Monday, August 4, 2014

Better Than Your Dreams - Teaser Tuesday / First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros

I've read every one of Dee Ernst's books and treasure them all, especially her new release Better Than Your Dreams. In this book and in Better Off Without Him, her character Mona has too many things going on in her life: her almost-80-year-old aunt is getting married to a shady character; her eldest daughter is engaged to Mona's boyfriend's son (after a very brief courtship); a curvaceous predator is after her man; and she's received a marriage proposal herself! The result is a hilarious and heart-warming story of a "woman of a certain age" trying to cope with everything life is throwing at her. Mona is someone you'd love to have as a friend. With Mona around, your life would never be dull!

Better Than Your Dreams will officially be released August 6 but is available for pre-order in ebook format for only $2.00 right now.  
(My excerpts are from an advance copy.)

First Chapter / First Paragraph:
In the eighteen months that I had been flying back and forth between LAX in California and EWR in Newark, New Jersey, I had never quite gotten the hang of it. I didn't mind the flight out to LA. For some reason it seemed shorter and easier. But coming back--very tough. Maybe it was because I always took the first flight out at six in the morning. Which meant being at the airport by five in the morning, which meant I had to leave my house at--Never mind. It's too depressing to think about.

In my Teaser, Mona bought beautiful clothes while in Los Angeles. However, now she's dressing for Thanksgiving dinner, and she's getting frustrated. After all, she needs to outshine Carmella, the woman she's convinced has designs on her man. 

Teaser (from approximately Page 93):
I grabbed several outfits and started trying them on. Nothing that was appropriate for drinks on a terrace overlooking the Hollywood sign was going to fly during a family dinner in Westfield, New Jersey, in November.
Maybe I'd just come downstairs in my black bustier, satin tap pants, and garter belt.

Read a longer excerpt on Dee Ernst's website: HERE

Genre: Women's Fiction / Humor
Length: 272 Pages
Other Books by Dee Ernst: Amazon Author Page

Synopsis:
      In this follow-up to Better Off Without Him, Mona Quincy once again faces life’s tough moments with good friends, lots of laughs, and a cold, dry martini. For the past eighteen months, Mona has had a long-distance relationship with the man of her dreams, Ben Cutler. She’s been in LA working on a screenplay, while he’s been keeping the NJ home fires burning. But now she’s back, and she needs to find an answer to the question that was left unanswered a year and a half ago – will she and Ben marry?
      Mona doesn’t think she ever wants to get married again – not even to someone as practically perfect as Ben Cutler. But before she can think about her own marriage plans, she’s got a few other weddings to deal with. Her Aunt Lily doesn’t think that being almost eighty should deter her future happiness, and has met her perfect partner in Vinnie DeMatriano, who just happens to be the uncle of a slightly notorious crime boss. True, they’ve only know each other three months, but they want to tie the knot - in Mona’s back yard. Then Miranda, Mona’s oldest daughter, announces that she’s ready to get married after a three month long courtship of her own – to Ben’s son, David.
      Ben believes in love at first sight, and is thrilled for Miranda and David. Mona – not so much. She doesn’t want her daughter to marry anyone after such a short time. As they find themselves at odds for the very first time, Ben thinks they should step back and take some time away from each other. Mona is still unwilling to commit fully to Ben, and can only stand by as Carmella Ciavaglia, Vinnie’s wedding-planner daughter, circles Ben like a great white shark. Will  Mona finally get her Happily Ever After? Or has she learned her hardest lesson just a little too late?


  

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48 comments:

  1. This sounds like a fun read. Adding it to my TBR pile

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    1. Dee Ernst's books are so funny! I highly recommend every one of them.

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  2. This sounds like it will be a fun read, I'm not sure drinks in a garter is terribly appropriate ;-) Here is my TT http://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/teaser-tuesday-august-5/

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    1. Guess you'll have to read the book to find out what Mona decided to wear!

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  3. The into sounds good Sandra, and can recall my many early treks to the airport when i traveled a lot in my job.

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  4. Sounds like a good one.... but those early flights, ugh!

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  5. This does sound like a fun read. Since you highly recommend this author, I would keep reading.

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    1. This book is a stand-alone, but you'd also enjoy Dee's other book featuring this same character Better Off Without Him.

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  6. I'm not sure this is for me, but I hope you enjoy it!

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  7. I'd read on. I have not read this author in the past. I will give her a try. Thanks.

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  8. Sandra, I would keep reading! I don't usually read a lot of romance, but I read a certain type of chick-lit romance and this sounds like fun. She didn't state the obvious of why she enjoyed the trip from LA to Newark even less: you are losing hours by arriving much later than when you left (I lived on east coast & now the west), ouch. Thanks for introducing me to a new author.

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    1. You'll enjoy Dee's humor. About the flights: To me, no matter whether I'm going east or west, the time change is disorienting at first. Takes a while for my body to adjust!

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  9. This sounds good!

    I always find that the trip coming home feels longer than the one going somewhere to visit. For me, I think it's a matter of anticipation rather than related to flight times.

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    1. That makes perfect sense. Thanks for stopping by today.

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  10. I love Dee's work too Sandy! Thanks for this. Will definitely buy this one:)

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    1. Get it quick while it's at the pre-release price of $2.

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  11. I do love the sound of this one...I think I have another one of this author's books on Sparky...haven't read it yet. So I should...and then add this one! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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    1. My poor "Sparky" is overloaded. I do think you'd enjoy this book.

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  12. Sounds like it was a fun read! My teaser: The Moonstone

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  13. Fun teaser. Thanks for visiting mine:

    http://pdworkman.com/excerpt-from-christmas-carol-murder-teasertuesday-2/

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  14. I would probably read more. Pretty sure she needs to reconsider the outfit though. ;0)
    Thanks for coming by my blog!

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    1. She's joking about the bustier, etc., but there's a great scene where she's wearing it!

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  15. I like the book. Love the Teaser.

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  16. Sounds like a book that would be perfect for a rainy afternoon!

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  17. I'm not sure this is exactly my type of story, but it does sound fun. I hope you enjoy it!
    My Teaser.

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  18. I'd have to follow the aunt. My grandmother married a shady character late in life, lol.

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    1. There's a lot of love in Mona's family, and they add a lot to the story.

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  19. Good tease and description. It sounds like it sure has some drama.

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  20. These sound interesting. I love mature characters. Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Sounds like some drama going on! Interesting teaser!!

    Thanks for stopping by my TT

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  22. Oh, that sounds like a pretty interesting teaser and opening! I kinda feel bad for Mona! Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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  23. Haha!! Wonder if she did? Great tease.

    Thanx for visiting my TT
    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  24. Thanks for the teaser, Sandra. Just put in my pre-order. Can't wait for it to arrive. This came at the perfect time. For some reason the last few books I've read have been less than inspiring to say the least. Better Than Your Dreams sounds like just what the Doctor ordered!

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    1. I'm sure you'll enjoy Dee's latest book. It's beautifully written and nicely edited too.

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  25. This reminds me of the first time I ate Easter dinner with my in-laws. I dressed normal - a nice blouse and skirt. Everyone else turned up in jeans.

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    1. I've been in a similar situation. It's funny now, but not so much at the time!

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  26. I like the teasers, especially the dry humor. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Dee's humor is what I enjoyed most about the book.

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  27. I love what she picked as her outfit.

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  28. I like her sass, great teaser! Thanks for stopping by my post. :)

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  29. Sounds like a fun read!

    Thanks for having stopped by my blog!

    ^_^

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  30. That's a fun teaser! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  31. I loved the paragraph and the teaser. This books seems exactly like the type that I would read. I might have to pick this one up next.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  32. Certainly sounds like she's got a lot on her plate. That outfit would surprise people, at the least. :) Great teaser!!

    Rachel @ Paper Cuts

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