Genre Fiction
![Gia De Cadenet - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_gia_de_cadenet.jpg)
Not the Plan: A Novel
An ambitious chief of staff risks her career and her heart when she falls hard for her new colleague in this steamy workplace romance from the author of Getting His Game Back.
"A sexy and sensitive love story set against a backdrop of political intrigue . . . I loved it!"-Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It in Hollywood
After nearly a decade of experience in state politics, Isadora Maris is damn good at her job. Aggressive lobbyists and stonewalling senators are no match for her diplomacy and her unflappable commitment to her principles. If all goes according to her meticulous plan, she'll soon be managing her boss's successful campaign for U.S. representative and finally land her dream role: congressional aide in Washington, D.C., where she can really make a difference.
But Isadora's cool professionalism is knocked off-kilter when she meets Karim Sarda. Karim is gorgeous and brilliant and seems to share many of her ideals. So why is he working for the California senate's most detestable scumbag? Given their bosses' fierce political rivalry, Isadora finds she can't risk tarnishing her reputation by flirting with the enemy, and she's been betrayed enough times to want to keep people at a distance. So she deems Karim off-limits-no matter how flustered she feels whenever he enters the room.
Karim knows that struggle all too well: Still processing the wounds from his failed marriage, he's ready for a fresh start. But Karim can't hide his attraction to Isadora's commanding presence. Her strength is captivating, even as he recognizes something fragile beneath its surface.
When Karim and Isadora succumb to their undeniable chemistry, their initial desire blossoms into something more-something real. But if Karim's boss takes control of the California senate, everything Isadora worked for could be destroyed. Will workplace politics shatter their chance at love?
"A sexy and sensitive love story set against a backdrop of political intrigue . . . I loved it!"-Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It in Hollywood
After nearly a decade of experience in state politics, Isadora Maris is damn good at her job. Aggressive lobbyists and stonewalling senators are no match for her diplomacy and her unflappable commitment to her principles. If all goes according to her meticulous plan, she'll soon be managing her boss's successful campaign for U.S. representative and finally land her dream role: congressional aide in Washington, D.C., where she can really make a difference.
But Isadora's cool professionalism is knocked off-kilter when she meets Karim Sarda. Karim is gorgeous and brilliant and seems to share many of her ideals. So why is he working for the California senate's most detestable scumbag? Given their bosses' fierce political rivalry, Isadora finds she can't risk tarnishing her reputation by flirting with the enemy, and she's been betrayed enough times to want to keep people at a distance. So she deems Karim off-limits-no matter how flustered she feels whenever he enters the room.
Karim knows that struggle all too well: Still processing the wounds from his failed marriage, he's ready for a fresh start. But Karim can't hide his attraction to Isadora's commanding presence. Her strength is captivating, even as he recognizes something fragile beneath its surface.
When Karim and Isadora succumb to their undeniable chemistry, their initial desire blossoms into something more-something real. But if Karim's boss takes control of the California senate, everything Isadora worked for could be destroyed. Will workplace politics shatter their chance at love?
Editorial Reviews
"A sexy and sensitive love story set against a backdrop of political intrigue, Not the Plan digs deep into the hard work (and subsequent reward) of letting down your walls and allowing yourself to be loved by the right person. I loved it!"-Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake It In Hollywood
"Love is on the ballot [in] this masterful interracial workplace romance. . . . The chemistry is off the charts and the affection between the couple feels real and entirely earned. This is a winner."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Love is on the ballot [in] this masterful interracial workplace romance. . . . The chemistry is off the charts and the affection between the couple feels real and entirely earned. This is a winner."-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Readers Top Reviews
StroopWafels
Not the Plan has a great premise. Two smart, accomplished people (Isadora and Karim) meet on a plane and are instantly drawn to one another. However, they soon find out their bosses are political rivals! There is plenty to like about the story and Isadora and Karim have good chemistry which leads to some steamy scenes. They also have serious issues they are respectively dealing with which adds to their characterizations and our understanding of their actions. I enjoyed the romance though I could have done without the excessive use of “beautiful” and “baby” (and “gorgeous”) - maybe once or twice a novel is enough. Recommended to those looking for a snappy, insta-love (with depth) plot full of political intrigue. 3.5 stars. Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine or the opportunity to read a copy.
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter One
Isadora
I can do this.
Isadora Maris took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and maneuvered her luggage into the San Diego airport. Bags checked and through security, she stopped at a coffee shop before heading to her gate. Flying is no big deal. How many times a year do I fly? Nothing bad has ever happened.
She had a few moments, so she took a seat at one of the small tables in front of the shop. Maybe she should buy a magazine. Something light and fun to read? She popped the lid off her cup and tried to ground herself with the aroma and taste of the latte. She was safe, she was fine. Everything's cool. I've got this. If I can handle stonewalling senators and aggressive lobbyists, I can handle a flight.
"Babe, I would totally die for you." Isadora caught a man's voice murmuring a table over. She glanced at the couple just as his blond companion let out a kittenish giggle.
"Kenny, sweetie, you are so dramatic," she said.
Isadora suppressed an eye roll as the couple leaned into each other open-mouthed. It wasn't that she was averse to public displays of affection. But how long had it been since someone looked at her like that? Touched her like that? It didn't matter; right now she had too much on the line. This time next year, her boss, Daniel Etcheverri, would be president pro tempore of the state senate, and as chief of staff, her hard work and drive had helped get him there. From there, she'd manage his (hopefully) successful race for U.S. representative and she'd reach her childhood dream: congressional aide in Washington, D.C.
"You know," the guy said after smacking his lips, "after last night, the plane could fall out of the sky, crash and burn, and I'd die a happy man."
Isadora choked on her coffee, a wave of terror charging over her skin from her scalp to the soles of her feet. She wrenched her phone out of her bag, unlocked it, and tapped on an icon on her home screen. She scrolled down to the most important line in the article.
The odds of dying in a plane crash are one in eleven million. The odds of dying in a plane crash are one in eleven million.
"If we crashed into the water, we-"
Isadora had to get away from these people. She grabbed her phone and the cup, pushed her chair back, took one step, and promptly collided with something tall and warm. She watched in slow motion as her latte shot out of the cup, arced into the air, and exploded against a white dress shirt.
"Dammit!" came a low, deep voice above her.
"Oh! I'm so sorry." She grabbed some napkins out of the dispenser on the table, fingertips clumsy and buzzing. When she glanced up at the man's face, she stopped dead. Green eyes framed by dark hair stared back through nerdy-cute glasses. He was well over six feet tall, had sun-kissed olive skin, and was hot. Cover model hot.
She'd just scalded the sexiest man she'd ever seen.
"Here." She offered him the napkins.
"You must be in a hurry," he said, taking them and dabbing at the coffee.
"No. Well . . . I mean, yes."
"Maybe watch where you're going next time." Just her luck, the demigod was pissed at her.
"Maybe you should watch where you're going," she snapped. "The tables are right there."
He narrowed his eyes at her, looking her up and down. She wasn't going to give him a pass to talk to her any kind of way, just because he was gorgeous.
"If you'll excuse me, miss, I need to go get cleaned up."
She narrowed her eyes back at him. She'd taken a step away and was stuck between him and the wall of the coffee shop.
"You're in my way," she said.
Waving the hand holding the napkins out and bowing in a sarcastic display of gallantry, he let her by. "Have a nice day," he called after her.
She shot him a dirty look over her shoulder and headed to her gate.
Isadora adjusted her earbuds and started her pre-takeoff ritual. The odds of dying in a plane-
"Well, isn't this a surprise?"
She opened her eyes as the demigod's messenger bag slid onto the seat next to hers. Heat blasted...
Isadora
I can do this.
Isadora Maris took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and maneuvered her luggage into the San Diego airport. Bags checked and through security, she stopped at a coffee shop before heading to her gate. Flying is no big deal. How many times a year do I fly? Nothing bad has ever happened.
She had a few moments, so she took a seat at one of the small tables in front of the shop. Maybe she should buy a magazine. Something light and fun to read? She popped the lid off her cup and tried to ground herself with the aroma and taste of the latte. She was safe, she was fine. Everything's cool. I've got this. If I can handle stonewalling senators and aggressive lobbyists, I can handle a flight.
"Babe, I would totally die for you." Isadora caught a man's voice murmuring a table over. She glanced at the couple just as his blond companion let out a kittenish giggle.
"Kenny, sweetie, you are so dramatic," she said.
Isadora suppressed an eye roll as the couple leaned into each other open-mouthed. It wasn't that she was averse to public displays of affection. But how long had it been since someone looked at her like that? Touched her like that? It didn't matter; right now she had too much on the line. This time next year, her boss, Daniel Etcheverri, would be president pro tempore of the state senate, and as chief of staff, her hard work and drive had helped get him there. From there, she'd manage his (hopefully) successful race for U.S. representative and she'd reach her childhood dream: congressional aide in Washington, D.C.
"You know," the guy said after smacking his lips, "after last night, the plane could fall out of the sky, crash and burn, and I'd die a happy man."
Isadora choked on her coffee, a wave of terror charging over her skin from her scalp to the soles of her feet. She wrenched her phone out of her bag, unlocked it, and tapped on an icon on her home screen. She scrolled down to the most important line in the article.
The odds of dying in a plane crash are one in eleven million. The odds of dying in a plane crash are one in eleven million.
"If we crashed into the water, we-"
Isadora had to get away from these people. She grabbed her phone and the cup, pushed her chair back, took one step, and promptly collided with something tall and warm. She watched in slow motion as her latte shot out of the cup, arced into the air, and exploded against a white dress shirt.
"Dammit!" came a low, deep voice above her.
"Oh! I'm so sorry." She grabbed some napkins out of the dispenser on the table, fingertips clumsy and buzzing. When she glanced up at the man's face, she stopped dead. Green eyes framed by dark hair stared back through nerdy-cute glasses. He was well over six feet tall, had sun-kissed olive skin, and was hot. Cover model hot.
She'd just scalded the sexiest man she'd ever seen.
"Here." She offered him the napkins.
"You must be in a hurry," he said, taking them and dabbing at the coffee.
"No. Well . . . I mean, yes."
"Maybe watch where you're going next time." Just her luck, the demigod was pissed at her.
"Maybe you should watch where you're going," she snapped. "The tables are right there."
He narrowed his eyes at her, looking her up and down. She wasn't going to give him a pass to talk to her any kind of way, just because he was gorgeous.
"If you'll excuse me, miss, I need to go get cleaned up."
She narrowed her eyes back at him. She'd taken a step away and was stuck between him and the wall of the coffee shop.
"You're in my way," she said.
Waving the hand holding the napkins out and bowing in a sarcastic display of gallantry, he let her by. "Have a nice day," he called after her.
She shot him a dirty look over her shoulder and headed to her gate.
Isadora adjusted her earbuds and started her pre-takeoff ritual. The odds of dying in a plane-
"Well, isn't this a surprise?"
She opened her eyes as the demigod's messenger bag slid onto the seat next to hers. Heat blasted...
