The Sweet Bride by Ciara Knight is LIVE!
Zoey Dixon grew up with her two sisters in a small, football-obsessed town. She managed to escape the Friday night lights and the turmoil of tutoring her high school jock crush by running into the arms of a college professor. A relationship that must remain secret to protect his advancing career in academia. A situation she doesn’t mind since her parents proved long ago that happily ever after only exists in stories. But when Zoey returns to her hometown for Christmas vacation, her high school crush confesses he’s always loved her. Between his confession and her college professor’s growing emotional distance, she’s questioning her entire view on life, her future, and more importantly her concept of love and being loved.
GONE WITH THE BRIDES SERIES
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Ciara Knight is a USA Today and Amazon Bestselling author who writes 'A Little Edge and A Lot of Heart' that spans the heat scales. Her popular sweet romance series, Sweetwater County (rated PG), takes readers into small town romance full of family trials, friendly competition, and community love.
My kiddos woke with stars in their eyes and renewed energy for their favorite ride, Aerosmith’s Rockin’ Roller Coaster. We boarded the first bus of the day from Bay Lake Towers and arrived at Disney’s Hollywood studios seconds before the morning open walk. If you’ve never experienced this, you need to understand how important these first few steps are. Imagine opening doors to an arena for thousands of pre-teen girls and they spot her sitting on stage hanging out. Yep, total stampede.
Once we hot-footed it down the main road and past Tower of Terror we knew we’d made it. They ushered us through without even stopping to hear how our stretch limo would be arriving to take us to the concert. My middle minion and I hopped in and shot out of there at breakneck speeds twisting and turning and twirling through a maze to avoid the awful traffic. A side note on this ride, apparently when you scream “Donuts” as you pass the large sign while sitting next to a stranger, might garner a strange look or two. It’s fine as a family tradition, though.
After we exited the ride, what did we do? That’s right, we ran around and headed back on it again…ah, and again. Did I mention we love roller coasters?
When we were done we headed over to Toy Story in hopes that we could manage to navigate the long que before anyone gave up. I’m happy to report my two boys begrudgingly obliged and we enjoyed our family competitive game of ‘who gets top score’. I was soooo close! Unfortunately, Mr. Knight beat me yet again by 2,000 points.
After comparing scores and arguing over why Mr. Knight won, not that I’m a sore loser, we checked out our trusty Disney app and discovered that there was only a ten-minute wait to Star Tours, so we flew over there. Unfortunately, the app updated by the time we got in line and it was now almost an hour. Since we had fast passes and dinner reservations at Epcot that evening, we decided to head back to our luxurious rooms and rest a bit.
*Note: Before we left on the trip both boys complained about our ‘napping’ during our last Disney vacation. On day two, they were begging to go back to the room to rest. Who’s old now? 🙂
We enjoyed our break and headed to Epcot. The rain followed us, but we managed to survive the rivers pouring through the sidewalk to use our Fast pass to Soarin. This is one of my favorite rides at Disney, and by far the best at Epcot, IMHO. It was pleasant and when we got off my husband said what he always says, “you don’t have to go to Egypt now, you just saw it.”
The rain was still coming down so Test Track was closed so we headed to Mission Space. I’ve never had a problem on this ride. Actually, it’s been one of my favorites for a long time, 
but today something was different. The ride paused while we were strapped in, and my son says, “wow, we can’t get out if anything is wrong.” After another minute, I found the closed in space and being restrained bothered me. Again, I’m not claustrophobic or ever had an issue with this ride, but all of a sudden I wanted off that thing. It was the longest few minutes on any ride, but I made it through and bolted toward dinner. When the suggestion was made later that night to return to Mission Space, I quickly offered another suggestion. One near panic attack a day is enough for me.
The rain turned to a downpour and we managed to walk to our dinner reservation at Tapo El something. To our delight, they were able to take us an hour before our reservation, so we happily enjoyed the respite from the rain in the warm, dry entertaining restaurant. My kids thought the dinner show was great and the food was amazing. My middle minion who doesn’t like steak said it was the best food he’d had in a long time. To our delight, we’d been so caught up in the ambiance and fun that we didn’t realize we’d killed almost two hours and the rain had stopped. Our one ride left was now open, and I’d promised the boys we’d try to ride it. The park was closing, but since we were hotel guests, we knew we could still ride during those precious Magic Hours. Unfortunately, the ride had been so long that all the previous Fastpasses were waiting at once. We opted for the line for single riders only, but even then, the ride took a while to get moving. It was fine with us, though. We knew it would take awhile and it was our last mission of the day.
We left Epcot that evening with smiles on our faces, and memories to last a lifetime. My objective of family bonding was accomplished, and we still had one more day. I laid my head down on my pillow and closed my eyes feeling relaxed and happy. Apparently, the Pixie Dust had been sprinkled on me and I was happy to fly away to happy dreams of what tomorrow would bring.
Despite the looming threat of the sub-tropical Storm Alberto, we decided to pack up and head to Disney. After an easy, and eerily traffic free drive down to Florida, we rose at an unseemly time in order to make those invaluable Magic Hours.
We stepped out of our one-night stop hotel into the darkness full of haunting insects chattering and thick humidity, warning that storms loomed nearby. There was no choice, though. Not when the infamous rare spotting of the Avatar Fastpass continued to elude us. Standing in a body constricting crowd at 6:30 A. M. is a minuscule price to pay when a highly sought after shiny new ride awaits.
I will say that it was worth each sweat slicked stranger, back aching, how-much-longer question. Avatar is by far the most endearing, imaginative, breath-taking ride full of swoops, slides, and sensory infused moments. An instant immersion into another world. I felt the expansion of my banshee’s lungs, it’s panting as it rested on a breath-steeling cliff overlooking an oasis of unparalleled beauty.
I must confess that for every inspirational moment on Avatar, the Na’vi River ride tumbled down a ravine of disappointment. It’s a Small World meets Pirates of the Caribbean in a Pandora setting. We were lucky enough to only wait for this ride for approximately fifteen minutes. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t bother riding it again. After all, that would allow fifteen more minutes to stand in the never-ending line for Avatar again. 🙂
With still more than thirty minutes left in our Magic Hours, we ride hopped across the park. By ten in the morning, we’d ridden everything we had on our family wish list, so we made our way out, tunneling through the crowds pouring in for their Animal Kingdom Adventure.
After dropping our car off at Bay Lake Towers and walking to the Magic Kingdom, we slipped onto Space Mountain with minimal lines and we realized we’d smoked our original plans by about five rides. What could possibly stop us now? We were on a roll. Ha! Never say that or the wicked queen will cast her spell. Oh, and was it a zinger. Our perfect day was zapped with the ray gun of frustration and ill-temperament as the Buzz Light Year line quoted to be thirty minutes exploded into almost two hours. When we reached the front of the line we discovered that twenty ‘groups’ were ushered through from the Fastpass line for every two in the standard lane. The Pixie Dust had worn off the patron ahead and he wasn’t buying this as a valid answer. To be honest, neither did I. Why not quote a different time on the standby clock then? Of course, if you know me at all, I was already loading the flight to my next adventure and forgetting about the turbulence we’d managed to navigate through.
The highlight of our day rumbled into the park faster than Big Thunder revved its locomotive engine in the form of rain. A ride we’d enjoyed for years became a novelty when a Victoria Falls downpour pummeled us while we chugged through the canyons and raced down the broken tracks of the old mine. It was one of those rare moments that we will never forget. The entire family laughed as we wrung out our clothes and sloshed our way to dinner. A cold, yet fantastic meal at the Plaza Restaurant. It has always been a family favorite.
When the day ended, and we shuffled our tired feet toward our hotel, we’d managed to ride twelve rides, including the unforgettable Avatar, stuffed ourselves full of scrumptious savory and sensational sweets.
There was still one more surprise for the kiddos, though. I’d upgraded our room to a theme park view, so we spread out in our two-bedroom luxurious condo and settled onto our balconies to close our nearly perfect day with a little Disney Firework Magic.
Title: Love Around the Table
Genre: Literature, Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Cover Design: EJR Digital Art
Editor: Cheryl Walt
Blurb:
Second chance at love, second chance at life.
Six Southern authors share six great short stories of friendship, family, and romance, and six special recipes of love.
A life-threatening diagnosis triggers forgiveness and healing between two estranged sisters.
A Sister’s Quandary by Rachel Jones
Life shoves an award-winning pastry chef into a big career change where she discovers the depths of true friendship and love.
Layers of Love by Linda Joyce
In rural Mississippi, a ten-year-old black girl and white boy bond over fishing as they navigate the racial waters of the 1930s.
Mississippi Catfish by Constance Gillam
A caregiver son and an activities director at a senior living facility discover the magic powers of love.
No More Lonely Hearts by Marilyn Baron
A harried widower with four young mischievous daughters proves to a wounded woman there’s always room for one more around the table.
Table for Six by Melissa Klein
An unexpected Lazy Susan disaster splatters the news of a famous baseball player reuniting with his small-town sweetheart.
Turning the Table on Love by Ciara Knight
Rachel Jones—Labor & Delivery RN by night and writer by day—is an award-winning author who began her first novel at age fifty-seven. She composes stories of strong heroines, heroes with heart, and sweet romance. Her writing reflects her passion for performing arts, and a twenty-eight-year career in healthcare has influenced the threads of medical drama woven into her storylines.
Amazon Best-Selling author and multiple RONE Award Finalist Linda Joyce writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction featuring assertive females and the men who can’t resist them. She lives with her very patient husband in a house in metro Atlanta run by a fifteen-year-old canine named General Beauregard who believes they are his pets. Linda’s a closet artist who paints with a brush, yet longs to finger paint…but hates getting her hands messy. She’s addicted to Cajun food and sushi. Linda will deny she only leaves the house once a week and only then to get criticism from two other authors.
Constance Gillam—Books and music have always been my life. Some of my earliest memories were of walking to the library on my own at age seven or eight. (Those were the days when children weren't snatched off the streets.) I read every chance I got.
In a quest to find myself, I've worked as genetic counselor, health underwriter, bank proof operator, phlebotomist, real estate agent, and medical technologist. In the end, I've come back to the profession I've revisited most often, being a writer.
I write contemporary thrillers, historical fiction, and dabble in young adult.
My husband and I live in the Atlanta area with our three children and grandchildren.
Marilyn Baron writes in a variety of genres, from humorous coming-of-middle-age women’s fiction to historical romantic thrillers and romantic suspense to paranormal/fantasy. THE VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR is her twelfth novel published with The Wild Rose Press. Her novel, THE ALIBI, will be released later this year. She’s received writing awards in Single Title, Suspense Romance, Novel With Strong Romantic Elements, and Paranormal/Fantasy Romance, and was a Finalist for the 2017 Georgia Author of the Year Awards in the Romance category for her book, Stumble Stones: A Novel. A public relations consultant in Atlanta, she graduated with a BS in Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing from the University of Florida. She loves to travel and sets many of her books in places she’s visited.
Melissa Klein writes contemporary romance about everyday heroes fighting extraordinary battles. Whether facing the demands of caring for a child with special needs or the struggles of a soldier returning home, her characters take on the challenges life throws at them with perseverance, courage, and humor. She won Georgia Romance Writers Unpublished Maggie award in 2013 and Rose City Romance Writers Golden Rose award in 2012. When she’s not writing, she enjoys gardening, travel, and spending time with her family. She lives with her incredibly supportive husband outside of Atlanta.
Ciara Knight is a USA Today and Amazon Bestselling author who ‘Fights for Love One Book at a Time' that spans the heat scales. Her popular sweet romance stories take readers into small-town romance full of family trials, friendly competition, and community love.
Title: Return to Christmas Falls
Genre: Holiday Romance
Blurb:
Homecoming in Christmas Falls by Ciara Knight
Eight years after fleeing Christmas Falls because of a high school prank gone wrong, Ashley Brooks receives a mysterious letter from her mentor asking her to come home. She arrives to face all she left behind—her family, her friends, and the rich boy she’d loved who would never date the girl from the wrong side of town.
Brent Donnelly, high school jock, brainiac, and dutiful son did everything right until the day Ashley returns to Christmas Falls. With one look at the girl who got away he questions all his life choices, including following in his father’s footsteps in the family business.
Faced with a potentially devastating decline of tourism in their hometown, Brent and Ashley must work together to save the magic of their town, but when Ashley discovers he still has feelings for her best friend she must finally face the real reason she left Christmas Falls—to try to heal her broken heart.
Blurb:
Honeymoon for One in Christmas Falls by Jennifer Peel
Is there room for two on this honeymoon for one?
Piper Wyatt’s Christmas wish is to get promoted to manager at Blackstock Hotel and Resort. Not only does the promotion mean more money, but it means more time with her son and proof that she’s not such a disappointment after all.
Jace Petersen, successful owner of a national chain of sporting goods stores, finds himself alone and miserable on what should have been his honeymoon. That is until he literally falls onto the lovely Piper Wyatt. He’s intrigued with this woman who can fix a car in high heels. Too bad for him, he makes a horrible first impression, and Piper’s not allowed to mingle with the guests.
While Piper tries her best to steer clear of Jace during his stay, he does everything he can to convince her he’s not the jerk from their first meeting. But is he worth risking her promotion? Or is Jace right, Piper deserves more than she ever thought possible for herself?
Find out in this charming Christmas tale about finding love in the most unexpected place, a honeymoon.
Blurb:
Once Again in Christmas Falls by Becky Monson
In one day, London Walsh finds out her ex is going to be her boss and that her parents are getting a divorce—and they want her to referee the situation. So when she’s offered the chance to spend the holidays in her old hometown of Christmas Falls, far away from all the drama, she jumps on it.
But the quaint town doesn’t feel quite like the home it once was. London shed the goth image that defined her in high school long ago, but no one recognizes the woman she's become.
Except for Andy Broll, London’s childhood next door neighbor. He recognizes her immediately, which sends London’s heart fluttering as she starts to see Andy in a whole different light. But when her time in Christmas Falls doesn’t go as planned, will London face it head on? Or will she find a reason to run?
Blurb:
Rumor Has It in Christmas Falls by Melinda Curtis
As a political strategist at Dunlop Bennet & Associates, Lexi Townsend's career is going nowhere. She's a cubical dweller writing speeches for freshmen senators in DC. But if she can hitch her career wagon to a rising political star, she’ll be on her way to a corner office in no time. When she’s offered a plum holiday assignment–an ideal candidate with deep pockets, someone who could make the leap from local to national politics–she starts to dream about that corner office.
Until she realizes her candidate is Kevin O’Malley, aka Kevin the Hottie, Kevin the Snob, Kevin the Liar, the same guy who shattered her high school reputation back home in Christmas Falls with a rumor. Assignment in hand, Lexi braces herself for the most difficult political race of her career--because this time it’s personal.
Blurb:
Forever Yours in Christmas Falls by Susan Hatler
Morgan Reed is excited to return to her hometown of Christmas Falls and open her beauty salon, but when she arrives to her rented business space she’s shocked to find it already occupied by Dallas Parker—her brother’s best friend, the guy she had a childhood crush on, and the one her mom blames for their family’s greatest tragedy.
With their landlord out of the country and unreachable, Morgan and Dallas must open their businesses together. But, no worries, all small towns need a combo furniture store/beauty salon, right? Ugh. As they work together, Morgan tries to keep her emotional distance but time and off-the-charts chemistry soon turn a childhood friendship into a blossoming romance.
Unfortunately, just when their relationship develops into something deeper, an unexpected crisis re-opens her family’s old wounds and the blame is on Dallas once again. Will Morgan’s sadness and fear pull them apart, or make her realize Dallas has always been her heart’s true safe harbor?
Blurb:
Love Notes in Christmas Falls by Beth Labonte
When Caitlin Cook left the small town of Christmas Falls, Tennessee to attend Harvard University, she left behind the burden of her parents’ slowly increasing hoard of antiques, a much younger brother, and Shane Mitchell—the boy who blindsided her with the news that he loved her on the night before she left.
Shane Mitchell spent his high school years fascinated by Caitlin Cook. The quiet flute player with her nose always in a book, he wanted desperately to find out what made her tick.
Eight years later, Caitlin returns to Christmas Falls—unemployed and newly single—after receiving a devastating letter from her beloved high school mentor. Caitlin is shocked to find her childhood home in disarray, and her little brother in desperate need of his sister. With Shane’s help—now a pillar of the community rather than the carefree teenager Caitlin once knew—she begins to rediscover her love for music, antiques, and possibly even Shane. When faced with the choice of rebuilding her life in Boston, or giving love a second chance in Christmas Falls, will Caitlin be able to decide on the true meaning of home?
Blurb:
Finding The Truth in Christmas Falls by Danielle Stewart
Olivia Mackey spent her whole life hearing how she was destined for bigger and better places than Christmas Falls, Tennessee. A regular on the beauty queen scene from a very young age, she learned from her stage mom, that appearances mean everything. Having spent the years after high school traveling the world and failing at the dream everyone told her she should have, she's back home and wondering what she's to do next.
Nothing is where she left it. Friends have scattered, her mentor is ill, and Olivia is fumbling her way through a big life in a small town.
Tim Avondale and his young daughter showed up in Christmas Falls one evening looking for a fresh start. Buying the Sleepy Hound Bookstore seemed the perfect opportunity. Life had gone so wrong and now here in this quiet town he could keep anything bad from happening to his daughter again.
When the two cross paths Olivia and Tim find an instant connection. A tug toward each other they don't want to ignore. The problem is, in the process they are being tugged away from all the things they thought were important in their lives. He can't hide out from real life forever. She is more than just what people see on the surface. But when they're forced to decide will they choose to be better together or safer apart?
Participating Authors:
Ciara Knight
Jennifer Peel
Becky Monson
Melinda Curtis
Susan Hatler
Beth Labonte
Danielle Stewart
Title: Love on the Prairie
Author: Ciara Knight
Genre: Historical, Western Romance
Cover Designer: Clarissa Yeo
Editor: Cora Artz and Emily Sewell
Blurb:
Abigail McKinnie refuses to allow her sisters to be dispersed across the nation as mail order brides. Despite the fact the union soldiers took everything from them during their march through Atlanta-their lands scorched, house burned, food stolen-she won’t give up. With a plan in place, she sets out for Kansas to her second cousin under the guise of marriage. But instead, she plans to convince him that the seven of them can help run the homestead for him. Her plan is full proof, until she makes the arduous journey to discover he’s dead.
Owen Baker vows to never have a woman in his life again after the death of so many in his life, but when Abigail McKinnie struts onto his land claiming ownership on behalf of her dead cousin, he’s dumbfounded by her drive and beauty. Despite her abilities and their attraction, he vows to throw her over his horse to deliver her to the first train home the minute she recuperates from her trip.
Faced with living in a small dugout through storms, Indian attacks, and violent gunmen, they realize they must work together to save the homestead, the last hope for the McKinnie sisters and Owen’s heart. But when their attraction becomes more formidable than the surrounding elements, they will have to overcome their fear or lose everything.
Ciara Knight writes with a ‘Little Edge and a Lot of Heart’ with her contemporary and paranormal romance books. Her most recent #1 Amazon bestselling series, Sweetwater County, has topped the charts and received acclaimed reviews. Her international best-seller, Pendulum scored 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, accolades from InD’Tale Magazine and Night Owl Top Pick. Her young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, received 5 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild and Night Owl’s Top Pick, among other praises.
Title: Faith in Sweetwater County
Author: Ciara Knight
Genre: Sweet Romance
Blurb:
Cline Grant, a man with a checkered past turned preacher has dedicated the last ten years of his life to making up for past sins. But when he is faced with removing a young girl from her abusive uncle he must face the calling he never expected. He escapes with the young girl to the safety of a small town until a beautiful and dedicated social worker asks too many questions, questions that put his faith to the ultimate test.
Kinley Stafford refuses to accept the new preacher’s credentials as a father because he claims to be a man of faith, not after she failed to protect a boy only months earlier from a dead-beat dad. And when the preacher’s little girl runs away, Kinley makes it her personal mission to expose whatever secrets Preacher Cline is hiding.
Ciara Knight writes with a ‘Little Edge and a Lot of Heart’ with her contemporary and paranormal romance books. Her most recent #1 Amazon bestselling series, Sweetwater County, has topped the charts and received acclaimed reviews. Her international best-seller, Pendulum scored 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, accolades from InD’Tale Magazine and Night Owl Top Pick. Her young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, received 5 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild and Night Owl’s Top Pick, among other praises.Author Links:
Author: Ciara Knight
Genre: Sweet Romance
Blurb:
BEACH BRIDES SERIES (Lily)
Twelve friends from the online group, Romantic Hearts Book Club, decide to finally meet in person during a destination Caribbean vacation to beautiful Enchanted Island. While of different ages and stages in life, these ladies have two things in common: 1) they are diehard romantics, and 2) they’ve been let down by love. As a wildly silly dare during her last night on the island, each heroine decides to stuff a note in a bottle addressed to her “dream hero” and cast it out to sea!
Lily Holt once believed in dreams until her fiancé and business manager abandoned her art career and marriage proposal for another woman. Public shame drove her to hide in the remote beach town of Cape Bliss, Florida. She believes she’s free of the art world until Josh Raymond appears at her front door with a picture she’d sketched on a dare years ago. Josh needs her to recreate the hope and love in the original image for a contract that will save his advertising firm. But Lily lost her muse and there is no way she can sketch the emotional depth needed for this piece. The only hope is if Josh can convince her that happily-ever-after still exists, but the price might be too high to pay—his heart.
Ciara Knight writes with a ‘Little Edge and a Lot of Heart’ with her contemporary and paranormal romance books. Her most recent #1 Amazon bestselling series, Sweetwater County, has topped the charts and received acclaimed reviews. Her international best-seller, Pendulum scored 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, accolades from InD’Tale Magazine and Night Owl Top Pick. Her young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, received 5 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild and Night Owl’s Top Pick, among other praises.
Author Links:
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The man turned, and Lily caught a glimpse of the most brilliant blue eyes, the kind that leapt out and capture your heart.
She raced to retrieve her colored pencils and sketchbook, then started blending shades of blue on a fresh sheet. It was somewhere between the brightness of electric blue and the depth of cobalt. Unique and mesmerizing. She tried to capture that feeling on paper.
“Lily, we have a guest.”
Lily’s head shot up, only just realizing they had been watching her.
Josh offered his hand. “Ms. Holt. I’m Josh Raymond—”
“Yes, from the advertising agency. I heard you.” Ignoring his hand, she turned her attention back to her sketchbook. She wanted to find that color before it was gone.
“When you were spying on us from behind that column?” Josh asked with a smile. His expression was all business, yet a hint of playfulness slipped through. It distracted her enough that she lost the snapshot in her mind. As she stared at him, trying to recapture it, a shadow darkened his face. She shuffled close and angled her head so she could get a good look at him, and he quirked a brow at her. Then she remembered her sister’s chastisement after things fell apart with Stephon. “You’ll never catch a decent man if you keep acting like a crazy art fool.” Embarrassed, Lily abruptly stepped back. “Sorry. It was your eyes.”
His other brow joined its partner high on his forehead. “My eyes?”
“Yes, um, the color. It’s unique, and I wanted to capture it.”
Connie shook her head. “My sister isn’t as strange as she seems, I promise.”
Ciara Knight writes with a ‘Little Edge and a Lot of Heart’ with her contemporary and paranormal romance books. Her most recent #1 Amazon bestselling series, Sweetwater County, has topped the charts and received acclaimed reviews. Her international best-seller, Pendulum scored 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, accolades from InD’Tale Magazine and Night Owl Top Pick. Her young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, received 5 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild and Night Owl’s Top Pick, among other praises.
Ciara Knight writes with a ‘Little Edge and a Lot of Heart’ with her contemporary and paranormal romance books. Her most recent #1 Amazon bestselling series, Sweetwater County, has topped the charts and received acclaimed reviews. Her international best-seller, Pendulum scored 4 stars from RT Book Reviews, accolades from InD’Tale Magazine and Night Owl Top Pick. Her young adult paranormal series, Battle for Souls, received 5 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild and Night Owl’s Top Pick, among other praises.
