Bücher von Adrienne Giordano

In the thrilling fourth installment of the Steele Ridge: The Blackwells romantic suspense series, an ambitious attorney and a cunning recovery agent join forces to expose a dangerous web of corruption and deceit, risking everything for justice and love.Hotshot defense attorney Priscilla Randolph has a reputation for winning the toughest of cases. When she stumbles upon a disturbing toxicology report for land her father's company intends to buy, she realizes her latest challenge might be her most personal. Confused by her father's indifference to the report, Cilla is determined to uncover the truth. And she knows just the man to help her. Enter Cruz Blackwell, a hunky recovery agent adept at finding the unfindable. Ever since his chance meeting with the sexy-as-hell lawyer, he's wanted to know her better. A whole lot better. When she enlists his help for a simple research assignment, he accepts-gladly-not realizing the storm he's about to fly into.Sparks ignite between Cilla and Cruz as they dig deeper, discovering a dangerous web of corruption and deceit. Someone will stop at nothing to prevent them from exposing the truth. Their fight for justice-and love-might cost them everything. Including their lives.If you would like to read the entire Steele Ridge series, here's a complete list.The Steeles:The BeginningGoing HardLiving FastLoving DeepBreaking FreeRoaming WildStripping BareEnduring LoveThe Kingstons:Craving HeatTasting FireSearing NeedVowing LoveStriking EdgeBurning AcheThe Blackwells:Flash PointSmoke ScreenCross RoadsCrash Course

For former Army Ranger Billy Tripp, high-stakes international ops are just another day at the office. So why is his boss at Taylor Security busting his balls with a rinky-dink assignment? One dumb mistake and-bam-Billy's playing rent-a-cop at a Miami hot spot while providing security detail for some fancy necklace. Piece. Of. Cake. Except the job comes with one major distraction: the killer curves of the woman in charge. Hotel heiress Kristen Dante thrives on work and has little time for play. Or men like Billy-sexy, impulsive, and too charming for his own good. Kristen may be a boss in the boardroom, but her confidence in the bedroom is no match for Billy's swagger. This guy is a heartbreak waiting to happen. Better to let him finish his job and be on his way. Too bad Billy never backs down from a challenge. Beneath Kristen's insecurities, he sees a spark of desire even she can't deny. And her heart isn't the only thing in danger. When half a million dollars' worth of cars are stolen from the hotel, Kristen needs Billy's skills to catch a thief. But the investigation reveals a threat far more sinister than car theft...and that threat could cost them both their lives.

Gavin Sheppard can talk his way out of any situation. It's what makes him Taylor Security's top hostage negotiator. But he's never had a case this complicated, or with so much at stake. The victim? His boss's pregnant wife. The CEO won't risk his family by calling the cops, so Gavin's on his own. He'll take all the help he can get, even from the agency's smart, sexy tech expert. Janet Fink codes and hacks better than the big boys. Still, as the lone woman on a team driven by testosterone, she knows nothing ruins careers faster than getting personal. And she's already been too close to Gavin for comfort. Their last team-up ended in a mind-blowing kiss. One that can never happen again...and that she can't forget. As the kidnappers' demands grow, so does the heat between Gavin and Janet. They must put their skills to the test-and push aside their feelings-for a chance at success in a dangerous rescue.

Michael Taylor is cooler than ice under pressure. As CEO of a private security company, his job means protecting those at risk. Clients pay top dollar for his team of special operatives to deal with threats. But now Michael's the one in trouble-he's the prime suspect in his ex-wife's murder. To prove his innocence, Michael needs not just a few good men, but one smart woman. If she agrees to forgive him... Twelve years ago, Michael walked away from Roxann Thorgesson and never looked back. Now he's standing in her office, accused of a heinous crime, the vulnerability in his eyes barely masking something else. Desire. The shock-and her body's own traitorous response-shakes Roxann to the core. Still, she can't let lust cloud her professional judgment, no matter how tempting. Michael needs her...or, rather, her newspaper to clear his name. Roxann wants to refuse, but journalistic instinct tells her there's more to this case. Sex. Secrets. A dark and dirty cover-up leading all the way to city hall. And as the investigation brings Michael and Roxann closer together, revealing the truth threatens to rip them apart.

Former Navy SEAL Peter Jessup is no hero. Too many friends, his brothers-in-arms, have died on the job, and Peter couldn't save them. When the emotional fallout interferes with his work, his boss sends him away for company-mandated R&R. Peter knows it's not a vacation, it's an order: Go home. Bang a hot girl. Get your head straight. Two of those things should be easy. Until the hot girl becomes his next assignment... Isabelle DeRosa is no damsel in distress. A criminal attorney and Krav Maga expert, she can bring a man to his knees with a glare-or a well-placed kick. It's Isabelle's crippling fear of her cousin that sets off warning bells for Peter. When Kendrick is murdered, Isabelle becomes the police's prime suspect. She turns to Peter for help, but finds more than comfort in his arms. Isabelle sparks his protective instincts and fuels his every fantasy. But she's not the only one with secrets. Their investigation into Kendrick's killer leads them to a cult-like compound and into dangerous territory. And despite Isabelle's efforts to push him away, Peter will fight to keep her safe...and make her his.

She's the one temptation he didn't plan for. Jack Lynx has a strategy for just about everything, a talent that makes him well-suited to his V.P. job at Taylor Security. It's also why he's waiting at least one year after kicking his post-surgery painkiller habit to even look at a woman. Unfortunately, fellow yoga enthusiast Jillian Murdoch needs him to install a security system at her home, and that's a problem because he wants to look at her. He wants to do much more than that. Lynx's cravings for Jillian don't simply jeopardize his priorities-they threaten to become his worst addiction yet. He's the risk she's willing to take. Jillian is on the fast-track to her dream career in upper management at her pharmaceutical company... until a late-night office trip reveals a suspicious delivery with no paperwork. After a break-in at her home, she approaches the first person she thinks can help-Jack Lynx, the guy with a killer smile from yoga class who also happens to specialize in protection. Soon, she's in a situation she swore she'd never repeat: fighting her burning attraction to trouble-and losing. But Jillian needs to trust Jack more than ever. Thanks to discovering that one stray shipment, it isn't just her career that's in danger anymore...

THE CHASEHard-driving attorney Jo Pomeroy is as determined as she is sexy-in other words, a major pain in NYPD Sergeant Gabe Townsend's butt. Working together on a high-profile task force charged with busting sales of counterfeit goods has been rocky from the start. And Jo's penchant for trouble is as difficult to ignore as her spectacular legs.The world of knock-offs isn't as frivolous as it appears. The purses are fake, but the danger is all too real-, and Jo seems hell-bent on putting herself in the middle of it. Her investigations have uncovered valuable leads for Gabe's team, but they've also drawn the wrong kind of attention. Now, she's on the radar of a mysterious smuggler not afraid to use violence to evade the law. At the risk of their lives-and their hearts-Gabe and Jo must find him before he finds them.THE EVASIONHis role on an anti-counterfeiting taskforce earned NYPD Sergeant Gabe Townsend the catch of a lifetime-tough as nails but sexy as hell Jo Pomeroy. The woman has a body that drives him wild and a way of attracting danger that's making him crazy. And her relentless pursuit of an elusive criminal has his protective instincts in overdrive.Jo didn't get to be a hotshot attorney by giving up easily. Her high-end clients count on her to keep knock-offs of their luxury goods off the streets. Distractions are the last thing she needs. Especially six-foot-three, hard body calendar-worthy distractions.She failed once, letting a smuggler slip through her grasp. Next time, he'll have nowhere to run. A lead takes Jo and Gabe to a small town where not everything-or anyone-is as innocent as it seems. Making this bust could be the most significant break of her career…but at what risk to her newfound love?THE CAPTURESun, fun, and Jo Pomeroy, the sexiest, most-driven attorney around, await NYPD Sergeant Gabe Townsend in Los Angeles. A trip to the West Coast is the perfect vacation. He won't have to hide his relationship with Jo from the New York anti-counterfeiting task force, and he can finally enjoy some overdue time-off with the woman of his dreams.Jo makes undercover deals for fake merchandise, but her feelings for Gabe are all too real. Unfortunately, she isn't the one on vacation. While she can't wait to get her heartthrob alone, she also can't say no when the mayor of Los Angeles asks for her help in ridding the city of illegal knock-offs.Being too dedicated for her own good backfires when Jo ends up on a killer's hit list. Gabe wants Jo to back down; she's not about to. As the danger escalates, so do their feelings for each other. All Jo's ever wanted is to expand her task force nationwide. Now, with her life on the line, Jo must decide if heading the taskforce is worth sacrificing it all, including a future with the man she loves. "Adrienne Giordano delivers everything romantic suspense readers want!" -- New York Times Best Seller, Diane Love

Green Beret Reid Steele needs a new career ASAP. After a knee injury permanently sidelines him from his dream job, Reid heads home to the mountains of Steele Ridge to regroup, but small-town life isn't cutting it for a man accustomed to action. When sexy boutique owner Brynne Whitfield captures his attention, Reid thinks he's found the perfect distraction from boredom.The last thing recently-dumped Brynne is interested in is another fast-talking man who will break her heart and dismiss her like yesterday's trash. Even if Reid Steele's body does make her yearn for things she knows are as bad for her as hot fudge sundaes. When Brynne's closest friend is murdered and she's also targeted, Reid can't resist the lure of action and goes on a hunt for answers to disturbing questions. But can he protect her from a cold-blooded killer-and win her battered heart?

Obsession. Conspiracy. Attempted murder. One small-town sheriff just landed in the middle of a deadly mess.As the first female sheriff of Steele Ridge, Maggie Kingston is prepared for all kinds of trouble... just not the mess that invades her town when a superstar quarterback moves in, bringing his big-city problems with him. Jayson Tucker hasn't been a resident for one day before Maggie is struggling with crowd control, deranged fans, and dozens of reporters camped outside her station, ready to record the latest scandal for primetime TV.When Jayson reveals startling evidence about a charity he's been supporting, Maggie suspects there's more to his story than what the media circus around him is leading everyone to believe. Is there a coordinated smear campaign against Jayson? If so, how far will his enemies go to make sure he stays benched permanently?While things heat up between Maggie and Jay, they must work together to separate truth from fiction. Time is running out to identify the threat to Jay's life-and to catch a foe who will stop at nothing to settle the score in their favor.

Mob princess Lucie Rizzo can't catch a break. Or take one. Building a business empire is hard work, even without her family's notoriety. Staying out of trouble isn't exactly her forte. Still, Lucie could use a vacation from Chicago winters and the town where everybody knows her father's name. So when a certain Irish cop promises warmer days-and hotter nights-Lucie sees an offer she can't refuse. Detective O'Hottie sweeps her away to the land of sun, sand, and…retirees? Before the real romantic getaway begins, Tim wants to visit his Uncle Henry. Or, to be exact, Tim's mom wants the goods on Henry's new girlfriend. Ha! Family drama without a Rizzo involved. What could a sweet, 50-something woman be hiding? Not a lot, judging by the amount of cleavage on display. Holy cannoli, Henry's Mattie could give Lucie's bombshell BFF a run for her money. It's more than just the skintight leopard print making Tim do a double take. The details don't add up. Mattie's not being completely honest-and Lucie smells a rat. Uncle Henry's gal pal isn't who she claims to be. But is Mattie playing a long con, or is she the victim? Either way, Lucie is getting caught in a dangerous game.

Stripping Bare (full-length novel): Video game mogul Jonah Steele may be a billionaire, but as the youngest brother in a family of alphas, his struggle to prove his worth is all-consuming. Although he saved his hometown from ruin, he can't forgive himself for the biggest failure of his life. As a teenager, Tessa Martin survived one of the most devastating nights of her life. Now, she's a corporate psychologist and stronger than ever. She also has her sights set on Jonah Steele, her former boss and the only man who can track down the hacker who compromised her confidential client files. But can she confess that Jonah's deepest secrets were exposed as well? As the threat distorts into a real-life version of Jonah's legendary video game, his and Tessa's complicated emotional past-and the secrets buried there-could prove fatal. Will they strip away the past and reveal their feelings for one another, or allow it to blind them to a killer's twisted game of revenge?Enduring Love (bonus novella): From the outside looking in, Joan Steele has everything--her health, a beautiful home, and six wonderful adult children. But deep inside, she's missing what every woman wants. A man to love and share her life with. When an ex-convict shows up in Steele Ridge, Joan knows he means to do her family harm. And she can't help but put the blame at her estranged husband's feet. After twenty years of marital limbo, Joan has sacrificed enough for the man. Now she vows to fight back, but will her family's broken past destroy her future with the love of her life?

As the black sheep of the Steele brood, Micki Steele craves one thing: the love of her family. Working as a hacker for a ruthless fixer, Micki has done things she'll never be proud of. When she flees Vegas and returns to her hometown, she brings along her boss's secrets and plenty of danger. At least until he arrives in Steele Ridge, intent on hauling her back to Vegas-or burying her in North Carolina.Former Green Beret and family friend Gage Barber has been Mr. Fix-It his entire life, but now a war wound leaves him struggling with simple tasks. And when the mysterious and sexy Micki shows up and pulls him into the middle of her family drama, his loyalty to the Steele family is tested. Although he's sworn off his need to play hero, his undeniable attraction to Micki leaves him with only one option-convincing her to break free of her ruthless boss. Torn over protecting the man she's falling in love with and her yearning for a normal life, Micki must choose between staying trapped in Vegas or a life of freedom in Steele Ridge. Even if breaking free leads straight to heartbreak...and prison.

Green Beret Reid Steele needs a new career ASAP. After a knee injury permanently sidelines him from his dream job, Reid heads home to the mountains of Steele Ridge to regroup, but small-town life isn't cutting it for a man accustomed to action. When sexy boutique owner Brynne Whitfield captures his attention, Reid thinks he's found the perfect distraction from boredom.The last thing recently-dumped Brynne is interested in is another fast-talking man who will break her heart and dismiss her like yesterday's trash. Even if Reid Steele's body does make her yearn for things she knows are as bad for her as hot fudge sundaes. When Brynne's closest friend is murdered and she's also targeted, Reid can't resist the lure of action and goes on a hunt for answers to disturbing questions. But can he protect her from a cold-blooded killer-and win her battered heart?

(Previously titled Dog Collar Knockoff)Being stuck in the old neighborhood is the last thing reluctant mob princess Lucie Rizzo wants. With her new business on the verge of success-bada bing!-she's ready to go from unemployed to entrepreneur. Lucie's determined to make a name for herself. One not tarnished by her dad's mobster rep.So when an art deal she brokered between clients turns suspicious, it's up to Lucie to uncover the truth. She might not know the difference between Monet and Manet, but Rizzos are no strangers to jail time-and Lucie refuses to be someone's prison bitch.Unless that someone is a tall, blond and Irish cop. Detective Tim O'Brien might be on the wrong side of the law by Rizzo standards, but everything about him is oh-so-right. He's not shy about making Lucie feel wanted, mafia ties and all. Even joining her crack-or crackpot-team on the trail of two paintings with equally shady origins.

Obsession. Conspiracy. Attempted murder. One small-town sheriff just landed in the middle of a deadly mess.As the first female sheriff of Steele Ridge, Maggie Kingston is prepared for all kinds of trouble... just not the mess that invades her town when a superstar quarterback moves in, bringing his big-city problems with him. Jayson Tucker hasn't been a resident for one day before Maggie is struggling with crowd control, deranged fans, and dozens of reporters camped outside her station, ready to record the latest scandal for primetime TV.When Jayson reveals startling evidence about a charity he's been supporting, Maggie suspects there's more to his story than what the media circus around him is leading everyone to believe. Is there a coordinated smear campaign against Jayson? If so, how far will his enemies go to make sure he stays benched permanently?While things heat up between Maggie and Jay, they must work together to separate truth from fiction. Time is running out to identify the threat to Jay's life-and to catch a foe who will stop at nothing to settle the score in their favor.

Out of work and down on her luck, Lucie Rizzo is forced to do the one thing she's long avoided-come home to her nutty, mob-infested family. A move that brings her back into the tempting arms of Frankie Falcone, the smoldering Italian ex who's no stranger to living with the mob.When Lucie parlays her temporary dog-walking gig into a legit career, Frankie becomes her number one supporter. Suddenly, shaking her mob princess reputation doesn't seem so crazy…until three of her clients are dogjacked. Despite help from the on-again, off-again Mr. Fix-It in her life, Lucie is thrown into a criminal conspiracy straight out of a gangster movie. One that, if she's not careful, could leave her sleeping with the fishes.