The Wedding Gift by Judy Kentrus is a Celebrate Weddings Event pick #99cents #romance #giveaway
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    • Jun 6, 2023
    • 6 min read

The Wedding Gift by Judy Kentrus is a Celebrate Weddings Event pick #99cents #romance #giveaway



Title: The Wedding Gift


Author: Judy Kentrus


Genre: Contemporary Romance


Book Blurb:


The wonderful couple, Cindi Pearl Sullivan and Preston Reynolds, from “Winner Takes All,” are getting married, and you're cordially invited to the celebration. Their wedding has been meticulously planned, and they're both excited to finally become husband and wife. However, two weeks before their big day, Cindi receives an invitation to her high school reunion.

Although it brings back painful memories she's tried to forget, she decides to attend and show off her charming fiancé. While dancing to one of their favorite songs, the couple is totally unprepared when a man, who once claimed Cindi’s heart, taps Preston on the shoulder and claims, “You’re dancing with my girl.”


Thomas Leland has a clear objective in returning to Laurel Heights. The wayward moth he left behind has undergone a transformation into a majestic butterfly. His first task is to end her engagement, which is part of his scheme to get back at Preston Reynolds.


They’ll have help from three ninety-year-old ladies who call themselves The Lemon Sisters. It’s a fun sexy, “I never saw that coming” story.


Excerpt:


The December air attacked her cheeks the moment Cindi stepped outside the assisted living center, but there was a spring in her step when she walked across the parking lot toward Pansy, her orchid VW. Knowing she’d see Preston in a little while made her heart sing with happiness. In two weeks, she’d be Mrs. Preston Reynolds. At times, she pinched herself to make sure this wasn’t just a beautiful dream.


After they finished conferring with Suzie Q, their florist, they’d stop at the Spoonful Café for lunch. When her cell phone rang, she smiled at the familiar number. Her mother and father had been on a cruise and were to return home that morning.


“Hi, Mom, welcome home. How was your trip?”


“Fabulous! Dad picked up the mail that was being held at the post office, and there was a letter for you. I opened it to make sure it wasn’t anything important.”


“Who was it from?” Cindi pulled over to the curb because Pansy didn’t have Bluetooth compatibility.


“Stevensville High School is having a special holiday party. It’s not a reunion, just a get-together for everyone who graduated in the past twenty years. You were supposed to RSVP a week ago, but we were away, so you couldn’t get the announcement. And, of course, they didn’t have your new address.”


“When and where?” She really didn’t have time for this. Besides, it brought back too many bad memories.


“It’s tonight at the Roadhouse in Laurel Heights.


“Tonight! That’s insane! Who the heck plans a semi-reunion three weeks before Christmas?”


“It’s signed by Merrilee Howard and Florence Knightly.”


“Sounds exactly like something they’d do.”


She reflected on how much her life had changed in the past twelve months and lowered her eyes to the sparkling engagement ring on her finger. Her Prince Charming had made all her dreams come true.


“Mother, I don’t have time. Preston and I are meeting the florist to finalize the flower arrangements for the wedding, and then we‘re going to start going through our shower presents.”


“Daughter of mine, I’ve held back from giving you too much advice, but I need to speak my mind. It still irks me that a certain someone, who shall not be named, caused you to leave town in embarrassment.”


Cindi didn’t have to be reminded about the humiliation she’d suffered, as well as the pain of a broken heart. At eighteen, her world had come to an end, or she thought so at the time. She’d escaped to New York and gone to NYU. After graduating with a BS degree, she literally ran into Lincoln Adams with her hot latte. Through her wonderful boss, she’d met the man of her dreams. Her life had never been richer or fuller.


“Cindi, are you still there?”


“Yes, Mother. I was just thinking.”


“Look at it from Preston’s angle. If he finds out about the get-together and you don’t go, he might think you’re ashamed of him because of his leg.”


“Mother! How could you say something like that? He’s the most wonderful, courageous, handsome, kind, generous, loving man in the entire world!”


“Thought that would shake you up. You know how much we love him, and he’s made you so happy. Walk in, hold your head high, and be proud of all you’ve accomplished.”


“Mother, you could sell snowshoes to polar bears.” They could spare a couple of hours to walk down memory lane. This time, she’d have Preston with her to keep the bad memories at bay. “What time does this thing start?”


“Now you’re talking! Seven o’clock.”


“I’ve got nothing to wear.”


“Excuses, excuses. That’s why you’re going to stop at your favorite boutique in the train station depot across from the Adams Security building and get a new dress.”


As usual, her mother had all the answers. “Thank you, Mother. I don’t know how I’d survive without you.”


She pulled up in front of a restored Victorian home decorated like a Currier and Ives picture, right down to an ornamental sleigh on the front lawn overflowing with colorfully wrapped gifts.


Talk about sweet. One look at her personal eye candy and her body went into a sugar high. Preston leaned against his car with his arms folded across his chest. To ward off the chill, he wore a green and black plaid wool shirt over his white T-shirt. The slight breeze ruffled his dark brown hair, but it was the happy glow in his ocean-green eyes that made her heart play leapfrog in her chest. Just a look, a glance from him, made her bones melt, even in the bitter cold.


Preston checked the time on his watch before his eyes alighted on his love walking toward him. She hadn’t bothered to button her coat. Her red and white striped shirt reminded him of a candy cane, one he wouldn’t mind savoring. When would he ever get over this “I need to make love to her” feeling? Not in this lifetime, he determined.

“Right on time, Cindi Pearl. I see you’re still in one piece from your weekly stint with the senior citizens. How are the girls? Much arguing or complaining today?”


“The girls think you’re a hottie, and there wasn’t too much bickering. Did you know almost all of the members of the Match Game are deceased, and Dean Martin was a drunk?”


“I look forward to your weekly trivia and words of wisdom. I hate to bust their Dean Martin bubble, but I once read that the liquid in his glass was apple juice.”


“The joke will be on them.” Cindi wiggled her hips. “The girls gave me sexy lingerie, but you’ll have to wait until our wedding night.”


Preston lifted her chin with his finger and lowered his head to capture her entire mouth to fulfill his ever-present yearning for her. He’d never known such happiness and had a lifetime to look forward to loving his Cindi Pearl.


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):


This book is on special for 99 cents!






What makes your featured book a must-read?


Every couple wants their wedding day to go smoothly, but the planning process can be overwhelming. Cindy and Preston will have you rooting for them as they overcome obstacles, including an unexpected appearance from someone from Cindy's past. Be prepared to laugh at the hilarious antics of three ninety-year-olds who crash Cindy's personal bridal shower.


Giveaway –

Enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card:

Open Internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to win. Runs June 6 – June 12, 2023. Winner will be drawn on June 13, 2023.



Author Biography:


Judy Kentrus, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Later-in-Life

Historical Romance, Sweet Romance

I’ve always been a romantic at heart, and I married my high school sweetheart. I make my home in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. I’m a mom with two grown children who have given me six grandchildren.


We love to travel. Many of the places we’ve visited have inspired me to use them as a storyline. I never know what will give me inspiration, but my mind is always working.


When I’m not giving couples their happily-ever-after, you can find me in the kitchen, baking, especially cookies. I’ve been dubbed the cookie queen by my family and friends. You’ll find a new recipe every month on my website.


Want to find out more about my books and what’s coming? Be sure to sign up for my newsletter, via my website. My stories are fun romances that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love.


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