Best man for the bridesmaid!
A devastating accident left Hope McKenzie the sole carer for her little sister. So now that her sister is engaged, Hope will do all she can to organize the wedding—even if that means dealing with reluctant best man Gael O’Connor!
Famous New York artist Gael has spent his life observing his parents’ affairs—he’s convinced love is a sham. But in spending time with shy Hope, he coaxes her out of her shell. And soon wonders if this beautiful bridesmaid is what he’s been missing all along!
Jessica Gilmore’s magical duet
The Life Swap
Embracing a new life…discovering a new love!
Meet Maddison Carter, New York socialite, and Hope McKenzie, English homebody. These two women couldn’t be more different, but for six months they will be swapping jobs, swapping homes and swapping lives! And in doing so they’ll meet two men who will turn their worlds upside down…
Read Maddison’s story in
In the Boss’s Castle and Hope’s story in Unveiling the Bridesmaid Both available now!
Last year I was lucky enough to spend a few days in New York. I was at a conference and spent far too much time in air-conditioned rooms with no daylight—it was a real shock when I emerged into the hot, sunny, humid city! But I did manage to find time to wander into Central Park, visit Bloomingdales and party at the Waldorf Astoria. I left vowing to return soon—and to set a book there. Luckily my very next book was the second in my Life Swap duet, and so if Maddison, heroine of In the Boss’s Castle, had left New York for London, then Hope McKenzie, her job-swap partner, must be in the Big Apple!
Hope thinks that her six-month stay in New York is the perfect time to reinvent herself, but three months in she’s realizing that it takes more than a change of address and a new look to make a real change. But when her beloved sister, Faith, asks her to organize a whirlwind wedding and enlist the help of artist Gael O’Connor, Hope finds herself confronting some uncomfortable truths about her past, her life and her heart. Meanwhile, Gael has been quite happy with his solitary existence, and the last thing he needs is some buttoned-up English girl turning his world upside down—or so he thinks.
I really loved writing this story, partly because of the wonderfully glamorous setting but mostly because Gael and Hope were such a delight to discover. I do hope you love them as much as I do.
Jessica x
Unveiling The Bridesmaid
Jessica Gilmore
A former au pair, bookseller, marketing manager and seafront trader, JESSICA GILMORE now works for an environmental charity in York, England. Married with one daughter, one fluffy dog and two dog-loathing cats, she spends her time avoiding housework and can usually be found with her nose in a book. Jessica writes emotional romance with a hint of humour, a splash of sunshine and a great deal of delicious food—and equally delicious heroes!
For Kristy, roommate, cocktail enabler and partner in crime extraordinaire.
Here’s to many more RWA conferences—and another evening in the rum bar some day. xxx
Contents
BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEP.
Hope McKenzie muttered and rolled over, reaching out blindly to mute her alarm, her hand scrabbling to find the ‘off’ button, the ‘pause’ button, the ‘Please make it stop right now’ button. Only... Hang on a second... She didn’t have an alarm clock here in New York; she used her phone on the rare occasions when the sun, traffic and humidity didn’t wake her first. So what was that noise? And why wouldn’t it stop?
Beeeeeep.
Whatever it was, it was getting more and more insistent, and louder by the second. Hope pushed herself up, every drowsy limb fighting back as she swung her legs over the metal frame of the narrow daybed and staggered to her feet, glancing at the watch on her wrist. Five-thirty a.m. She blinked, the small room swimming into dim focus, still grey with predawn stillness, the gloom broken only by the glow of the street light, a full floor below her sole window.
Beeeeeep.
It wasn’t a fire alarm or a smoke alarm. There were no footsteps pounding down the stairs of the apartment building, no sirens screeching outside, just the high insistent beep coming from the small round table in the window bay. No, coming from her still-open