Title: Borrowed – The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy, Book 2
Author: Lucinda Race
Genre: Contemporary Romance – Women’s Fiction
Book Blurb:
Kenzie was happy to follow her sisters' lead. She was never getting married. But after older sister Jamie tries on the enchanted wedding dress that once belonged to their great-grandmother. She falls in love and marries the man of her dreams. So much for the three MacLellan sisters remaining happily single. One down and two sisters to go.
Kenzie is preparing for an annual camping trip with Robbie Burns, her best friend since childhood. She discovers the freshly cleaned wedding dress hanging in her condo. She realizes Jamie has passed it along to her based on the family lore. Reluctant, she tries the dress, after all a dress can't really change her future. Looking in the mirror she is stunned to see Robbie. Shaken to her core she wonders if she feels more than friendship.
During the hike Kenzie is injured. Robbie never leaves her side. As he begins to heal, confused for her feelings she pushes him away. Robbie is just her borrowed guy, isn't he?
Excerpt:
Kenzie bumped the hallway table and dropped her luggage, scattering mail over the entryway. She caught the jar of wildflowers midair. With a tired smile, she murmured, “Robbie Burns, you always know what I need after a long trip.”
She buried her nose in the blooms, drinking in the fresh scent of sweet pea, lavender and daisies. Carrying the jar into the living room, she placed it on the table where she could see it and flopped on the soft leather couch. Her cell buzzed. It was Robbie.
Putting a smile in her voice, she said, “Hello there.” She closed her eyes and pictured his easy, crooked smile.
“Welcome home, Kenz. Good trip?” His voice was smooth, like aged whiskey.
“It was. You’ll never guess what happened.” Not waiting for him to ask, she shrieked, “Jamie and Caleb got engaged!”
With a low whistle, he said, “Wow, that’s a shocker. The first MacLellan sister to tie the knot.”
Kenzie propped her feet up and sighed. “I’m going to finally have a brother. He showed up in Scotland our second day there and popped the question.”
“How did he ask her?” Kenzie could picture Robbie slouched in his comfy chair.
“It was so sweet. We were having tea and he dropped to one knee. Jamie freaked out, said no and ran from the house. Of course, Caleb went after her, and when they came back from the field an engagement ring was on her left hand and a smile as bright as the sun shining over the Highlands in our beloved Scotland.”
“That sounds special for the both of them.”
Kenzie laughed softly. “Right out of a romance movie.”
“When are your parents coming home?”
“Sometime before the holidays.” She twirled a short strand of chestnut-brown hair.
“You know, one of these days we need to stop talking about you coming with me and make some definite plans. Scotland’s like no place else on earth. After all, you do have Scottish blood in your veins.”
His deep, rich laugh made her smile. She had missed him, and said, “Before we do that, I’ll need to hire someone to keep the gym open while we’re trip-tropping through the Highlands.” She stood up and stretched one arm overhead, changed the phone to the other hand and worked out the kinks on the opposite side. “Or we’ll shut down for ten days.”
“Whoa,” he chuckled. “Am I talking to Kenzie MacLellan?”
With a small laugh, she said, “Chalk it up to me being overtired, but I’m serious we need to hire someone.” Kenzie tousled her hair. “I’ll open tomorrow.”
“Sleep in—I’ve got everything covered. I didn’t expect you until late.”
She grinned. “Robbie Burns, you really are one in a million.” She thought, I could use a man like you around all the time.
“Oh, and I put a few essentials in your fridge so you don’t need to go to the store, at least not today.”
“Hey, did you go hiking?”
“I came back early it wasn’t as much fun without you.” Kenzie could almost hear the shrug in his voice.
Teasing him affectionately, she said, “Well, in that case, I won’t forget your present. You deserve something extra special.”
He chuckled. “Until tomorrow, Kenz.”
She noticed a layer of dust on the glass table. Padding into the kitchen, she grabbed a bottle of vinegar and water. She polished every surface in the condo until it gleamed. Feeling more lighthearted than when she walked through the door, she made her way around her ultra-modern digs opening windows to freshen the air.
Curious to see what Robbie had bought, she wandered back into the kitchen and peered in the refrigerator. Greens, cooked shrimp and some fresh fruit. On the counter was an avocado. Dinner. Silently she thanked him again.
After adding some shrimp to her tossed salad, Kenzie carried her plate into the living room. After being with family for the last two weeks, the silence was deafening. She grabbed her phone and started to dial Jamie but stopped. She was with Caleb, in Boston.
I’ll call Grace. One sister is just as good as two for an impromptu dinner.
On the second ring, she heard, “Hello?”
“Hey, Gracie, I was wondering what’s for supper.”
“Takeout, I guess. You?”
She toyed with her salad. “Robbie stocked the fridge.”
Grace sighed and said, “He’s a sweetie.”
“I know, right? Do you want to come over? I have plenty.”
“Absolutely! See you in twenty.” Grace disconnected, but not before Kenzie heard a faint “YES.”
Kenzie set her plate on the coffee table and went into the kitchen to fix one for her younger sister. After it was ready, she slipped it in the fridge.
I wonder what will happen now that Jamie’s getting married. She kicked back on the couch and closed her eyes, drifting off. The door banging jarred her out of her tired stupor.
Grace stuck her head into the living room. “Hey, long time no see, sis. It’s been, what, three hours since we got home?”
Grace as well as Jamie looked very similar to Kenzie. Their heart-shaped faces were just the start. They had the same coloring; crystal-blue eyes and auburn hair. Except Kenzie’s was short and spikey, Grace wore her hair long with tough-to-tame curls and Jamie’s was long and sleek.
Grace’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she held aloft a pink-and-white striped paper bag. “Technically we’re still on vacation, so I picked up sundaes.”
Kenzie joked, “Good to know you’re upholding the long-standing tradition—vacation ends when we go back to work.” She peeked inside the bag. “Did you get me hot fudge on peppermint stick with extra sprinkles and whipped cream?”
“But of course,” Grace chuckled. “Sans the cherry.”
Kenzie wrinkled her nose. “What a way to ruin a sundae. At this very moment, you’re my favorite sister.”
Grace snorted. “Only until Jamie does something extra nice for you.”
Kenzie dug in the bag and pulled out a container. She handed it to Grace. Grace’s eyebrow spiked.
Salad forgotten, Kenzie licked whipped cream from the edge of the sundae cup.
Frowning, Grace said, “Don’t you think we should put these in the freezer?”
With a lopsided smirk Kenzie replied, “No. The fudge is never the same after it freezes.”
Grace furrowed her brows. “Kenz…” She dragged out her name. “Do you believe Gran’s wedding dress is enchanted?”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/943776
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/lucinda%20race/_/N-8q8
It’s a brand-new year, full of possibilities. Did you make any resolutions/goals for 2020? If so, please share one.
My goal is to write a new series of 5 books in 2020, The Crystal Lake Winery Series.
Why is your featured book a must-read in 2020?
Borrowed is a fun read and highlights the family ties that are important to us all and it reminds us that love knows no boundaries.
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Open internationally.
Runs January 1 – 31, 2020.
Drawing will be held on February 1, 2020.
Author Biography:
Lucinda Race is a life long fan of romantic fiction. As a young girl, she spent hours reading novels and dreaming of, one day, becoming a writer. As life twists and turns, she found herself writing nonfiction but longed to turn to her true passion, romance novels. After developing the story line for The Loudon Series, it was time to start living her dream. Fingers flying over computer keys, two novellas and five novels have been published in The Loudon Series. She has also written The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy and is working on a new novel to be released in 2020.
Lucinda lives, with her husband Rick, and their two little dogs, Jasper and Griffin, in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts. When she’s not writing romance novels Lucinda reads everything she can get her hands on. She’s passionate about growing tomatoes and roses. Her writing is contemporary and engaging.
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