The Island Date: Do-Over Date Series: Second Chance Clean Romances, #7

By Susan Hatler

A wondrous adventure that will make you smile & inspire you to go after your dreams.

 

Krista plays it safe with her steady job and comfortable routine. But when a destination work retreat takes her to exotic Tahiti, she's thrown out of her comfort zone. She's also exhilarated and feeling alive for the first time in years.

 

Could this be due to adventurous Mason, who shows her the island in unexpected ways? How can she hold onto this new zest for life once she returns home without him?

 

From a New York Times bestselling author, don't miss the chance to experience the adventure of each day in a way that makes the heart soar in THE ISLAND DATE.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hatco Publishing
• Release date: Sep 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201209506

Susan Hatler

SUSAN HATLER è una Scrittrice Bestseller del New York Times e di USA Today. Scrive romanzi contemporanei umoristici e sentimentali e racconti per giovani adulti. Molti dei libri di Susan sono stati tradotti in tedesco, spagnolo, italiano e francese. Ottimista d’indole, Susan crede che la vita sia strabiliante, che le persone siano affascinanti, e che la fantasia sia infinita. Ama trascorrere il tempo con i suoi personaggi e spera che anche tu lo faccia. Puoi contattare Susan qui: Facebook: facebook.com/authorsusanhatler Twitter: twitter.com/susanhatler Sito internet: susanhatler.com/italiano Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

I was not pregnant, but after the amount of research I did yesterday on combating morning sickness I’d so be prepared if and when Prince Charming ever chose to bump into me. In all honesty, it would be fair to say I was as far away from being pregnant as possible: not married, no boyfriend, and hadn’t been on a date with someone who was both employed and not wanted by the IRS for tax evasion in months.

No matter, though. Today was about helping my friend Jill Parnell, super power attorney, married to the sweetest guy in the world, but unable to beat the nausea part of her pregnancy. But never fear, Krista Clarke to the rescue! Well, I hoped. . .

Hi, Jill. Sorry I’m late, I said, as I struggled under the weight of bags of fresh ginger, dry ginger, ginger tea, and ginger drops (both crystalized and un-crystalized) I’d brought my friend.

Good morning, Krista, Jill said, her third trimester tummy bumping into me as she gave me a hug. What’s all of this?

A box of saltine crackers tumbled from my arms, bouncing a couple times along the concrete sidewalk before flopping sideways like an ad display to passersby. I stepped back from my friend and picked the box up. I didn’t know which brand would help the best for your nausea so I just got them all, I said, as if that were obvious. Then I waved at my favorite coffee barista, who stood on the sidewalk behind her coffee cart. Morning, Courtney. The usual please. A decaf latte for Jill.

That’s so thoughtful of you, Krista, Jill said, smiling at me as she placed a hand over her belly. You really didn’t have to do all of this, but I’m grateful, she said, turning to Courtney. Soon I’ll be going back to fully caffeinated.

Not a problem. Courtney Carmichael owned the best coffee cart in all of Sacramento and wore the brightest, most cheerful shirts in all of California, and winked as she started making my usual coffee drink: a triple shot of espresso with two pumps of caramel and one massive dollop of whipped cream. It was just about the only thing that kept me awake through the long, boring workdays. Well, that and researching morning sickness cures for my very pregnant friend.

When I balanced my bags to reach into my purse to pay Courtney, Jill placed a hand on my arm and shook her head. I’ve got this.

No, wait . . . I dug around in my purse, causing a little box of ginger tea to pop out of my arm and onto the pavement. Oops. I ducked down to pick it up.

Courtney, Jill said, turning away from me, you’ll have a very pregnant, very hormonal attorney to deal with if you accept a single dime from Krista.

Courtney finished my drink and handed it over the tiki-inspired cart. Sorry, Krista, she said, taking Jill’s card. The pregnant lady trump card wins.

Jill grinned victoriously as she sipped her decaf latte.

You really didn’t have to get the coffees, Jill, I said, wedging a pack of onesies with matching booties under my arm so I could get at the light-as-air, sweet-as-heaven whipped cream. I had intended to just buy one baby gift as a mood booster for Jill, but it’s simply impossible to stop clicking add to cart when you see all those tiny footsies lined up one after the other. Not my fault that her newborn child will have a new outfit every day of the week. You’re the one who’s prego. You’re creating life. This is the least I can do to help.

You helped plenty by covering for me on Monday at the community garden, Jill said, as she went through the onesies, cooing ooh’s and ah’s. I owe you.

Jill Parnell founded a non-profit homeless outreach program called Founding Friendships, which gives the homeless an opportunity to get back on their feet with counseling, housing, and job opportunities. The garden with its fresh fruits and vegetables and herbs was a great way for the participants to take ownership of their lives and pride in their futures.

But with Jill suffering from debilitating morning sickness, even late into her third trimester, the garden, and other aspects of Founding Friendships, had grown a little rough around the edges. I loved volunteering my time there and received a great amount of satisfaction from helping and seeing the results of my hard work.

It was nothing, Jill, I said, and then took a sip of my yummy drink. Really. You know how much I love volunteering at Founding Friendships.

Didn’t you have to work on Monday though? Jill asked.

I dismissed her with a wave of my hand. I took a sick day. No big deal.

Courtney finished serving the next customer and glanced over at me with a raised eyebrow. Aren’t sick days for, you know, when you’re sick?

"Well, she was sick, I said, nodding toward Jill with a sheepish grin. And I felt sick about the thought of the community garden falling behind. So, technically it was a sick day."

Courtney laughed before returning to her long line of customers in the early morning sun.

I feel terrible that I can’t be there at Founding Friendships more often, Jill said, hand on her belly. I feel like I’m letting everyone down.

You just need to get someone in there to help you out, I said, stepping away from the long line forming at the coffee cart. Start delegating. I mean, it’s not like you’ll suddenly have more time after the baby is born.

You sound like my husband, she said, blowing out a breath. I told Ryan I’m used to being able to do so much more on my own, but you’re right. We’ve talked about hiring someone. It’s just hard to find someone you can trust, you know? These people we’re helping mean the world to me. I need to leave them in the hands of someone passionate and capable.

I patted Jill’s arm as her gaze fell at a onesie that had tiny giraffe babies all over it. Her eyes filled with tears, which was so unlike her. She sniffled as Courtney quickly and astutely passed over a napkin while pouring a cappuccino.

I’m sorry, she said, dabbing a tear. It’s all the hormones raging through me all the time. I know you have to get back to work. Don’t worry about me. I’m just feeling the feelings.

I took another sip of coffee. Work can wait.

And I wasn’t just being polite for my friend’s sake. If I could put off heading into work all day I most certainly would. I was passionate about many things, like my friends, Jill and Julie and Jennifer and Michelle. I was passionate about women’s soccer. Don’t even bother trying to call me when a game is on TV. And I was passionate about my volunteer work at Founding Friendships. I was not, however, passionate about booking vacations for strangers while tied to a small, cramped desk at Ticket To Anywhere Travel Agency.

I never was passionate about my work and I feared I never would be. But, hey, it paid the bills. And who really loved their job anyway? I mean, besides Courtney, who looked radiant every day behind her coffee cart. And, well, Jill who owned her own firm with her two equally successful partners.

But you love your work, right? she asked, looking concerned.

Sure, I lied, glad when that worried look left her face. The last thing I needed was to make her feel worse right now.

Well, aren’t you going to get in trouble if you’re late? Jill asked, sniffling.

No, I . . . I was just about to say it wasn’t a problem at all because my boss was pretty laid back about hours and never got upset really when I received a text from Julie, my friend who also worked at Ticket to Anywhere Travel Agency: You need to get over here. Now.

I think I have to go, I said, looking at Jill with an apologetic smile to hide my racing heart.

Thank you for all of these goodies, Krista, she said, pulling me into a quick hug, her belly bumping into me again. Believe me, when your time comes I’ll be there for you, too.

You’re welcome, I said, handing over the bags and boxes and thinking my pregnancy might be so far off in the future she’d need time travel to visit me. Speaking of travel, I picked up my pace as I hurried down the street to my car.

The one good thing about my job at the travel agency was the stability. Sure, scheduling other people’s cool vacations from a room with no windows made me feel like I’d been shot by

Reviews for The Island Date

[Andrea Author · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Krista meets Mason at a work retreat in Tahiti. His sense of adventure takes her out of her comfort zone, challenging her to live life to its fullest. Can their relationship be more than a vacation fling?

It was great to see how Mason convinced Krista to re-examine her priorities, and set her on a path to follow her bliss. I also liked the innovative work retreat—that was an unexpected touch.

Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.