Excerpt of The Vegas Proposal by Julie Jarnagin

Hi Readers! Happy September!

I have to say, I'm enjoying this time of year. We're returning to a normal routine with school in session, but we haven't hit the craziness of the holidays yet. I'm enjoying being back in the groove of things after a crazy summer.

Today, I wanted share an excerpt of my novel, The Vegas Proposal. This is my most recent full length novel. I hope you enjoy!

Here's a little about the book:

A celebrity wedding would save her family’s Las Vegas chapel—as long as she doesn’t fall for the groom.  

The Traditions Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas has been in Claire Grigg’s family for three generations, and she dreams of restoring the struggling chapel to its original glory. When Claire discovers the chapel’s financial problems and the strain it’s putting on her parents’ marriage, Claire commits to doing whatever it takes to save the business. 

Vegas is the last stop on Ben Karr’s tour, and he’s afraid he’ll soon be added to a long list of one-hit wonders. He’s determined to prove that his talent deserves to be taken seriously and all the sacrifices his grandmother made were worth it. He’s known more for his frequent break-ups with famous women than his music. Until he can repair his public image, Ben’s label refuses to invest in another album. 

Ben devises a radical plan to save his career––a fake wedding to his starlet ex-girlfriend—but the adorable chapel director and her talk of true love and commitment is making him rethink the scam. Will Claire and Ben let go of their dreams and risk it all to grab onto a shot at true love?

Excerpt:

The bright Las Vegas sunlight flooded through the open doorway into the dim lobby. Claire stepped forward to greet the guests. “Welcome to…” Her gaze landed on Benjamin Karr, and her mind went blank. “Um. Welcome to…” She’d listened to his song on the radio as she’d driven across town this morning. Faithful and true. No matter what we go through. Our love will be faithful and true.

“Traditions Wedding Chapel?” the crooner asked.

Claire nodded. “Uh, yes. Exactly. Welcome to Traditions Wedding Chapel.”

He flashed a smile and pointed the hat in his hand toward the entrance. With his crisp white shirt, the thin black tie, and the signature fedora in his hand, Benjamin could have been a member of the Rat Pack. “Is your neon sign outside original? It reminds me of old school Las Vegas.”

Claire was still nodding like an idiot when a laugh she couldn’t control slipped from her lips.

A petite blonde stepped beside him. “Well, I’m glad we got all that figured out.”

The blonde pulled the designer sunglasses from her face, and Claire gasped. “You’re Evelyn Lee.”

Reality hit Claire like a handful of rice to the face. The young Hollywood couple was standing in the foyer of a wedding chapel—her wedding chapel. The news had reported that they’d split, but here they were, staring at her.

Famous for being a former teen beauty queen turned actress, Evelyn showed off her best pageant smile. “Apparently, you read People. And you are?”

Claire chided herself for allowing the professionalism she prided herself on to slip away. She swallowed her excitement. “I’m Claire Griggs. This is my family’s chapel.”

Benjamin moved the gray hat into his left hand and reached out to her. “Hi, Claire. I’m Ben.”

Benjamin Karr slid his hand into hers, and Claire’s heels wobbled underneath her. Probably more famous for the tabloid stories about his short-term relationships with beautiful starlets than for his music, he was even more handsome in person than on television. His strong jawline, dark brown hair, and green eyes rivaled any movie star’s. Claire pulled her hand away, hoping they couldn’t see that inside she was doing back flips. “It’s great to meet both of you. What can we do for you?”

Evelyn slipped her arm in the crook of his. “Benny and I wanted to talk to you about a wedding.”

The spark of hope ignited in Claire’s chest. They were here to get married! The notorious bachelor was actually going to settle down. The problems Traditions had competing with the newer chapels and the fancy hotel wedding services would be over the moment the story of their ceremony hit the celebrity blogs and news sites. Couples from everywhere would want to get married in the same chapel as Evelyn Lee and Benjamin Karr.

Benjamin turned his face toward Evelyn, and a look of discord passed between them. It looked like the stories about his fear of commitment were more than rumors.
You can find the book on Amazon here!

Julie Jarnagin is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. 
www.JulieJarnagin.com

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