Blurb:
Rachelle runs a little
wedding chapel on the Coderica Passenger Liner. Two years on the passenger
liner haven’t helped her find peace from past mistakes. Ray brings his
girlfriend on the Coderica’s grand cruise to Europe. When his plans to marry
her in the little chapel go horribly wrong and the relationship fails, Ray and
Rachelle are drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Romance blossoms in
Europe, culminating on Christmas Day. But the cruise ends and Rachelle isn’t
sure she’s ready to leave the Coderica with Ray. Will the memory of their white
Christmas kiss be strong enough to bring them together forever?
Author:
Kathy loves reading
and writing even more. She homeschools her three kids, so in between
unsuccessfully explaining the difference between subject and predicate or how
to divide fractions, she enters an imaginary world of troubled and passionate
characters whose stories take over the page. Kathy lives in Kwazulu Natal,
South Africa, where the summers are hot, the winters cool, and bugs thrive. Her
first published novel, Wedding Gown Girl, came out in 2012 with Astraea Press.
She belongs to the Romance Writers of South Africa Group (ROSA) which has been
her greatest support and inspiration the last few years.
Excerpt:
Chapter One
Christmas music
filtered through the little chapel on the Coderica Passenger Liner. Rachelle
ignored the loneliness evoked by the familiar songs. Memories of family
Christmases wafted through her mind despite willing herself to forget. Not like
she regretted her impulse to join the crew. She’d always wanted to visit Europe
and had now seen it many times. The continent steeped in centuries of history
still charmed her and wiped away the regret. Most of the time.
She’d begun her eighth
cruise and second year on the ship. Her second Christmas away from her family.
It was mostly during Christmas that she missed them.
The plush carpet of
the chapel shone in the sparkly chandelier lighting. Pink padded walls looked
garish yet romantic; gold trim embellished the benches, and silk flowers in an
elaborate vase decorated the altar. Everything looked perfect and untouched.
The cruise liner offered to facilitate weddings like a little Vegas chapel—the
perfect cherry on top to a romantic cruise.
“I paid your way to
get a top law degree, and you go on a ship to sign silly legal papers for
weddings? You of all people, a runaway bride!” That was what she’d expected her
father to say, but he hadn’t. Good thing her parents didn’t say much. Maybe
they sensed how ashamed she felt of running away from Blake. And ashamed of how
she’d treated Kienna, the wedding gown girl who’d told her not to marry her
fiancé. Of course, they didn’t know how mean she’d been to Kienna. Only she
knew. And Blake. And their friends.
Her cheeks turned hot
with the memories. How could she have been such a witch? Her wounded pride had
made her act vindictive and possessive, all for a man she didn’t even love.
Kienna had helped her, not harmed her, even though Blake and she had ended up
married six months later. She kept on telling that to herself, but really, how
could she see Kienna as a friend and not a foe? The woman had gone behind her
back and told Blake all her pre-wedding doubts. Yet, she’d done the right thing
in the end. For all parties involved.
But she could never
admit that to Kienna or even her family or friends. They didn’t need to know
how mixed up she’d actually been.
She picked some lint
off a chair and brushed the velvet with her hand so the texture would face one
way. Argh! She was so bored. What to do?
She’d volunteered her
services to the staff and guests all over the ship. Her office desk was full of
legal documents—wills, inheritances, and property sales. Everything got done
from her cramped little office on a ship. Who would have thought she could find
so much legal work on a cruise liner?
This time of year, her
work quietened down, though. No one wanted to think of life-changing decisions,
only of Christmas with their families.
The door creaked
oddly. She expected someone to walk in, but it merely swayed as if in a breeze.
Curious, she walked to the carved wooden door and opened it. A male guest
stepped back and gasped.
“Sorry,” he said.
“May I help you?”
He peered into the
little room.
“You have a chapel on
the ship? I was listening to the music, humming with the tunes. Are you a
pastor?” His voice rumbled deep and had a certain tone that reminded her of
something. What? The first note on her childhood xylophone?
Rachelle swallowed.
“Not exactly. Do you need one?”
“No, just curious.”
“Okay.”
“May I come in? I like
your music.”
“Of course. Thanks.”
She provided her usual pleasant smile for potential customers.
