Monthly pick of My Books- Always Mr. Wrong

Always Mr. Wrong

by Joanne Rawson

Clare Darby is feeling restless, but can't quite put her finger on why. Her life is in order, so what is the problem? When her daughter asks what she really wants for Christmas how can Clare tell her all she wants is to get laid. All her life she has fallen for Mr. Wrong. Will she ever find Mr. Right?

Excerpt

Tonight was all about me, Clare Darby, moving on. Well, actually, it was all about my best friend Jess’s cheese and wine party. Her Ladies Circle was raising money for sick children. Or was it animals? I’m not sure which. To be honest I hadn’t taken much notice when Jess invited me. All I could think about was how, although it had been eight months since my divorce, it had been over a year since I’d got myself dressed up, gone out and engaged in adult conversation.

For weeks now I had been feeling restless. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. I had a good job as a midwife at St. Andrews teaching hospital. Twice a week I went to the gym with my girlfriends to Tums and Bums. Afterwards, sweaty and knackered, we would indulge in a couple of glasses of wine and gossip at the bar next door. My finances were in order; I had a wonderful home, a perfect daughter, and a caring family. So what in the world was wrong with me?

Then two weeks ago, even though it was the middle of October, my seven-year-old daughter, Olivia, pondered over her Christmas letter to Santa. For a seven-year-old, she is very methodical, a chromosome she has inherited from her father. Unfortunately, her father’s meticulous discipline ceased when it came to fidelity. Before she wrote her letter she made two lists, presents she desperately wanted and presents she would like, but not imperative. Finally, lists cross-checked and narrowed down to one main present and a handful of smaller ones, she asked what I really wanted for Christmas. She would like to add it to her letter.

“You never ask Santa for anything, Mummy. What would you really like most?”

The answer shone as bright as the star of Bethlehem. I was almost positive as I contemplated my answer the Angel Gabrielle manifested in front of my dining room window, telling me to go forth, and seek, but how could I tell my seven-year-old that what Mummy really wanted was a man. More importantly...to get laid?

It all came to a head just before Christmas last year when Phil, my then husband, a Detective Inspector for the North London Metropolitan Police, came home unusually early one Friday night. As he went straight upstairs, I should have known as I stood in the kitchen and heard him moving around in our bedroom and then appeared a while later with a suitcase in his hand, it wasn’t full of dirty laundry for the laundrette. I’d been suspicious for months that his relationship with his partner, the stunning Detective Sargent Maria Stephanopoulos, was more than professional. A typical Greek goddess, all olive skin, flowing dark hair, legs up to her armpits and tits so perky that every man, even the criminals, couldn’t take their eyes off them. To be honest, when I think back, the last seven years of our eight-year marriage had been like skating on a lake of thin ice, even before Maria. How many times had Phil assured me after each affair it was purely a fling, it would never happen again. I’d lost count of how many lonely sleepless nights I’d lain in bed wondering when the pressure of the three people in our marriage would be too much, and the lake would finally crack.

So it came as no big surprise to find divorce top of Phil’s Christmas list that year.

What the readers say about  Always Mr. Wrong

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite 5/5

Joanne Rawson has written another winner in Always Mr. Wrong. It’s a heart warming romantic story that, once again, I couldn’t put down. It had a real injection of reality and humor in it and perfectly sums up the harsh reality of growing up and facing down your life. With a touch of drama, the quintessential mature heroine, and even more mature drop-dead gorgeous hero, Ms. Rawson has a winning formula on her hands in the shape of a neatly packaged short story. Wonderful read that gave me a real lift to the spirits and heart. I wish there were more like her.

Liz Amazon UK Review 5.0 out of 5 stars

Joanne Rawson has to be the best new voice of Chick lit.

Her subject matters are always so true to life, it could be any woman she is writing about. Always Mr. Wrong has excelled her this time. Her characters are amazing; I really liked her sister Eleanor, what a hoot she is.

A funny story on a past school girl crush, always dating the wrong man and getting back out in the dating scene. On a romantic side of things, the relationship between Clare and Guy is wonderfully written. Full of feeling, and I might add very racy in parts.

5/5 Book Reviewed by Angie Just Read... (reviewer) The Romance Reviews

Queen of the Chick Lit novella format, the spectacularly hip Joanne Rawson has produced yet another delectably quirky romantic tale that's fun to read and rather hard to put down. Featuring the author's signature preference for a more emotionally mature heroine, a cocktail of realism with a mixer of relationship angst that's intermingled with moments of laugh-out-loud humor, Ms. Rawson has another crowd-pleaser on her hands. Devotees of chick lit who are looking for a quick read with a little depth, a little drama, and a hunky doctor are certain to enjoy ALWAYS MR. WRONG.

Goodreads  Jill rated it 5/5  Was amazing

This is a fun, fast, frolicking good time read! Ms. Rawson combines the modern romance with witty repartee while still having a great message. I fully enjoyed reading this on my last flight cross country. Before I knew it we were to our destination and I was wishing for more

Nook Review - 5/5 

Another outstanding story from the hottest chic lit author – Joanne Rawson

Anonymous

You will not want to put Joanne Rawson’s latest book down. Once again, she captivates the reader with laugh out humor, real life situations, and relationship torment.

Another little gem.

Genre:

Chic-Lit  Short

Heat Level: 3 Flames Boiling

Sensual, yet more explicit love scenes, and the language may be

more graphic and direct.

Buy

Amazon UK  ONLY 0.99p

Amazon

Amazon India  Only Rupees 69

Nook

Smashwords

kobo ONLY 0.70p

iBooks

Jo’s Monthly Melange/Satin Romance Pick of the Month

It Happened at the Park

by Ryan Jo Summers

Practical city planner, Cassidy Grant, just inherited her sister’s beloved dogs. Except she’s a career girl into heels and matching accessories, she’s not a dog mom. Worse, she’s required to take the furry darlings to the dog park.

Jilted, Ethan Sheppard finally got a dog. And he loves their bonding trips to the dog park. He’s also the secret cartoonist whose drawings poke fun at the city leadership.

After they meet, Ethan learns Cassidy’s going to be fired if she can’t identify the cartoonist, but telling her will cost his job. 

 Genres

Contemporary Romance | Novella   White Satin – Sweet

Purchase:

Kindle   Smashwords   iBooks  

Excerpt

“Promise me.”

Just hearing the urgent concern threaded through Cindy’s voice made Cassidy cringe. Vainly she tried to push off her sister’s earnest request with a laugh. It didn’t work, falling pitifully flat.

“Promise me,” Cindy persisted.

Sagging, Cassidy relented, bowing her head in quiet defeat. “Yes, of course. It won’t be necessary, but I promise.”

Satiated, Cindy leaned back, a peaceful smile on her face. It was the first one Cassidy had seen in days. Cindy was the realist of the family, whereas Cassidy refused to believe in any other outcome than the one she wanted. Hence the reason this whole discussion, and promise, were unnecessary. Except it made Cindy smile. That was enough.

Looking back now, their conversation had been something she overlooked the significance of. She’d missed it by a mile. Cindy had requested to see her, saying it was urgent, so she rescheduled the day’s calendar and sandwiched Cindy in between two important meetings. Now, she had to admit she hadn’t been willing to give her sister’s concern the attention it deserved. Turns out, it was more important than her meetings.

Now, seated with her other sister, Karen, and Cindy’s lawyer, and gazing at the thick file, she could not suppress the shivers claiming her. Despite the climate control of the room, goosebumps peppered her skin. Cindy had been the baby, youngest of the three sisters. How was anyone expected to think she would be the first to leave?

Cassidy thought back, before the meeting where she was obligated to make that promise. Cindy was the free spirit, the happy-go-lucky and most extroverted of the trio. She seldom had as much as a cold. No one imagined her getting sick, seriously sick. Least of all, Cassidy.

She still clearly pictured the day the three of them went to the beach for a weekend. Last year. Cindy had begged Cassidy and Karen to put their lives, jobs and family on hold to accompany her to what she called fulfilling her bucket list. She’d won the trip as part of a magazine sweepstakes prize and didn’t want to go alone.

She sighed. That weekend at Rainbow Beach was as vivid in her mind as the beach’s picturesque name. She closed her eyes, still seeing Cindy laughing and splashing in the waves in her new striped bikini, bought just for the trip. She’d thought the water too cold for swimming, but it never stopped Cindy. Cindy always laughed at life. Cindy’s gift was the ability to see the humor in anything and bring others to see it as well.

Like the time Cindy made them rent horses and go riding. It was supposed to be fun, she’d promised, a gleam in her eye. It wasn’t too bad until Karen got bucked off and landed in a big mud puddle. She’d only hurt her pride, lost the horse and had to ride back behind Cassidy. By the time they reached the stable, Karen’s horse was waiting and they were laughing. The stable man thought they were crazy.

Karen said it took three washings to get all that dried mud out of her hair and clothes.

“So now it’s settled,” Higgins said, closing the file and breaking through Cassidy’s memories. He gave her a long study before continuing. “It was quite simple and clean how Cindy wanted her assets dispensed and her remains handled. Do either of you have any questions?”

Yes, she had countless, but only one this guy could answer. She cleared her throat. “I still don’t understand why I have to take them. Personally, Karen is much better suited for this.” She flicked a wrist at her older sister. “She’s already a mom so what’s a couple more?”

Higgins pulled his glasses off. “That may be, Miss Grant. However, your sister determined you were the better guardian for them.”

“Allergies,” Karen cut in. “Don’t forget about the allergies.”

Like she could. What a convenient excuse. “But I work crazy long hours. They will never see me. I’ll never see them. And it’s unfair to expect me to do all that stuff Cindy listed.” Truly, the promise was the short part. The following laundry list was exhaustive. She’d seen business contracts and budgets that were shorter.

Higgins eased out a sigh. “That may be as well, but unless you want to contest the will, and turn it over to probate to eventually decide upon, your best option really is to fulfill your promised obligation to your late sister.”

That stupid promise, made under duress, on a tight schedule, in Cindy’s room. What had she been thinking? Like normal, she hadn’t been. Cindy had a penchant for making her brain freeze like she was eating ice cream too fast. “Fine. So where are they?” She was acutely aware of Karen’s quiet smirk and Higgins’ satisfied mile. She thrust her hand out for the records of her new charges.

“Happy Days Daycare. Directions are on that top page.”

Half an hour later, and still lamenting silently over the legal facts, and that stupid promise, Cassidy pulled her BMW convertible into the Happy Days parking lot. Looking around, she felt dismay, and a little disgust, filling her. Picking up her phone, she dialed Karen’s number.

“I’m here at Happy Days. Did you know what this place is like? And I haven’t made it out of the car yet. The noise is deafening. Everyone here is running around, drooling and carrying on. I swear they all have rabies.”

“Yes, I took them there, remember? Just take a big breath, march in there and claim them. I mean, they are your niece and nephew.”

“Very funny, Karen.” Why was she the lucky one to have all the allergies? Entirely too convenient.

“This is only a primer of what is ahead, Cassidy. Just think of all the things you will have to do now.”

Cassidy had done nothing since she left the lawyer but think about her laundry list. Eyeing the building, she felt her brows pull up into a scowl. That would only add wrinkles. “You’re no help. Good bye.” Dropping the phone in her bag, she clutched both it and the file from the lawyer and pushed the door open with the toe of her heel. For Cindy, she would do this. Primer? Ha, she’d show Karen. Really, how hard could this be?

Within moments of introducing herself, Cassidy gazed in dismay. Squaring her shoulders, she studied the situation analytically. Okay, the smaller one was Tessa, and the larger one was Remi. She was positive of that before it was pointed out to her. Once the ponytailed daycare employee removed them from the mats in their play pen, they settled down and gave her a curious exam. Were they missing their mommy? Were they wondering why she was here instead of Cindy?

Another employee told her about their recent escapades and yet another brought out their stuff. Endless stuff. Toys, beds, clothing, food, snacks, where did it all end? She would have to put the top up on the convertible. Two bouncing ponytails helped her take it all to the car, both offering their condolences for Cindy. Cassidy could see Cindy had been a favorite mom at Happy Days Daycare.

She filled the BMW’s trunk with as much of their stuff as she could, cramming more in the narrow back space. That left only the front seat for Tessa and Remi. She cringed as she pictured the mess they were going to make on the upholstery and glass.

Watching the Ponytails kneel and give final hugs and kisses to Tessa and Remi, and their own eager interactions, Cassidy was struck by how little attention she ever paid them. These were the loves of Cindy’s life and she knew next to nothing about them. Did that make her a bad sister? Or as Karen put it, a bad auntie?

“Okay, guys, let’s go,” she said, holding the passenger door open for them. She shook hands with the Ponytails, thanked them for their excellent care and assured them she would fill in for Cindy the best she could. Leaving the deafening thunder of Happy Days in her rear view, she glanced at the two subdued dogs huddled on her seat.

What the readers say about-  It Happened at the Park

4/5Amazon Review

IT HAPPENED AT THE PARK by Ryan Jo Summers is a contemporary romance that gives all your emotions a workout. The workaholic heroine inherits her deceased sister’s dogs. The hero prefers his dog and laidback lifestyle over women at this point in his life for a good reason. Adorable dogs, grief, secrets and a witty love story all come together in this realistic romance.

5/5 Amazon review

The characters were delightful. And while the premise might seem shaky to some, honestly mayors, governors, and presidents have proven all too often to be vindictive tyrants when their thin skins are pricked, so the premise works.

New Releases for Melange and Satin Romance

Savanna 

Operation Stargate #2

by Herbert Grosshans

Pages contain adult content

Assuming the existence of a Star portal on the planet Savanna to be a secret, the humans don’t know that the Accilla, the Spiders, and other spacefaring races are fully aware of it.

Jeremy Sheppard, a newly appointed Captain of the Solar Space Force to the military outpost and Dennis Collins, a civilian, must join forces to thwart a conspiracy to control the Star portal.

Genres

Sci-Fi  Erotica

Heat Level: 4 Flames Bloody Hot

Frequent, explicit love scenes described using graphic and direct language.

Buy

EBOOKS
AmazonKindle
Smashwords
Nook
Kobo 

Spekter

by A. J. Wildman

Kate Cassidy refuses to believe her husband, Michael, is dead, even weeks later on her knees at his grave. Once the frontrunner in the Moto GP, he was killed by a hit and run driver mere hours after his last win. Like her soul, every dream, every promise of a better life, is shattered with the sudden loss of the man she'd lived her life to love.

He wakes in a tank, absent the memories of who he was. Dr. Alexander Madison has made him a weapon, an assassin used to eliminate the targets of nefarious world powers.

However, the carefully constructed world Dr. Madison and his cohorts have designed at BioTech Industries is about to unravel. They've underestimated the one they've labeled SOREN, and he's slowly making peace with the beast they've injected into his bloodstream. Michael wants his life back, but first, he'll have to get rid of a microchip in his brain, escape Madison's other creations, and forge a rocky relationship with a persistent detective. He's a pound of flesh from his wife's arms, and once he cuts Spekter's chains, retribution will finally be at hand.

Genre: Romantic Suspense   Pink Satin – Sensual

Purchase:

Kindle   Smashwords   Nook   Apple   Kobo