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. You can read the first chapter for free here. The second chapter drops on Thursday and is also free to read. Enjoy and share with friends!
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.
Read the first chapter for free here.
Have you read Candi?
If you haven't read Candi yet, the first book in the Heights of Love series (Yoanna is the second), read it here. The first three chapters are free also! You can also purchase Canid in paperback here.