Wedding Season Sale & Giveaway

Now, that June has arrived, Wedding Season has begun. We will all be invited to or hear about this wedding or that, as new couples take a leap of faith and promise to share their lives together.

I love just about everything involved with weddings. Every aspect has the chance to be creative and set a tone for a couples entire day. I could say it sets the tone for their life together, but that seems dramatic. Unless of course, you find yourself fighting and disagreeing on wedding day details, then maybe some further consideration should be taken into a lifelong commitment. 😛

From high budget to backyard vow exchanges, the day can be special and beautiful for everyone. I have no plans to get married again, but if I ever did I have watched enough bridal TV to know what I would want in a wedding; from the gown to the table centerpieces I have a clear picture. I could plan a wedding in no time. Hmmmm….maybe I can have a wedding without the actual marriage, LOL!

All joking aside, weddings are a beautiful moment in time where two love birds ask you to sit in witness of their life and commitment to one another. What an amazing concept and beautiful moment for the couple and their guests. In my newest release with, Forever Red Publishing, I took a few friends, turned some of them into lovers and some of them into combatants and sent them to a couple of weddings to see how guests behave when they are more focused on their own love stories than the bride and groom.

Writing these books was so much fun, because even though they are novellas, I told each couples story from both POV’s and really got to care and love them (Thad is my fav) a little more each book. There is some overlap between the books, which were originally sold separately, because I am telling one couples story from each side. I hope that you will pick up a copy and get to know Cassie, Dan, Thad, and Brianna. They will make you fall for them this Wedding Season, as they fall for each other. My publisher has placed the entire set on sale for ONLY #99cents, until June 15th, 2015 – no better time to get a copy, as it’s normally $3.50. (each book is still available separately, for 99cents each)

There is also a BONUS STORY in this set, detailing how Cassie and Thad met and became an exception to the rule that men and women can’t be friends. Thad is a rake, albeit and honest and kind one, so it does seem odd that he would have a female best friend. But, once you meet them you will see how amazing their friendship and love for one another truly is…I adore their friendship, it might be my favorite relationship in the series!

We would love to hear about your favorite fictional wedding, whether it be a book or a movie; maybe Four Weddings and a Funeral or My Best Friend’s Wedding. Leave a comment with your favorite wedding tale and why you love it so much to be entered to win an eBook copy of my, One Day at a Wedding Series. This giveaway will stay open until June 10th and a winner will be randomly selected and sent their copy, via email, within a few days! 🙂

One Day at a Wedding Buy Links:

Amazon: http://ow.ly/L0EbN

 

Kobo: http://ow.ly/L0Eai

 

Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/L0E7n

 

iTunes: http://ow.ly/L0E8C

Wishing you well, in fiction and real life,

Kelly Rae

http://www.kellyraebooks.com

http://www.facebook.com/kellyraebooks

@kellyraebooks

Ready, Set, Go!

It’s a new year and I have been excited for its arrival for a while now. There were a lot of fantastic things that came about in 2014. Including, the purchase of my One Day at a Wedding Series to Forever Red Publishing. The first two books, have been very well received and the third will be out on the 9th of this month. The best it yet to come, starting with the release of Book 3, Anything but a Wedding, starring Thad Carlmont!

Anything but a Wedding: Pre Order Now / Goes Love 01.09.15 (That should be LIVE – but I sort of preferred the typo, LOL!)

Amazon Pre-Order Link

Thad never expected to find anyone who meant more to him than his best friend, Cassie. She was the one woman he loved enough not to sleep with. He was a player, but an honest one. Unfortunately, not everyone felt that balanced out his love ’em and leave ’em ways. He just didn’t see a need to settle down — yet. Then, he met Brianna, who made him think about the future — a future with her — which was a new experience for Thad. Brianna is also a new kind of woman and convincing her that they have a future might just be the challenge of his life.

Thad is one of my favorite creations. He is everything we all hope for in a man, including his faults. Thad is kind and generous, he cares about his friends and is all around sexy. Sexy from his shoes to his well styled hair. As you get to know him you will find that who he is, how he treats people, and the way he loves are the real reasons to adore him.

Granted the sexy smile and haunting eyes don’t hurt! 🙂

It would be fair to say that I fell a little in love with him, as I wrote this story. Then a little more when I wrote Brianna’s story in, Not One More Wedding (also out this month). Luckily for me, my publisher has asked for another Thad based book, which will be out around Valentine’s Day! I was happy to write more about him and fall in love again, more, still – whatever the case may be. 😛

This year, I also sold 2 additional full length novels to be published, in 2015. That’s five books, signed and to be delivered THIS YEAR. Oh, and of course the women at The Authors of Main Street are working on another project for our readers this year, maybe two. Needless to say, I have a lot to look forward to this year. A lot of writing, promoting, and falling in love. What else can a romance writer ask for in a New Year? Not much!

Here are some teasers from the One Day at a Wedding Series, just for fun! If you want more info on the series or my other books, please visit my Author Page on Amazon, for details. You can also click the Yellow Favorite button and sign up for notices about new releases!

Now that I have shared what I have to look forward to this year, tell me what you have in store. What are your goals or resolutions, personal or professional – we like them all.

Thanks for stopping by today to spend some time with us, we always appreciate the time you take to read our blog.

Wishing you well, in fiction and real life!

Kelly Rae

Summertime Madness

San Diego, CA

Summer is here and I couldn’t be happier, days of sun and swimming lay ahead, for the kid and me.  Like most, we have plans to travel a bit. Our first trip will be in full swing, when this post goes live, on Independence Day! We will be in gorgeous Southern California, with family watching fireworks near the beach. Hooray!

As we travel, by car, from Oregon down into California, we will be making stops from the top to the bottom of the state. Along the way we get to attend a 1-year-old birthday party, see for the first time a new baby to our family, visit every grandparent my son has (there are a lot of them), go swimming in pools and oceans, eat good food and catch-up with our loved ones. I wonder if it will all be exhausting as it sounds? Ha!

Golden Gate

Unfortunately for me, this will be somewhat a working vacation. Oh the dangers of being your own boss – you forget to schedule REAL vacation time! 🙂 The good news is that I have so much going on, in my writing life, that I will need to work a little each day in order to stay on track. I have promoting and fine tuning to do on my novella series, One Day at a Wedding. The first of which was released with the wonderful ladies here on Main Street in our newest boxed set Weddings on Main Street.

I would love to hear about your vacation plans for the summer or just in general what kind of vacation style do you enjoy? Our first trip is all about visiting family and friends. Check out our poll and share your faves with us, feel free to comment as well and start a discussion about your best vacation ever!

I would also like to take a moment, this being Independence Day, to wish everyone a happy holiday, may you spend it with those you love and cherish most. USA! USA! USA!

Wishing you only the best in fiction and in life.

Kelly Rae

 

 

All of the lovely stories below are available in the newest Authors on Main Street Boxed set! We are all so proud of the entire set and hope that those of you who have read it would consider writing a review and letting others know what you thought of our collection of weddings!

June Is The Month For Weddings…And Other Odd Facts

As June gets under way, chances are you’ll be receiving a few wedding invitations in the mail (or already have) or might even be participating in a ceremony or two.

June is definitely the nadir of weddings.

Why is that?

A few urban legends include the idea that it was one of the times people bathed so, hey, a good time to get married! Another is a little bit opposite–couples marry in June so the profuse June flowers used in bouquets help hide the smell of their unwashed bodies. Whoa.

Can I digress and give a shout out to indoor plumbing?

But cleanliness (or the lack thereof) is just a few of the facts and fancies of wedding lore. Here are a few more from The Knot:

* Hey, brides, tuck a sugar cube into your glove — according to Greek culture, the sugar will sweeten your union.

* The bride stands to the groom’s left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors.

* The English believe a spider found in a wedding dress means good luck. Yikes!

* Seventeen tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year in the United States!

* Snake rings dotted with ruby eyes were popular wedding bands in Victorian England — the coils winding into a circle symbolized eternity.

* Queen Victoria started the Western world’s white wedding dress trend in 1840 — before then, brides simply wore their best dress.

* The custom of tiered cakes emerged from a game where the bride and groom attempted to kiss over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over.

* And possibly the REAL reason June is a popular matrimonial month: The Roman goddess Juno rules over marriage, the hearth, and childbirth, hence the popularity of June weddings.

Regardless of all the traditions and oddities of weddings, they are still fun to attend (I always cry) and watch in movies, and read about–because no matter our experiences in life, we all want to believe in the happily ever after.

To get your wedding fix this June, check out the soon-to-be-released boxed set by your very own Authors of Main Street. Eleven stories to fill your heart with romance’s siren song, available the 9th.

So save the date, get your hands on something borrowed and something blue, and go head over heels for WEDDINGS ON MAIN STREET.

 

 

We’re Counting Down the Days to Release

Yes, the Authors of Main Street will be releasing their second boxed set June 9, 2014. The perfect timing for all the June weddings! And who doesn’t love a wedding? That happy couple represents so much love and hope for the future.

This time all the stories were written just for the set. Each is complete. And each is a full novella length. Some are sweet and some are sexy, but nothing is too much. They are all are perfect for Main Street!

But here’s the deal, folks…ready? You have to promise to read ALL the way to the end of the book or you won’t get around to reading mine! Got that?

I know. You’re just going to have to wade your way through all the delicious stories by all these fabulous authors on Main Street. If you read with any speed, I figure two-three hours a night will allow you to read one novella a night. That makes me your eleventh night!

No bonfire needed! Grab something wonderful to drink, then find a quiet, cool spot (if you’re living down-under grab a cozy blanket), and curl up with a story that will make you fall in love one more time.

Now you’re wondering why I’m the eleventh story. It’s simple. My characters have the bridal salon and guess where many are getting their dresses? Yes! I certainly don’t want to reveal any secrets.  So by the time you reach mine, there won’t be any secrets about the other brides, but you’ll have fun discovering how some of those brides managed to get their beautiful gowns – on time! 🙂

But Julia has a family secret that she’s about to discover. She might have grown up a few blocks from Main Street, but even small towns have secrets hidden in them.

So get ready for this terrific read, because it’s going to be great. You’re going to fall in love over and over again with eleven romantic wedding stories!

After you get your copy on June 9th, and you’re done reading, don’t forget to leave us a review. It’s the nicest thing you can do for any author!

Drum roll, please!

Look at that cake! Can’t you just imagine being there? Little boys in white shorts and blue bow ties. Little girls with lacy anklets and fancy dresses Someone is holding the baby. Where’s Mary, and where did Mom go? Can’t you hear Uncle Billy laughing?

Weddings often bring families and friends together. Sometimes they are small celebrations and sometimes they are big. You don’t even have to get dressed up for these weddings. Just relax and enjoy them!

Once Upon a Wedding – COVER REVEAL!

Wedding Novella Series – Book 1

 

Welcome to my COVER REVEAL DAY!

Once Upon a Wedding will be available June 9th, as part of the newest boxed set by The Authors of Main Street, titled:Weddings on Main Street.

You are cordially invited to attend more than eleven weddings this summer, as told by the lovely writers who brought you the Best-Selling Christmas Anthology, Christmas on Main Street. The reception to our boxed set was beyond our imagination and it seemed only natural to get together again, this summer.

Eleven writers, with distinct voices and brand new tales all surrounding wedding season. Is there anything more romantic than a wedding? Whether you are getting married, in the wedding party, or a guest it’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of the day.

Unless, you are a single, late 20’s gal, who is plain tired of weddings and everyone asking her when it’s her turn. In Cassie Anderson’s case, the magic of the day wears off pretty quick. Granted, it could also be the horrid dresses taking up valuable space in her closet, a closet that wouldn’t even fit her own wedding dress, if she could find a man. 🙂

As Cassie’s friends from high school and college get married and pair up for life, she has high hopes for it being her turn – one day. Even when she does meet someone whom she can’t seem to shake, she fears it will never happen. Every time she sees Dan Simmons, who has gotten very hunky since high school, the spark and sheer magnetic pull between them is palpable – but their timing is always off, way off!

Luckily, Cassie has a best friend, Thad Carlmont, who is her constant companion and date to all of these events, so at least she doesn’t have to go stag. Even if Thad spends most of his time, as her date, trying to score other lonely wedding goers, he makes a better date than her bouquets.

Each time she attends a wedding where Dan is also a guest she wonders, if maybe this time, the timing will be just right!

Check it out on June 9th, and see what happens between Cassie, Dan and the much too handsome Thad.

I am thrilled to be a part of the Authors of Main Street and I know our new readers, and those who already enjoy our work, are going to love this new anthology.  Cassie, Dan and Thad are jumping up and down waiting for their chance to meet you, this June 9th, and share the first book in their novella series.

All month-long, this blog is dedicated to cover reveals and sneak peeks, into the novellas that will make up, Weddings on Main Street. So, make sure to check back, ask questions, and get into the wedding spirit with us – all summer long.

 

Summer Release Schedule for my Wedding Novella Series:

June 9th, Once Upon a Wedding RELEASING in the Weddings on Main Street Anthology

July 15th, Every Other Wedding (2nd Book – Dan’s Story) RELEASING

Aug 15th, Title TBD (3rd Book – Thad’s Story) RELEASING

There may be more to come. I have ideas and characters speaking to me all the time, be sure to check back here or on my website (www.kellyraebooks.com)to make sure you don’t miss any news about the Anthology, or my Summer Wedding Series.

Also, you can find us all on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/authorsofmainstreet, where we love to interact with readers/friends.

Or sign up for our newsletters, here on this blog, and you will be kept up to date on new releases from each author individually, and all anthology news, as well. Thanks for stopping by today!

All the best,

Kelly Rae

 

 

The June Wedding – The Wedding Dance

Two months before the wedding…

“Greg I want to do something special for our first dance,” said Samantha.

He looked at her with a question in his eyes. “Like what?”

“I found a video on YouTube and I want to do what this couple did.”

“Let me look at it, but I’m telling you right now, I’m not doing ‘Thriller’ for our first dance.”

“It’s definitely not Thriller.”

Samantha went to her computer, “My cousin Caroline emailed it to me as a suggestion.”

“That’s the one in Arkansas, the nurse?”

“Yes.”

“She has good taste.”

Samantha clicked on a saved link in her wedding spreadsheet, and it began.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHly3ZIyjLE

Greg sat in the office chair while Samantha stood behind him with her hand on his shoulder.

When it was over with, both had smiles on their faces.

“That guy looked so happy.” Greg stood and turned drawing Samantha into his arms. “We’ll have to practice.”

“Yes.” She reached up and wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. A long kiss.

“We need the music.” Greg whispered in her ear.

“I already have it.”

Greg drew back, “You knew I’d say yes?”

“I knew you would like to look super cool on the dance floor.”

“You know me too well. Super cool is my game. I’ll have to remember to get a black shirt to the reception hall and you’ll need a short white dress.”

“It’s on the spreadsheet.”

Greg laughed, “Well, let’s get started. I need to get those steps down.”

“I just want to look as happy as that couple does.”

“We are happy together. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.” Greg kissed Samantha again, sealing his vow.

.

Pepper Phillips is the author of “Unconditionally” where Caroline tells her story.

June Wedding – 3:00 pm The flowers

“I will kill my cousin.”

Lisa Miller looked up from attaching silk streamers to church pews. Her friend and mother of the groom, Theresa Morrison looked frazzled and losing her last nerve. She held a cardboard box, her tears falling into the contents.

She rushed to Theresa’s side and glanced down at a box full of wilted flowers. The poor white roses looked like they had been cut a week ago.

“This is what I get. My cousin, Liza said she could do this. I trusted her. I thought I could save a few dollars.” Theresa dropped the box, fell to the pew, and put her face in her hands. Sobs racked her body. “Everyone is doing something, I just wanted to feel like I was helping. The ex and she-who-will-not-be-named were doing big stuff like the rehearsal dinner and some expensive surprise. I saw the designs for the reception and it is going to be gorgeous. I just wanted to do my part. I said I could decorate the church and look what happens.”

Lisa sat beside her friend and rubbed her back. “We’ll figure out something, Theresa.”

She placed the box between them on the pew. Pulling out the flowers, she arranged them all around. “Look, they aren’t all bad. Just the roses. You take out the roses and anything else you find wilted and I’ll go get the bouquets from the bridesmaids.”

Theresa sat and yanked dying flowers out of the arrangements. Yank! “I love my cousin,” muttered under her breath because she was in church.

Lisa made her way to the bride’s room. She tugged her dress down but it didn’t help. Didn’t you get this dress one size too big? Chastising herself didn’t help. The dress wasn’t getting any roomier over her hips. Tears blurred her vision. Her husband’s comment this morning about the dress hadn’t helped. Boy, Lisa, hope you don’t pop any buttons. His remarks always came with a laugh and a tickle, like that make it okay. But the comments were razor-sharp, designed to slice her self-confidence to shreds.

She knocked on the bride’s room door and went in. She wished she could tell the bride it wasn’t all white lace and roses. She sighed. On this day, it seemed that way. And she would make sure it stayed that way for the happy bride-to-be. At least for today.

Grabbing the bridesmaid’s flowers, she promised to have them back as soon as possible. She rushed back to her friend’s side and noted the other flowers didn’t look so bad without the wilted roses among the other greenery and foliage. “How many flower holders do we have to fill,” she asked.

Theresa moved to the aisle and counted. “Ten and the arrangements for the sides of the microphone for the minister. Wait!” She rushed to the altar and pointed out a fern on either side. “We can move these, add some of the silk streamers, and the filler from the arrangements Liza did.”

Lisa nodded and pulled out her phone. “Todd, we need four dozen white roses. If you can’t find white, bring pink or Sterling. No, they are not silver. They are purple, like we had for our wedding.” She pushed the off button on the phone and went to help her friend.

“Okay,” Lisa said as she joined Theresa at the front of the church. “Let’s take the white roses from the girls’ bouquets and add them and the streamers to the ferns up front.”

They arranged the ferns quickly, adding roses, and pale pink silk. Lisa and Theresa stepped back and high-fived each other. They used some of the filler flowers and greenery to the flower holders on the sides of the pews.

Todd Miller strode down the aisle, his arms full of Sterling roses and his tuxedo fitting just right. Lisa sighed. Sometimes her husband did everything perfect. He bowed before her, with that bright smile that lit up a room. “Will these do, my Lisa?”

She grabbed them with a smile, a kiss on his cheek, and kneeled down to add the purple roses to the bridesmaids’ bouquets and one each for the holders on the pews. “Sometimes simple is better, Theresa. It looks just like you planned it this way.”

Theresa smiled at her, gave her a hug, and rushed the redone bouquets back to the bride’s room.

Todd squatted down beside her to help. “Let me do that, you bend anymore and you’ll split a seam.” He gave her a laugh and a quick tickle. She turned away to hide the tear running down her cheek.

Why did no one tell you on your wedding day that there’d be days like this?

She sighed, “Because then, no one would get married in the first place.” She muttered under her breath and worked on a smile for her returning friend and for Samantha and Greg’s happy day.

“Thank you, Lisa.” Theresa hugged her. “You know how to fix everything.”

***************************************

Too bad Lisa can’t fix her marriage as easily. Find out how Todd and Lisa lose their marriage and get it back in Divorce, Interrupted now FREE at most retailers for the summer.

Jill James, author of contemporary and paranormal romance
coming soon, Love in the Time of Zombies

*Decaying Roses photo credited to Victor Habbick via freedigitalphotos.net
*Wedding Flowers credited to MS Word images.

June Wedding: 5:47 P.M. – The Bride’s Great Aunt

“Naomi, aren’t you dressed yet?” Bitsy asked.

She’d been waiting for twenty minutes and it was time to leave for the wedding if they were going to get a seat up close.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, just hold that old nag while I buckle this strap.” Naomi’s voice came from her bedroom where she disappeared to ‘get ready.’

She’s wearing strap on shoes?

Bitsy finished drinking her second cup of coffee, then went to the kitchen to place it in the sink. She turned on the tap to fill it with water and heard the clump, clump, clump of Naomi walking down the hall.

Turning, she gasped when she saw Naomi.

“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, what are you wearing?”

Naomi was decked out in her prom dress.

“Ain’t it grand!  And it still fits.” Naomi turned around so that Bitsy could stare in shock at the decades old dress.

It was faded from the hot candy apple red of yesteryear into a softer red. It did look lovely, but would the aged fabric last the evening?

“Naomi, you’ve got to be kidding.”

Naomi gave her the mischievous grin that Bitsy knew so well. “Oh, yes.”

Bitsy looked down at Naomi’s shoes and gave an inward groan. “Are you serious?”

Naomi held up her foot, showing three inch heels. “These babies make me taller.”

“Those babies will make you fall on your ass. You’d be lucky not to break a hip.”

“That’s why you’re my date. I can’t let my grandniece down on her wedding day. You can make sure I don’t fall.”

Bitsy closed her eyes and swore to herself. “They make you five foot three, what do you need the three extra inches for?”

“You don’t think I’m gonna wear my waitress shoes, do you?”

“They’d be safer.”

“Oh Bitsy. Just think how Joanna will turn green when she sees them.”

Bitsy thought for a second. “Well, yes. That would be worth it, but I’m telling you, if you fall, it’s on your own. I don’t intend to break my hip because of your foolishness.”

Naomi laughed. “We could be roomies at the hospital.”

It was Bitsy’s turn to laugh, “More like roomies at the nursing home while we try to learn how to walk again.”

They both laughed as they walked out the front door.

“You are a lot taller with those shoes on, I have to look up to you,” said Bitsy.

“I know. I might wear heels more often.”

~~~

Bitsy and Naomi are characters in The Devil Has Dimples.

June Wedding – 9:30 A.M. The Groom’s Ex-Girlfriend

You are cordially invited to the wedding of

Samantha Hunter

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hunter

and

Greg Williams

son of Theresa Morrison and Matthew Williams 

at the First Christian Church

On Saturday, June 29th at 6:30 P.M.

Reception will follow at the Bride’s Home

~~~

Tina ran her thumb over the printing. 

Cheap.

Computer generated invitations. Not embossed like they should be. She never would have allowed cheap crap for her wedding. 

Her wedding! What a joke. 

This was the second ex-boyfriend who found someone after they finished with her. 

A bitter taste formed in her mouth.

She was a better choice than Samantha would ever be. She could get Greg invited to important events to help his career. What did Samantha offer that she couldn’t?

Tina threw the invitation on her bed.

She was going, no matter what. Walking over to her closet she started moving the hangers, looking for a dress, The perfect dress. Her hand paused on the light pink cold shoulder sheath dress. Her hand lingered on the fabric, it was a delicious dress that looked fabulous on her, but the color would make the old biddies in attendance chatter on and on about ‘only the bride should wear white’ it was pink, but barely.

She pushed the dress aside with a vengeance.

She didn’t want ugly comments, she wanted attention. Several hangers away, the perfect dress awaited.  Tina yanked the hanger off the rod. Yes. It was perfect.

Red silk would cling to her body like a second glove. Everyone would be looking at her. That’s what she craved. Attention. She deserved it.

Wait until she walked into the church. Every head would turn in her direction. The thought made her smile.

It wasn’t pretty.

~ ~ ~

Tina was introduced in The Devil Has Dimples by Pepper Phillips.