OverDrive would like to use cookies to store information on your computer to improve your user experience at our Website. One of the cookies we use is critical for certain aspects of the site to operate and has already been set. You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but this could affect certain features or services of the site. To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them, click here to see our Privacy Policy.
Two entrepreneurs compete for a property but secure the biggest win of all—each other—in this second chance romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper.
Spoiled, fickle, and prissy are only a few of the adjectives that have been used to describe Morgan Redford. Though she’s never had to worry about money, she’s determined to make a name for herself on her own terms. Her new venture won’t be an epic fail like her former professional cuddling service or the short-lived pet hotel. This time, through the nonprofit she cofounded, Morgan is doing something meaningful—helping teens who are aging out of foster care—and she’s got her eye on a property that could house these kids. But the competition is steep, and one of the bidders is someone she never expected. . . .
When real estate developer Drake Faulkner learns that his ex—the one who ghosted him years ago—is a potential buyer for the property his eccentric mentor is selling, his competitive streak amps up. No way is he letting her win the property he wants. Bitter? Yes. Petty? Probably. But his mentor has a stipulation: potential buyers must participate in an Ironman competition of sorts for the property. Drake refuses to play along with this ridiculous demand, until he discovers Morgan has signed up. If Little Miss Can’t Run a Block Without Gasping for Air is doing it, he will too. But as the gauntlet of games heats up and forces them to face the past, they are met with a pull that feels all too familiar.
Now, if only they could keep their eyes on the prize instead of on each other—but who’s to say they can’t do both?
Two entrepreneurs compete for a property but secure the biggest win of all—each other—in this second chance romantic comedy by USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper.
Spoiled, fickle, and prissy are only a few of the adjectives that have been used to describe Morgan Redford. Though she’s never had to worry about money, she’s determined to make a name for herself on her own terms. Her new venture won’t be an epic fail like her former professional cuddling service or the short-lived pet hotel. This time, through the nonprofit she cofounded, Morgan is doing something meaningful—helping teens who are aging out of foster care—and she’s got her eye on a property that could house these kids. But the competition is steep, and one of the bidders is someone she never expected. . . .
When real estate developer Drake Faulkner learns that his ex—the one who ghosted him years ago—is a potential buyer for the property his eccentric mentor is selling, his competitive streak amps up. No way is he letting her win the property he wants. Bitter? Yes. Petty? Probably. But his mentor has a stipulation: potential buyers must participate in an Ironman competition of sorts for the property. Drake refuses to play along with this ridiculous demand, until he discovers Morgan has signed up. If Little Miss Can’t Run a Block Without Gasping for Air is doing it, he will too. But as the gauntlet of games heats up and forces them to face the past, they are met with a pull that feels all too familiar.
Now, if only they could keep their eyes on the prize instead of on each other—but who’s to say they can’t do both?
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Excerpts-
From the cover
Chapter One
With a death grip on her cell phone, Morgan Redford sprinted down the quiet hallway as fast as her four-inch Louboutins could carry her. She rushed past the large copy machine and the small conference room before sliding to a stop when she reached her best friend's office.
"Oh, my God, Izzy!" Morgan panted and stumbled into the tuna-can-size space. "I'm so glad you're here. I need your help!"
Isabella bolted from her seat and rounded her desk. "What? What happened?" She gripped Morgan's shoulders. "Are you hurt? Is it one of the kids?"
Morgan waved her off, shaking her head as she eased out of her friend's grip. Still huffing and puffing, she leaned forward and placed her hands on her knees, swiping a few microbraids out of her face in the process.
"Morgan, so help me . . . You're scaring me. If you don't tell me what happened, I'm going-"
"Give me a second. Running through the halls in these shoes and these tight-ass pants," she wheezed, "takes a lot out of a woman." She finally stood upright. "Okay, I have a TikTok emergency. I need you to help me with one of the dances, and I need you to do it now. Otherwise, there's going to be hell to pay."
Isabella's stormy gaze bore into her like two serrated knives, ready to twist and turn into her gut.
Morgan frowned. "What? What did I do?"
"Are you freaking serious right now?" Isabella stomped past Morgan and slammed the office door. "Your ass scared me to death! If you ever barge in here like that again, you really are going to need help because I'm going to wrap my hands around your scrawny little neck and-"
"All right, all right, geez," Morgan said, eying her friend.
Tall, with olive skin and long, orange-ginger hair that was pulled into a messy ponytail on top of her head, Isabella Jeter, her best friend since kindergarten, was a knockout even on her bummiest days, like today. Instead of her usual work attire-a nice blouse and dress pants-she sported an old, fitted T-shirt and worn, gray sweats that made her look grungy from the neck down, but that didn't detract from her perfectly made-up face, and she still wore her signature red lipstick.
She was dressed down since she planned to finish painting the small, upstairs multipurpose room.
Isabella continued glowering.
"Calm down. There's no need for threats of violence," Morgan told her.
Isabella threw up her hands. "I can not believe you," she snapped, and marched back to her desk.
Morgan stood speechless as her friend and business partner dropped down into her leather desk chair.
"Why are you mad at me? This is important." Morgan set her phone down and leaned on the desk. "Last week, the kids challenged me to a TikTok dance, and I totally forgot about it. I'm not prepared and, Izzy, if I don't make a good showing, I'm never going to hear the end of it."
Isabella continued glowering. "Why am I mad? 'Cause you scared me to death. I thought something was really wrong. Mo, I love you like a sister, but everything I love about you also drives me nuts. You're acting so flippant about the meeting you have in a couple of hours, and instead, you're worried about your damn dance moves. Where are your priorities?"
"Iz, my priorities are on point. Why are you trippin'?"
Isabella pounded her fist on a stack of file folders. "Because this meeting is important, Morgan. Open Arms needs that building, and you know that," she said. "Instead of strategizing a plan, you're out there perfecting your Cardi B shuffle or whatever! You don't have time to be clowning around."
Six months ago, she and Isabella had founded the nonprofit Open Arms with...
About the Author-
Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper, is a romance-a-holic, loving anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. Sharon writes contemporary romance as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She’s been nominated for and has received numerous awards such as Emma Awards (RSJ) for Author of the Year 2019 and Favorite Hero 2019. When Sharon isn’t writing, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work, or reading a good book (romance of course).
Reviews-
March 1, 2023
Drake Faulkner has it all--a successful, fulfilling career as a real estate property developer, guardianship of his teenage twin siblings, and a company he runs with his best friend. The only thing missing is the one who got away: Morgan Redford, the beautiful daughter of a famous actor who disappeared from Drake's life with no explanation, leaving a gaping hole in his heart. Fifteen years later, the two meet again, but this time as competitors for the same property. Drake wants it because it's the first building his architect father ever designed, while Morgan's nonprofit plans to use it to house teens aging out of foster care. Can they rekindle their romance while engaging in professional competition? Narrator Zenzi Williams does well distinguishing the characters by using tone, volume, and specific emotive elements for each individual. While many overused romance tropes are woven into the narrative, the characters' willingness to embrace self-reflection and improve communication to avoid repeating their past mistakes is a breath of fresh air in a genre where miscommunication so often fuels the plot. VERDICT Cooper's (Business Not as Usual) second-chance romance is a delightful blend of humor, spice, and tenderness.--Katy Duperry
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Title Information+
Publisher
Books on Tape
OverDrive Listen
Release date:
OverDrive MP3 Audiobook
Release date:
Digital Rights Information+
OverDrive MP3 Audiobook
Burn to CD:
Permitted
Transfer to device:
Permitted
Transfer to Apple® device:
Permitted
Public performance:
Not permitted
File-sharing:
Not permitted
Peer-to-peer usage:
Not permitted
All copies of this title, including those transferred to portable devices and other media, must be deleted/destroyed at the end of the lending period.
Please update to the latest version of the OverDrive app to stream videos.
Device Compatibility Notice
The OverDrive app is required for this format on your current device.
Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
You've reached your library's checkout limit for digital titles.
To make room for more checkouts, you may be able to return titles from your Checkouts page.
Excessive Checkout Limit Reached.
There have been too many titles checked out and returned by your account within a short period of time.
Try again in several days. If you are still not able to check out titles after 7 days, please contact Support.
You have already checked out this title. To access it, return to your Checkouts page.
This title is not available for your card type. If you think this is an error contact support.
There are no copies of this issue left to borrow. Please try to borrow this title again when a new issue is released.
| Sign In
You will be prompted to sign into your library account on the next page.
If this is your first time selecting “Send to NOOK,” you will then be taken to a Barnes & Noble page to sign into (or create) your NOOK account. You should only have to sign into your NOOK account once to link it to your library account. After this one-time step, periodicals will be automatically sent to your NOOK account when you select "Send to NOOK."
The first time you select “Send to NOOK,” you will be taken to a Barnes & Noble page to sign into (or create) your NOOK account. You should only have to sign into your NOOK account once to link it to your library account. After this one-time step, periodicals will be automatically sent to your NOOK account when you select "Send to NOOK."
You can read periodicals on any NOOK tablet or in the free NOOK reading app for iOS, Android or Windows 8.
