by
An attractive, middle-aged businesswoman falls in love with a plump, plain, and washed-up comedian.
Josh Steinberg’s mission in life was to make other people laugh, but these days, he could barely make himself smile.
“Good evening, everyone,” Josh said, starting his act in a halting voice, his eyes sweeping the half-empty, dimly lit room.
Holy shit, what a dive. The Yahoo Comedy Club in Toronto? Never heard of it before. God, why does Greg keep lining up these crappy gigs? And how did I end up with an agent who knows nothing about the comedy business? Serves me right for hiring someone who used to be a roadie with a rock band.
Josh smiled at the half-drunken faces before him, then launched into his routine — the usual shtick about his hopeless love life.
“My looks have helped me in life. I mean, no women are filing paternity suits against me.”
READ MOREDeep down inside, Josh knew that his looks had done absolutely nothing for him. He had never really been a hunk: five foot nine; slightly plump — always plump, even when he was young; a plain face with a big nose; thinning and graying brown hair; receding hairline; double chin. Josh especially hated his big, protruding belly; he had tried for years and years to get rid of it, with no success.
COLLAPSELisa Torquay, author of The Lass Defended the Laird wrote:“Author Kathleen Jones successfully brings readers into the gritty, often brutal worlds of stand-up comedy and the Hollywood film industry, where talent means little unless it is combined with youth and beauty, and where love is often an illusion.”
“I liked how Jones treated the story and how the romance follows a different path. An enriching reading.”
