enior editor at Kleinfeld Publishing, she was responsible for sifting through hundreds of unsolicited submissions each month.

made Amelia roll her eyes. It reeked of the sort of saccharine romantic drivel that Amelia had long lost her taste for after having her heart broken one too

lliance. The writing was sharp and intelligent, with an undercurrent of dry wit that resonated with Amelia's own

ro, Benjamin, was a roguish second son of a duke who spent his days gambling and carousing rather than pining for a suitable wife. The heroine,

as related with such a deft blend of slapstick humor and simmering romantic tension that Amelia found herself utter

tared pensively across her office at the Manhattan skyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. This submission showed undeniable promise. Sh

sa was a sweet former intern who had quickly proven herself to be a capable and indi

There's a Mr. Lucas Donovan here to see you

king to plead his case in person, hoping that a bit of face time would somehow make his manuscript more appealing. It was a time-honor

ed with as much of her usual crisp

finely-tailored charcoal gray suit, he moved with an effortless grace and self-assurance. His warm brown eyes crinkled charmingly at the corners as he flashed a megawatt smile in her direction. He had a strong

Lucinda Sinclair, for god's sake - a razor-sharp book editor who entertained no romantic notions whatsoever. Ever since her heart had been shattered i

e towards her desk, Amelia felt an unmistakable fi

ed to gently caress each syllable of her name. "I'm Lucas Donovan. I w

ers met and she was suffused by the warmth of his touch. His grip was firm and confident, yet somehow conveyed an unmistakable gentlenes

eur writer looking for his first big break. She had no doubt met dozens if not hundreds of young hotshot literary hopefuls just

e feeling that her life - her carefully constructed, entirely predictable, emotio

know how busy you must be, so I'll get right to the point. I'm here because my novel deser

ny other aspiring writer, Amelia would have perceived it as simple arrogance. But emanating from Lucas's full lips, that bold asser

her tone to be as coolly professional as possible. "Why don't you tell

h, languid motion that Amelia couldn't tear her eyes away from. She found herself staring at the way the materia

al - this was... was... Amelia struggled to define whatever bizarre

lance journalist and copy writer. But I've always wanted to be a novelist - it's been my driving ambition for as long as

om being drawn in by his obvious love for the subject matter. Her embarrassing physical reaction to

d slightly. "From the excerpt I read, it seems to be an... unco

meets girl' romance novel formula and turns it upside down. Yes, there's witty repartee and