A Valentine for Veronica: Brides of Distinction, #1

By Lisa Prysock

Temp agency owner Veronica Hayworth wonders why she purchased her dream wedding dress without a boyfriend in sight. A bridesmaid once again at her best friend's wedding and ranking last among her friends to marry skews her better judgment. An encounter with a former high school peer, now a photojournalist for a popular wedding magazine, entices her to agree to a wedding feature for the February issue. Suddenly, the pressure to find a husband overwhelms her. Will Veronica's pride and spontaneity lead to unbearable disgrace, or will her faith lead to love found in a marriage of convenience?

 

 Get your copy of this heartwarming, sweet and clean, Valentine's wedding story and enjoy an inspirational Contemporary Christian Romance novella today! Never published before bonus scenes included.

 

This novella first appeared in Save the Date: Limited Time Christian Romance Wedding Anthology, published by Olivia Kimbrell Press in 2021.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Prysock
• Release date: Feb 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201011192

Book preview

Copyright Notice

AValentine for Veronica

Copyright © 2022 by Lisa M. Prysock

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means- electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author.

This book first appeared in the multi-author anthology, Save the Date, published by Olivia Kimbrell Press, September 14, 2021.

Cover Design by cover artist V. McKevitt. Clip art and illustrations used are public domain unless otherwise noted, and illustrations by the author noted by initials LP or by Lisa Prysock, if any. Any internet links, addresses, or contact information in this book are not guaranteed for the life of the book.

Interior text copyedited by Dori Harrell.

Content Editor, Rachel Skatvold.

Proofed by Tina Caudill Conder.

Author Photo by Alaina Broyles.

Cover Artist, V. McKevitt.

For information or to contact the publisher or author: Lisa Prysock, 7318 Autumn Bent Way, Crestwood, Kentucky, 40014, USA.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This work is cataloged in the Library of Congress.

Unless paraphrased, otherwise noted, or indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

A Valentine for Veronica

Copyright © 2022 by Lisa M. Prysock

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9798429519845

Imprint: Independently published

Book Description

Tagline: Will Veronica’s pride lead to her demise, or will her faith lead to love?

Short blurb: Temp agency owner Veronica Hayworth wonders why she purchased her dream wedding dress without a boyfriend in sight. A bridesmaid once again at her best friend’s wedding and ranking last among her friends to marry skews her better judgment. An encounter with a former high school peer, now a photojournalist for a popular wedding magazine, entices her to agree to a wedding feature for the February issue. Suddenly, the pressure to find a husband overwhelms her. Will Veronica’s pride and spontaneity lead to unbearable disgrace, or will her faith lead to love found in a marriage of convenience?

Get your copy of this heartwarming, sweet and clean, Valentine’s wedding story and enjoy an inspirational Contemporary Christian Romance novella today! Never published before bonus scenes included.

This novella first appeared in Save the Date: Limited Time Christian Romance Wedding Anthology, published by Olivia Kimbrell Press in 2021.

Book Cover

Theme Verse

A Valentine for Veronica

Theme Verse

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, KJV

Lisa M. Prysock

Chapter 1

I’m attending a beautiful wedding in a hideous bridesmaid dress.—Unknown.

Veronica Hayworth’s life spun out of control the day she walked into the bridal shop to pick up the red bridesmaid dress she’d agreed to wear for her friend Riley’s December wedding. It was a late-November blustery day. Overnight, an early dusting of snow and frigid temperatures had blanketed the city of Louisville, Kentucky.

She tried on the red satin garment with the coordinating evergreen shawl for the final fitting. Satisfied with the fit, against her better judgment, she then inquired about trying on the bridal gown on display in one of the boutique’s front windows. Unable to take her eyes off the dress—the one she’d looked at so many times—she couldn’t get it out of her head.

When did you say your wedding is? Veronica now stood before a trio of full-length mirrors on a viewing platform while the sales clerk fussed with spreading out the seven-foot train of the dress.

The wedding? She’d only come inside the high-traffic bridal shop to pick up the bridesmaid dress. However, since she’d passed by the stunning ensemble in the window at least a dozen times in recent months, she’d finally allowed herself to acknowledge how many times she’d lingered to stare at it. She could no longer deny feeling drawn to the dress of her dreams and hopes.

The clerk had brought her everything—the gown, the veil, and the tiara. Oh, w—we haven’t set a date yet, Veronica stammered in reply. In truth, she didn’t have a fiancé, let alone a boyfriend. In fact, too busy with establishing and growing the temp agency she owned, she hadn’t gone out on a date in years.

As her hands smoothed over the cascading folds of the skirt, Veronica glanced over her shoulder at a few other patrons, briefly observing the radiant brides trying on wedding gowns, surrounded by their mothers and close friends. Not her case. She’d recently relocated to Louisville to open another branch of the international temporary job placement agency she owned. At Veronica’s childhood home in Ohio, her mom would likely attend to making a sandwich for Dad’s lunch at this very moment.

In spite of the special moment, feeling awkward and unlike anything she’d imagined, Veronica intended to savor the experience. Turning back to her reflection, she found herself startled by how stunning the gown appeared. If she planned to marry someday, she might as well prepare, right? An act of faith, she decided. In some of his sermons, hadn’t her dad said to act on one’s faith moved God? Maybe He would finally provide her prince charming if she could show Him her readiness.

Veronica again smoothed the folds of the full white skirt cascading over her hips. She felt like a princess. A conservative style, the dress featured layers of shimmering satin, lace, and tulle flowing to the floor. A fitted, lined bodice with a sweetheart neckline, capped with elbow-length lace sleeves, took her breath away. The veil, trimmed in three inches of exquisitely designed lace, draped over the length of the train. Now that she had the wedding gown on, she could see it encapsulated everything she’d hoped for and much more.

I do believe you’re a perfect fit. The clerk’s brow shot up as she stepped back, crossing her arms as an approving look spread across her face. This is most unusual.

Veronica nodded in agreement, her smile breaking into a wider one. It feels perfect and so comfortable, with support in all the right places.

She toyed with the satin bow at the front and center of the shimmery waist. She looked at the trio of mirrors to her right and left, taking in her profile with a glimpse of the back of the gown as well. This was it! Veronica knew she would one day wear the gown when she married her Mr. Right.

The clerk checked how it skimmed the floor as Miss Hayworth swirled about and took a few steps forward and back again. Then she stood and tapped a finger on her chin. "If you wear shoes of the same height