Going Against Type By Sharon Black
Pages : 227
Some
would say Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Regan has it all. Beautiful, smart,
athletic and a great job working as a journalist – in the almost
exclusively male sports department. But Charlotte is not quite as
sure as she seems. Recently split from her overbearing boyfriend, she
escapes for weekends, surfing in the Atlantic, and spends her free
nights watching sports, roaring at the TV.
Derry Cullinane is a fashion writer, gossip columnist and sophisticated man-about-town. The go-to guy for any woman seeking expert advice on what fabulous outfit to wear for any given occasion. He’s also tall, dark, good looking – and straight! So what’s the snag? He has a track record of dating glamorous, vain and shallow women.
Charlie gets an opportunity to write a new column under the pen name Side Swipe, but is soon drawn into a war of words and wit with a rival paper’s columnist The Squire – and their verbal fireworks get readers and editors talking. Yet neither Charlie nor Derry knows just whom the opponent is...
When Charlotte and Derry meet at the Races, the attraction is instant. As their relationship develops, so much more proves at stake, than protecting their alter egos. But a blunder puts Charlotte’s job in jeopardy just as Derry’s past makes front page, and Charlotte begins to doubt her feelings.
When Side Swipe and The Squire are finally forced to reveal themselves, will they revert to type – or confound everyone’s expectations?
Derry Cullinane is a fashion writer, gossip columnist and sophisticated man-about-town. The go-to guy for any woman seeking expert advice on what fabulous outfit to wear for any given occasion. He’s also tall, dark, good looking – and straight! So what’s the snag? He has a track record of dating glamorous, vain and shallow women.
Charlie gets an opportunity to write a new column under the pen name Side Swipe, but is soon drawn into a war of words and wit with a rival paper’s columnist The Squire – and their verbal fireworks get readers and editors talking. Yet neither Charlie nor Derry knows just whom the opponent is...
When Charlotte and Derry meet at the Races, the attraction is instant. As their relationship develops, so much more proves at stake, than protecting their alter egos. But a blunder puts Charlotte’s job in jeopardy just as Derry’s past makes front page, and Charlotte begins to doubt her feelings.
When Side Swipe and The Squire are finally forced to reveal themselves, will they revert to type – or confound everyone’s expectations?
'So as an experiment, do you think we'll work?
Derry said, interrupting her thoughts.
‘Um, will what work?’
He shot her an arrogant smile.
‘Fiona’s matchmaking attempts. Either Cupid will be on target or we’ll end up throwing bread rolls at each other.’
Charlotte gritted her teeth.
‘I’m a crack shot with a bread roll.’ This guy was definitely making fun of her. What had Fiona been thinking? She’d kill her. She forced a polite smile.
‘You’re a journalist?’
He grinned wickedly, as if well aware of her struggle to be civil.
‘The Irish People. I’m a fashion writer.’
Charlotte hid her surprise.
‘I really only read the sports section. That sleaze The Squire put me off the whole paper. He had a go at a friend of mine, Miranda Greene.’
Derry frowned, as if trying to place the name.
‘The socialite? She’s a friend of yours?’
‘We were in college together. The Squire wrecked her marriage. She and her husband were trying to put a bad patch behind them and make things work. The Squire milked that model’s revelations for weeks.’ Charlotte stopped suddenly. ‘You probably know The Squire?’
‘Not at all,’ Derry said, taking a sip of wine. ‘They don’t tell us who writes that. That’s a beautiful dress, it’s a Louise Kennedy, right?’
Charlotte glanced down at the dress. Dammit, she sounded like rent-a-rant. No wonder the guy was keen to change the subject.
‘Um, will what work?’
He shot her an arrogant smile.
‘Fiona’s matchmaking attempts. Either Cupid will be on target or we’ll end up throwing bread rolls at each other.’
Charlotte gritted her teeth.
‘I’m a crack shot with a bread roll.’ This guy was definitely making fun of her. What had Fiona been thinking? She’d kill her. She forced a polite smile.
‘You’re a journalist?’
He grinned wickedly, as if well aware of her struggle to be civil.
‘The Irish People. I’m a fashion writer.’
Charlotte hid her surprise.
‘I really only read the sports section. That sleaze The Squire put me off the whole paper. He had a go at a friend of mine, Miranda Greene.’
Derry frowned, as if trying to place the name.
‘The socialite? She’s a friend of yours?’
‘We were in college together. The Squire wrecked her marriage. She and her husband were trying to put a bad patch behind them and make things work. The Squire milked that model’s revelations for weeks.’ Charlotte stopped suddenly. ‘You probably know The Squire?’
‘Not at all,’ Derry said, taking a sip of wine. ‘They don’t tell us who writes that. That’s a beautiful dress, it’s a Louise Kennedy, right?’
Charlotte glanced down at the dress. Dammit, she sounded like rent-a-rant. No wonder the guy was keen to change the subject.
Sharon Black grew up in Dublin. She studied history and politics at
University College Dublin and then did post-graduate in journalism at
Dublin City University. She has worked for national newspapers,
including The Evening Herald and The Irish Examiner. She had
short stories published in U Magazine and won the 2010 Dromineer
Literary Festival short story competition. When she is not
writing, she reads, walks and sees friends. She co-founded a local
book club 14 years ago. She loves theatre, old Hollywood films,
science fiction and good stand-up comedy. She lives in
Sandymount, Dublin, with her husband and their three children.
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