Hi All!
Excited to be here to tell you about Falling For the Competition and to provide you with an excerpt. Falling
for the Competition
It’s going to
be the best summer ever for ambitious, overachieving Quinn. A huge history
buff, not only has she landed her dream job interning in the archives
department of the local castle, but her best friend will be working there too.
However, Quinn isn’t the only one to be working
in Archives this summer; Quinn’s academic rival, Patrick, is sharing her office
in Muniments. They’re competing for the Letter of Recommendation (singular)
from the research historian that Quinn needs to get her dream future placement.
Their emotionally-loaded and competitive rivalry
turns into a reluctant friendship, as they spend every day working together in
silence (and sharing the occasional Twix). Until the Re-Enactors arrive. Between
Patrick and Harry – the Golden Knight of the jousting team – Quinn’s carefully
planned summer is thrown into complete disarray. Meanwhile, her best friend’s
relationship may look perfect on the outside, but Quinn is starting to realise
that there’s more going on than there seems.
Although Quinn is determined and single minded
about planning every detail of her sparkling future, she comes to discover that
the best things in life are the spontaneous ones – and that some people are
more important than any Letter of Recommendation (singular) could ever be.
*************
Excerpt:
Frankie’s been picked up by Ned for work.
On a horse.
Yep, a horse. Mum called to say that there was a horse outside, and there’s Ned, leaning down over the horses neck to present a swooning Frankie with a bunch of flowers. Not ones that he’s picked off the ground on the way here, but proper, thought about, flowers. Her dad is disapproving in the doorway and I give him a quick wave.
So I’m walking, and that’s alright because I’ve got time to dissect my dream. Which is a mistake. Because as soon as I reach Muniments and stumble up the stairs and Patrick gives me that smile like he’s so happy to see me, I’m desperate to put my hands on his bare skin, to pull his lips to my neck, to feel his chest in real life. He nods towards Lisa’s room and I take it that she’s in this morning.
“Are you,” he hesitates and I must look hectic and flushed and needing. “Okay?”
I’m prickly all over and my clothes are too much on my skin. He’s leaning back in my chair watching me arrange my desk with a slight frown on his face.
“Yes, I’m fine, Patrick.” I give him a superior smile, because I am more than fine, I’m just not going to tell him why. And I love keeping this secret from him.
“Oh, you look,” he casts around for the right word, “um kind of, flushed?” He finishes off with a shrug, like he’s not sure.
“I walked,” I say, pulling my pony tail out. It’s uncomfortable and I need something to do with my hands to stop them reaching over to his desk.
“No Frankie?”
“No, Ned picked her up.” I say, pulling my hair over my shoulder and tying it into a messy plait. “On a horse.” We exchange knowing glances. He rolls his eyes.
“Your hair is nice like that.” Patrick says, and his eyes flick over my neck where his lips had been in my dream. My traitorous body flushes and my stomach clenches. I can’t say anything. “What? Don’t like compliments?” He says, sceptically.
I glare at him and turn to my computer.
I email IT for an up to date on my online database and get an out of office reply until next week.
Next. Week.
Joking? Why didn’t they tell me that the lady who was dealing with it wasn’t going to be in the office? Don’t they know I’m on a deadline? I pick up the phone calmly and call her extension and wait until it bounces to one of the other people there.
“Hi, yes, this is Quinn from Muniments. Can you tell me who’s dealing with her work whilst she’s on holiday?” I listen. “No one, right. Well, I have this project and it’s on a deadline, and I wonder if she’s left an update for me?” I pause. “No. Right. Is there anyone else that can work on it for me?” I even give my winning adult smile down the phone in the hope that will work. “Right, no, okay. Thanks for your help.”
I carefully put the receiver down, and I’m aware of Patrick watching me, but I don’t care and I lay my forehead on the table like a child and groan. I know she said she was on track, but did that include the holiday? There’s only a few more weeks left after this week and I’ve got to populate the damned thing and make sure it works okay and SHE’S NOT IN.
I am not in control and I hate it.
Patrick is next to me, and he’s buttercup fields and wildflowers. He doesn’t say anything because he knows me, and he knows that I won’t tell him unless I want to. Because no matter what’s going on between us, this is a competition, this is my life, this is the Letter of Recommendation, Singular, that is slipping out of my grasp. I sit up and he’s leaning against my drawers, mouth pinched and eyes trying to read my mind.
“I need to see Lisa.” I say. He nods.
“She’ll understand.” His long fingers are splayed on my desk.
“I’m not sure she will.” I am a despondent kitten. “I wouldn’t.”
“That’s because you’re too hard on yourself.” He says softly. We watch each other, and I see his pulse jumping against the skin in his throat and I clench my fists to not reach out and feel if it’s racing. I stand up and he doesn’t move so I have to step round him, avoiding his eyes, and trying not to touch him because I don’t think I could stop my hands wandering over his skin if I did. He seems amused at my attempts at edging past him and grips my waist, spinning us so he’s next to my chair and I’m in the aisle between our desks.
*******
Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Competition-changing-ambitious-people-ebook/dp/B09N6YKZM7
US - https://www.amazon.com/Falling-Competition-changing-ambitious-people-ebook/dp/B09N6YKZM7
Author Bio
– Jen lives in the Midlands with her husband and two children. With
a Masters Degree in Medieval History, Jen loves castles and King John a little
too much. Strangely un-British, she does not like tea, oranges or marzipan, but
adores French cheese, guava juice and Chinese food (not together).
When not writing, Jen can often be found pointing out historical
inaccuracies in period dramas, being a Lady that Lunches with close friends and
playing board games with her family. Note: her handbags are always heavy due to
multiple books (just in case she needs them).
Social
Media Links –
@jensmith950 Twitter
Hope you get a chance to check it out!
Happy Reading!
