Linda Varner - Won't You Be My Husband?

Cover Page

Excerpt The smell of a Thanksgiving feast filled the house. Lauren hurried to the kitchen, but just enough cooking time remained for the dressing and rolls. Nick hovered at her elbow, sneaking bites of everything as it cooked, until finally, she shooed him out of her kitchen. Lauren glanced toward the dining room where Nick stood, puzzling over what piece of her grandmother’s silverware went where. Her heart filled to bursting point with love. How thankful she was for him on this day meant for thanks. He’d brought sunshine into her life. He’d brought rain. He’d taught her how to treasure both. How could she let him ride off into the colorful western sunset…alone?

Dear Reader Dear Reader, In Arlene James’s Desperately Seeking Daddy, a harried, single working mom of three feels like Cinderella at the ball when Jack Tyler comes into her life. He wins over her kids, charms her mother and sets straight her grumpy boss. He’s the FABULOUS FATHER of her kids’ dreams—and the husband of hers! Although the BUNDLE OF JOY in Amelia Varden’s arms is not her natural child, she’s loved the baby boy from birth. And now one man has come to claim her son—and her heart—in reader favorite Elizabeth August’s The Rancher and the Baby. Won’t You Be My Husband? begins Linda Varner’s trilogy HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, in which a woman ends up engaged to be married after a ten-minute reunion with a bad-boy hunk! What’s a smitten bookkeeper to do when her gorgeous boss asks her to be his bride—even for convenience? Run down the aisle!…in DeArma Talcott’s The Bachelor and the Bassinet. In Pat Montana’s Storybook Bride, tight-lipped rancher Kody Sanville’s been called a half-breed his whole life and doesn’t believe in storybook anything. So why can’t he stop dreaming of being loved by Becca Covington? Suzanne McMinn makes her debut with Make Room for Mommy, in which a single woman with motherhood and marriage on her mind falls for a single dad who isn’t at all interested in saying “I do”…or so he thinks! From classic love stories, to romantic comedies to emotional heart tuggers, Silhouette Romance offers six wonderful new novels each month by six talented authors. I hope you enjoy all six books this month—and every month. Regards, Melissa Senate, Senior Editor Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Title Page Won’t You Be My Husband? Linda Varner www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication To my special friend, Tammie Burgess, a cosmetologist with talent, skill and a heart of gold.

About the Author LINDA VARNER confesses she is a hopeless romantic. Nothing is more thrilling, she believes, than the battle of wits between a man and a woman who are meant for each other but just don’t know it yet! Linda enjoys writing romance and considers herself very lucky to have been both a RITA finalist and a third-place winner in the National Readers’ Choice Awards in 1993. A full-time federal employee, Linda lives in Arkansas with her husband and their two children. She loves to hear from readers and you can write to her at 813 Oak St., Suite 10A-277, Conway, AR 72032.

Recipe for A Wonderful Thanksgiving

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Copyright

Lauren hurried to the kitchen, but just enough cooking time remained for the dressing and rolls. Nick hovered at her elbow, sneaking bites of everything as it cooked, until finally, she shooed him out of her kitchen.

Lauren glanced toward the dining room where Nick stood, puzzling over what piece of her grandmother’s silverware went where. Her heart filled to bursting point with love. How thankful she was for him on this day meant for thanks. He’d brought sunshine into her life. He’d brought rain. He’d taught her how to treasure both.

How could she let him ride off into the colorful western sunset…alone?

Dear Reader,

In Arlene James’s Desperately Seeking Daddy, a harried, single working mom of three feels like Cinderella at the ball when Jack Tyler comes into her life. He wins over her kids, charms her mother and sets straight her grumpy boss. He’s the FABULOUS FATHER of her kids’ dreams—and the husband of hers!

Although the BUNDLE OF JOY in Amelia Varden’s arms is not her natural child, she’s loved the baby boy from birth. And now one man has come to claim her son—and her heart—in reader favorite Elizabeth August’s The Rancher and the Baby.

Won’t You Be My Husband? begins Linda Varner’s trilogy HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, in which a woman ends up engaged to be married after a ten-minute reunion with a bad-boy hunk!

What’s a smitten bookkeeper to do when her gorgeous boss asks her to be his bride—even for convenience? Run down the aisle!…in DeArma Talcott’s The Bachelor and the Bassinet.

In Pat Montana’s Storybook Bride, tight-lipped rancher Kody Sanville’s been called a half-breed his whole life and doesn’t believe in storybook anything. So why can’t he stop dreaming of being loved by Becca Covington?

Suzanne McMinn makes her debut with Make Room for Mommy, in which a single woman with motherhood and marriage on her mind falls for a single dad who isn’t at all interested in saying “I do”…or so he thinks!

From classic love stories, to romantic comedies to emotional heart tuggers, Silhouette Romance offers six wonderful new novels each month by six talented authors. I hope you enjoy all six books this month—and every month.

Regards,

Melissa Senate,

Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my special friend, Tammie Burgess,

a cosmetologist with talent, skill

and a heart of gold.

confesses she is a hopeless romantic. Nothing is more thrilling, she believes, than the battle of wits between a man and a woman who are meant for each other but just don’t know it yet! Linda enjoys writing romance and considers herself very lucky to have been both a RITA finalist and a third-place winner in the National Readers’ Choice Awards in 1993.

A full-time federal employee, Linda lives in Arkansas with her husband and their two children. She loves to hear from readers and you can write to her at 813 Oak St., Suite 10A-277, Conway, AR 72032.

1 teenage “bad boy” (complete with motorcycle)

1 kid sister (not the bad boy’s)

1 chance meeting

1 make-believe engagement

Mix together the first two ingredients. Set aside to age. Several years later, toss in a chance meeting. Add the make-believe engagement, then heat to boiling point

Yield: A Home for the Holidays…and forever!

“Well, if it isn’t Sissy West. My, how you’ve grown.”

Lauren West started at the sound of the husky, masculine drawl and looked up at its owner, standing in front of her in the hot dog line, his back now to their destination. She saw a ruggedly handsome face and finger-combed black hair. She saw glittering brown eyes fringed with thick dark lashes. She saw the sexiest smile in the state of Texas, maybe the world…