A high stakes wager pits an aspiring entrepreneur against a ruthless CEO in this sexy romantic comedy.
After her life falls apart, recruitment consultant Layla Patel returns home to her family in San Francisco. But in the eyes of her father, who runs a Michelin starred restaurant, she can do no wrong. He would do anything to see her smile again. With the best intentions in mind, he offers her the office upstairs to start her new business and creates a profile on an online dating site to find her a man. She doesn’t know he’s arranged a series of blind dates until the first one comes knocking on her door…
As CEO of a corporate downsizing company Sam Mehta is more used to conflict than calm. In search of a quiet new office, he finds the perfect space above a cozy Indian restaurant that smells like home. But when communication goes awry, he’s forced to share his space with the owner’s beautiful yet infuriating daughter Layla, her crazy family, and a parade of hopeful suitors, all of whom threaten to disrupt his carefully ordered life.
As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.
Praise Marriage Game by Sara Desai
“I fell hard for The Marriage Game from the moment I read Layla and Sam’s dynamite meet-cute. It’s a hilarious, heartfelt, and steamy enemies-to-lovers romance.”—Sarah Smith, author of Faker
“Desai’s delightful debut is a playful take on enemies-to-lovers and arranged marriage tropes starring two headstrong Desi-American protagonists. Rom-com fans should take note of this fresh, fun offering.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“This witty and delightful story about family, forgiveness, and letting go is utterly satisfying. Desai’s first book will be a hit with fans of Sonya Lalli’s The Matchmaker’s List.”—Library Journal
About Marriage Game by Sara Desai
Sara Desai has been a lawyer, radio DJ, marathon runner, historian, bouncer and librarian. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, kids and an assortment of forest creatures who think they are pets. Sara writes sexy romantic comedy and contemporary romance with a multicultural twist. When not laughing at her own jokes, Sara can be found eating nachos.
Publisher: White Whisker Books (May, 2020) Category: Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Relationships ISBN: Coming Soon Tour Date: May-June, 2020 Available in: Print & ebook, 238 Pages
Description Benefits of Breathing by Christopher Meeks
In The Benefits of Breathing, his third collection of short stories, Christopher Meeks dives again into the human condition, particularly within relationships. As one reader wrote on Amazon, “Some authors need a lot of words to describe their worlds and their people. Christopher Meeks says a lot with a little.” The Los Angeles Times has called his stories “poignant and wise.”
In this volume, “A Dog Story” captures a crumbled marriage and the love of a dog named Scrappy. “Joni Paredes” shows the birth of a new relationship that starts at a daughter’s wedding. “Nestor by the Numbers” follows one man’s often hilarious online dating experiences after he finally accepts his wife is gone. “Jerry with a Twist” shows an actor on an audition while his pregnant girlfriend helps him through a crisis. These and seven other stories will bring you into the special world of Meeks.
As reviewer Grady Harp notes, if you’ve previously “discovered the idiosyncrasies of Meeks’ writing style and content, rest assured that this new collection not only will not disappoint, but also it will provide further proof that we have a superior writer of the genre in our presence.” Try this book. You’ll have a lot to think about.
My Thought Benefits of Breathing by Christopher Meeks
First I have to say that I am a huge fan of Christopher Meeks. I have loved all of his short stories and novels. So, when I heard he was publishing another short story collection, I jumped for joy!
‘The Benefits of Breathing are 11 short stories about love, romance, relationships, and divorce. The way the stories are ordered made perfect sense and make the stories flow from one to the next very well and add to the enjoyment.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Christopher Meeks is a master in the art of writing short stories. In short 11-20 pages, he is able to accomplish what most writers would need an entire novel to get their story across. He has done so with his trademark humor and quirky characters, as well as his keen observation of the human condition.
I love all 11 stories but if I was forced to pick a favorite ‘Joni Paredes’ would be it. I could relate to this character so much. She has a hard time making a commitment. I was married at 20 and divorced two years later. After that I dated a lot and even had a couple 4-6 months relationships but as soon as they guy started talk of moving in or marrying, that was it, I severed ties. It wasn’t until I met my husband Bill at the age of 30 that I met my match. We took it slow and lived together for a year before he even hinted at marriage. It seemed the Joni finally met her match but she ended up running. I’m so glad I took a different path; it just took me awhile to trust myself and a man again. Were coming up to our 25th anniversary in June. Other favorite stories are ‘A Dog Story’ and ‘You Wreak Me Baby’.
If you don’t like short stories, I challenge you to read this collection! Short stories are special, in the hands of the right author. It is a true art form and Meeks always gets it right! Meeks comes out swinging from the first story! I cannot recommend this collection highly enough! I give it 5 stars.
I received the ebook for my honest opinion.
Awards and Recognition for Christopher Meeks
Book of the Year Bronze Award from ForeWord Reviews (2017): ‘The Chords of War’
ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Finalist award (2011)- ‘Love At Absolute Zero’
Three book critics’ Ten Best Books of 2011-‘Love At Absolute Zero’
Three book critics’ Ten Best Books of 2009- ‘The Brightest Moon of the Century’
About Christopher Meeks
Award winning author, Christopher Meeks has five novels and two collections of short fiction published. The Benefits of Breathing’ is his third collection of short stories.
He has had stories published in several literary journals, and they have been included in the collections “Months and Seasons” and “The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea.” Mr. Meeks has had three full-length plays mounted in Los Angeles, and one, “Who Lives?” had been nominated for five Ovation Awards, Los Angeles’ top theatre prize.
Mr. Meeks teaches English and fiction writing at Santa Monica College, and Children’s Literature at the Art Center College of Design. He lives in Pasadena, CA.
Giveaway Benefits of Breathing by Christopher Meeks
This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of print or ebook however, print is open to Canada and the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends June 27, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
Thanks to Jackie Karneth of Books Forward/JKS Communications, I am giving away one print copy of ‘Spa at Lavender Lane’ by Phyllis Melhado.
Description Spa at Lavender Lane by Phyllis Melhado
From her elegant atelier office, Nadia Demidova discreetly monitors the arrival of her latest guests. Legendary doyenne of the fabled Palm Springs getaway, she can always tell from the moment the women arrive, which ones will be problems.
This group will not disappoint: a burned-out Fifth Avenue retail executive…a striking former model and Chicago socialite… an overweight Texas housewife on the brink of her second divorce and her beautiful, teenage daughter…and a CEO who, unhappy with recent plastic surgery, is secluded in her room.
Fortunately, Madame Demidova can rely on her Assistant Director to help manage the herd, not knowing that this valued employee is poised to make an audacious move.
Lust, ambition, secrets, betrayal, competition for the ownership of the world’s premier spa and a chance to snag the uber-eligible man who unexpectedly arrives on the scene are all on the menu at The Spa at Lavender Lane.
Praise Spa at Lavender Lane by Phyllis Melhado
“Phyllis Melhado has written a wonderful, lively, bitchy novel populated with a cast of women, young and old, that make the Real Housewives look like Girl Scouts. You’ll be glad they don’t live next door to you. The perfect beach read, even if there’s not a beach within a hundred miles.”- Charles Salzburg, award-winning author of Second Story Man
“Loved my stay at The Spa At Lavender Lane. Felt like the pampered guest–with the delight of being a fly on the wall. Melhado understands her rich, famous, demanding and self-indulgent characters. Now, if only I can get hold of the spa’s Quince Face Cream!”- Alice Simpson, author, Ballroom
“What a great fun read. The characters are just wonderful and if I may say, she lets it all hang out!”- Lyn Leigh, co-founder, The Perfumed Plume
About Phyllis Melhado
(c) Skrebneski
The former Vice President of Public Relations for Estee Lauder, Phyllis Melhado has had her work published in Town & Country, Cosmopolitan, and The Scarlet Leaf Review. She has also ghosted a best-selling beauty book as well as a nationally syndicated beauty column. She earned her Master’s degree in Communications from NYU and lives in New York City. The Spa at Lavender Lane is her first novel.
Marriage Game by Sara Desai
Spa at Lavender Lane by Phyllis Melhado