“Are you sure, baby?” The father of the bride-to-be noted the concern and confusion on his daughter’s face. Just before her walk down the aisle, Judi Monroe overheard a conversation that indicated marrying Sterling Carroll might be a big mistake. Escaping her socialite wedding in Lake Forest, Illinois, she headed west, covering her tracks as she went. In an isolated corner of Wyoming, she swerved her car to avoid hitting a horse and rider on the road, crashing into a tree... more“Are you sure, baby?” The father of the bride-to-be noted the concern and confusion on his daughter’s face. Just before her walk down the aisle, Judi Monroe overheard a conversation that indicated marrying Sterling Carroll might be a big mistake. Escaping her socialite wedding in Lake Forest, Illinois, she headed west, covering her tracks as she went. In an isolated corner of Wyoming, she swerved her car to avoid hitting a horse and rider on the road, crashing into a tree. She’s rescued by that lone rider – or Ranger, as she fleetingly recalls -- a rugged rancher named Thomas Vance. Judi just needed some time, to puzzle out the predicament she’d left behind in Illinois. But here she was in the arms of a doubting Thomas, a man with a strong jaw, deep-green eyes and a commanding presence. When Judi dodges his personal questions, not to mention his penetrating gaze, Thomas’ teenage half-sister Becky suggests amnesia as an explanation. Judi seizes on this foot in the Diamond V door, and stays on as a caretaker for Thomas’ beloved grandmother, who is recovering from hip surgery. Judi finds a family on the Diamond V, even as her masquerade as the home health aide Helga slowly unravels. But as she falls hard for her horse whisperer, she fears her secret will only cause him to bolt from her life. As for Thomas, he knows this impostor is lying, and it wouldn’t be the first time an outsider betrayed his family. Yet he can’t help but trust this sexy, independent, smart woman who has lassoed his heart. Reader reviews “Loyal readers know what to expect from a Patricia McLinn book -- a strong, emotional story, a solid plot, and characters so real you miss them when the story ends. ‘The Runaway Bride’ is no exception.” -- Shannon Stacey, 5-star Amazon review McLinn "creates a fresh approach to the classic amnesia tale, giving ‘Runaway Bride’ an appealing twist. ... [This] remarkable cast of characters will linger in the reader's memory long after the last page is turned. Very highly recommended.” – 5-star Amazon review “A fun quick read that's filled with tenderness and passion. … Thomas Vance is sexy and heroic and Judi is lovely.” – Goodreads review “A fantastic, fun read with memorable characters you'll fall in love with!” – 5-star Amazon review THE WEDDING SERIES Prelude to a Wedding* Wedding Party* Grady’s Wedding* The Runaway Bride The Christmas Princess Hoops (prequel to The Surprise Princess) The Surprise Princess Not a Family Man (prequel to The Forgotten Prince) The Forgotten Prince *Get all three books at a discount in one volume in The Wedding Series boxed set. About the author USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn’s novels -- cited by reviewers for warmth, wit and vivid characterization – have won numerous regional and national awards and been on national bestseller lists. In addition to her romance and women’s fiction books, Patricia is the author of the “Caught Dead in Wyoming” mystery series, which adds a touch of humor and romance to figuring out whodunit. Patricia received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University. She was a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.), assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.) and -- for 20-plus years -- an editor at The Washington Post. She has spoken about writing from Melbourne, Australia to Washington, D.C., including being a guest-speaker at the Smithsonian Institution. less
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