Romantic comedy, Contemporary Romance
Date Published: May 1, 2017
I’m a total mess. My boyfriend dumped me – get this – because I diet too much. Not because I’m fat, mind you. Of course, this spurs me into the diet-fitness-revenge-plan of the century, which leads me to the gym and a scorching hot personal trainer. I even manage to make some cool new friends, including a millionaire if you can believe it. Things are looking up! Naturally, that’s the moment my ex decides he wants me back, the personal trainer asks me out, and my millionaire male buddy decides to throw his hat in the ring. But that’s not enough drama. No, not for me. Because I’ve also lost my job and decided to start my own business. Just call me Ms. Drama.
Warning: Bad language, bumpy roads, and embarrassing moments ahead. But there’s also more than a bit of romance and even, if we’re lucky, love. Fingers crossed.
Not endorsed by or affiliated with any brand of tequila.
Excerpt:
After twenty minutes on the bike, I’m ready to go home. I know I’m supposed to do that circuit thingy with the machines, but I can skip it for this once. No one needs to know. I slowly sneak my way to the women’s locker room.
“Hey, Everly.”
Crap. Gabe’s standing right in front of the door to my freedom. I wave. Yep, I’m a total dork. “Hi.”
“I saw you out there on the bike. Looking good.” He winks. Damn, he looks absolutely scrumptious standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. Trust me, it’s an impressive show of muscles. Not huge like a body builder but big enough to grab onto. “Looking for your clipboard?”
And there goes any chance I have of sneaking out of the gym. “Just refilling my water bottle before moving onto the weights.” I hold up my obviously full water bottle and try not to cringe.
“Sure, babe, but make sure you get your weight training done as well. A woman with muscles is hot.” With another wink, he takes off.
Did he seriously wink at me? Is this part of the personal trainer service? Flirt with the customers to ensure they want to do your bidding? Even in my head that sounded crazy. That hot man of muscles would never want me and my jiggly bits. I shake my head and force my legs to the personal trainers’ section to grab my clipboard.
If I thought the bike was boring, I was wrong. Doing a circuit of weight machines is what’s boring. I should download some podcasts or something. Or maybe some books on tape? Do they hire men with scorching hot voices to read the male parts in romance novels? Definitely need to do some research.
I quickly towel off the last machine and grab my water bottle. I stand from picking up my clipboard and nearly run straight into someone. “Shit! I didn’t realize anyone was standing there. Did you want this machine?”
“Nah.” He shakes his head. “How are you doing, Everly?”
It’s the guy I ran into on Wednesday. Shoot – what was his name again? “Um, hi.” If that’s not embarrassing enough, I do a little wave but the clipboard is still in my hand and I end up smacking him in the stomach. Thank goodness, I missed any important bits. “Shit. Sorry.”
He laughs and grabs the clipboard from my hand, presumably before I can do any more damage. “It’s Carter. Do you want to grab a smoothie?” My face scrunches up at the thought of a smoothie. He chuckles. “Or a coffee or something?”
“Um. I was going to head home like this.” With my now free hand, I indicate my ratty gym clothes.
Carter shrugs. “That’s okay. We can get a quick drink at the bar here.”
I can’t exactly say no after I ran into the guy and then hit him. “Okay, let me grab my stuff.”
He smiles and nods. I rush off with my thoughts whirling. Is he just being nice? Friendly? Or is this like a date thing? I’m not ready to date. Do I tell him that? Crap. It’s only a coffee. It doesn’t have to mean anything. But what if it does mean something? Can I give myself a concussion from thinking in circles?
I grew-up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom's Harlequin romances, to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn't flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But being a lawyer really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out being a B&B owner wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before deciding to follow the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.
Fat girl Begone! is my eleventh book.
Contact Information
Website: http://dehaggerty.wordpress.com
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Purchase Links
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fat-girl-begone-de-haggerty/1126081046?ean=2940154089385
Giveaway
$25 amazon gift card
Sounds like a fun story line. I love humor.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Humor is super important - especially in this strange world we find ourselves living in. THanks for stopping by!
DeleteI wish things like that happened in my gym! Ah well, I can always dream, can't I?
ReplyDeleteKeep dreaming! Some of the stories are actual events friends/strangers told me. I hope you at least have some nice man candy to look at ;-)
DeleteIt will be fun to see how she handles all these men.
ReplyDeleteOr doesn't handle them, as the case may be ;-) Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI really enjoy reading romantic comedies and this book sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was fun to write. I hope you'll give it a try.
DeleteI really enjoy reading romantic comedies and this book sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by all the romantic complications. Fewer calories, mo' problems!
ReplyDeleteRomantic complications can be good, right? Thanks for stopping by.
Deletewell I can certainly say the cover caught my eye lol. Love to read anything that make me laugh and this sounds like it might do just that
ReplyDeleteIsn't that cover model dreamy? Thanks for stopping by.
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