Jody Gehrman

Copywriter Ruby Sugars is in a rut. Her life consists of the following: long hours, boring neutral colors, and regular fat-shaming from her stick insect-looking boss.

But Ruby isn't really a Bland Betty—she's a complete Bettie Page hottie, with an enviable collection of vintage couture and very naughty vixen lingerie. Now if only she could channel that girl into her real life...

Cue Ruby's best friend, whose recent fixation is “fantasy matchmaking.” She's decided that all Ruby needs is one night with a sexy, delectable man—one with a serious thing for curvy pin-up girls. And “Lancer” is hot enough to make any girl's fantasy come true.

For one night, it's pure, x-rated hotness. But come the next morning, this brand-spankin'-new bombshell will get the shock of her life when the man she vowed to see only once shows up again… as her new boss.

London aristocrat Mia Clementine does gorgeous for a living. Her cousin's etiquette firm, The Inner Gentleman, works small miracles on rough–around–the–edges superstars, and Mia is their most sought–after stylist. But selfish, overpaid soccer player Josh Watkins? He's in a league of his own.

And thanks to her rep, his team wants Mia to wave her magic wand and turn their celebrated player and we do mean playerinto a changed man before his next charity gig.

That means: * No more fighting. * No more swearing. * No more "allegedly" shagging a page–three girl at a casino restaurant.

But just when Mia thinks Josh is kicking his old habits, he turns the game around. Suddenly, Mia's looking for meaning in her society–page existence. Sure, she's an expert in pushing the posh life, but maybe it's time to not play by the rules.

Tart is my favourite word. I love what it stirs in the mind–the synesthesia of flavour mixing with colours: reds, oranges and apple greens, gleaming with cheap temptation. It's been a goal of my twenties to live a tart life; I want everything I do to have that sharpness, that edge of almost too–out–there to be tasty, but not quite.'

Meet Claudia Bloom. She's having one of those years. First she steals her ex's VW bus and drives it across country, where it promptly explodes. Next she lets herself be rescued by Clay, a cute DJ on a motorcycle; falls hard and meets his somehow–never–mentioned estranged wife while searching frantically for her panties. Then she tries to forget about Clay and focus on her tenuous new career teaching theatre–only to discover Clay's wife is her colleague, and his mother is her boss.

Could it get any worse? When her neo–deadhead cousin shows up with a horse–size mutt, and the two of them take up residence on her couch, Claudia's pretty sure things have hit rock bottom! Set in a uber–hip beach town, this novel explores the rocky terrain of family secrets, forbidden fruit and all things Tart.