by Dana Corbit
“I love you, Mrs. Sheridan,” he breathed against my ear.
“That’s a good thing, Mr. Sheridan, because I’m completely in love with you.”
It was only right that this portion of our story would end where it began: with a wedding. I was humbled to have received this wonderful gift from God, our own happily ever after. The road we’d traveled had been a unique one. It had begun with a basket of flowers and a ring bearer’s pillow, and it had taken many detours over the years; but the road and the God who directs all paths had finally led us here…to each other.
Sixty years and not counting.
Not counting at all.
Dear Reader,
As a reader and a writer, I have always had a love for fairy-tale endings. I want there to be an antidote for Romeo’s poison that Juliet discovers just in time. I want Tristan to find a way to choose both love and honor instead of only honor, leaving Isolde alone. My story, Flower Girl Bride, is a reflection of my love for fairy tales, but in this story, as in our lives, reality invades on the path to happily ever after.
Would the journey to love be as sweet if we didn’t face the trials handed to us by our past and our decisions? Does God allow us to undergo trials to teach us to savor those moments of pure joy? I believe He does, just as I believe that God has a plan for each of us and has a person He intends for us to discover along the way.
I love hearing from readers and may be contacted through my Web site at www.danacorbit.com or by regular mail at P.O. Box 2251, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-2251.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Like a lot of women, Cassie Blake is a huge fan of the old Hollywood version of romances. In what ways do movies depict honest elements of romance, and in what ways do movies incorporate fantasy? Give specific examples. What are some of the movies mentioned in Flower Girl Bride?
What is the irony in the fact that Cassie and Luke met in a happily-ever-after scene before they ever entered kindergarten?
Why do we as Christians easily accept that God could love us without our doing anything to deserve it and then struggle to prove ourselves worthy of love from the people in our lives?
Luke is convinced that his late wife thought of him as a failure. Why would that belief affect how he reacts to the discovery that his boss is participating in shady business practices? What is Luke’s dilemma?
Sam plays a crucial role in bringing Cassie and Luke together, but Luke finds himself jealous of his son. Does Cassie give him reason to believe she’s only seeing him to be close to his son? What is the attraction of a young widower? Is it a true pitfall for young widowers that they might date women who only want them for their children?
Princess is a major secondary character in the story. What are some of the duties Cassie is expected to complete for the cat while her aunt and uncle are in Paris?
How does the growing relationship between Cassie and the temperamental feline, Princess, reflect Cassie’s character growth?
Cassie has an underlying love-hate relationship with her late mother. What are some specific ways that relationship is depicted in the story? How does that relationship affect the type of woman Cassie has become? How can she overcome the limitations placed on her by her past?
Cassie and Luke’s romance is brought about by the matchmaking of Cassie’s aunt Eleanor and Luke’s mother, Yvonne. What are some of the setbacks the two of them face as they try to lead the two people they love to each other?
Many little girls include “playing bride” among their make-believe games, and by the time they reach adulthood, some women have specific ideas about the perfect gown, flowers or bridesmaid dresses they would like for their wedding day. What were your dreams about your wedding from your childhood? For those who are married, how did those dreams fit with the reality of your wedding day? For those still looking forward to that day, what details do you still hope to incorporate into your special day?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8593-8
FLOWER GIRL BRIDE
Copyright © 2007 by Dana Corbit Nussio
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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