How Did I Get Here?
After an unexpected breakup, type A and laser-focused Dr. Yoanna De Santos swears off men to focus on her booming gynecological practice. That's until her feelings get the best of her!
Hey loves! I wanted to share an excerpt of my new (and second!) romance novel, Yoanna, with you all. Buy Yoanna here!
Chapter 1: How Did I Get Here?
“Love in an elevator! Lovin’ it up ‘till I hit the ground!”
I poke my twin brother, Joel, in the ribs as he begins to whistle the rest of the Aerosmith classic. Only I can’t stand this song and its overly sexualized romanticism. Who wants to make love in an elevator while plummeting to their death? And who says “make love” anyway? Not me. I, Yoanna De Santos, better known as “Yo,” and soon to be known as Yoanna Rodriguez, am a realist. Joel? He’s a former closeted romantic that sprung right out of the closet thanks to his relationship with my best friend, Candi.
“Ugh, you know how much I hate that song, bro!” I cover my ears with my hands and stick my tongue out at Joel.
“You just need some real love, sis, to know what it feels like to love when shit goes down,” Joel throws his head back and laughs, slapping his lap as if he were at a comedy club. Only he’s the opening act.
“I do have real love,” I affirm. “As a matter of fact,” I grab my phone from my white Dolce clutch, “let me text Pedro now. He should be here soon.”
And when he arrives, I’ll show Joel that my relationship with Pedro is just as exciting as his relationship with Candi. We might not suck each other’s lips off in public, but our relationship, ahum, engagement, is solid. Pedro and I have a stable, committed partnership and soon, marriage. We have our issues and, yes, we get in our relationship ruts, especially when Pedro is in a funk, which lately has felt like an ongoing episode of Days of Our Lives, but we’re a team.
“Come on, sis! Let’s party.” Joel interrupts my train of thought and I’m grateful for it. I don’t want to think anymore.
The elevator doors open and I step out and into my OBGYN office, which has been decked out in black and gold to celebrate the upcoming New Year. I scan the crowd that has gathered for the annual event, which I now host at my practice instead of Mami’s living room in Washington Heights. It feels good to invite my family, friends, and loved ones to countdown the new year inside the walls of the business I’ve built from the ground up at only 30 years old. Well, 31 in 2 hours. Yup. I am a New Year's baby. A tough day to be born since everyone is focused on who they’ll kiss at midnight, what color panties to wear to attract great sex, and gulping grapes for good fortune in the new year. It all goes down at midnight, which happens to be my time of birth. That’s right. I was born on January 1st at 12 am. I am nothing if not a punctual overachiever.
Buy Yoanna here.
Have you read Candi?
Candi is as messy as messy can get. The hopeful romantic is crushing on her co-worker, Jay, all while trying to keep her best friend's twin brother, Joel, at bay.
She sets her sights on Jay at a company party but comes face-to-face with an unknown adversary. Defeated, she calls on her best friend, Yo, to slap her back to reality. A Sunday of BBMs (bagels, bacon, and mimosas) with her bestie is just what she needs. There is just one hitch: Yo brings along her hot twin brother, Joel.
Teasing Candi has been Joel's favorite pastime since middle school. A marketing guru and hit with the ladies, he can’t seem to win Candi over. She tries to resist their chemistry to preserve her friendship with Yo, but it's getting harder and harder.
Will Candi succumb to her urges and fall in love with Joel, or will she reignite her spark with Jay? Candi refuses to lose her best friend, but she may be unable to control herself around her bestie's twin brother.