Title: Reagan (Always a Bridesmaid, Book 3)
Author: Katrina Kylie
Genre: Sweet contemporary romance/Christian romance/small-town beach read
Book Blurb:
Two dozen weddings, none of them hers... As a dating coach, Reagan has attended more than her fair share of weddings to support her happy-in-love clients. She has a closet of color-themed dresses to prove it! But when will it be her turn to tie the knot?
A hairy break-up has Reagan thinking it is time for a change, one she'll contemplate during a two-week stay in a remodeled lighthouse on the Oregon coast. When nothing goes according to plan - and a handsome, broody man is in need of a friend - Reagan just might find herself falling for Mr. Right after all.
Excerpt:
“Royal blue, navy blue, lavender… no periwinkle,” Reagan sighed as she shuffled through the various dresses hanging in her guest room closet. “You’d think after twenty-three weddings I’d own every shade of dress there ever was.”
Pulling her phone from her back pocket, Reagan shot a quick text to her new sister-in-law, Bailey, who also happened to be the greatest seamstress in Colorado.
‘Gonna’ need that periwinkle dress after all’.
Ugh. Reagan sank to the floor feeling sorry for herself and ran a hand through her long caramel hair. Nearly twenty-four weddings. Twenty-four brides kissing their grooms; two dozen wedding cakes and thrown bouquets. Maybe there was something to the old tradition, as Reagan had never caught the bouquet and secured a date with destiny as the next to get hitched.
Oh, some of those weddings had been unconventional. There was that one where the bride wanted everyone to wear black, going so far as to allow her bouquet of red roses to wither and fade to near-black before the ceremony. Then there was the time the bride and groom wanted to get married at the aquarium and a dolphin had splashed the entire line not once, but twice. Reagan had stifled a laugh, even as she’d swiped at the mascara dripping down her cheeks. There were many which had inspired Reagan for her own someday wedding, but honestly, nothing about the day itself mattered so much as the groom.
She fingered the bottom of a tulle overlay on the strapless lime green dress she’d worn to the woodland fairy-themed wedding. When would her turn come? If she closed her eyes she could imagine wearing the silk cream dress she’d bought long ago, the one that had been suffocated by the various bridesmaid’s dresses at the back of the closet. It would be a traditional-type wedding, one with lots of earthy greenery and white roses.
Now all she needed was Mr. Right to come along.
An hour later, as she sat at her office desk and readied for her appointments, Reagan couldn’t help but wince at the brittle, shattered feeling she’d been carrying around inside ever since the Drew Stapleton incident. As a dating and relationship coach, Reagan had been supremely humiliated when, after two weeks of seeing one another daily, their relationship had abruptly ended.
Familiar shame burned inside her. She was supposed to have a firm grasp on the whole dating situation. Guiding others to put their best selves forward was what she did for a living, for heaven’s sake! And yet she hadn’t possessed the emotional impassivity to see the flaws in Drew until it was too late.
How could her clients put their faith in her if she couldn’t even have a successful relationship herself? Even Fletcher, her dense, everlastingly grumpy brother had found someone special, and against all odds, Bailey loved him in return. Reagan’s hang up with Drew was pitiful.
She was pitiful.
Reagan sighed. Something had to change. She powered on her desktop computer to the ticking of the wall clock. First thing’s first; check the social media accounts.
Suddenly, Reagan froze.
A coarse buzzing started in her brain as she caught sight of Drew with his arm wrapped around an exotic, slim Asian woman. The words accompanying the post read, ‘What could be better than visiting Belize with this beautiful woman? Can’t wait to lounge on the beach, sip our favorite drinks, and soak up the sun, babe. Counting down the days.’
Reagan swallowed the emotion clogging her throat. It had obviously been much easier for Drew to move on with his life than it had been for her. She stared at the modelesque female and her long, silky hair brushing the tiny waist Drew’s hand rested upon. It was so unfair!
Tears blurred the image. Why was she so hung up on him? Drew was obviously not the guy for her. How she wished she could shut out every mesmerizing moment with him as easily as she closed the web browser. Maybe Fletcher had a buddy who might be interested in dating…
Burying her face in her hands, Reagan allowed a few tears to fall. Ugh. Only ultimate desperation would have her contemplating a match made by her brother. She really was a mess!
But she’d fallen for Drew. Many were the moments she yearned to hear his voice, to feel his strong arms pull her close and kiss her softly. Instead, she was left with stupid posts about how happy he was without her. The cracks in her heart widened and deepened, causing her to cry out from the hurt. Rage came on its heels. Curse Drew Stapleton! It was time to get over him, to resume control of her life and win back the confidence he’d so haphazardly destroyed.
She had dreams of her own. Maybe… maybe if she got away for a while, she could find herself - could mend the broken pieces and walk proudly forward. Belize? The beach? Her gaze jumped to the lighthouse painting on the wall.
With a shaky inhale, Reagan pulled up her calendar and eyed her appointments. If Drew Stapleton could fulfill his bucket list travel destinations with a smile on his face, by golly so could she.
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If money were no object, where would you go for a Spring Break vacation and why?
Hmm. I’ve always wanted to see the Redwood Forest. I’d go there, or to see the northern lights. Maybe both!
Why is your featured book a must-read this spring?
There are few places more romantic than a lighthouse and a handsome, single man who runs it, am I right?
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon US or Canada gift card
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon CA account to win.
Runs April 1 – 30, 2023.
Drawing will be held on May 1, 2023
Author Biography:
Katrina Kylie is a Utah native who loves all things horses, chocolate, and romance. She and her husband claim four rambunctious kids, a puppy, a tabby cat, and six chickens. You can expect a sweet happily-ever-after from each of her books.
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