Having doesn't always live up to the hype of wanting. That's what Lisa Reynolds, the heroine in my recently reissued contemporary, TOTALLY YOURS (written under my pen name, Dana Ransom) discovers when all her hard work to reshape her future (and herself!) doesn't measure up to her expectations. Instead of living the dream with the man she desires on a promotional cruise as the new spokesmodel for a self-improvement program, she finds herself drowning in old doubts, and in today's excerpt, she reaches out of habit for an old life preserver . . .
Lisa was all the way to her room before her sensibilities cleared, and then there she was, alone with four helpings of sheer bliss, stepping out of her high heels to sit on the foot of the bed, plate cradled on her lap, not turning on the lamp because sneak eating, like forbidden sex, was best if done in the dark.
One small taste and she heaved a pampered sigh, continuing to nibble, telling herself she had control because she didn’t devour it in one gulp. She refused to let even the smallest amount of shame encroach upon the
moment, not her disappointment over Chuck or her confused emotions concerning Harlan, not when immediate gratification was its own reward...just like this trip, a temporary fantasy while reality waited back in the icy winds of Michigan. Reality was Chuck Webb’s womanizing, Maggie on Harlan’s arm, only a book of business and a fat gray cat to come home to, with no man’s embrace to keep her warm, and now, not even have the comfort of her own personal insulation to guard against the chill of loneliness.
A sudden tap on her door sent Lisa rocketing off the bed, clutching her goodies defensively, furtive instincts making her shove the half-emptied plate beneath her bed and brush at the brownie crumbs that dotted the front of her skirt before answering the door.
Harlan.
“I got worried when you didn’t show up for dinner so I came to offer
Dramamine and sympathy if you needed it.”
Lisa smiled, positive he could see those calories settling about her hips as she insisted, “I’m fine, just a little overwhelmed by all the socializing.”
“How ‘bout we share a little moonlight together, or have you got something better lined up for this evening?” he asked, touching the corner of her mouth, coming away with a telltale glob of whipping cream as Lisa cringed, waiting for his lecture.
Instead, Harlan sucked the goo off his thumb before offering his arm, and miraculously, the lure of cream puffs disappeared.
Man, now I want to go on another cruise . . . or grab a cream puff. As I weigh those options, take a look at TOTALLY YOURS, on sale through the 31st for just $.99 (a lot cheaper than the trip or the calorie guilt!).
When a popular self-improvement program gives Lisa Reynolds a smoking hot body, she wins an unexpected prize: a Caribbean cruise as the club's corporate spokesmodel. Lisa, a hardworking insurance sales rep who prides herself on her brains, hesitantly accepts the siren call of being admired for her figure, too.
But suddenly this new glamour girl faces magnetic CEO Harlan Jameson, whose interest in her matches her attraction to him, except . . . the "real" Lisa isn't this workout babe he created. And old self-doubts about being loved for herself resurface.
Harlan's not what she thinks. A self-made success, lonely, and isolated by a busy schedule . . . he's drawn to Lisa's honesty and warmth. When he understands her fears, he sets out to prove there's only one thing he wants her to change for him: her last name.
But suddenly this new glamour girl faces magnetic CEO Harlan Jameson, whose interest in her matches her attraction to him, except . . . the "real" Lisa isn't this workout babe he created. And old self-doubts about being loved for herself resurface.
Harlan's not what she thinks. A self-made success, lonely, and isolated by a busy schedule . . . he's drawn to Lisa's honesty and warmth. When he understands her fears, he sets out to prove there's only one thing he wants her to change for him: her last name.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I'll be in final revisions for PRINCE OF DREAMS next week, after spending this weekend rerouting all my contacts from @msn, which suddenly closed my e-mail account when I couldn't prove I was me even after jumping through three days of their hoops with all the requested info and no way to contact a human to address my problems (grrrrr). Now Microsoft wants to kiss and make up, but I ain't feeling the love after ten years of saved e-mails with contact information disappeared. That ship has sailed. I'm an @gmail girl now. So "H.o.T" shape-shifter princes, carry me away! How's your summer shaping up, fellow Warriors?
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I'd say Harlan arrived at pretty much the perfect moment.
ReplyDeleteAnd timing is everything!
DeleteGreat snippet. I love this book's concept.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to write (a lot of past personal research involved!).
DeleteThis is great insight into Lisa's character! Very realistic, a person many can relate to.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessica. I certainly can.
DeleteSmoothly written excerpt as always. so far I like Harlan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean. He's a doll!
DeleteYes, so real just like life. Terrific delightful snippet.
ReplyDeleteThank, Charmaine. Better a slice of life than the whole chocolate pie.
DeleteA very relatable scene. Now, if only we could all have a Harlan to save us from the last cream puff.
ReplyDeleteIf only . . .
DeleteGreat snippet! And I love how you managed to fit all this in the limit. I must be extra emotional today because I kind of wanted to cry reading this.
ReplyDeleteBecause nothing is sadder than underappreciating how wonderful we really are!
DeleteAh, nothing like the guilty joy of secret sweet-eating! Glad she was rescued!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Yes, indeed. No calories in the dark.
DeleteI loved the last sentence.
ReplyDeleteThat was the real dessert.
DeleteI like her already. I hope she sees herself as worthy of true love. Good luck with the edits. Too bad about the email problem. I've been happy with gmail for some time now.
ReplyDeleteShe will if I've done my job right. I'm like gmail so far.
DeleteI'm not sure; the cream puffs might be a better option!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful snippet. Great character development going on!
Thanks, Teresa. Yes . . . quite the toss up. I never hit the dessert case in either of my cruise - let sleeping dogs lie behind closed glass doors.
DeleteEverybody deserves a little comfort now and then, though she seemed to feel guilt even as she denied it. Maybe that walk will be the sweet treat she needs! :)
ReplyDeleteSweets has never had the same allure as salty to me.
DeleteGreat dialogue! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy!!
DeleteI'm loving Harlan. I guess I wasn't the only one writing about food. It would go great with that cup of coffee. Love cream puffs. I won't feel guilty eating one. lol
ReplyDeleteFlavored coffee is my guilty pleasure (the no calorie kind-no sugar, just flavor-it's the smell. Ummmmmm)
DeleteI can certainly relate to her guilty plesure - I love cream puffs, although chocolate is my real downfall and go-to prop at times of stress! Of course having someone like Harlan offer a walk in the moonlight would immediately dispell all thoughts of sugary goodies! Great snippet!
ReplyDelete