Always a bridesmaid. That’s café owner Kaylee Kinney’s problem. But she’s a businesslike go-getter, so she makes a vow to marry within a year… and buckles down to achieve her goal.
New standalone Sacred Bond novel… out today!
Enter U.S. Army Ranger Phelan O’Donnell. Sure, he broke her heart once, but she’s much tougher now. She’ll practice her relationship skills with Phelan while scoping out the scene for a nice, manageable man to marry.
Hey Kaylee… how’s that working for you?
I’m excited to let you know about the release of my latest novel, The Wedding Bond. Yes, there are actually three weddings in the book! I’m calling it a Sacred Bond Standalone, because it’s related to the rest of the Sacred Bond series, but it stands alone well. Like all the other books on InspyRomance, it’s contemporary Christian romance. But it’s a bit of a departure for me because it has a lighter, more humorous feeling. Don’t worry, though: I worked in some of my trademark angst as well!
Here’s an excerpt from chapter one:
“Yes, Kaylee’s the only one of our sorority sisters who hasn’t found that special someone,” the bride continued. “She’s still playing around, breaking hearts, living the carefree single life . . .”
Kaylee’s cheeks burned and she couldn’t help sneaking a glance at Phelan. His curious expression made her stomach do an odd flip.
She had always thought of her single status as indicative of her independence and fun-loving nature. Now as she looked away from Phelan and saw her family’s indulgent smiles, being single suddenly morphed from fun to pathetic. Like she was still a child in need of the protection and advice her brothers so loved to give; or even worse, like she’d never gotten over her high-school sweetheart.
“ . . . so our question to Kaylee is,” the bride continued, “when are you going to settle down?”
“Give me one year,” she heard herself announce.
Do you know anyone who was in a lot of weddings before she got married? Were you? Comment before midnight tonight for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
Thanks for sharing the excerpt, Lee. It definitely makes me want to read more. Congratulations on your release!
Oooo, will go get this, it looks great- thanks for sharing! There were a few of us a university, all friends, who were in each others weddings. The guys even bought the same suits so they could wear them for each others weddings, rather than buy/hire a whole new suit! I love that we are all still friends, even though we are spread across the county.
My son was a person, who was part of the wedding party for a lot of his friends, but when he finally married it was a small family beach wedding.
On the title three weddings, my girl friends from church and I all got married the same summer – May, June, and August. Our initials were all RB. My friends Rosi and Rita, married brothers – now their initials became RS. My initials are RP. Rita passed away, but Rosi and I have been married 43 years.
I was in a wedding once; don’t know anyone who was in multiple wedding. Thanks for the chance :)
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
Thank you, Jill!
That’s very smart–economizing on the groomsman gig! Too bad bridesmaids can’t buy one pretty dress and use it over and over!!
That’s so nice that you all got married the same summer! Those long friendships are the best. Thanks for commenting.
I have only been in one wedding, and can’t think of anyone I know who has been in multiple weddings.
Looking forward to reading The Wedding Bond!
Oh my goodness, this sounds like a fun book to read! I really don’t know anyone who was in a lot of weddings before they were married. I was technically a bridesmaid three times before I married but that was in my sisters’ weddings and I was engaged while in two of them.
I was only a bridesmaid twice before I got married and don’t know of anyone who was a bridesmaid more often than that. Thanks for sharing the excerpt – I look forward to reading your book :)
Ah, being in a sister’s wedding brings back memories! My bridesmaid dress for my sister’s wedding, hand-made by my mom, was super unflattering to my beanpole figure.
Thanks, Julianne!
I was in 5 weddings the year I got engaged! Wild and expensive !!
Sounds like such a fun story! I just bought it and can’t wait to read it. Congrats on the new release!
I have loved the bond series. It sounds like a good book. I can’t think of a bride who has been in multiple weddings, but my son has been in his two sisters weddings. His baby sister was married this summer ten years after his older sister. I’m praying for God to send him the right woman. (Our youngest daughter was born ten years after her brother.)
Thank you, Diana! Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right person… or it takes waiting for the one God has in mind for us. It’ll happen for your son!
This book already sounds like it will be a good read. Thanks for sharing an excerpt. I don’t know anyone that’s always a bridesmaid. I’ve been a bridesmaid twice and it would have been more but being a bridesmaid becomes costly so I told my single friends ahead of time not to ask?.
Thanks so much, Missy! Let me know what you think!
Wow, five… you’ve got my heroine Kaylee beat! Super expensive for sure!
Great excerpt. It makes me want to buy it right away and read more. ?
I was only a flower girl once WAY before I got married, but our daughter has been in many many weddings and still isn’t married. We’re waiting for her to meet the right guy. She’s really a dear young lady who loves the Lord, I just know where’s got to be some fantastic guy out there for her.
I was never in a lot of weddings, but I went to a lot of them before I got married at 28. Now it’s not unusual for first-time brides to be 30 or older, but in my day it wasn’t.
Yes i was in a lot of weddings before I married at 28 from time i was 4 until i got married
I was a flower girl twice and a maid of honor. I do have friends who have been in several weddings and remain unmarried. I can picture the closet scene from 27 dresses. This book sounds fun!
That’s smart, Kaleen, to tell them ahead of time so no one’s feelings get hurt!
Thanks, Tammy!
His timing! I’ve always been impatient, but His timing is perfect.
I don’t know if it’s smarter to wait or smarter to jump in!
Four is a lot… you beat my heroine Kaylee!
I love flower girls! Wish my daughter had gotten the chance to be one.
I’ve never been in anyone else’s wedding party. I do like to attend weddings when I get an invite. Love the romance! :) Looking forward to this book! :)
My daughter is 20, and has been in five weddings…2 as a flower girl, 1 as a junior bridesmaid, and 2 as a bridesmaid…and her own wedding is likely a long way off! This book sounds super fun though…I love it when the best laid plans run amok!
sounds great,added to by TBR (I have so many books to read ha!)
Thank you!
RE: best-laid plans: exactly! *rubs hands together in glee*
Thanks, Rebecca!
Was a flower girl on one wedding and stood up in my sisters wedding….
Added to TBR pile! I’ve only been in one wedding, but I do know people that have been in several.
I have a cousin who has been in several weddings, sadly she has never married.
I can’t think of anyone… I was married at 20 and then in one wedding after that.
Great excerpt! I’m looking forward to catching up with the Bond series!
I think I was in two. I was my best friends maid of honor. I told her I was going to catch the bouquet and even brought my softball glove! No one dared try to catch it after that!
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Great excerpt, and poor Kaylee. I always feel sorry when they are humiliated by friends and family, like they are doing something wrong as opposed to waiting on God’s timing for them. Probably because I started dating long after many of my friends (and I was only 21).
I have been a bridesmaid in 5 weddings so far, but I still haven’t found my own Mr. Right. But with all the practice I have had with weddings, I know what to do and what not to do, lol. Thanks
Thank you for commenting, Karen, Jenni, and Rita!
Thank you Beth…glad you liked the excerpt.
Oh, my gosh, I LOVE that you brought your glove!!! Too funny.
I agree and that’s one of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my faith journey. God made each of us unique and we don’t have to always go with the crowd, even the church crowd who only want the best for us.
Wow, Misty, you beat Kaylee! I certainly think there are many blessings to be found in being single, don’t you?
I know of no-one in a lot of weddings. I’ve attended many weddings but as a guest :-) Sounds like a great story Lee!
I have 6 sisters, so I’ve been a bridesmaid quite often, as well as being one for a few of my friends before I was married. Your story sounds like a fun read. Thanks for sharing.
I was a flower girl many years ago in my brother’s wedding who is several years older than me. Then I was a maid of honor in one and a bridesmaid in another before I married at the age of 20. After I married, I was the matron of honor in another wedding and that’s the end of my wedding party days. Thanks for the excerpt! Can’t wait to read the book! :)