Inner Goddess: Food, Romance, and the City of Love

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Food, Romance, and the City of Love

Her Sister’s Wedding

Jane Ainslie

A Sweet Contemporary Foodie Romance (Chicklit)

BLURB FOR HER SISTER’S WEDDING:

What happens when you meet the right person at the wrong time?

Melbourne-based food journalist Mandy Evans has Paris firmly in her sights. She’s got a chance at her life-long dream of studying art in the City of Love, but not before she has to be a ring-in bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding.

After setting up his latest restaurant in Melbourne, renowned American chef Jake Pearson is leaving for his next project in Miami. He’s the hottest ticket in anyone’s town, with a burning ambition to conquer the world, but not before he’s best man at his friend’s wedding.

When Mandy and Jake meet, the attraction is instant. He loves her sassy, natural style, and her appetite for great food. She thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread, or even martinis. Fate gives them a chance at love when they are partners at the same wedding, but can either of them compromise their ambitions to let love grow?

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Excerpt #1:

“You have a bit of sauce on your mouth.” He reached out with his finger and traced it along her top lip, removing the imaginary sauce. Mandy shuddered as Jake took her face in his hands, turned it towards him, and kissed her. This time, the intensity of the kiss sent every nerve in her body into overdrive as the longing and desire fired throughout her. Jake moved his hand down her back, pulling her closer along the length of his body. She could feel his desire for her pressing against her, and she moaned as his tongue slid between her lips. Reaching up, she grabbed his hair, pulling him closer to her, while the intensity of the kiss stopped time in its tracks, but unfortunately, not the burner on the stove.

“Oh no, the sauce!” Jake broke away as they both turned to look at the saucepan. The sauce had black, burnt bits floating in it.

“That looks like something I would cook.” Mandy leaned against Jake, laughing. He reached over and switched off the burner.

“This is where a sieve and a kitchen out of view of your dining public comes in handy. Where were we?”

“I think you were going to lift me up onto the kitchen bench.” Mandy hopped up onto the bench top. “Then I was going to wrap my arms and legs around you and we were going to…”

Jake didn’t need any further instruction as he pulled Mandy to him once again, this time more gently. His tongue parted her lips, as they slowly, sensually explored each other. Jake’s hand slid to her breast, as she ran her hands down his back.

“This is giving me an appetite, and I’m not just talking about a semi-burnt sauce.”

“Maybe we should pace ourselves a little.” Mandy put her head on his chest. She could hear his heart hammering against his ribs “I’m just a little scared I’m going to end up like the sauce otherwise.”

“What, lumpy?”

“No, burnt around the edges. We are playing with fire.”

EXCERPT #2

“Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her close to him. “What happened to your curls?” He lowered his lips to her cheek and kissed her soft skin.

“I straightened it for work.” Mandy was unwilling to admit she had straightened it because she had been so upset the night before. “Don’t worry, it will ping back like a spring when it gets damp.” She was suddenly finding it hard to concentrate on anything as Jake’s hand caressed the back of her neck while he trailed kisses along her cheek. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to entwine her arms around Jake and hug him to her. Jake lowered her onto the couch, and she willingly pulled his hard body against the length of hers. Her hair spread out like a fan behind her, and his lips met hers in a kiss which aroused every nerve ending in her body. His tongue probed her willing mouth as a groan of pleasure escaped her. She could feel the pressing hardness of his arousal against her, and knew her ability to resist this man was slipping away by the moment.

“I was thinking we should head out in a minute.” Jake propped himself up on one arm. “Otherwise, I’ll be ordering us pizza at midnight, because I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop myself from doing what I’ve been fantasizing about doing with you since I met you.”

“And what would that be?”

“Would you like me to show you?” His voice was dangerously sexy.

Mandy gazed up into Jake’s eyes. It would be so easy to just surrender. It was what she wanted to do, but at the same time, fear gripped her. Mandy was scared of the intensity of her feelings for Jake. She was scared that once unleashed, she would be unable to put them away and carry on with her life. On the other hand, could she really face living the rest of her life knowing she had been too scared to take a chance with a man like Jake?

The shrill ringing of her phone interrupted her reverie.

AUTHOR BIO:

Jane Ainslie adores martinis, is a keen but hopeless gardener, and an avid reader of cookbooks. She currently resides in Adelaide, Australia, with her beloved husband and her four unruly pet ferrets.

Her blog can be found at www.janeainslie.com and she can be found on Facebook at Jane Ainslie Books.