Charmed by Beth Ciotta

Product Details

Synopsis

The Princess is in danger . . .
Beloved storyteller, Lulu Ross champions non-violence.  Just her luck, she's tiara over glass slippers for a man who carries a gun.  Professional bodyguard Colin Murphy is s-e-x-y.  Too bad he's delusional.  Who would want to hurt Princess Charming-a low-profile, goody-two-shoes who performs as a storybook character at children's birthday parties?  Surely the sexy gifts from a secret admirer are meant for her sister, a bombshell wannabe action-star.  Or are they?

Murphy is determined to protect Lulu whether she likes it or not.  Perpetually cheerful and absurdly trusting, the locally famous kiddy-heroine refuses to believe she's in danger.  Tipped off by the FBI, Murphy knows otherwise, but convincing Lulu that she's the fantasy target of a mobster's fixation is like trying to hang shades on the sun.  Contending with a woman who favors bubblegum lip gloss and a pink poodle purse becomes an exercise in fascination and frustration for the world-weary protection specialist; almost as frustrating as resisting her whimsical charm.

Publishers Weekly

In Ciotta's enchanting contemporary romance, the sequel to Jinxed, FBI Agent Joe "Bogie" Bogart retains his friend Colin Murphy, a professional bodyguard, to protect Luciana "Lulu" Ross from a stalker with connections to organized crime. Guarding Lulu is complicated by Murphy's attraction to her zany innocence and her insistence that she continue her two jobs: performing as a princess at children's parties and juggling at a local casino. Retreating from her pledge to swear off men after a painful divorce, Lulu finds herself taking advice from her younger, more socially experienced (read: promiscuous) sister, Sofie, as she and Murphy embark on a fun and sexy affair. Humor is ever present in their relationship; at one point, Murphy rescues Lulu after she's drugged at a gay bar, and in another instance, he dons a troll suit to appear in Lulu's casino act at a pediatric ward. While Lulu's friends Rudy and Jean-Pierre, a gay couple, are charismatic characters, specific references to their relationship problems may be a turnoff for some romance fans. A suggestion of romantic tension between Sofie and Bogie paves the way for their tale to be told and, after reading this madcap romance, Ciotta's fans will undoubtedly look forward to that next installment. (Dec.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Biography

Beth Ciotta is a writer of contemporary and historical romances.