Plan Interrupted

November 3, 2015
VJC Books
Available in: e-Book, Trade Size (reprint)

Elizabeth Shaw’s professional life is going according to plan until she meets the handsome widower and his two young children next door. Having shelved her personal life to land her dream job, she disregards her romantic feelings for him. But the forces of nature have other ideas for her.

Joe Antonetti has made his children his main focus since the death of his wife. But his beautiful neighbor becomes an irresistible distraction and has him wondering if he can change her priorities.

Surrendering to their attraction for each other causes another player to step in with his own plan for Elizabeth. One that could not only end the budding romance but her life as well.

Originally published October 2015 in trade paperback.

Plan Interrupted Excerpt

Joe slid his hand up and cupped Elizabeth’s warm cheek. With the tip of his thumb he traced her smooth lips. They parted, and she brushed her tongue over them. He dipped the tip of his thumb into her mouth. Her eyes flashed as she suckled his thumb, sending a cresting wave of sensations crashing throughout his body, waking every tired and bruised nerve ending.

Removing his thumb from her mouth, he freed her lips for his. Her warm tongue met his. Her tantalizing flavor was such that he thought he had died and gone to heaven.

He pulled his mouth from hers and captured her emerald gaze. He wanted to tell her he loved her. The words were running through his mind, but his lips wouldn’t move, and no sound would come out of his mouth.

He thought about Amanda, and how much he loved her. A rush of guilt passed through him, making him feel as though he was cheating on Amanda.

He mentally shook his head to clear the thought. Amanda’s gone. She’s been gone for almost five years. This isn’t cheating. He swiped his sweaty palms over his thighs.

“Are you okay?” Elizabeth asked.

He just stared at her. Unable to speak.

“Are you okay, Joe? Where did you drift off to?”

He blinked his eyes hard. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just tired.”

“You’ve had a tough couple of days. Why don’t you go to bed and get some rest,” she urged as she rose to her feet and reached toward him.

He grasped her hand, and used his other hand to hold his side as he lifted himself from the couch. “I’ll sleep in the office on the futon, and you can take my bed.”

He wanted so badly to sleep in his bed with her wrapped in his arms, but with the kids in the house, he knew he shouldn’t.

He stopped at the hall closet and grabbed some bedding for the futon.

Elizabeth immediately snatched it from his hands. “I’ll take the futon. You’re in no shape to sleep on that thing. You’re tired, you’re sore, and you need a good, comfortable rest.”

He parted his lips to respond to her but she immediately placed her fingers over his mouth. “I don’t want to hear it. Go to bed and rest,” she said as she stretched up on her tiptoes and gently pressed her lips to his. She spun on her heel and padded off in the direction of the office.

Joe slid into bed. Exhaustion, worry, and pain consumed him. He just wanted to get a peaceful rest. His thoughts drifted to Elizabeth, and how much he had grown to love her. He wanted to tell her a few minutes ago, but the words just wouldn’t come out of his mouth. After Amanda had died, he was sure he’d never love again.

He was wrong.

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Lynn Smith – Five Stars – Elizabeth Shaw has her life planned out. She never steps away from the plan. Never letting anything get in the way. Not friends, men or family. Moving to Chicago from New York is part of the plan. Finding a house she loved, she couldn’t wait to move in. Seeing toys and bikes out doors next door, she questions who her neighbor is and how many children they have. She doesn’t need the noise. Meeting Joe Antonetti and his two children didn’t exactly get them off to a good start. Joe thought Elizabeth a beautiful women but she really needed to loosen up. As they are thrown together more often then either of them like, things start heating up. Sometimes life is better then what you plan.

Loved Elizabeth, she started out so unbending. As her past comes to light, you see why. Who can resist two children who insist on trying to be her friend or they hot and sexy father. Joe has been raising his children on his own since his wife’s death. He didn’t think he would ever move on, but Elizabeth sneaks into that open and empty place in his heart. There is so much they need to work through and when something tragic happens to Elizabeth. She needs to learn to learn to let people who love her help her through it. Definitely one of the must read books this year. Loved the flow and the direction of the story. I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.