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THE BRIDE blurb and a sneak peek scene!

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The wait for The Bride is almost over!  The manuscript has just another minor hoop to jump through. I know a lot of you are waiting to get this book, and I love your enthusiasm and your patience!

I’m finally able to share with you the blurb or back cover copy for The Bride, and a sneak peek after the jump!

The Bride cover draft 2

After a tumultuous year, Sophie Scaife’s relationship with her boyfriend and Dom, billionaire media mogul Neil Elwood, is hotter and happier than ever. His sizzling Dominant side pushes Sophie to new and challenging heights of submission and erotic exploration as she follows her Sir’s every whim. But with his daughter’s impending wedding and a milestone birthday turning Neil’s thoughts toward settling down, Sophie faces a much different future than she’d planned.

 Caught in a conflict between her new wealth and her desire for independence, Sophie fears she’s becoming just another Fifth Avenue trophy wife. With her fashion journalism career over and her new effort as a writer uninspiring, Sophie has to work harder than ever to prove her intentions to Neil’s family and friends.

 Sophie isn’t the only one struggling to adapt to her new lifestyle. When private jets and designer labels threaten her bond with Holli, Sophie finds herself walking a fine line between the world she now inhabits and the past—and people—she fears she’s left behind. After a shocking revelation divides her loyalties, Sophie is in danger of losing her best friend or fracturing the trust of the man she loves.

Read on after the jump for a sneak peek of The Bride.

As anyone who knew her would have expected, Emma’s vows were much more practical. There was a framework of “in sickness and health” behind them, but with touches that were pure Emma.

“I can’t swear to you that I’ll never roll my eyes at you when you wear socks to bed, or that I’ll tolerate your morning cheerfulness in good humor every day of our life together,” she promised through tears. “But I will always love you, and I will always put our happiness as a family first.”

She broke down then, and my heart ached for her, because I knew, as Neil did, and as Michael did, that Emma feared they would never have the family they wanted. To anyone else, they were happy tears from an overjoyed bride, and there was no reason anyone should have thought otherwise.

Michael reached up to brush a tear from her cheek with his thumb, and the gesture was so natural and loving that my heart skipped a beat. If ever there were a truly great romance, Emma and Michael had to be it.

Instead of exchanging rings, they had chosen to light a unity candle together, to symbolize the joining of their lives into one. I’d never been to a wedding where the bride and groom, rather than their parents, lit the candle, and it was a meaningful twist.

When the officiant declared, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” I looked up at Neil. A tear track gleamed on his cheek, and more glittered unshed in his eyes. There was pride there, and sorrow. Because it was final. It was as though in those words, he saw Emma as a grown woman who didn’t need him in the same way she had when she’d been a little girl. I thought of the pictures in our house, of Emma as a baby in her father’s arms, moments after she was born, and as a five year old with impossibly white blonde pigtails on the first day of school. And as I watched him, watching his daughter kiss her new husband at the start of their life together, I saw him reluctantly laying those versions of Emma to rest. So, it was a touch patriarchal of him to recognize her as a grown-up only when she’d become a wife, but the twenty-five years between us was a long time, and I had to be somewhat forgiving of our views not lining exactly up.

As Emma and Michael half-ran their giddy way up the aisle to the strains of the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows,” a rain of pale paper butterflies drifted from the ceiling.

I nudged Neil with my arm. “You okay?”

His smile was a little too quick in response to be entirely genuine. “Oh, yes. It was a lovely ceremony.”

That was the staunch Englishman side of him, one that I didn’t see very often anymore. “It’s okay to show emotion, you know,” I teased. “Your daughter just got married.”

“If I start showing emotion, it will all come flooding out and you’ll have to carry me to the reception.”

Before dinner was a cocktail hour in the Roosevelt rotunda while Emma and Michael posed for photos, and I’d assumed I would be going there, since I wouldn’t be needed. Everyone who would be involved lingered behind the other guests, and when everyone else had gone, Emma and Michael emerged from their secret hiding room. Being waylaid by well wishers would have eaten up precious time for photos, and leave reception guests waiting, she’d explained at the rehearsal.

As soon as they saw Emma, Neil and Valerie rushed over to her for hugs and a chorus of parental pride. I gave them space, only approaching Emma for a hug when she noticed me. Careful not to step on her dress, I gave her a gentle squeeze, so as not to crinkle her chiffon. “You look amazing!”

“Thank you.” She smoothed her hair, cautious of the pearls, and self-consciously straightened her neckline. “That means a lot, coming from someone who knows so much about fashion.”

Awww. Emma rarely praised people, which meant that when she did, it was genuine. Also, that she was able to lower her guard around them.

“Okay, can I get the bride and her parents?” the photographer called, and the three of them moved so quickly it was comical.

Emma called, “Oh, my bouquet, Amanda, my bouquet!” to her maid of honor, as though she were a surgeon calling for a crucial instrument in a tense operation. Amanda, in the floaty white a-line shift dress uniform of the bridal attendants— the glittery Swarovski crystal and gold thread embroidered collars were to die for— scooted across the floor on the balls of her feet in her stiletto heels, like a person carrying a bomb. Both Neil and Valerie reached for the bundle of baby pink roses at the same time, and the whole thing was frantic and amusing.

I turned, shaking my head and trying to cover my giggles as I headed toward the door. Neil and Valerie were good parents, but wow, did they spoil their daughter.

“Sophie?” Emma called.

I half turned and pointed to the door. “Cocktail hour! Open bar. Munchies.”

She did a little half-frown, half-smile of confusion. “Yes, and… pictures. You can’t take off.”

Valerie’s eyebrows went up, and she forced a painful looking smile. For his part, Neil looked pleasantly stunned.

“I didn’t think… I mean…” I didn’t know what to say. She wanted me in her pictures? Her wedding pictures? Just a year ago, she’d hated me.

She rolled her eyes . “Let me get this one with them, then one with all of you.”

The photographer snapped a few shots of them, proud, doting parents and gorgeous, happy bride. Then as Emma gestured from her elbow to speed me along, I stepped up onto the dais and stood beside Neil.

With my family.

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Here for the first time because someone recommended my Fifty Shades of Grey recaps? Welcome! Consider checking out my own take on the Billionaire BDSM genre, The Boss. Find it on AmazonB&NSmashwords, iBooks, and Radish!

31 Comments

  1. kim
    kim

    So excited for this:)

    March 17, 2014
    |Reply
    • Annette
      Annette

      I second that excitement!!!

      March 17, 2014
      |Reply
      • JennyTrout
        JennyTrout

        THIRD! I can’t wait for you all to see it!

        March 18, 2014
        |Reply
  2. Oh man, I just had a thought of where this might be going re: babies and I am so excited to see if I’m right.

    If only this had been released for me to read while I was on my honeymoon last week 😉

    March 17, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      While I’m flattered that you’d read it on your honeymoon, I can’t imagine that your spouse would be thrilled to be ignored for a book, LOL.

      March 18, 2014
      |Reply
  3. Some Hussy
    Some Hussy

    I’m sooo excited for this! I’ll devour it in a day.

    On absolutely unrelated news (I feel this is safe space to share) I think I’ve finally managed to convince my parents not to celebrate my birthday like they usually do because my mental illness turns it into a day of feeling under siege by all the attention. It’s been the worst day of the year for me for a very long time and I feel relief that they’re finally understanding and willing to work on a compromise.

    March 17, 2014
    |Reply
    • Heather
      Heather

      As someone dealing with residual social anxiety, I can relate. Very happy to hear that your parents are listening to you and that you may actually have the birthday that YOU want. Congratulations! 🙂

      March 17, 2014
      |Reply
      • Some Hussy
        Some Hussy

        Thank you for your kind words. I’ll be labeling this as a work in progress. My mom kind of took this admission and sprinted down the road of “my child is on the verge of a breakdown” which isn’t anywhere near the truth. This is pretty much the only external thing that shows how mentally ill I am. Otherwise I’ve totally got this. I guess from the perspective of somebody who doesn’t have any mental illness what I think of a victory looks like a step down on the stair to madness.

        March 17, 2014
        |Reply
        • Jemmy
          Jemmy

          My husband has clinical depression and his birthday is a trigger. I’ve always respected that and for about 10 years couldn’t even remember the exact date. His mum always called him, because she loves him and so that means saying happy birthday for some reason. He never let me tell his mum she was triggering self harm episodes, and it is very hard to see what it does to him and not say something to stop her.
          I hope your family becomes more accepting and understanding over time.

          March 17, 2014
          |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      That is awesome. Letting go of mandatory celebrations is one of the things I’m working on, too. I’m glad you’re getting support from your family! 😀

      March 17, 2014
      |Reply
  4. Tori
    Tori

    This made my whole day. I’m so excited!

    March 17, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      I’m glad it brightened your day up!

      March 18, 2014
      |Reply
  5. Rachel
    Rachel

    Can not wait! 🙂

    March 17, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      I’m so excited for you guys to read it!

      March 18, 2014
      |Reply
  6. Jessica
    Jessica

    YAYY!!!!!

    March 17, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      YAYY!!!!! back! 😀

      March 18, 2014
      |Reply
  7. Jennifer
    Jennifer

    Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!! (said in orgasmic-frenzy) I can NOT wait to read the rest of this!! I wish you had a release date so I could start a countdown or something!! I seriously need some adult book-age. I’ve been reading too many tween/teen books with my daughter!
    On an editing note (because I’m compulsive and can’t stop myself) “Before dinner was a cocktail hour in the Roosevelt rotunda while Emma and Michael posed for photos, and I’d assumed I would be going there, since I wouldn’t be needed.” << this confused me. I get that she's going to the cocktail hour because she's not needed for pictures, but it took me 7-8 tries before I got there. I kept reading it as "I assumed I wouldN'T be going there (to the pictures)". Sorry, I'm a bitch and an editor and can't help it :-P. Love you, Jenny!!

    March 17, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      Rock on, it’s only the second draft of the scene. The copy edits are coming up. 😉

      March 17, 2014
      |Reply
  8. Flo
    Flo

    Thank you for the blurb! Hopefully this will hold me over until it’s finished 🙂

    March 18, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      It’s coming really soon! It just needs a final proof!

      March 18, 2014
      |Reply
  9. Cat R.
    Cat R.

    Thnx & yay!

    March 18, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      You’re welcome and yay! back!

      March 18, 2014
      |Reply
  10. AmyR
    AmyR

    Can’t wait for this to come out! I loved the Boss and the Girlfriend so much! But may I give two pieces of unsolicited criticism? First, the unity candle (at least the center pillar) is traditionally lit by the couple and not their parents (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_candle). I would be surprised if Sophie was used to seeing it done another way. And secondly, as a strict vegan it’s unlikely Emma would be wearing pearls.

    March 18, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      I’ve seen the unity candle lit by the mothers of the couple, but it could be a regional thing. Also, thanks for the tip on the pearls; I assumed that seed pearls were always fake!

      March 18, 2014
      |Reply
      • AmyR
        AmyR

        Ah, true, I missed that they were seed pearls. Most likely fake then!

        March 18, 2014
        |Reply
        • JennyTrout
          JennyTrout

          No, I looked it up to make sure, and they’re not always! I’ll have to add that line in the proof.

          I learned something today.

          March 18, 2014
          |Reply
    • alicia
      alicia

      I’m just going to second this observation about unity candles. In the good ol’ south, it’s always lit by the couple. I’ve actually never heard of it being lit by the parents, but i was chalking it up to cultural differences.

      March 19, 2014
      |Reply
  11. AndiNZ
    AndiNZ

    Well. Seeing this in my inbox this week made me suddenly realise that although I sprinted through The Boss, and had purchased The Girlfriend… I hadn’t actually read it yet!

    I’ve been having a phase where I’ve read very little, actually, at least I hope it is a phase. It’s been going on for a year or so now, though. 🙁

    So yesterday evening, I found where I had downloaded my copy of the book, loaded it onto my iThings, and started reading. I’ve just this moment put it down – read it in a single day! – and Jenny, it was fantastic!

    The sex was hot, and the character development was well handled, and I seriously hope your descriptions of Neil’s cancer treatment and symptoms is not based on first hand experience but rather extraordinarily good research, because you made it seem very real, and more than a bit scary.

    Thank you, and I can’t wait for The Bride either! 🙂 At least I have Such Sweet Sorrow just arrived to tide me over until then (or a day or two at least…)

    March 19, 2014
    |Reply
    • JennyTrout
      JennyTrout

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And it ends up that you haven’t been waiting as long as everyone else, so there’s a bonus! 😀

      March 20, 2014
      |Reply
  12. AD
    AD

    SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

    March 19, 2014
    |Reply
  13. Tayci
    Tayci

    I have the first two on my kindle. I can’t wait to start reading them.

    March 21, 2014
    |Reply

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