To say I love weddings would be a slight understatement.
As I spent the next several months helping her with wedding plans, I realized something about myself — I like planning weddings.
My active imagination loves picturing the dress, the flowers, the cake, the ring.
Luckily for me, I get to plan weddings all the time since I often work weddings into my sweet romances. If Captain Cavedweller comes home and finds me giddily searching through the latest in bridal gown styles, he quietly backs out of the office before I ask him for his opinions on tuxedos.
Since I write both historical and contemporary romances, it's interesting to compare the traditions of the late 1880s to today's modern bride. Surprisingly, there are as many similarities as there are differences.
My two new romances, releasing this Thursday, both feature wedding scenes - one a marriage of convenience, the other one of pure love.
Do you love weddings? What's your favorite part? I think my favorite is the moment the groom sees the bride as she starts down the aisle - that look of love and raw emotion on his face.
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Capturing Christmas is the third installment in the sweet holiday western Rodeo Romance series.
Life is hectic on a good day for rodeo stock contractor Kash Kressley. Between dodging flying hooves and babying cranky bulls, he barely has time to sleep. The last thing Kash needs is the entanglement of a sweet romance, especially with a woman as full of fire and sass as the redheaded photographer he rescues at a rodeo.
Determined to capture the best images possible, rodeo photographer Celia McGraw is fearless and feisty. Not one to back down from a challenge, her biggest risk isn’t in her work. Danger lurks in the way her heart responds to one incredibly handsome stock contractor. Will Kash and Celia capture the spirit of the season?
“Someone like you should be smart
enough to know better than to do something that stupid, Miss McGraw.” The man
frowned at her as he held her across his lap, riding over to the fence, out of
the way of the horses and the men on horseback behind them.
Too stunned to reply, Celia gulped and continued staring at him, gradually comprehending she hadn’t been killed.
Too stunned to reply, Celia gulped and continued staring at him, gradually comprehending she hadn’t been killed.
At least she assumed she hadn’t
died, unless angels wore dusty cowboy hats, dark blue chaps, and were breath-stealing
handsome.
Those engaging eyes bore into hers,
making her heart skitter in her chest while an entire bushel of butterflies
burst into flight in her stomach.
She observed her rescuer. He sat
tall in the saddle and had muscles to spare, or so she presumed from the way he
easily hoisted her off the ground and onto his horse. A hint of light brown
hair peeked out from beneath the brim of his hat. The pale blue shirt he wore
almost matched the fascinating shade of his eyes.
Celia experienced the most
unreasonable urge to run her fingers along the stubbly expanse of his cheeks,
down his square jaw, and over his strong chin. Mesmerized by his full bottom
lip, she inhaled a deep breath and nearly choked.
The very scent of him hinted at a
lethal combination of freshly fallen snow, a warm winter fire, and sweet
seduction rolled into one incredibly enticing package.
Columbia River Pilot Adam Guthry returns to his hometown of Hardman, Oregon, after the sudden death of his best friend. Emotions he can’t contain bubble to the surface the moment he sees the girl who shattered his heart eleven years ago.
Widow Tia Devereux escapes her restrictive life in Portland, returning to the home she knew and adored as a girl in Hardman. She and her four-year-old son, Toby, settle into the small Eastern Oregon community, eager for the holiday season. Unfortunately, the only man she’s ever loved shows up, stirring the embers of a long-dead romance into a blazing flame. When her former father-in-law, a corrupt judge, decides he wants to raise Toby, Adam may be the only hope she has of keeping her son.
You’re Invited to PARTY!
You’re invited to join in the online Cowboys & Christmas Facebook Party, Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PST). Drop in anytime during those four hours to enter to win great prizes, chat with guest authors, and more (many of the giveaways will stay open until the following morning)!
Here’s the link to the party: http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasparty2
The talented guest authors joining in the celebration include:
10 a.m. - Carmen Peone
10:30 - Kayla Dawn Thomas
11 a.m. - Melanie D. Snitker, Author
11:30 - Julie Cerniglia Lence
Noon - Author CJ Samuels
12:30 - Rachel Rossano
1 p.m. - Author Kristin Holt
1:30 - Dani Harper
Enter to Win Prizes!
To enter the drawing for an Amazon gift card, Wrangler Tote Bag, Rock & Roll Cowgirl T-shirt, autographed books, chocolates, and more fun goodies, fill out this form. Winners will be randomly drawn and announced Nov. 16. http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasprizes2
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Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with characters that seem incredibly real.
When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
This USA Today bestselling author is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, Romance Writers of America, Sweet Romance Reads, and Pioneer Hearts.
Find Shanna’s books at:
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I think that expression on the groom's face is what everyone looks for. It's such a priceless moment.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is, Aileen! :)
DeleteShanna, so cool that you get to plan weddings. I helped plan the weddings for my two daughters who got married on the beach near our home. Since they both lived in other states, much of the planning fell to me by default. I didn't mind.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Merrillee! So fun you were able to help both of them with the planning. :)
ReplyDelete