It’s release week for BOSS LADY the second standalone romance in the Driven Women series by Laralyn Doran. Come meet Harper & Cal and enter the giveaway. If you haven’t read the RWA Vivian nominee, A FAST WOMAN it’s currently on sale for a limited time.
Boss Lady by Laralyn Doran
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Shattering glass ceilingsโฆ
She needs a silent partner, not another man pulling the strings.
He has everythingโexcept a purpose.
Will they invest in each other or be forced to choose between love and success?
Harper Merrick
Striking out on my own, challenging the patriarchy of the racing world, and having the proverbial balls to be a respected, female stock car team ownerโIโm ready.
Resisting the tempting investor who is as irresistible as he is irritating? Thatโs an obstacle that may require a bit more of my Southern girl grit. I need his money for my new team, but I donโt have time for his interferenceโor the way he makes me feel.
Iโve dealt with men like him before. But Cal McBane isnโt like any other man, and heโs proving to be my biggest challenge, yet.
Cal McBane
Iโve been raised to follow in my fatherโs footsteps, but Iโm dragging my feet down the path. Harper Merrick shows me a way to break freeโitโll only costs me a few million, a bit of my sanity, and my entire heart. Funding her new venture is a no-brainerโfalling for the clever blonde is a surprising dividend.
Now weโre both investedโand itโs not just the money at stake.
When the team is in jeopardy, and questions are raised that could destroy Harper, will we walk away from love to save the business?
Or will we fight together and profit from a partnership no one can wreck?
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GUEST POST
Tightening their Ponytails
โHow a middle-aged, suburban mom is inspired to write about a โracingโ romance.
By Laralyn Doran
So how does a suburban, middle-aged, stay-at-home mom, from the middle of the Mid-Atlantic come to write a romance about a young woman stock car driver?
I raised two young boys who loved NASCAR and was dragged, with my eyes-rolling, ย into fantasy NASCARโyes, thatโs a thing. We live about three hours away from the nearest race- track. So how did this happen? Got me.
I drove a mini-van for thirteen years. The most daring automotive thing I ever did was learn to drive a stick-shiftโand thatโs a story for another day.
Now, I maybe old enough to be the mother to some of them, but some of those drivers are adorable. And the rivalriesโwhew! You donโt see those in other professional sports where loyalty is bought with a new contract each season.
But I digress.
There were a few events that lead to my inspiration for A FAST WOMAN. In 2017, we went on a tour of Charlotte Motor Speedway, and we got to ride around the track in a van. Now, the van only went maybe 65 mph, but with the banking corners of the track at 24 degrees, you get a better understanding of what it would feel like doing 200 mph and sling-shot around the corners.
We walked by a small legend car (theyโre like the Little League of racing) and the tour guide said it was driven by a 12-year-old-girl that past weekend. . (This was about the time my 12-year-old son was again bemoaning the fact that we couldnโt live in Charlotte.)
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Danica Patrick announced her retirement igniting interest in who was coming up behind her. ย They aired profiles on less-known women already in stock car and the younger women, the โHot Shotsโ, coming up the ranks.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Some of these โHot Shotโ young ladies were barely old enough to get their driverโs license. But with NASCARโs Drive to Diversity, and other such programs, they were given a spotlight. .
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Also, with Danicaโs retirement, there was an old broadcast pulled out where a well-known, retired racing personality showcased the quintessential stereotype of the patriarchal arrogance toward Danicaโs move into the Cup Series. It made me think of the young โHot Shotsโ and wonder how much they had to deal with over the years. .
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย These young women were fifteen through nineteen-years-old at the time; the age when most girls are thinking about school, driverโs licenses, prom, and first lovesโand these ladies werenโt planning their futureโthey were fighting for it. They were battling boys, and sometimes men old enough to be their fathers, out of major contracts and endorsements. They got wrecked, turned, intimidated, and were forced to stand up and give as good as they got.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Racing is one of the only professional competitive sports where women arenโt separated from men, but itโs still viewed as one of the ultimate masculine sports. These women are amazing athletes and demand to be seen for who they are. They are strong, outspoken, talented women who tighten their ponytail and kick ass and are such an inspirationโeven to a middle-aged mom who drives a mini-van. <>
CJ Lomax was born.
Read an Excerpt
โWell, this looks like a lively bunch of loveliesโฆโ a deep voice drawled. A warm hand was on my shoulder before I had a chance to look up to see him. Cal. I wasnโt startled to see him, but butterflies fluttered, and multiple magnets activated inside me before I even turned and saw his face. Like a lust-struck idiot, I immediately stared at his lips. I wanted to kiss him again.
God help me, I regretted not dragging him back to my room last night. If Spencer hadnโt caught up to me and told me about his intervention with the Gwen Friday interview, I probably wouldโve pulled Cal into a dark corner to finish that kissโand who knows where that wouldโve led.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ex-boyfriends reappearing can mess up a girlโs libido.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โHello, ladies.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โHi, Cal, wonโt you please join us?โ my mother invited.
โIโd love to, but I canโt. I have to catch a plane in a bit. I wanted to speak to Harper, if I may?โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย My mother practically tipped over her seat in an effort to push me out of mine.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โYes, pleaseโgo!โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Okay, thatโs not embarrassing. It was as if a boy asked me to dance and my mother was shoving me out onto the dance floor.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I cringed internally.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Cal held out his hand, helping me up, and then guiding me through the tables with his hand on my lower back. The contact was better than a shot of caffeine. Heโd touched me that way last night, but in the light of day, it still affected meโseemed more real.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Oh, this was bad.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย This was so bad.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย It was probably the whole white knight thingโhim coming to my rescue last night. Me confronting Spencer and him sweeping me away. I had to squash this.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I turned as we made it outside to the sidewalk, and he smiled down at me as if he knew the effect he was having. Was he thinking about that kiss? Was that what was behind the crinkle of amusement in his narrowed gaze? Or did he know I was thinking about the kiss?
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โSo, whatโs up?โ I said, trying so hard to be casual. Just two acquaintancesโokay, maybe friends. We were friends.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Friends who had kissed.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Grow up. It was New Yearโsโitโs a free night on New Yearโs.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย He stood back and put his hands in his jeans pockets. His casual collared, untucked shirt defined his biceps and chest as if it were just a tad too small for him. Maybe it was because I was used to seeing him in business attire. The dark blue of it did wonderful things to brighten his eyes. And he was wearing jeansโwell-worn jeans.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Stop. Just stop.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I was falling real deep into this fairy tale bull crap.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I searched the street around us for something else that was mesmerizing enough to stare at.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โJust playing my part in saying goodbye to my girl,โ he drawled out.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย My head whipped around, and shock must have lit up my face before I could hide it, because he let out a laugh. โRelax, Harper, I was joking. Geez, is even pretending to be my girl so scary?โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย His girl.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Those two words ran through me like an unidentifiable wave.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Uh, yeah. It scared the crap out of me.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โDonโt be ridiculous, I know Iโm not your girl.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I crossed my arms over my chest.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย He studied me as if deciding what to say next. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped. And I so desperately wanted to know what it was that I almost blurted out, โTell me,โ and even had a hand ready to grab him.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โAnyway…โ He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. โLast night was fun. Let me know if you need my sub-boyfriend duties again.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โIโm sure weโll be fine. Spencer and Susannah live in Atlanta, so I doubt we will have a chance to run into them againโฆโ Then I remembered Spencer mentioning he would be spending time in Charlotte and cringed a bit. Well, that didnโt involve Calโheโd be in Chicago anyway. โBesides, itโs probably best if people donโt think weโre a couple. I donโt want to give the impression that you are propping me up in Merlo. I need people to know that Iโm doing this on my own. That itโs just me, Sadie, and CJ.
โIf we broadcast that weโre a coupleโor, um, let people think weโre aโฆcoupleโฆtheyโll assume youโre behind everything and it will hurt my credibility, and the credibility for all of us as women in the industry.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย He stared at me. โI donโt think thatโs true, but I donโt want to start that debate again,
soโ” He pulled me in, wrapping me in a warm but friendly embrace that I couldโve lingered in for a long while.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I imagined taking him home and covering him like a human blanket while we lounged a lazy day away, never having to stop touching himโฆever. Exploring himโฆall of him.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Jesus. I was clinging to his back.
Stop it, Harper! Get ahold of yourself.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Wait, did he just smell me? Maybe he was just breathing.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I couldnโt expect him not to breathe while he hugged me.
He kissed the top of my head.
I was probably crushing him in my death grip of a hug. Heat flooded my cheeks. It had been a while since a man held me, let alone anything else.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ugh.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I pushed back and forced a smileโeven though as anxious as I was, it probably resembled someone who was going to puke their brunch up. I certainly couldnโt make eye contact. โWell, I guess Iโll talk with you later this week?โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โYes. Actually, Iโd like to set up a routine timeโif thatโs possible. Have Amy get in touch with Dean and work something out. I think with both of our schedules getting crazy, it would be best to slice out a permanent time in our calendar.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I nodded. โProbably a good planโฆโ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โI meanโฆyou could call whenever you needed me. But this would be our timeโI mean, uhโฆa scheduled time,โ he added.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โOkay. Iโll talk with Amy.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย He took a step back. โAlright. Iโll talk to you later, then.โ
He hesitated. And in that moment, with our stares locked on each other, it was if that kiss hung there between usโreplaying in bright HD color without soundโwaiting for subtitles or the background dialogue explaining what it all meant.
I broke the stare, fidgeted with my hands to my sides. โOkay.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โI know seeing your ex last night was probably the last thing you wanted to deal with, but I had a good time playing your wingman.โ He reached out as if to stroke my face and brushed my shoulder, instead.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I smiled. โMe too.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย He glanced over my shoulder at something and nodded before stepping into a car with a driver waiting for him at the curb, and my heart sank a little as the car pulled away.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โDonโt tell me itโs nothing.โ
I jumped. Iโd been so caught up in my own world of denying my growing attraction to Cal that I didnโt hear the attack approach.
My best friend sauntered up behind meโher arms crossed, and her trademark smirk laced with a mixture of suspicion and amusement. โBecause that was about the silliest, cutest, most awkward goodbye I ever saw. For Christโs sake, I need a shot of insulin for all that sweetness I just witnessed.โ
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I smacked her shoulder. โShut up.โ
Driven Women Series
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Enter Giveaway
- Wright Kind of Love: K. A Linde - April 18, 2024
- A Taste of Whiskey: Melissa Foster - April 10, 2024
- Good Half Gone : Tarryn Fisher - April 3, 2024
Thanks Nadene. What a fun post!
Yes, it is indeed a fun post.
Thanks for letting me get to know the author a bit!
It was my pleasure Debbie.
I am loving the sound of these, Entered the giveaway and hoping to get lucky!
Good luck.
Fabulous guest post and excerpt. Boss Lady looks good.
Glad you enjoyed them both.
[…] Totally Addicted to Reading (Guest Post) […]
I enjoyed the excerpt. This sounds like it would be a good read.
I hope so. I am looking forward to reading it.
I can tell from the covers alone these are fun reads!
I enjoyed the first book, so I am looking forward to reading book 2.
The book sounds great and I love the cover.
I am looking forward to reading it. I think you should try the first book, A Fast Woman.
I like the sound of this book and the guest post was fun. Thanks for sharing!
I am reading it now and enjoying every moment.
I enjoyed the excerpt. Adding this to my TBR list.
Glad you enjoyed the excerpt. I am looking forward to reading Boss Lady.
Boss Lady seems right up my alley.
Great. I hope you give it a try.