detective Tamara Grimaldi, investigating, and Savannah's husband Rafe insisting that the detective can't find out about Mrs. Jenkins's involvement, in case she doesn't share his rock-solid belief that Mrs. Jenkins would never kill anyone, Savannah's caught between a rock and a hard place.Can she help Mrs. Jenkins figure out the truth before Detective Grimaldi throws them both in prison... or before the real murderer comes back to finish the job?

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... When every member of a rural Sweetwater family is murdered in their beds, Maury County sheriff Bob Satterfield calls on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for help.While Savannah's husband, TBI agent Rafe Collier, heads to their shared hometown to help the sheriff figure out who and what is behind the grisly massacre, Savannah goes along to assist her old friend Yvonne McCoy's quest to gain ownership of Beulah's Meat'n Three restaurant.But when Beulah Odom's death turns out to have been murder, suddenly Yvonne's on the hot seat. And with the sheriff occupied elsewhere and Beulah's family gunning for Yvonne, it's up to Savannah to figure out the truth before her old friend lands in jail... or six feet under.

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... When Savannah's real estate company, Lamont, Briggs, and Associates, finds itself embroiled in a closing scam, broker Timothy Briggs asks Savannah's help in figuring out what happened and who's behind it.The task is a welcome distraction for Savannah, whose private life is rocky. Carmen Arroyo is in prison in Nashville, nine months pregnant, and no one knows whether the baby is Rafe's or not. And while Rafe doesn't seem too worried about it, Savannah can't say the same.Meanwhile, down in Sweetwater, Savannah's mother Margaret Anne is hitting the brandy while trying to come to terms with her late husband's love child and her best friend's thirty-four year silence on the subject. Between one thing and another, it's all Savannah can do to keep everything moving along smoothly. The very last thing she needs is someone rocking the boat...

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... Savannah Martin's real estate career has been an uphill battle. As far as Savannah is concerned, her personal zenith was getting Aislynn Turner and Kylie Mitchell into their dream home, a Victorian cottage in the hip and happening historic district of East Nashville, last January.That was six months ago, and now the dream has turned sour. Someone is sending Aislynn and Kylie threatening letters, warning them to get out while they can. Aislynn is terrified and Kylie is ready to cut her losses. But finding a poison pen is only the beginning.When Kylie is attacked and the previous owner of the house is killed, the hunt is on for a murderer, and Savannah is determined to get to the bottom of what's going on before Aislynn and Kylie have to give up their dream home, and maybe each other, in the process.

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... When realtor and recovering Southern Belle Savannah Martin wakes up alone on what is supposed to be her wedding day, she isn't sure what to think. Did her fiancé-bad-boy TBI agent Rafe Collier-decide he couldn't face being shackled to one woman for the rest of his life... or is something more sinister going on?Savannah's mother Margaret Anne, in Nashville for the nuptials, is certain she knows the truth: her future son-in-law has always been an ill-bred cad, and leaving his pregnant girlfriend practically at the altar clinches it. But the people who know Rafe aren't so sure. Wendell Craig with the TBI and Tamara Grimaldi with the Metro Nashville PD suspect foul play, and set out to prove it.Shortly, a dead woman turns up in Savannah's house. Rafe's son David goes missing from church camp on the Cumberland Plateau. And a shadowy figure from Rafe's past is stalking them all-a knife-wielding serial killer who likes to hurt women, and who has a score to settle.Now Savannah must solve the murder, find David, and avoid getting herself killed... or she can kiss her happy ending-and Rafe-goodbye.

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... Sins of the past are coming due, and someone has to pay...!Savannah Martin's high school reunion is supposed to be a fun weekend of catching up with old friends and parading her boyfriend-Sweetwater bad boy Rafael Collier-in front of everyone who used to sneer at him back in the day. Not even the daily battle she's waging with morning sickness can douse Savannah's anticipation.But when Rafe won't come to Sweetwater, Savannah has to face her old schoolmates without his support. And her best friend Charlotte isn't as happy for Savannah's new relationship as Savannah had hoped. And when a dead body turns up in the Colliers' old mobile home in the Bog, Savannah is thankful to be on her own. The sheriff is always looking for a reason to shove Rafe back behind bars, and a fresh homicide is just the excuse he needs.But when another murder takes place at the reunion, even the threat of jail can't keep Rafe away. Soon old classmates are dropping like bowling pins, and Rafe and Savannah are scrambling to catch up with a killer hell bent on making sure old enemies pay for old sins... all while trying to stay one step ahead of Sheriff Satterfield and the Columbia PD.

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... When Shelby Ferguson, Savannah's ex-husband's new wife, begs Savannah's help in figuring out what's going on with Bradley, Savannah can't in good conscience say no. Shelby has no one else to turn to, no one to whom she can admit that her marriage is on the rocks and that Bradley may be straying.But helping Shelby turns out to be just the tip of the iceberg. With two different sets of buyers vying to purchase Mrs. Jenkins's house, and an escaped prisoner targeting Savannah, she has more than enough to deal with. And that's before TBI rookie Manny Ortega is shot down in cold blood.With Savannah's boyfriend Rafe Collier, and their friend, homicide detective Tamara Grimaldi, busy looking for Manny's murderer, it's up to Savannah to juggle buyers and adulterers and vandals and lawyers, and come out on top... without losing her Southern Belle poise or her life in the process.

Book 6 in the Cutthroat Business mystery series, featuring Realtor and Southern Belle Savannah Martin in Nashville, Tennessee... It's late February, just two months after Savannah Martin and Rafael Collier finally worked things out between them, and Rafe is already sneaking out of bed in the wee hours. Catching fellow realtor Tim Briggs rinsing blood from his hands in the office sink makes for a welcome distraction, and when Tim disappears just as one of his clients is found dead in a nearby park, Savannah throws herself into the investigation with abandon. But even the murder mystery taking place right under her nose can't completely distract her from worrying about personal problems. Has Rafe changed his mind about their relationship, or is something else going on? And what are the chances of Savannah coming out of this latest debacle with her life - and her heart - intact?

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... Silver Bells, Silver Bells... It's Christmas time in Nashville, and all Savannah wants to unwrap on Christmas morning is Rafe Collier. Unfortunately, things don't look so good. He's back in town, but not alone: on his arm is a stunning brunette, just the kind of woman Savannah always suspected was his type.When sixteen-year-old Alexandra Puckett-the daughter of Savannah's late colleague Brenda Puckett-asks her help in figuring out a way to stop Maybelle Driscoll from marrying Alex's father Steven, Savannah jumps on the chance. It'll give her something to think about other than Rafe and the mysterious Carmen, and anyway, she doesn't like Maybelle much herself.Between investigating Maybelle's past, helping her clients Aislynn and Kylie buy a house, and stalking Carmen and Rafe, she soon has her hands full. And that's before someone starts gunning for her.Suddenly it's not a question of unwrapping anything on Christmas morning anymore; it's a question of whether she'll even survive to see another Christmas.

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... Savannah's late.The kind of late that comes with midnight feedings and the pitter-patter of little feet. And while it's a circumstance that should make everyone happy - now she can finally settle down and marry Todd Satterfield, the way everyone's been hoping and praying! - it isn't Todd's baby. And Rafe, whose baby it is, didn't sign on for fatherhood.Add in the murder of Savannah's sister-in-law Sheila, the trial of Sheila's friend Marley, and the disappearance of Rafe's twelve year old son David - the kid he never knew he had! - and things get complicated fast. And there is worse to come:When Rafe comes back to Nashville to help look for David, and learns that Savannah's pregnant, things do not work out the way Savannah had hoped. In the end, she's left with nothing she wanted and a whole lot of trouble she didn't, and for once, Rafe's not there to save the day.

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball-and bad in bed to boot-Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say, and Realtor Savannah Martin is certainly learning the truth of that statement. It's been a month and a half since Rafael Collier left town, after the robbery ring he was part of got broken up by the police, and although Savannah knows it would be hideously inappropriate-not to mention supremely stupid-to miss him, she wishes he'd come back soon. His grandmother's ailing, the nurse he hired to take care of her has disappeared, and somebody is watching the house and following Savannah as she goes about the business of bringing her first real estate transaction to a close.But when Rafe comes back, things only go from bad to worse. Resident nurse Marquita Johnson is found murdered, and Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tamara Grimaldi is asked to handle the case. It doesn't take long for her to focus her interest, once again, on Rafe. As Savannah finally learns the truth about him, she finds herself in the path of a killer more ruthless than any she has encountered yet, a killer who won't be swayed from his purpose and who isn't too particular whom he has to go through to get to Rafe.Now Savannah has to make the choice between staying safe by accepting Todd Satterfield's proposal, or taking a chance on losing her heart and her life by trying to help Rafe, as the term 'contract pending' takes on a whole new meaning.

Savannah has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball - and bad in bed to boot - Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs... Everyone has warned new-minted realtor Savannah Martin that real estate is a cutthroat business. But Savannah doesn't think she's supposed to take the warning literally ... until an early morning phone call sends her to an empty house on the 'bad' side of town, where she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the boy her mother always warned her about.Rafe Collier is six feet three inches of testosterone and trouble; tall, dark, and dangerous, with a murky past and no future-not the kind of guy a perfect Southern Belle should want to tangle with. In any way. But wherever Savannah turns, there he is, and making no bones about what he wants from her.Now Savannah must figure out who killed real estate queen Brenda Puckett, make a success of her new career, and avoid getting killed-or kissed-by Rafe, all before the money in her savings account runs out and she has to go back to selling make-up at the mall.