Showing results by author "Jacob Parker" in All Categories

These stories wrestle with the experience of loss—of loved ones, of relationships, of a sense of self, of health—and forge a path to hope as characters fight their way forward. From bestsellers and SPFBO finalists to rising voices, 13 exceptionally talented authors explore the many facets of grief and healing through the lens of fantasy and sci-fi.

Never Say Sell explains how to scale individual engagements into long-term business relationships. Cowritten by Tom McMakin, the coauthor of How Clients Buy and expert in account development, and colleague Jacob Parks, this book provides insights into how key rainmakers at firms like Accenture and IBM drive growth from existing relationships. Never Say Sell is a business development guide for professional service providers like consultants, accountants, and lawyers, whether they are sole proprietors or members of account teams tasked with expanding key accounts.

Love is quickly becoming my least favorite four-letter word. I let a girl into my heart once, and she nearly destroyed me. The last time I saw her she was in the back seat of her father’s car, leaving me forever. No goodbye. No mercy. That was ten years ago. Now the sexy vixen from my past is back in town looking to hire a consultant. This is my way back in. But not for redemption or a second chance. For sticky-sweet vengeance. Her business is the most important thing to her, and I can vengeance—or waste her time trying. If she doesn’t take me down first with curves that make me pace ...

The Growth Engine describes the main challenge professional services firms face as they grow and shows how to develop a scalable business development effort, covering everything from CRM systems and metrics around utilization, to service development and expansion, to account planning and cross-selling, to winning new clients, to team structure and roles, and to performance management.

Could anything be worse than your parents choosing your wife, especially when she’s a snooty royal? Ask me. I should know. Every Wed Season, eligible singles step up to the plate. It’s my turn. I’d rather go down with the ship but I have traditions to uphold. I’ll do what’s expected of me. Until the girl from my past shows up. Did I mention she’s a princess? She’s not my match. In fact, she’s off limits. But I’ll make her mine. Tradition and high society be damned.

She wants freedom. I just want her. But she’s not the girl I’m supposed to marry. She’s the back-up plan. Talk about messy. Her loyalty is to her family and her legacy. Obligation and honor. My loyalty? Well, now I’m not so sure where it lies. I want it to be with her, but she’s determined to make this marriage a business deal. I’m not into that. This whole time she’s been thinking she’s the wrong royal. Joke’s on her. We were the right match from the very beginning.

Women. Nothing but trouble and pain there. I should know. They’ve done me dirty before, chasing my fortune and looks. So now? I’m not interested in what I can offer. I’m playing for what I can get. And my sexy new receptionist? She’s everything a man could want in a pair of heels. I need her. She’s a single mother with a heart of gold. Perfect for corrupting. But she’s not so easily swayed. Maybe she’s the one corrupting me and changing my ways. She’s not like the girls who came before her. She doesn’t want my money or lifestyle. She wants my heart. The question is… Am I...

My latest client wants to loosen me up… And not in the ways I was hoping for. She’s a beautiful, free-spirited type of girl, and I’m, well, stiff. Love has kicked me around enough. I’m not interested in being the center of its attention anymore. It can find another guy to play with. This curvy goddess needs a website and my tech firm is perfect for the job. I’m not interested in becoming involved myself until I see her. Then, all bets are off. If I could do some weird science and 3D-print a woman from our machines, I would craft a girl that looks just like her. So now, I’m all ...

I’ve wanted her my whole life. My best friend’s little sister. But things didn’t work out like they were supposed to. And now she’s back in my life and I’m not sure how I feel about it. She left for college without looking back, and I’m a billionaire bachelor with my eye on lots of prizes now. I’m not the boy she walked away from. Manhattan is my playground, and my family owns the city. Now that I’m grown, I take full advantage of that inheritance. But the moment I see her, flames ignite. I can’t hold back the need to consume her. Just like back then, she’s still off ...

Love is for girls and suckers. But jealousy is for manly men. No way in hell I’m attending my ex-girlfriend’s father’s big event. Not after that witch ripped my soul out a few years back. Funnily enough, my billionaire family doesn’t care much about that. Everyone that’s anyone will be at the event, and that includes me. Fine. I’ll take a fake fiancée and serve up slices of revenge all night long. My cousin’s secretary will do the job just fine. She’s beautiful, dreamy, and everything I’d want in a woman—if I were done playing around. But I’m not. Good thing she’s ...

Nothing tastes as sweet as winning over a woman. And this pretty single mom is in my sights. But it’s not her heart I’m after. It’s her chocolate factory. Being a billionaire CPA, my clients expect only the best from me. And the latest wants her candy since it’s almost Valentine’s Day. Not a problem. Nothing I can’t handle. Until I see her working her magic and realize how much she loves what she does. Roses are red and violets may be blue. Me pushing away love is nothing new. Besides, I have to go against my powerful family to destroy this deal I’ve been primed to make happen...

Some might say I’d give the Grinch a run for his money. And they’d be right. But this hot little number thinks she can soften me. Not a chance. I won’t bend for anything or anyone. My past made me this way and I’m good with it. Then I start to feel love seeping in. Maybe there’s a way to save myself. Besides, she doesn’t want to ruin her reputation or risk her career. Another man might not have dared her to. But how can I resist those legs in high heels? Or her warm, welcoming heart? I can’t. Maybe something besides the snow is melting. ‘Tis the season, after all. Note to ...

Welcome to the world of the Manhattan Men. The handsome alpha males that run the family that founded the big city. The family law firm needs a public facelift and I'm the guy for the job. The sexy minx they hire to help me act better is a social media influencer. She's also the one that got away. It's a bit of a Cinderella story, but it isn't her shoe she left for me. She's not getting away this time. I'm claiming her for good. NYC’s most eligible bachelor just turned in his claim to fame. This New Years' kiss is my last.

It was supposed to be one night. But I wanted more. I always do. Lucky for me she ends up being my newest employee shortly after our rendezvous. Or maybe luck has nothing to do with it. Something seems off—hopefully her clothes. There’s no way we can take things farther now that she’s under me. At the company of course. But then she ends up pregnant and I’m honestly not sure it’s mine. Brilliantly, I tell her that. And now I have to go from Johnny-all-night to a persistent playboy to get her back. Midnight is soon to strike at the masquerade ball. And the love of a lifetime is ...

I’m only interested in a good time. Nothing too serious. But the chemistry between me and my new client is off the charts. My go-to is to get the girl, have some fun, then part ways, friends or not. Her choice. The office romance budding between us leaves me wanting to break my own rules. Then I remember why I put them in place. My father left when I was young. Love seems out of reach. It did for my mom. It does for me. This woman is beautiful, curvy, and smart as hell though. And she challenges me. In all the right ways. The fact that she has a little one stops me dead in my tracks ...

Being a bachelor is the only way to be. Love is messy and, honestly, a pain in the butt. I’ve got too many dreams to settle down. Especially as a pro-hockey free agent. The world is mine, and with it comes loads of money, women, and fast cars. Until I sign my best friend’s little sister as my new agent. She’s not a little girl anymore, and dang… I’m in trouble. The one thing she’s not putting up with is me. Something about my rough disposition puts her off. Grumpy is the word she would use. Whatever. It’s all part of the style that’s going to win her over for good. ...

Tutus and leotards are not my thing. Hot ballerina teachers? Yes. But as a single dad, I’m trying to embrace my daughter’s love for ballet. It hasn’t been easy. Until I meet her sexy dance teacher. I’m all about embracing her and all her curves. She might be soft in my hands, but she’s merciless as a teacher. As a father, it’s my job to protect my daughter. But as a man? This teacher has me lying awake at night. I’m willing to throw myself at her pretty pink ballet slippers to get what I want. If only. Things get complicated when money gets involved. I thought I was doing the ...

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, until it doesn’t. It was one hot night and I wanted so much more. But the next morning, she was gone. The only thing she took with her was my heart. I never figured love at first sight was real, but it was. Skip forward eight years later and guess who shows up needing a job? Just so happens that I need an assistant. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She’s a smart cookie, though, and feels the tension between us. I’m not sure if it’s lust, love, or my need for revenge, but I’m not giving up without a fight. My lover turned enemy,...

They call me filthy rich. Both words are quite fitting. But my life is planned out for me. Get married to an heiress, have some kids who will barely know me, and come home to a wife who’s tolerable at best and loves only my bank account. It’s the way of our world, but fate decided to give me an out. My lovely bride-to-be never showed up at the altar. My attention moved quickly from heartache to aggravation when my little sister showed up. With a beautiful friend of hers in need. Of funding. Always money. This girl is wild and free. Beautiful and a mystery to me. She would never be ...

He’s the one that got away. Now that I’m back in town, the jerk wants to offer me a job. This isn’t good for either of us. He feels like he’s got to make up for what happened when we were kids. And I have to restrain my hormones from doing the tango in front of him. Never a good working relationship. Or is it? See, here’s the deal. We made a pact when we were kids. If by some crazy reason we weren’t married by the time we were thirty, we’d marry each other. Well, time’s up. And the pact was never broken. Now what? Do I forgive the guy that ripped my heart out as a lovesick ...