The countdown to the release day for Breaking His Rules has begun! To kick things off, I’m sharing an excerpt from the book and giving away a rare print copy of my second book, The Winning Season.
“I went to my cousin’s bridal shower earlier today.” Jake looked up, relieved to find that she hadn’t appeared to notice him staring at her breasts. Good. Now he just had to remind himself not to do it again. He shouldn’t be thinking anything other than professional thoughts about her. Friend or not, Melissa was his client and therefore strictly off-limits. “She’s getting married next month at Pebble Beach.”
He let out a low whistle. “Beautiful, but from what I know of that area, pricey.”
“My aunt and uncle are very well off.” Melissa pushed her cup to the side and folded her arms on the table. “You know how I told you she always made fun of my weight when we were kids?”
Jake nodded, remembering their conversation of a few months ago. “She sounds like a witch.”
“She is.” Melissa sighed. “I overheard her and her friend talking about me in the ladies’ room.” She gave him a wan smile. “And you know what they say about eavesdroppers never hearing good of themselves. Well, it’s true.”
“What did she say?”
“That I was too fat to be a bridesmaid and that even if I’m able to get a date to her wedding, it’ll probably be with some loser.”
Jake tamped down his anger. He’d struggled with his weight when he was younger and knew only too well how cruel some people could be. Leaning forward, he reached across the table and put his hand on Melissa’s arm. He tried not to notice the satiny smoothness of her skin but failed and quickly withdrew before the warmth of her skin could tempt him to linger. “Don’t let her get to you, Melissa. She’s not worth it.”
“That’s what I told Paige when she suggested we sabotage the wedding ceremony.”
Jake couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve only met your sister twice, but that’s exactly what I’d expect her to suggest.”
Melissa smiled, then quickly sobered and gave him a determined look. “I’m going to that wedding even though it’s the last thing on earth I want to do.”
“Do you have a date?” he asked, more interested in Melissa’s private life than he should be. She’d never mentioned a boyfriend, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t seeing someone. Even at her heaviest—as she’d been when he’d met her—she was an attractive woman.
“No. But I have this off the wall—” She stopped mid-sentence, stared at him for several seconds, then she shook her head and laughed. She had a good laugh—melodic and sexy at the same time. “Never mind.”
“Never mind what?” he asked as he leaned back.
“It wasn’t important.” She tucked a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks turned pink under his scrutiny. “Okay. Okay. I was thinking about hiring an escort for the wedding. Someone super-hot. That would shut my cousin up for good.”
“Hire an escort?” Jake asked, surprised she’d go to such lengths—especially when she didn’t need to. He grinned as the perfect solution to her problem materialized in his head. It was the least he could do for a friend. “I have a much better idea and it won’t cost you any money.”
One delicately arched brow rose. “What’s your idea?” she asked, with a hint of trepidation.
“Not what. Who.” He pointed to his chest. “Me. I’ll be your date for the wedding.”
BREAKING HIS RULES will be released on September 8th and is available for pre-order at the follow digital retailers:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | KOBO | iBooks | iTunes | Carina Press
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And now for the giveaway: To win a print copy (or e-book version if you prefer) of my second book, The Winning Season, just leave a comment below. The giveaway is open internationally and will close on Friday, August 8, 2014 at 9 pm, PST. Good luck!
The giveaway is now closed.
Alison Packard 
I can’t wait to read Breaking His Rules
Hi Janina! I’m so happy you’re looking forward to the book. 🙂
I already own “The Winning Season” on audio, and it’s one of my favorite books. I have it on my mp3 player, and when I feel a little down, I crank it up! I’m definitely looking forward to “Breaking His Rules.”
PS I also own “Love in the Afternoon” and “Christmas for Carrie” (your story is the best in that anthology). Needless to say, I love your books!
Hi, Mary Anne. Thank you for the lovely compliment. I’m thrilled you love my books. I hope you’ll enjoy Jake and Melissa’s story as well. I had fun writing it. Have a great day and thanks for dropping by!
I’ve been waiting for this one. Sounds amazing. PS. I love your newsletter. Thanks!
Hi, Lynne! Thanks for your suggestion about Mail Chimp. It wasn’t too hard to figure it out. 🙂 I feel very author-like with my own newsletter. 🙂 Thanks again and have a wonderful Sunday.
I’m so happy you found it easy because I love getting news from you. I am so excited about this book, wish it was September already.
Now please tell me that you have your next book started. 😘
Yes, Lynne. I’m working on the next book right now. I’m on chapter nine. So far, so good. 🙂
Yes!
oh from the excerpt this one will be as good if not better than the last one,i’m really interested ( oki i’m even more interested than before^^)
thank you also for the opportunity ( open to internationakl THANK!!) to get a print copy of the winning season i’m dreaming of one
i wish you a lot of success
Thanks, Miki! I’m so glad the excerpt has you anticipating the new book. I hope you enjoy it. I plan to give away more copies of The Winning Season in the next couple of months, so don’t give up if you don’t win this time. 🙂
I loved The Winning Season! I’m sad to ay that I still haven’t caught up with any of your other stories. I just never found the time. Congratulations on your upcoming release, and Breaking His Rules sounds like so much fun. Gotta love the pretend boyfriend angle and all the messy feelings that are sure to spring up 🙂
Hi Michelle. I totally understand how hard it is to find time to read. I don’t read nearly as much as I used to now that I write. Hopefully, you’ll check out Breaking His Rules and enjoy it as much as The Winning Season. Melissa’s sister Paige reminds me of Kelly in The Winning Season. She was a lot of fun to write. Take care! 🙂
Love your books
Thank you! 🙂
Interesting start! Can’t wait to read more.
Thanks, Diane! The excerpt is from the end of the first chapter. In the first part, Melissa overhears the conversation while she’s in the ladies room. 🙂
I just discovered your books last week and now I can’t wait for the next one. I enjoy how you tackled the difficulty many of us have maintaining a healthy body image in The Winning Season and I am looking forward to reading about another angle on that in Breaking His Rules.
Hi, Angela! It’s nice to meet you. 🙂 Thank you for the lovely compliment on The Winning Season. I hope you find Melissa’s journey a realistic one. I tried to write a heroine who learns to be at peace with her weight and her body, and who will no longer tolerate anyone bullying her. You can let me know if I succeeded.
Can’t wait to read the rest!!! 😉 and if it’s not too much to ask when is the one after this one coming out? I know… Impatient! But you’re books are that good! Thanks!!
Hi, Stephanie. I see we share the impatient gene. 🙂 One of my favorite authors writes only one book a year and I’m always dying for her next one. LOL. I can sort of answer your question. I’m working on the next book right now. I’m not due to turn it in to my editor until December, so that leads me to believe it will be out within the first six months of 2015. Don’t quote me on that though because I’m not privy to the Carina Press schedule, but it seems about the right amount of time after I turn the manuscript in. So happy to hear you enjoy my books!
The giveaway is now closed. There were nine people who commented so I assigned everyone a number, then went to Random.org and used their True Random Number Generator. The number chosen by the generator was entry #1, which is Janina. Congratulations, Janina! You’ve won your choice of a print or e-book copy of The Winning Season. I’ll be contacting you directly via the email you used when commenting to find out your preference.
For those of you who really want a print copy of The Winning Season, there will be more giveaways in the upcoming months. I’m doing one for sure on September 11, on the Carina Press blog. I’ll post any giveaways I’m doing here on my website and also announce them on Twitter and Facebook. I brought several copies of The Winning Season back with me from San Antonio, so I have more to give away!
Janina, the email I sent to you was returned marked unable to deliver. Please contact me via the contact page on my website regarding your prize. Thank you.
I love this series and can’t wait to read the newest installment but was waiting for it to be released through audible. Is there a plan of when it may be released? Again I LOVE this series and how the characters intertwine. It is fun trying to think ahead as to what couple you may write about next!
Hi Karen,
I’m thrilled to hear you’re enjoying the series! 🙂 My publisher, Carina Press, handles the release to Audible and I expect it to be available there soon. Once I hear that it’s going to audio I’ll make sure to post the news on my blog. Stay tuned!
Thank you Alison I couldn’t wait and bought the e version but will still be anxiously waiting for the audio as well. I love to reread/ listen to this series.