Year of Weddings 1

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. What started as a whim turned into an accidental-and very public-engagement? Can Layla and Seth keep up the façade in Chapel Springs this holiday season-for the sake of her career . . . and his heart? Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy-the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiancé-would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency-a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart.

Allie left the love of her life at the altar-to save him from a lifetime of heartbreak. When a Valentine's Day wedding brings them back together, she struggles against her family's destructive history. Can Allie ever realize that a marriage is so much more than a wedding dress? History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day-in the same dress passed down for generations and worn by all the women in her family-women with a long history of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus but fears she's destined to repeat her family's mistakes. She can't bear to hurt Marcus worse. Marcus Hall never stopped loving Allie and can only think of one reason she left him at the altar-him. When the two are thrown together for his sister's Valentine's Day wedding, he discovers the truth and realizes their story might be far from over. Can Allie shuck expectation and discover who she is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she ever walks down the aisle, what dress will she wear?

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can't help but wonder if it's a sign that their love is not meant to be. Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She'll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna's heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her. Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own-right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon's Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won't return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. War changed everything . . . even their love. Bride-to-be Stella Carson cannot wait another day to marry her longtime sweetheart, Marshall Henderson. But her plans fall to pieces when she receives the terrible news that Marshall has suffered a near-fatal head wound while serving overseas. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, he asks to recover privately in a D.C. hospital, and Stella gives him space to heal. But when Marshall returns home to Louisiana, it becomes clear to them both that he is not the man he used to be. Marshall's memories of home have disappeared, and he suffers from violent, vivid nightmares night after night. Struggling to regain their life together, Stella reintroduces him to their town, reminding him of his history and their love story and watching glimpses of recognition dance in his eyes. But there is one dark corner in his memory, one important part he can't remember: his life with Stella. With only weeks until the wedding, Stella and Marshall must choose between a marriage built on the past and faith in long-ago love or a very different future than the one Stella imagined.

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. Ellie has prepared for her wedding all her life . . . but she has forgotten the most important part. Ellie Martin, a country girl living in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life-a wedding just like the one her younger sister is planning back home. Even though Ellie is realizing her dreams in the big city as an up-and-coming real-estate agent, she's missing a key ingredient to her plans for the future: a groom. Then Ellie meets Gray Whitby-at a wedding of all places. Gray is handsome and fun, and he sweeps her away in a whirlwind romance. In a matter of months, Ellie knows Gray is "the one," but her mother isn't so sure, judging Gray to be the freewheeling type, like Ellie's runaway father. When Ellie jeopardizes her own future for the sake of her sister, Gray feels like he'll always be second to Ellie's family. Can Ellie and Gray find their own way together amidst the demands and perceptions of others or will their romance end before it has truly begun? "I get to be involved with eleven other wonderful writers, some whom I've known for years and some I'm getting to know now. What a blessing. And who doesn't love a good wedding story? This has been a fun challenge and a true joy." -Lenora Worth, author of An April Bride

The reality show ended with an engagement, so why doesn't this feel like the fairy tale she thought it would be? The Rejection Connection hardly sounds like the place to fall in love, but Wynne Hardy walked off the reality-TV set with an engagement ring. And in the whirlwind of publicity and preparation that follows a TV-bride-to-be in her fifteen minutes of fame, Wynne barely has time to consider how she really feels about her new fiancé . . . to say nothing of how she still feels about her ex. As the wedding plans develop, so too do Wynne's doubts: Is she in love with Andy? Or is this really about Callum-the ex-boyfriend who sent her onto Rejection Connection in the first place? A nationally televised snub might be the best revenge . . . but is it a good reason to get married? When Callum resurfaces at the worst possible moment, Wynne can't help wondering if she's made a huge mistake. Is her marriage a publicity stunt? And what happens when the cameras stop rolling, and she has a husband she barely knows?

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. In a moment of total panic, Brendan left Alyssa at the altar. What will it take for him to win her back? When Brendan Meyers became a "runaway groom," Alyssa Pennington's heart broke. But she's returned the unopened gifts, exchanged the dress, and is ready to get on with her life…and forget Brendan. The problem is, Brendan can't forget. He can't forget the love he and Alyssa shared and can't forgive himself for what he put her through on their wedding day. He can never undo his actions, but at least he can try to win Alyssa's forgiveness. And maybe, someday, another shot at her love. Dalton Landreth was the only person not disappointed about that botched wedding. He had been eyeing Alyssa since high school-with his gorgeous, magnetic blue eyes-and when Brendan ran out the church doors, Dalton heard opportunity knocking. Within months of being jilted at the altar, Alyssa finds herself being simultaneously wooed by the love of her life and the best-looking man she's ever seen. Not bad for a small-town girl with a broken heart.

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.As far as Kelsey Wilcox is concerned, her last cowboy was the last cowboy. Kelsey Wilcox has had enough of cowboys. After the last one broke her heart, Kelsey traded in her boots for flip-flops, and the open range for a bistro on the beach. Her life on Corpus Christi's gorgeous beach might be a little lonely, but at least it's heartbreak-free. At least until her cousin's beachside wedding bucks Kelsey right back into the rodeo.When unlucky-in-love Brent Corbin packed his groomsman's tux for his friend's wedding, he brought his boots and belt buckle with him. Brent isn't exactly looking for love, but when he sees what appears to be a mermaid in distress, he jumps right in to rescue her. So Kelsey finds herself plucked from the sea-and certain-drowning-by a gorgeous groomsman . . . in soaked cowboy boots. She's quick to say thanks, but no thanks.Brent dedicates the weekend to pursuing Kelsey-and Kelsey spends the weekend trying to deny an obvious match. She's as stubborn as a wild horse, but Brent's determination may tame her yet.

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. When Annie moves to Red Leaf, she's ready to call the little town home. But one handsome, suspicious policeman is ready to stand in her way . . . even if it means walking her down the aisle first. All Annie Price has ever wanted is a place to call home. So when an online friend offers her a fresh start managing a little bookstore in Red Leaf, Wisconsin, and Annie packs her bags and waves goodbye to her former lonely life. Deputy Jesse Kent can't believe his mother has handed the keys to her bookshop over to a woman she met on the internet. Annie might be vivacious, smart as a whip, and beautiful-ahem-but what do they really know about her? Jesse has seen his mother taken advantage of before, and he decides to keep a close eye on this Annie Price. But when a close eye turns into a historical wedding reenactment with Jesse and Annie as the couple, make-believe nuptials quickly give way to real-life emotions. As the wedding approaches and Annie and Jesse's secrets come to light, the deputy has to face the truth: this wedding may have started as a ploy, but he wants to make Annie his September bride . . . for real.

What if the only way you could make your father's last wish come true . . . was to marry the man of your dreams?Emma Tate has just moved on from one fiancé, so when she announces a sudden engagement to her lifelong buddy Jake Sawyer, every busybody in Mayfair goes into high alert. Of course, no one but Jake and Emma know the real reason they're getting married-so Emma's dying father will have a chance to walk her down the aisle.But while Jake and Emma move forward with their plan-and frantically plan an October wedding-it becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications . . . the biggest being their true feelings for each other.With dubious friends, deliriously thrilled parents, and a town that won't keep its nose out of their business, Emma and Jake will have a lot to contend with if they're going to pull this off. The real question is: Who wants this wedding more, Emma's dad . . . or Emma?

A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.Can a decades-long friendship marred by two romantic missteps ever lead to happily ever after? Sadie McAllister's clients know how lucky they are to have her: an ultra-fastidious personal chef who leaves behind a spotless kitchen and a week's worth of mouth-watering meals. Erik Davis, her best friend since middle school, is content to enjoy Sadie's culinary skills too while maintaining their "friends only" status. Most of his energy is focused on his just-launched freelance business and casual dates that never come close to a commitment. But when Sadie is offered a once-in-a-lifetime cooking job across country, Erik realizes maybe he's taken his best friend for granted. Even more, he's about to lose his only chance for lasting love. How can Erik convince Sadie that the well-known adage "Marry your best friend" just might apply to them? With God's help, can they both move past their assumptions about each other and their future? Should Sadie and Erik risk taking their relationship to the romantic point of no return? If they do, their decades-long friendship is as a good as done . . . unless it ends at the altar.

Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three spring weddings . . . A March Bride by Rachel Hauck Susanna Truitt (Once Upon a Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She'll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna's heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her. An April Bride by Lenora Worth, Bride-to-be Stella Carson cannot wait another day to marry soldier Marshall Henderson. But when Marshall returns home to Louisiana, it becomes clear to them both that he is not the man he used to be. With only weeks until the wedding, Stella and Marshall must choose between a marriage built on the past and faith in long-ago love or a very different future than the one Stella imagined. A May Bride by Meg Moseley Ellie Martin, a country girl living in Atlanta, has dreamed of a traditional wedding all her life, but she's missing a key ingredient to her plans for the future: a groom. Then Ellie meets Gray Whitby-at a wedding of all places. But when Ellie jeopardizes her own future for the sake of her sister, Gray feels like he'll always be second to Ellie's family. Can Ellie and Gray find their own way together amidst the demands and perceptions of others, or will their romance end before it has truly begun?

Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three winter weddings . . .A December Bride by Denise HunterWhen Layla O'Reilly and Seth Murphy make their engagement public, she knows it's only to convince a major client that she's high-society enough to work for his agency. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, but she's never given him the time of day. For Layla, this romantic illusion is the chance to save her career. And for Seth, it's the chance to finally win her heart.A January Bride by Deborah RaneyNovelist Madeleine Houser arranges a temporary office in a local bed and breakfast to escape the distracting renovations on her own house. Although she's never laid eyes on the inn's owner, an unlikely friendship blossoms between them as they leave daily notes for each other, and before long, Maddie finds herself falling for her mysterious host-a man likely many years her senior-and a man she's never even met.A February Bride by Betsy St. AmantHistory repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day-wearing the same dress passed down for generations of women in her family, all women with histories of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus but fears she's destined to repeat her family's mistakes. When thrown unexpectedly together for a wedding months later, Allie and Marcus discover their own story might be far from over.

Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three summer weddings . . .A June Bride by Marybeth Whalen Wynne Hardy never thought she'd get engaged on a reality TV show, but when she met Andy the two of them hit it off. Now he's asked her to marry him, and they're all set to wed on live TV in a seaside ceremony. But just as Wynne thinks all her dreams are coming true, her ex-boyfriend walks back into her life at the worst possible time. Steve broke her heart years ago, and she's still sorting through her feelings for him. Will Wynne go through with her televised wedding and be the perfect June bride the network is looking for? A July Bride by Beth WisemanIt was the happiest day of her life when Alyssa Pennington walked down the aisle to be united with the man of her dreams. But when Brendan left her at the altar, Alyssa was consumed by humiliation, embarrassment, and a broken heart that wouldn't allow her to trust anyone. Brendan Myers knows he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he did to Alyssa, the only woman he's ever loved. Now he plans to win her back. But winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. An August Bride by Debra Clopton. After a cowboy broke her heart, Kelsey Wilcox traded in her boots for flip-flops and a bistro on the beautiful sandy beach of Corpus Christi. Two years later, still not believing in happy endings, she is about to endure a weekend of torture at her cousin's beach wedding. Brent Corbin has had his share of bad luck with women and isn't looking for love or looking forward to the weekend of wedding festivities as a groomsman for his friend, but his attention is instantly captured by Kelsey. Thrown together through the weekend and with the meddlesome encouragement from some matchmakers, Brent is determined to pursue Kelsey and change her mind about cowboys.

Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at three autumn weddings . . .A September Bride by Kathryn SpringerWhen Annie moves to Red Leaf, she's ready to call the little town home, but Deputy Jesse Kent can't believe his mother has handed the keys to her bookshop over to a woman she met on the internet. Jesse has seen his mother taken advantage of before, and he decides to keep a close eye on this Annie Price. But when a close eye turns into a historical wedding reenactment with Jesse and Annie as the couple, make-believe nuptials quickly give way to real-life emotions.An October Bride by Katie GanshertNo one but Jake and Emma know the true reason they're getting married-so Emma's dying father can walk her down the aisle. While Jake and Emma plan an autumn wedding together, it becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications-the biggest being their true feelings for each other.A November Bride by Beth K. VogtHaving celebrated the big 3–0 by ending a relationship, Sadie is tired of romantic relationships-by-text. The only man she knows willing to put down his iPhone and have face-to-face conversations with her is Erik. It's time to put a 21st-century twist on the Sadie Hawkins' tradition of a woman going after her man. But when he realizes he's fallen for her, can Erik convince Sadie his just-for-fun dates were the prelude to "'til death do us part"?

Happily ever after begins today. The honor of your presence is requested at a year of weddings . . . A January Bride. Madeleine Houser's pen-pal friendship with a lonely widower has taken an unexpected turn. A February Bride. Allie left the love of her life at the altar-to save him from her family curse. A March Bride. Susanna found her prince, and happily ever after is just around the corner. But first, they must pass one final test. An April Bride. Weeks away from the wedding, Stella and Marshall must choose between faith in their past love or a very different future than either imagined. A May Bride. Ellie has prepared for her wedding all her life . . . but she's forgotten the most important part. A June Bride. The reality show ended with an engagement, so why doesn't this feel like the fairy tale Wynne thought it would be? A July Bride In a moment of total panic, Brendan left Alyssa at the altar. What will it take for him to win her back? An August Bride As far as Kelsey Wilcox is concerned, her last cowboy was the last cowboy. A September Bride. Annie is ready to call this new town home, but one handsome policeman is ready to stand in her way . . . even if it means walking her down the aisle. An October Bride. What if the only way to make your father's last wish come true . . . was to marry the man of your dreams? A November Bride. Can a decades-long friendship marred by romantic missteps ever lead to happily ever after for Sadie and Erik? A December Bride. What started as a whim turned into an accidental-and very public-engagement in Chapel Springs this holiday season.