This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies. Opt Out of Cookies |
|
Title: Sweet Southern Summer
Series: Georgia Peaches #3
Author: Colbie Kay & Chianti Summers
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: August 24, 2018
This summer, fireworks will explode for Cayden Fisher.
Brody left his southern roots and the girl he loves for college in California, but he couldn't stay away. He's back and ready to get his girl, however, it won't be as easy as he thought with another man standing in his way.
There's more to Zac than what everyone sees. They all know him to be the easy going, funny guy, but they aren't aware of the dark past that has burrowed its way deep inside. Will he ever be able to let go in order to move on? To him, Cayden only serves as a reminder of what he needs to stay far far away from, but day by day the struggle gets harder, and it's difficult to fight his growing desire to give in to the temptation of the third sister.
Cayden wants Zac, but he refuses to give into her and her wicked ways. How long is a girl supposed to chase a man until she decides it's finally time to move on? Cayden always had an easy relationship with Brody–they were friends with benefits–but she never thought of him as anything else, anything more…until now.
Where will her heart lie? With the man she wants, or with the man who has always wanted her?
In the end, who will Cayden choose?
Colbie Kay was born and raised in Kansas where she still resides today with her husband, kids, and their English bulldog Rubble. In 2015 she decided to give her passion of writing a go and published her first book. As an avid reader herself, Colbie loves to write her favorite genres and has so many authors that have inspired her.
Colbie is a stay at home mom to her two wonderful kids. When she is not writing she loves to sit down with a good book and read. Loving her readers, Colbie hopes to one day meet all of you at book signings.
She decided to take a chance on writing in 2016. One day she would love to travel to Italy and mark it off her bucket list. Until that day comes she will continue to be taken away by reading and writing with a nice glass of wine.
Your Echo
-- SNEAK PEEK: And that’s how I end up singing ‘I’m On Fire’ in a Montreal KTV bar, stone cold sober, while people whip out their smart phones and I try not to think about all the places this video is going to end up. I just stare at Stéphanie from the raised platform that serves as a stage, watching her watch me as the rest of the crowd cheers. At first I’m only fucking around, adding an extra rasp to the words and playing up the sexuality in the lyrics to the point that it’s funny, but something changes the further I get into the song. The slow build of the synth—the tension that rises and rises but never quite breaks—catches up with me, and by the time I get to the long, wavering howls at the end, I can see Stéphanie’s chest heaving even harder than mine.
GIVEAWAY!
Title: Reid
Series: Vested Interest Series
Author: Melanie Moreland
Genre: Contemporary/Romantic Comedy Romance
Release Date: September 17, 2018 Cover Design: Melissa Ringuette @ Monark Design Services
You’ve met the men of BAM. Now get to know the rebel.
Who is Reid Matthews?
A child, abandoned and unloved.
A teen, adrift and disregarded, using his superior tech skills for the wrong intentions.
A young adult, his future overshadowed by his prison record, his life an endless loop of loneliness.
Until he is given a second chance and a new life emerges.
A career he once thought he could only dream of, surrounded by people who show him that family and home aren’t simply words.
And a girl who shows him the greatest, most complex code he could ever write.
Love.
We spent the entire day together. I worked on the system, with Becca acting as my assistant. More than once, she rose up on her toes for a kiss. More than once, I had her pressed to the wall, devouring her mouth. It was the best install I had ever done.
“You are such a good kisser,” she murmured against my mouth. “How can a virgin be so good at kissing?”
Pleased she was enjoying my caresses, I grinned. “I have kissed girls and women, but, as I said, I haven’t gone beyond that.” I cupped her face, dragging my lips across her cheek to her sensitive earlobe. “I was waiting for the right person.”
“And I’m that person?”
“Yes,” I stated with conviction, dropping another kiss to her mouth. “You are.” I ran my fingers over my lips, then grabbed my drill.
“Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“You press your fingers on your mouth every time we kiss.”
“Oh, ah…” I stalled, looking over her shoulder. I felt heat prickle my neck.
“Tell me,” she insisted. “I want to know.”
“I like how it feels when you kiss me. I guess I’m sort of sealing you into me. Keeping your taste locked into my mouth.”
She stared at me, blinking and silent.
“Is that weird? It’s weird. I’m sorry.”
I wasn’t prepared when she launched herself at me. The drill flew one way; we hit the wall behind me, a mass of entangled arms and legs, her mouth on mine, hard and passionate. I slid down the wall to the floor, taking her with me. She was ferocious in her intensity, her kisses deep and possessive.
“You say the most erotic words,” she groaned. “Sealing my taste into you?”
“So, not weird?” I moaned as she kissed her way down my neck.
“No, not weird.” She hovered over me, her dark hair falling like a waterfall around us. “You turn me on like no man has ever done, Reid. Ever.” She kissed me again.
I was good with that.
New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at [email protected]
Best Served Cold, an all-new standalone romantic comedy from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emma Hart is coming September 25th!Best Served Cold by Emma Hart Genre: Romantic Comedy Publishing Date: September 25th, 2018 Cover Designer: Emma Hart Revenge is a dish best served cold. Which is a real problem when the attraction runs red-hot. Ice-cream store owner Raelynn Fortune has everything but her last name—fortune. Despite living in a Floridian hotspot for tourists, she just can’t get her business back off the ground. And she knows why. Her rival store next door is run by nobody other than her ex, and with his fancy-schmancy concoctions, he’s taking all the clients two generations of her family cultivated. Never mind that Raelynn taught him all he knows, and his revenge for her breaking up with him was putting her plans into reality—and her almost out of business. But, she has a plan. The height of the season is just two weeks away, and she’s tired of playing second fiddle to her ex. She’s going to take back her crown as the queen of ice cream, even if it means getting close to Chase once again. After all, all is fair in love and war, and you know what they say about keeping your enemies close… Although maybe Chase is a little too close… Pre-order your copy today! Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2OyO9HN iBooks: https://apple.co/2McXkw5 Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BestServedCold Nook: https://bit.ly/2OxUkvE Kobo: https://bit.ly/2vuLbeu Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2Moes2k About Emma Hart: Emma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels and has been translated into several different languages. She is a mother, wife, lover of wine, Pink Goddess, and valiant rescuer of wild baby hedgehogs. Emma prides herself on her realistic, snarky smut, with comebacks that would make a PMS-ing teenage girl proud. Yes, really. She's that sarcastic. Connect with Emma: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaHartBooks/ BookBub: http://bit.ly/2Dr0atq Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2Dq42ez Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2EBbZNe Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2D91d3T Stay up to date with Emma by joining her mailing list: https://www.emmahart.org/newsletter Website: https://www.emmahart.org/home
Title: That Guy
Author: Belle Brooks
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: August 8, 2018
A modern way of finding love. One deserted island of luxury. Two people. Three out cards. And a whole lot of possibilities.
Melinda takes the advice of her best friend, Chris. She signs up to a new dating service that pairs you statistically to the one you’re supposed to love. Finding it — love that is — using the more conventional methods, has not been a successful venture for Mindy, and with her biological clock ticking, she uses a more desperate method and takes the plunge into a possible happily ever after.
The thing is, when she boards the boat to a secret location, she doesn’t realise the man waiting for her is someone she’s previously met.
Chance encounters occur more frequently than we realise. Being blind to them is part of a bustling world. But, being faced with them can lead to a hilarious three weeks between two opposites who might just attract.
“OMG this book was bloody hilarious; I laughed till I had to cross my legs and run to the loo (you'll get this if you have kids like me)My other half thought I was losing the plot and kept giving me concerned glances with the strange noises that were coming from my corner of the lounge.” - Beckie Bookworm “This book is every bit as entertaining as every other review is going to tell you, and I highly recommend this as a must read! You just have to, you won’t be sorry. 5 wet myself laughing Stars.” - Marnie “‘THAT GUY’ gets a phenomenal 5* from me. I really cannot recommend this highly enough. I do know that if you are a fan of RomComs or Ms. Brooks .. this book needs to be read for the full effect.” - Trish Brown
Born in Australia, Belle Brooks has always had a passion for books and creative writing. She loves exploring the different ways stories can be told through the use of text and in-depth characters. Since she was a child her strong talent and interest in creative writing was evident, explaining that her favourite class in school was English. Despite her love for all things books, she decided the world of advertising and marketing was where she could put her talents to use in the business realm, well that is until now. Belle enjoys creative writing and creating fictional stories that leave a valued message inside the pages.
Review:
This was my first Belle Brooks novel but certainly won’t be my last! I adored this book! It was funny, sweet, quirky, and sexy—a great combo! Mindy was a stitch along with her bestie Chris. I think the author did a great job building to the main premise of the novel. We definitely got to know Mindy before her venture to Heart Key. Arlie was perfect. He “got” her and accepted her. The romance between them was a slow burn that I savored. I liked that they got to know one another before jumping into bed. Their relationship felt like a natural progression—nothing forced or faked. I hope they have another book because there are some questions that weren’t answered that I want to know the answer to! Plus, I just want more from this cast of characters. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun, sweet read! 5 Stars!
Title: Rebel Heart
Author: LK Farlow
Genre: New Adult/RomCom Standalone
Release Date: July 26, 2018 Cover Designer: Jersey Girl Designs
She wants to see him get wild and he thinks she needs Jesus.
When AJ Adams is coerced into tutoring Brock Larson, she can’t help but wonder what she’s done to deserve such an epic punishment. He’s the very definition of an All-American good boy—and a total kiss ass. He’s the perfect son, the perfect student, and according to rumor, by far the best golfer the university has ever seen. Puh-lease. If he’s so perfect, why does he need tutoring?
With his British Literature grade circling the drain, Brock knows he needs help. But when he meets his tutor, he can’t believe his friggin’ luck. Abby Jane no longer resembles the childhood best friend he used to play hide and seek with. No, she’s all attitude and pink hair and tattoos. Oh, and she hates him, so that’s a plus.
Brock and AJ couldn’t clash more and antagonizing one another is just too easy. But, as they spend more time together, the lines begin to blur, leading them to realize they have more in common than what meets the eye.
Hate. Lust. Love. They all look the same when you’re in denial, and everyone knows you can’t control your rebel heart.
LK Farlow (A.K.A Kate) is a small town girl with a love for words. She’s been writing stories and poems for as long she can remember. A Southern girl through and through, Kate resides in beautiful, sunny LA—that’s Lower Alabama, y’all—with her amazing husband and three wonderful children. When she’s not writing, you can find her snuggled up on the couch watching nature documentaries while she crochets or with her nose in a book. All Kate really wants in this life is her family happy, strong coffee, a good book and more Happily Ever After’s.
Title: Not So Wicked: A Fairytale Fantasy
Author: Billie Dale
Genre: Fairytale Romantic Comedy
Release Date: July 19, 2018 Cover Design: Ginger ([email protected])
No, get your mind out of the gutter. Not THAT kind of horny.
I'm talking about the horns on my head. It doesn't matter how I try to disguise them with updo’s and headscarves; they're two permanent, pointy reminders of my parentage - a feisty Fairy Godmother for a mom, and a towering ogre with poor impulse control for a dad.
I can’t help stand out even as I try desperately to blend in.
And now I've gone and turned into a Big Bad.
My heart is in tatters, and I've turned the man I love from sexy stud into a sad sack.
And the worst part?
Despite everything I've done to him, Stefan's still willing to fight to find our Happy Ever After and he’s determined to prove there’s a halo held up by my horns!
Author’s Note:
Not So Wicked is full length sexy fairytale. Ever wonder what would happen if Maleficent and Ursula were best friends? Find out with this romantic comedy stand-alone.
*Each book in the Fairytale Fantasy series can be read by itself.
He leans toward me, his lips at my ear, “I love you. Always,” he whispers, the words vibrating from my eardrum to my chest where a hopeful heat kills me even more.
“Y-y-you need to move on,” again the words filling my mouth with bile, but I keep it hidden.
“As you wish,” he responds turning away from me.
Reaching out I grip his hand, reveling in the familiar electric current from his touch.
“Did you just Pretty in Pink and The Princess Bride me?” I ask realizing where I’d heard the words he spoke.
A small tug pulls up one side of his mouth, “I did. I’m going now to grab my old boom box to hold up outside your house while screaming ‘nobody puts Mal in a corner’ and leaning against a red Porsche across the road so when the cars clear you’ll see me standing there.”
My mouth gapes open. He’s prepared to act out every eighties movie I love. I’m stunned, my mind racing, he pushes me back into the house. His hands on my hips bleeding fire through my shirt.
“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. Hell, breathing hurts, Mallory. I. Love. You. There never will be another woman for me,” he aligns his forehead with mine, “We can make this work. We have to cause I will not survive another day without you in it.”
Billie Dale lives in no-where middle earth. Lost in a small village in the Midwest with four kids, three animals and an amazing, word inspiring book boyfriend worthy husband.
A blogger by nature and a writer because she got tired of arguing with the voices in her head. She loves and lives the words on the page, whether writing them or reading them her life is consumed by the worlds her head creates. Her greatest wish is that readers will fall in love with her words as much as she loves writing them and as much as she loves reading others. She loves to create new worlds to explore and loves to write words that will take root in you soul. Paranormal, New Adult, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary — there is not one box she fits in. She’s a rebel in the author world who writes what her head tells her even it jumps from genre to genre. Join my readers group on Facebook: Billie’s Book Babes https://www.facebook.com/groups/184646949232846
Title: Angry Annie
Author: Dawn L. Chiletz
Genre: Romantic Comedy/Humorous
Release Date: July 12, 2018
1. Infiltrate the life of the internet troll, Annie McClintonuck, who wrote a nasty review for her sister’s bakery before it even opened.
2. Write an article exposing Annie for a fraud, thereby catapulting Joslyn's stalled career from fact-checker to journalist.
3. Flirt with, but don’t fall for, said troll's hot, seemingly shy, incredibly edible next door neighbor, Rhode Bennett.
4. Try not to let one week change her life.
Not all trolls are cute and fuzzy but some lemons are gold in disguise.
Dear Reader:
STOP. Don’t waste your time going any further. This book sucks like a plunger in a toilet bowl. I don’t know what to say about this woman’s lack of talent. I’d like to call her an author, but just because you put a bunch of words on paper doesn’t make you a writer. Heck, my cousin’s five-year-old granddaughter wrote a three-sentence story about pizza that’s better than this. Dawn . . . what kind of ’70s hippie name is that, anyway? People name their kid Dawn when they’re too lazy to think of a real name. I’ve always preferred dusk to Dawn and she’s reminded me why. Go watch TV instead. Save your money. You’re welcome.
Annie McClintonuck
Dawn L. Chiletz resides in Illinois with her two boys and three dogs. Her love of reading began at a young age and continued into adulthood. Armed with a dream from the night before, she sat down at her laptop in the summer of 2014 and started the words to her first book, The Contest. She’s been writing ever since. When she’s not binge reading or writing you can most likely find her on social media avoiding laundry.
To find out more information, including her upcoming signings, please visit her website athttps://www.dawnlchiletz.com
Title: Going for the Hole
Author: L.P. Dover
Genre: Sports Rom/Com
Release Date: June 25, 2018 Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser @ RBA Designs
“I absolutely loved everything about this story!!I literally devoured it in one sitting…” ~ Marybeth (Goodreads review) “I’m addicted to L.P’s books and Going for the Hole is by far my favorite book.” ~ Veronica (Goodreads review)
Stroke it smooth.
And you’ll sink right into the hole. That’s my motto both on and off the golf course. The women come in full supply everywhere I go and there are no complaints. Maybe it’s the size of my driver that gets them going.
I’m Lucas “Ace” Montgomery, professional golfer and world record holder for the longest drive in golf history. The PGA Tour has been my life, but it’s time for a break. A few relaxing weeks of drinking and golf with friends in Myrtle Beach is what I need. However, when a bright pink ball knocks me out on the course, and a blonde beauty comes to my aid, I expect to see a gallery girl, a.k.a a member of the Party Groupie Association. Trust me, those girls know how to have fun. Although, to my surprise, it’s not what I get at all.
Dr. Ashley Locke is beautiful and everything I’d want if I was ever to get serious about someone. Unfortunately, she has no interest in me whatsoever which only makes me want her more. All she wants is to get through her friend’s bachelorette weekend and go back to her life. But after injuring me on the course, I’m not letting her run away so easily. When I want something, I get it.
I’m not competing for money this time. All I want is to win her heart.
“When can I see you again?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I took a needle in the ass for you. Surely, that deserves more of your attention?”
Why did he always have to give me that devilish smile of his? As much as I wanted to hate it, I couldn’t. “Why are you doing this? Can’t you find someone else?”
“Of course I can, but I want you. We can have secret meetings in here if you’re still embarrassed to be seen in public with me.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not embarrassed. You’re you, and I’m a respectable member of society.”
He burst out laughing. “Okay, I see how it is.”
“I just don’t want the publicity,” I added. “You can understand that, right? You of all people should know what it’s like not to have privacy.”
His smile faded. “You’re right, I do, but it’s my life. I can’t change who I am.” My body shivered with the intensity of his stare. “For once, I thought I’d found someone who wanted me for me and not my money or fame.”
Guilt racked my body and I sighed. “Okay, I give in. I can see you tomorrow, after I get out of the spa. Maybe we can order in room service.”
Eyes twinkling, he went over to the door and opened it. “Now that’s a plan I can get behind.”
Before I could walk out, he stood in my way, body close to mine. “I’m going to break through that ice wall of yours, sunshine. One way or another.”
I batted my eyelashes in an innocent matter. “Good luck with that.”
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
She loves to write, but she also loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes and white water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.
Dover has written countless novels, including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, the Society X series, the Circle of Justice series, and her standalone novel Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense, but if she got to choose a setting in which to live, it would be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.
Title: Chronicles of a Hot Mess
Author: S.E. Rose
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: June 26, 2018
She’s a hot mess, and he’s intrigued from the first time he sees her. He’s a sexy former athlete who could have any woman, and she hopes he doesn’t break her heart.
Amery Walsh’s baseball career ended after an injury. He’s been a talent scout for his team and resident playboy since then. But three chance encounters with Lyla Perkins change everything. This tiny, feisty woman flips his world upside-down. Is he ready for a serious relationship?
Lyla Perkins just started her career and so far, it’s an epic disaster. She’s buckling down to prove herself at her job when Amery repeatedly pops into her life, forcing her to consider a more serious relationship. But can a playboy be trusted with her heart?
Amery
Hot Mess. That was the first thing that came to his mind. Like one of those psychological tests where you are supposed to say the initial thing that pops into your head when the doctor shows you a picture. The woman walking toward his gate tried to brush her long mahogany hair out of her face but lost her footing and tripped. She managed to catch herself only to lose her shoe in the process. She huffed and stopped, causing a chain reaction behind her as passengers tried to stop mid-step to avoid colliding with her. She was oblivious to the carnage she was creating. Instead, she walked off to the side and sat down on an empty chair trying to get her shoe back on. Her unruly hair kept falling in her face. She pulled a hair tie from her sweatshirt’s pocket and went to put it on and the thing snapped in her hand. She cursed under her breath and he had to stifle a laugh. She looked like a clumsy dark-haired version of Tinkerbell, small and feisty.
It was like a train wreck. He couldn't take his eyes away from her. She wasn't dressed in business attire but instead wore black leggings that looked like what he’d seen women wear to the gym. She had on an oversized hoodie that was at least two sizes too big.
“Welcome to flight seven-fifty-two nonstop to Baltimore. We’ll begin boarding in just a few minutes.”
The droning on of the airline attendant broke his gaze and when he looked back over she was gone. He loved people watching, always had. He had found since taking this job that the airport was excellent for this activity. He typically used the owner’s private jet as he was a close friend, but Derek had taken it on a business trip, so he was relegated to first-class flying instead. At the airport, most people just kept their heads down, playing with their electronic devices, but he never did. Maybe it was his cop grandfather or maybe he was just too curious, but either way, he always paid attention.
Sometimes people would spot him, and he’d be forced to take a selfie or sign an autograph. He’d played professional baseball for five years until an injury yanked him away from the one thing he loved. The owner of the team took pity on him and made him a scout for the organization. Derek Hathaway was one of the most involved owners in the league. He enjoyed being in the weeds, much to his general manager’s dismay. Amery did have the degree and demeanor for it, but he knew Derek had done it out of sympathy.
He picked up his bag and rolled his carry-on toward the gate. He knew he’d be boarding first. He waited for the cue from the attendant that first-class passengers were welcome to board, and he made his way toward her to scan his phone and board. He walked briskly down the corridor to the plane and greeted the flight attendant as he placed his carry-on in the overhead compartment. He was about to turn to sit when he was suddenly pushed from behind as someone went flying into him. He turned just in time to catch the person and as his eyes scanned down; he suddenly found himself face-to-face with the hot mess woman. Her eyes were wide as she looked up at him.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed as she got her footing.
“That's quite alright,” he said, as he stepped back into his row still holding her arm. She was quite beautiful up close. Her eyes were almost violet in color and her skin was tan and flawless. She wore no makeup but had naturally beautiful lips and eyes. Her high cheekbones were blushed with a soft pink. She smelled of roses. He couldn’t help inhaling as he lingered slightly too close for slightly too long before letting her go.
She looked nervously from him to the seat numbers along the overhead compartments.
“Uh, I think that's my seat,” she muttered, pointing to the window seat next to him. He wanted to laugh out loud but bit his tongue as he moved aside to let her take the seat.
He stored his bag and then checked his emails one last time, trying to ignore the flutter of activity next to him. After a minute, he could no longer keep his gaze away. He turned to see her trying to pull something from her bag while pushing it under the seat in front of her. She gave one final tug and a travel pillow came flying out as she went flying into her seat. She was a disaster, a very cute, good-smelling disaster.
It took her a moment to realize she was being watched. She turned toward him.
“Sorry,” she mumbled as she placed the u-shaped pillow around her neck and laid a book on her lap. “I’m a bit of a mess today,” she continued with a shrug.
“That’s alright. We all have those days,” he offered in an attempt to put her at ease. It was a bit of a stretch, but certainly, some people might have days like hers. He extended his hand to her.
“Amery Walsh,” he said.
She gave him a shy smile. “Lyla Perkins,” she said as she shook his hand.
Her hand was soft and warm in his and just like the rest of her, it was petite.
“Nice to meet you, Lyla,” he said. He wanted to say more but the flight attendant came by asking if they wanted drinks. Lyla asked for a red wine and he asked for a whiskey.
When he glanced over at her again, Lyla was reading her book, a mystery novel, if he could guess. He pulled out his tablet and began to work on his notes. He’d met with three potential players. They’d all end up on a minor league team, but two had real potential, one might even get to go straight onto a major league team if the kid worked a little harder.
The flight attendant brought them their drinks and he passed the red wine to Lyla, their fingers touching briefly as she grasped it in her hand. She didn’t make eye contact but kept on reading. She drank her wine quickly. The attendant was back collecting trash before take-off when he noticed Lyla had passed out and her book was leaning against her precariously. He placed the bookmark back in it and set it on her lap before closing her seatback tray. He closed his own and kept typing, setting his iPad on his thighs.
The drink began to take affect the second they were in the air. Finally, tired enough, he was able to fall asleep for a few hours. He woke as the sun was just beginning to come up. Lyla was still fast asleep. She looked utterly adorable, curled into a tight ball. Her head leaned against his shoulder. Her book had fallen during the night and was sprawled out on the floor next to her sneakers, which she must have kicked off at some point. She looked more like a little kid than a grown woman with the giant hoodie that practically swallowed her up so much so that he was unsure what her body looked like beneath it.
Lyla
She woke with a start. She’d caught the red-eye from LA to Baltimore and from the looks of it, the sun wasn’t up yet. She stared at the sky that was just beginning to show the faintest hint of dawn on the horizon. She glanced down and saw her book in her lap, the bookmark lodged in between the pages. She must have dozed off after take-off and clearly before the in-flight food service. She was hungry, but food would have to wait a bit longer.
“Hungry?” a voice to her right asked.
She turned to Amery. He motioned to his tray which held a plate of some type of breakfast with fruit and a croissant. It looked delicious. Before she could answer, Amery, pulled down her tray table and set the plate down.
“I figured you might be hungry, so I had the stewardess bring me an extra plate for you,” he explained.
“I guess I slept right through breakfast,” she said as she pulled back the seal on the small cup of orange juice and took a sip. It didn’t taste half-bad.
Her day had been a bad one. OK, it was probably going in the record books. She had always, always been prone to disasters. It was like a disease that followed her around constantly. She had been sent to LA the week before as part of her first assignment with her first real job. She’d spent endless hours prepping for the photo shoot. She was to assist the head photographer in photographing several celebrities for the next issue of Look and See Magazine. She really wanted to work in PR, but this job would pay the bills until she could figure out a way to segue to work in PR or make her PR and marketing blog a career. The magazine worked out of several offices and somehow, she got stuck in the smallest in Washington D.C. Apparently, a lot of celebrities lived around D.C., and obviously, there were the frequent White House galas and state dinners and whatnot that they wanted to photograph. Matthew, the head photographer, was a nice enough guy, albeit a bit bossy and self-absorbed, but she could manage.
Yesterday had been the last day of shooting and she had royally fucked up everything. She forgot to tell the caterer to arrive early as Matthew requested. So, he had no breakfast before the shoot and wasn’t pleased. Albeit, he had completely changed the times for the shoot two hours after they had wrapped the day before, and so she was scrambling trying to rearrange schedules for their last day. She then tripped over a cord on the way to call said caterer and took down one of the cameras that had been set up earlier. It broke. Matthew went ballistic and sent her to fetch another one. Every store was sold out of this camera, and she ended up calling in a favor to get one for the shoot. Ugh, the favor…she didn’t even want to think of going on a date with that creepy guy from college that she was sure roofied the drinks of half a dozen of her sorority sisters at various parties over four years. Then, just when she thought the day couldn’t get any worse, Matthew sent her to pick up several ball gowns. The cab driver she used got lost, and she ended up being late to the store. The manager had already gone out to an early lunch. The sales lady had no idea where the gowns were and then brought out several she thought were right. They weren’t.
Matthew had canceled the shoot and stormed out of the building muttering to himself about inept assistants. She’d caught the first flight home; fairly certain she would be canned when she arrived back in D.C. She sighed as she ate a piece of fruit. She needed a job and she needed it fast.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Amery asked.
Shit, had she sighed out loud? She glanced over at him. His blue eyes intently bored into hers.
“Long day, that’s all,” she said in between bites.
He glanced at his watch. “Well, we have another ninety minutes, so spill it.”
She was a little taken aback by his forwardness. “Uh, well,” she started. Where to start? “I had a pretty shitty day at work yesterday, and I’m ninety percent, strike that, ninety-nine percent sure I’m going to be fired when I get home.”
“What do you do?” he asked.
“I work for a fashion magazine. I was in LA for a shoot and well, it didn’t go very well.”
“You’re a model?” he asked.
She nearly choked on her croissant, and he patted her back.
“Uh, no, definitely no,” she said, taking a sip of orange juice. “I’m an assistant to our head photographer.”
“Oh,” Amery said. “Do you like doing that?”
She shrugged. “I guess so.”
Amery laughed. “That doesn’t sound very convincing.”
She sighed and turned to him, knocking over her remaining orange juice in the process. “Oh shit!” she exclaimed as she started to mop up the mess on her tray table. Suddenly, Amery was handing her napkins. She looked over at him quizzically. He pointed to a stash of napkins in his seatback pocket.
“I figured it was better to be prepared,” he explained. She rolled her eyes. She must have seemed a total fucking mess to him.
“I’m not always so prone to accidents,” she said tersely, although deep down she knew that was a blatant lie.
Amery threw his hands up in a defeated gesture. “I didn’t mean to insult you,” he said.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I’m a little sensitive today.”
Amery put his finger up and the stewardess came over to him. “Two mimosas, please,” he said.
“Sure, Mr. Walsh,” she said politely and walked back to the galley.
She was back before he could speak again, as though mimosas were sitting around on standby for the passengers.
“Here, peace offering,” he said as he handed her a plastic champagne flute. “To your day vastly improving,” he added as he clinked glasses with her.
“Accepted,” she said as she took a sip of the mediocre drink.
He studied her for a few moments, and she stared back at him. His gaze was so intense, she had a hard time looking away from him until the captain spoke over the cabin intercom.
“We’ll be beginning our descent into Baltimore in about thirty minutes, folks. It’s currently seventy degrees at BWI and partly cloudy. The cabin crew will be coming around shortly to collect any trash you may have. We hope you’ve enjoyed your flight and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Have a great day, everyone,” she said.
Lyla downed the mimosa and handed her empty champagne flute back to the flight attendant.
“Well, that’s one way to start off the day right,” Amery laughed as he finished his.
“Cheers to that,” Lyla said as she stuffed her pillow back into her carry-on bag.
Lyla picked up her book and started to read again. Amery closed his notes on his tablet. She could feel the plane descending and knew they’d be landing shortly. She internally groaned at the thought of having to go to work in a few hours. She sighed again. She supposed she should just go in straight away and get it over with.
She placed her book in the pocket in front of her and looked out the window as the plane began to land. She could make out the Chesapeake Bay and Bay Bridge in the distance. A few minutes later the plane bumped as the tires hit the ground.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Lyla,” Amery said as he turned on his phone and reached for his carry-on bag.
“Likewise,” Lyla replied, trying to remember his name, something with an “A.” Yeah, she was a mess.
Review:
Cute, sweet, and funny, Chronicles of a Hot Mess will have you sighing and giggling the whole time. How can a clumsy, quirky woman reform a notorious playboy? By constantly embarrassing herself in front of him! This book will keep you laughing and cringing. The romance between Amery and Lyla was incredibly sweet. Lyla’s clumsiness was endearing rather than annoying, and Amery was just swoon-worthy. Definitely a great summer read! 5 Stars!
S.E. Rose lives in the DMV. And if you know what that means, then you know where she lives. She currently resides with her husband, two children, and always at least two cats and usually other random creatures her children decide they need. While she works at a desk during the day, her evenings and weekends are devoted to writing and editing her romance novels. She loves all things wine, coffee, tea and dark chocolate; that’s right, dark chocolate. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, traveling, going to concerts, and reading.
|
AuthorsWe are a group of authors, Archives
August 2018
Categories
All
|