Author Guest Post: Cate Lord and Her Main Couple from Lucky Girl *Book Giveaway*

First, let me say a huge “thank you” to Babbling About Books for inviting me to write a guest post about my flirty romantic comedy Lucky Girl. It was released earlier this month by Entangled Publishing, and it has been a lot of fun introducing readers to the quirky heroine Jessica Devlin who has been described as “an American Bridget Jones,” and the charming hero Nick Mondinello, a British marketing exec.

In Lucky Girl, Jess finds herself single, months before she was to be married. Heartbroken by her ex-fiance’s betrayal, she takes an overdue vacation from her job as beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine and flies to England to be maid-of-honor in her cousin’s wedding. Jess is nervous about the trip, and not just because her cousin is living the fairy tale Jess wanted so badly. There’s also the embarrassing episode that took place two years ago after Jess’s grandfather’s funeral; it involved an English pub, too many drinks, and a handsome Brit who held her in his arms and soothed her while she cried.

Of course, Jess believes there’s no chance of her running into James Bond gorgeous Nick again—but guess who’s at the wedding?

I asked Jess and Nick if they’d like to be interviewed for this post, and they both wholeheartedly agreed.

Cate: Jess and Nick, welcome.
Jess: Thanks!
Nick: Pleasure to be here.
Cate: Jess, Lucky Girl is written in first person, meaning that the story is told entirely from your viewpoint. It’s really your story, so tell us a bit about yourself.
Jess: Well, I live and work in hot, muggy Central Florida, where the mosquitoes are almost as big as alligators. I love shopping, especially for shoes and clothes. I hate cooking. I was single and miserable, until I went to England for my cousin’s wedding and ran into Nick.
Nick chuckles: That was a wild two weeks.
Jess blushes and playfully swats Nick’s knee: Hey! Don’t interrupt.
Nick laughs.
Jess: At the beginning of Lucky Girl, I’m at a low point in my life. I’d found out that my fiancé was unfaithful. Breaking up with him really crushed me emotionally. When my English cousin asked me to be in her wedding party, I agreed. It was the perfect chance to escape the busy office for a while and also take a fresh look at my life.
Cate: That’s when you and Nick met up again.
Nick: That’s right. I was the best man at the wedding, and as soon as I saw Jess walk into the church, I knew we’d met before. It took me a minute, but then I remembered a night a couple of years ago, when I’d been at a pub with some friends. I saw a woman crying. She looked really upset, and I knew I couldn’t let her cry alone.
Cate: Jess, I know that particular night meant a lot to you.
Jess nods: It was the day after my grandfather’s funeral. I’d flown to England with my former fiancé to be at the ceremony. Grandpa had meant a lot to me. He was always there for me after my parents divorced when I was twelve. The day after the funeral, I guess the grief overwhelmed me. I’d had a few too many drinks, and before I could stop myself, I was bawling and throwing up in the pub’s potted plant.
Nick slides his arm around Jess.
Jess sighs and rests her head on his shoulder: Nick was so kind. He put his arms around me and comforted me. Somehow, he understood my pain.
Nick nods: My dad died suddenly when I was young. I knew just how you felt.
Cate: After that brief, emotional meeting, you never saw each other again, until you recognized each other at the wedding. Nick, how did you feel when Jess entered the church?
Nick laughs: Shocked. Surprised. I’d never forgotten her. I had no idea she would be the maid-of-honor.
Jess draws back to look at him: Well, I had no idea you’d be the best man.
Nick: We’re even then.
Jess grins: Don’t count on it.
Nick winks: If you want to debate this later …
Cate laughs: Judging by the way you are gazing into each others’ eyes, I’d say your reunion story had a very happy ending.
Jess: Eventually.
Nick: She took a bit of persuading.
Jess: That’s true. I was reluctant to get involved with Nick, since he had a reputation for being a Sex God and a playboy. But it was so hard to resist him.
Nick: That big box of chocolates and the flowers I brought you helped, I think.
Jess kisses him on the mouth: Oh, yes. And that delicious roast beef dinner you cooked me at your house, plus the trip to London …
Nick kisses her back: I’d say you were a lucky girl.
Jess: Yeah. Then, and now
Cate: Thank you so much, Jess and Nick, for being here today. To read their fun, sexy, fast-paced romance, please pick up a copy of Lucky Girl, available as an ebook or trade paperback.

Available now from Entangled Publishing!

Synopsis: Jessica Devlin isn’t looking for love. Heartbroken after being dumped by her unfaithful ex-fiancé, she’s determined to have a fabulous time during her vacation in England where she’ll be maid-of-honor at her cousin’s wedding. After working overtime as beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine, avoiding dating, and putting on ten pounds, Jess is ready to toss her past like an empty lipstick tube and party like a single gal.

But when she steps into the church on her cousin’s wedding day, she sees the one man who could sabotage her plan—James-Bond-gorgeous Nick Mondinello. She’s never forgotten the London marketing exec who held her in his arms after her beloved grandfather’s funeral two years ago. Ambitious, and lusted after by women everywhere, Nick is completely wrong for guarded, Plain Jane Jess.

Could Spy Man Nick ever fall for her? Nope. Not unless Jess is one lucky girl.

CONTEST TIME!

Cate has a copy of Lucky Girl to give away. In order for your chance to win, leave a comment for Cate here by Monday, 9/26. This is open for US and Canadian residents only.