Penny moves back to Miami to start her a job with a list of things to accomplish.
1. Find a place to live.
2. Avoid her gold-digging mother.
3. Reconnect with old high school friends: her best friend Sandra, the dramatic Eva, the dark Michael, her half-brother Wyatt, and her former crush Jay.
Jay may have kept her firmly in the “friend zone”, but that didn’t stop her from wanting more. Her five friends have stood by her through some difficult times and she’ll need their help now to accomplish her first two goals.
As soon as Jay sees Penny, he puts his plan into motion. His investors need to see him with a stable woman, one who isn’t all flash and no brains; Penny fits the bill perfectly. There’s just one hitch—he wants more.
Their pretend date sets off a whirlwind of plots. From mothers who want to control their children’s lives to the loss of her exciting new job, Penny’s world turns upside down. She knows she can overcome all obstacles except one—she’s falling for Jay all over again.
~Excerpt~
Jay Marshall pressed his lips together as he held the phone. His hands curled into a ball then straightened. He stared out his bay windows overlooking the ocean. Another beautiful day on the beaches of South Florida, not that he cared. Sunshine never filled him with joy. The humidity outside suffocated the spirit, but somehow, with this deal, he’d break free.
“Yes, you’ll see I mean business, Mr. Danvers. My business plans are long term.”
Danvers sucked in his breath, as if he were doubting the sincerity of Jay’s words, then told Jay. “And I’ll meet your girlfriend. It’s always telling with people from Miami. Flashy women and cars do not make good investments on my end.”
Jay gritted his teeth and tugged at his free ear, but kept the phone on the other. Miami advertised plastic women on the highway as a special brand. Flashy came with the area code. Instead he nodded his head and told the potential investor, “I understand. See you next week.”
He hung up the phone and stared out the window. The brightness showed his reflection and his grim frown. Jay needed to win. His eyes squished together. He’d pay the price for success. He had no other choice.
Jay’s mind raced to his technical girlfriend. Eva was the epitome of flashy, beautiful, and fake. She’d been a friend since high school, and two months ago, they’d ended up dating. On paper the award winning dramatic actress, his money, and their history should be a match. Yet he couldn’t imagine his entire life videotaped.
If he walked away from her, there would be no regrets. His investors hoped he had a nice, sweet woman on the side. His cousin and her friend, Penelope, flashed in his head before he dropped the thought.
He pushed his hand on the glass window before he stepped back into the shadows of his office.
Darkness didn’t suit him either. Nothing stirred inside him anymore, though he craved something. Anything other than boredom from the sticky heat of his life.
He shook his head and poked his head out of his office. His secretary sat there typing. “Call Eva. Set up an appointment for us to talk today.”
With the click of the door knob he rolled up his sleeves. He needed the deal to put his goals in line with his investment portfolio.
His eyes narrowed in on the first words, long term growth.
Long term read to his eyes like a rescue rope. He blinked. Life should be lived with long term goals to reach. Freedom meant change.
Today, he’d break up with Eva. In his heart, he’d always hoped for a woman that tugged at his heart strings. But hopes didn’t earn freedom. He’d prove to himself, and the others, John Jay Marshall came out of the game of life on top.
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My Review:
I received this book for free in exchange for a review. Regardless, I only recommend books/products that I have read/used. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest, unbiased, and are my own. They may differ from yours.
Where to start?! First off the cover is what attracted me to this book. It is a gorgeous cover with two gorgeous people on it, then the blurb really grabbed my attention. I love the way the author wrote this book. Its very descriptive without being over done and dragging. You can see and feel what the characters are feeling. I immediately was attracted to Penny. She grew up with not the best childhood and a mother who is a gold digger and insists that she turns that way. Despite that, she is a strong, determined, and independent woman who strives not to turn into her mother. I love strong willed female characters. Then there is Jay, he started as a prep-boy rich jerk who turns out to be really warm, sweet, and caring. He also his running from his parents, and through this book we see just what his parents are capable of when they want to get their way. At first it doesn't seem like Jay shares the same feeling and views as Penny when it comes to a relationship but then we learn he is just a very good actor. I love this couple together. They both are trying to be strong and independent and both running from the parents. They are like soul mates. The plan and deal that Penny and Jay started out with seems to be working good but will it last?! You have to read to find that out and to see all the secrets that are revealed in this book. A great read that keeps you turning pages to see what is going to happen and develop next. This was my first book with this author and I was very happy. I will be checking out her other books. This book gets a 5/5!!!
~About the Author~
Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion.
She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
The Zoastra Affair, Chaperoning Paris, Borrowing the Doctor, and Electing Love, Mything the Throne and Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush will be published in 2014.
Now she is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency.
Also she’s the Vice President for the Florida Romance Writers. Her website is www.victoriapinder.com.
Author Links: Site Facebook Twitter Blog Goodreads
~Giveaway~
~Giveaway~
Victoria is giving away a $5.00 Amazon GC during her tour.
For a chance to win please fill out the rafflecopter below
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