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Catherine Castle's Tuesday Wedding Tales blog series, Kimberly Rose Johnson, marriage of convenience novel, The Reluctant Groom, The Reluctant Groom book excerpt
Welcome to Tuesday Wedding Tales blog series, where wedding themed stories are the fare.
Today’s guest is Kimberly Rose Johnson. I had the chance to read Kimberly’s book The Reluctant Groom and found it to be a delightful read. So, without any further ado, here’s Kimberly!
I am excited to be on Catherine’s blog with you today to tell you about my latest adventure in writing. Weddings happen to be pretty important to romance writers, and in the case of The Reluctant Groom the wedding takes on a whole new meaning.
I’ve always enjoyed reading books with a marriage of convenience theme, but being a contemporary writer, I didn’t think I could pull it off. All that changed one night as I was lying in bed, and the inkling of a story idea began to formulate out of the blue. I was chewing on something in my mind and asked myself what would happen if I took an old-fashioned situation—marry by a certain age or lose everything, and put a modern-day spin on it.
Ray is a very eligible bachelor to Katie Fairchild’s thinking, so the idea that he was stuck in this predicament seemed nuts. She couldn’t imagine how a successful business owner didn’t have women lining up to marry him. She’d marry him in a heartbeat and accidentally blurted that out to Ray. She never dreamed a simple night out with friends would change the course of her life.
The story takes place in Seattle where Ray O’Brien owns an athletic club with a boxing ring in the basement. He never imagined the historical boxing ring would become the site of his wedding or that he’d say his vows in the ring. But that’s exactly what happened, for better or for worse.
Here’s the back cover blurb.
When everything goes wrong, can two friends discover true love?
When Ray O’Brien’s world is turned upside down, Katie Fairchild wants to help, but the personal cost is high. Neither desires a marriage of convenience, but when Katie blurts the first thing that comes to her mind Ray can’t dismiss her offer of marriage. It would solve all his problems except for one thing—they aren’t in love.
Can these two friends team up for the greater good and perhaps find love along the way, or are their expectations impossible?
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Here’s a sneak peak at their wedding.
Ray nodded. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” They stepped out of the locker room into the gym. Two rows of folding chairs were set up facing the boxing ring. As promised, Rusty had the ropes removed from one side and added centered stairs. The ring had been transformed into a stage.
Hailey and her friends had done the impossible. They’d turned this gym into something beautiful. A white arbor with vines woven through it stood in the center of the ring. A white runner went down the center between the rows of chairs and up the stairs all the way to the arbor. A violinist and a cellist sat off to the side playing classical music.
He walked up the stairs to where the minister waited.
“You ready for this?”
Ray nodded. “I think so. Have you seen Katie?”
“Yes, and your bride looks lovely. Here she comes.”
Katie walked up the stairs. His eyes took her in from head to toe. The overhead lights caught on his bride’s sparkly headpiece. He sucked in a breath. The white dress was perfect. She held a simple bouquet of red roses. He let his eyes roam further and noted her fancy white sneakers. He held in a chuckle, afraid she’d bolt if he laughed.
Katie stopped beside him. Her lipstick stood out on her pale face. Had she suddenly become sick?
He slipped his hand around her ice-cold hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You okay?” he whispered.
“Yes.” A wobbly smile tipped her lips.
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I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek! It’s been quite a few years since I last attended a wedding. One of the things that stuck out to me from that wedding was the arbor on the stage. When was the last time you attended a wedding? Did anything besides the bride grab your attention?
Thanks for having me on your blog, Catherine!
It was my pleasure, Kimberly. If you’d like to read more of Kimberly’s book check it out at Amazon
About the Author:
Faith Hope and Love Reader’s Choice Finalist, Kimberly Rose Johnson, married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.
Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
You can sign up for Kimberly’s newsletter via her website. Her book may be purchased at Amazon. Kimberly loves to connect with readers on Facebook.
Catherine Castle 