Praise for novels fromUSA TODAYbestselling author
VICTORIA
DAHL
âA hot and funny story about a woman many of us can relate toâ
âSalon.com on Crazy for Love
â[A] hands-down winner, a sensual story filled with memorable charactersâ
âBooklist on Start Me Up
âDahl has spun a scorching tale about what can happen in the blink of an eye and what we can do to change our lives.â
âRT Book Reviews, 4 stars, on Start Me Up
âLead Me On will have you begging for a re-read even as the story ends.â âRomance Junkies
âDahl smartly wraps up a winning tale full of endearing oddballs, light mystery and plenty of innuendo and passion.â
âPublishers WeeklyonTalk Me Down
âSassy and smokingly sexy, Talk Me Down is one delicious joyride of a book.â âNew York Times bestselling author Connie Brockway
âSparkling, special and oh so sexyâVictoria Dahl is a special treat!â
âNew York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips on Talk Me Down
Thank you to Jennifer Echols for her insight into the world of universities and grad students. Having only been an undergraduate, I needed the peek behind the curtain! Thanks to Amy for trying her best to keep me sane this time around. Iâm sorry the duty fell to you this year. And huge thanks to Tara for her amazing support.
As usual, Twitter folk, you are the best virtual water cooler a girl could ask for. You did a great job of distracting me from stress, not to mention work. But for once you actually helped me concentrate, so a big shout-out to all my #1k1hr writing friends! Also, thanks to Jared for starting the kilt talk.
My husband truly helped me get through to the end of this story, and I couldnât have done it without him. And boys, I promise a great vacation to make up for all the days I spent locked in my bedroom with coffee and a laptop.
Last but definitely not least, a thank you to my readers. Without you, I would not write.
You make all my books possible.
THIS WASNâT A BOOK CLUB; it was a manhunt.
Olivia couldnât believe sheâd fallen for it. Actually ⦠she couldnât believe sheâd thrown herself headfirst into it. Sheâd read the assigned book. Twice. Sheâd downloaded important discussion points. Made detailed notes. Marked up the pages. And finally, before walking into the brewery, sheâd sat in her car for ten minutes, pumping herself up for this first foray into a girls-only gathering.
Theyâre just women like me, sheâd assured herself. No need to be intimidated. Youâll fit right in because youâll all have the book in common.
Now here she was, sitting in the barroom of Donovan Brothers Brewery, listening to seven women discuss their current dating lives and sexual adventures. And Olivia, having no dating life or adventurous sex to contribute, sat there like a bump on a log, the book club selection clutched tight in her tense fingers.
It wasnât that sheâd never had girlfriends. Sheâd had a best friend in high school. And one in college. And then ⦠then sheâd had her husband. Her ex was as close as sheâd gotten to a best friend in the past ten years, and heâd failed pretty spectacularly at that.
She needed girlfriends, and she needed them fast. When Gwen Abbey had invited her to join her book club, Olivia had felt honored and relieved.
She shouldâve known better. Gwen wasnât exactly the type to opine about literature. Oh, she was smart enough, but her attention flitted about like a hummingbird after a shot of espresso. She might read a book, but Olivia couldnât imagine her spending two hours talking about it afterward.
âIâm so glad you came!â Gwen whispered, putting an arm around Oliviaâs shoulders for a quick squeeze. âIsnât this fun?â
âYes!â Olivia answered, feeling her fingers go numb against the slick cover of the book. She really, really wished she hadnât posted so many sticky notes in the pages. They fluttered like tiny blue banners under the breeze of the ceiling fan.
âCan you even believe how adorable he is?â
Olivia glanced automatically toward the bar, where a very young, very handsome man filled glasses at the tap. He was Jamie Donovan, sheâd been informed, and his welcoming wave had set the whole table tittering a few moments ago. The tittering had been followed by promisesâor threatsâof what the women would do if they got Jamie Donovan alone for an hour. âFind out exactly whatâs under that kilt,â had been a common refrain.
âSo,â Olivia ventured, leaning closer to Gwen, âis he the reason you guys meet at this place?â
âHeck, yeah. No reason not to have a nice view while we hang out. Plus, Marie, Alyx and Carrie are all married, so this is a nice safe way for them to get a little flirtation in. They get to drool over Jamie, fantasize a little, and then their husbands benefit when they get home. Everyone is happy!â