Dylan turns around to meet her and she picks up her pace to a skip. She slips her hand into his and, in that moment, love looks like the most natural, most easy emotion in the world. Just as it should when you’ve found your happy ever after.
Soon it’s time to kiss the bride and then the party begins! The seats are cleared, the band set up and the dance floor is readied for action. The drinks are flowing and Amy clinks glasses with me as we stand around waiting for the new bride and groom to take the floor for their first dance.
Jasmine has been extremely decisive about every aspect of her wedding, from whether she was veil or no veil (no veil), hair up or down (down), dress short and high-neck or long and backless (short and backless), to the various flavours of her wedding cupcakes (chocolate, vanilla, red velvet). I can see that vision fully realised now and it is a truly beautiful affair, which reflects both her and Dylan’s personalities perfectly. Even the little fondant groom atop the wedding cake has delicately painted tattoos up to his jawline. It is real and charming and original because it’s theirs, and for everyone here who loves them, that’s a real treat.
But there’s one thing that has remained a secret just for them. The song for their first dance. Mark has a fiver on the fact that it’s some kind of death metal anthem. Amy thinks it’ll be a high-energy choreographed hip-hop number – the kind that usually go viral. I haven’t a clue, but whatever it is, it will be as perfect for them as they are for each other.
Just then, we hear a loud bang and the lights cut. There’s some shuffling, some confusion until we realise it’s probably nothing but a blown fuse. We are in a field after all, more than likely powered by a generator the strength of a hairdryer. A tinny beeping noise comes from the amplifier by the plyboard stage, followed by a loud screech before the sound also cuts altogether.
Amy sucks in her breath and whispers in my ear, ‘With no electricity, we have no lights and no music. Do you think they’ll be able to fix it? Is there anything we can do?’
Before I can answer, Jasmine’s dad claps his hands above his head. ‘Appears we’ve lost power, folks, generator a little overwhelmed – chat amongst yourselves and we should be back for the couple’s first dance very shortly!’
I glance at Amy. ‘Poor Jasmine. She’s planned everything so perfectly and I know that this is the part she was most looking forward to.’
And that’s when we notice Mark begin to light the candles at the tables and dot tea lights around the dance floor. Soon everyone follows suit and the whole room is lit with a gentle, flickering golden hue. It looks beautiful and I feel tears prick at my eyes as I watch everyone come together, friends and family from both sides, the elderly sitting in their chairs, giving instructions to the children carefully carrying tea lights from one table to the next. Everyone working together to save this special occasion, to make sure that nothing gets in the way of making this one of the most memorable days in their lives.
A hush descends. I expect it to be Jasmine’s dad giving an update that the power should be resumed shortly. In a way, I kind of want it to stay like this; intimate and personal with a dreamlike quality due to the light and shadows of the candlelight. But he doesn’t say a thing. Instead, I hear a single, crystal-clear a cappella voice soar over the din.
Dylan steps onto the dance floor, holding out his hand to Jasmine. She smiles as she curls into his chest and they begin to sway. To my mother’s lone voice singing – no backing, no accompaniment, no clutter. Just her and the words to their first dance.
It is breath-taking.
I pass Amy a tissue to dab at her eyes, so overcome she is with emotion.
‘I can’t believe that’s your mother. It’s per— it’s so… per-fect,’ she manages in between hiccuppy sobs of joy and Prosecco.
Once mum hits the chorus, Jasmine waves everyone in to join them. Couples swing in from the sidelines until they are surrounded by a heart-shaped crowd, all swaying and twisting to the best first dance set I’ve ever heard.
And that’s the moment I feel a tap on my shoulder.
‘May I?’
I know that voice, but it can’t be. Not here, not now, not in Newbridge.
I turn around and he’s there. Christopher.
‘That last article…’ he says.
I nod, my face breaking with happiness.
‘Appears the one that got away couldn’t stay away, not after reading what you wrote. Did you really mean all that?’
I take his cheeks in my hands and I raise my lips to his and I’m staring right into his eyes, my fingers on his skin, in his hair. Everything else falls away and we are suspended, held somewhere quiet and timeless, like the moment between two breaths.
And then bang. His soft lips are on mine and I can taste him, I can smell him, can feel him lighting up every nerve in my entire body. We stop, to smile, to open our eyes, to drink each other in and then we kiss again. The next kiss is the kind that breaks open my chest. I feel my heart swell and soar at once. This kiss steals my breath and then bowls me over. This is the only kiss I’ll ever need. This is the only man I’ll ever want. This is it. ‘Yes. I meant everything. I’m ready. I’m ready for all of it.’
And, for once in my life, I don’t want to be anybody else but me. I feel this is what my story was meant to be all along. I want to go wherever life leads me, without fear. And this time, I know I’ll be strong enough.
‘Shall we?’ I ask him, offering my hand, and with smiling eyes, we swirl on to the dance floor.
Together.
If Lily’s decision to take her life and her happiness into her own hands made your heart sing, you’ll love Colleen Coleman’s Don’t Stop Me Now! When the life Poppy had planned for herself crumbles around her, she realises nothing is going to stop her getting what she wants! Order it now!
Don’t Stop Me Now
Get it here!
* * *
‘I don't think I have laughed, chuckled, and smiled so much at a book before… I adored it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
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Poppy Bloom planned to finish her PhD and walk straight into a job at her university. But here she is, unemployed, unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, and living back at her mum’s in her vampire-themed childhood bedroom.
* * *
Not exactly what she was hoping for.
* * *
But when Poppy sets her mind to something, nothing can stand in her way. She scores herself an internship at the hottest radio station in town, joins a netball team, and renews her friendship with her oldest friend Leanne. Spending time with Leanne’s gorgeous twin Tom is just a bonus…
* * *
But life has a way of tripping you up when you least expect it, and Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie… With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?
* * *
A laugh-out-loud story about friendship, second chances, and new love, perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Marian Keyes and Jane Costello.
* * *
Available now!
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Also by Colleen Coleman
Don’t Stop Me Now
One Way or Another
I’m Still Standing
A Letter from Colleen
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read For Once in My Life. If you did enjoy it, and want to keep up to date with all my latest releases, just sign up here. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
I hope you loved For Once in My Life and if you did I would be very grateful if you cou
ld write a review. I’d love to hear what you think, and it makes such a difference, helping new readers to discover one of my books for the first time.
I love hearing from my readers – you can get in touch on my Facebook page, through Twitter, Goodreads or my website.
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing about Lily and discovering her journey with her. The research I undertook for this book really did challenge me and take me to very muddy places that I never expected to go! A huge thank you to the Mud, Sweat and Wine Cyprus Legion Team: Nik, Jess, Rebekah, Bekki, Kerrie, Suzanne and Lindsay. You girls were amazing. Thanks for pushing me through – mainly from behind! Just like Lily, I found the camaraderie eclipsed the pain. Thank you for a real peak experience that I’m never likely to forget (or recover from).
There are times in life when we are committed to pursuing our passions. Every fibre in our body is focused on doing what we love. At other times, circumstance and necessity mean that we put our dreams aside and do what needs to be done! It is during these moments that we can easily forget what it is that makes our hearts sing. There are many other reasons why we may leave our passions behind. Someone in our lives may keep telling us that our passions are childish and unsuitable – until we finally believe them. But just because you’ve had to shelve it for a while doesn’t mean it no longer exists. Life is too short to stop doing what you love, and it is never too late to rediscover your favourite things. So if you gave up singing, painting, writing, running, or any other activity or interest that you once loved to do, now may be the time to take up that passion again. If you don’t remember what it is that you used to be passionate about, think about the activities or interests that you used to love or the dreams that you always wished you could pursue. I know this first-hand, as this is what led me back to writing. And now, four books in, I can hardly believe what joy this passion has brought me.
And it’s not only our passions that make life worthwhile, but companionship. An animal companion, like Chaplin, can often mean much more in terms of a special friendship beyond simply being a pet. I know this from my own cat and dog, Lola and Stella! A donation from the sales of For Once in My Life will be given to supporting animal refuge charities. So by simply buying this book, you have helped our furry friends receive a little relief, a little comfort, and a little nudge to say that their welfare matters to us, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Many thanks to all of you, who email me, message me, chat to me on Facebook or Twitter and tell me how much you enjoy reading my books. I’ve been genuinely blown away with such incredible kindness and support from you all.
Thank you to my wonderful friend Trisha Sherwood for proofreading every book so far. You are a complete angel and eagle-eye. I am so grateful for all you do. Thank you to Clair and Lyndsey and Kaisha, who support me endlessly and send me the most gorgeous messages and reviews and who are real-life inspirational superwomen. There are so many things I love about being an author. However, my favourite has got to be this immense connection with people all over the world, from so many different walks of life, and feeling that I truly have friends everywhere. Thank you to Nicola, Jamie and Mark for sharing their skydiving stories as I was too chicken and to Caroline for being the best friend a girl could ever wish for.
Team Bookouture, Abigail Fenton, Emily Ruston and Jade Craddock have made my dreams come true and encouraged me every step of the way. This book would just be a tangled mess of words without them. They truly know how to read in between the illegible lines and bring out the best in me and the characters. I am indebted. You are magicians.
And thank you to Julian, Elizabeth and Sadie. You make every day the best adventure of all.
Thanks, happy reading and until next time,
Colleen Coleman xxx
www.colleencolemanbooks.com
One Way or Another
‘Omg, just… wow. Fun, fabulous... Colleen Coleman’s books are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud and never stop.’ The Writing Garnet
* * *
Get it now!
* * *
Twenty-nine-year-old Katie Kelly is at an all-time low. The love of her life, gorgeous Ben Cole, took a job abroad and broke her heart, the restaurant she’d put her all into went bust, and now she works in a retirement home, cooking beige mush for the residents.
* * *
Not exactly the life Katie had dreamed of…
* * *
So when the opportunity comes up to work for one of the best chefs in the country – Katie’s idol – she is determined to get the job, no matter what. But then she discovers who she’s competing against: Ben, who Katie still isn’t over.
* * *
As the competition heats up, Katie and Ben spend more and more time together, and it’s clear the old spark is still there… But only one person can win their perfect job. Can Katie have it all, or will she have to choose between the man and the career she loves?
* * *
A hilarious, heart-warming story about romance, good food, and following your dreams, for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Marian Keyes and Cate Woods.
I’m Still Standing
An uplifting and funny romantic comedy
‘Relatable, genuinely funny and emotionally charged… Colleen Coleman is now firmly established as a favourite of mine.’ Bee Reader and Boys
* * *
Get it now!
* * *
When Evelyn Dooley married her high-school sweetheart, James, she thought she was set for life. Now she’s 28, single, and fleeing to Dublin from her small hometown to avoid the gossip surrounding their break-up.
This was not in her five-year plan.
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Then a chance encounter with gorgeous musician Danny leads to an unlikely friendship, and soon the pair are running music nights together. Surrounded by new friends and a welcoming community, Evelyn is building a life that she really loves – and sparks are beginning to fly between her and Danny…
* * *
But when her savings run out and home beckons, Evelyn has to choose. The safe, comfortable life she left behind, or a new adventure with Danny? Will Evelyn flee back to the familiarity of her ex, or reach for the stars and take a leap into the unknown?
A laugh-out-loud, feel-good story of friendship, second chances, and romance, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Lindsey Kelk and Marian Keyes.
Published by Bookouture in 2018
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An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
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www.bookouture.com
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Copyright © Colleen Coleman, 2018
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Colleen Coleman has asserted her right to be identified
as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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eBook ISBN: 978-1-78681-494-4
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or
dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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For Once In My Life: An absolutely perfect laugh-out-loud romantic comedy Page 25