He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not…

With: Naima Simone

Congratulations to "Mandy", the winner in Naima's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!

When I was younger, I wrote in my diary about how Eugene Dudley looked at me across a dinner of hamburger patties and corn at our after school program. And about how he would aim the ball directly toward me during our evening kickball game just so I could catch it. Not Tammy Taylor. Me. Never mind that my sister would pick the lock on said diary and write her own opinions of my observations, I knew he had feelings for me. Or in the eighth grade when Michael Myler stole my language arts workbook and drew pictures of penises and “NKOTB Sucks!” in it. Sigh. It was just his unique way of articulating his love for me. Or in college when Tony Oh-My-God-You-Look-Just-Like-the-Guy-From-Bone-Thugs-‘n-Harmony asked me to braid his hair, I read between the lines. He wanted me…maybe not after he had to jump out of my dorm room window when the hair-braiding session ran a little long, and he landed face first in the mud… But before that? Oh yeah, we were meant for each other.

 

With some distance—and a degree in Psychology—I can tell these were definitely cases of grand, all-consuming love…on my part. But for Eugene, Michael and Tony? Hmmm. Not so much. Like me, I’m sure we have all experienced instances of unrequited love. In The Bachelor’s Promise, Book 3 in the Bachelor Auction series from Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line, the heroine, Noelle Rana, knows all about unreciprocated love. She and Aiden Kent, the hero, have a complicated history with bad blood, but that didn’t stop her from loving him all those years. But that same bad blood hinders Aiden from seeing the real her, and she fears it always will.

So here’re some famous couples who’ve bitten the bitter fruit of love unreciprocated…

Charlie Brown and that Little Redhead Girl – Apparently the Lil’ Redhead Girl doesn’t appreciate a man with a ginormous, uh, brain. Charlie Brown should just give it up and get with Peppermint Patty. Althooough, me thinks there’s a tad bit of ambiguity there with that one…

Cyrano de Bergerac and Roxane – Cyrano should’ve went for it. He might’ve found Roxane would’ve loved him for his soul like she did Christian at the end. Worst case scenario, she rejected him, and he could’ve bopped her in the head with his nose.

The Little Mermaid and the Prince – Don’t get me started. She saved the prince’s life, was his dedicated companion, danced for him because it lightened his heart, even though every step was like daggers stabbing her feet. She gave up her family and voice. And this ingrate went and married some other chick who just showed up? I would’ve knifed him, got my tail back and hooked up with the first merman I swam into.

Jacob and Bella – Jacob loved Bella but she fell for Edward, the sensitive, I’ll-tear-that-headboard-up vampire. So instead of just hooking up with another werewolf he bonds himself to Bella and Edwards’s offspring…That’s just a little bit creepy, dude. It’s like he said, I’d rather have half of Bella than none of her. Thing is, the other half is Edward. So that’s like the weirdest ménage ever!

And last but not least…

Me and Vin Diesel – Although I wouldn’t really call this unrequited because Vin does love me, he just can’t afford to let the world know because of his situation and my situation… So it’s just best if we keep our relationship on the DL…

There you go! Tell me who you have a case of unrequited love with—real or fictional—and you’ll have a chance of winning a copy of Beauty and the Bachelor and The Millionaire Makeover, books 1 and 2 in the Bachelor Auction series!  

The Bachelor's Promise

Aiden Kent never expected to see Noelle Rana again. He’s determined to keep his distance from the beautiful enigma wrapped in denim and leather. He can’t trust anyone with the last name Rana. But he made a promise to his dying mother, and it isn't long before Noelle invades his personal space. He can't stop thinking about the exotic beauty's alluring curves.

He wants the daughter of his enemy, and he’s determined to have her…if only for one night.

If Noelle wants to move forward with her life, she must make a deal with the devastatingly gorgeous, broody millionaire Aiden. He made a promise years ago, and she’s come to collect—even if it means facing down the only man who ever broke her heart. And there's a really good chance he'll do it again.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bachelors-Promise-Bachelor-Auction-ebook/dp/B01JZ72FZG

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bachelors-promise-naima-simone/1124286780?ean=9781633756960

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-bachelors-promise/id1141859414

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-bachelor-s-promise

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30741475-the-bachelor-s-promise

Author bio:

Naima Simone’s love of romance was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey, Sandra Brown and Linda Howard many years ago. Well not that many. She is only eighteen…ish. Though her first attempt at a romance novel starring Ralph Tresvant from New Edition never saw the light of day, her love of romance, reading and writing has endured. Published since 2009, she spends her days—and nights— creating stories of unique men and women who experience the first bites of desire, the dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love.

She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.

Author links: 

Website: http://www.naimasimone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naimasimoneauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Naima_Simone

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3232449.Naima_Simone

Newsletter: http://www.naimasimone.com/contacts.html

Giveaway:

Naima will be giving away a digital copy of BEAUTY AND THE BACHELOR and THE MILLIONAIRE MAKEOVER to one lucky reader who leaves a comment or email entry!

Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Sep. 4th. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com with a subject title of JCR GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.