If Something Looks Too Good To Be True, It Usually Is...
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National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
Alex has got this one in the bag. An admitted control freak, she has planned every move that has led her to this moment. She has worked her tail off for several years as a stockbroker at one of Chicago's most prestigious investment firms and her sacrifice is just about to pay off. She’s about to break the chained hands of the Old Boys Club and join the ranks of senior management. All she is waiting for is confirmation from the board. They invite her to a meeting to hear her ideas on what direction she would like to see the company head in. She welcomes the one last opportunity to dazzle them. Her presentation is all set, she's ready to make the pitch. Piece of cake…
And in walks Daniel. Tall, dark, and handsome. Her heart is captured from the moment their eyes meet, but something about the new hire doesn’t feel right. As time goes on she finds herself reluctantly falling for him and going against every belief that has gotten her to where she is today. Will she surrender to love and plunge head first into the abyss or will she listen to the voice inside telling her that if something looks too good to be true, it usually is?
My Inspiration
I love a boss woman. One that's empowered. Lives life on her own terms and one who understands her worth and value independent of a man. Alex embodied all those characterstics for me. When she popped into my mind. I had to tell her story.
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Her strength as a woman shines forth in the novel but she's not without flaws...without human frailty. And she's still a woman. One who falls head over heels in love with a man.
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And...I wanted to explore the story from Daniel's perspective as well. I wanted to show what it looks like when a man truly loves a woman and what his pursuit of that woman looks like. Quite frankly, I think many of us have forgotten.
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So, I guess there were two motives here. One...to show what it looks like when a woman is completely in command of herself and two...the magic that happens when a man spends his whole life searching and then finally meets The One.
Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars True love prevails despite all
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I started reading this book during my Christmas break and I literally could not put it down. I just finished reading it tonight @ midnight; this is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I could relate to most of Alex’s insecurities directly and indirectly. This book is definitely a good read leaving the hopeless hopeful.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good story
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This book is well written, relatable and a good love story. I enjoyed each of the character's development and growth. Great job!
5.0 out of 5 stars A Taste of Love and her most recent book Indiscretion give the reader...
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Tonya Lampley is an author who tells insightful stories. A Taste of Love and her most recent book Indiscretion give the reader lessons in love and life, all while stimulating the imagination. A Taste of Love is one of those books you curl up with on the beach or by the fire as you get to intimately know the characters.
Excerpt
As she drove along the highway, a myriad of thoughts ran through her mind. She thought about how things were progressing with Daniel. She couldn’t deny the fact that she was enjoying his company. At the same time, she dreaded that the feeling would soon return again; that reckless, out of control feeling that she had come face-to-face with in past relationships. It would soon bring with it a sense of helplessness, confusion, and a flood of emotions. Alex felt the sensible thing would be to stop seeing Daniel, but she was struggling to deny her interest in him.
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About midway through her drive, Gordon popped into her mind. He was still upset about his participation in the company’s hedge fund. His returns had been dismal. She had met with him and reassured him, like always, he was in good hands. She hoped it had been enough.
Alex had been managing his investments the entire time she was at Jacobson, Connor and Mack. She had made Gordon a lot of money over the years. She couldn’t afford to lose him now. Not when the board was in the midst of making their decision. The timing could not be worse.
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After several moments, she caught herself in mid-thought. She was on her way to enjoy a weekend with her family and here she was thinking about the office. She had repeatedly made commitments to herself to start building a life outside of work, but each time she had failed. Work always took center stage.
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Her thoughts whizzed through her mind―Daniel, Gordon, her promotion. She popped in a George Benson CD and began singing out loud, trying to drown them out. She made a stop for gas. After taking one look at the world’s most disgusting bathroom, she got back in the car and pulled back on to the interstate.
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Soon, she made the familiar exit toward home. The local landmarks that Detroit was famous for forced her to recall images of her childhood. As she passed the Lion’s stadium, she remembered Sunday games with her father. The memories were so vivid that she could smell hot dogs and popcorn. Her father taught her that those games were analogous to life and that winning at anything required discipline. She thought about how proud he would be of her, his only child. She had clawed her way to the top of a prestigious firm.
Alex had his same drive. He hadn’t been a rich man, but he had done well for a small town man from Mississippi with only a fourth grade education. As she thought of him, she could feel her eyes misting. She missed her father.
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Upon her arrival, Alex pulled out her cell phone and called Michelle to tell her that she was in town. Alex didn’t get back to Detroit often, but whenever she was there, she always made an attempt to connect with one of her dearest childhood friends.
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“Michelle, it’s Alex. You’re not going to believe this.”
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“What?” Michelle’s voice held anticipation.
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“I’m in town. Sorry I didn’t call you sooner. I’ve been so busy lately.”
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“You’re in Detroit? Somebody must’ve died,” Michelle teased her.
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“No, just the opposite.” Alex chuckled. “My cousin, April, is getting married. I don’t know if you remember her.”
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“I remember little April. She was the one who got us in trouble for the firecrackers.”
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“I had forgotten about that.” Alex retrieved the angry look on her father’s face from her memory. “I can laugh about it now, but back then I thought I would never see the light of day again.”
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“You and me both.” Michelle laughed.
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“I’ll be with family for most of the weekend, but hopefully we can get together before I leave.”
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“Now that you’re a big-time Chicago executive, I’m used to you breezing into town on short notice. I have to show a couple of properties this weekend. After that, I’m all yours.”
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“I’m pulling into Momma’s now,” Alex said. “I’ll call you later, and we can arrange a time to get together.” Alex hung up the phone.