Five years ago, Francesca Bonnard watched as her friends
abandoned her. They believed the half-truths and lies her
husband told. Without friends and family to aid her,
Francesca ran to Paris as a disgraced divorced woman.
However, she defied her husband's expectations that she
would land in the gutter.
Instead, Francesca reinvents herself, becoming a successful
courtesan to Europe's rich and titled aristocrats. To
prevent her ex-husband's revenge, Francesca stole his
secret letters, promising to use them if she's harmed. That
threat has worked in the past, but now someone is stalking
Francesca. Her Venetian palazzo is searched and an attempt
is made on her life.
James Cordier wishes to retire from spying and spend his
leisure with a quiet little virgin mouse to counter the
dark side of human nature that he's endured. His plans are
interrupted when he's assigned to steal compromising and
possibly treasonous letters from a notorious courtesan.
James believes he can complete his task easily, until he
meets Francesca. Bold and unafraid, she affects him like no
other with her wit and shameless come hither glances.
Caught in her web, James falls for the seductive siren.
Reality invades when danger threatens them. An old
adversary of James arrives on the scene prepared to exact a
painful revenge after eliminating Francesca. James and
Francesca form an uneasy alliance to stop the killer and
expose Francesca's ex-husband.
YOUR SCANDALOUS WAYS is the best yet to come from Ms.
Chase. Readers will want to read slowly and savor the
extraordinary and unusual characters in their remarkable
romance. Topping off this marvelous read, Ms. Chase begins
each chapter with lines from Lord Bryon's "Don Juan" poem.
James Cordier is all blue blood and entirely dangerous. He's
a master of disguise, a brilliant thief, a first-class
lover—all for King and Country—and, by gad, he's so
weary of it. His last mission is to "acquire" a packet of
incriminating letters from one notorious woman. Then he can
return to London and meet sweet-natured heiresses—not
adventuresses and fallen women.
Francesca Bonnard
has weathered heartbreak, scorn, and scandal. She's
independent, happy, and definitely fallen; and she's
learned that "gentlemen" are more trouble than they're
worth. She can also see that her wildly attractive new
neighbor is bad news.
But as bad as James is, there
are others far worse also searching for Francesca's letters.
And suddenly nothing is simple—especially the nearly
incendiary chemistry between the two most jaded, sinful
souls in Europe. And just as suddenly, risking everything
may be worth the prize.