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The Cougarette #1
The Cougarette
After her husband of twenty years falls in love with someone else, PR exec Cecelia 'CeeCee' Banks is forced to reinvent her life post-divorce. Between career shakeups, raising a teenage son and the news that her ex plans to remarry soon, CeeCee is juggling her new reality with grace, laughter and a little more alcohol than usual. CeeCee catches one of her life’s sexiest curveballs in the form of Jay Weston. A promising artist, Jay brings out a passion in CeeCee that she hasn’t felt in years. He is everything her ex wasn’ ambitious, sensual, exciting….and twenty-five.CeeCee is tested the day a click of a paparazzo’s camera brings her professional and personal lives into a tabloid tailspin. After ZMT officially coins her as ‘The Cougarette’, CeeCee becomes a media sensation overnight. Her reputation is in shambles, her career is thrown into limbo and her own hip-hop star client betrays her in a hit song! Worst of all is the damage it has done to her relationship with Jay, whose mysterious backstory finds itself entangled in CeeCee's drama in a way neither of them ever could have imagined. With the help of her no-nonsense BFF/manager/unpaid life coach Laney, CeeCee attempts to dig herself out of this self-created chaos and maintain at least a shred of dignity. Will she be able to keep her life running smoothly, career and love life intact?Maybe - if she could just stop waking up in random hotel rooms.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2015
29 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Eliza David
22 books149 followersKellee Forkenbrock (aka Eliza David) is the contemporary romance author of eleven self-published novels, including the Cougarette series. She was born and raised on the noisy South Side of Chicago, but now lives in quiet Iowa City, one of the renowned Cities of Literature. A member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Eliza also maintains a local literary presence, serving on the Iowa City Public Library’s Board of Trustees, moderating The Scarlet Boudoir romance writing group at The Writers’ Rooms, and serving as an annual headlining author at the Iowa City Book Festival.
In addition to writing the naughty words, Eliza is a blogger as well, having served as a contributing writer for The Good Men Project and Thirty on Tap. Toward the close of 2018 and start of 2019, Eliza will be featured in three upcoming anthologies: Best Women's Erotica: Volume 4, The Sexy Librarian's Dirty 30: Volume 3, and Cleis Press' Erotic Teasers. In 2018, she was selected as a Pitch Wars mentee for her next project, The Lamar St. Jon Experience.
When she’s not writing, working full-time, or raising two children with her loving husband, Eliza enjoys reading throwback Jackie Collins, acting out on Twitter, and indulging in the occasional order of cheese fries.
(c) Eliza David – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
In addition to writing the naughty words, Eliza is a blogger as well, having served as a contributing writer for The Good Men Project and Thirty on Tap. Toward the close of 2018 and start of 2019, Eliza will be featured in three upcoming anthologies: Best Women's Erotica: Volume 4, The Sexy Librarian's Dirty 30: Volume 3, and Cleis Press' Erotic Teasers. In 2018, she was selected as a Pitch Wars mentee for her next project, The Lamar St. Jon Experience.
When she’s not writing, working full-time, or raising two children with her loving husband, Eliza enjoys reading throwback Jackie Collins, acting out on Twitter, and indulging in the occasional order of cheese fries.
(c) Eliza David – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 17, 2017
This is a book I've taken off my bookshelf many times to read, but never found the time to actually read it. Now I know why. I waiting for today. I had several free hours this morning with absolutely nothing to distract me from Eliza David's enjoyable story about a recently divocred woman who rediscovers herself.
CeeCee Banks is every woman in her 40s realizing that the life she has is not the one she planned on having. I love her for having the courage for doing something about it. She kicks out her cheating husband, goes after the job promotion and starts an affair with a much younger man. Of course, life being what it is, some things get messed up along the way, but nothing keeps this woman down for long. And OMG, just when you think it can't get worse, there's a twist I did NOT see coming and I gasped so loud -- then laughed so loud -- that people stared at me.
I read this practically in one sitting and I can't wait to read more about CeeCee. Well done, Eliza David, on your first book! It was fun, sexy and a page-turner!
CeeCee Banks is every woman in her 40s realizing that the life she has is not the one she planned on having. I love her for having the courage for doing something about it. She kicks out her cheating husband, goes after the job promotion and starts an affair with a much younger man. Of course, life being what it is, some things get messed up along the way, but nothing keeps this woman down for long. And OMG, just when you think it can't get worse, there's a twist I did NOT see coming and I gasped so loud -- then laughed so loud -- that people stared at me.
I read this practically in one sitting and I can't wait to read more about CeeCee. Well done, Eliza David, on your first book! It was fun, sexy and a page-turner!
September 19, 2015
When I picked up this book, I thought it would be your average novel about a middle-aged woman sewing her wild oats with a younger man and falling for him. And although that is part of the story, that's not the main focus. What I read felt like a movie. Details that were strung together that explained CeeCee's day to day struggle in life. All the subplots sewn in with a touch of mystery had me turning the pages unable to put this book down.
What I liked the most about this book is how much you can relate with CeeCee. She is the everyday working woman trying to hold her marriage together, raise her child, battling insecurities like the rest of us, and trying to maintain a semblance of order in her life. But all things do come to an end, and usually when we can't emotionally deal with it anymore. When CeeCee hits that impasse, she makes a choice that alters her path completely, and in doing so, opens up new doors for her. It's almost as if she is freed from a set of chains that bound her and she's living in a whole new world.
Her story is full of sadness, happiness, excitement, humor, and fear of the unknown as she comes alive again. The poor woman goes through a gambit of emotion as her life turns upside down and she tries to right it. And the story displays that beautifully, filled with emotionally charged and detailed scenes building CeeCee's entire world in your mind.
This book was a breath of fresh air. The majority of romance revolves around younger characters these days, having little to no experience with life or relationships. But The Cougarette opens a new door for us to experience all kinds of possibilities once we think life is set in stone. It proves that at any age life can throw you curve ball. Sometimes what we may deem as a strikeout is actually a homerun, you just have to see it through.
What I liked the most about this book is how much you can relate with CeeCee. She is the everyday working woman trying to hold her marriage together, raise her child, battling insecurities like the rest of us, and trying to maintain a semblance of order in her life. But all things do come to an end, and usually when we can't emotionally deal with it anymore. When CeeCee hits that impasse, she makes a choice that alters her path completely, and in doing so, opens up new doors for her. It's almost as if she is freed from a set of chains that bound her and she's living in a whole new world.
Her story is full of sadness, happiness, excitement, humor, and fear of the unknown as she comes alive again. The poor woman goes through a gambit of emotion as her life turns upside down and she tries to right it. And the story displays that beautifully, filled with emotionally charged and detailed scenes building CeeCee's entire world in your mind.
This book was a breath of fresh air. The majority of romance revolves around younger characters these days, having little to no experience with life or relationships. But The Cougarette opens a new door for us to experience all kinds of possibilities once we think life is set in stone. It proves that at any age life can throw you curve ball. Sometimes what we may deem as a strikeout is actually a homerun, you just have to see it through.
November 19, 2017
Loved it!
January 17, 2020
A good series opener. It has a wonderful, diverse group of characters, and I always enjoy reading a romance novel with a slightly older protagonist. I hope and believe that this series will allow readers to get to know CeeCee as she grows and changes. I especially look forward to reading more scenes with Laney in them.
May 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this story. All the characters and stories are so relatable. I could tell the author was trying different things in the book. Some of the scenes were a little shaky and rushed. I didn't really appreciate "the pearl" being said so many times. It was kind of weird. The end of the book had me HOOKED. I loved Laney and wish like hell I had a sidekick like her, at all times.
November 2, 2022
This book is naughty and fun! I picture CeeCee as a young Angela Bassett from Exhale, Jay as Lance Gross. Which is hot as hell. And in true form, I love a good sidekick, so Laney is my fave! I'm excited to see where Miss Eliza takes us next...
January 11, 2015
journey to a new genre
I loved it! I hope this becomes a series and a movie. I will impatiently wait for the next chapter.
I loved it! I hope this becomes a series and a movie. I will impatiently wait for the next chapter.
January 20, 2015
I'm already casting roles in my head for the movie
May 7, 2017
Loved it
CeeCee made me want to hug her, cry with her, and shake the mess out of her all throughout this book. And that Laney is a piece of work!
CeeCee made me want to hug her, cry with her, and shake the mess out of her all throughout this book. And that Laney is a piece of work!
March 16, 2015
Fun, easy read!
October 8, 2020
"Books find their way to you when you need them." Roseanne Cash
I have never read a romance novel. I get squeamish when there are sex scenes on TV. But in 2020 I set my first ever reading goals (unrelated to numbers): read genres I've never read, read local, read people in my circle. The Cougarette by Eliza David hit every one of those. Did I mention how nervous I was to read this book?
Here's the thing: I had forgotten that books can serve the magical purpose that got me into reading: escapism.
Holy cow, was this book ever the one I needed at the moment!
Ceecee is a fierce, fragile, and full woman with a complicated life who is a little out of touch with the times. Post-divorce our heroine is struggling with every part of her life and, trust, you will get sucked in. Because Ceecee has been living comfortably in routine for over 20 years, the complications in the plot sneak up on her more easily than they might a younger person (which I love, because this book is about a middle-aged divorcee trying to navigate a younger world both professionally and personally). At every step Ceecee tries to be strong, honest, straightforward and at every step there is one more complication she doesn't have the 21st Century know-how to deal with.
This powerful narrative has some sexy sex in it, yes, but it has a seriously complicated plot, characters to invest in, and is so easy to read.
Less guilty, more pleasure: I felt like I was reading a fashion magazine behind my textbook while reading this book and I couldn't put it down. While not the high-brow literary fic/nonfic I usually review, this book may have saved my sanity while I was struggling and I will be a Cougarette stan for life.
In *these challenging times* read The Cougarette ;)
I have never read a romance novel. I get squeamish when there are sex scenes on TV. But in 2020 I set my first ever reading goals (unrelated to numbers): read genres I've never read, read local, read people in my circle. The Cougarette by Eliza David hit every one of those. Did I mention how nervous I was to read this book?
Here's the thing: I had forgotten that books can serve the magical purpose that got me into reading: escapism.
Holy cow, was this book ever the one I needed at the moment!
Ceecee is a fierce, fragile, and full woman with a complicated life who is a little out of touch with the times. Post-divorce our heroine is struggling with every part of her life and, trust, you will get sucked in. Because Ceecee has been living comfortably in routine for over 20 years, the complications in the plot sneak up on her more easily than they might a younger person (which I love, because this book is about a middle-aged divorcee trying to navigate a younger world both professionally and personally). At every step Ceecee tries to be strong, honest, straightforward and at every step there is one more complication she doesn't have the 21st Century know-how to deal with.
This powerful narrative has some sexy sex in it, yes, but it has a seriously complicated plot, characters to invest in, and is so easy to read.
Less guilty, more pleasure: I felt like I was reading a fashion magazine behind my textbook while reading this book and I couldn't put it down. While not the high-brow literary fic/nonfic I usually review, this book may have saved my sanity while I was struggling and I will be a Cougarette stan for life.
In *these challenging times* read The Cougarette ;)
July 27, 2017
I loved this story! Of course I am for "happily ever after" with a slight twist. Cecilia "CeeCee" Banks is a story most can relate to, whether from the perspective of CeeCee, recent divorcee after 20 years of marriage. From the lenses of her best friend, Laney, who I absolutely adored. Who doesn't love a BF like Laney that will go the extra mile and then some, at the personal and professional level. Or from the perspective of Jay, a man much younger who has certainly sparked the interest of CeeCee. With a host of diverse and colorful characters, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 11, 2017
Loved it
Can't wait to read part 2, very easy reD with a good plot Nd great characterS. Looking forward for more from this author
Can't wait to read part 2, very easy reD with a good plot Nd great characterS. Looking forward for more from this author
February 14, 2018
A fun, well-written romance. Definitely recommend.
February 24, 2018
Quick read
Mostly okay...but way too predictable. Kinda nice where it's an older female getting the younger man.
I admit, the BFF stole the whole book though.
Mostly okay...but way too predictable. Kinda nice where it's an older female getting the younger man.
I admit, the BFF stole the whole book though.
February 6, 2019
Loved this book. Just what I needed.
The book held me in suspense. I didn't want to go too fast. I tried to save each and every moment.
The book held me in suspense. I didn't want to go too fast. I tried to save each and every moment.
Read
July 23, 2023DNF
May 28, 2016
Cee Cee is a woman of a certain age whose life changes on a dime. One moment she is a happy wife and mother reading magazines, the next she is a divorcee because of the article she dared to discuss with her husband. Though I hated to see her marriage end without a fight, I was happy that she wasn't broken by it.
Cee Cee picked herself up and got right back into the game each and every time life threw bricks at her. Her marriage ended, she found a new man only to lose him over some pettiness, then drama causes her to lose her job of twenty years. All of that could have broken her, but she was strong and with a crazy BFF to lean on, she couldn't go wrong.
I love a happy ending and that is exactly what she found in Jay. I was rooting for them to stay together and give into the love they so desperately wanted from each other. I look forward to the next book in the series!
Cee Cee picked herself up and got right back into the game each and every time life threw bricks at her. Her marriage ended, she found a new man only to lose him over some pettiness, then drama causes her to lose her job of twenty years. All of that could have broken her, but she was strong and with a crazy BFF to lean on, she couldn't go wrong.
I love a happy ending and that is exactly what she found in Jay. I was rooting for them to stay together and give into the love they so desperately wanted from each other. I look forward to the next book in the series!
April 16, 2016
I loved this story. Every action was believable and relatable. Ceecee had to be the most realest character I have met in a novel in along time. I loved her relationship with all the other characters Jay, Tony, her son, and especially Laney. Their interactions had me cracking up throughout the book with how they affectionately called each other bitch more than they used each others actual names. The emotions had me in my feelings through most of the story. Eliza made each and every scene so clear and easy to imagine, it really did feel like a movie. This story comes highly recommended by me to all romance readers.
February 16, 2017
Frenzied, Yet Fabulous 40's Story!
Coming back to life after a divorce is challenging enough, but CeeCee goes through a promotion, her ex-husband's engagement, her son's determination to get into college and enough twisty moments with the opposite sex, they could be in an episode of "Scandal"!
Having said that, I love how CeeCee doesn't just go through the unexpected changes in her life...she GROWS through them, stands up for herself when she's right, apologizes when she's wrong and withstands the ever-present age gap with her business and pleasurable pursuits. I devoured this excellent read in two days and can't wait to dive into the next chapter!
Coming back to life after a divorce is challenging enough, but CeeCee goes through a promotion, her ex-husband's engagement, her son's determination to get into college and enough twisty moments with the opposite sex, they could be in an episode of "Scandal"!
Having said that, I love how CeeCee doesn't just go through the unexpected changes in her life...she GROWS through them, stands up for herself when she's right, apologizes when she's wrong and withstands the ever-present age gap with her business and pleasurable pursuits. I devoured this excellent read in two days and can't wait to dive into the next chapter!
September 7, 2015
It's hard to imagine CeeCee in a boring and sex-less marriage... All of those relations bottled up inside. WOOOOOOO!
December 7, 2015
I loved it! CeeCee and Jay are inspirational! I can't wait to finish the series!
Read
November 2, 2018ugh. no editing. characters are nothing but one cliche after another.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews