• Shop
My Account
  • Register
  • Login
Header Logo
You are here: Products five weeks to jamaica by doug oudin
Cover image of the book
Cover image of the book

five weeks to jamaica by doug oudin

Summary;

When four friends discovered a ‘luxury’ five-week cruise to Jamaica

for a mere five hundred dollars, they considered the offer

too good to pass up. On first sight of the ‘luxury yacht’, their

expectations diminished to the point where they questioned the logic of

continuing the voyage.

Larry, always the optimist, persuaded Kurt, Madison, and Marcos to stick

it out. Their adventure turned into much more than they could have

imagined, and ultimately changed their lives forever.

Joining a group of thirty eclectic souls aboard the 147 ft. ‘luxury

yacht’ Explorer, the friends departed Ensenada Mexico, bound for

Jamaica. From the beginning, it soon became obvious that the cruise

would not be luxurious, and in fact, it was doubtful that it could even

succeed. As they became acquainted with their shipmates, and began the

journey down the coast of Mexico and Central America, through the Panama

Canal, and on to Jamaica, friendships emerged, as did romances.

It also became obvious to all that the five-week time frame could

not be realized, and several passengers departed at various ports along

the way. Those who remained aboard began to discover a multitude of

unique and interesting pastimes to immerse themselves in, and several of

those pastimes led them to situations and adventures that can only be

described as bizarre, if not downright unbelievable.

When their cruising odyssey finally reached Jamaica, another twist to the adventure arose, when they joined a salty Englishman aboard a 47’ sailboat bound for Florida.

What happened on that leg of the journey brought danger, fear, and personal drama that would ultimately affect them all.

A fast-paced, exciting, and entertaining read, ‘Five Weeks to Jamaica’ is a book that will keep the reader eagerly engrossed and thoroughly entertained.

SKU: B0032AN4M6 Category: Contemporary
  • Description
  • Reviews (0)

Description

Find more from this author on:

Buy this book on Amazon
Amazon
Buy this book on Barnes&Noble
B&N
Author's Website
Author Site
Find this book on Goodreads
GoodReads


About the author:

Doug Oudin, author of ‘Between Two Harbors, Reflections of a Catalina Island Harbormaster’ (his memoir), and ‘Five Weeks to Jamaica’, a seafaring novel, is a former harbormaster on Catalina Island. He wrote a column for the Catalina Island Newspaper for twenty-one years, and also wrote for the Log Newspaper. Now living in Grants Pass, Oregon, he has been married to the love of his life, Maureen for thirty-eight years. He has two sons, Trevor and Troy. The sea is his earthly passion.

What inspired you to write your book?

My descriptions of places, people, and events are often based loosely upon my personal experiences, but I then use a certain amount of ‘literary license’ to embellish scenes, and enliven situations. I want the reader to say, as one reviewer did; “I couldn’t put it down!’

Here is a short sample from the book:

FIVE WEEKS TO JAMAICA
Kurt watched appreciatively as his girlfriend Madison walked across the patio bricks, involuntarily twitching his eyebrows at the motion of her hips under the short restaurant skirt. Madison had an unusual method of movement, almost manly in nature, but somehow always sensual. Kurt turned back to his workbench, and placed his tools in the center of the table. He had hoped to finish the job he was working on by nightfall, but a cold beer sounded really good. Maybe he would go back out after dinner and complete the project. He rolled down the garage door and went into the house.
Madison waited for him in the kitchen, popped open two Pacifico’s and grabbed his hand in an effort to lead him into the living room.
“Hang on a minute,” he said, “let me wash up.” He scrubbed-up quickly and joined her.
Seated together on the small, front-room sofa, Kurt turned to Madison and gave her a brief kiss on the lips. She grinned. He loved her lips. They were soft, and the upper lip was nearly as full as the lower—one of the many things about her that he adored.
Kurt had noticed the unusual fullness of her upper lip one evening a couple of years before, when she was lying on her back on the kitchen table drying her hair. She liked to let her thick tresses hang down nearly to the floor while drying. Lying on the table, she would run her fingers through the long golden locks, spreading them outward and let air between the strands to help them dry. On that particular evening, he was struck by the beauty of her heart shaped face in the upside-down position. With a cat-like slant to her eyes and a narrow bridge across her nose, her face appeared even more intriguing and lovely than when right side-up. That memory made him grin.
He stood and walked behind the couch, and leaned over to kiss her from that upside-down angle. She responded coquettishly, and smiled happily at his seemingly childlike captivation. “Oh Kurt,” she whispered, “Sometimes you are so silly.”
Both of them jumped in surprise when the phone rang. “Darn,” said Kurt.
“Let it go,” said Madison.
He shrugged and told her, “I’m expecting a call from work that I need to take.”
It was a phone call that would change their lives.
***
Kurt picked up the telephone. “Hello?” He was expecting a call from his boss, but instead it was his brother Larry.
“Hey Kurt,” Larry asked, “want to go to Jamaica with me and Marcos?”
It was so typical of him to get right to the point.
“What?” Kurt replied, frowning because his brother had once again managed to disrupt his usually imperturbable state of mind. “What are you talking about?”
“We found a luxury yacht selling a five-week, all-inclusive cruise to Jamaica, and we’re leaving in ten days. Want to go? It’s only five hundred dollars per person, and they still have space available.”
Kurt’s immediate reaction was one of slight annoyance, partly because Larry had interrupted his dalliance with Madison, and partly because he would not have answered the phone if he had not been expecting an important call. Pausing for a moment before responding, Kurt tried to focus. ‘A five-week cruise to Jamaica for five hundred dollars?’ It was a little too much to wrap his thoughts around.
“Larry,” Kurt responded slowly, “I’m kind of in the middle of something right now. Besides, I can’t just stop my life to take off on a five-week cruise.”
“Okay, not a problem. I just thought I would ask. Go ahead and get back to what you were doing and I’ll talk to you later.” With that, Larry hung up.
Madison sat with a puzzled expression. “What was that all about?”
“Oh, you know Larry. Apparently he and Marcos found a five-week cruise to Jamaica for five hundred dollars and he called to ask us if we wanted to go.”
Madison looked at him for a long moment, then asked, “Can we?”
Madison rarely strayed beyond her comfort zone. She grew up in the tiny desert community of Barstow, California. She had lived there for the first eighteen years of her life, never venturing out of the State, much less the country. Her life was basically predictable and routine. For her to express even a faint interest in taking off on the spur of the moment on a potentially life-changing excursion seemed well outside of her conservative nature. But as Kurt searched her face, an expression of quizzical interest was evident.
“Seriously?” You are actually contemplating an adventure like that?” Kurt asked.
Madison paused for a moment before answering, “Why not? After all, what do we really have going here? I don’t like my job very much. I’ve never had the opportunity to visit other parts of the world. Both of us are more or less just living day by day without any real goals, plans, or serious ambitions. Why couldn’t we just drop everything and take off on a cruise?”
Kurt did not expect her reaction. Her eagerness intrigued him, but he needed a little time to try and digest the direction this was beginning to take. Like most men, he tended to categorize everything in his daily life into neat little compartments that could be opened, reacted to, and closed in systematic order. To have something like this pop up out of the blue caused him some serious consternation. He stared at Madison for a long moment before answering, “Okay, if you like, I’ll call Larry back in a little while and ask him for more details about the cruise.”
“That would be great.” Madison whispered as she stood and moved toward him, wrapped her hands behind his neck and stretched her five foot-three inch frame onto her tiptoes to brush his lips. “Now can we get back to where we were before the phone rang?”
***
Afterward, they dressed and went back into the kitchen to prepare some food. Kurt caught a couple of decent size surfperch the evening before, and he prepped the filets while Madison fixed a salad. Casually, they talked about their day, Kurt told her about the excellent body surfing he enjoyed that morning and Madison filled him in on some of the current gossip going around the restaurant.
Seated at the dining room table and eating their food, both of them were quiet. Kurt’s thoughts lingered on Madison’s reaction to the cruise conversation. Madison’s face exuded a rare mix of pensiveness and restrained energy or enthusiasm. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, while her eyes sparkled as if they were lost in some far away Shangri-La. He wasn’t sure what to make of her mood. He believed that she was truly engrossed and captivated with the thought of taking off on the cruise. At the same time, he was reluctant to bring up the conversation, simply because he was still trying to come to terms with even considering such a bold and outlandish move. They finished their meal in silence and cleaned up the mess.
Then Madison asked, “Are you going to call Larry and find out more details about the trip to Jamaica?” There it was. Obviously, she was serious, and evidently she was anxious to pursue the possibility.
“Sure, but I’m going to make my work call first, then I’ll call Larry.”
Kurt and his boss spoke briefly about everyday things, and he assured his boss that he could have everything wrapped up by the following afternoon.
After hanging up, he asked, “Are you sure this is something you want to do?” He had pondered the matter enough to become more curious and was beginning to warm to the subject.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure,” Madison replied, “but there are a lot of things we’ll need to know before we can really consider it completely.”
Kurt nodded. “Yes, there is a lot to consider, but things like this don’t come up very often in one’s life; and hey, what’s life without a little adventure?”
They smiled at each other for a long moment, and then Kurt picked up the phone and dialed Larry. “Hey Larry, what’s this thing about Jamaica?”
“Like I told you earlier, Marcos and I found an ad in the local paper, advertising a five-week cruise to Jamaica for five hundred dollars, and we booked passage. The cruise is due to depart in ten days. We’re going to downtown L.A. tomorrow to get our passports and our shots.” He paused for a minute, and Kurt interrupted.
“So, what kind of a boat is it? Do your really think it’s legitimate? That seems like a really cheap ticket for a luxury cruise ship.”
Larry said, “Well, it’s not a real cruise ship, more of a yacht. It’s about one hundred-fifty foot long; and they’re selling passage for thirty-five people. I think they are just trying to cover some of their expenses to get the boat delivered to Jamaica. It’s scheduled to go into service as an inter-island excursion boat between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. I spoke with the captain of the boat yesterday, and it all sounds legitimate to me. The captain said we could have our money back when we arrive at the boat if we are not satisfied with what they have to offer.” He paused for a breath, “So, do you really think you and Madison might want to go? They told us at the Passport Office that if we got applications in by tomorrow, we should receive them back by the first of next week. That gives us about a five-day leeway. As for shots, I think we need malaria, typhoid, and maybe hepatitis. There is a travel vaccination office near the passport office we are using, and they will know what we need.”
Kurt asked, “Okay, do you have a number to call where we can find out a few more things?’
“Sure, I’ll give you the number, and I’ll also give you the number for the captain. He said that anyone interested could call him for details. Give me just a second.” A moment later, Larry read off two phone numbers.
“This is great!” Larry exclaimed, “I really hope you guys decide to go.”
“Yeah,” said Kurt, “it does sound pretty exciting.”
“Great. Give me a call and let me know, and say hi to Madison.”
After hanging up, Kurt filled Madison in on all the details. Rubbing the scar on his cheek—a habit of his whenever his thoughts are fraught with anything he is unsure of—Kurt grinned a sheepish smile and nodded at Madison. “Okay kiddo, I guess we’ve got a lot to do if we’re going to try and make this happen.”
For the remainder of the evening, Kurt spent a lot of time on the phone. He contacted the gal in charge of booking the cruise, finding out the details for payment, anticipated departure time, a basic itinerary of ports and stops along the way, and information about meals, sleeping accommodations and other amenities. Most of it sounded good, although there was some vagueness about the sleeping arrangements on board.
Kurt took notes of all the details, with Madison looking over his shoulder as he wrote. She questioned him about the sleeping quarters, and he told her that he would discuss that more with the captain. When he called the captain’s number, there was no answer. He told her he would try again later.
He reached over and pulled Madison to his side. “If we’re really going to make this happen, I think we had better try and get to the Passport Office tomorrow. My passport expired about two years ago, and I know you’ve never had one. If we get that done, and the shots, at least we’ve got those steps out of the way.” Reflexively, he rubbed the scar on his cheek and continued, “Financially, I’m not really sure we’re prepared for an adventure like this. We have plenty to cover the basic passage, but I think we will need quite a bit more for other things. Also, we will need to fly back from Jamaica at our own expense. Right now, I think we have about twenty-eight hundred put away. I’ll bet we need considerably more than that. How is your own personal stash?”
Madison saved the majority of her tips, using them only for special occasions. She responded, “I think I have about one thousand put away. Of course, I still have an account with my mom that I can draw from if I really need to. It’s close to five thousand, so I’m not too worried about money.”
Seated together on the couch, they quietly shared their excitement and concerns about taking off and virtually disappearing for five weeks. They had no children to be concerned about, no pets, and no seriously binding ties. But there was the house, rent, and Kurt’s pickup truck that needed to be on the right side of the street every Tuesday and Thursday or it would get ticketed. They also had to consider their jobs and possible lack thereof once the trip ended. Kurt was sure that his boss would agree to let him pick up where he left off upon his return, but Madison could lose her job. She told him that it did not really matter that much, she knew it would be easy to find another job. At nearly midnight, Kurt commented that the following day would come early and be a busy one.
***
The first vestiges of dawn lit the window in the bedroom. Madison lay quietly with her head upon his chest as Kurt watched the arrival of ‘the gray’; that condition between darkness and daylight when time always seems to be in slow motion.
Kurt thought back to the first time they met.
It was a balmy evening in 1973. Kurt lived in a small bootlegged unit in the back of a three thousand square foot home in Pomona, California, a place that he rented from the homeowner. He worked at a Mattel Toy manufacturing plant in nearby Baldwin Park. He played pickup basketball games twice a week with a few buddies from school and from the nearby neighborhood.
They had just finished a three-game set of hoops and were cooling off with a cold beer when a light green Volkswagen Beetle pulled to the curb with a flat tire.
A young lady got out of the car and walked around to inspect the problem. She looked baffled. Excusing himself from his buddies, Kurt walked over to the car.
“Hi,” He said, “It looks like you’ve got a problem.”
She stared at him, as if trying to determine if he was a potential threat, or merely friendly and helpful.
“Hi. Yeah, I seem to have a flat tire, and it’s not my car. It’s my brother’s.”
“Okay,” Kurt smiled. “Do you have a jack and a spare?”
She replied, “I know this looks like I’m a real idiot, but I have no clue.”
“Well, do you mind if I have a look?” Kurt questioned casually.
“I’m sorry,” she responded. “If it’s not too much trouble, I could use some assistance. I’m supposed to pick my brother up in fifteen minutes, and I really would appreciate a little help.”
Kurt opened the hood and found both a jack and a spare tire. A few years previously, he had worked in a service station; so he was very adept at changing tires. The task was completed in less than ten minutes.
Finished, Kurt put the jack and the flat tire into the trunk. “Okay, that’s that,” he stated, stepping back onto the sidewalk. “You’re good to go.”
She looked slightly bewildered, blushed timidly, and stammered, “Thanks so much. I…I…can I offer you some money?”
Gazing at her innocent, yet tantalizingly provocative face, Kurt sensed that a connection was taking place. He chuckled lightly. “Of course not, it was my pleasure to be of service. If you wouldn’t mind though, I would like your phone number.”
She looked at him for nearly a minute before responding, “I don’t have a phone, but I work at the Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant on Ganesha Boulevard if you’d like to stop by sometime. I’ll buy you breakfast. I work mornings, every day except Tuesday and Wednesday.”
“Deal.” said Kurt, and almost as an afterthought asked, “By the way, what’s your name?”
“Madison.”
“Okay, Madison, I’m Kurt.”
He walked around the car and opened the door for her. “Guess you’d better be going, it sounds like your brother may not like to wait.”
As he watched her drive away, Kurt knew that something special had just occurred in his life. A few weeks later they were seeing each other regularly, and two months after that they packed up their things and moved into the little beach bungalow in Hermosa Beach.
Kurt snapped out of his reverie, leaned over and kissed Madison on the lips and said, “Hey doll face, I think it’s time to rise and shine. We’ve got a lot to do if we’re going to make this journey happen.”
***
The ensuing few days brought about a frenzy of preparation. Together they visited the Passport Office, the immunization clinic, and the local library to gather information about the countries they would be visiting. Kurt had heard rumors about the political climate in a couple of the Central American nations, and he wanted to know more about the Panama Canal and Jamaica.
It took a number of phone calls, but Kurt eventually contacted the captain of the boat to find out more information. The captain was friendly, but slightly aloof and vague about particulars aboard the ship. From their conversation, Kurt determined that the ‘luxuries’ aboard the boat were minimal, but the captain and crew would do everything possible to make everyone comfortable and ensure an enjoyable and positive experience for their guests. The captain put a lot of emphasis on the journey itself, and the opportunity to see and experience places and things that few people ever have the chance to encounter.
Packing for the journey was a challenge. Luggage would need to be minimal. On the other hand, having the essentials for five or six weeks of travel required some definite planning. Dress codes should not demand anything special. Once they reached the tropics, shorts and swimsuits would likely be the daily attire, along with light tops. Coats and jackets would probably not be needed in the warmer climates. Still, there were the personal items that nobody wanted to be without, extra toothpaste, deodorant, and other essential toiletries. They would also need towels, books to read, a camera, snorkeling gear, and other personal comforts.
For Madison, the list was longer. There were cosmetics and other female items necessary for her. Her hair alone required special combs, brushes, and shampoos. There was also her lingerie. On this matter, Kurt tried to subtly reassure her that most of those items would be unnecessary. She settled on a few select items.
Meanwhile, they kept in close contact with Larry and Marcos, compared lists and reaffirmed the departure time from San Diego—where the boat would be docked—and discussed a multitude of other questions they all had about the pending journey. During each phone call, Larry remained philosophical about the trip, equating it with an extended campout, albeit to faraway exotic ports. His enthusiasm was infectious.
At the close of one conversation, Larry told Kurt, “I know the whole thing sounds just a bit shaky, but it also sounds like a real adventure. A journey like this could really be life altering.”
They had no idea how prophetic that comment would become.
***
The year was 1976, a Leap Year. America was celebrating its bicentennial—two hundred years of independence from Great Britain.
Two days before their expected departure their passports arrived. However, so did a phone call from the boat captain that left both Kurt and Madison intensely concerned.
“Due to some unexpected problems with the delivery of the boat and with U.S. Immigration,” he told them, “we have to postpone our departure date by two days and move the embarkation point to Ensenada, Mexico.”
According to the captain, the ship encountered a gale force storm off Point Conception and had to hole-up in Port San Luis for two days, delaying its arrival in San Diego. Further complicating the matter, port authorities in San Diego—for undisclosed reasons—would not approve clearance out of the U.S. for the vessel. That bit of news disturbed Kurt. The idea of having to go to Ensenada did not bode well at all.
Kurt felt troubled. They had set all the wheels in motion for the trip, including giving the assurance to their respective employers that they would be back in six weeks. The two-day delay could mean an extension of the trip, but the captain told him that the lost time could be made up along the way.
But there were other things that disturbed him as well, particularly the apparent clandestine switch of the embarkation point from San Diego to Ensenada. The switch had a certain ‘ring’ of illegal action, as if the boat was trying to evade normal channels of operation. Kurt had spent enough time in Mexico to recognize that things were often done quite differently below the border, and the reason for the boat’s change of departure to Mexico could possibly be an effort to avoid U.S. port authority scrutiny. He and Madison discussed the situation at length.
Together, they reached a conclusion that they would cancel the trip and ask for a refund. The decision was difficult, but they both agreed that it seemed prudent.
Kurt called Larry to inform him of their decision; he held the phone so they could both hear what Larry had to say.
Larry immediately began trying to persuade them to reconsider. “It’s not a big deal,” Larry reassured. “I already have a ride to Ensenada arranged, and there’s really no reason to worry about switching the point of departure.”
Kurt wasn’t convinced. “Look Larry, there’s something wrong with this whole thing. If a legitimate operation offers a trip like this, these types of issues would be arranged and taken care of well ahead of time. It looks to us like this whole trip is disorganized and not very legitimate. Neither of us wants to get involved with something that looks like it is falling apart before it even gets started.”
Larry’s response was immediate. “I understand your concerns, but think about how cool this trip will be if things work out. It’s really a great opportunity, and something you might never have a chance to do again. Besides, you’ve already committed; give it a chance. At least go with us to Ensenada, see the boat, meet the other people; and if you still don’t like how it looks, then back out. After all, what do you have to lose at this point?”
“Well, a thousand dollars, for one thing,” Kurt retorted. “To say nothing of the time and energy we have already put into this whole thing.”
“That’s my point exactly.” Larry replied. “Why give up now? If nothing else, go with us to Ensenada and check it out in person. If you’re still convinced that you’re making a mistake, take an extra day or two to enjoy Ensenada, then go back home. Look at it like a mini-vacation. But I really think you’ll decide to go if you’ll just give yourselves the chance to check it out.”
His arguments were very upbeat, perhaps a little pleading. Kurt looked at Madison with a questioning lift of his eyebrows. “What do you think?”
She shrugged. “Okay, we’ll go as far as Ensenada.”
“Great!” Larry enthused. “I know you won’t be sorry.”

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “five weeks to jamaica by doug oudin” Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related products

Prev Next
  • Cover image of the book

    Breathe for Me by Natalie Anderson

    0 out of 5

    The last thing Chelsea Greene wants is to be rescued, but that’s exactly what happens when she’s caught wearing nothing but her swimsuit during a midnight emergency evacuation drill. Turns out her ‘hero’ is a former lifeguard who has no hesitation in offering the kiss of life. So not happening, right?

    But for emotionally chastened Chelsea, one touch changes everything. She discovers a desire to satisfy this arrogant, demanding tease. Unable to express her own fantasies, she finds unspeakable pleasure in serving his.

    Xander Lawson exudes easy charm. He likes a woman unafraid to match his appetite for unfettered fun. He doesn’t do complicated or emotional. But the raw need emanating from fragile Chelsea compels him closer. He can’t resist spinning a sensual fantasy world around them.

    As passion spills outside their carefully selected boundaries, Xander learns Chelsea’s stronger than he first thought. But is she strong enough to handle the intensity he’s always kept hidden?

    Read More
    Quick View
  • Cover image of the book

    Black & White by Erol Rashit

    0 out of 5

    A young man, Igor, adopts as his mother a middle aged woman, Sylvia, after meeting her in a café, each having come from the nearby cemetery. He had been visiting his mother’s grave; she, her son’s. In taking it upon himself to investigate the death of Sylvia’s son, Igor soon finds himself confronting racists. Sylvia is black; Igor is white. The deeper he delves, the more intricately embroiled he becomes and the more he becomes the focus of a police investigation himself.

    Alongside the surface interplay of the characters, Igor remains preoccupied with an inquiry into the nature of existence. Within the field of human activity, notions of ‘good and bad’ and ‘pleasure and pain’ are perhaps bound to prevail, but the essence of existence must precede such differentiation. The presence of suffering in the world should not be taken as proof that the world cannot be perfect. A photograph consisting only of black or only of white would probably seem pretty boring. A world consisting only of good or only of bad would perhaps be comparable to such a photograph. Each extreme acquires its significance by being in juxtaposition with its opposite. Happiness does not result from the elimination of suffering; rather, happiness may ensue when the realm of pleasure and pain has been transcended.

    One aspect of the title, Black & White, relates to issues of race. Another aspect relates to Igor’s ability in violent situations to interpret matters in black and white terms. However, it is as a general phrase covering all dualities that the title derives its primary import. The use of the ampersand character in the title imitates its usage by photographers when referring to ‘black & white’ images, and is intended to denote a synthesis of the individual terms into a unitary whole.

    The book includes some brief passages depicting scenes of polyamorous sex (pleasure) and homicidal violence (pain).

    Read More
    Quick View
  • Cover image of the book

    The Secret History of Hatty Ha Ha … ends by S M Mala

    0 out of 5

    Each person is still trying to come to terms of what happened that fateful night when ‘Hurricane Hatty’ took beautiful Hatty away and the devastation and joy it made to their lives.

    After six years, further unexpected twists and turns take place for Murray, Delores and Jake, each one carrying their own weight of guilt after Hatty was cruelly swept away… but was she?

    Could that really have been the end of Hatty Ha Ha or is someone hiding a secret?

    Life’s twists and turns continue in this tale of young and old love, desire and lust set against the backdrop of tropical heat.

    Enemies show their real claws and secrets are eventually revealed which will bring great, life changing, joy for some and complete tragedy for others.

    The mystery and sexually charged relationships continues until the secret life of Hatty Ha Ha … ends.

    Read More
    Quick View
  • Cover image of the book

    What he did to her by S M Mala

    0 out of 5

    Conor’s life consists of drugs, drink and getting dirty with as many women as possibly. He doesn’t care about the size, shape or colour as long as they want uncomplicated fun then he’s happy. For him love and relationships come with dire consequences and that’s not how he wants to live his life.

    To Conor’s dismay, he finds his married boss Marcus, is having a fling with his very own sister Debs, and Conor has been asked to cover the trail by lying to the boss’s wife. The only problem is that he works with Neve and she’s no pushover.

    When everything comes out into the open, his loyalty to friends and family are put to the test as people he thought he knew well are not what they seem. And when an ex walks back into his life he is once again ruled by the snake in his pants knowing she’s more than a handful to deal with.

    Conor begins to find his simple hedonistic life being taken over by other people’s clouded judgement on their need for love, while he tries to avoid the same thing happening to him.

    Except ‘love’ is creeping up on him in an unexpected place that he would just about do anything to avoid. And temptation is going to lead him and his loved ones into trouble with serious consequences.

    Read More
    Quick View
  • Cover image of the book

    The Runaway Roommate by C.S. Mae

    0 out of 5

    Casey Peters has a problem and that problem is the half-Korean hottie that moved in when her former roommate moved out.

    Now her life has become like an episode from one of her favorite dramas, complete with: crazy exes, roommate shenanigans and confusing plot twists.

    This story is a Naughty Niblet: the perfect amount of sexy to satisfy, but not make your hips big.

    Read More
    Quick View
  • Cover image of the book

    Hannelore Takes Note by Margit Amundsen

    0 out of 5

    Hannelore Riker is a grad student with a dry sense of humor, a pathetic dating life, and little patience for grade-grubbing undergrads. She does her best to keep from falling for a guy who always seems ready with a witty remark, and she learns to deal with eccentric professors who play by their own set of rules.

    Some reviews for Hannelore Takes Note:

    “[L]ike talking to a girlfriend…lovely in [parts], funny everywhere else.”

    “[I]t was compelling, the characters were imaginative.”

    “I really enjoyed this book and was laughing out loud at some of the antics…”

    “The author did a really great job of writing with a snarky wit…The characters were well developed…”

    Read More
    Quick View
  • Cover image of the book

    What’s Behind Your Belly Button? A Psychological Perspective of the Intelligence of Human Nature and Gut Instinct by Martha Char Love

    0 out of 5

    “What’s Behind Your Belly Button?” explains what your gut feelings are actually capable of telling you about your inner instinctive needs, how to listen to the voice of your gut, and how to use both of your brains—head and gut—to work together for your optimal health and well-being. Although numerous books and articles have recently talked about the gut instincts as valuable in giving us useful hunches in the decision-making process, “What’s Behind Your Belly Button?” goes much further and explains how gut feelings not only have a psychological intelligence of their own, but are also understandably rational in their functioning and reflect in their own voice how well the two instinctive human needs of acceptance and of control of one’s own responses in our lives are being met.

    Since Dr. Michael Gershon, M.D., published in 1999 his revolutionary medical findings that demonstrated that the gut has an intelligence of its own and called it the “Second Brain”, people have been examining their guts with growing interest in trying to understand their gut feelings. “What’s Behind YOur Belly Button?” answers the questions many people have of the second brain and the ENS in a new Gut Psychology, and explore how to use both your head and gut brains to work together for a healthy life. It is written in a narrative style that allows for the reader to understand the experience within themselves of having two brains and it makes thinking of the human being with these two brains become truly understandable for the first time.

    While the authors make this material easy to understand, the psychological explanations of gut intelligence and instincts in this book are comprehensive, well-researched, and based upon clinical studies with hundreds people by the two authors. Utilizing the research of Dr. Gershon, the work of Dr. Lise Eliot who charts the development of children from conception through the first five years of life, recent research of their own in the Psychology Department at Sonoma State University, and their vast clinical experience in career counseling and psychometry, the two authors of What’s Behind Your Belly Button have presented an interpretation of recent medical research into a new revolutionary understanding of gut instincts and a more accurate behavioral understanding of the Self and human nature than has previously been available.

    This book is recommended for anyone looking for a hopeful view of humankind and a method for getting in touch with gut instincts to reduce stress, cope with fear and anxiety, deal with health issues and make efforts to stay healthy, and to increase optimal problem-solving and life-decision making abilities. It is a book that would be useful for general audience readers as a self-help book, as well as for scholars of psychology, education, neurology, medicine, and business organizational leadership interested in the well-being of healthy decision-making and the human condition. It is also suggested for parents and teachers who would like to increase the intuitive intelligence of both themselves and their children .

    Read More
    Quick View
  • Cover image of the book

    Taking Chances by Té Russ

    0 out of 5

    Copy editor Miranda Parker is surprised when the famous photographer Spencer Gray becomes the CEO of the company she works for after his uncle passes away. She’s always found his work amazing and inspiriting, especially since she desires to put her photographic skills to use. And he’s not bad to look at either.

    Grieving Spencer Gray is immediately attracted to Miranda, and she is a welcome distraction.

    After a few coincidental run-ins, he decides he would like to something more with her, but she has strict rule, no dating co-workers.

    But Spencer Gray is determined and with a little help from fate, he finally convinces her to spend some time with her.

    But can she keep her past in the past to prevent her from messing up a good thing with Spencer?

    Read More
    Quick View

Book Categories

  • Collections & Anthologies
  • Contemporary
  • Erotica
  • Fantasy
  • Gothic
  • Historical Romance
  • Multicultural & Interracial
  • Mystery & Suspense
  • Paranormal
  • Romantic Comedy
  • Science Fiction
  • Time Travel
  • Westerns
  • Romance
  • Author Interviews
banner-01testtesttesttest
banner-01testtesttesttest
banner-01testtesttesttest

Top Rated Products

  • More Than Everything by Delphie Gray
    5.00 out of 5
  • Forever Loyal by Sheppard Brothers
    5.00 out of 5
  • Crashing Into Me by R.L JACKSON
    5.00 out of 5
  • Bad at Love by Emeline Piaget
    5.00 out of 5
  • Captured by Conner Kincaid
    5.00 out of 5

Author Marketing Club

WantonReads.com supports indie authors!

for Authors

  • Submit Your Book
  • Submit an Author Interview
  • Get Featured Placement

for Readers

  • Discover New Books
  • Meet the Authors
  • About WantonReads

Thanks for visiting!

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
© 2017 - WantonReads.com