Taking Charge (Meet the McIntyres Book 1) Read online

  When my phone pinged again, my breath caught. My mother never responded. Texting wasn’t an acceptable way of communicating with people. If you had something to say, you rang them and had a conversation.

  Glancing down, I saw it wasn’t my mother. Instantly the tension left my body and I slumped forward. It didn’t matter who it actually was, as long as it wasn’t Angelina. Anyone but her I could handle.

  Shocked was an understatement.

  I’d completely forgotten I’d signed up for online dating one night after one too many glasses of Pinot. It had been in one of my moments of weakness, and those were becoming more and more frequent. I’d been lonely and I’d just finished watching some crappy sob story. Combine that with the wine and the empty tub of rocky road ice cream and I’d signed up.

  So far the results had been less than exciting, so I was surprised to find I had a match within twenty kilometres of where I sat.

  I was in the middle of bum fuck nowhere and now I had a match.

  I’d lived in Adelaide for the last six months and nothing. Not one measly contact. Now, in the middle of nowhere, where there was no high-speed internet, no McDonalds, and a train station where the train didn’t even stop, I had a match.

  Either this was going to be good or it was going to be bad. Very, very bad.

  Want more McIntyres? Read Picture Perfect (Meet the McIntyres #2) Now

  ALSO BY REBECCA

  Swimming Upstream Series

  Perfection is just an Illusion

  Nobody’s Obligation

  On Dry Land

  Finding Your Place Series

  Coming Home

  Running Away

  Believing Again

  Meet the McIntyres Series

  Taking Charge

  Picturing Perfect

  Fighting Back

  Breaking Free

  Finding Forever

  Standalones

  Nobody Knows

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  There’s a few ladies without who this book would still be nothing more than a bunch of jumbled words on a page.

  Kathryn – without you not only would I be the most unorganised author the world’s ever seen, but I’d also have a hand drawn stick figure as the cover and my whole marketing campaign would basically be ‘buy my shit.’. You make me look good. Not an easy feat, but I love you for it and could never thank you enough.

  Sian & Claire – Your support on the days when I’m lacking confidence and energy has set me back on my feet, time and time again. Can’t wait to finally meet you in person.

  Jodi Perry – I can’t thank you enough for taking time to help guide me, reassure me, share your secrets with me and even proof read my blurb. You’re an inspiration and I can only hope that one day, I’m half as successful as you are. You deserve every amazing thing that comes your way and I love being one of the team standing behind you cheering you on all the way.

  Belle Brooks – I’m still not sure why I’m saying thank you for the repeated ass kickings you dish out with that devilish grin on your pretty face, but hey… weirder shit has happened. You’re there telling me I can do it every time the doubt starts to creep in. Every. Single. Time. I love ya face.

  Mum & Dad – I’ve been debating how to thank you and what to say for 7 books so far and I still have NFI. So here goes… thank you. Thank you for believing I can do this. Thank you for never once telling me I was being ridiculous for wanting to be an author. Thank you for buying me notepads and books when I was a kid. Thank you for editing, proof reading and generally giving suggestions (including the title of this one). Thank you for not once questioning this crazy dream world I’m now a part of. Thank you for promoting it and learning what the hell an ARC was or what MC stood for just so you could understand what I was trying to do. I love you both more than I can say. The adventures of my childhood fill the pages of my books and that’s largely because you allowed me to live them. I’m forever indebted to you both.

  Bellas & Readers – without you this would be a completely different experience. I love your emotional outbursts to my characters. I love how you love my books as much as I do and I certainly appreciate you taking the time to read it more than you can imagine. This life isn’t something I was ready for or understood until I was thrust into the middle of it, but with you by my side, I wouldn’t change a thing.

  Toni – thank you for sticking with me as I go it alone. I love working with you and I’ve learnt a great deal along the way. Here’s hoping to many more shared adventures.

  And Robert – you’re my best friend, partner in crime and biggest supporter. You may never read one of my books, but you’ll do everything you can to make sure that I keep chasing my dream and having a great time while I do it. Thank you.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I’m just me. A clumsy, introverted, bubble bath loving, chocoholic who would rather read a book than go shopping. And god forbid if you try and make me shoe shop!

  I’m one of four kids to school teacher parents. A wife to a football obsessed husband. Mother to a fur-baby who isn’t aware of how big he is. Aunt to the most crazy/adorable little girls. And sister to two very determined sisters and one easy going brother.

  I live in Canberra Australia and work too many hours a day at my day job.

  I’m a book whore who can easily (and happily) read a book from start to finish in a day and when I do have spare time, you’ll find me in the writing cave.

  STAY CONNECTED WITH REBECCA

  Website:

  www.rebeccabarberauthor.com

  Facebook Page:

  Barber’s Bellas

  Instagram:

  @RebeccaBarber7

  Twitter:

  @RebeccaBarber7