Like Weddings? I do! And so do Allie Standifer & Desiree Holt

Got a great wedding story? Funny? Sad? Happy? Wonderful?

Last fourth of July, Allie Standifer, Desiree Holt and I partied. Dined. Drank. And talked about the most favorite things we loved.

WEDDINGS turned out to be one of them.

So full of hope.

But a damn drag for those who go partnerless--or hoping to soon be partnered, or wishing they could find a great partner!

So, 'pardner', these 3 Texas gals have a series for you, WEDDING BELLES.

A quartet of books, the first of which is Allie's debuting Jan 12, then mine 2 days later, and Desiree's Jan. 19. the 4th book, SOMETHING BLUE byall 3 of us, is soon to pop in the schedule at EC.

We've got one of the bridesmaids who wishes to god she wasn't. A Mother of the Bride who longs for a younger man and donchaknow, he's The Best Man. Then the Bride. She shouldn't have any challenges, should she? Oh. MY. She. Does. She longs for one last night of...

Well, you must come and see!

Here's nibble of Allie's SOMETHING OLD.

Adair knows he screwed up when he left Brina and fell under the weight of family pressure. None of the women acceptable to his parent’s and other relatives have moved his heart or body. Seeing Brina again simplifies everything in his life. He wants this woman he tossed so carelessly away. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to win her back in his life and bed.

During an impromptu to meeting in the hotel bar, Brina has a few drinks to deaden her nerves and need. It works until Adair walks in, looking as sexy and desirable as ever. He bullies and dares her into a private suite then seduces her right out of her objections, clothes and into his bed.
And an excerpt: (copyright 2011, Allie Standifer, all rights reserved.)

Midnight dark eyes look down at her and a shiver of suppressed desire ran across her arms. “Brina, I’m taking you someplace where we can talk. I know you don’t owe me the courtesy, but I’m asking you for it none the less.”

His low tone and words stopped her struggling like nothing else could have. The Adair she’d known would have demanded, cajoled or bullied his way into getting what he wanted. Hearing the actual words come of his sinfully delicious mouth filled her with enough curiosity to follow his lead.

“Thank you,” he said then removed his arm from around her waist to press the elevator button. At once she felt the loss of his touch. It had always been this way between them, instant and electric chemistry with even the simplest of glances or touches. Her body aroused from the mere sight of him. Aching to be taken in the way only Adair could.

As they stepped into the empty elevator Brina moved away from him as far as the small space would let her while her mind ran wild. Hadn’t she just complained about wanting a man, at least for the wedding? Raine had told her to grab life with both hands before she found herself old and alone. Even Zoe, her sweet little sorority sister, had encouraged Brina to live a little this weekend.

Sneaking a side long look at Adair’s tall lean frame with his thick jet black hair curling over the top of his white dress shirt, his tanned skin standing out against the pale material she knew she wanted him. The physical aspect of their relationship had always been great, better than great. What would it be like to have all the muscled power directed at her again after all these years?

But she couldn’t…wouldn’t go there again. Having him walk out of her life the last time nearly destroyed her. She’d given this man her heart, soul and trust and he’d left without a backward glance.

But we want him, her aroused hormones whined. If it had been any man other than the one standing stiffly next to her she might have entertained the thought of having a weekend fling, but he was who he was and no amount of wishing would change the very nature of his personality.

Besides, the weak horny part of her nature cajoled, if you fuck him and leave him maybe you’ll finally be able to get on with your life.

That voice, she mentally decided, definitely had a point. Maybe it was time to turn the tables on Mr. Lord of all he surveys Al’Hassan. She could screw his brains out, leaving him panting and weak in bed while she walked away this time.

Oh yeah, it was time to see if Adair could take what he so easily dished out."

What is your favorite wedding story?

Two Disatrous June Wedding Stories

Lots of little girls grow into women who want to be  June Brides. Maybe because it's the season of flowers, sunshine, love. Maybe it's because school is over and engaged couples are ready to take that plunge. Maybe it's because designers/wedding paraphernalia companies bombard us with weddings/gowns/bridal propaganda to make the month of June appear to be "THE" month to wed.

Here are two June weddings I've been to. Maybe these couples shouldn't have been swayed by "Wedding Bells" advertisements to marry in June and have waited...or not married at all?

Wedding # 1: I had to travel to FL for this one. A cousin was marrying for the third time. So was his bride-to-be. The wedding would include family and friends...most from his motorcycle group. The bride was cutting corners since the budget must have been close to nothing. She made her own dress...and calling this frock a dress is being polite!

The black and white wedding outfit consisted of a dress (?) that was 1. strapless, 2. low on her breasts so her tattoos showed, 3. had a cut-out in front in an inverted "V" shape from legs to very close to her crotch. She spent the entire day pulling her dress up on top and tugging it down by her crotch. She wore a black belt and black boots.

The cake was black and white. The flower girls and bridesmaids wore black. The flowers were black. The "ceremony"/reception was held in a beer hall.

About five years later, we found out that the wedding had been a sham. The bride's divorce hadn't finalized, so rather than call off the wedding, a friend had posed as the preacher who "married" them. Their friends knew what was going on, but none of the relatives, including the groom's mother and sisters, knew anything about it.

Wedding #2. The bride and groom had lived together for years before taking the plunge. The bride was someone in my family and my first impression of the groom was NOT favorable. Although no one said anything, we all spoke about this later and NO ONE liked him. Arrogant, snobbish, this oaf made fun of the bride's weight and since he was starting a job as an English teacher, decided to correct everyone's grammar...at the rehearsal dinner.

From the bride's side of the family, it was a combination of a BIG Italian wedding and a BIG Jewish wedding...so there was an abundance of everything to the point of overkill. Tons of food and drink.

The groom's mother and new husband called the day before and said they missed their flights...when in reality they hadn't gotten tickets because they couldn't afford them. The groom's father and new wife came, but didn't have money to pay for a hotel.

The bride's family paid to fly the mother and husband to the wedding, and had everyone sleep at the bride's father's home. Something like 10 people to include the groom's family slept in a three-bedroom, one bath home...because they had no money.

We enjoyed seeing all our family again so had a great time. We flew in our 3 daughters and two of their fiances. My husband and I made the three-day trip by car so we could sight-see.

One month after the wedding, the groom admitted to cheating on the bride, said he never loved her, had found his "true love", and wanted out. Not only that, but the bride was now pregnant. The photographer hadn't even gotten the wedding pictures developed yet, and the marriage was over. 

I'm sure there's a romance story there...maybe a wedding planner who handles these weddings and ends up falling in love with the caterer!
 
Anyone have a June bride story? Hopefully a pleasant one? 


Photos: Flickr: Chealion, Pirate Scott, b8b8ng, Roberto Rizzato-pix-jockey-Facebook-resident's photostreams.
http://www.mariannestephens.net
http://www.aprilash.net
http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com
http://groups/yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus

Brethren of the Coast

Katalina Leon:

I’m a pirate and I’m proud of it!

Not a sleazy thief of intellectual property pirate. I don’t care for those folks at all. I’m a sleazy Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum pirate… At least I like to dress up as one and go to pirate festivals and fairs. Pirates are a big part of my life. My husband loves pirate lore and clearly remembers being drawn to tall ships as a toddler and knowing it was part of his distant past. He started drawing beautifully detailed Spanish galleons before he knew his alphabet. For many reasons, I’m convinced he was a mapmaker and a seaman in another time and place.

Many years ago on a whim I had a friend make him a beautiful blue-gray sea captain’s coat with dozens of brass buttons. When he first slipped the coat on a deep transformation took place. Some long buried part of him said these are my clothes. A Captain’s personality came forward. I didn’t want to miss out on the fun so I invested in some 18th century clothing as well. I found them to be much more comfortable and far more flattering than my regular clothes. Something changed for me as well.

Last autumn we renewed our wedding vows at a pirate fair. A fellow pirate chief preformed our ceremony. My cousin and her husband renewed their vows with us. We hand fasted with a piece of ship’s rope to bind our wrists. We included our son in our vows. Actually he included himself when he saw us hand fasting he ran over and put his little hand on top of ours. Beautiful symbolism of how much a child takes over a marriage! The pirate chief tied the three of us together. We sealed our vows by jumping over my husband’s sword while bagpipes played. It was a dream wedding for us and very personal. I got a dragon dagger as a wedding gift. A girl can’t do better than that!

This autumn I have something different planned which I hope to turn into a book. I shall only hint to ye moderne ladies of bright wit and good breeding it shall be Confabulous!

Do you literally have something in your “past” that you love that may need to come out in the open? Have you ever had the feeling you’ve lived before?

XXOO Kat