Check out the gorgeous cover for Blind Reality by Heidi McLaughlin scheduled for release on February 2nd. Reality TV fans - get ready to meet this amazing cast of characters!
Joshua Wilson, an up-and-coming movie star, is turned off by the idea of marriage. His Oscar-winning smile and breakout role in the summer’s hottest romantic comedy bring in enough attention to satisfy Joshua’s cravings for the spotlight – not to mention the never-ending supply of willing women.
Joey Mitchell is down in the dumps after finding out that her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend, and is living at home with her parents until she can get back on her feet. Without Joey’s knowledge, her overbearing and neurotic mother submits an application for her to appear on the reality show, Married Blind. When the producers surprise her with the news that they have cast her, Joey wants nothing to do with the show but agrees to participate because, at this point in her life, she really has nothing to lose.
Lights, camera, action… Welcome to another season of Married Blind. Contestants are about to take the plunge, but only one couple will come out of the house winners!
Release Date: February 2nd
Cover designed by Sarah at Okay Creations.
I
hear a few gasps and can only assume that I’m approaching where I need
to be. My father hasn’t let go yet, and for that I’m thankful. He’s
keeping me steady on my feet and somewhat calm, even though thoughts of
hanging my mother by her pedicured toenails are filtering through my
mind. If she thinks I’m going to share my winnings with her, she’s off
her rocker.
Winnings?
How can I even think about winning? I’m not going to be able to pretend
to be okay with this for three months. And what if he likes me? What if
he finds me attractive and tries to kiss me? Then what? Ninety days of
purgatory that’s what. I’m so not ready to live in a house with five
people I don’t know all while trying to compete for Best Betty Crocker.
The
announcer clears his throat and gets the audience cheering. Behind my
blindfold, I’m rolling my eyes and glaring simultaneously at my groom. I
know he’s standing in front of me; I can smell him. If anything, his
cologne smells good, but it’s probably something his production
assistant told him to wear.
Is
he nervous like I am? Is he sweating from standing under these heat
lamps? Are his parents here, too? What made him so desperate that he had
to come on national television to find a bride? That’s the answer I
want to know, but will never ask for fear of what he might say.
Neither
of us should be doing this and yet here we are. I could run. I could
slip off my blindfold and run without looking back. But what if he’s my
soul mate and I don’t know it?
What damage could three months do?
Everything!
My
father places my hands into those of my groom and while I should
cringe, I don’t. My fingertips, hands, wrists, arms and everywhere else
tingle. I feel warm, but not from the lights. It’s a different kind of
heat. My tummy flutters. My heart pounds furiously in my chest, drowning
out the audience, the music blaring overhead, and the crackle of the
microphone. It’s all too soon when the music stops and I’m quickly
reminded that this is just a show. I shouldn’t be excited.
“Do
you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to
hold, to compete with in good faith, from this day forward for better,
for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, or until
three months has expired?”
Um … what? What’s his name? Don’t I get to know his name at least?
“What
do you say?” the announcer’s voice bellows through the microphone. I
can hear mumbling from the crowd as they wait with bated breath on what
I’m going to say. Do people actually come on this show and say no?
“We need your answer.”
I
bite my lower lip and nod. If he can make me feel the way he did when
he held my hand, maybe three months won’t be so bad. “Yes,” I squeak
out, my voice barely audible.
“She said yes,” the announcer roars, and the applause is deafening. I can’t help but smile even though I’m dying on the inside.
My
groom’s voice is almost as quiet as mine, making me feel somewhat
better that he’s just as nervous. I sigh in relief when he says yes. The
crowd cheers again and the announcer pronounces us man and wife.
Here it comes.
I sense my groom moving closer, and I hold my head high. His hand
fumbles on my neck until he rests it gently on my cheek. The crowd is
hushed and everyone is waiting for the moment that seals us. His lips
brush softly against mine, and he pulls back before I feel his wet lips
press against mine again, this time fully. If not for his hand, I’d be
crumbling to the ground. My knees start to buckle. My palms, already
damp from earlier, are sweating profusely. My heart has stopped beating,
but I can hear his. This is a first kiss for the records, and the only
thing missing is his face.
The
announcer clears his throat and my groom steps back, much to the
delight of the viewers. “This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for,”
the announcer says. I read from the rules that the groom’s blindfold
comes off first. There’s a collective gasp, followed by a series of ‘oh
my God’s’ and ‘that lucky bitch’. Gee thanks, audience members. I
can safely assume my groom is cute. Great, perfect. I have a cute
husband who can turn my insides to goo when he holds my hand. Hopefully
he’s not planning on winning many competitions that require physical
touching because I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it.
Someone
comes up from behind me and starts to untie my blindfold. I keep my
eyes closed. I want to see him fully when I open my eyes. I open them
slowly, but keep them focused on the ground. Slowly, I take in what he’s
wearing—black patent leather shoes, with black tuxedo pants. His hand
rests at his side, and I see the glint of a wedding band and quickly
look down at my own hand. Was I so lost in my rambling thoughts that I
don’t remember him slipping a ring on my finger, or me giving him one?
I remind myself that this marriage is not real.
“I’ll get you a bigger one,” a familiar voice says.
My
head moves up quickly, and I’m caught in the dark, smoldering eyes that
I’ve studied for hours on end. I swallow hard and say, “Holy shit,”
before the darkness takes over, and I crumble to the ground in a heap.![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00071]](http://shhmomsreading.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BlindReality-Full.jpg)
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, and their newest addition of a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.
♥ Other Books by Heidi McLaughlin ♥
Forever My Girl - The Beaumont Series #1
My Unexpected Forever - The Beaumont Series #2
Finding My Forever - The Beaumont Series #3
Finding My Way - The Beaumont Series #4
My Everything - A Beaumont Series Novella
12 Days of Forever - A Beaumont Series Novella
Lost in Us - A Lost in You Novella
The Archer Brothers
Here with Me
Choose Me
The Reeducation of Savannah McGuire
Third Base
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