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    A July Bride
    A July Bride
    A July Bride
    Ebook125 pages1 hour

    A July Bride

    By Beth Wiseman

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    About this ebook

    A year’s worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.

    In a moment of total panic, Brendan left Alyssa at the altar. What will it take for him to win her back?

    When Brendan Meyers became a “runaway groom,” Alyssa Pennington’s heart broke. But she’s returned the unopened gifts, exchanged the dress, and is ready to get on with her life…and forget Brendan.   

    The problem is, Brendan can’t forget. He can’t forget the love he and Alyssa shared and can’t forgive himself for what he put her through on their wedding day. He can never undo his actions, but at least he can try to win Alyssa’s forgiveness. And maybe, someday, another shot at her love.

    Dalton Landreth was the only person not disappointed about that botched wedding. He had been eyeing Alyssa since high school—with his gorgeous, magnetic blue eyes—and when Brendan ran out the church doors, Dalton heard opportunity knocking.

    Within months of being jilted at the altar, Alyssa finds herself being simultaneously wooed by the love of her life and the best-looking man she’s ever seen. Not bad for a small-town girl with a broken heart.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateJun 24, 2014
    ISBN9780310339205
    Author

    Beth Wiseman

    Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, is a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBA, ECPA, Christianbook, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south-central Texas. Visit her online at BethWiseman.com; Facebook: @AuthorBethWiseman; Twitter: @BethWiseman; Instagram: @bethwisemanauthor

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    • 5/5
      A July Bride
      Beth Wiseman

      Book Summary: Can she forgive the man who left her at the altar? Alyssa Pennington dated Brendan Myers for three years before she accepted his proposal. For almost a year, Alyssa's friends and family helped her plan a lovely wedding to take place in the church she'd grown up in. It was the happiest day of her life when she walked down the aisle to be united with the man of her dreams. But when Brendan left her at the altar, Alyssa was consumed by humiliation, embarrassment, and a broken heart that wouldn't allow her to trust anyone. Especially Brendan. Brendan Myers knows he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he did to Alyssa, the only woman he's ever loved. Without her, his life is empty. In one fateful moment, he'd panicked, destroyed their future, and ruined everything. Now he plans to win her back. But winning back his bride might prove much more difficult than he can imagine. And even if he does get her to the altar again, will she think turnabout is fair play?


      Review: This is my favorite of the series so far. I really liked this book. I loved Alyssa, she was strong and yet wounded by Brendan. I thought it was well written and the story line was modern and realistic. Ethan was a great guy and yet his views of relationship were far different than mine. I loved Alex, Alyssa’s brother. He was protective without Alyssa knowing about it. Mr. & Mrs. Pennington were great. They wanted the best for their daughter sometimes without knowing what that should be. Alyssa’s best friend and her husband brought a believability to the story that was well written and made this novella packed with substances. It was a great sketch of life about the human condition as broken people in need of a savior.
      I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

    Book preview

    A July Bride - Beth Wiseman

    Acknowledgments

    I’m honored to be included among the fabulous authors who all contributed to this collection—A year of Weddings. Who doesn’t love a wedding? And this was such a fun story to write.

    As always, God gets the glory for each and every story He gifts me to share. But it would be hard to stay focused without my wonderful family and friends, so another huge thank-you to all of you. Especially to my husband, Patrick, who has to live with me when I’m up against deadlines. Love you, dear.

    Special thanks to my editor on this project, Ami McConnell, and the entire team at HarperCollins Christian Fiction. Ami, you push me to be a better writer, and I don’t ever want to stop growing in this wonderful, challenging profession. So keep doing what you’re doing. I can take it, lol. I think you’re awesome.

    And I have a fabulous agent—Natasha Kern—who continues to teach me about the industry (which seems to be changing daily). Natasha, you provide me with spiritual insight that inspires and educates me. You also wear so many other hats—lawyer, physician, financial advisor, estate planner, reviewer, consultant . . . and the list goes on. Best of all, you are a trusted friend.

    Janet Murphy, you continue to rock! Four years into this amazing journey, and you did what you said you would—made yourself irreplaceable to me. Love you much.

    It’s an honor to dedicate this book to one of the finest men I’ve ever known, my father. A romantic at heart who was married to my mother for fifty-four years. Rest in peace, Daddy. I miss you every single day.

    Prologue

    Alyssa Pennington grasped the crescent bouquet of orchids with both hands, careful to hold the flowers slightly below her waist the way the florist had suggested. Her father looped his arm in hers, and when he whispered, I love you, Daughter, she brushed away a happy tear. She was sure Dad had never looked more handsome in his black tuxedo, crisp white shirt, and the red rose boutonniere Alyssa had pinned to his lapel an hour ago. His dark hair, graying at the temples, was freshly cut, and the familiar aroma of his Old Spice aftershave calmed her jittery excitement. A little.

    Until recently, her father had been the number-one man in her life. But he’d happily stepped into second place when Brendan Myers proposed nine months ago. And now, on this July afternoon in La Grange, Texas, she would profess her love for Brendan in front of their families and friends.

    The scene was playing out as she’d imagined it for years, exactly as planned. All the attendants were in place, arrayed across the front of the church Alyssa had grown up in. Her friend Sherry stood beaming in the matron-of-honor dress they’d let out—twice—to accommodate her pregnancy. Little Raelyn and Joshua had performed their duties as flower girl and ring bearer perfectly. And there was Brendan in a white tuxedo with tails, his brown hair bronzed a tawny gold from his work at Lenny Wick’s ranch. Even at a distance, those deep brown eyes seemed to see inside her soul. Pastor Dean stood beside him, holding his Bible with both hands. Soon Alyssa Pennington would be Mrs. Brendan Myers.

    Mrs. St. Claire started the bridal march, and everyone stood. Dad tried to ease them forward, but Alyssa froze, unable to force one foot in front of the other. Unfazed, he reached down, gently pulled one of her hands free, and squeezed it. Three squeezes, and she released the breath she was holding. Still looking forward, she squeezed back three times. They had started doing that in church, this church, when she was a little girl. The tradition had stuck, and they both knew three squeezes meant I love you.

    It’s normal to be nervous, he whispered as he took her arm again and they stepped forward. He kept them at a slow, steady pace down the aisle, each pew decorated with white baby’s breath, greenery, and white bows. It was her moment. The moment every young woman dreams about.

    She passed Glenda Hightower on her left. Glenda got credit for Alyssa’s hair on this special day. She had managed to take Alyssa’s unruly dark curls and tame them into a beautiful updo beneath her veil. Alyssa smiled at her friend, then noticed Bob Shanks to her right. Bob had been her first boyfriend when she was in the seventh grade. Now he was happily married to Amy, and Raelyn and Joshua were their four-year-old twins. Alyssa glanced at the people she loved on each side of the aisle—around two hundred—but she couldn’t keep her eyes from drifting back to her soon-to-be husband. The most handsome and wonderful man on the planet.

    But as she drew close to him, something twisted in her heart, a heaviness she would remember for the rest of her life. Pastor Dean asked, Who gives this woman to this man? As planned, her father said, Her mother and I. But that part was a blur, like jumbled voices echoing in a tunnel of her brain that wasn’t tuned in.

    All she saw at that moment was the sweat pouring down both sides of Brendan’s face and the tears welling in his eyes as he whispered how sorry he was. For what?

    A long, brittle silence loomed between them like a heavy mist, and Alyssa couldn’t breathe.

    I can’t do this, he finally said.

    And he bolted out of the church.

    One

    Alyssa lifted her wedding dress onto the counter and handed the hanger to Loretta Klatt, swallowing back the lump in her throat.

    Hon, are you sure ’bout this? You love this dress. You’ve been eyeing it for years, and it fits you like a dream. Sure you don’t want to keep it, just in case? Loretta draped the dress over one arm and sighed as she glanced up at the wall. Hundreds of photos hung there, all brides that Loretta had dressed and sent down the aisle in the forty years she’d owned the shop. Alyssa had assumed her own bridal photo would be hanging there by now.

    No, thank you. She nodded to make it definite. It’s been two months. I’m not getting married. Not to Brendan anyway. Maybe never. She pulled her eyes from Loretta’s and hung her head for a few moments before she looked back up to see Loretta hanging Alyssa’s beautiful dress on a rack behind her. She blinked a few times, resolved that there would be no more tears. She took a deep breath and forced a smile. Thank you, Loretta. For taking the dress back.

    Loretta stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jeans, her plain white button-up shirt straining against a full bosom. For someone who made a living dressing people in wedding attire, Loretta was not exactly a walking advertisement for her business. Her long gray hair hung to her waist, and her short cropped bangs were cut high above gray eyebrows.

    I’m just so sorry about what happened. I’ve seen my share of couples, believe you me, and I really thought you and Brendan were the real thing. If ever a man was crazy about a girl . . . Loretta shook her head and frowned, bringing together a road map of wrinkles.

    Alyssa wasn’t sure how much more pity she could swim in. She was drowning in it. Forcing a smile—again—she said, Evidently not. She gave a quick wave before she walked out of the shop. As the bell on the door clinked against the glass, she was reminded how many times she’d been in and out of Loretta’s store for fittings, to choose bridesmaid dresses, or just to chat with Loretta about her wedding.

    Her wedding to Brendan Myers. The only man she’d ever loved. But now hated.

    9780310339205_conte_0012_002.jpg

    Brendan counted out the last of three hundred dollars to Rudy Schmutz.

    Rudy shook his head. I’ll take your money, but I can’t promise it’ll do any good. He stuffed the bills into one back pocket and pulled a can of chewing tobacco from the other. He put a pinch between his cheek and gum. She ain’t gonna get back with you, fella. You humiliated that girl in front of the whole town.

    I’m not giving up. Ever. Brendan looked up at the blue sky above, imagining the banner trailing behind Randy’s crop duster and the look of surprise and wonder on Alyssa’s face. "Now remember what I said. You gotta fly over Monument Hill at two o’clock next Saturday. That’s when they start the reenactment. Alyssa will be there for sure. Her dad makes sure the family

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