Kinsley shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. When she tried a second time, she croaked, “My aunt died.”
Melody sat down next to her. “Your Aunt Cora with the animal sanctuary?”
She nodded.
“I’m so sorry, honey.”
“I have to go upstate tomorrow to meet with her attorney, and I’ve got so much to do before I leave.”
Melody looked square in her eyes. “Just take care of yourself for once. The business will survive while you’re gone.”
Kinsley balled up the tissue and threw it in the trash. “You know that’s exactly what my aunt would’ve said.”
“She was a very wise woman.”
She shot her friend a small smile. “She left Forever Wild to me.”
Melody’s eyes grew wide. “She did? But you don’t know a thing about animals.”
“Exactly, so not only do I have to deal with her death, but I also have to decide what to do with my inheritance.”
Her friend’s brows shot up. “Won’t you just sell it?”
“That’s obviously the most sensible thing to do. However, my head’s pounding and I can barely think. Please explain to the others why I went home.”
“Of course. But don’t you want to take some food with you?”
“Just the thought of eating makes me nauseous. If I get hungry later, I’ll make some soup.” Kinsley reached into her purse for her wallet and then gave Melody more than enough cash to cover dinner and drinks for the women.
“That’s not necessary,” her friend remarked, trying to give the money back, but Kinsley refused to take it.
“I said it was on me and I meant it. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration, so I want you all to celebrate for me.”
“I love you.” Melody kissed her cheek.
“I love you too. We’ll talk soon.”
“If there’s anything you need, just give a call.”
“I will. Good night.” Kinsley’s thoughts were awhirl as she walked home. Images of her mom and Aunt Cora flickered through her mind, and it brought her some comfort knowing they were together in Heaven. But having been bequeathed Forever Wild was a huge problem and one she wasn’t looking forward to dealing with. However, as she walked, the brisk night air helped to clear her muddled brain, and she knew there was only one thing to do. Sell the wildlife sanctuary.
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Six no marriage vows. Six Mr. Rights. Will a group of strong, independent women break their pledge to one another and choose love over a career?
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NO TIME FOR LOVE BY RAINE ENGLISH
Kinsley King loves her lavish lifestyle. As one of Manhattan’s top real estate brokers, she deals with power players, royalty, and the Hollywood elite. But when her favorite aunt bequests her a wildlife sanctuary in the middle of nowhere, she has a tough decision to make. Does she honor her aunt’s last wish and keep the sanctuary or does she put it on the market and maintain the life she adores?
Dylan Reese can’t imagine not working with animals, so when he takes over the running of an Upstate New York wildlife sanctuary, his life seems perfect. Until the owner dies and leaves the place to her spoiled niece. Will Dylan be able to take orders from a city girl who doesn’t know the first thing about animals or will he swallow his pride to keep his job?
Sparks fly in this “Opposites Attract” sweet romance as Kinsley falls for the swoon-worthy sanctuary manager, causing her to rethink the no marriage vow she made with her girlfriends, while Dylan wonders how he’s going to keep from losing his heart to the one woman who’s sure to break it.
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NO TIME FOR LULLABIES BY SYDNEY LOGAN
Melody Mitchell has no time for romance or, heaven forbid, marriage. As an award-winning songwriter, she loves her life in Manhattan—far from the family she disgraced and the love she left behind. When Melody’s cousin dies unexpectedly, she's determined to get through the funeral without having to confront her past. But Melody soon learns she has an even bigger problem: she’s been named the guardian of her cousin’s infant daughter.
Dr. Brody Myers spends his days healing the sick kids of his hometown while trying to forget Melody, the girl who broke his heart a lifetime ago. Sparks fly when the childhood sweethearts come face-to-face at her cousin's funeral. Then he learns that Melody is now the mother of one of his tiny patients—and they’re staying in town for the summer.
Will Melody reconsider her vow to never wed in hopes of finding her happily ever after? Or is Brody destined to have his heart broken all over again? Fans of second chance romance will savor this sweet tale of unexpected motherhood and everlasting love.
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NO TIME FOR PROMISES BY LINDSAY DETWILER
At twenty-nine, Rachel Winters is determined to chase her Broadway dreams. As a member of the chorus in a popular play, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to rise to fame and earn a lead role. Thus, when her director, Michael, asks her to teach a weekend acting workshop, Rachel says yes. When she falls for a charming special education teacher at the workshop, however, she’ll have an important choice to make. Will she take the risk and open herself up to love, or will her dedication to her dreams outweigh what her heart wants?
Zander Riley’s goal of being a professional actor died years ago when the woman of his dreams shattered his heart. At thirty-one, he’s living out a new goal as a special education teacher. He loves his job and his life in Manhattan, but he can’t help but feel like going home alone to his cat isn’t quite fulfilling. When he chaperones a weekend trip to an acting workshop, he meets the woman to reignite his passions in more ways than one. However, he’s been scorned on the road to love in major ways. Has his heart healed enough to trust another woman, or will he forever be marred by past mistakes?
As the passion intensifies in this “Love at First Sight” sweet romance, Rachel will reconsider the no marriage vow she made with her best friends in the No Brides Club, while Zander will struggle to protect his heart from a woman who has the power to break it. As they shine the spotlight on their budding relationship, the question surfaces: Will the two theater lovers set the stage for romance or tragedy, and will they cast each other in their scripts?
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NO TIME FOR TEMPTATION BY MONIQUE MCDONELL
Georgie Price spent her teen years as America’s sweetheart - a pop princess and star of a high school-based TV romcom - but now she’s moved to New York to reinvent herself as the producer and star of a successful cooking show and a serious musician. She’s got no time for anything but work as she strives to prove to everyone, including herself, that she’s more than the ditsy blonde she played on TV. When her apartment is flooded her childhood best-friend Liam announces he’s moving to New York and he’ll find the perfect place for them to live together, as roommates. Georgie has spent years keeping her feelings for Liam in check, but will so much proximity make it impossible to resist temptation?
Liam Stone has loved Georgie for as long as he can remember. He took her to the audition that changed her life because he knew at least one of them needed to escape their rundown small rural town. Since that day he’s worked hard to make something of himself, so he can be worthy of Georgie. Now a successful advertising executive he’s moved to New York to finally make his move with Georgie, but she’s vowed to stay single, and as a member of the No Brides Club she takes that commitment very seriously.
Liam is determined to show Georgie he’s not like the other guys, in all the best ways, while she tries to convince him that he’s so much more than the family he was born into. Can Georgie and Liam look beyond the past to build a future together in this sweet friend to lovers romance?
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Press.com/NoBrides
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NO TIME FOR APOLOGIES BY JEAN C. GORDON
Kate Lewis left the family dairy farm in Western New York for NYU and fell in love with living in New York City. Now a senior analyst for a mutual fund, she’s put everything but her career on hold until she’s grabbed the golden ring of portfolio manager. She’s been passed over twice already, so she’s not letting anything get in her way—not the pang of jealousy she feels when her much younger sister announces her engagement, nor the lingering feelings of inadequacy fostered by her brother’s childhood taunts of “you’re just a girl.” And certainly not any feelings stirred by her new assistant Jon— blast from her past, high school math nerd turned confident competitor for her dream job.
Growing up, Jon Smith felt like a square peg in a round hole. Coming from a family of physicians, he was expected to be a doctor, too. Shy, pudgy, and awkward, he rebelled and majored in mathematics in college, which he paid for himself. He also discovered competitive swimming, shed his extra weight, and grew into his features, but he still remembers being the ugly duckling Jon recently jumped off the career hamster wheel to help his grandfather manage a small beef cattle operation Upstate and teach financial planning at the local community college. He takes a job with the mutual fund company just for the summer for some extra cash to help out his grandfather. But working for Kate, his high school crush, is an added benefit.
Attraction ignites on both sides as the demands of work throw them together. A true No-Bride Club member would never fall for the man who may be here to steal her hard-earned promotion. Despite the long-buried feelings for Kate, Jon fears she may, like his parents, love her work more than she loves him. Is Kate willing to believe Jon and break her no-bride vow for the true joy their love could bring? Is Jon ready to trust his heart and embrace the love an ugly duckling never believed he’d find?
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NO TIME FOR SURPRISES BY KAREN MCCULLOUGH
Three years ago rising star programmer Julie Harrison was forced to leave her job in disgrace when code from a project she was working on leaked to a rival company and all signs pointed to her as the guilty party. Worse yet, her fiancée and co-worker, Daniel Foster, believed in her guilt, and their relationship imploded as a result. Heartbroken and devastated, Julie found support in a group of friends who all decided to swear off romance and throw themselves into their careers. Through hard work, taking some chances, and a bit of luck she has become a successful freelance software developer whose work commands high prices.
Dan Foster has wondered for some time if he made a mistake when he chose to trust the evidence that Julie had leaked code to a rival, instead of believing her denials. His own ambition to become chief operating of the company made him quick to take the company’s side, but reaching that goal didn’t bring the fulfillment he hoped. He fears he may have made the wrong choice and paid too high a price for his success.
Julie is shocked to learn that Dan’s company has bought out the group that represented her software. She isn’t happy that they’ll be forced to work together again. Dan recognizes that he has a second chance with her. Though the attraction is still there, Julie won’t risk her heart by trusting Dan. When disaster threatens to strike again, can Dan convince her he believes in her and she can trust him to have her back this time? Can these one-time enemies recapture the love they let slip away once before?
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About the Author
Karen McCullough likes to set her imagination free to roam this universe and others in search of interesting stories. As a result, she’s the author of more than a dozen published novels and novellas in the mystery, romance, romantic suspense, paranormal, and fantasy genres. She's won several awards, including an Eppie Award for best fantasy novel and has been a finalist for an Eppie award four times, as well as finaling in the Daphne, Prism, Lories, Rising Star awards and several others. Her short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies and magazines.
A former computer programmer, magazine editor, and web developer, she is now writing full-time. Karen lives in North Carolina with her husband of many years. Her favorite activity beside writing is visiting her three children and eight grandchildren, who are scattered around the world.
No Time for Surprises: No Brides Club, Book 6 Page 17