Book Blurb
The Great Recession. Reality TV. Luxury cosmetics. And a basset hound named Botox. What do all these things have in common?They’re all essential story components in BEAUTY SECRETS, a sexy romantic comedy novel, written in a style best described as “Jennifer Weiner meets E. L. James.”
Amanda Brown is a high-flying cosmetics executive for Revina Corporation, the oldest and most venerable cosmetics company in America. She comes from a good "old money" family, she went to Swarthmore, and she lives in a beautiful penthouse apartment in NYC’s Meatpacking District. But she's only successful on the surface----like many New Yorkers, she's also financially overextended. Her parents are dead, her trust fund is gone, and when the Great Recession hammers her company, like millions of people across America she suddenly finds her job hanging by a thread.
Enter George Watson, a hedge-fund manager and self-made man from the Midwest who swoops in from Indiana to rebuild Revina Corporation from the ground up. Even if he fired everyone else at the company, he decides to keep Amanda on for her expertise. The two of them are from different worlds, and they can't stand each other. But that doesn’t stop them from having wild no-holds-barred sex on their first meeting----for reasons neither of them fully understand.
But this is no ordinary corporate takeover, and the unlikely romance between George and Amanda is no ordinary love story. It involves corporate greed, undercover investigative reporters, a sleazy reality TV producer who puts George and Amanda's sexual relationship on national television, dark family secrets----and a dog named Botox.
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She had to find some way out of this. “I’m sorry, George Watson, but there must be some mistake. I am not middle management. I am a member of Revina’s senior executive team.”
“Well, that might have been true this morning, ma’am, but it’s not now. Now you work for me.”
Ma’am. She didn’t like the sound of that. It made her feel old. She didn’t want to feel old — not now, when she’d started feeling sexy for the first time in months, even though she didn’t quite understand why. Surely not because of this George Watson character. No, of course not. The very idea was ridiculous. She probably just needed to visit her gynecologist to request a hormone supplement or something.
She scanned his long, hard body up and down, trying hard to squelch the rising heat between her legs. Something about this man got under her skin. But what? And why? “I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but you don’t exactly look like the type who should be running a cosmetics company,” she remarked, hoping the veiled insult might help her get control of herself. “You have no—well, style.”
He grinned and leaned back against the dirty wall. There was such a casual ease about him. He clearly give a damn what anybody else thought---nobody walked around Manhattan dressed like that if they did. It was the kind of confidence Amanda Brown had never had, and never would. She’d spent her entire life worried about what other people thought. It was the whole reason she’d joined the beauty industry in the first place.
She wasn’t sure what led her to do what came next. Maybe it was George Watson’s casual confidence, maybe it was the fact she was still soaking wet and cold from the rain, maybe it was a combination of the two. Or maybe she just hadn’t gotten laid in so long that her body had finally had enough and took matters into its own hands.
She set the white paper bag and her purse on the overloaded desk, took a deep breath, and kissed George Watson full on the lips.
Amanda wasn’t sure what she expected him to do. He stiffened with shock at first, letting out a startled squeal. But then he relaxed, put his arms around her, and kissed her back.
They kissed closed-mouthed at first, but soon Amanda took the lead and pushed her tongue against his lips. He responded in kind, and their tongues did a long, slow dance together, exploring. She relished his slightly salty taste, along with the balmy scent of his aftershave. He pressed his body against hers, revealing a growing thickness at his groin. She ground against it, wanting to feel it inside her.
Amanda pulled herself away from him then, but only for a moment. She reached for the paper bag from the drugstore, opened it, and handed George the contents. She didn’t say a word; she didn’t have to. He knew exactly what to do with them.
Her new office was tiny and filled to the brim with furniture and supplies. There was no place to lie down, or even to sit. No, they’d have to do this thing against the wall.
Author Interview
I think it was because I always loved reading romance, from Jane Austen up to modern erotica. I’m always a sucker for a good love story. Even if I already know how it will end, I love the wild ride!
What was the first romance novel you read that made an impression on you?
Probably Austen’s Pride& Prejudice, which I read in college. I’d read scores of romances prior to that, both modern-day and from the literary canon, but that one really stuck with me and I always remember it. I think it sets the bar for the whole genre. I’m also a sucker for Jane Eyre and anything by Jennifer Weiner.
Tell us 5 surprising things about yourself.
· I’m an Irish-Catholic who converted to Buddhism. And I’m married to a Chinese guy who was born and raised Buddhist but converted to Catholicism. Weird, huh?
· I hate mashed potatoes.
· I’m dangerously allergic to bee stings.
· I have naturally curly hair.
· I’m a triathlete.
What is your writing environment?
I write full-time (I’m a freelance journalist as well as a novelist) and the entire third floor of my house is my writing studio.
One of your favorite quotes.
“If you got paid to write something, and you paid the light bill with the money, then I consider you talented.”---Stephen King
Who is your perfect hero? And why?
I like heroes who are strong and successful, yet mysterious. I like them to have some kind of dark past that involves deep personal flaws that they have overcome at least somewhat, but still contribute some quirkiness to their character. This is what intrigues readers and also keeps me engaged when writing.
Which authors have caught your interest lately? Why?
There are too many to name! Of late I’ve liked Avery Aster’s MANHATTANITES series with Ellora’s Cave, J.L. Mac’s WRECK ME series, anything by Sylvia Day, and of course EL James!
What type of book have you always wanted to write?
I have written almost 20 books, of many different types and subgenres, so there aren’t many types I haven’t written yet. But I DO want to eventually write a New York Times bestseller!
Who are your dream dinner party guests? All authors! (and a little eye candy)
EL James, Jane Austen, Jennifer Weiner, Sara Gruen, D.H. Lawrence, and Charlie Hunnam!
What’s the last movie you watched and loved?
Probably FLIGHT, with Denzel Washington. Good film with a good message. Plus you get to see Denzel naked, so there’s that.
Most __nerdy_ in high school. (popular, nerdy, sporty…) Why?
I was senior class valedictorian.
Top three things on your bucket list.
Go to India.
Go to Ireland.
Go to Africa.
Flirting Questions
Which actor or book character do you have a crush on?
Hugh Jackman, Colin Firth, and Mr. Darcy.
What’s your favorite body part of the opposite sex?
Aside from the obvious (snark), eyes.
What does love feel like?
Knowing that you want to spend the rest of your life with that person.
Hey, baby! What’s your sign?
Aquarius
When was your last kiss?
This morning.
What’s an absolute no-no in a relationship?
Cheating, lying, and violence.
How did you meet your significant other?
We actually met online!
What’s your idea of a perfect date?
Dinner and a movie without the kids!
If you could take a romantic trip, where would it be?
I’ve traveled a lot already, but I’ve always wanted to spend a week in Hawaii. Preferably on Maui or Kauai, they are more secluded.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes
Author Info
~Giveaway~
Signed copies of Beauty Secrets
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