By Design - Jayne Denker (2013)

Interior designer Emmie is stuck in a rut. She has an overbearing boss, a boyfriend who likes her for one thing only and her father seems to have a better love life than she does. Her life seems to be going nowhere quickly. However, one day a rather gorgeous man steps into her office and everything starts to change. She soon learns this man is called Graham and she starts to build up her confidence to try and achieve what she really wants. This was a great book with some well-developed, interesting characters. Jayne has really taken the time to write the friendships between these characters. Most people will probably be able to relate to Emmie on some level. It's well worth a read. (LL)

By Design, the debut novel by Jayne Denker, is about a woman who needs to believe in her own talents. The summary says: "She's got loads of talent, a massive crush - and no confidence. Now she just needs a plan... Interior designer Emmie Brewster is having one of those ... decades. Her overbearing boss believes she's only qualified to make coffee. Her boyfriend treats her like a booty call. And her widowed father is dating again - more successfully than she is. Then Emmie lands a client who happens to be the hottest man she's ever encountered. Too bad Graham Cooper is already involved with the kind of woman Emmie longs to be. If only she had the courage... Emmie's always been content to dream - about having her own business, her own Mr. Right - but something about Graham makes her want to take action. Maybe it's time she used her talent for creating beauty and order on herself. She has Graham's admiration - does she dare go for more? With a little encouragement from her friends, and a lot of newfound motivation, Emmie's ready to try..."

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