Title
Picture Imperfect (Destination Romance Book One)
Author
Kate Berberich
Genre
Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb
Bad girl turned heiress, Lacey Devere has a penchant for falling for precisely the wrong person. Her dad is determined to give her a fresh start, beginning with a luxurious European tour and a new camera to capture each perfect moment.
Dan Lewis is a modern-day highwayman traveling the world, relieving wealthy tourists of their excess cash and jewelry. He learned the hard way not to let anyone get too close.
Their heads are urging caution, but their hearts are being swept away by the glamour and romance of the dazzling cities they’re visiting.
Excerpt
Lacey followed Dan to a bustling plaza lined with an astonishing variety of eateries. Some sold obvious things, like pizza and ice cream. Others exuded delectable—if mysterious—aromas. Café seating spilled onto the sidewalks, and conversations in multiple languages buzzed over the strumming of guitars. She bounced on her feet in time to the music and grinned.
“Any preferences?” Dan asked.
“Surprise me.”
He smirked. “Are you sure? That shows an astonishing level of trust in a brand-new acquaintance.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Fine. No icky green things.”
“Okay then, local cuisine fit for a carnivore. Why don’t you get us a couple of beers and snag a table?”
“Will do. Beer, I can manage.” She didn’t mind being in charge of the beverages. Dan didn’t seem like the sort who would mess with a woman’s drink, but a little caution was better than a lot of trouble. Beers acquired, she settled at a little round table for two. Dan glanced back a couple of times from various food lines, and she waved. Her stomach growled from the delightful scents of sizzling meats and spices, and she wished he’d get a move on.
In due course, Dan slid into the other chair and deposited a tray containing a veritable feast of unfamiliar food items on the table. He passed her half of a crusty roll filled with rings of crunchy, fried something.
She sniffed cautiously. “An onion ring hero?”
“Try it.” Dan took a healthy bite of his portion.
She shrugged and crunched into her half. Her mouth filled with crispy-chewy-salty goodness. She chewed and swallowed. “Not onion rings.”
“But you like it?”
“Yeah…I think I do. What is it?” She took a careful sip of her beer.
“That’s the question of the hour, isn’t it?” He reached for his own glass.
A blush crept up her neck. “I swear I wasn’t being cheap. It’s the only size they had.”
He tapped the smallish glass with one finger. “It’s called a cañas.”
“Kan-ya?”
“More or less.” Dan gave her an easy smile. “Trust me, small is better. You can drink it before it warms up.”
“Makes sense.” Lacey took another sip, followed by another nibble of her sandwich. “Fish?”
“Calamari.” He waited for her reaction with a challenging glint in his eye.
“Squid?” She shuddered. “That’s something you look at in the aquarium, not eat.”
“But you said you liked it. Would you have tried it if I told you what it was?”
“I doubt it.” She took another bite.
Dan slid a small plate her way.
“Those are green.” Green and wrinkled and nope. Just nope.
“True. But I thought you might stretch your boundaries in the interest of a little…spice.” He selected a pepper and placed it in his mouth.
Well, she never backed down from a dare. She answered Dan’s challenging smirk with one of her own. She selected the most diminutive pepper in the dish and popped it into her mouth. The flavor was piquant but not overpowering—certainly no stronger than the green peppers at the pizzeria at home. Even if she did pick most of those off.
Dan bit into a second one, and his face turned an alarming shade of red.
She jumped up, scraping her chair across the pavement. “Dan? What is it? Ohmigod—are you choking?”
He spluttered and made a fanning gesture toward his mouth, and she slid her beer across the table. He gulped it, eyes streaming.
“Hot,” he gasped.
She slumped into her seat as he drained his glass. “I figured. I’m gonna get more beer.”
“Please.”
Once he’d recovered, Dan took mercy on Lacey’s all-too-American taste buds and got two enormous ice cream cones. “We could have shared, you know. In the interest of finishing before it melts.”
“Get your own.” She licked a drop of fudge from her cone before it spilled on her outfit.
He chuckled and wiped a smudge from the corner of her mouth with a napkin. How did he turn such a simple, casual touch into something that left her wondering how his hands might feel on other—less suitable for public viewing—parts of her body?
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Picture Imperfect is Book One of my Destination Romance series. It’s the beginning of Dan and Lacey’s journey together. It’s a romantic adventure through five glamorous European cities. It’s also about new beginnings, second chances, and finding that person whose imperfections are the perfect match for your own. If you’ve always dreamed about traveling to fabulous locations and meeting that special someone, Picture Imperfect and its sequel, A Perfectly Imperfect Holiday are perfect for you!
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $40 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs January 9 – January 21, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on January 22, 2024.
Author Biography
I am an author with a penchant for writing about strong, sassy ladies and the men they love (and cats!). I have a background in historic and theatrical costuming. I live in New York with my cat, Miss Toby Toebeanz, and lots and lots of books. Picture Imperfect is my debut novel. The sequel, A Perfectly Imperfect Holiday, was released for the 2023 holiday season.
Social Media Links
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You can also find me at Goodreads and BookBub.