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A year ago, Ben Taylor’s kiss left reporter Sydney Welles stranded in Bad Date Hell. Now that he’s back, she has mores dates she can handle, but none thrill her like Ben.
Ben Taylor’s life, teetering on ruin, fell apart after kissing reporter Sydney Welles. Can he work with her on the same newspaper with her, when all he does is relive that kiss?
Both pretend to forget, but neither can. All they do is picture themselves in the other’s arms.
Will Sydney still want to once she learns Ben’s secret?
Harrisburg News reporter Sydney Welles writes award-winning, attention-getting news stories. But her love life’s in ruins. A year ago, she shared a great kiss with Philadelphia Daily News photographer Ben Taylor. Since then, she’s been stranded in Bad Date Hell. Ben Taylor’s life, teetering on ruin, fell apart after kissing reporter Sydney Welles. Can he work on the same newspaper with her, when all he does is relive that kiss?
Both pretend to forget, but neither can. All they do is picture themselves in the other’s arms.
Will Sydney still want to once she learns Ben’s secret?
Reviews (for previous release)
The author grabs you from the first chapter and takes you on a great ride. This story was easy to get into and hard to put down. The characters are easy to relate to and you quickly become involved in their story.
The Romance Studio - 4 out of 5
This is a nicely written short novel, told in the third person from Sydney's perspective. The style gives an element of surprise in the story. All and all the book is nicely done with a sweet romance.
Romance Book Scene - 5 Hearts
I quite enjoyed reading Picture This. The story is fun, and the main characters are well matched and sweet together. It mixes a little humor and romance together into a snappy and readable package that will leave the reader with a smile as well as a renewed belief in happily ever after.
BookWenches - 4 out of 5
This story was extremely easy to get into but not so easy to put down. I think I strained my eyes from sitting too long at the computer. You can relate to the characters and I easily become involved in their story. Sydney is like the friend you cheer on even though you secrectly aren't sure about the guy.
Rita's Reviews - 4 out of 5
The heroine is intelligent and resilient. The hero is sexy and charming. And the political background made for an exciting source of external conflict.
Excerpt
Sydney didn’t like the look in her editor’s eye. Like she was about to fire her. “What’s going on?”
Claudia took off her reading glasses, always a precursor to a delicate conversation. Never a good sign. “Do you remember Ben Taylor?”
Sydney released the breath she held. “Is that a trick question? We only have a conversation about him once a week or so.”
She hadn’t seen him in almost a year, a night that began with excitement and promise, continued blissfully for hours, and ended like a train wreck, with Ben dragged from the wreckage by another woman. Possibly his fiancée. Sydney could never quite learn the true story, but that fateful night stood out in her memory as a marker. The beginning of the end. After that, all her dates ended on a sour note. Ben Taylor had opened the flood gates of Bad Date Hell. From those gates streamed a never ending lineup of ill-suited matches, men who she should never have wasted her time on, but who each looked so tempting, she couldn’t resist trying. That was the thing about Hell, though, wasn’t it? People ended up there because the sin always seemed like a good idea at the time.
Claudia pursed her lips. “Yes, I know. The thing is… how do I put this?”
Sydney tensed. Claudia wasn’t one to dance around a topic. Her style was more blunt – the resulting blunt force trauma notwithstanding. Something must be wrong. Terribly wrong.
She blanched. “Is he… “ Her voice trailed off. She couldn’t finish. Ben must be dead. Why else would her editor – her friend, her confidant, her mentor – be looking at her with such pity?
“He’s here.” Claudia watched her as if ready to catch her woozy body.
Those two short words snapped Sydney to attention. “Here?” Questions flew through her head. She could have peppered Claudia with questions shot at Uzi speed, but shock severed the link from brain to tongue.
“I wanted to catch you before the meeting because he’ll be there.”
Sydney was struck dumb, though she’d been much dumber the night she’d first met him. “There?” She’d lost the capacity to construct full sentences, or fully absorb information. It simply couldn’t be.
“Yes, at the staff meeting.”
“Why?” Sydney’s breaths came too quickly. Here. She’d see him again. Even worse, he’d see her. Damn! And she’d worn her old black suit that made her look like a librarian. And her hair, oh, yikes, her hair had been impossible this morning. She’d finally pulled it into a scrunchy and written it off as a failure.
Claudia spoke slowly. “He’s our new photographer. Taking Ted Donecker’s place.”
Sydney couldn’t inhale. Her jaw seemed to have locked in place. She tried to ask, “What?” but emitted a choking noise instead.
“Breathe, honey.” Claudia fanned at her with a notepad.
Her journalism training kicked in. “When? How? Why?” The last came out at a pitch normally heard in the aviary at the zoo. Or maybe the monkey house.
Claudia leaned back in her chair. “He left Philadelphia. We couldn’t pass him up. He’s a great photographer. And you’re both professionals. I know you’ll work well together.”
Her editor’s confidence didn’t buoy Sydney’s spirits. “Besides, it’s not like you’ve been sitting around for a year pining for him. You’re dating. You had a date this weekend, right?”
All her shock whooshed out in a huff. “Don’t remind me.” With a whimper, she asked, “What am I going to do?”
Claudia cocked her head. “Your job, like always.”
“What’s my job again?” Her brains felt as if they’d scrambled, the long loops of gray matter unfurling into a lazy, disconnected strand.
Claudia sat straight with a smile. “You’re an award-winning journalist. A consummate professional.”
“Right. Journalist. Professional.” She had to pull herself together.
“The meeting’s about to start.” Claudia stood, holding her notepad and pen.
“Okay. I’ll be fine.” Her legs wobbled as she rose.
Thanks to Eternal Press, which first published this ebook!
