Title: Her Best Man
Author: Jana Richards
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
Sarah Stevens experiences a bride's worst nightmare; being dumped at the altar. When she goes on the Caribbean cruise meant to be her honeymoon in order to lick her wounds, she discovers her ex-fiancé has sent his brother, Will Marshall, the former best man, on the cruise as well. Everyone on board thinks they're newlyweds, and Sarah is too embarrassed to set them straight. How is she supposed to share a tiny cabin with a man she barely knows? How is she supposed to pretend that she and Will are on their honeymoon? Even worse, how can she keep from falling in love with him? Sarah discovers the best man for her really is the best man.
Excerpt:
“You have a beautiful engagement ring,” Josie commented.
Sarah felt her positive resolve slip a little. She stared at the ring, uncertain why she still wore it. Did she miss Brad that much, or was it the idea of being married she missed?
“Thank you,” she said simply, hoping Josie would drop the subject. Apparently, that was too much to hope for.
“Why is it you and Will don’t wear wedding bands?”
“Josie, that’s really none of our business,” Ted rebuked gently. He took his bride’s hand and planted a tender kiss on each of her fingers. “We talked about this, sweetie. Boundaries, remember?”
Ted’s love for Josie shone in his eyes, despite her lack of tact. He knew all her foibles, weaknesses and plain old stupidities and he still loved her. Sarah wondered why someone couldn’t love her like that. She stared at her engagement ring and thought of the day Brad had given it to her. She’d been so happy and so hopeful of a wonderful future. But now all her plans and dreams were gone, her hopes of having a family of her own dashed. How could he have done that to her?
The sob seemed to come from the pit of her stomach, working its way up her body until it burst uncontrollably out of her mouth. She covered her mouth with her hand, shocked by the emotion as well as by the tears flooding out of her eyes. To her surprise she found herself being drawn into Will’s embrace. She sniffled against his shirt, embarrassing herself further by getting his shoulder wet.
“It’s okay, Sarah,” he whispered. In a louder voice she heard him speak to the rest of the group who had stopped in mid-chew to stare at her.
“Sarah’s had a very difficult couple of weeks,” he began. This was it, she thought. This was where she got outed as a fake bride. She sucked in a breath. If he told the truth would he go to jail? Would she?
“We don’t have any rings because a few days before the wedding the jewelry store where we purchased our rings burned to the ground. Our rings were lost and Sarah was devastated. As you can see, she’s still emotional about it.”
Sarah sniffed against Will’s shoulder. What?
“Oh Sarah, how awful for you!” Josie said.
“But that’s not everything,” Will continued, his voice taking on a serious note. Sarah stopped sniveling to listen to what he’d say next. “The wedding dress she’d ordered was lost in transit. She had to wear a dress off the rack.”
Josie took in a sharp breath. “No!”
“But the last straw came when a pipe broke at the hall where our reception was going to be held and the place was flooded. We had to cancel.”
Again, more ohhs and ahhs sounded around the table. Where did he come up with these crazy stories?
Beatrice chuckled. “I’ve heard some wedding disaster stories, but yours take the cake. Don’t worry, Sarah. Someday you’ll look back and laugh, I promise.”
Gladys raised her glass. “Here’s to Sarah and Will. May their marriage be luckier than their wedding.”
“Hear, Hear.”
Everyone raised his or her glass in a toast. As Sarah wiped her eyes, Will made a toast of his own. “To Sarah. Nothing but blue skies from now on.” He took a drink from his glass, his blue eyes full of compassion, with a hint of humor twinkling under the surface.
Sarah picked up her wineglass. How had he done that? She knew Will’s stories were more about saving his butt than protecting her from humiliation, but still, she’d rather be thought of as the girl whose wedding blew up then the girl who got dumped at the altar. For that she was grateful.
And how had he made her feel so safe and comforted in his arms? She shivered a little, remembering the gentle touch of his hand sliding up and down her back. For that she was less grateful. She was confused enough already about her feelings.
Sarah reluctantly tipped her glass to Will. “To blue skies.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004I6E4ZY
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B004I6E4ZY
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-best-man-jana-richards/1017477347?ean=9781601740199
November is a time to be thankful. What are you most thankful for this year?
After living in other cities for over ten years, our older daughter has moved back home. It’s so great to be able to see her often without having to drive or fly for hours!
Why is your featured book worth snuggling up to?
HER BEST MAN is a fun read with many laugh out loud moments. But it’s also about family and self-confidence and trying to figure out where you belong in the world, and what you’re meant to do. Sarah and Will are one of my favorite couples (that I wrote!)
Giveaway:
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Open internationally.
Runs November 1 – 30.
Drawing will be held on December 1.
Author Biography:
When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist, and in 2018 “Lies and Solace” won Best Contemporary romance in the I Heart Indie contest.
In her life away from writing, Jana is an admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada with an elderly Pug/Terrier cross named Lou. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.janarichards.com
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.janarichards.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards
Amazon UK Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG
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