by: Whitney Dineen
Series: Seven Brides for Seven Mothers
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: September 12, 2021
Amazon | Paperback | Goodreads
Family drama is something Lutéce Choate struggles to avoid. With a mother who’s an award-winning country western song writer, an aunt who’s a Country Music Hall of Famer, and a brother who’s a rock star, it hasn’t exactly been a low-key kind of life, and she’s ready for a break.
Then Lu’s younger sister, Claire, goes off and gets engaged to a prince from Malquar, bringing the dreaded spotlight back to shine on their family once again. Lu wants to go to the engagement party about as much as she wants to yodel the Star Spangled Banner at the Grand Ole Opry with her crazy relatives. Alas, not going, doesn’t appear to be an option.
Alistair George Henry Bere Hale is not the heir, but the spare. Without the weight of the Crown in his future, he’s managed to live the carefree life of a man about town. That is until his younger brother gets engaged before him and their mother starts pressuring him to settle down.
Alistair represents everything that Lutéce has come to despise–he’s a rich, playboy, partier, who’s always in the spotlight… But Alistair doesn’t feel the same about Lu. In fact, he’s quite drawn to his brother’s future sister-in-law, prickles and all.
When Lu and Alistair’s mothers witness the sparks between their children, they start to make plans of their own. Will Lu relax her prejudices long enough to get to know Alistair?
Find out in the fabulously funny fourth book in the Seven Bride’s for Seven Mothers Series.
A man is twirling his little girl around and around under a large shade tree. The ancient stones of the courtyard are dappled with sunlight breaking through the overhead covering. The whole scene is remarkably captivating, and I can’t seem to look away.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the little girl throws her head back and laughs when her father gives her one last spin before bowing down in front of her. I used to dance with my dad just like that.
The little girl curtsies before walking into the medieval-looking building next to them. The man turns around and heads in my direction. He’s practically upon me before I realize I know him. It’s Alistair.
I hurry to lower my eyes, hoping he doesn't recognize me, but I’m not fast enough. He lifts his hand and waves in a tentative fashion like he doesn’t know whether his greeting will be well-received. “Lutéce, good morning.”
“Alistair.” I can’t think of anything else to say. Was that Alistair’s daughter? If so, where is her mother? Is he still involved with her?
“Are you enjoying our little town?” he asks.
“I’ve just gotten here, but so far, I can highly recommend the hot chocolate.” Like he needs my recommendation.
“Yes, Julia makes wonderful chocolate. Would you like some company, or are my sisters joining you?” He lifts his eyebrow in a supercilious way.
This man is so arrogant and full of himself, I want to knock him down a peg. “I’m alone, by choice.” Put that in your pipe, Alistair. I don’t want you here.
“Well then,” he pulls out the chair across the table from me and sits down, “I’ll join you.”
I jump to my feet and say, “I was just finishing up.”
“Lutéce, sit down.” His tone is forceful.
I don’t want to sit down, and I’m sure as heck not going to do it because he commanded me to. But when he quietly adds, “please,” my knees weaken, and I sort of collapse back onto my chair. “I’m not your enemy,” he says.
“I never said you were.” I sound bratty, even to my own ears.
“Yes, but you treat me like a wad of chewing gum on the bottom of your shoe, and I can’t figure out why.”
“You mean because I’m not falling down at your feet in awe that you’re a prince?” Heat-infused anger burns my cheeks.
“I don’t know what I’ve done that has caused you to dislike me so much. I certainly don’t require that you worship me, but as your future brother-in-law, one might think there would be some familial kindness in you somewhere.”
“You’re not my future brother-in-law, Geoffrey is.”
“But Geoffrey is my brother, so that must make us …” He picks a piece off the corner of my croissant and puts it into his mouth.
I’m totally captivated as I watch the morsel pass his full lips and land on his tongue. “That makes us nothing,” I assure him while trying to force myself out of my trance.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the little girl throws her head back and laughs when her father gives her one last spin before bowing down in front of her. I used to dance with my dad just like that.
The little girl curtsies before walking into the medieval-looking building next to them. The man turns around and heads in my direction. He’s practically upon me before I realize I know him. It’s Alistair.
I hurry to lower my eyes, hoping he doesn't recognize me, but I’m not fast enough. He lifts his hand and waves in a tentative fashion like he doesn’t know whether his greeting will be well-received. “Lutéce, good morning.”
“Alistair.” I can’t think of anything else to say. Was that Alistair’s daughter? If so, where is her mother? Is he still involved with her?
“Are you enjoying our little town?” he asks.
“I’ve just gotten here, but so far, I can highly recommend the hot chocolate.” Like he needs my recommendation.
“Yes, Julia makes wonderful chocolate. Would you like some company, or are my sisters joining you?” He lifts his eyebrow in a supercilious way.
This man is so arrogant and full of himself, I want to knock him down a peg. “I’m alone, by choice.” Put that in your pipe, Alistair. I don’t want you here.
“Well then,” he pulls out the chair across the table from me and sits down, “I’ll join you.”
I jump to my feet and say, “I was just finishing up.”
“Lutéce, sit down.” His tone is forceful.
I don’t want to sit down, and I’m sure as heck not going to do it because he commanded me to. But when he quietly adds, “please,” my knees weaken, and I sort of collapse back onto my chair. “I’m not your enemy,” he says.
“I never said you were.” I sound bratty, even to my own ears.
“Yes, but you treat me like a wad of chewing gum on the bottom of your shoe, and I can’t figure out why.”
“You mean because I’m not falling down at your feet in awe that you’re a prince?” Heat-infused anger burns my cheeks.
“I don’t know what I’ve done that has caused you to dislike me so much. I certainly don’t require that you worship me, but as your future brother-in-law, one might think there would be some familial kindness in you somewhere.”
“You’re not my future brother-in-law, Geoffrey is.”
“But Geoffrey is my brother, so that must make us …” He picks a piece off the corner of my croissant and puts it into his mouth.
I’m totally captivated as I watch the morsel pass his full lips and land on his tongue. “That makes us nothing,” I assure him while trying to force myself out of my trance.
Purchase You’re So Vain from:
The Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Series:
Head Over Feet releases March 24, 2022
USA Today Bestselling author Whitney Dineen is a rock star in her own head. While delusional about her singing abilities, there’s been a plethora of validation that she’s a fairly decent author (AMAZING!!!). After winning many writing awards and selling nearly a kabillion books (math may not be her forte, either), she’s decided to let the voices in her head say whatever they want (sorry, Mom). She also won a fourth-place ribbon in a fifth-grade swim meet in backstroke. So, there’s that.
Whitney loves to play with her kids (a.k.a. dazzle them with her amazing flossing abilities), bake stuff, eat stuff, and write books for people who "get" her. She thinks french fries are the perfect food and Mrs. Roper is her spirit animal.
Places to find Whitney Dineen:
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enjoyed the excerpt--sounds like a great book
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