Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen : A Spring of Weddings

Genre: Christian, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing
Publication date: May 3, 2017
Number of pages: 156

A Proxy Wedding
Carly James values loyalty and friendship above all, so when her best friend calls asking her to be a proxy bride, she says, ‘yes.’ How hard can it be to say ‘I do’ so that her best friend can be with the one she loves? Only, Carly never counted on the feelings that began to swirl around with the proxy groom.
Damien Nichols likes life lined up from A to Z, but when his best friend calls in a favor, disorder begins to reign. Instead of taking a quick flight to the proxy wedding, he must take a road trip with the proxy bride. Carly’s free-spirit attitude bumps heads with his meticulous approach to life. As Damien discovers the woman underneath the carefree façade, his emotions become involved.
Will love become real at A Proxy Wedding?

Hope Beyond Savannah
Lily Allman and Nikotemo (Nik) Lagatuo were the poster children for the term “opposites attract.” He was an evangelist and CEO for a non-profit from Samoa who grew up in a large loving family. She was a blond bombshell with a funky style and no family to call her own. Two of the most unlikely people meet in the most unlikely of places, but God had a plan when He brought them together. They never let their differences deter them from the love they had for each other, but when Nik’s mother comes to the States for the wedding, the idea of wedded bliss is shaken. Can prejudices be over looked, insecurities overcome, and hope for a better future be restored so that these two can have all that was promised?

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Toni Shiloh

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.
She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the Virginia Chapter.

You can find her on her website at: www.tonishiloh.weebly.com

Melissa Wardwell

Melissa is married to her high school sweetheart and is a stay at home mom who homeschools their 3 children. When she isn't teaching or writing, you will find her on the back of a motorcycle or curled up on the couch, reading. Writing had never been in the plans for her life but now she can not imagine doing anything else. Her prayer is that each story blesses the reader in some way- whether it ministers to them or just gives them a break for the chaotic moments in life.

1. What or whom inspired you to become an author?

I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child. As I got older, I thought I would like to write a story, but I never went beyond poetry and a couple of musings. I was too shy to share my work. It wasn’t until I went back to earn my Bachelor’s in English, that it finally hit me, thanks to a creative writing class. My professor was very encouraging and the writing bug hit. J

2. What does your writing process look like?

So a great question and one I’m not sure I can completely answer, lol. I get an idea in my head and I write it down. Most often, I’m already working on a story so I set it aside. Then the characters start nudging me, sharing their hopes and dreams. When it’s time, I pray before writing and type. No planning on my part. I simply let the words flow.

3. This is a spring wedding collection. What is your favorite part of spring?

The flowers!! I love seeing the sprouts and once the flowers are out I’m in heaven. Currently I live in Virginia and the array of colors in spring is breathtaking. If I could have vases filled with flowers all over my home I would. Tulips are my favorite.

4. What inspired the idea for your story in this collection?

When my publisher asked me to write a spring wedding story, I wanted to think outside the box. I wanted there to be a wedding, but not a real one for the characters. That’s how A Proxy Wedding was born.

5. What do you want readers to take away from reading your story in this collection?

That love is a risk worth taking. Too often we let our past experiences color our present circumstances, ignoring the beauty of the opportunity before us. Accepting God’s love is just as transforming and why romance stories are so popular. We’re able to model Jesus and the bride over and over, showing something new each time.

“You want me to do what?”
Carly James couldn’t believe her ears. She stared at her cellphone to ensure it wasn’t a prank call. One glance around her apartment told her Ashton Kutcher wouldn’t be jumping out to inform her she’d been pranked. Plus, the military phone number on the caller ID assured her it was her best friend, Brenda, calling.
“I want you to stand in for me at my wedding. You’ll be my proxy bride.”
“I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”
“It’s real simple. You say the vows as me and voilà, I’m married.”
Carly plopped down onto her oversized living room chair. Her head felt like she just jumped off a swing. “Why can’t you wait and plan a wedding like normal brides, Bren?”
“Because we both have orders that will only widen our separation. I’m headed to Alaska once this deployment’s done and Adam has orders to Japan.”
She bit her lip. That was a pretty far gap. Brenda had met Adam on a work trip to Las Vegas six months ago. Despite the fact they were only around each other for one month, it was enough for the two to bond and start a relationship. Now, they wanted to marry. She shook her head at the fastness of it all.
“So if I stand in for you,” she started cautiously. “The marriage will be legal and you can get your orders changed?”
“Exactly.”
Seems harmless enough. “Then only the bride has to have a proxy?”
Silence spanned the airwaves.
“Bren, are you still there?”
“Yes, I am. I, uh…the answer is no.”
“No?” Incredulity filled her voice. “What does that mean?”
“It means Adam should be having this same conversation with his best friend. We want both of you to stand in for us.”
Carly groaned. This had trouble written all over it.
“And I might as well tell you, it needs to happen in Montana.”
“What? Are you insane?”
“Carls,” Brenda whined, using her nickname. “Montana is the only state that does a double proxy wedding. We could have hired a service to take care of all the necessary paperwork, but that just seems so impersonal. We want it to be special even if we won’t be together when it happens.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. This was not happening. Had she rolled out of bed only to land in some alternate universe?