MARY E THOMPSON

it's a curvy road to happily ever after

Never A Bridesmaid Always A Bride

Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, reviews

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The reviews for Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride are starting to come in, and I gotta say, you guys are awesome! I wanted to share one of the reviews with you today, you know… just in case you’re still on the fence!

From Lupita…

Just finished reading [Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride] and have to say I really, really, really enjoyed this book!!!!! I mean Jake……SWOON ????????. Alyssa was one lucky girl to have that kind of long lasting love. Loved Tina also…..who wouldn’t love a nonna like her……quick witted and sassy, great combination. Don’t want to ruin it for anyone that hasn’t read it but just had to say Mary E Thompson you really know how to capture an audience and keep it interesting. Did I mention how much I REALLY enjoyed this book 

How’s that for shining adoration! Lupita, you’re awesome!

If you haven’t picked up Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, grab it now!

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Shapely & StunningIf you haven’t heard… Shapely & Stunning is on sale this week! Book three in the Big & Beautiful series is only $0.99 right now! Only until Monday though, so don’t miss your chance to grab it now!

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Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, so sweet

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It’s been fifteen years but he still remembers the little things. Sometimes the little things are what matter the most.

Excerpt from Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride

“This looks good.”

“I was going to bring it to you.”

She shook her head. “I’m not helpless.”

“I never said you were. I want to take care of you.”

She smiled, feeling warm and fuzzy inside. It had been ages since she had someone who wanted to take care of her, let alone did.

“Thank you.”

Jake winked at her and handed over a plate with a slice of mushroom and sausage pizza.

“Did you know this was my favorite pizza?”

Jake grinned and shrugged. “Maybe.”

“How did you know this was my favorite?”

“I know you, Alyssa. You might not want to admit it, but I do.”

She smiled, ducking her chin as her cheeks heated. Jake chuckled and cupped her elbow, guiding her to the couch again. They ate and talked and watched tv until Alyssa felt all the tension from the weeks she’d been there easing away. She eyes felt droopy without her anxiety keeping her awake. She leaned her head on his shoulder and watched the show until her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

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Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, release day!

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It’s here! It’s here! I’m so excited Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride is here! I’m visiting Romance Lives Forever and Staci Troilo today, celebrating the release. Yesterday I was hanging out with Rochelle Weber and Thursday I’ll be on The Write Way Cafe! Please stop by and say hi, and learn more about where this story came from, and catch a few more sneak peeks!

I’ve been thinking about this book for years. Years and years. I’ve only been married once, and hope to stay that way, but I felt for Alyssa and her three failed marriages. Going back home was a hard decision for her, especially knowing what she would face.

Jake was kind of the opposite. Where Alyssa felt repressed by her large family, Jake loved it. He couldn’t imagine leaving, even though she wasn’t there anymore. They both decided to stay away from each other, but that’s usually easier said than done!

Excerpt from Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride

They walked through the trees to the edge of the water. She gasped when she saw what he’d done. When she spun back to look at him, tears brimmed in her eyes.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, rushing to set his dinner down. He took hers from her and wrapped her in his arms while she cried softly.

When Alyssa finally stilled and took a deep breath, she leaned back, keeping her arms around his waist. Jake rested his forehead against hers again, loving to see her so close. When she’d first left, he’d asked Marie for a picture of Alyssa. He used to stare into her eyes like she was there and tell her everything that was going on. Even though she wasn’t there, he felt better talking to her.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think anyone has ever done anything like this for me. It’s really sweet, Jake.”

He kissed her nose and then her lips, finally giving up the fight he had with himself to keep their night sex-free. Just one taste of her lips and he was hard and aching for her. She whimpered and pulled him in tighter and he knew he was a goner. He’d do anything she wanted him to do.

Forever.

When they came up for air, Jake rested his forehead against hers again. “I’m sorry you didn’t have someone who treated you the way you deserved to be treated.”

She smiled. “I did. But I was too stupid to realize it.”

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Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, second chances

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I’ve never written a second chances book, or the one that got away, or anything like that. It was a challenge for me to make sure Alyssa and Jake could have a second chance that made sense. He was hurt and mad, she was ashamed and felt like she didn’t deserve him. But they couldn’t just walk away.

Excerpt from Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride

Alyssa shrugged. “I made some shitty choices. Jake got caught in the middle. It wouldn’t be fair of me to expect him to wait this long for me.”

Sean examined her closely. “He may not have remained celibate, but I do think he’s been waiting for you. Maybe I shouldn’t tell you this either, but he hasn’t had a serious relationship since you left. I think a part of him still loves you, Alyssa. Even if he doesn’t want to.”

Tears stung her eyes and blurred her vision. She didn’t know if they were happy tears or sad ones. Maybe just angry tears. Angry that she’d stolen their happiness from them. If she could go back to her eighteen year old self, she’d slap herself silly. She threw away the best thing that had ever happened to her and regretted it ever since.

“I’m sorry, Sean. I need to go.”

Alyssa pushed away from the table, leaving her half-eaten lunch and her cousin behind. Sean called after her, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop. She just ran. Through the vines toward the water. To the only place she ever felt like she could be herself.

She just hoped she would be alone.

***

Jake saw Alyssa tear across the vineyard toward the tree and had to force himself not to follow her. He didn’t want to know what was wrong.

Except he did.

It fucking gutted him to see her crying.

He looked back up toward the inn and saw Sean standing just off the deck, watching Alyssa run. Jake had to know what he said to upset her so badly. She’d had enough shit from Andie. She didn’t need it from Sean, too.

He stormed toward The Drunken Grape and was in Sean’s face before he even had a chance to sit back down.

“What the fuck did you say to her?”

Sean didn’t back down. They stood toe to toe, Sean close enough to Jake’s 6’2” that they could look each other in the eye.

“You need to back off, Jake. You have no idea what you’re accusing me of.”

Jake remembered for a second that Sean was technically one of his bosses, but he didn’t give a shit. He’d hurt Alyssa. And that was all that mattered.

“What did you say to her?”

“I told her I think you still love her. That I think you’ve been waiting for her all this time. And that you haven’t had a relationship since she left.”

All the anger in Jake deflated faster than a popped balloon. He sunk into a chair and dropped his head into his hands.

“I’m guessing I was right based on your reaction. You still love her, don’t you?”

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Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, first kiss

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It’s Teaser… Thursday? Yeah, so I forgot to put up a post Tuesday! Sorry about that! But I had to share Alyssa and Jake’s second first kiss. Neither want it to happen, but neither can resist.

Excerpt from Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride

Jake heard the pain in her voice. The regret. All the things he wished she’d felt when she left him. She wasn’t talking about Lana.

And dammit if Jake could stay on his side of the kitchen.

He moved around the table, stalking her. She watched him getting closer, her eyes widening with each deliberate step he took. When he reached her, Jake didn’t pause. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even think.

He just took what was his.

Alyssa.

His lips crashed down onto hers the same moment his hands dove into her hair. The short strands slipped through his fingers before he could grab hold. He reached for them again, and used his grip to tilt her head to suit him. She whimpered against him, her hands reaching up between them. He didn’t know if she was going to push him away or pull him closer, but he wasn’t waiting to find out.

He thrust his tongue between her teeth, prying her lips apart. She froze for a heartbeat, then stroked her tongue along his with a moan that alerted his dick to all the action going on.

He was consumed with consuming her. He needed her. He needed her to know he’d never stopped loving her. Never stopped waiting for her. He could convince her to stay this time. She wouldn’t leave him again.

She just told him so.

As his tongue stroked her, relearning her mouth and the way she liked to be kissed, his hand roamed her body. She was too tiny for him, too angular, but he didn’t care. She was Alyssa. His Alyssa. And he wasn’t going to let her go again.

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Please Raise A Glass

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I love all my books. They are all truly works of my heart. But this new series is one that I’ve been anticipating for a really long time. I had the idea for these books the same time I started writing Big & Beautiful. A good friend suggested writing Big & Beautiful first, and I’m thrilled that I did. These new books are going to take on a life of their own and they’re a bigger challenge for me. Much bigger.

So, wanna know about them?

My new series is Raise A Glass! It follows nine cousins who are given control of their family’s vineyard. For the first time ever, there will be a prequel. The prequel, Love The Wine You’re With, will be available February 6 as part of an anthology. As soon as I get the final details, I will share them with you. Right now, I know the anthology will be $0.99 and all proceeds will go to March of Dimes. I’m really excited to be a part of it and to help such an awesome organization.

The anthology will only be available for three months and then I will release Love The Wine You’re With on my own, again with proceeds going to a charitable organization – likely changing which one every few months.

The second book, Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, will be available March 7. Both stories follow the same couple. Alyssa and Jake first meet on her eighteenth birthday. They fall in love over the summer and promise to be together, but things don’t always go as planned. When she returns, fifteen years later, they have to decide if they want to try again.

Each story, with the exception of Love The Wine You’re With, will also have a secondary love story. Another couple that is falling in love also. I’ve always wanted to write a series like that. A series that follows more people. They are longer stories with both storylines, but I think you’ll love this family, and the people who surround them, as much as I do.

So, come visit me in Bereton, New York, where the wine is sweet, the vines are ripe, and the people are loving, even if they are a little crazy, too.

Welcome to Bereton!

Excerpt from Love The Wine You’re With

When she went back into the room, there was a man standing in the middle of it. Alyssa dropped the cleaning bin she was holding and screamed. “Ah! Holy shit! Who the fuck are you?”

He held up his hands and immediately backed up. “Whoa! Sorry! They said this was my room, ma’am. I’m sorry. There’s been some kind of a mistake. Just calm down.”

Alyssa’s hands went to her hips as her attitude snuck back in. She raised an eyebrow at him. “Did you just call me ‘ma’am?’ How old do you think I am?”

Her response threw him. His dark eyebrows knitted together. Alyssa took a second to appraise the man in front of her. He was big, at least six inches taller than her own 5’7”. His dark hair was cut short, giving him a dangerous edge. His face was covered in stubble just long enough that it would scrape her skin if she kissed him.

Which she was suddenly desperate to do.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said. “I don’t mean any disrespect, honest. I’ll go back downstairs and see what’s going on with the room.”

Alyssa shook her head. “What’s your name?”

“Jake Monroe, ma’am.”

She sighed. “You’re in the right room. I work here. My name is Alyssa. I was just cleaning the bathroom. I didn’t know you’d be here when I came out. I was trying to finish up before you got here. I apologize for being in your way.” She bent to pick up the supplies she’d dropped. When she stood again, she forced herself to look in his hazel eyes when she added, “And for swearing at you.”

Excerpt from Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride

Tears sprang free from Alyssa’s eyes and emotion clogged her throat. She’d never been so hurt, even under Brent’s hands, as she felt at that moment. Understanding how her cousins all felt about her was painful. She had no intention of letting them down, but Alicia was right, she did have her own agenda. She was there to hide and she didn’t want any of them to know it.

With her heart in her throat she turned to run from the house and ran straight into someone.

Alyssa knew it was Jake. She knew his scent, a mix of fresh grapes and something else that was unique to him. His arms closed around her and she froze when she realized she wanted nothing more than to lean into him and take comfort from him.

“Please let me go,” she whispered, not wanting her cousins to find her there.

Jake eased back from her, his hands sliding down her arms and holding her firmly in place. He ducked down to look in her eyes, but she refused to meet his. She looked toward the kitchen where her cousins were, then quickly looked away, and right into his face.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly with a glance to the kitchen.

“Just let me go, Jake. I need to get out of here.”

He finally stepped to the side and she blew past him heading straight for the front door. She heard him blow out a breath behind her but she didn’t care what he was thinking, she just needed to get the fuck out of there.

Alyssa ran down the front steps of the porch and darted out to the open space toward the fields beyond. The party was still in full swing but no one was paying attention to her. Her tears started to fall freely as the words of her cousins ran around in her head. She heard heavy footsteps behind her and knew Jake was coming with her.

The last thing she needed was to have him see her that way. She already felt vulnerable enough, and she wasn’t prepared to have him watch her fall apart. Their earlier conversation proved he didn’t think much of her, but she could put him out of her mind. She’d had plenty of practice with that.

Alyssa ducked into the shadows and picked up her pace. She had to get away from him, to hide, if need be, so she could avoid him.

The big tree was ahead of her. It had been her tree growing up, but she’d shared the spot with Jake when they’d known each other before. It was under that tree that she’d given her eighteen year old self to him, told him she loved him, and promised she’d come back to him after her first year of college.

Except she didn’t return to Bereton, to Jake. She ran.

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