Journeys with Jana: Pandora Spocks and CHASING ORDINARY #NewRelease

Pandora Spocks joins me today on the last day of her blog tour. Her newest release, CHASING ORDINARY, came on the market February 13, 2018. Pandora shares her favorite scene in the book, which happens to be the scene where Petey and Nik first meet. I love it! Make sure to scroll to the end of the post and enter her Rafflecopter giveaway.

Chasing Ordinary

By Pandora Spocks

Pandora is giving away The Dream Dominant Series 3 Book Bundle to three lucky winners. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.

About the Book:

Red-haired Petey Cavanaugh is a sculptor who welds steel and glass creations. A young widow, she lives on her in-laws’ sheep ranch in Montana where she helps out during the day, working on her art at night.

Looking to raise money to expand the ranch’s business, she gratefully accepts her art school roommate’s offer of a gallery show in Manhattan. It’s been years since she was in the city, and she’s happy to visit her old friend.

Nik is in New York on business. He’s been traveling for nearly a month, enduring endless meetings, attending obligatory dinners, and battling jet-lag. On his way to yet another business dinner, his world collides with Petey's one rainy Manhattan night.

Their mutual attraction is immediate, but Nik’s skeptical. Could it possibly be that this gorgeous, enchanting artist has no idea that he’s Europe’s most eligible prince?

Spending time with Petey is Nik’s first-ever taste of ordinary. What will happen when she finds out the truth?

Release Date: February 13, 2018

Genres: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Heat Level: Erotic Buy Links: Amazon | Other Links Here

Excerpt:

Howard had been talking nonstop for twenty minutes. Each time Petey thought she’d found the opportunity to extricate herself, he continued his rambling, while edging ever closer, invading her personal space, and chatting about his work and his home in New Jersey. He seemed to be one of those individuals who was completely inept at picking up on social cues.

She’d just worked up the gumption to simply excuse herself the next time he came up for air, when she heard a familiar voice.

“There you are, darling!” Nik swooped in, handing her a glass of wine. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Will you ever forgive me?” He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.

Stunned, Petey stammered a bit. “Um, yes. Well…darling, yes, you certainly are late. What’s up with that? I’ve been waiting for you.”

“I know. But traffic was a nightmare, what with the rain. You just wouldn’t believe it.” Nik turned to Howard. “Who’s your friend?” He smiled pleasantly at the confused man.

“Oh, sorry. Nik, this is Howard. Howard, meet Nik.”

Howard worked his mouth, but was blissfully silent.

Nik reached to shake his hand. “So nice to meet you. If you’ll excuse us, I need to make up for lost time. Come, darling.”

He grasped Petey’s hand and led her to the opposite side of the gallery. When they reached a quiet corner, he turned and smiled at her.

She gave a relieved laugh. “Oh, my God, for the second time tonight, you saved my bacon.”

Nik laughed, too. “The exasperation on your face said that you needed rescuing. Who was he anyway?”

“Some guy that my friend Jules thought I should meet. I mean, he’s nice enough, but he had absolutely no sense of personal space. And he would notstop talking. Sheesh!”

“He’s probably just shy in the presence of such a pretty woman.” Nik’s blue eyes sparkled.

Petey rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure that’s it,” she said sarcastically. “I guess you ditched your business dinner?”

Nik nodded. “I did.”

She eyed him curiously. “What kind of business are you in?”

He paused a beat. “I’m in international finance and development.”

Warmth flooded her face, and she knew she was blushing. A sheepish smile curled her lips. “I have no idea what that means.”

He smiled, too. “I travel and meet with business people, mostly, occasionally politicians, and we discuss ways to improve our national economies, and ways to assist developing economies as well.”

“Oh. I’m sure Jules would understand completely. She has a sharp business mind. I’m just so,” she gave a self-deprecating chuckle, “right-brained.”

She fanned herself lightly with her hand. “So, you’d had enough of finances and development for one night?”

Nik nodded agreeably. “I’ve worked all day. As I sat listening to more business conversation, all I could think was that I’d like to attend the gallery opening of a promising young sculptor.”

Petey’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Well, if I hear of any, I’ll let you know.” They both laughed together.

“I just watched your video. Such an interesting way to introduce yourself to patrons.”

“Oh, that.” Petey blushed. “Jules flew out to Montana a couple of months ago. She hired a film crew to follow me for a day, do interviews and stuff. Then they just put it together.”

He regarded her curiously, eyes sparkling. “What are the chances you’d give me a guided tour of this incredible exhibit?”

She pretended to consider his request. “Well, you did see to it that I was put back together after being blasted by that tidal wave. And, you rescued me from being talked to death by a close-talking dentist. I’d say your odds are pretty good.” She laughed. “I think bringing me a glass of wine put you over the top, though.”

Nik laughed, too. “Lucky for me, then.”

“Lucky for you. Okay, let’s take a tour.”

Favorite Scene

My new book, Chasing Ordinary, is the modern adult fairy tale I’ve always wanted to read.

Red-haired Petey Cavanaugh has left her Montana ranch to sell her sculptures at a New York gallery show organized by her best friend.

Nik has been traveling for nearly a month. Now, he’s in New York on business, and can’t wait to finally go home.

Their worlds unexpectedly collide one rainy Manhattan night, in a way that changes them both forever.

Busy with her sheep and her art, Petey’s not the kind of girl to waste time with celebrity gossip. Which is why she has no idea that Nik is actually Europe’s most eligible prince.

Nik is enchanted; she’s his first-ever taste of ordinary. But she has to find out, eventually.

I love the scene where the two first meet. (Warning for a bit of profanity.)

Nik peered grimly out the window at the passing grey tableau as the Mercedes made its way uptown toward the exclusive Empire Club. Dalton Rigby’s great-great grandfather had been a founding member, as the man had been careful to point out every time Nik had ever met him.

At least the food will be good, he consoled himself. Mentally, he went over his talking points as the city passed by in a gloomy blur.

A flash of color on the sidewalk caught his focus. Ahead, a woman in a bright red dress was attempting to hail a cab in the pouring rain. As his car pulled alongside her, he watched in slow motion as a spray of water completely doused her.

“Stop the car!” he shouted.

The driver eyed him in the rearview mirror.

“Stop the car,” he repeated.

“But sir,” Jorgen protested from his seat beside Nik.

Shrugging, the driver stopped, causing the car behind them to slam on its brakes and honk loudly.

Nik was already halfway out of the car. “Go around the block,” he called over his shoulder as he stepped out into the rain, slamming the door behind him.

The woman was still standing where she’d been when the Mercedes’ front wheel had torn through a deep puddle, spraying her with filthy runoff. Nik made his way to her, ignoring the rain that pelted him as he walked.

“I’m terribly sorry. Are you alright?”

She stood shaking from cold, red hair matted to her head, black streams of mascara running down her face like cracks in fine china. “I’m s-s-s-soaked!” she shrieked.

“Again, I’m so sorry.” Nik’s expression was contrite. He shrugged out of his suit jacket and wrapped it around her. She was tiny, and the jacket nearly swallowed her whole. He glanced around. “Is your apartment near here?”

She shook her head. “I’m locked out. And I’m unbelievably late. I can’t go like this. And I can’t get back into the fucking apartment! Fuck!”

“My car is coming back around the block. I’ll give you a ride to wherever you need to—“

At that moment, a boxy delivery truck hit the same puddle, spraying them both. They gasped in unison. Momentarily blinded by the wall of water, Nik sputtered and swiped at his face. “Bloody hell!”

He looked down at the woman whose eyes were impossibly wide with surprise. “Here comes my car now. Come with me. I’m staying at the Plaza. We’ll call ahead and have the stylist meet us. Once we’re both cleaned up, I’ll take you where you need to go.”

She looked up at him in alarm. “I’m not going to your hotel with you!”

“No, I don’t mean… I realize how inappropriate it sounds, but I promise, I only mean to help.” He held up his hands in surrender. “Clearly you can’t stay here. And you can’t go to wherever it is you were going, not like this.”

He aimed for a reassuring smile. “The services of the spa and salon will be at your disposal. And I know St. James will have something for you to wear.”

He watched as she considered her options. “I feel responsible. Please let me make things right.”

The black Mercedes pulled up to the sidewalk and the driver walked around to open the back door. “Please,” he pleaded softly.

The woman drew a shaky breath. “Okay. Thank you,” she said quietly.

Jorgen slid out of the back seat and moved to the passenger side of the front. Nik motioned for the woman to get in, and he climbed in beside her. The driver returned to his seat and pulled out into traffic.

“Jorgen, call St. James and tell him to meet us at the underground entrance. Ms.—“ He looked to the woman.

“Oh, Cavanaugh. Petey Cavanaugh.” At his befuddled expression she added, “It’s a long story.”

Nik frowned. “Ms. Cavanaugh is to have whatever services she needs. When she’s ready, we’ll take her where she needs to go.”

“Yes, sir,” Jorgen responded, taking his phone out of his pocket.

“Thank you,” Petey said sheepishly. “I’d better call my friend.”

She dialed a number. “Yeah, it’s me.” There was a short pause. “No, I’m not almost to the gallery. I’ll tell you all about it when I get there.”

Another pause. “I know, seriously, I do! Nobody would rather be there right now than I would, but I forgot the umbrella, and I forgot the key, and I’m a total wreck right now, completely soaked to the skin.”

She seemed to listen for a moment. “I know, but I can’t help it. I’m headed to the Plaza. I’ll get cleaned up, and then I’ll be right there.”

Nik watched as she eyed him quickly. “I don’t know. Some guy,” she whispered. There was another pause, and Nik could hear an agitated voice on the other end, although he couldn’t make out the words.

“Okay, Jules, I’m hanging up now. I’ll let you know when I’m on my way.” She stabbed at her phone and put it back in the small silver bag she was carrying.

She looked back at him sheepishly. “My friend.”

“I truly am sorry. You said you’re late?”

She nodded. “It’s a gallery opening. I’m supposed to be there,” she glanced at her watch, “twenty-two minutes ago.”

“I’m late for dinner myself. At least gallery openings usually run for several hours. Surely it won’t matter if you’re a bit late,” he said reasonably.

“It’s my show. It looks kind of bad for the guest of honor not to be there.”

Nik was intrigued. “You’re an artist. What is your medium?”

“Sculpture. I do welded steel and glass pieces.”

He squinted, picturing the petite, feminine woman using a welding torch to bend steel to her will.

“We’re here, sir,” Jorgen announced, interrupting his thoughts. The car pulled through a security gate into an underground garage. As it eased up to a pair of double glass doors, Colin St. James stepped out to greet them.

“Holy crap on a cracker,” he exclaimed as first Nik, then Petey, climbed out of the back of the car. “What on God’s green earth happened to you?”

“It’s raining,” Nik replied succinctly. “This is Ms. Cavanaugh. She’s late to her own gallery opening, and obviously, she can’t go like that. Please see to it that she’s ready in about twenty minutes. Will that be possible?”

“Twenty minutes? Are you kidding me? They don’t call me ‘the miracle worker’ for nothing.” He scanned Petey up and down. “Although this might be my greatest challenge yet,” he said under his breath.

She glared up at him through wet lashes.

Nik turned to Petey. “I’m going upstairs to get cleaned up. I’ll check on you when I’m ready.”

She nodded shyly, shrugging off his suit jacket and handing it to him. “Um, thank you.”
He nodded to Colin and turned to head to the elevator.

Colin took Petey by the hand. “Okay, sweetie, let’s see what we can do.”

Chasing Ordinary released February 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s available at your favorite online bookseller. books2read.com/ChasingOrdinary

Author Bio:

Pandora Spocks is a sassy ginger and hopeless romantic, living her happily ever after in South Florida. She enjoys reading and writing literary erotic romance.

She is the author of the three-novel epic romance Rannigan’s Redemption, and a naughty little romantic novella, Just One Night. Her Dream Dominant Collection is a series of light BDSM stand-alone novels featuring sexy Alpha males and the strong red-haired submissives who can’t resist them. The collection currently includes three novels: Luke & Bella, Lost & Bound, and For Sparrow.

Pandora is busy on her laptop, working on her next spicy romance.

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