Talk Of The Town
Leaving her cheating fiancé at the altar made Gracie Wilson famous in tiny Bygones, Kansas. Now the only things she can count on are her job at the Fixer-Upper Hardware store and the storeâs handsome owner. Though Bygonesâs runaway bride has boosted Patrick Fogertyâs business more than any sale could, his feelings for Gracie are more than professional. But with Gracieâs heart in pieces, heâs afraid to hurt her. Gracie must somehow find the courage to run toward the man of her dreams.
The Heart of Main Street: Theyâre rebuilding the town one stepâand heartâat a time.
âYou okay over there?â Patrickâs strong, husky voice slipped through the cab of the truck.
âIâm tired but Iâll be okay.â But as Patrick pulled up to her house, her stomach tensed. Half a dozen cars were parked in the drivewayâso much for sneaking home and talking to her dad first.
âLooks like company,â Patrick said, trying to sound cheery.
Gracie wished she could smile. âLooks like a lynching to me.â
She reached for the truck door, but hesitated. One last minute to catch her breathâ¦or maybe one last chance to keep running.
âIâm with you, Gracie.â Patrickâs voice immediately stilled the knots in her stomach. It was odd, knowing that this manâher boss, practically a strangerâwould be at her side, made Gracie feel more secure than sheâd ever felt with her ex-fiancé.
Then, Patrick stepped out of the truck, and Gracie guessed she had to go, too. Time to stop running.
The Heart of Main Street: Theyâre rebuilding
the town one stepâand heartâat a time.
Love in Bloom by Arlene James,
July 2013
The Bachelor Baker by Carolyne Aarsen,
August 2013
The Bossâs Bride by Brenda Minton,
September 2013
Storybook Romance by Lissa Manley,
October 2013
Tail of Two Hearts by Charlotte Carter,
November 2013
Cozy Christmas by Valerie Hansen,
December 2013
BRENDA MINTON
started creating stories to entertain herself during hour-long rides on the school bus. In high school she wrote romance novels to entertain her friends. The dream grew and so did her aspirations to become an author. She started with notebooks, handwritten manuscripts and characters that refused to go away until their stories were told. Eventually she put away the pen and paper and got down to business with the computer. The journey took a few years, with some encouragement and rejection along the wayâas well as a lot of stubbornness on her part. In 2006 her dream to write for Love Inspired Books came true. Brenda lives in the rural Ozarks with her husband, three kids and an abundance of cats and dogs. She enjoys a chaotic life that she wouldnât trade for anythingâexcept, on occasion, a beach house in Texas. You can stop by and visit at her website, www.brendaminton.net.
Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall
give thee the desires of thine heart.
âPsalms 37:4
In memory of my sweet friend Alice.
Friendships can be found in the most amazing ways at the most amazing times. I encourage you all
to take time for older citizens confined to long-term care facilities. Youâll be blessed.
Prologue
Gracie Wilson stood in the center of a Sunday school classroom at the Bygones Community Church. Her friend Janie Lawson adjusted her veil and again wiped at tears.
âYou look beautiful.â
âDo I?â Gracie glanced in the full-length mirror that hung on the door of the supply cabinet and suppressed a shudder. The dress was hideous and she hadnât picked it.
âOf course you do. You look like a fairy princess.â
Gracie groaned. âIs this another height joke?â
Janie hugged her tight for one second. âNot at all. You look beautiful. And you look miserable. Itâs your wedding day. You should be smiling.â
Gracie smiled, but she knew it was a poor attempt at best. The frown on Janieâs face confirmed it. She exhaled and looked again at her reflection in the mirror. Janie was right; a bride shouldnât look sad.
âGracie, whatâs wrong?â Janie walked up behind her and peeked over her shoulder so that their reflections stared back at them.
âNothing. Iâm good.â She leaned her cheek against Janieâs hand on her shoulder. âOther than the fact that youâve moved one hundred miles away and I never get to see you.â
What else could she say? Everyone in Bygones, Kansas, and probably for miles around, thought sheâd landed the catch of the century. Trent Morgan was handsome, charming and came from money. She should be thrilled to be marrying him. Six months ago she had been thrilled. Five months ago sheâd still been happy.
But then sheâd started to notice little signs. She should have put the wedding on hold the moment she noticed those signs. She should have slowed down and not worried so much about what everyone else would think. And when she knew for certain, she should have put a stop to the entire thing. But she hadnât. Because once the wedding wheels had been put in motion, she hadnât known how to stop it all from happening.