New Release & Review: The Bride Wore Starlight by Lizbeth Selvig

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THE BRIDE WORE STARLIGHT

Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys #3

Lizbeth Selvig

Releasing on February 9. 2016

Avon Impulse

Once comfortable on stage in front of thousands, Joely Crockett is now mortified at the thought of walking—or rolling—down the aisle at her sisters’ wedding. Scarred and wheelchair-bound, the former beauty queen has lost more than the ability to walk—she’s lost her fire. But when one
handsome, arrogant guest accuses her of milking her injuries and ignites her ire, Joely finally starts to feel truly alive again, and soon it’s impossible for her to resist her heart’s desire.

Alec Morrissey knows a little something about loss. A famous rodeo cowboy before he was injured in Iraq, he’s managed to create something of a normal life, even if it’s not the one he always imagined.
Encountering stunning but damaged Joely, he sees a kindred spirit who can learn from his mistakes.

As these two healing souls begin to fall in love under the Wyoming stars, they must discover if they are willing to give in to the tragedies of life or fight for a future together.

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The contact with Alec’s strong, long-fingered hand didn’t do anything to quell the annoyance dancing in her stomach. Or was it attraction? Or just a very long time since a man had taken her hand?

He tugged gently and braced his feet so she could stand and get her solid leg beneath her.

Her eyes came level with his tie. That put him at roughly six feet, she thought inanely, although, in truth, no thoughts but inane ones filled her head. Up close his eyes shone a dark, rich amber, and his full, upturned lips made him appear prone to smiling. His hat looked so natural on him he might well have been born with it on.

He held out his right elbow. “Just think of me as a human hiking stick.”

He hadn’t said “cane.” He hadn’t said “crutch.” She offered a tentative, grateful smile, took a deep breath, and nodded.

What could have been horribly awkward turned out to be an easy partnership. Alec seemed to know instinctively how to step where she needed him for support, and his arm offered a perfect grip that she could lean into as firmly as she wanted. It took a dozen or so strides to get the coordination right, but slowly she figured out how to step firmly with her right leg and use Alec’s weight to help swing and step quickly with her left. She’d walked like this with crutches, but this felt so quasi normal—she almost enjoyed it.

Almost.

They came to the stairs, and she froze. A flat path was easy. Going up stairs was awkward but doable. But going down threw her weight forward, and she didn’t have the strength or balance to keep from pitching headfirst down the flight.

“We’re doing great,” he said. “There are only six.”

“We’re doing fine,” he’d said. She didn’t know this man from any random person, and yet he knew how to speak as if they’d been doing this forever.

“I really should have a body on the other side, too,” she admitted reluctantly. “I suck at stairs.”

“Here’s the deal.” He removed her hand from his elbow and held it, then wrapped his right arm loosely around her waist. “It’s your balance that’s got you spooked. You haven’t practiced with it, but your left leg is strong enough. Trust yourself. You know the drill: bad leg—”

“First,” she finished. “Yes. But it doesn’t hold my weight.”

“Eventually it will, but for now we’ll step together, and you lean into me when you’re using that leg.”

How did he know so effortlessly what to do? He’d probably had plenty of bangs and bruises when he’d been on the rodeo circuit—maybe this was second nature for him.

They navigated the stairs like they’d been doing it for years. She’d never have made it on her own, and such an exercise had been clunky at best with a physical therapist. When she stood at the bottom without aid of a crutch or two side walkers, her satisfaction had to rival that of any successful mountain climber’s.

“Wow,” she said, unable to keep the pleasure from her voice.

“Why are you surprised? You’re a ranch girl; you’re tough.”

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 Rodeo Queen, Homecoming Queen, Miss Wyoming… from the outside, Joellen Crockett had led a charmed life. However, she wasn't able to fulfil her dreams to become a vet. Brought up in a household with a domineering father, Joely then married a businessman who made all the decisions for her. She never took responsibility for her own life. Then tragedy strikes and she's sucked into a self-pity vortex and a life once again dependent on others. That is until Alec Morrissey walked into her life and tells her how it is!

Alec Morrissey is toe-curlingly blunt with his observations of Joely Crockett when he meets her at her sister's wedding. He decided his brute honesty was what she needs, much to her chagrin. Alec decides to help and support her, using his own experiences as proof. Despite initial opposition, Alec manages to show Joely that anything is possible IF you put her mind to it!

Alec Morrissey is positively swoon-worthy! After getting over the shock of his forthright manner, Alec and Joely bicker like an old married couple. Their banter is fun, showing how comfortable they are with each other. Yet, it isn't long until cracks form and Joely sees beyond Alec's bravado and realises he has his own shortcomings to confront and conquer.

The rest of the Crockett siblings and extended family add to the over feel-good factor of this novel.

The Bride Wore Starlight is the third book in the Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys Series and can be read as a standalone. Lizbeth Selvig is a new author to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this inspirational and fun book. The dialogue and plot are humorous but it doesn't deflect away from the struggles and problems both the protagonists face.

4.5 stars

***arc received courtesy of publisher Avon Impulse via Edelweiss***

Lizbeth Selvig lives in Minnesota with her best friend (aka her husband), and a gray Arabian gelding. After working as a newspaper journalist and magazine editor, and raising an equine veterinarian
daughter and a talented musician son, she won RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart® Contest in 2010 with her contemporary romance The Rancher and the Rock Star. In her spare time, she loves to hike, quilt, read, horseback ride, and spend time with her new granddaughter. She also has four-legged grandchildren—more than twenty—including a wallaby, two alpacas, a donkey, a pig, a sugar glider, and many dogs, cats, and horses (pics of all appear on her website
www.lizbethselvig.com). She loves connecting with readers—contact her any time!

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