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The Difference a Day Made
Librarian Note: This is an alternate cover edition of ASIN: B00IFVYWR8. The original cover edition is here.
When Lucy is called in at the last minute to act as a temporary executive assistant to the handsome, mysterious CEO of the company she has only been with for a month, the first person she wants to share the news with is her best friend, Stella. But Stella is unreachable, on her way home from a business convention and a humiliating hookup.
On one eventful day, Lucy finds herself flying in a private jet to the east coast, struggling to conceal her helpless attraction to her boss, while Stella, on a commercial airliner heading west, is seated next to an annoyingly attractive stranger who may not be a stranger after all. Neither friend is yet aware that each has embarked on a journey of personal discovery and love that will change both of their lives forever.
When Lucy is called in at the last minute to act as a temporary executive assistant to the handsome, mysterious CEO of the company she has only been with for a month, the first person she wants to share the news with is her best friend, Stella. But Stella is unreachable, on her way home from a business convention and a humiliating hookup.
On one eventful day, Lucy finds herself flying in a private jet to the east coast, struggling to conceal her helpless attraction to her boss, while Stella, on a commercial airliner heading west, is seated next to an annoyingly attractive stranger who may not be a stranger after all. Neither friend is yet aware that each has embarked on a journey of personal discovery and love that will change both of their lives forever.
- GenresRomance
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2013
3 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Kelly
1 book5 followersMargaret Kelly lives in the beautiful Flathead Valley in northwestern Montana.
When it comes to her writing, she follows Beethoven's credo:
I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the reason why I compose.
When it comes to her writing, she follows Beethoven's credo:
I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the reason why I compose.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 2, 2013
This book was a pleasure to read from beginning to end. It lured me in from the first few pages and I was hooked. In fact, the story kept getting better and better as it went along. The author does a fine job in all categories that define a well-written story: excellent narrative, good pacing, strong voice, and well-developed characters that connected with all of my emotions. Above and beyond all that, any story that leaves me with a happy, satisfied, teary-eyed smile on my face at its conclusion will usually get high marks from me.
Primarily, this tells the story of Lucy and Shane - the handsome CEO of the company where Lucy has been working for just over a month. Unexpectedly, Lucy is asked to accompany Shane on a one-day business trip to New York. Without giving anything away that isn't already revealed in the sneak peek [on Amazon], there is a clear attraction between the two of them from the moment they set eyes on each other. But Shane is under the impression that Lucy is married, and Lucy (for various reasons that are gradually revealed as the story progresses) is afraid to tell him she's a widow.
Lucy and Shane's storyline can seem a bit heavy at times as she battles with her insecurities. I found myself urging her on (even yelled at her at on point) - pushing her just like her best friend, Stella, does - to let go of her fears and reveal the truth to Shane - an intriguing man with sad secrets of his own. Stella provides the "comic relief," but she's much more than a secondary character. On the same day Lucy is flying from San Francisco to New York with Shane, Stella is flying home from Orlando. The scenes between her and the man sitting next to her on the plane (who may not be a stranger after all) are hilarious. The dialogue between these two throughout the book had me in stitches. The author does a great job interweaving the two storylines and wrapping them up in a very satisfying conclusion. I should add that the sex scenes are very well-written, too: nothing too graphic or over-the-top, but very well-suited to the characters and the further development of the plot. In short, after all the built-up tension across both storylines, the love scenes delivered!
Finally, it's so refreshing to read a stand-alone novel that's not part of a series and is not written in the first person POV. This has been a growing pet-peeve of mine, but that's just me; to each their own.
Ultimately, this is a beautiful love story with a happy ending. I highly recommend it.
Primarily, this tells the story of Lucy and Shane - the handsome CEO of the company where Lucy has been working for just over a month. Unexpectedly, Lucy is asked to accompany Shane on a one-day business trip to New York. Without giving anything away that isn't already revealed in the sneak peek [on Amazon], there is a clear attraction between the two of them from the moment they set eyes on each other. But Shane is under the impression that Lucy is married, and Lucy (for various reasons that are gradually revealed as the story progresses) is afraid to tell him she's a widow.
Lucy and Shane's storyline can seem a bit heavy at times as she battles with her insecurities. I found myself urging her on (even yelled at her at on point) - pushing her just like her best friend, Stella, does - to let go of her fears and reveal the truth to Shane - an intriguing man with sad secrets of his own. Stella provides the "comic relief," but she's much more than a secondary character. On the same day Lucy is flying from San Francisco to New York with Shane, Stella is flying home from Orlando. The scenes between her and the man sitting next to her on the plane (who may not be a stranger after all) are hilarious. The dialogue between these two throughout the book had me in stitches. The author does a great job interweaving the two storylines and wrapping them up in a very satisfying conclusion. I should add that the sex scenes are very well-written, too: nothing too graphic or over-the-top, but very well-suited to the characters and the further development of the plot. In short, after all the built-up tension across both storylines, the love scenes delivered!
Finally, it's so refreshing to read a stand-alone novel that's not part of a series and is not written in the first person POV. This has been a growing pet-peeve of mine, but that's just me; to each their own.
Ultimately, this is a beautiful love story with a happy ending. I highly recommend it.
November 10, 2013
what an amazing book. I wanted to put something like 4, 5 or 5 stars. but I shouldn't compare this book with others books. because this one was truly amazing and made my heart fluttered and settled.
First, it was a dual story right balanced. not that right since it was more aboit Lucy but less of her wouldn't be right. not that she was stealing from Stella but there was more intrigue in Lucy's story.
Second, the story was about longing. Longing for love, trust, happiness.
Once in this book, I was worried about their friendship because jealousy is ugly green. But in the end, it was envy of wanting the same kind of love and care and wishing for our love ones to have that.
without spoiling, all I have to say that it was a magnificent read through the day that changed. the day that both of them found (them both nooo there were 4) the missing part.
First, it was a dual story right balanced. not that right since it was more aboit Lucy but less of her wouldn't be right. not that she was stealing from Stella but there was more intrigue in Lucy's story.
Second, the story was about longing. Longing for love, trust, happiness.
Once in this book, I was worried about their friendship because jealousy is ugly green. But in the end, it was envy of wanting the same kind of love and care and wishing for our love ones to have that.
without spoiling, all I have to say that it was a magnificent read through the day that changed. the day that both of them found (them both nooo there were 4) the missing part.
March 9, 2015
Wow, am I so glad I came across this lovely gem! I loved everything about it. First, it was extremely well-written. Second, it was totally captivating. I started reading it at 3pm and was up well past midnight. I did not want to put it down until I finished it. Third - and best of all - I got two great stories for the price of one! The story flipped back and forth between best friends Lucy and Stella. Stella says at one point in the story that there couldn't be two more opposite sides of the same coin than she and Lucy. Lucy is more demure and restrained. Her story is a little more somber and serious than Stella's. Stella's the girl who is always getting into trouble. Both gals have been unlucky in love, but that's all about to change. Their men are super sexy and swoon-worthy. Michael is so patient with the impetuous Stella, the perfect match for her fiery temperament. And Shane is so intriguing. I enjoyed peeling off the layers of his story and discovering why he is the way he is. There were a couple surprises that kept this story rolling along right to the very end. Kudos, Ms. Kelly! I look forward to reading more from you in the future!
November 11, 2013
This love story focuses on two best friends, Lucy and Stella. Lucy falls for her billionaire boss, while Stella falls for the first guy she ever loved when he comes back into her life after a ten year absence. I like the characters and dialogue. Shane wasn't your typical billionaire, which was refreshing. Stella's love screens were a little steamer than Lucy's. I would have like to have seem more description between Lucy and Shane because there was a real and meaningful connection there. This was a fun read and I look forward to Ms. Desmond's next novel.
March 24, 2015
So happy I discovered this book. It had everything a great love story should have - times two! Romantic, sweet, funny at times (Aw, Stella!), and just the right amount of sexy. Two great story lines, two hunky heroes. Plus, the writing was excellent. No annoying typos or grammar errors. The writer has a talent for painting vivid imagery of the various locations. I want that house in the wine country. So jealous of Lucy, that lucky, lucky girl. :) I hope to see more from this author. She's on my watch list for sure. Highly, highly recommended for those who like their romance with a capital R.
November 11, 2013
An easy read about a CEO and his temporary assistant. It was written well, but the content was just lacking a little something. There are a lot of books with a similar storyline, and I try to read them ALL as I love it! This story was just sweet, straight & lacked a little USP to separate it from the rest.
January 6, 2014
This story was two stories in one but the main one was for Lucy Dillane and Shane Walsh. The Second was Stella O’Rourke and Michael Gannon. The story starts out with the two main characters and best friends Lucy and Stella who were friends since grade school.
Lucy’s family had a beach home that they would spend two weeks at during the summer Stella would get to go with them and the girls loved every moment of it. The best part is in the sleepy town there were not that many kids in the ocean resort but the lady next door had two grand-sons that came every summer to stay with her. Michael was several years older than the girls but Tyler was about their age and they all got along great and they were always stuck like glue to each other the whole two weeks.
As the girls grew into their own Lucy a refined classic beauty and Stella a wild carefree redheaded beauty each saw and were seen differently. Michael being the oldest and the born leader of the four of them had an ability of being able to handle Stella’s wild side. As time moved on Stella came to be in love with Michael and enjoyed the talks and attention he gave her during the two weeks. Until the summer of the girl’s senior year…
Present day…Stella owns the novelty store at the beach her mom opened when Stella went off to college to have something to do. Stella does very well there and was able to buy it out right after college. Lucy married her college sweetheart and was starting a family when things went south with being able to have children and her husband passed away. Now she is working for Walsh Enterprises as a secretary. Owned by a young CEO Shane Walsh a self-made man, a billionaire in fact.
She has been working there for a month when she is called in the middle of the night by an employee of the firm instructing her that she is being asked the go with Mr. Walsh to NYC to be his private secretary since his personal secretary has had a death in the family. Being dazed that one it is the middle of the night but two she is questioning why her. When she is told either she works there or not. So, at about 4 a.m. she is being picked up by a private car and taken to meet a plane but not any plane his private plane.
All this from just a chance eye to eye meeting in the lobby of the building she works at (no words spoken.) This begins the story of Lucy and Shane.
Michael left the beach house early to go off to school early that summer that is forever etched in Stella’s mind. This would have been his last year of college then on to Boston for a job, marries and divorces and moves back to California. On the way back from a business trip, a sexy as hell, sassy and loud redhead gets seated next to the window a seat away from him with no one in between them. He knows who she is but she has no clue who he is, she has acted in several dreams of his over the years but especially that first year of college. Never knowing he had appeared in all of her dreams since she was 15. Part way home he lets her know who he is…so the story of Michael and Stella begins…
I loved this story. This has so much going on but all in a good way. A way that wants to make you keep on reading. This author has a way of only revealing so many of the surprises to the plot at a time. Just when you think you know where it’s finally going think again. You will laugh, cry, and feel oh so sad but it will all be worth it in the end.
Lucy’s family had a beach home that they would spend two weeks at during the summer Stella would get to go with them and the girls loved every moment of it. The best part is in the sleepy town there were not that many kids in the ocean resort but the lady next door had two grand-sons that came every summer to stay with her. Michael was several years older than the girls but Tyler was about their age and they all got along great and they were always stuck like glue to each other the whole two weeks.
As the girls grew into their own Lucy a refined classic beauty and Stella a wild carefree redheaded beauty each saw and were seen differently. Michael being the oldest and the born leader of the four of them had an ability of being able to handle Stella’s wild side. As time moved on Stella came to be in love with Michael and enjoyed the talks and attention he gave her during the two weeks. Until the summer of the girl’s senior year…
Present day…Stella owns the novelty store at the beach her mom opened when Stella went off to college to have something to do. Stella does very well there and was able to buy it out right after college. Lucy married her college sweetheart and was starting a family when things went south with being able to have children and her husband passed away. Now she is working for Walsh Enterprises as a secretary. Owned by a young CEO Shane Walsh a self-made man, a billionaire in fact.
She has been working there for a month when she is called in the middle of the night by an employee of the firm instructing her that she is being asked the go with Mr. Walsh to NYC to be his private secretary since his personal secretary has had a death in the family. Being dazed that one it is the middle of the night but two she is questioning why her. When she is told either she works there or not. So, at about 4 a.m. she is being picked up by a private car and taken to meet a plane but not any plane his private plane.
All this from just a chance eye to eye meeting in the lobby of the building she works at (no words spoken.) This begins the story of Lucy and Shane.
Michael left the beach house early to go off to school early that summer that is forever etched in Stella’s mind. This would have been his last year of college then on to Boston for a job, marries and divorces and moves back to California. On the way back from a business trip, a sexy as hell, sassy and loud redhead gets seated next to the window a seat away from him with no one in between them. He knows who she is but she has no clue who he is, she has acted in several dreams of his over the years but especially that first year of college. Never knowing he had appeared in all of her dreams since she was 15. Part way home he lets her know who he is…so the story of Michael and Stella begins…
I loved this story. This has so much going on but all in a good way. A way that wants to make you keep on reading. This author has a way of only revealing so many of the surprises to the plot at a time. Just when you think you know where it’s finally going think again. You will laugh, cry, and feel oh so sad but it will all be worth it in the end.
November 21, 2013
3.5 stars for me, really enjoyed this story about two friends who find love at the same time, Stella with Michael an old friend and Lucy with her boss, billionaire Shane.
I would have given it 4 stars except that I felt a little let down, we had the steamy scenes with Stella and Michael but after all the build up with Lucy and Shane when they finally got together we get the old .....I woke up the next morning ... Line, yes there was a bit of a recap of the night before but I wanted to get a bit more of the romance from Shane.
Worth a read especially as this was on offer on Amazon. Just needed a bit more depth and angst for me to have rated it higher, if however you love a good romance then this will be for you.
I would have given it 4 stars except that I felt a little let down, we had the steamy scenes with Stella and Michael but after all the build up with Lucy and Shane when they finally got together we get the old .....I woke up the next morning ... Line, yes there was a bit of a recap of the night before but I wanted to get a bit more of the romance from Shane.
Worth a read especially as this was on offer on Amazon. Just needed a bit more depth and angst for me to have rated it higher, if however you love a good romance then this will be for you.
September 2, 2015
4.6/5
This is one of those books that I actually read every single word because every paragraph was important and actually had feelings instead of just telling me what was happening.
I did enjoy Lucys story more than Stella. I don't feel as though Stella had a solid ending to her story which is the main reason this wasn't a perfect 5/5 for me, along with the fact that I didn't love the end of Lucys story either, felt too rushed for a such a slow nice love story.
Overall, I enjoyed the fact that this wasn't an 'instalove' book and that the characters built their love with common interests and some reasonable hurtles and complications. Each character had a backstory and nothing felt forced.
This is one of those books that I actually read every single word because every paragraph was important and actually had feelings instead of just telling me what was happening.
I did enjoy Lucys story more than Stella. I don't feel as though Stella had a solid ending to her story which is the main reason this wasn't a perfect 5/5 for me, along with the fact that I didn't love the end of Lucys story either, felt too rushed for a such a slow nice love story.
Overall, I enjoyed the fact that this wasn't an 'instalove' book and that the characters built their love with common interests and some reasonable hurtles and complications. Each character had a backstory and nothing felt forced.
November 12, 2013
Great romantic story. This is what dreamy romantic stories are made of. There is the "thunderbolt" striking our lovers and making them aware that something special has just happened. You have the angst of lovers torn apart, and of course, the happy ending we all wish for them.
Well written with amazing characters. Truly an enjoyable read you will not want to pass.
Well written with amazing characters. Truly an enjoyable read you will not want to pass.
August 13, 2016
I thought this a was a great story with two happily ever afters.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews