| Beautiful redhead Selena Merrick is enjoying a vacation in New Orleans when she is mistaken for a "lady of the evening" by a group of rowdy, drunken businessmen. Selena is more entertained than outraged by the persistent admirers. When one of the men asks her what her fee is, Selena jokingly plays along and tells him $500. Selena spots a handsome, dark haired man watching and listening to her interaction with the men. When Selena runs into the handsome stranger at the hotel where she is staying, the man tells Selena that he is willing to pay her price for an evening with her. The man boldly places $500 in her cleavage then leads her to his hotel room. Although Selena initially attempts to clear up the man's mistaken belief that she is a prostitute, she ends up half dressed and kissing the stranger. While the stranger is undressing, Selena grabs her purse, runs from the hotel room half dressed and ducks into her hotel room. When Selena attempts to return the $500 to the stranger's room, she discovers that he has checked out of the hotel. With a smirk of glee, Selena donates the money to charity. When Selena sets out to go sightseeing she finds herself at the wharf viewing the famous riverboat, the Delta Queen. Selena ends up meeting a mysterious older woman named Julia Barkley. Selena befriends Julia and ends up accepting the older woman's invitation to church service and dinner. Julia confides in Selena and tells her that tomorrow she is setting sail on the Delta Queen in order to meet up with her fiance, Leslie, in order to get married. Julia explains that her brother, Hamilton, and her entire family disapproves of the union due to an age difference. When Selena accepts an invitation from Julia to join her on the 11 day cruise, Selena accepts. Once on board the cruise, Selena is shocked to meet up with the handsome stranger from the hotel room, who she discovers is Julia's nephew, Chance Barkley. Chance disapproves of his aunt's impending marriage and has been sent by the Barkley family to dissuade her from marrying Leslie. Selena is attracted to Chance, yet she can't stand the way he is standing in the way of Julia's happiness. Chance can't believe his ears when Selena tells him that she is not a lady of the evening and that in reality, she is a store clerk/buyer and the daughter of a minister. Regardless, Chance still wants Selena, and he relentlessly pursues her. Although Selena feels an overwhelming attraction to Chance, can she allow herself to fall for a man who is willing to ruin his own aunt's chance at happiness?
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Plot & Themes Time/era of story Searching/Rekindling love? Yes Lost Lover: If one lover chases another... - he chases after her Main Male Character Profession/status: Age/status: - 20's-30's Main Female Character - 20's-30's Profession/status: Unusual characteristics: Setting United States Yes The US: - Deep South Water? Yes Water: - pleasure/love boat Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death What % of story is romance related? - nearly 100% Focus of story - Her How much dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |
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