Praise for USA TODAY bestselling author Kasey Michaels
“Lots of witty dialogue and humorous situations.”
—RT Book Reviews on Suddenly a Bride
“Funny, down-to-earth and likable characters, along with
snappy dialogue, make this story one that’s hard to put down.”
—RT Book Reviews on A Bride After All
“Kasey Michaels aims for the heart and never misses.”
—New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts
“Michaels’ new Regency miniseries is a joy. This wonderful
storyteller combines passion, humor, emotional intensity
and depth of characterization with a devastating secret and
attempted murder. She makes it all work and shows how the
power of love can overcome. You will laugh and even shed a
tear over this touching romance.”
—RT Book Reviews on How to Tempt a Duke (4½ stars Top Pick)
“Michaels delivers a poignant and highly satisfying read.
The second Daughtry family book is filled with simmering
sensuality, subtle touches of repartee, a hero out for revenge and
a heroine ripe for adventure. You’ll enjoy the ride.”
—RT Book Reviews on How to Tame a Lady
“Known for developing likable characters and humorous
situations, Michaels adds an element of danger and suspense to
this sexy romp.”
—RT Book Reviews on Dial M for Mischief
“Michaels has done it again … Witty dialogue peppers a plot full
of delectable details exposing the foibles and follies of the age.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review, on The Butler Did It
“[A] hilarious spoof of society wedding rituals wrapped around a
sensual romance filled with crackling dialogue reminiscent of
The Philadelphia Story.” —Publishers Weekly on Everything’s Coming Up Rosie
Dear Reader,
It has been such a pleasure writing about Second Chance Bridal, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the first two books in the trilogy, A Bride After All and Suddenly a Bride.
If so, you’ve already met Chessie Burton, owner of Second Chance Bridal, and her friend Marylou Smith-Bitters (one of my favorite characters ever!).
Well, now it’s time for left-at-the-altar Chessie to find her true love, her own second chance. And if Marylou has anything to do with it, we’re in for a fun ride!
Come along as Chessie discovers a passionate side of herself she didn’t think she had, and a handsome contractor looking for anything but love gets the surprise of his life!
Enjoy!
Kasey Michaels
About the Author
KASEY MICHAELS is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than one hundred books. She has earned three starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and has won a RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America, an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, Waldenbooks and Bookrak awards and several other commendations for her writing excellence in both contemporary and historical novels. Kasey resides in Pennsylvania with her family, where she is always at work on her next book.
Readers may contact Kasey via her website, Kasey Michaels.com.
The Bride Plan
Kasey Michaels
To my pal Joan Hohl—because it has been a while …
Prologue
Elizabeth Hollingswood sat on a blanket on the grassy hillside overlooking the baseball diamond, her friends Claire and Nick Barrington occupying the next blanket. The sun was bright, the freshly mowed grass smelled wonderful and the small white petals of the flowering crab trees that lined the street bordering the ball field, loosened by the breeze, made Elizabeth think of a soft, fragrant snow shower. It was a perfect afternoon. Well, at least for those not suffering from pollen allergies, she corrected mentally as Nick sneezed.
It was another spring, and another Grasshopper baseball season. Elizabeth smiled as she watched her husband, Will, going through the signals from the third-base coaching box, first touching a finger to his nose, then to his chin, and then tipping his cap before rubbing a hand across his chest and beginning again, the signals now to cap, chin, nose.
“Look at Mikey just standing there at the plate with that dazed expression on his face,” Elizabeth said, sighing as she reached for her bottle of water. “He doesn’t have a clue what Will is trying to tell him to do.”
Nick grinned at her. “I think I’ve got it about figured out. He’s either telling him to bunt … or blow his nose. Ah, here we go. The direct approach.”
Elizabeth watched as Will called for time, and then motioned for Mikey to meet him halfway along the baseline. A whispered conversation accompanied by more cryptic hand gestures followed; Mikey returned to the plate and promptly struck out, ending the game.
“Well,” Nick said, standing up, and then helping his pregnant wife to her feet, “that wasn’t so bad. Fourteen to two.”
“You can say that,” Elizabeth groused. “You don’t have to go home with the coach and the kid who made the last out. If Danny says one wrong word to his brother I’m going to have to murder him. For the second time this week,” she added as she folded the blanket.
The twins, Mikey and Danny, along with Sean, Nick’s son from his first marriage, ambled up the hill to gather the fruit and juice boxes it had been Claire’s duty to provide as team mom for the day.
“You okay, Mikey?” Elizabeth asked him quietly.
“Sure, Mom. Pops says it was his fault for telling me to swing. Gotta go, we have to collect the bases and hand out the treats.”
Claire
