Spotlight & Giveaway: You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan

Posted January 19th, 2023 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Spotlight / 21 comments

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Anastasia Ryan’s new release: You Should Smile More

When Vanessa Blair is fired because of her “resting bitch face,” her friends help her get revenge…

Telemarketer Vanessa Blair isn’t in love with her job. It pays the bills and feeds her foster kittens, but offers only one other perk: her friendships with Jane Delaney and Trisha Lam. But, as mind-numbing as her job is, things are about to get worse. Xavier Adams, her self-absorbed boss, calls Vanessa into the conference room and fires her. The reason? Her facial expressions. Apparently, she has resting bitch face, and it doesn’t matter that her sales numbers are stellar or that she organizes office events.

After a girls’ night of schnapps and imaginary retribution, Vanessa awakens to find her friends bent on a revenge strategy based on the classic business book The Art of War by Sun Tzu. At first, Vanessa wants nothing to do with it. She wants to file for unemployment and move on with her life, possibly with Carter Beckett, the cute, cat-loving unemployment rep assigned to her case. But when Xavier contests her unemployment and ruins her shot at her dream job, Vanessa is all in…

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from You Should Smile More

“You are the one I’m worried about,” he said, his breath on my lips. I felt my heart thump a beat too hard. He was too near to me for a casual conversation. This wasn’t the time for me to start anything with anyone. Still, my whole body felt tingly with anticipation, with the moment of waiting.
His hand came up to rest on the side of my face, his palm along my jawline, fingers brushing my cheek. My whole body felt tuned to that one spot, and I closed my eyes, letting the sensation wash over me.
“Do you mind…” I heard him breathe against my mouth, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. Not fully trusting my words, I shook my head slightly then felt his lips, featherlight, on mine.
He deepened the kiss, and my adrenaline reached a fever pitch. Then, before I knew it, he was pulling back, his hand falling to rest at his side. I opened my eyes, blinking up at him in the streetlight. He looked as shaken as I was. Then he ran a hand down the length of my hair, letting it curl around his wrist, before he let go. “Have a good evening, Vanessa,” he said, his voice slightly unsteady.
I cleared my throat. “You, too, Carter,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. He turned and walked in the direction of his car. I gulped in the cold night air, got in the car, started the engine, locked the doors, then rested my head against the back of the seat, trying to slow my heart rate.
When I opened my eyes, Carter’s car had left the parking lot. I adjusted the rearview mirror and studied my reflection. I looked flushed and… hopeful? Maybe I could turn Xavier in to the police without it coming back on me or my friends. And maybe if I’d gone to the work prom with Carter instead of Quentin, it would have been a whole different experience.

Giveaway: Print Copy of YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE

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Meet the Author:

Anastasia Ryan has degrees in English Literature and Pop Culture. Her debut novel, You Should Smile More releases in January 2023. Not Bad for a Girl is her second thoughtfully funny look at the absurdities of our modern workplace.
You can find her at https://anastasiaryan.com

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