google-site-verification: googleac360fc8074aac27.html google-site-verification: google6040e131018c9d7f.html KCBR Blog - penelope ward
Showing posts with label penelope ward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label penelope ward. Show all posts
Thursday, August 26, 2021

Sneak Peek: The Aristocrat by Penelope Ward

The Aristocrat from New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward is coming on August 30th or sooner. You can read an excerpt below. This angsty, emotional standalone novel is on my Best of 2021 Romance Book List!  


The Aristocrat by Penelope Ward on Kindle Crack
The Aristocrat by Penelope Ward

Title: The Aristocrat

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 30, 2021

 

BLURB

 

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.

 

The one that got away. Every girl has one, right?

Mine was a charming, British aristocrat who turned my world upside down one summer.

From the moment I first spotted Leo in the distance through my binoculars, I’d been captivated. I certainly never expected to find a man showering outside of the property across the bay in his birthday suit.

Then I noticed his housemate staring back at me with binoculars of his own—watching me watching Leo.

That made for an interesting conversation starter when I inevitably ran into them.

Turned out, the handsome Brits were only renting that house for the summer in my seaside town.

Leo and I formed an instant connection, even though we were technically opposites by all appearances. I taught him how to dig for clams, and he taught me that not all wealthy and powerful guys are pretentious.

Despite knowing he was totally wrong for me, I couldn’t seem to stay away.

It was a wild and crazy few months. And before I knew it, we’d fallen in love.

We both had one wish: more time together.

But Leo had obligations back home. He lived a life I’d never fit into. And I was going to law school. So, we decided to end it and never look back.

A part of me always felt like I’d let my soulmate walk away.

I believed our story was over.

Until five years later when he sent me a letter that shook me to my core. 

I’d thought my world was turned upside down that first summer?

Well, I knew nothing yet.

 

 

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58567712

 

 

PRE-ORDER LINKS

 

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3wQcU72

B&N: https://fave.co/3ymyPnf

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2XB7QaN

Kobo: https://fave.co/38hL8GI

Audio: https://amzn.to/3yjfwv7

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3sNbc6f

 

 

AMAZON LIVE RELEASE ALERT: https://fave.co/2KoLPUN

 

 

EXCERPT

 

Hell.

Hell was the moment I stepped into the grocery store a few days later and nearly knocked right into him.

“It’s you.” He held up a long, phallic-looking baguette and shook it. “Remind you of something?”

My face felt hot. “Very funny.”

“I haven’t seen much of you outside over the last couple of days. Did we scare you?”

This was not Shower Guy, but rather the one who’d caught me peeping. He had a strong British accent and was extremely tall, with dark hair.

“I’ve just been taking a break from the backyard.”

“Too hot outside for you, eh?”

“Look, I didn’t intend to see what I saw. I’ve been into…birdwatching this summer. Then one day you two moved in, and I—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa...” The other guy had appeared next to his housemate. “I’m sorry for anything he might have said to you just now. Rest assured, it’s all shite. He’s just playing around.” He, too, had a strong British accent. “I don’t believe we’ve properly met.”

“Although, you’ve improperly met...” his friend chided.

“Put a sock in it, Sigmund.”

Okay, so the asshole is Sig—or Sigmund. The previously naked one must be Leo, then. They were both tall and good-looking, but Leo, with his chiseled features, lustrous hair, and striking eyes was on another level—a total Adonis, and intimidatingly gorgeous.

Sigmund shrugged. “Surely she knows I’m just kidding.”

“But you don’t know when to stop. That’s always been your problem. Can’t you see how red her face is getting? You’re embarrassing her.”

Uh…how red is my face getting? This was mortifying. I couldn’t control that about myself. After all, I was a redhead with fair skin covered in freckles. Whenever I got embarrassed, I basically turned red from head to toe.

Leo’s tone softened. “I apologize for his rude behavior.” He held out his hand. “I’m Leo Covington.”

I took it, enjoying the warmth of his skin. “Felicity Dunleavy.”

The other guy offered his hand. “Sigmund Benedictus. But please call me Sig.”

Benedictus?

Been a dick-tus.

He sure had.

Fitting.

“Good to meet you,” I said.

“And you, as well, Freckles.”

Freckles? He couldn’t have come up with a more original nickname? I was self-conscious about my freckles, and typically wanted to murder anyone who dubbed me Freckles.

“Do you mind not calling me that?”

“Do you prefer a different nickname?” Sig asked. “Peeping Tom, perhaps?”

Leo gritted his teeth. “Enough. Seriously.”

“All right. I’ll behave. Going in search of tapenade for this bread.” He winked. “Be back.”

Relief washed over me as he walked away.

“I’m...really sorry about him,” Leo said.

“Well, given how you came to know of me, the ridicule is warranted. I shouldn’t have been spying.”

“I don’t reckon you anticipated seeing me in my birthday suit. That was the first time I’d ever done that. I assumed no one was in the vicinity, of course. For the record, I don’t make a habit of showering for all the world to see. I never had an outdoor shower in England. So it’s a novelty.”

Leo was simply striking. His hair was light brown with golden undertones. He had beautiful bone structure and full lips that were difficult not to stare at. There wasn’t one thing I would change about his face. His eyes were a deep blue. They reminded me of a piece of sea glass I’d used to make a necklace once.

I cleared my throat. “What brings you to Narragansett?”

“I’m taking six months off from life. It seemed like a good location to get lost. We picked this place randomly on a map, actually. Sigmund and I have spent our time in a few different locales. First was California, then New York, and now Rhode Island.”

“Are you two…together?”

His brow lifted. “What do you mean by together? We’re rooming together. But if you mean romantically together, then no. Exactly what did you assume?”

“I thought you might be gay.”

“If I were gay, I’d have far better taste in men than that wanker cousin of mine. What in God’s name made you think we were gay?”

“I don’t know. Two handsome men...living together in a big house…”

“So, if I’m a guy living with another man, I’m automatically shagging him?”

“You’re right. That was a hasty assumption.”

“Thank you for the compliment, by the way.”

I just called him handsome, didn’t I? Feeling suddenly hot, I looked toward the produce section. “Well, I’d better be going...”

“Before you do, I want to apologize for the flowers he sent your way the other night. I urged him not to. Not everyone appreciates that sense of humor.”

I shrugged. “It was fine. And they were pretty. I was embarrassed, at first, but then I ended up laughing about the whole thing. Mrs. Angelini certainly got a kick out of it.”

His brow lifted. “Mrs. Angelini?”

How do I explain who she is without unloading my history on this stranger? I kept it simple. “She’s my roommate.”

“Ah. Roommate. So she must be your lesbian lover, then.” He raised an eyebrow, and I had to smile. “Anyway, why do you call her Mrs. Angelini? She doesn’t have a first name?”

“Well, she’s seventy. It’s more of a respect thing. It’s what I started calling her some years back, and it stuck. She’s always asked me to call her by her first name, but I got used to calling her Mrs. Angelini.”

“I see.” His eyes seared into mine for a moment. “Your roommate is seventy. And how old are you, might I ask?”

“Twenty-four. What about you?”

“Twenty-eight,” he answered. His eyes lingered on mine for a bit. “Listen, we’re going to be renting the house across from you for the entire summer. We know virtually nothing about Narragansett. I’d love to pick your brain about places to go and things to do here. Maybe you wouldn’t mind coming over for tea sometime this week?”

“Tea? You really are British, aren’t you?”

“Guilty as charged.” His white teeth gleamed.

Looking down at my feet, I said, “I don’t know.”

“I promise not to take off my clothes...” He added a crooked smile.

I let out a much-needed laugh. “Well, since you put it that way.”

“Tomorrow at two, then? Or whatever time works for you.”

A part of me wanted to refuse, but why? It wasn’t like I had anything more exciting going on. I didn’t quite understand whether he genuinely wanted my expertise on Narragansett, or if there was something more to the invitation, now that I knew he wasn’t gay.

“Sure. Two tomorrow works.”

“Brilliant. You know how to get to the house without having to swim across, I take it?”

“Yes.” I smiled.

“Very well, then. And I promise, Sigmund will be on his best behavior.”

“I can handle it if he’s not.”

This seemingly rich traveler had no idea just how much I could handle. I might turn red when I was embarrassed, but I’d grown a pretty-thick skin over the years.

That’s the way it is when you always had to fend for yourself.

 

Copyright © 2021 Penelope Ward

 

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Penelope Ward Author photo Kindle Crack

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

 

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

 

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

 

 

AUTHOR LINKS

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penelopewardauthor

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PenelopesPeeps

Instagram: http://instagram.com/PenelopeWardAuthor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@penelopewardofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PenelopeAuthor

 

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Penelope Ward's Birthday Giveaway

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people in the world, Penelope Ward! Penelope is half of my ride-or-die friend group. The other half is her co-author and bestie, Vi Keeland. I want to celebrate by gifting a few of Penelope’s Peeps, some of my favorite ebooks, or an Amazon gift card! Spin the wheel by clicking the wheel below. You can enter TWICE by playing in Penelope’s Peeps and my reader group Kindle Crack Book Reviews Daily Fix. I love you, P!

To play:

1. CLICK THE WHEEL BELOW.


2. Comment on this post (in Penelope’s Peeps and/or Kindle Crack Book Reviews Daily Fix Group) and tell me what you landed on.  PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT HERE.


3. Don't forget to tell Penelope Happy Birthday!


I'll pick a few ebook winners. The gift card winner(s) will be notified by private message to avoid scammers. Please play if you intend to read the ebook you win and not to obtain an Amazon credit. I keep track of credits/gifts. Please see the rules under the wheel. 



   

LEGAL STUFF:

This post is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. KCBR has not been compensated in any way to post this. Giveaway open to anyone with a US email account that is associated with Amazon. Winners will be chosen on 7/14 @7pm. GIFT CARD WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PRIVATE MESSAGE TO AVOID SCAMMERS. NO ONE WILL ASK YOU FOR PRIVATE/CC INFORMATION! Thank you and good luck!  

Monday, April 12, 2021

Not Pretending Anymore by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland is LIVE!

Not Pretending Anymore by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland is LIVE and FREE to read in Amazon Kindle Unlimited! Check out my spoiler-free review below and see why it's number #1 in the entire Kindle Store! 

Try Kindle Unlimited FREE for one month! https://amzn.to/37X9C8v


Try Amazon's Audible Plus for FREE and get two free audiobooks: https://amzn.to/3slshTS

Not Pretending Anymore Cover

RELEASE BLITZ

Title: Not Pretending Anymore

Authors: Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 12, 2021


BLURB


Finding a good roommate through a classified ad isn’t as easy as it sounds.

I was starting to lose hope.

Until a knock at my door came and God answered my prayers.

Except…uh…wrong prayer, God. 

I’d definitely requested the big guy find me a drop-dead gorgeous man on more than one occasion...just not as my roommate.  

Declan Tate talked me into interviewing him anyway.

While he was amusing and charismatic, I wouldn’t have been comfortable living with a man, so I regretfully declined.  

Then cupcakes showed up at my door—freshly baked by Declan and just as sinfully delicious as he was.

You could say he was persistent. 

I eventually folded.  It wasn’t like I had another viable candidate anyway.

Plus, I was interested in someone else. And Declan was into another woman. So it wasn’t like anything would happen romantically.

After he moved in, the two of us became the best of friends.  We even started to give each other advice on getting our crushes to notice us.  

Eventually, Declan concocted an idea: we should pretend to be a couple to make our love interests jealous. 

I was hesitant, but went along with it anyway. To my utter shock, his crazy plan worked.  

Now I was dating the supposed man of my dreams, and my best friend had the woman of his.  

But there was one problem. 

I couldn’t stop thinking about Declan.

Those feelings we were trying to fake?

Yeah…I wasn’t pretending anymore. 


GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56935708-npa 


PURCHASE LINKS


US: https://amzn.to/2PLA0wr

UK: https://amzn.to/3uz44Km

CA: https://amzn.to/3mL48Ec

AU: https://amzn.to/2QglnRm


Free in Kindle Unlimited


ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & AUDIO


Paperback: https://amzn.to/3uIa3N

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3wLYWUW


Spolier-free Review

Not Pretending AnymoreNot Pretending Anymore by Penelope Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’m NOT pretending when I tell you that I LOVED this book. This story was everything I had hoped it would be, and then some!!! I’ve read so many roommate/fake romance stories, but this one was a standout from the rest. I found myself getting very wrapped up and emotionally invested in the characters. I messaged Vi and Penelope after I finished this book with a teary-eyed photo. I’m sure they think I’m nuts (or have PMS), but that’s ok, I loved this book.  

Not Pretending Anymore will make you swoon, smile, and maybe shed a tear or two. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, Vi and Penelope make it impossible not to fall in love with their characters and their co-authored books. Not Pretending Anymore is on my Best of 2021 list. 


Not Pretending Anymore Video


PENELOPE WARD


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.


She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism. 


With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penelopewardauthor 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PenelopesPeeps 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/PenelopeWardAuthor 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PenelopeAuthor 



VI KEELAND


Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.


Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/vi.keeland 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Vi-Keeland/435952616513958 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKeelandFanGroup 

Website: http://www.vikeeland.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ViKeeland 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/Vi_Keeland 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6887119.Vi_Keeland 



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE & VI


Park Avenue Player


US: https://amzn.to/3s5lrRm
UK: https://amzn.to/2SENwzy
CA: https://amzn.to/33IJCvU
AU: https://amzn.to/3nyXtwy 


Free in Kindle Unlimited


ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & AUDIO


Paperback: https://amzn.to/3dZyKgW

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3tbOXGz


Rebel Heir (Rush #1)


US: https://amzn.to/327yRlg
UK: https://amzn.to/2OuKoYy
CA: https://amzn.to/3dMtcGx
AU: https://amzn.to/3uv1V2j 


Free in Kindle Unlimited


ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & AUDIO


Paperback: https://amzn.to/324JtRS

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3wLtFSa



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD


The Anti-Boyfriend

US: https://amzn.to/3sctSKs

UK: https://amzn.to/3lBeoho 

CA: https://amzn.to/3lyC2ek 

AU: https://amzn.to/31HFHyl 

B&N: https://bit.ly/3jbsTX7
Kobo: https://bit.ly/32hslrV 

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/theantiboyfriend

Google Books: https://bit.ly/2EpJYgX 

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2WBt1GB

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3uMN5UK



The Day He Came Back 

Kindle https://amzn.to/2HdYQgZ

Paperback  https://fave.co/2Z1FbLi

Audio  https://fave.co/2Z1F824

Apple Books  https://fave.co/2ScFey5

Nook   https://fave.co/302Ii2C

Kobo https://fave.co/2YKfNdv

Google Play https://fave.co/2YIIs2G

UK: https://amzn.to/3jlbuMg
CA: https://amzn.to/3983EB0
AU: https://amzn.to/2BfZY3O


OTHER BOOKS BY VI KEELAND


The Invitation

US: https://amzn.to/3wPtmFV
UK: https://amzn.to/39CRC3f
CA: https://amzn.to/3qySjlf
AU: http://amzn.to/39E8BCq 

B&N: https://fave.co/3s1hfmT 

Kobo: https://fave.co/3smt47o

Apple Books: https://apple.co/390y226 

Google Play: https://fave.co/2MzcikO 

Paperback: https://amzn.to/38u71U7

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3p9vPq2


Inappropriate

US: https://amzn.to/329x3bi

UK: https://amzn.to/3bV0wsg
CA: https://amzn.to/2ZmevEM
AU: https://amzn.to/2zWHTGM
B&N: https://fave.co/2MYCXoz
Kobo: https://fave.co/39JzjJ4
Apple Books: https://apple.co/32Yd3GJ
Google Play: https://fave.co/2tuihOm
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3te0hSe

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3wXuZ4H


Find more books at http://www.penelopewardauthor.com and http://www.vikeeland.com

Thursday, April 8, 2021

SNEAK PEEK: Not Pretending Anymore by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Excited about Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland’s upcoming release,

Not Pretending Anymore? Not Pretending Anymore will release on April 12th. Check out this SNEAK PEEK of CHAPTER 1!


Download here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/rfm355n8rs OR read Chapter 1 below! 


This book will be available to download for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! 

Try Kindle Unlimited FREE for one month: https://amzn.to/37X9C8v


PRE-ORDER LINKS

Paperback: https://amzn.to/2Orq1LS

Audio: https://amzn.to/3rTbuWV


Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56935708-npa


Please note: There will not be an Amazon ebook pre-order, but it will be available on in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon on release day.


Sign up for Vi and Penelope’s mailing list now and be the first one notified when it goes live!   https://bit.ly/3dzrJ6k



Not Pretending Anymore Book cover

Title: Not Pretending Anymore

Authors: Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 12, 2021



CHAPTER 1


Molly


“So, what do you do for a living?” 

The woman drummed her fingers on her thigh. “I’m a musician.”

I glanced down at the renter’s application in my hand. Lyric Chords was the name listed at the top

I bit my tongue and tried to keep an open mind. This was the twelfth woman I’d interviewed as a prospective roommate. Just because she had a few safety pins in her eyebrow and what looked like a dog collar around her neck didn’t mean I should rule her out.

“Oh. That’s nice. Are you a singer?”

Lyric shook her head. “Drummer. Do you know the dimensions of the bedroom I’ll be sleeping in? I have two sets of drums I need to fit.”

“Umm... I think it’s fourteen by fourteen. But you don’t practice at home, right? I wrote in my ad that I’m looking for a quiet roommate because I work nights.”

“I do. But no worries. I’ll practice in my room.”

My bedroom and my potential roommate’s bedroom shared a wall, so that was the end of interview number twelve. I sighed and forced a smile. “Thank you for coming. I have a few other people left to meet with before I decide. I’ll let you know.”

“Great.” The woman stood. “Also, I know your ad said two months’ rent up front, but I’m running a little short right now. Would one be okay?”

I smiled. “Sure, no problem.” Since you’re not going to be living here.

After Drummergirl, I interviewed two more candidates. One wanted her boyfriend to move into the room with her, even though my ad had specified I was only looking for a single. And the other arrived twenty minutes late, reeked of alcohol, and slurred her words…at three thirty in the afternoon. 

Why in the hell was it so difficult to find a roommate in a city of almost three-million people? I needed my last interview of the day to be a miracle, or I was going to have to shell out money for another ad and start the entire process all over. And I definitely didn’t have the time or the funds for that. Rent was due in two weeks. If I got stuck paying the full amount on this place myself again, I’d be eating cat food for a month. 

When my last appointment knocked right on time, I took a deep breath, looked up at the ceiling, and asked the big guy in the sky for a little assistance. 

Opening the door, I blinked a few times. 

Uhhh. I think you answered the wrong prayer, God.

A man stood in my hallway—and not just any man, an absolutely gorgeous one with a perfect, straight nose, cheekbones to die for, a masculine, square jaw, full lips, tanned skin, and the sexiest chocolate brown, almond-shaped eyes I’d ever seen in my life. 

“Uh. Can I help you?”

He flashed a killer smile, one that I immediately suspected had made countless women remove their panties. 

“Hi. I have a four-thirty appointment with Molly Corrigan.”

“You do?” I had the last application in my hand and looked down at the name on the top. “I don’t think so. My appointment is with a D. Tate?”

He extended a hand. “That’s me. Declan Tate.”

“But…you’re…not a woman.”

He smiled again. “You’re correct. Very observant. I am most definitely not a woman. But my last roommate told me I should’ve been because I use moisturizer at night and cried at the end of Marley and Me. And if I’m being honest, I also got a little watery at the end of Toy Story, so maybe I’m a bit of a wuss. Either way, I think you should consider those my positive feminine qualities.”

I was thoroughly confused. “Umm… I’m sorry. You must’ve missed that my ad said female only.”

“Actually, I didn’t. But if you’ll give me just five minutes, I think I can convince you I would be a better roommate than a woman.”

I chuckled. “Let me get this straight… You hid your first name—what did you say it was again?”

“Declan.”

“Right. Declan. Anyway, you applied to an ad for a female roommate, intentionally deceiving the person who is going to decide if you get the room by leaving your first name off. And your strategy is to convince me I don’t really know what I want in less than five minutes? Do I have that right?”

He flashed that boyish charm again. “You sure do.”

I debated how to handle the situation. On one hand, he was going to waste my time, and I had done enough of that today. But on the other, my curiosity was definitely piqued. Something about his grin told me this could be amusing. Screw it. I had nothing better to do anyway.

I opened the door wider and stepped aside, holding my hand out for him to enter. “I’m setting the timer on my phone, and I’m getting a glass of wine before you start. I like a drink while I’m being entertained.”

Declan smirked and strolled into my apartment. 

I motioned to the couch. “Have a seat. I’ll just be a minute.”

When I got to the kitchen, he called after me, “Hey, Mollz?”

I turned back. “Yes?”

“How about you make that two glasses of wine?”

I chuckled. “Sure. Why not, Decs.”

I poured a couple of glasses of pinot grigio and returned to the living room. 

“Here you go. Hope you like white.”

“You see? We’re perfect together already. I prefer white over red.”

I brought my wine to my lips. “Yes, perfect. A match made in heaven. I think we might even be soul mates.”

Declan showed me his pearly whites once again. He really did have a great smile, nice teeth, too. Too bad he also had a penis. I knocked back half the contents of my glass and placed it on the coffee table. Picking up my cell, I swiped to the timer app and set it for five minutes. 

I showed him the screen. “You ready?”

“I’m always ready.”

I pressed start, placed the phone face up on the coffee table between us, and folded my hands. “Go.”

“Okay. Well…what’s your favorite color?”

“My favorite color?”

Declan pointed to the timer. “Time’s a ticking, Molly. I’m going to need you to not repeat questions.”

I laughed. “Fine. My favorite color is pink.”

Declan reached into one of his pant pockets and pulled out a set of keys. The keychain had a bunch of pink beads with white letters between each one. The letters spelled out his name. “Mine too.”

I arched a brow. “Did you make that yourself?”

“No. My niece, Arianna, made it for me.”

“So how do I know that isn’t just Arianna’s favorite color?”

“Good point. Let’s move on. Your ad said you work nights.”

“That’s right. I’m a nurse. I work the night shift on the maternity ward.”

“So you sleep during the day, then?”

“I get off at seven, and I try to get to sleep as soon as I get home.”

He held his hand to his chest. “I work days. I leave for the gym by six and usually don’t get home until after seven at night. So the apartment will be quiet when you need it to be.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll give you that that would make you a good roommate. But most people work days, so it’s not really something that makes you too special.”

“Do you cook?” he said.

“Does macaroni and cheese count?”

“I grew up in a multigenerational Italian home. My nonna taught me how to make sauce from scratch.”

“So you’re going to cook for me?”

“If that’s what it takes to get this apartment, yes.”

“As tempting as that might be, there’s an Italian restaurant around the corner that makes great food. Funny enough, it’s called Nonna’s Place, and an actual nonna makes most of my meals. Not a knockoff.”

Declan took an exaggerated breath and blew it out. He glanced at the cell on the table. “Three minutes and thirty-eight seconds. I can see you’re not going to make this easy. How about you tell me why you can’t have a male roommate so I can address that head-on. Is it because of the toilet-seat thing? Because I have four older sisters, so I’m appropriately trained. When I was eight, I made the mistake of leaving it up once, and my sister sat down where I’d accidentally left a little pee. She dunked my head in the toilet bowl before she flushed. That was the last time I left the seat up.” He held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor. It won’t be an issue.”

I smiled. “It’s not because of the toilet thing.”

“Alright. So why don’t you want a male roommate, then?”

I’d actually never given much thought to why my roommate had to be female. It just seemed natural to have another woman sharing the apartment. “Well…I don’t really have a specific reason. I would just be more comfortable living with another woman. For example, I sleep in a T-shirt and underwear. When I get up to start the coffee, I don’t get dressed. It would be weird to do that in front of a man.”

“Why?”

“Why would it be weird to walk around with my ass cheeks on display in front of a man and not a woman?”

“Yes.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. It just would. I guess because the women I’ve lived with aren’t attracted to other women, so it doesn’t feel sexual in any way.”

“Ah. Now we’re getting to the crux of your issue. So you’re afraid of some sexual tension going on between you and me? Is it because I’m so handsome?”

“What? No! And aren’t you full of yourself, assuming I think you’re handsome, and I’m worried I won’t be able to control myself.”

“Just keeping it real, Mollz. You’re only giving me five minutes, so I’m trying to get to the heart of the reason.”

“I guess I just don’t want to feel like I have to cover up to come out of my bedroom. When I dry my hair, I wear a towel or a bra and underwear—that type of thing.”

“Would you feel you had to cover up if I told you I was gay?”

That question gave me pause. Would I? I wasn’t sure. “Are you?”

“Fuck, no. I was just trying to pinpoint your issue. Is it the fact that I’m a man, or the fact that I might admire your ass if it were on display? Sounds like it’s the latter. So let me put your mind at ease: I won’t.”

I felt oddly offended. “What’s wrong with my ass?”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t know. I haven’t looked. You know why?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m in love with someone else.”

As insane as it was, I felt a pang of jealousy. “Oh. Well, why aren’t you moving in with her?”

“Because she doesn’t return the feelings…yet. So basically, if your concern about having a guy for a roommate is that he’s going to be checking you out, you have nothing to worry about with me. I’m a one-woman man. If you want, I can give you the numbers of some of my exes for references. I’m no cheater.”

Hmmm… “I don’t know…”

Declan looked down at the clock. Thirty-one seconds were left. “We’re running out of time, so we need to speed things up. How about if I just give you the facts you need to know?”

“That would be good.”

“I’m twenty-eight years old. I make six figures. My credit score is eight hundred and ten, and I have references from previous landlords. I’m neat and clean up after myself. I’m not home a lot, but when I am, I’m pretty quiet. I’m also damn good with a hammer.” He glanced around my apartment and pointed at a hole I’d accidentally made in the wall when I flung the closet door open too hard. “I can spackle that and put on a door stopper so it won’t happen again.” He pointed to the kitchen. “And those cabinets are pretty tall. I’m six foot one. No more having to stand on a chair to reach something on the top shelf. And—”

The timer on the stopwatch buzzed.

“Can I just say one last thing?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“I’ll share my Hulu and Netflix passwords. I have the premium Hulu account.”

I laughed. “Well, those are some pretty enticing qualities for a roommate.”

He smiled. “So I’m in?”

I sighed. “I’m sorry. While I appreciate your tenacity, unfortunately, you’re not. Though I interviewed fourteen other people today, and I have to say, you do seem like you’ll make some other lucky person a fantastic roomie.”

Declan frowned, but nodded. “I figured it was worth a shot. This is a great building, and I work right around the corner. It’s hard to find an apartment where it’s only a six-month commitment.” 

“My lease is up then, and I haven’t decided if I’m going to extend or not.”

“See? That’s another reason I’d be perfect. I’m only in town for six more months.”

“I’m sorry. This is definitely a case of it’s me and not you.”

He picked up his wine and guzzled it down before standing and extending his hand. “I appreciate you giving me your time. And thanks for the pinot.”

We shook. “It was nice to meet you, Declan.”

After I walked him out, I shut the door and leaned back against it. What a shame; he really seemed like a nice guy and the best candidate I’d met by a mile. I was just about to go wallow in another glass of alcohol when there was a knock at my door. Checking the peephole before opening, I found Declan standing there. 

“I forgot something important,” he said.

“Oh? What’s that?”

He took out his wallet and produced a photo of a nun. “This is my sister Catherine, and it’s not a costume from Halloween. She’s a legit nun. How bad can a person be if his sister is a nun?”

I laughed. “Is this the sister who dunked your head in the toilet?”

He grinned. “It is, actually.”

“Well, I’m not sure there’s a direct correlation between your sister deciding to dedicate her life to the church and you being a good person. Though, even if I take your word for it, it still doesn’t change my answer.”

Declan’s shoulders drooped. “Had to try. She tells me her being a nun won’t get me into heaven. Thought maybe it was good for something.”

“Goodbye, Declan.”

“Later, Mollz.”


***


“So…how’s the roommate search going?” Emma poured a cup of coffee and sat down at the small table in our break room. 

I sighed. “Why is it so hard to find a normal person these days? I’ve interviewed more than a dozen people, and not one suitable candidate.”

“Did you post an ad on the employee bulletin board, like I suggested?”

I shook my head. “I don’t want another nurse or tech. It makes it weird at work if things don’t work out.”

“Maybe Dr. Dandy will apply.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I heard he’s sleeping on Dr. Cohen’s couch until he finds a place.”

That information certainly perked me up. “Really? Will and whatshername broke up?”

“Yup. Lisa in X-ray told me Dr. Cohen told her he’s staying with him. Apparently he and the wannabe actress are finito.”

“Wow.”

Emma smiled. “Yup. And fair warning, my friend… I’m allowing a ten-day grace period for him to grieve the end of a year-long relationship. But after that, I’m going to be up your butt making sure you let the man know you’re interested. He’s not going to be on the market for long, and you missed your opportunity last time he was single. You can’t keep pining for the guy.”

Of course she was right. And while I felt elated that Will was back on the market, the thought of coming clean to him about my feelings made me want to throw up. Will Daniels—or as Emma called him, Dr. Dandy, because of his last name and uncanny resemblance to a male model named David Gandy—and I had been good friends for four years now. We’d started on the very same day at the hospital and had gone through orientation together. I’d had a boyfriend back then, and he’d been seeing a girl from med school at the time, so even though I’d always thought he was insanely handsome, things didn’t bloom until two years ago. And most of the time since then, he’d been seeing one woman or another. Emma was right that the man never seemed to stay single for long. 

“He’s going to be at happy hour this Friday night,” I said. “A few of the crew from CCU are meeting up over at McBride’s. I’m curious to hear what he says about the breakup.”

“Does he know you’re looking for a roommate?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, he needs a place to sleep, and you need a roomie.” Emma shrugged. “Timing is everything. Maybe it’s fate and he’ll move in and take care of two of your needs.”

“I think your imagination might be getting ahead of itself. Why don’t we start by seeing if things are really over with him and whatshername? They’ve split up a few times, but he always winds up going back.”

“Okay. But I have a good feeling about you two.”

“Could you possibly have a good feeling about me finding a roommate instead? I just had to pay for another damn ad.”

Emma shook her head. “I can’t believe you didn’t find one decent candidate.”

Remembering my last interview, I said, “Actually there was one who would’ve been perfect—great credit score, neat, cooks, leaves early in the morning, and works long days.”

“So why didn’t you take her?”

“Because she was a he.”



★★★


Excited?  We are too!


RELEASING APRIL 12th!




ABOUT THE AUTHORS


PENELOPE WARD


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.


She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism. 


With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penelopewardauthor 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PenelopesPeeps 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/PenelopeWardAuthor 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PenelopeAuthor 



VI KEELAND


Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.


Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/vi.keeland 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Vi-Keeland/435952616513958 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKeelandFanGroup 

Website: http://www.vikeeland.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ViKeeland 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/Vi_Keeland 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6887119.Vi_Keeland 

Skimlinks Test