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Now that you have finished The Beauty and Beast E, won’t you please consider writing a review? Reviews are the best way readers discover great new books.
About the author:
Beate Boeker has been a traditionally published author since 2008 and offers many full-length romances and mysteries as well as some short stories online. Several were shortlisted for the Golden Quill Contest, the National Readers' Choice Award, and the 'Best Indie Books of 2012' contest. In 2013, she has hit the Amazon bestselling lists in the category "international mystery & crime" with her cozy mystery Delayed Death.
She is a marketing manager by day with a degree in International Business Administration, and her daily experience in marketing continuously provides her with a wide range of fodder for her novels, be it hilarious or cynical.
Widely traveled, she speaks German, English, French and Italian and lives in the North of Germany together with her husband and daughter.
While 'Boeker' means 'books' in a German dialect, her first name Beate can be translated as ‘Happy’ . . . and with a name that reads ‘Happy Books’, what else could she do but write novels with a happy end? You can find Beate on Facebook, Twitter and on her website happybooks. de
Contemporary romances by Beate Boeker
Mischief in Italy
A father-son conversation leads to unexpected results and manages to turn both their lives upside down.
A New Life
How often have you wondered if A New Life wouldn’t be fun? Circumstances force Anne to start again in Florence, Italy – with totally unexpected results . . .
Rent a Thief
Can you fall in love with a thief?
Stormy Times
Joanna is lost in a blizzard on her way home from a difficult foaling. Just one man can save her – but he’s strangely reluctant to come to her help. A Christmas romance.
A Little Bit of Passion
How much independence do you have to give up when falling in love?
Take My Place
A single mother sets up her own company and tries not to fall in love
Wings to Fly
Cathy tries to land the job of her life but an accident changes all her plans.
Cozy mysteries by Beate Boeker
Delayed Death – Temptation in Florence #1
What do you do when you find your grandfather dead half an hour before your cousin’s wedding? You hide him in his bed and tell everyone he didn’t feel like coming.
Charmer's Death – Temptation in Florence #2
What do you do when your best customer seduces your beautiful cousin? You try to save the situation, but it becomes a little harder than planned when he’s found strangled.
Banker's Death – Temptation in Florence #3
When Carlina’s attractive cousin Valentino returns from Dubai to Florence, he quickly becomes the most unpopular member of the wide-spread Mantoni family. When he is murdered, only Commissario Garini is sorry because he has to investigate the Mantoni family once again.
Enjoy this sneak peek at another romance by Beate Boeker:
Mischief in Italy
A romantic comedy
Copyright 2013 Beate Boeker
Excerpt
Henry
“Maybe you should be a bit more . . .” I hesitated and chose the word that would hopefully offend my son the least, “. . . selective.” I replaced the cup to its saucer and was glad I sounded so much in control. I'm a grown man. Fifty-eight, successful, settled. There is no reason to be nervous just because I plan to have a heart-to-heart talk with my grown son. I shot a glance at Josh to gauge his reaction.
A pulse started to beat at his neck, and he pushed a hand through his hair, just like he always does when he gets impatient.
For an instant, I missed Kate with something akin to pain. Kate had always gotten along with our son much better than I. She used to say we were too similar. When she died five years ago, it seemed at first as if Josh and I were growing closer - but only for a week or two. Whatever Kate had meant, one thing was sure - Josh and I had totally different approaches to deal with loss. I withdrew and became even more of a recluse while Josh threw himself head first into every available amusement. Divertimenti, as the Italians would say. The American boy is amusing himself . . .
When the pain receded after Kate's death, I didn't change my way of life. I can't tell why. Maybe I was too accustomed to it, too lazy to change something. Josh continued with his manifold ways of amusement, and I had been watching him with growing concern for some time. We should get closer again. Heck, he was my only son, and I loved him. I found it hard to tell him so, however. I hoped he knew it anyway. Right now, it was time for a talk, but I had to admit I dreaded it, that's why I had put it off for such a long time.
“What do you mean, I should be more selective?” His tone was aggressive.
Damn. I had taken the wrong approach, but it was too late now. I didn't know how to bring it across, how to put my unease into words.
“Dad?” Josh watched me with his blue eyes that could be so chilling.
“I mean . . .”, I was hunting for the right words with a feeling of despair. I had figured it out in advance. Had planned what to say. Had been convinced I could be calm and sensible and controlled. Instead, I had barely said five words and had lost it already.
“You mean?” His mouth had taken a mutinous shape. He was twenty-seven, too old to be told what to do.
I decided to take the plunge. “I have a feeling that you're only playing around, and that it's not good for you.”
“Playing around?” His jaw was one hard line. “What do you mean?”
Heavens, do I have to spell it out loud? “Women,” I said. “You're bringing different women home all the time; and I'm worried about you.”
“Why should you be worried?” Josh frowned. “I'm living a good life. I'm enjoying myself. What's wrong with that?”
“That's just it.” I was grateful that he had given me a good opening. One that got me back on track. “I'm not sure that you're really enjoying yourself. It only seems to touch the surface.”
“Oh, trust me, it gets deeper than that.”
I hate it when he makes leery remarks, and as usual, I decided to ignore it.
Josh pushed back his chair as if to get up. “You're telling me to settle down and to present you with grandchildren, is that it?” Again, his drew his hand through his hair. “God, I never thought it would get to that.”
I forced myself to remain calm. “No, that's not it, Josh,” I said. “I just want to tell you that I'm worried about you. You're not happy.”
“Well, let me tell you something, too, Dad.” Josh looked me straight in the eye. “In fact, it's good that you're bringing this up because I've been wanting to discuss it with you.”
Surprise shot through though me. “What do you want to discuss?”
“I feel that you're not living life as you should,” my son said. “You're being buried alive. Here you are, in a magnificent villa right at Lake Garda in sunny Italy, spoiled by beauty and riches, and all you do is sit at home all day long. I don't believe you even use the pool anymore.”
I stared at him, speechless. “You're worried about me?” I finally managed to squeeze out.
“Yes.” Josh pressed his lips together. “Your life is too sad for words.”
“But I'm fine.” Mixed feelings battled inside me. I was touched that Josh should worry about me - I had never suspected him to waste more than a fleeting thought on his father. On the other hand, he was a fine one to talk. How on earth had he dreamed up the idea that I was unhappy? “Don't worry about me,” I said. “There is no need to change anything in my life.”
“See?” Josh grinned. “That's the same answer I gave you. And I believe you even less than you believe me.”
I shook my head. Finances are a much easier topic than human beings. Either the shares go up or they go down. You can prepare for both. But human beings
are so unpredictable - they jump to the side and leave you puzzled. “So what do you suggest we do?”
Josh eyed me. “We have two options. Either we continue as we are, or we both try to make some changes.”
I did not like the direction this was taking. Maybe I should have left well enough alone, but I had the impression that Kate would have expected me to take a more active hand in our son's life, now that she was gone and that he seemed to have settled on a road that could only lead him to unhappiness. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well, to start with,” Josh picked up a piece of prosciutto-ham wrapped around a piece of sweet melon and gave me a wicked grin, “I think you need a woman.”
I choked on my coffee. “What?”
“I can help you find one,” he offered. “In fact, people often ask me to be introduced to you. Women too, but I always tell them you're not interested.”
“I'll thank you to keep it that way,” I said with a sharp note in my voice.
“But why not? They're quite attractive, I assure you.”
“If they're anything like the women you so successfully manage to bring home, I'm not interested. They only want a free meal ticket.” Darn. I shouldn't have been so crass. I gave Josh an uncomfortable look.
He kept his gaze on the melon on his plate. A strange smile played around his lips. “We're now coming to the root of the matter, Dad, aren't we?” He lifted his head and gave me a look I couldn't figure out. “You think I'm being exploited.”
I decided to be totally honest. “I'm afraid you'll get hurt.”
Josh laughed. He didn't sound amused. “Don't worry, Dad. I don't believe in illusions.”
“Good.” My reply was tart. “But I still don't want