{"product_id":"2940151635622","title":"Priced Out of Love: A Multicultural Romance (Part I)","description":"Note: You can preview Part II of this romance right here on Barnes \u0026amp; Noble.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOVERVIEW\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLisa's soon-to-be ex-husband, Steven, left her almost homeless with a two-year-old to care for. A divorce attorney, he threatened to take her daughter away unless she agrees NOT to ask for child support and alimony, which she needs to support herself and her child. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCynthia, a close friend and high-priced escort, asks her to go on a date that pays $5,000 for one night -- no sex involved. Lisa reluctantly agrees, but decides during the date that this life is not for her. Tristan, however, the wealthy bachelor who is her suitor for the evening, has a much more permanent arrangement in mind -- one that could secure her future financially, but ultimately cost her more in the long run.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollowing is a preview.\u003cbr\u003e                                                            ###\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Love schmove – it all starts out great, but I wouldn't bet my future on it, not with more than half of marriages ending in divorce. It's a gamble for any woman and the stakes are just too damned high, especially when you bring kids into it. I get a headache just thinking about it,\" Lisa's best friend, Cynthia, said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe doorbell rang. Lisa was glad for the interruption. She didn't think she could take much more of Cynthia's badgering and her obvious distaste for the institution of marriage, even though she knew Cynthia was right about one thing -- she did have to figure out what she was going to do to earn some money – and fast. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSteven, her soon-to-be ex-husband, had moved out and unbeknownst to her, he'd immediately stopped paying the rent on the condo they'd shared. It was now 90 days late and she was afraid of eviction. Every day she came home from job hunting, she was afraid she'd find a yellow piece of paper stuck to the door telling her that she had x number of days to vacate.\u003cbr\u003e                                                            ###\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLisa looked through the peephole in the front door. She recognized the friendly young office manager's face. She opened the door, her heart hammering in her chest. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Hello Marjorie,\" she said, a forced smile on her face. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Hello Mrs. Campbell,\" the young woman responded. She lowered her eyes somewhat. \"I'm sorry to have to give you this,\" she said, holding up the dreaded piece of yellow paper. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I understand,\" Lisa said. \"How long do I have?\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The standard 10 days,\" the young woman explained. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Is your boss around?\" Lisa asked, swallowing her pride, hoping she could speak with management and get more time. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'm afraid not,\" Marjorie responded. \"He left on vacation yesterday. These were prepared for me to hand out today.\" Lisa noticed she had two more of the hated yellow envelopes in her hand. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Is there someone else in the office I can talk to?\" Lisa asked, her desperation pushing her past any shame she felt. She was prepared to beg if she had to. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I'm afraid I'm it, Ms. Campbell,\" the young woman said, her eyes full of empathy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Thank you Marjorie,\" Lisa said, closing her front door. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. \"Oh God Cynthia, what am I going to do? Where are me and Molly going to go?\" \u003cbr\u003e### \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Is that why you asked me to marry you? Because you feel sorry for me? Because you don't think I can handle Steven?\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No. I asked you to marry me because I want you as I've never wanted another woman. And as I need a wife, I find that it's a perfect time to get married. Dealing with the likes of your soon-to-be ex-husband just happens to be something I'm more than equipped to handle.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Well don't pull any punches,\" she said, dumbstruck by how blatantly honest he was. There was no romance – not one trace of it. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Were you expecting anything less than honesty?\" Tristan asked. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I don't know. I just didn't expect you to say what you said.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Look Lisa, if I wanted a relationship where you had to woo and tell half-truths to get the girl, I would have been married a long time ago. I'm 38 years old and I know what I want and what I don't want. My desire for you is genuine. My wish to protect you and Molly is also. The kind of marriage I want is the one I've explained to you. I would hope you'd appreciate my clarity.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I do,\" she said, realizing that her dreams of traditional love hadn't worked out so well. She'd married for love once, and look where that had gotten her. You just don't get to have everything in life; her mother used to say that all the time. Looks like it had become a life-fulfilling prophecy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"There is a possibility that our marriage will work,\" Tristan said. \"If not, we can get a divorce. Your problems with your ex will be solved and we will have had a helluva time together because make no mistake Lisa, we will be man and wife in every sense of the word.\"","brand":"Inkwell Editorial Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47102832443632,"sku":"2940151635622","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940151635622_p0.jpg?v=1764013185","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940151635622","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}