A Date on Cloud Nine

By Jenna McKnight

   The only excitement in Lilly Marquette's life came in the form of the vibration of her cell phone. Her husband's death left her millions at a young age, but with a lonely heart. She promises her best friend Betsy that she will buy her anything that her heart desires for her birthday. She didn't anticipate the gift would lead her to an adult toyshop called Cloud Nine. Feeling out of place, she finds her one salvation in the form of the sexy shop clerk. With growing feelings of lust weaving their way into her body she is caught up in an explosion that sends her into total darkness.

    She awakes to find herself at the Pearly Gates, caught between a time warp between life and death. There she finds two Angels named John and Elizabeth, who hold the fate of her existence in their hands. They make her agree to a deal: if they allow her to return to her former life, she must give away her fortune to the needy, and in addition, they give her until her next birthday to find her soul mate and become pregnant. They caution her if she fails in anything that they ask of her she will be forfeiting her life to them.

      Jake Murdoch is filling in for his neighbor at Cloud Nine. He is unprepared when the furnace explodes but his quick action saves Lilly from certain death. He recognizes her through her former husband, for he was the best man at their wedding. He still harbors bitter feelings that she connived to have his friend change his will leaving everything to her. But her beauty and charm is quickly swaying his original opinion of her, for every second he spends with her has him questioning his growing feelings. Will his conscience allow him to fall for his friend's widow?

     A Date On Cloud Nine is a lighthearted read that will have you cheering for Jake and Lilly. McKnight weaves very realistic characters as she puts them in scenes that will have you questioning if they really happened. The only drawback I found was the abrupt ending; it came without warning. A sequel is sure to follow when Betsy finds her own true love. I'm sure it will be one entertaining story.