***NEW RELEASE*** The Stand-In by Rosanna Leo
A very warm welcome to one of my fellow authors, Rosanna Leo.It's an absolute pleasure to have her visit with her new release The Stand-In.
Thank you to Diane for hosting me today.
I’m thrilled to be here on Friday the 13th. I realize many consider
this day to be brimming with bad luck, but I’ve never looked at it the same
way. I’ve heard talk that Italians consider Friday the 13th to be a
good luck day. (I’m pretty sure some Italian guy just made it up, but let’s go
with that!)
Bad luck is certainly an appropriate topic
to discuss. My latest contemporary romance The
Stand-In boasts characters who have had their own share of unfortunate
luck. Both heroine Winn and hero Patrick have had to endure horrible
situations, ones they did not create. In fact, although they have some obvious
differences at the start of the book, they do help each other to overcome the negativity
caused by their hard times.
We all deal with trouble from time to time.
It can drive our actions, it colors our feelings and can cause prejudices.
Heroine Winn has had to deal with what I consider to be one of most
demoralizing things a woman can endure. Without giving too much away here,
let’s just say she’s never looked at a man the same way since. Patrick has to
work hard to show her not all men are the same, and some are more heroic than
others.
I do hope you’ll check out The Stand-In and add it to your TBR
list. It’s a feel-good romance and I do hope it will bring you many sighs and
laughs.
She’s the best bridesmaid money can buy.
Blurb:
Failed actress Winn Busby is at the end of her
rope. With no money and no prospects, she accepts the one job she never thought
she’d see on her résumé. Professional bridesmaid. It should be easy. If only
the idea of weddings and vows didn't give Winn a case of the hives. Her role
becomes more challenging when she's told a reporter will shadow her work for a
men's magazine article.
Working for Player Magazine is Patrick
Lincoln's worst nightmare. A former political journalist, he used to write
thoughtful columns for one of Toronto's most respected papers. That is, until
he was blackballed for allegedly sleeping with the boss's wife. Overnight,
Patrick becomes the city's most reviled bad boy. And now he's forced to write a
seedy expose on, of all things, a bridesmaid.
Patrick begrudgingly accompanies Winn to a
series of strange weddings. As they are forced to work together, he learns
there is more to the stand-in bridesmaid than puffy dresses and pretty
speeches. She, in turn, begins to question whether or not Patrick actually
deserves the derision of his peers. As much as they fight their attraction, it
begins to threaten their work and their sanity.
For so long, Winn has felt second-best. A
stand-in. She finally meets a man who believes in her value. But can she let go
of the past and accept him?
Excerpt:
She glanced at her computer screen again.
“Let’s see. Ah, yes. We’ll have you meet with Winn. And by the way, she’s
lovely. She has the perfect look for this job. Accessible and fresh, but not
intimidating. You’re in luck. She’s in the building right now.” She texted a
command into her phone. “I’ll have my assistant send her right in.”
In the time it took Margie Kent to flash her
very pearly whites, a knock sounded on the door.
These stand-ins were prompt. He
supposed that was good in any business.
“Come in, please,” Margie called.
Patrick lifted his gaze toward the door and
watched as a pear-shaped blonde entered. Christ.
Margie had called this woman unintimidating. He knew a few dozen men who’d be
intimidated into next year by her girl-next-door sex appeal. Chin-length golden
hair framed her pleasantly round face. Amazing cheekbones. Bright blue eyes and
a body that looked made for squeezing. Just the thought of pressing that
luscious flesh made him hard. If she was a high-class call girl, and if he had
to pay for love, he might be tempted to pull out his wallet. He cleared his
throat and thought of the day Jason Dietrich fired him, just to make his boner
disappear.
Margie did the introductions in her singsong
voice. “Winn Busby, this is Patrick Lincoln.”
She stuck her hand out. “A pleasure to meet
you.”
As he shook her soft hand, Patrick waited for
the old “that Patrick Lincoln?” but it never came. Thank God. Someone who
didn’t know of his ruin.
The
Stand-In is available Feb. 9 at:
Author bio:
Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic
romance author with Liquid Silver Books. Several of her books about Greek gods,
selkies and shape shifters have been named Night Owl Romance, Two Lips
Recommended Reads and Top Picks at The Romance Reviews. When not writing, she
can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed
love affair. Her next contemporary romance, Vice,
will be published this summer by Samhain Publishing.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Diane, and happy Friday to you!
ReplyDeleteIt was an absolute pleasure, Rosanna, you're welcome any time.
DeleteWhat a lovely story line, Rosanna. Good luck with this and no worries about Friday 13th it's almost over and you book will be around a lot longer. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, how sweet of you to say, Daisy. Thank you so much.
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