Today I’m delighted to participate in the blog tour for White Wedding, Carla Luna’s newest release, and present a guest post by this talented author.
Guest Post by Carla Luna
The Gingerbread House that Wasn’t
In White Wedding, the heroine, Victoria Blackwood, is stuck coordinating her ex-fiancé’s Christmas-themed wedding. To make matters worse, her ex is marrying a demanding bridezilla. In one scene, she insists Victoria create four custom-made gingerbread houses to serve as table decorations at the wedding. Victoria is notably hesitant because her only experience with making a gingerbread house did not go well. As her mother recalls, “You lost your temper and smashed the house with a kitchen mallet. Then you and your brother ate all the candy.”
This scene was inspired by my own experience with a difficult gingerbread house. Back when my kids were little, by the time December rolled around, they always asked me if they could make a gingerbread house. And by “make,” I mean they wanted to stick the candy on the finished house. The actual construction of the house was supposed to be my job. Usually, I set up the gingerbread house the night before, so they could decorate it the next day, once the frosting had set. But one year I made the mistake of putting it together while they were waiting.
As they grew antsy and pressured me to finish it, I rushed to set the roof in place, only to cause the whole structure to collapse. I applied more frosting, propped up the walls with a couple of soup cans, waited fifteen agonizing minutes, and then tried the roof again. Another collapse. By the third time, they were growing ornery, and I was growing frustrated.
The house appeared to be set, but as soon as my son started applying the gumdrops, it collapsed again. Without thinking, I grabbed it and flung it against the wall, whereupon it broke into dozens of pieces. My poor kids stared at me in complete horror. Normally, I am not a violent person—I hardly ever raise my voice and I’m not prone to physical acts of anger. But that gingerbread house sent me over the edge.
Unfortunately, in our small town, news travels quickly. My kids told their friends, who told their mothers, and the story became legend. Most people found it hard to believe, since I’m so soft-spoken, but I didn’t deny it. Though the incident took place at least fifteen years ago, people still remember it. Every now and then, someone will bring it up and ask me to recount the story. By now, I can laugh at it—so much that I decided to use it as inspiration for my novel!
White Wedding
Take one lavish holiday wedding. Add one evil ex and his bridezilla. And toss in a smoking-hot chef from the past. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Victoria Blackwood has spent years trying to redeem herself after falling victim to a blackmail scheme that cost her father thousands. So, when he insists she coordinate a big Christmas wedding at her family’s winery, she can’t say no. Even if the groom is her ex, and the caterer just quit.
For Rafael Sanchez, a last-minute call to cater a huge society wedding is a golden opportunity. If he can prove he’s up to the challenge, his brothers might entrust him with more responsibility in the family catering business. But when he meets Victoria, he can’t believe his eyes. Five years ago, they had a passionate fling that rocked his world. Until she left him with only a fake name to remember her by.
To pull off the perfect wedding, Victoria and Rafael can’t afford to get caught up in the past. But keeping things professional won’t be easy, not when the attraction between them burns hotter than Christmas in July.
Purchase Links
Website: https://www.carlalunabooks.com/white-wedding
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/bwa9W9
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FKQQ4VN
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09FKQQ4VN
Author Bio –
Carla Luna writes contemporary romance with a dollop of humor and a pinch of spice. A former archaeologist, she still dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings of her stories. When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include Broadway musicals, baking, whimsical office supplies, and pop culture podcasts. Though she has roots in Los Angeles and Victoria, B.C., she currently resides in Wisconsin with her family and her feisty Siberian cat.
Social Media Links –
Website: https://www.carlalunabooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/casacullen
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaLunaAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlalunacullen/ BookBub Page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carla-luna
readingtonic 