“In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,” writes Alfred, Lord Tennyson. But in my world, the quote should perhaps be, “In the spring a reader searches her TBR pile for bride stories.” Or maybe it’s only the romance authors who think about bride stories in the spring! But I like reading with the seasons. That means snowbound stories at Christmas-time, spooky tales in October, and spring brides in May.
For years, I turned to Harlequin’s Romance line for stories, or picking up anthologies with beautiful brides on the covers. As an author in the Blaze line for many years, I didn’t write brides since the focus in Blaze is on the red-hot meet and not a trip to the altar. Although I did get to do a spring bride collection once in the Harlequin Historical line. The novella “Highland Handfast” that I wrote for The Betrothal is still one of my favorites and a former RITA finalist.
But this year offered me a chance to go make up for the years of “always a bridesmaid never a bride.” I got to work on FOUR bride stories at once for release this spring. And oh, how fun it’s been.
Part of the fun has been in dreaming up ways for my spring brides to bail on their weddings. And while that might not sound romantic, it’s been a great springboard to their Real Romances. One heroine realized she was just nervous and truly loved her guy. Another found her would-be-groom in a compromising situation. Another discovered her man wasn’t at all the guy he’d claimed to be. But in each case, running from the wedding spurred a new romantic adventure with the right man.
Another part of the fun for my co-author Catherine Mann and I has been coming up with new means of escape from their walk down the aisle. The fourth book in the Runaway Brides series, Bride on the Run, reveals the getaway vehicle on the cover! But each bride took a different way out, needing to be one hundred percent sure before she said her vows.
We just had our cover reveal for Bride on the Run last week. Here’s the blurb:
Valerie Dimitri is on the run from her former fiancé who’d only wanted to marry her for her family’s questionable criminal ties. She also has the perfect cover with an assumed name and a thriving call-in advice show, “Sex Talk with Serena”, until one messy call blows up in her face. When she counselled “Anna J” to break up with her boyfriend, she had no idea that she was telling a local celebrity to dump the hometown hero ballplayer, Boone Sullivan.
Boone has discovered Valerie’s real identity and he’s determined to expose her secrets… and maybe more. What he didn’t expect was to be blindsided by a crazy attraction to the buttoned-up lady with the sultry voice and a hidden past. He had carefully plotted his revenge, but soon all he can think about is how much he’d like to take Valerie as his very own his stand-in bride…
What readers are saying about the Runaway Brides series:
“A small town setting with that warm, homey feel… this series has adorable characters and heartwarming stories,” — Sultry, Steamy Reading
“Full of Southern charm, Nashville country music scene, Southern Belles and rebels– a well-told, good old fashioned love story,” — Keeper Bookshelf
“A fun, action-packed read with a small town vibe.”- Hopeless Romantic Blog
I’d love to share some of the spring bride joy with you! You can download the first of our Runaway Brides for FREE with How to Lose a Groom in 10 Days. But I’ll also give away a copy of The Wedding Audition to one random poster who tells me their favorite bride story—a book or film. Mine’s The Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, and I hope my Runaway Brides capture a hint of the madcap fun of that memorable film!
There Goes the Bride can be purchased in eBook format for/from:
Mine has to be Gone With The Wind where all along she thought she was going to marry Rhett and then he says the famous line and that just shocks her .
Oh Peggy, that line just devastates me every time!! I always root so hard for Scarlett to make better choices .
My Best Friend’s Wedding and The Wedding Date tie – two of my favorite Red Heads, Debra Messing and Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, and then there’s Dermot Mulroney – in both movies!!
Those are two good ones! I only very recently discovered The Wedding Date… such a fun find!
This sounds really good thanks for the review ,
Penney
So glad you stopped by, Penney! Hope you have a nice holiday weekend!
Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and The Wed Planner with Jennifer Lopez.
I thought Runaway Bride was so well done. And the movie had so much to live up to after how fabulous Pretty Woman was. But Runaway Bride did just what a good romance should– not just detail a romantic relationship, but help characters grow. Julia Roberts’ character’s growth was so fun to watch. Love how she tried all the eggs ;-).
Hi Kathleen! Your comment was chosen as the winning comment. Please send your contact info to susan(at)writerspacemail(dot)com and I will in turn forward it to Joanne so that she can send your prize.
Congrats on the new series, I can’t wait to read them! My favorite bride story is from the movie Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan. They are best friends and when she gets engaged, he realizes that he loved her all along and sets about to prevent her wedding to the wrong man.
Hi Ada! Your icon is so cute… love the ninja! I can’t believe I haven’t seen Made of Honor even though I <3 Patrick Dempsey. Must see!!
Classics all the way- Pride and Prejudice, Emma.
Agree!!! And Sense and Sensibility… I just love the Ang Lee version with Kate Winslet.
13-Going-on-30: Matt and Jenna reconnect just before he’s set to marry someone else. Thankfully, time resets and the best friends end up together!
Such a good one! I got so teary when he gave her the dream house at the end…
One of my favorites is The Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts.
Hi Angela! I also liked the message in there about the dangers of changing to please someone else. I think lots of us do that– even subtly– and it’s important to keep an eye on your true self in a relationship. So glad you stopped by!