Heels of Fortune

"PJ Evanovich is the love child of Janet Evanovich and Elmore Leonard." - The Toronto Star (Rita Zekas)This is HEELS OF FORTUNE: WHEN $6 MILLION IS NOT A GIFT, the sequel to the first PJ Santini romantic crime thriller, HELL ON HEELS: THE TV NEWS BUSINESS CAN BE MURDER. PJ Santini uncovers the shocking truth about her late husband, yeah, the guy who died on her, literally, on their honeymoon. The secret she uncovers places her in grave danger. Danger of death by "fettuccini Alfredo", danger of trusting the wrong man, danger of an actual terrifying end to her screwed up but satisfying life. Fortunately, she is armed with a good Italian family, decent common sense, a spectacular set of 38DD's, a retired cop for a father, a "connected" cousin, and a protective, smoldering PI boss. But will these be enough? Which one should she use first? How about her boss, Tango Daly. Mysterious, tanned, toned, a martial artist with a para-legitimate past tucked lustily into seductive slacks and silk shirts. He's her number one protector. The thought of him makes her head fizzy and her shoulder-length out-of-control red hair curl. Then there's Johnny... Johnny Renza. Lanky and handsome in his trademark cream linen suit, the first boy she ever loved... over and over, all through high school. He grew into a pretty damn good crime reporter working at the tv station where she works, when she shows up. He still knows how to hotwire her with fattening food. They both grew up with a creep named Frank Longoria, who somehow went from juvenile delinquent to Buffalo PD Chief Homicide Detective. Only a little bit mobbed up... according to PJ's cousin Sandro "The Eel" DiLeo, the relative with the shiniest suits in the family. PJ's family. Life is not dull. Then there's Pop, a retired cop who's running Cold Crimes out of the basement; Nonna Giovanna just relocated from Sicily and speaks Soprano's English; PJ's lovable ADHD brother Tony, a cable guy; and PJ's BFF Vicky, whose liaison with Sandro has her wearing blacker eyeliner every day and teasing her hair so high she has to duck to walk under paddle fans. And all PJ wants to do is pay her bills, keep buying 4-inch heels, be reasonably fulfilled by her private detective and reporting work, be loved and protected, get some sleep, and kick some ass when it feels good. And stay alive. A little about the first book.