Advertising guru Olivia Masterson is all work and no play. But on the eve of earning her dream promotion, her best friend dares her to drop her ice queen façade for one night and seduce a sexy stranger. Olivia's worked her ass off to get where she is-why the hell not?
Cole Bennett never thought he'd run into his feisty one-night stand at the office, furious that he stole her promotion. No matter how hard she tries to ice him out, they can't seem to keep their hands to themselves...or their clothes on.
Olivia's talented-maybe even more than Cole-so when his dropped hints to the boss net her a promotion of her own, he's ready to celebrate...until she accuses him of fueling office rumors that she slept her way to the top. She wants to earn her own way? Fine. So what the hell does a guy have to do to permanently melt an ice queen?
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Risky Business and Misconceptions
By Jennifer Bonds
Mixing business and pleasure? I’m pretty sure that’s the definition of risky business. And probably a lawsuit waiting to happen in the real world. Fortunately, as romance readers, we don’t have to live in the real world full time, which leads me to one of my favorite things about writing romance. The possibilities are endless. Anything can happen. Literally. Anything.
And the men are always sexy as hell. That doesn’t exactly hurt either.
In my new release, Once Upon a Dare, the heroine Olivia finds herself at the center of the office rumor mill when the I-hate-you-but-I-can’t-keep-my-hands-off-you tension with the new boss fuels rumors that she’s shaking her ass to the top of the corporate ladder. The consummate workaholic, Olivia is determined to forge her own path on professional merit—not her back—despite the gossip. Not an easy task for a beauty queen turned businesswoman. Olivia’s story got me thinking about misconceptions and how often this happens in the real world. And how hard it can be to overcome those unfounded assumptions.
A few years ago I was working in marketing—read: chained to my desk—doing everything I could to get a promotion I desperately wanted. When I had the opportunity to interview for a position outside my department I thought, why not? I showed up for my interview wearing my best suit, a portfolio of accomplishments tucked under my arm. And you know what? I never got to talk about one of them.
The person interviewing me politely informed me that she knew I was qualified, what with my MBA and all, but she didn’t know how I could possibly commit the hours the job demanded since I had a young daughter at home and also wrote novels in my ‘spare’ time. Not once did she ask how many hours I was working at the time—which was seventy, seven days a week most weeks. She just presumed to know what I could or could not do. I was outraged. Insulted. Furious.
Not just by the assumptions, but the fact that it was another woman presuming I couldn’t manage my work and personal life. I didn’t get that job (thankfully) and landed the one I’d originally been chasing. But to this day I’m still frustrated by that interview because it was clear to me nothing I said was going to change her mind.
Now? Now I try not to judge a situation without having all the facts because I never want another woman to feel like she has to choose, whether it be choosing between career and family or career and love. As far as I’m concerned, anything is possible and I’m determined to have it all!
How about you? Have you ever had to overcome misconceptions in your personal or professional life?
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Awesome giveaway today. The book sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteHi Janine.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and checking the book out. Good luck with the giveaway.
Thanks for the author intro and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHey Timitra!!!
DeleteThanks for stopping by! I hope you pick up Once Upon a Dare and enjoy it.