Thump. I groan and bury my head under my pillow. Thump. Can my dad be any louder in the morning? Thump. No, he can’t. Thump. I look at the clock and notice the time is nearly 7:30. Drat! I fly out of bed and run to the bathroom. I promised to walk Jenny, the daughter of my scrumptious neighbor Danny, to school. I rush through my morning routine and am just running up the stairs when Jenny knocks on the door.
I greet Jenny with a hug and try not to drool over Danny. The man only gets better with age. So unfair! I’ve always had a whopper of a crush on the boy next door, but since I came back home to help my dad find a nurse and have seen how well the man is looking now that we’re in our 30s, it’s all I can do not to tackle him. Sigh.
Danny takes off and I walk Jenny to school. Between Danny’s high school teaching job and football coach position, he doesn’t have an extra moment to breathe let alone time to take his daughter to school. Desperate to spend any time I can with the man, I agreed to take his daughter to school. I was totally terrified of the girl at first as I have no experience whatsoever with children, but Jenny quickly burrowed her way into my heart. I can’t help but love a girl that wants to wear an Aladdin costume to a football game.
After I get back from Jenny’s school, I quickly prepare breakfast for Dad and myself. My dad hastily eats before molding his butt to his chair and turning on the television. That’s pretty much what he does all day, everyday; interrupted only by his whining and moaning about this, that, and the other. I head down to the basement and get to work. I started a blog, Molly’s Misadventures, a few weeks ago and now I’m trying to see if I can make it as a professional blogger.
My teacher advised me to set up social media pages for the blog and today is the day I’m going to tackle that. It doesn’t take long to get the various pages set-up. I then post some witty updates about today’s upcoming date. Yes, I’m back in the dating game since my husband decided to have his way with his secretary on our sofa. Totally throwing that sofa away.
I’m meeting my date for an after dinner drink at a recently opened wine bar. I love wine and am thrilled that Harrison – obviously not his real name – wants to meet there. I quickly throw on a sundress and jump in my dad’s Mustang to drive to the bar. I grab a table and sit down to wait for my date. Fifteen minutes later I’m still waiting and thinking I’ve been stood up. Like that’s not embarrassing. The waitress has already been by three times to ask if I want to order. She even smirked at me. Bugger. Might as well order some wine and maybe a bit of food.
I’m just signaling the waitress when I see him. I assume it’s Harrison as he’s look harried and glancing around the room in dread. Great way to give a girl some confidence. He spots me and I wave. He nods and walks over. I watch as he saunters. He’s a good looking guy. A bit short, but I’m not exactly tall. He smiles at me as he sits and then he ruins it all by opening his mouth. Without further ado, he explains that he doesn’t really want to date, but his parents are forcing him. How can parents force a grown man to date? Turns out they own a construction company and if he wants to take over the business some day, he has to play his cards right.
He stays for an obligatory drink and then takes off. My salad arrives as he leaves and I order another glass of wine. I’m just finishing my meal when Danny texts to ask how my date was. I tell him it wasn’t even blog worthy. He immediately texts back that he has a bottle of Chardonnay with my name on it. I shouldn’t say yes. Every time I see him I’m just reminded of the fact that none of my dates will ever measure up to Danny. Unfortunately, Danny’s willingness to talk about my dates makes it pretty obvious that he’s not having any romantic feelings for me. But I’m a glutton for punishment. I text back that I’ll be there in half an hour.
And thus I end up spending the evening as I’ve spent way too many evenings since being back home, sitting with Danny on his porch swing drinking a bottle of wine. I could get used to this.
Molly’s Misadventures, published in January 2016.
I’m having the suckiest day ever. First, my father, aka Mr. Grumpy Pants, calls to say his nurse just walked out on him. Likely story. I rush home to pack, only to walk in on my husband getting it on with his younger, skanky secretary. Unfortunately, my quick weekend trip home to fix Dad’s problems turns into a stay of a few weeks. Luckily, I’ve got Danny, the neighbor boy I’ve had a crush on since I was a dorky, braces-wearing, nose-buried-in-a-book teenager, and a brand-spanking new blog to keep my mind off things. Before I know it, I’m writing product reviews of vibrators and getting questioned by a store rent-a-cop at the world’s worst date ever. All while trying to figure out how to take things with Danny to the next level. Not to complicate things or anything, but my boss decides to give me an ultimatum—come back in four weeks or don’t come back at all. How in the world did my life get so complicated?
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Meet the author
I grew up reading everything I could get my 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 I did manage every once in a while to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. 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. Another job change, this time from lawyer to B&B owner and I was again fed up and ready to scream I quit, which is incredibly difficult when you own the business. Thus, I shut the B&B during the week and in the off-season and started writing. Several books later I find myself in Istanbul writing full-time.
Learn more about D.E. at Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon author page ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest ~ Google+
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a kindle version of Molly’s Misadventures. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end April 1, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks for featuring Molly on your blog today!
This sounds like a very good story to read..would love to win a copy of it.thanks for the chance.
Good luck in the giveaway!
Great post! You made this sound like an interesting read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks! Good luck with the giveaway!
I want to read more, especially about the dad.
Molly’s dad sure is a curmudgeon. Good luck with the giveaway
What a fun read!
Thanks! Good luck with the giveaway
I’ve always thought it would be fun to write. I might give it a try when I retire later this year. I love reading these kinds of books. I always want to know how the lovers get together or not sometimes. Sounds like there will be lots of keep me busy reading.
If you want to write, you should definitely do it! What beter time to start than with a retirement? Good luck with the giveaway
This really sounds like a fun read
Thanks! Good luck with the giveaway
So much to go wrong-or right in this book! I can only guess how much trouble Molly will get into during this book! Sounds terrific! Thanks Dru for today’s feature. Thanks D.E. for the chance to win a copy of Molly’s Misadventures! I’d love to win, and have to read the book! 🙂
Molly definitely gets herself into a spot of trouble here and there in the book. Good luck in the giveaway.
Molly’s Misadventures sounds great. Thank you for the chance to win a Kindle copy of it.
You’re welcome! Good luck
I can’t wait to read this book, it sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I only hope it’s as much fun to read as it was to write. Good luck with the giveaway
Poor Molly seems like everything has been dumped on her all at the same time. I guess we have all faced times like this in our lifetimes. Thanks for the chance to enter your giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Molly’s having a few troubles, that’s for sure, but that doesn’t stop her from getting into all kinds of trouble! Good luck with the giveaway.
I’ve been reading the reviews on this book for several weeks now. It’s at the top of my wish list. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for following Molly’s reviews. She’s super excited readers are enjoying her book. Good luck with the giveaway!
Istanbul?! Yikes!
Istanbul is an adventure – that’s for sure. We’re hoping to find a new place to live soon.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book. It sounds great.
You’re welcome and good luck!
Love the premise. I just hope Danny ends up being more than a friend.
You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens with Danny 😉
Would like to read this book…lots of wine drinking.
A little wine a day keeps the doctor away, right?
I have never read anything by this author. This book looks like a good to start.
You have to start somewhere! Good luck with the giveaway
Looking forward to what looks like a great read. Want to see how things turn out for Molly
Thanks. Good luck with the giveaway
Sounds like a fun read!
Thanks! Good luck with the giveaway!
This one reminds me of how my daughter’s life has gone. Hope there’s a happy ending – hers has been, so I’m going to have to add it to my TBR list.
Happy ending guaranteed! But you’ll have to read the book to find out how Molly gets there. Good luck with the giveaway.
I know I woud enjoy this book….
Thank you for the giveaway….
Good luck in the giveaway!
I think my adult dating history was very similar!
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
OH no! I hope thinks worked out in the end for you.
This sounds like a fun to read book — right up my alley!
I hope you’ll give it a try. Good luck with the giveaway!
I love the sound of it or should I say description of it…at any rate what a fun entry and thanks for the contest.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Thanks! Good luck with the giveaway
Sounds like a character we can relate to–I’m looking forward to this.
I think everyone can relate to Molly in some way – at least I hope so! Good luck with the giveaway.