Title: LANDING FLETCH LAYTON
Author: Beth Henderson
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Book Blurb:
The text was a death threat. There was no doubt about it in Fletch Layton’s mind. Dominique, his slinky, bombshell girlfriend for the past two years had given him one week to decide whether he was marrying her or not.
It was enough to make a man panic. And so, like the master procrastinator he was, Fletch decided to put off making any sort of leap. On one hand there was gorgeous but flinty eyed Dominique. On the other was freedom.
Brenda Burton wasn’t in the least surprised when Fletch turned up at her parents for the weekly Sunday barbecue uninvited. He’d been the boy next door, her hero as a girl and she had the scars to prove it. That dare to jump her bike across Hobson’s Creek having left one on her brow. She was his pal, the shortstop on the company softball team, one of the guys. His best friend, although her older brother was his best bud. But when in need, Fletch never went to Josh for advice. He came to her.
But how could she possibly tell him that marrying Dominique was in the cards when she dreamed of being in those cards herself? Had ever since she’d fallen in love with him a dozen years ago when she’d been thirteen and he’d been sixteen. It was a hopeless dream.
Until her soon-to-be sister-in-law handed her a self-help book: LAND YOUR MAN. Bren still wasn’t convinced she should interfere – until Dominique ticked her off. REALLY ticked her off and Bren decided she needed to save her best friend from the bimbo by LANDING FLETCH LAYTON herself.
Excerpt:
The door had barely swung closed behind Fletch and Josh when Bren heard the squeal of the hinges again and looked up to see her soon-to-be sister-in-law framed in the doorway.
Sally Reiner was petite and fragile looking, from her pale blonde hair to her trusting blue eyes.
She looked casually classy, Bren thought, and wondered, not for the first time, what Sally saw in her brother to want to spend her life at his side.
Sally looked back over her shoulder as she slipped into the kitchen. “What’s Fletch doing here?” she asked before turning to face Bren. “Or, more importantly, where is Medusa hiding?”
“Dominique isn’t here,” Bren said.
“Off terrorizing other hapless victims, is she?”
“No doubt,” Bren murmured in total agreement. “My brother come up with any more really stupid honeymoon suggestions?”
Sally chuckled as she slipped into the chair across from Bren. She dropped her canvas purse on the floor and propped her forearms on the tabletop, leaning forward. “No, I think the fly-fishing idea is still at the head of his list.”
“I warned you. It’s his ace in the hole,” Bren said.
“It didn’t work this time,” Sally announced, a triumphant gleam in her eye. “Thank goodness I’ve got the book to fall back on for advice.”
“The book?” Bren echoed. “What book?”
Sally’s blue eyes widened. “You don’t know about the book?” She glanced toward the back door, ensuring that they wouldn’t be overheard, then reached for the tote bag at her feet and unzipped it. “You have to swear you won’t tell Josh or anyone else that I used this.”
She handed Bren a hefty tome. The cover was bright, the letters a brilliant red, guaranteed to catch and hold a person’s attention.
“It seems only right that I should pass this on to you, now that we’re going to be sisters,” Sally said.
Bren frowned as she read the volume’s title. “Land Your Man? You’re kidding.”
“Hey, it works. All you have to do is follow each step and, bingo, you’ll be whistling the wedding march,” Sally assured her.
“Yeah, right.” Bren sneered and handed the book back to her friend.
Sally pushed it away. “I’ve practically got it memorized, Bren. It’s because of the guidance and advice in Land Your Man that I’m busy addressing wedding invitations. You could be doing the same.”
Fleetingly, Fletch’s handsome face flashed in Bren’s mind. She pushed the image aside reluctantly and shook her head. “Thanks, Sally, but there’s nobody on my line to be reeled in.”
“There could be.”
“Get real,” Bren advised her friend.
“I am!” Sally indicated the book. “This could help.”
“A self-help book? I’m not that desperate,” Bren said.
“You are, too,” her future sister-in-law insisted. “You haven’t had a date in ages. And I know why.”
Bren laughed. “You do?”
“Absolutely. It’s because you’re too nice.”
“Too nice?”
“Think about it,” Sally urged. “What woman of our acquaintance has men groveling for her attention?”
“Er…”
“You’re being nice again. Be catty. It’s Dominique.”
Bren thought about Fletch’s dilemma with his gorgeous girlfriend. “But she’s only interested in one man,” she said. “So—”
“There you go again, being naïve,” Sally said.
“I thought I was nice.”
“What’s the difference? You and I both know Dominique doesn’t care too hoots about him, just what he can give her,” Sally declared. “The trouble is, men seem to love bitchy women. God knows why.”
“Still—” Bren began.
Sally groaned in disgust. “You’re going to defend her, aren’t you?”
“Well—”
“Too nice. Too naïve,” Sally warned. “Don’t you think it’s time for you to do something nice for yourself?”
“I would, but—”
Sally tapped the self-help book. “Read this,” she recommended, “then do something that will make you feel great. Hey! I’ll bet taking Fletch away from Dominique would be a real power rush.”
“What—”
“Stop gasping like a landed fish, Bren. You can do it,” Sally insisted. “Fletch would be far happier with you than he is with that Medusa creature.”
“But—”
Sally leaned forward over the table. “Personally, he’s a little too flaky for my tastes. However, practicing on him would allow you to eliminate some of the steps the book suggests you follow. You already know him fairly well, although I doubt he’s worthy of someone of your caliber.”
Bren got to her feet. “Wedding planning has obviously weakened your brain, or you would never suggest such a thing,” she said. “Want some lemonade?”
“Love some. And I am in full possession of all my faculties. This is purely self-defense. I love you dearly, but since Fletch is one of Josh’s best friends, if he continues to hang around with Dominique, I’ll have to endure her for years to come. You could see this as a crusade. Save Fletch from his own, well, berserk hormones.”
Sally paused to catch her breath before asking, “Are you going to take the book?”
Bren sighed deeply as she took glasses from the cupboard and filled them from the pitcher on the counter.
Why her? Perhaps she should have read her horoscope in the paper that morning. Had it carried a warning about friends in need or friends who were well-meaning pests? If only she’d known. She could have pulled the blankets over her head and waited the day out in solitary bliss.
“I am not going to seduce Fletch away from Dominique,” Bren insisted. Enticing as the idea was, it was also clearly impossible. He was nuts about the woman. Once he got over his first attack of nerves, he’d be fine and altar-bound.
“Oh, but—” Sally began.
Bren cut her off. “If I do take your silly book, will you stop nagging me?” she demanded, handing her friend the frosty glass of fresh lemonade.
Sally gave her a deceptively innocent grin—the one she knew disguised Sally’s will of iron. “Only if you promise to read it.”
Bren gave in. “Oh, all right.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon: www.getbook.at/Fletch
What’s your favorite way to combat stress?
For me, it’s reading a funny book, particularly a romantic comedy one. The more lighthearted and silly the better. Laughter, after all, heals!
Why is your featured book a stress busting read?
LANDING FLETCH LAYTON began life under a different name in the old Silhouette Your’s Truly line back in the 1990s. Back then it was called A WEEK ‘TIL THE WEDDING, but when I got the rights back on it, I did a bit of updating. Cell phones weren’t in everyone’s hands twenty some years ago. It has long been one of my favorites among my romantic comedy tales because Fletch can be so cluelessly male, which frustrates Brenda to no end at times. I still snicker over it, and, heck, I wrote it so you’d think I remembered all the funny bits. Maybe I just like to revisit them!
But after spending time with this couple, stress has packed its bags! There’s a refreshed smile on my face and lilt in my step.
Could be it will do the same for you!
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon CA account to win.
Runs May 1 – 31, 2023.
Drawing will be held on June 1, 2023.
Author Biography:
Beth Henderson has been a published novelist in romance since 1990 when her first romantic suspense/romantic comedy novel was published. Since then she's had a long list of titles released through various publishing houses, and also under a variety of names.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.4TaleTellers.com
Twitter: @Beth__Henderson
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2GvFyog