Hi! My name is Cadence Foster, and I’ve been hanging out with author Valerie Comer a lot lately. It’s been like a therapy session, only she thinks I can have a happy ending, and I don’t believe her.
You see, I made a mess of things. I’ve been dating this guy, Paul Bradley, since college which has been **cough** a few years now. He’s one of those “go big or go home” kind of guys. With Paul, nothing is boring or routine. So, when he staged this elaborate proposal last year in front of all our friends, of course, I said yes. I was still kind of bedazzled that out of all the girls in Chicago, he’d picked me.
Was I in love with Paul? Not really. But his family has a lot of money and connections, and my mother took control of the wedding plans immediately and began planning this lavish affair. Who needs ten bridesmaids? The daughter of my mother, that’s who, even if it meant scrounging among my acquaintances.
I was stupid. I’ll admit it. This whole thing snowballed out of control, only I didn’t know how badly. I kept having this niggling feeling that I was making a terrible mistake, but how could it be stopped? My mom said every bride gets cold feet at one point or another. I lived with ice blocks below my ankles for months.
Not only stupid, but I was a coward. Every time I envisioned breaking up with Paul – calling everything off – I just couldn’t do it. How do you get off a runaway train without risking your life? I mean, not that he has mafia connections. At least, not that I know of.
So what didn’t I see coming? Three nights before the wedding – man, I still can’t believe how close this call was – Paul’s cousin showed up at my doorstep, dripping wet, and told me Paul was breaking it off and had sent Graham for the ring.
I reeled. But instead of anger and humiliation and panic, I felt a wave of relief. Yes. Relief.
Until I remembered I’d moved back in with my parents for the last few weeks after my roommate recently married, since the apartment was in her name. And that I’d given up my job because I was going to work for Paul’s father after the honeymoon.
Graham Sullivan, the shy, geeky guy I’d seen around the college campus way back when and rarely thought of since… Graham had answers. His grandfather (not the mutual one with Paul) had bought a guest ranch in Montana, he said. They needed employees, including social media experts like me. They offered staff housing.
Sign me up.
Why yes, we did leave Chicago in the wee hours of the morning, heading on a twenty-four-hour road trip west. Yes, I ran away. Hey, I left a note for my parents. But if you think that was the end of it all, you’d be as badly mistaken as I was.
Graham Sullivan? He was an angel sent by God to rescue me. Some guys are like that: rescuers. There’s a whole syndrome about falling in love with your rescuer. It’s called transference or something. It isn’t real, just like the feelings it seems Graham might be developing aren’t real, either. As soon as I don’t need more saving, he’ll lose interest.
Right? Of course, right. No matter what Valerie says. She’s my therapist. It’s not like she has the ability to make people fall in love for real.
I mean, have you read ANY books where falling in love with your rescuer ends well? Tell me about them if you know of any!
Graham Sullivan is back home in Chicago for his cousin’s wedding to the girl he’d once crushed on big time. But now the groom has the nerve to send Graham to tell Cadence that he’s bailing on the wedding. Has God given Graham a second chance, or what?
Cadence Foster is furious with her fiancé for jilting her when she has no place to live and no job. The awkward accountant who delivers the news offers her both at his grandfather’s Montana guest ranch, a perfect solution that buys her time for reassessment. But she doesn’t expect to see the office geek in a new light when they work together every day.
When these two urbanites are stranded together far from the lodge, they come face to face with a whole lot more than their deepening feelings.
A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy releases in two days! If you haven’t pre-ordered it yet, now is the time, since the price will increase on the weekend. Happy reading!
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
Hi Valerie! A Jilted Bride for a Cowboy is preordered. This Michigander, who lived in Chicago for a decade (1980s) and whose youngest son now lives in Chicago loves the connection. Valerie, as a Canadian, have you been to Chicago? As a writer, why did you choose Chicago? Yes, there a definitely lots of girls in Chicago, BUT most people do NOT have lots of money or LOTS of Connections. Having driven west from Chicago – in 1984 drove from Chicago to Los Angelos, California – I know the trip takes more than 24 hours. I also drove West Mount Rushmore South Dakota to Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming. Love the troupes in Sweet River Ranch Romance series. Best wishes.
Ooh, this sounds great!
Wow–this sounds awesome!! On my way to preorder now. Congratulations and happy release day. (a little early!)
Congratulations. Wow this sounds like a wonderful story. Thanks
Oh, this sounds good!! As usual!!!!
Wow, I love the sound of this book, I am totally hooked on it now!! I will be adding it to my TBR for sure!! Thank you so much for sharing about your book. Have a great day and a great week.
Hi Renate! I have been to Chicago several times. Like most cities, there are wealthier neighborhoods, but truly, all’s fair in love and novels! My editor is a Chicago native and her insights were helpful as well. :)
Yay, I hope you enjoy!
Thank you!!!!
I hope you enjoy it!
Aw, that made my heart happy!!!
Thanks SO much, Alicia. I hope you have a great week as well. :)
I enjoyed your post. This book sounds really good. I have enjoyed several of your books. I will be looking into the preorder.
Thank you. Have a joyful day. ❤
Thank you, Bonnie! JOY to you, too!!!
This sounds great, definitely on my tbr list! I love a story when things are rock bottom for the heroine and we get to see her rebuilding her life and falling in love – and nothing is better than a hero cominng to her rescue just when she needs him!
Ah… but Cadence isn’t so sure she should be falling for her rescuer!
Pre ordered, and can’t wait!! Even though my TBR pile is ridiculous…… author friends come first!!
I am culling new book purchasing, but there are authors whose works I will always buy.
Thank you! I have some author-friend-faves whose work always hit the top of my TBR, too. I get it!
Yes, I have. I have read a lot of books where they do fall in love. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Thanks, Debra!
💕
Yes there are quite a few and it makes my ovaries go “aww”. Sounds like an another amazing story, like I’d anticipate if it’s written by you and God!
Aw, thank you! I hope you enjoy Cadence’s story!