Spotlight & Giveaway: In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Neely Tubati Alexander’s new release: In a Not So Perfect World

The author of Love Buzz follows her acclaimed first novel with a delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course . . .

Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that she’ll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. It’s actually fine—after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.

Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.

Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip can’t lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she can’t fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, he’s trying to win back his true love.

Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solve—at least she’s prepared for that.

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from In a Not So Perfect World 

One song ends and another begins—the Uncle Kracker version of “Drift Away” sweeps between us and I take the softer song as a sign to press forward with this questionable plan.
“Can I . . . I mean, would you . . .” I fumble every potential whole sentence that might make its way out of my mouth. “I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?” He takes a sip of his drink, so casually I almost feel bad that I’m about to ambush him.
“See, my friend Tess . . .” I glance over my shoulder at Tess, who has returned her attention to Man Bun, now twisting her body right to left in a flirty sway. If I weren’t in the midst of this
current situation, I’d pull out my phone and record her acting decidedly un-Tess-like in her clear flirtation. “She has this plan for me tonight,” I continue, refocusing. “I’m supposed to kiss someone.” My maturity level at this moment feels like that of a preteen. Why did my breakup with Zane launch me so far backward?
He cocks his head to the right and it’s reminiscent of Finn when he’s trying to understand part of a conversation. “Kiss someone,” he repeats, crossing his arms in front of him in observation.
“Yes. It’s stupid, I know. It’s just . . . I need to do this or she’s not gonna let me leave and I need to get home and it’s—”
“Yeah, okay.”
I stare up at him. “Really?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Don’t you even want to know why?” I ask, surprised and somewhat skeptical of his willingness.
“Do you want to tell me why?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not particularly, no.”
“Okay then.”
Is it really this easy? He’s acting as though mine is a normal, perfectly sound request. Does this kind of thing happen to him a lot? I appraise his objectively handsome face for a moment and believe that perhaps it could be a common occurrence for him. Then, before I can think better of it, I throw my hand to the back of his head and pull it toward me. Our faces ram into
each other, the corner of the brim of his hat nearly catching me in the eye, and the shock causes a bit of a bounce before our mouths land together again. When we do, I suction to him with all the vigor I can muster.
At first, he is rigid. A stunned animal gone stiff in an attempt at self-preservation. Despite voicing his approval of my request, I don’t know that he expected me to act so suddenly.
But then . . .
Slowly, he melts, lips parting. I feel his tongue make its way to mine, soft and playful. My hand is still stationed behind his head, though it’s no longer pushing, and I run my fingers along
the soft spike of his hair that juts out just beneath the bottom edge of his hat. We both tilt our heads to find a deeper, more gratifying angle.
He is kissing back. Definitely kissing back.

Excerpt. ©Neely Tubati Alexander. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 
 

Giveaway: US only. 1 print copy of IN A NOT SO PERFECT WORLD

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Meet the Author:

Neely Tubati Alexander is the author of women’s fiction with rom-com feels you can escape into with a smile. Originally from the Seattle area, she currently resides in Arizona with her husband and two elementary-aged children. If she’s not tucked away at the little desk in her bedroom writing, you can find her at some kiddo activity, drinking wine, or watching reality television, usually the last two together.

Amazon: http://aps.harpercollins.com/hc?isbn=9780063292949&retailer=amazon
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Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/397/9780063292949