The Accidental Pinup - Softcover

Jackson, Danielle

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0593437330 ISBN 13: 9780593437339

Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group, 2022

Inhaltsangabe

Rival photographers are forced to collaborate on a body-positive lingerie campaign, but they might have to readjust their focus when sparks fly.

Photographer Cassie Harris loves her job—her company Buxom Boudoir makes people look beautiful and feel empowered with her modern twist on classic pinup photography. Cassie’s best friend, Dana, is about to launch her own dangerously dreamy lingerie line and wants Cassie to shoot and direct the career-changing national campaign. But company politics and Dana’s complicated pregnancy interfere, and Cassie finds herself—a proud plus size Black woman—not behind the camera but in front of it.

Though she’s never modeled herself, Cassie’s pretty sure she can handle the sheer underwear and caution tape bralettes. She’s not sure she can work so intimately with the chosen photographer, her long-time competitor in the Chicago photography scene, Reid Montgomery. Their chemistry is undeniable on set, however, and feelings can develop faster than film…

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Danielle Jackson is a contemporary romance author, avid reader, lackluster-yet-mighty crafter, and accomplished TV binge-watcher. Danielle has had the unique experience of working on almost every side of the book business—as a publicist at a publisher, an editorial manager of a book review website, an events coordinator at an independent bookstore, and now, an author. When she’s not writing, Danielle co-hosts a pop culture podcast, moderates and participates on industry panels, and hosts a romance book club. Danielle lives in Chicagoland with her very own romance hero husband, darling daughter, and two tempestuous cats. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, @DJacksonBooks.

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ONE

 

This is going to be uncomfortable, but trust me, totally worth it." Cassie coaxed Dana to arch her back higher, squeezing everything just so. "You look incredible."

 

"It feels weird," Dana said. "I'm starting to sweat."

 

"Totally normal," Cassie said. "Hold it, right there." The angles were just right; the light streaming through the open windows cast just the right amount of shadows and ethereal glow. Dana's naturally red curls glinted with gold undertones, and the lace chemise she wore was sheer enough to showcase the constellation of freckles across her unbelievably unblemished skin. Maybe it was the blush or the body shimmer placed just so, or the fact that Dana was sweating, but she was sparkling all over. A corny person would say she was glowing from within. And that's exactly what Cassie wanted to capture.

 

She took in the entire scene for another moment, stepping back a few paces to admire her work. "We're ready. You are ready. You're a goddess." The second she saw Dana's eyes light up with the compliment she gave her-which Cassie genuinely meant-Cassie pressed the shutter release. "Bingo."

 

They shot for another thirty minutes. A seasoned pro, Dana was able to twist and exaggerate her body in exactly the way Cassie had envisioned for this photo shoot. Starting a new series was always daunting, but it was the first time in a while that she had a project of her own to work on. Not that she could complain about her boudoir photo shoot business-Buxom Boudoir-but Cassie longed for more time to do whatever she wanted. She was lucky that Dana, a plus-size model, had a new line of pinup-inspired lingerie, and luckier still that Dana was her very best friend in the whole world. Because working on the national ad campaign for Dana's collection of sexy underthings was exactly the type of thing Cassie wanted to work on to take her career to the next level.

 

Beyond the pretty makeup and sexy lingerie, Cassie enjoyed her job the most when Dana stopped sucking everything in, exposing body rolls and dimpled legs, let out a sigh, and stuck out her tongue in exaggerated exhaustion. Cassie took a few more rapid shots until Dana flicked her off. And Cassie had a hunch that would be the shot they loved the most.

 

Cassie connected a USB cable from her trusty Canon EOS 5D camera to her laptop, giving the images a minute to upload. She gazed at Dana, who had pulled on a silky floral robe, the same one she and all the bridesmaids had worn the morning of Dana's wedding. Cassie hadn't seen Dana look so happy and relaxed and beautiful since that day until now. Knowing she was going to be a part of her best friend's biggest dream-starting an all-inclusive lingerie line that was smashing the patriarchy one thong at a time-was beyond fulfilling. The early online support from Dana's announcement of her collaboration had been overwhelmingly positive, and Cassie knew her vision for her pinups with a twist would be well received.

 

"Jesus Christ, Dana," Cassie said, focusing on the photos. "Your boobs are, quite frankly, the tits."

 

Dana's fair skin bloomed in a crimson flush. For someone who had spent most of her time in front of a camera scantily clad, she blushed so easily. "Thanks, doll face. I couldn't have done half of that without you. Only you can get me in those positions." She joined Cassie in front of the laptop screen as Cassie scrolled. Sure, there were a few duds here and there, but when the photos worked, they really worked. Cassie knew the angles of her best friend's body better than anyone-except maybe Dana's wife, Riki-and she knew the vibe she wanted to convey.

 

"Undies with caution tape emblazoned on the trim do require a certain panache," Cassie teased. "And I think we got it. I cannot wait to see the underwear you designed on a model's ass on the side of a bus."

 

Dana's collection, under the Luscious Lingerie brand, was called Dreamland. Everything was lacy and sheer, with gorgeous pastels and deep jewel tones, but just like in the middle of an incredible dream, there were random things that didn't quite make sense-yellow caution tape trim, skulls and crossbones in the middle of lace patterns, hand outlines on the cups of bras. Not to mention the size range: everything from XXS to 6XL. Anyone and everyone who wanted pretty undergarments could find them in Dana's Dreamland.

 

Dreamland came to Dana after she had spent years wearing plain, boring bras that offered the support her ample bosom needed, and she wanted to wear the sensationally sexy and vibrant designs she saw fellow lingerie models wearing regularly. While they got to wear lacy, sheer, strappy teddies and playsuits, Dana-and similarly, Cassie-was confined to blasŽ basics.

 

When Luscious Lingerie burst on to the scene a few years earlier, they had made their mission to create lingerie and undergarments that made everyone look and feel supported and sexy, no matter what. And Dana wanted to model and design lingerie that looked and fit like a dream.

 

Cassie had spent many a night creating vision boards and scrolling through Pinterest to define what it really meant when something "fit like a dream." Dana wanted everything to fit perfectly but also be brashly sexy and fun . . . which lingerie could absolutely not be when a body didn't fit into what "traditional" sizing deemed appropriate. Dana's Dreamland and Luscious Lingerie were taking the unconventional and necessary steps to make garments that could appeal to anyone who wanted to wear something vivacious and pretty.

 

And with the help of the Lucious Lingerie designers, adding cheeky touches like mesh cutouts, bright patterns, and the aforementioned caution tape bands, Dana's idea of a quirky, off-kilter lingerie dreamscape went to the next level. Dana's Dreamland line ranged from supportive bras and sheer panties in a variety of cuts to relaxed bralettes and cozy boy shorts, from plush robes to gauzy chemises and supremely sexy teddies-all made to fit and feel great on different body types.

 

"You know, I designed the caution undies with you in mind," Dana said, gently poking Cassie's side, knowing it made her squirm. "When was the last time anyone has been down there?"

 

"Ha ha, thanks for that," Cassie said, rolling her eyes and swaying her ample hips. "Admittedly, it's been a while, but I'm okay with that. I've got a job to focus on and a few more projects in mind-plus BB is doing really well."

 

"People love taking off their clothes and getting photographed," Dana said, shimmying over to a privacy screen to change.

 

Buxom Boudoir was Cassie's dream come to life. A few years earlier, once Dana had started gaining traction through her social media following as a plus-size model and body-confidence advocate, she and Cassie had started their luxury boudoir/pinup photography studio in the heart of Chicago's River North neighborhood. Cassie had photographed Dana for as long as she'd been interested in photography-they had been best friends since middle school. Initially bonding as the first two girls in class to get boobs and attracting all the attention from dumb preteen boys, Cassie and Dana were each other's ride-or-die, BFF, sister from another mister, and so forth.

 

Starting her own photography business wasn't exactly what Cassie had planned, however. She knew that she was a great photographer, she had an interesting point of view, and people would be interested in what she wanted to show. But more doors closed than opened when an inexperienced, Black female photographer came knocking. Cassie was tired of the rejection and decided to combine her love of all things vintage...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Penguin Publishing Group
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2022
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0593437330
• ISBN 13: 9780593437339
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 320
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland