...Really?

 

To be clear, I don't mean, `How are you?' in the general sense.

 

I mean, honestly. I mean, in the greater sense. Beyond the simple fact that you are breathing, that your heartbeat is pumping blood through your body, that the sun is shining and you're absorbing information through your retina. I mean, `How are you?' as in beyond the surface of your physical self.

 

Hang with me.

 

I've got a point here, I promise.

 

With the past few years' events and the way they have been—what with the world getting more complex by the day, with the idea of 'love' more difficult to define and possibly more difficult to fulfill, with more people ending up, daily, running into notions of infeasibility, of facing a reality that has become a series of unanswered questions, it's no wonder we are all feeling more less than.

 

Less than ourselves. Less than our potential. Less than we used to be.

 

Less than we 'should' be or what we thought we'd be.

 

And it's easier to go along, slip into a routine, try and make believe as if everything is OK, as if it were true. It's easier than saying that life has gotten a bit lonely. And confusing.

 

It's simpler to smile at everyone who asks and say, `Yeah, I'm fine.'

 

But:

 

 

If I ask myself this question, I'd have to admit: My past few years have been just a sliver short of seriously awful.

 

And although I can say I *think* I've managed fairly well and learned a lot through some of my struggles, I can't say I didn't feel alone, isolated and even completely lost at times.

 

Yup, these past few years have handed out a beating.

 

(I attribute my shreds of sanity to my family, Thai 🍜 food, Pinot Noir from Publix and Nancy Meyers movies!)

 

I could go on and on about the myriad of struggles happening--reframing my life and work, dealing with rejection, finding a new way to relate to the world, sorting out heartbreak, rethinking career goals.

 

But what I would really like to focus on are the things I've learned.

 

And it all started with asking myself the one question I just asked you, the one question I heard on a podcast this week that really made me stop and think...

 

 

It's a question I asked myself a few days ago when I had a chance to take a quick stock of how I was heading into the long weekend.

 

But before I start waxing philosophically...can we just congratulate ourselves on making it through another week and being well enough to check in to this little VIP Romance reading letter of ours?

 

If you're new to our Wrye on the Rocks VIP Romance letter, then welcome to our little niched corner of the reading world.

 

Where we can talk about books, life, love, shirtless men and all of the above.

 

And if you're not new to VIP, then head on over to the kitchen area and fill up your glass with Pinot. Or oat milk. (Because that's really all I have in my fridge. These last few years have really been all about growth, but you know what it hasn't been about? Shopping.)

 

And to give you a heads-up about this VIP letter (which I should have sent Friday), I'm sharing a romance book gift of a giveaway with you (about a really, reallyyy rich man and the one woman who can handle what he's got to offer, in a good way and in a not-so good way), a lesson I learned about resetting life goals and a new way to re-route when you find yourself in the middle, stuck and unsure of the next step to take.

 

So, if you've got your drink in hand and you're ready to sound off, let's jump right in before this oat milk of mine actually does run out!

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

☎️ HITTING THE RESET BUTTON ☎️

 

I started this week's newsletter with the intent to keep things short and sweet.

 

 

But there is one thing that can make happen, and that's to share my feelings about the self-examination that has been helping me pull a "restart, reset and reframe"—a concept that has been popularized by wellness and mindfulness gurus in the last four years or so.

 

To be honest, I thought nothing was wrong with my routine.

 

It seemed to be going fine.

 

I'd work, work, work, watch episodes of Cheers and eat in the times between and work, then read before bed, and then do it all the next day just the same.

 

This was my process. These were my habits.

 

And then BAM. The world changed, with a pandemic upending my routine and my work just as I felt I was hitting my stride.

 

And suddenly, I was stuck.

 

My creativity well dried up. My writing slowed almost to a complete stop.

 

I had no idea what to fix. No idea what to do. And no idea what to feel.

 

And I made me feel stuck in a way I'd never felt before.

 

You see, it's easy to see a roadblock like this as a glaring red light to a screeching halt. We think we've failed. (I know I initially did)

 

I was fixated. Obsessed with my work. And what I had to put on hold...made me feel ashamed. Dumbfounded. And completely devastated.

 

I had no idea how to keep moving forward.

 

But it's also possible to see it as a door opening up to a chance to switch things up in one big way.

 

Or even three.

 

The last time I reset, I wrote a book called HATING THE BEST MAN. And it was the longest book I'd ever written up to that point.

 

And it was fun, fast-paced, suspenseful and erotic. It was a different kind of book altogether. And it was the thing I needed to write to fill the hole that cropped up when my last book didn't make it past the slush pile.

 

And now I'm resetting again.

 

Only this time, I'm wrapping up a series instead of starting a new one.

 

I'm taking the time I had originally envisioned for the next book...and using it to write two: a novella in the same series to refresh all those sexy 🔥, angsty, can't-stand-each-other-and-secretly-want-rip-each-other's-clothes-off juices...and I'm writing a full-length novel that I've officially entitled THE CON.

 

This book, for me—a story about a handsome psychiatrist back in to claim part of his estranged father's empire....and and the beautiful recovering addict who's there to steal it—is a bit of restart, a refresh for me to dig further into that steamy, twisty, sexy goodness that holds the core of who I am as an author and what I love to write about.

 

I've never been able to say no to a sexy billionaire with a quick tongue...and now that I've "juicing up", I'm ready to do it again.

 

But I figure it better to show you than to tell you.

 

Here's a "Sneak Peek" of forbidden, secret billionaire THE CON and the steamy, swoony, guilty pleasure that has turned into my current work-in-progress and exactly the book I need right now to get back into that zone.

 

I don't know if the pre-cover gives “juicy” vibes. But the Sneak Peek below should take care of that 🙃

I know I have to push those memories back into their little vault and lock them up tight. I have to forget all about that night in Seattle.

 

Forget about the way he kissed me. Forget about the way he whispered my name in the dark. Forget about the way he made me come.

 

And for a second, as the law offices of King and Sparrow come into view, I almost do.

 

But the moment I pull up to the building, the second my feet touch the curb and I walk through those double glass doors, all bets are off.

 

Just inside the marble lobby, I notice a pair of broad shoulders that can only belong to one man.

 

All six foot-something of his perfect body dawdles near the receptionist's desk, tall and lean, dressed in a crisp, white shirt and dark trousers - his suit jacket slung over one arm.

 

Jacob is leaning against the desk, a smile on his face as he chats with the receptionist.

 

I stop in my tracks and take a deep breath, just as his dark irises fall my way.

 

"Sophie," he says, his voice dropping an octave. It's deep and seductive, like smooth bourbon or hot tea on a cold night.

 

"Dr. Masterson," I answer, walking up to the desk as I try to ignore the way my heart is pounding in my chest. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

 

"Please," he says, gesturing to Linda the receptionist behind him. "I've been bothering the oh-so-kind Linda here enough. I was just leaving...as it were."

 

"Well, then, I wish you a good day. Sorry again for interrupting."

 

He straightens, ambling my way. "Actually, I'm just leaving the receptionist desk. I'm headed where you are now. Up to the offices of King and Sparrow. I have that meeting with Heath, after all."

 

I nod, my heart starting to thump in my chest again. "Oh, well that's good. I hope everything goes well."

 

His face blanches as he takes another step. "Really? I'm a little surprised to hear you say that. Your face didn't look that thrilled yesterday when I told you about the meeting."

 

"Well, you and I didn't exactly leave things on the best of terms the last time we saw each other, so no. I don't think I should be 'thrilled' that a man who hates me is meeting my boss. That's a reasonable reaction, isn't it?"

 

"'Hate you'?" he repeats slowly, his stare narrowing. "I don't recall ever saying I hated you, Sophie."

 

I shrug and meet his stare--burn for burn, ignoring the way his eyes stay on me, his gaze singeing my skin. "Oh, well you didn't have to say it. It's pretty obvious. It's written all over your face."

 

"I think you've been reading a lot into things. In fact, you seem to be reading into a lot more than you should."

 

It's a swipe at my "indiscretion" from yesterday when I read through his file. But unlike yesterday, I'm more prepared. I'm not backing down to Dr. Masterson's clever mind tricks.

 

Not anymore.

 

"I think I'm reading into things just fine, by the way. And I think that you're the one who's been reading too far into things." I say, my words pointed, my tone sharper than usual. "You seem very distrustful. Tell me: Does paranoia run in your family, or is that just a personal quirk of yours?" I ask, glancing over at the receptionist who, thankfully, is picking up her phone and pretending not to listen.

 

His eyes narrow, an unreadable look on his face as he glances over me. "I tend to be a little 'paranoid' when it comes to consorting around liars."

 

"Well, then you must be a very lonely man here in New York. Everyone here is a liar."

 

His eyes flash. "So it seems..So, are you actually walking to work, or am I now interrupting you?"

 

"You're not interrupting anything. I was just walking up to King & Sparrow. I've got things to do...same as you."

 

"Great. I'll walk with you."

 

I take another step back. "I really don't think that's necessary, actually." My feet start to move backwards farther from the desk, and my pulse starts to speed up. "Enjoy the lobby a little more. Get a cup of coffee from the cafe. I'm sure a man like you can find plenty of interesting people to converse with in there."

 

"You don't want company?" he asks, his eyes darken as he looms closer. "It looks like you're trying to ditch me..."

 

"No. I'm just trying not to give you the wrong idea about me, that's all."

 

"What idea is that? That you don't like me?"

 

"I...never said that, either," I say, my voice cutting through the lobby. I lower it, looking over my shoulder. "But I've got a job to do in King & Sparrow. And I'm afraid it's going to get in the way of my 'friendship' with you. I'm sorry."

 

"Well," he says, his eyes heavy with meaning. "I'm sorry, too then. For giving you the impression that I wanted a friendship with you, Sophie." He blinks. "We were acquaintances. Nothing more. And now we're just two people who both happen to be working with King & Sparrow. That's all."

 

Heat burns my cheeks and joins the rest of the sweat rolling down my back. I lock eyes with him, staring into his brown irises, making sure he knows I'm telling him one thing and thinking another. "Okay. Great. Now that that's settled then, I'll show you up to the offices." I motion. "They're this way...Dr. Masterson."

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is an extremely famous, extremely rich trillionaire named Trey.

 

He's charming, he's smart, he's determined.

 

And hell if he isn't ridiculously handsome.

 

He also needs a wife.

 

A fake wife.

 

See, he's ready to secure a big business deal.

 

 

And what's even better is that soon that fake 💍 wife of Trey's—another bright and beautiful  company employee of his, who also happens to be named Sophie—won't just be his wife in name, but will be the only thing this gorgeous man will ever want to possess...that he just simply cannot have.

 

I can't tell you more than that because a) I don't want to spoil you on the characters, and b) I would like to leave a little mystery for you to enjoy in this story.

 

When you join the Billionaire Book Boyfriend Club (BBBC), there's a fun surprise waiting for you inside each month's swoony newsletter.

 

 

It's a gift courtesy of the Billionaire Book Boyfriend Club—a gift that is yours to claim from now until July 15th as a VIP.

 

Trust me: This is an angsty, gorgeous, steamy and wildly satisfying ride that you won't want to miss out on.

 

If you haven't read this book yet, now's your chance to start...for FREE.

 

So get it now. Read it immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

 

And last but not least...a little something to take away with you this week whether you're resetting, restarting or reframing your own personal journey as we head into the latter half of the year.

 

I know in the corporate world, we break our time down into quarters, which is probably a really intuitive way to look at the calendar.

 

But in my world/view, there are other seasons—seasons of love, freshness, warmth and peace. And in my view, summer ☀️ is the season of love.

 

Maybe it's something about warm nights and bare legs. Or maybe it's just the knowledge that the world slows down when we're having too much fun with our friends and family.

 

In any regard, summer seems to be the season where love thrives.

 

And quite honestly, I like giving love a little boost this time of year.

 

Especially now, when love—all forms of it—can really feel like it's in short supply and that we're barely making it out of this week with our sanity intact.

 

 

 

It know it seems perfectly okay to ask your friends, your family, your coworkers how they're doing, but be honest: When's the last time you asked yourself?

 

What's your truth? Are you taking care of what you need? How is your heart? And have you let yourself have moments to...tap into the places where your heart thrives?

 

If not, why not now? Why not take stock of how you are REALLY doing right now?

 

 

And when I start reading the new book she released under the same name, this was the part that stuck out the most, that knocked a few things loose inside me:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenna goes on to mention that some of us are lucky enough to have personal friends who see and know the real us. But truth is: I know that many of us can find ourselves lacking in these kinds of connections.

 

So, what else does it take to tap into those vulnerable places we bring to the surface only with the people we love the most?

 

It takes practice.

 

It takes letting go of the anxious parts of yourself that don't want to show up for the most important thing that can happen in your life: You.

 

 

That's it. Just some words.

 

A sentence. Or even a paragraph or two to bring with you into the new season.

 

And if that feels messy, don't worry about spelling them just right or making them make sense. Just write.

 

Slow down and ask yourself what you need.

 

Because when we sit down and create 📝 something that is messy, authentic, vulnerable and in-your-face, something stirs.

 

And I like to think it's the "wild parts of ourselves left unspoken"--the parts that keep me reading and writing and falling in love with new books, new cities and new characters every day.

 

That's all part of the reset, the restart and the reframe.

 

Give yourself some space and quiet.

 

And ask yourself this question:

 

How are you really?

 

If you can't think—or don't want to mess with all that your brain is trying to do—just think back to this week, or this month, or this same time last year.

 

Is it messy?

 

I hope so.

 

It's exactly what you need.

 

When you ask that question, it's a call to action.

 

Ready to find out what you really want? Grab that pen 🖊 and see what comes out.

 

And remember, it's summertime. There's no better time to start fresh.

 

There's no better time to open up to what you really want in the new season.

 

There's no better time to start making some changes.

 

So take just a couple minutes...I promise it'll be worth it.

 

Believe in your wild parts, your messy parts and your unfiltered parts the most. The parts you've put in the corner the last few seasons, the ones you've let hurt and confused and frustrated, the ones you've put on the back burner for the things you wish were possible.

 

Because they are the parts that keep you and me stretching farther, getting to know ourselves a little better, falling deeper and landing at the very places we dream about.

 

 

--

 

 

So get brewing.

 

You've got this.

 

Let's get the reset started now.

 

Here's to life on the edge and the next season up ahead.

 

**By the way: Just wanted you to know that you're receiving this letter from my crazy self b/c you signed up to receive my VIP letters as a member of the Billionaire Book Boyfriend Club or because I bribed you into being on my VIP list 🙃

 

Natalie Wrye is a reader, writer and tequila lover best known for writing seductive billionaire romance and characters whose HEA's you'll love rooting for.

A notebook hoarder whose books have been featured on USA Today's HEA and PopSugar, when she's not watching Netflix re-runs or yelling at college basketball games on TV, she's usually crafting sexy suspenseful stories about hard-bodied, take-charge heroes and the strong-willed women who crave them.

She loves it when people get weird with her on IG or NatalieWrye.com