Three Brides, No Groom. Debbie Macomber

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      Sometimes love doesn’t turn out the way you plan.

      Because sometimes the right man isn’t.

      Three women meet at their fifteen-year class reunion...and discover that their lives have taken unexpected directions.

      Back in their college days, Gretchen Wise had been engaged to a top law student. Carol Furness, head cheerleader, had said yes to the school’s football hero. And Maddie Cobain was the girl who’d fallen for a professor.

      Now the three of them gather around a popular fountain on the college grounds. This fountain was where lovers met, where promises were made…and broken. So it’s fitting that Gretchen, Carol and Maddie sit here to share their stories of betrayal and, yes, revenge. Stories of finding new love...

      Sometimes the things you don’t plan are the best!

      Praise for

      “Essentially a trilogy of loosely linked short stories, this work exudes Macomber’s classic warmth and gentle humor. This collection will appeal to Macomber’s many fans and to anyone who has ever endured the emotional rigors (and terrors) of a school reunion.”

      —Library Journal on Three Brides, No Groom

      “Macomber is skilled at creating characters who work their way into readers’ hearts.”

      —RT Book Reviews on Dakota Home

      “I’ve never met a Macomber book I didn’t love!”

      —Linda Lael Miller,New York Timesbestselling author

      “Popular romance writer Macomber has a gift for evoking the emotions that are at the heart of the genre’s popularity.”

      —Publishers Weekly

      “One of Macomber’s great strengths is her insight into human behavior–both admirable and ignoble. Her ability to make her points about it without preaching is another.…”

      —RT Book Reviews on Susannah’s Garden

      “Romance readers everywhere cherish the books of Debbie Macomber.”

      —Susan Elizabeth Phillips

      “When God created Eve, He must have asked Debbie Macomber for advice, because no one does female characters better than this author.”

      —Bookbrowser Reviews on 16 Lighthouse Road

      “Macomber’s assured storytelling and affirming narrative are as welcoming as your favorite easy chair.”

      —Publishers Weekly on Twenty Wishes

      “Debbie Macomber writes characters who are as warm and funny as your best friends.”

      —New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs

      July 2012

      Dear Friends,

      Although it’s been a lot of years now, I clearly remember my (only!) wedding. It was early September and apparently a very popular day. The Catholic church my family attended had weddings scheduled every hour on the hour from ten that morning until well into the afternoon.

      Wayne’s and my wedding was set for noon. However, there must have been some kind of glitch, because the 11:00 a.m. wedding went over the allotted time. Wayne walked into the church—he’d been inside once before and that was for the rehearsal—and saw the bride marrying…someone else. For one wild moment he was afraid he was late and my father had found a substitute groom. Thankfully, Wayne’s best man prevented him from rushing forward and stopping the wedding.

      At least I can say that my prince showed up for the wedding. The three brides in my story, however, were more or less abandoned at the altar. For each of them did it turn out to be good luck rather than bad? Was it a twist of fate? Does the adage “What goes around comes around” come into play? What about “Don’t get mad, get even”? Well, my friends, you’re about to discover the answers to those questions….

      I hope you enjoy Three Brides, No Groom, which I originally wrote in the mid-1990s. I guess you could call it vintage Macomber.

      As always, I love getting your comments and letters. You can reach me via my website at DebbieMacomber.com and leaving a message on my guest page, or by writing me directly at P.O. Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366.

      Warmest regards,

      Debbie Macomber

      Three Brides, No Groom

      Debbie Macomber

       www.mirabooks.co.uk

      In memory of my mother, Connie Adler, who gave me life, love and taught me to laugh, and Marie Macomber, who shared her wisdom and her son.

      Contents

       Prologue

       Gretchen’s Story

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Carol’s Story

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Maddie’s Story

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter 4

       Chapter 5

       Chapter 6

       Epilogue

      Prologue

      The fountain located in the center of Queen Anne University in Seattle was thought to be the very heart of the private college.