Title: Take a Chance on Me
Author: Pauline Baird Jones
Genre: Romance
Book Blurb:
Light-hearted romance collection from USA Today Bestselling Author Pauline Baird Jones
Immerse yourself in a heartwarming collection of short stories that promises love, laughter, and the charm of happily ever after. The renowned author, Pauline Baird Jones, brings her unique touch to these stories that are "...unusual but delightful to read."
In "Second Chance for the Sheik," meet Ellie, a woman who once lost her heart to the son of a sheik. He's back, but this time, it's not just her heart that's on the line...
"Give Love a Chance" introduces you to a Trapini and a Maloney, two families with a rivalry reminiscent of the Hatfields and McCoys. But when the heart intervenes, can love truly conquer all?
"Chance Encounter" explores the complexities of meeting the right person at the wrong time. Lily is engaged, but when she meets Theo, he doesn't feel like a stranger...
"Last Chance for Love" sees Ric Hamilton, a man for whom business always comes first. That is, until he witnesses his stunning PA's samba dance, and he realizes that capturing her heart has become his primary business...
Embrace the promise of love and laughter with this collection of romantic stories. Buy it now to revel in the joy of second chances, forbidden love, unexpected encounters, and the pursuit of love at the end of the day.
Keywords: Pauline Baird Jones, short story collection, love and laughter, happy endings, romantic tales, second chances, family rivalry, chance encounters, career and love, unique love stories, "Second Chance for the Sheik", "Give Love a Chance", "Chance Encounter", "Last Chance for Love", romance and passion.
Excerpt:
“Have you ever been in love, Ellie?”
Ellie gulped and blinked a couple of times before she managed to produce a weak smile. The sinking sensation in her stomach was familiar. Em never asked easy questions. She was too wise for her ten years. Part of it came from experiences a ten-year-old should never have had, most a result of her giant IQ. Ellie should have known better than to choose a romantic comedy for them to watch tonight. She hadn’t expected the ten-year-old to like it, or to stay awake until the happy ending. When would she learn to expect the unexpected?
If it weren’t for the brain inside, Em would have been a perfect Ellie “mini her,” though she was technically Eve’s mini her. Even if she and Eve had combined their IQ’s, it wouldn’t have matched Em’s. Had to have gotten her brains from her father, but Eve had taken that name with her to the grave. Her sister had only lived long enough to give her Em and say she was sorry.
Five-year-old Em had blinked once and said, “No, she’s not.”
Ellie had crouched in front of Em, lightly gripped the tiny shoulders and asked, “Why don’t you believe your mom is sorry?”
“She lies. She always lies.”
In those too wise, too sad eyes, Ellie saw, and so will you.
“I promise I’ll never lie to you, Emma. I will never, ever lie to you.”
Ellie had kept that promise, even though it had come back to bite her on the butt more than once.
“You have been in love,” Em said now, jerking Ellie back from the uncomfortable past to the uncomfortable present.
“I thought I was once,” she admitted, “but I was wrong. It wasn’t love.”
It felt like love. If it had lasted longer, she might have resorted to writing sad poetry about the wonder of it. No sad poetry was one of the good things about getting dumped. The other was being home to take Em’s SOS call. Within three days her twin had died and she’d become the guardian of a genius five-year-old.
Em wriggled against her, sensing a story. Well, why shouldn’t she? Ellie was a storyteller by trade.
“What was his name?”
Ellie didn’t want to say his name. She’d avoided thinking his name for five years, because it made her remember him and remembering him reminded her why she thought she’d been in love. When you’re twenty years old and the perfect male specimen looks at you like you are the only woman in the world, how do you not fall in love?
“His name was Rafiq and he was the son of a sheik.” Not to mention the son of a female dog.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Author Store eBook: https://payhip.com/b/6KyM
Apple Books: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6471037175
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Pauline_Baird_Jones_Take_a_Chance_on_Me?id=cFVjAwAAQBAJ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1197989
What’s your favorite part about being a romance author?
I really love figuring out romantic couples, how to make it hard and then how to bring them together for their happy-ever-after.
Here’s my tip to add romance to your love life:
Don’t give up who you are to be loved by someone. If they can’t love you the way you are right now, if you have to change who and what you are to be with someone, that person isn’t worthy of your love or your time.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs February 1 – 28, 2025
Drawing will be held on March 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Award-winning author Pauline Baird Jones writes perilously fun fiction—romantic suspense, space opera, time travel, and more. With 40+ books, a flair for humor, and a love of adventure, she creates heroines braver than they realize and heroes brave enough to love them. If you crave thrilling plots, smart laughs, and sigh-worthy endings, you’re in the right place! 🚀❤️📚
Social Media Links:
Website: https://paulinebjones.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulinebjones
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/perilouspauline/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulinebairdjones/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/paulinebjones