No Time for Lullabies: No Brides Club, Book 2

by Logan, Sydney

  Rachel didn’t know how to explain it. Was she just feeling lonely? Maybe it was all the extra caffeine creating nervous energy in her blood. Or maybe she was just losing her mind for real. Perhaps she’d been performing in a sappy, semi-romantic play for far too long and the Broadway songs about love had gone too far.

  Whatever it was, all Rachel knew was she wasn’t liking it—and she knew her friends wouldn’t like it either. Today was about her career, as it always was. This was no time to slip, to let some blue-eyed hunk pull her attention away from what mattered. She’d been down that road before, and she’d never do it again. She couldn’t afford to do it again at this stage of her life. She had tunnel vision when it came to her career these days. Her focus was a laser beam, and there was no stopping it. She was going to chase her goals and climb the stage ladder, no matter the cost.

  There would be no fluttering feelings, heart palpitations, or swoon-worthy moments to distract her. She was adamant that she would chase this dream alone, no manly hands pulling her toward another sunset.

  “So, why don’t we start with a tour of the stage? What do you say? Do you all want to see how some of the techniques are done?” she asked, getting out of her head about the gorgeous guy who was still threatening to distract her from the task at hand.

  The students erupted in cheers, and a girl stood to give Rachel a high-five. The female teachers and assistants seemed happy to see the kids happy. It was all going well, gorgeous guy in the audience or not.

  Rachel led them toward the stage area, the students still bubbling with excitement.

  “Mr. Riley, she’s pretty, isn’t she?” Rachel heard one of the male students say.

  Rachel tried not to listen to what Mr. Riley—the blue-eyed hunk now had a name—would say. She heard him say something noncommittal, and Rachel wasn’t sure if that was what she wanted to hear or not.

  “Right this way, everyone,” she chipperly added, ushering them to the stage. “Now, what do you want to talk about first?”

  And that was when the sweet girl who had high-fived Rachel sealed her fate without even knowing it. That was when everything took a huge turn, not just in the workshop but in what was to come.

  Because it was when the student said, “The balcony! Show us some lines from the balcony!” that Rachel’s life would never, ever quite be the same.

  Want to keep reading? Head to sweetpromisepress.com/NoBrides to grab your copy now!

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to Melissa Storm for giving me the opportunity to write for Sweet Promise Press. I’m so happy to have the chance to work with you!

  Thank you to my lead editor, Kathie Spitz, and to my proofreaders: Shaina Hanson, Ginelle Blanch, Autumn Beaty, Patti Jaeger, JA Hensley, and Terri Gislason.

  Special thanks to Angi DeMonti Hegner for encouraging me to submit to Sweet Promise Press and for always being so supportive of my books.

  Thank you to the authors of the No Brides Club—Raine English, Lindsay Detwiler, Monique McDonell, Karen McCullough, and Jean C. Gordon. It’s been great working with you!

  I listened to an instrumental version of “Overjoyed” by Matchbox Twenty while writing this book. I’m sure the band will never see this, but I wanted to thank them, anyway, for writing such a pretty song that helped shape this story.

  Thank you to my friend, Brandee Shafer, who gave me Sharon’s awesome line for her “Mama Bear” scene. Thank you for your generosity and for being my friend.

  Thank you to Sydney’s Sweethearts for their constant support! Special thanks to Autumn Beaty, my friend and PA, for keeping me on track and managing my social media so that I could focus on getting this book finished. You’re the best!

  Finally, thank you to my husband, for giving me my very own happily ever after.

  Song of Solomon 4:9

  Six no marriage vows. Six Mr. Rights. Will a group of strong, independent women break their pledge to one another and choose love over a career?

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  NO TIME FOR LOVE BY RAINE ENGLISH

  Kinsley King loves her lavish lifestyle. As one of Manhattan’s top real estate brokers, she deals with power players, royalty, and the Hollywood elite. But when her favorite aunt bequests her a wildlife sanctuary in the middle of nowhere, she has a tough decision to make. Does she honor her aunt’s last wish and keep the sanctuary or does she put it on the market and maintain the life she adores?

  Dylan Reese can’t imagine not working with animals, so when he takes over the running of an Upstate New York wildlife sanctuary, his life seems perfect. Until the owner dies and leaves the place to her spoiled niece. Will Dylan be able to take orders from a city girl who doesn’t know the first thing about animals or will he swallow his pride to keep his job?

  Sparks fly in this “Opposites Attract” sweet romance as Kinsley falls for the swoon-worthy sanctuary manager, causing her to rethink the no marriage vow she made with her girlfriends, while Dylan wonders how he’s going to keep from losing his heart to the one woman who’s sure to break it.

  Get your copy at SweetPromisePress.com/NoBrides

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  NO TIME FOR LULLABIES BY SYDNEY LOGAN

  Melody Mitchell has no time for romance or, heaven forbid, marriage. As an award-winning songwriter, she loves her life in Manhattan—far from the family she disgraced and the love she left behind. When Melody’s cousin dies unexpectedly, she's determined to get through the funeral without having to confront her past. But Melody soon learns she has an even bigger problem: she’s been named the guardian of her cousin’s infant daughter.

  Dr. Brody Myers spends his days healing the sick kids of his hometown while trying to forget Melody, the girl who broke his heart a lifetime ago. Sparks fly when the childhood sweethearts come face-to-face at her cousin's funeral. Then he learns that Melody is now the mother of one of his tiny patients—and they’re staying in town for the summer.

  Will Melody reconsider her vow to never wed in hopes of finding her happily ever after? Or is Brody destined to have his heart broken all over again? Fans of second chance romance will savor this sweet tale of unexpected motherhood and everlasting love.

  Get your copy at SweetPromisePress.com/NoBrides

  * * *

  NO TIME FOR PROMISES BY LINDSAY DETWILER

  At twenty-nine, Rachel Winters is determined to chase her Broadway dreams. As a member of the chorus in a popular play, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to rise to fame and earn a lead role. Thus, when her director, Michael, asks her to teach a weekend acting workshop, Rachel says yes. When she falls for a charming special education teacher at the workshop, however, she’ll have an important choice to make. Will she take the risk and open herself up to love, or will her dedication to her dreams outweigh what her heart wants?

  Zander Riley’s goal of being a professional actor died years ago when the woman of his dreams shattered his heart. At thirty-one, he’s living out a new goal as a special education teacher. He loves his job and his life in Manhattan, but he can’t help but feel like going home alone to his cat isn’t quite fulfilling. When he chaperones a weekend trip to an acting workshop, he meets the woman to reignite his passions in more ways than one. However, he’s been scorned on the road to love in major ways. Has his heart healed enough to trust another woman, or will he forever be marred by past mistakes?

  As the passion intensifies in this “Love at First Sight” sweet romance, Rachel will reconsider the no marriage vow she made with her best friends in the No Brides Club, while Zander will struggle to protect his heart from a woman who has the power to break it. As they shine the spotlight on their budding relationship, the question surfaces: Will the two theater lovers set the stage for romance or tragedy, and will they cast each other in their scripts?

  Get your copy at SweetPromisePress.com/NoBrides

  * * *

  NO TIME FOR TEMPTATION BY MONIQUE MCDONELL

  Georgie Price spent her teen years as America’s sweetheart - a pop princess a
nd star of a high school-based TV romcom - but now she’s moved to New York to reinvent herself as the producer and star of a successful cooking show and a serious musician. She’s got no time for anything but work as she strives to prove to everyone, including herself, that she’s more than the ditsy blonde she played on TV. When her apartment is flooded her childhood best-friend Liam announces he’s moving to New York and he’ll find the perfect place for them to live together, as roommates. Georgie has spent years keeping her feelings for Liam in check, but will so much proximity make it impossible to resist temptation?

  Liam Stone has loved Georgie for as long as he can remember. He took her to the audition that changed her life because he knew at least one of them needed to escape their rundown small rural town. Since that day he’s worked hard to make something of himself, so he can be worthy of Georgie. Now a successful advertising executive he’s moved to New York to finally make his move with Georgie, but she’s vowed to stay single, and as a member of the No Brides Club she takes that commitment very seriously.

  Liam is determined to show Georgie he’s not like the other guys, in all the best ways, while she tries to convince him that he’s so much more than the family he was born into. Can Georgie and Liam look beyond the past to build a future together in this sweet friend to lovers romance?

  Get your copy at SweetPromisePress.com/NoBrides

  * * *

  NO TIME FOR APOLOGIES BY JEAN C. GORDON

  Kate Lewis left the family dairy farm in Western New York for NYU and fell in love with living in New York City. Now a senior analyst for a mutual fund, she’s put everything but her career on hold until she’s grabbed the golden ring of portfolio manager. She’s been passed over twice already, so she’s not letting anything get in her way—not the pang of jealousy she feels when her much younger sister announces her engagement, nor the lingering feelings of inadequacy fostered by her brother’s childhood taunts of “you’re just a girl.” And certainly not any feelings stirred by her new assistant Jon— blast from her past, high school math nerd turned confident competitor for her dream job.

  Growing up, Jon Smith felt like a square peg in a round hole. Coming from a family of physicians, he was expected to be a doctor, too. Shy, pudgy, and awkward, he rebelled and majored in mathematics in college, which he paid for himself. He also discovered competitive swimming, shed his extra weight, and grew into his features, but he still remembers being the ugly duckling Jon recently jumped off the career hamster wheel to help his grandfather manage a small beef cattle operation Upstate and teach financial planning at the local community college. He takes a job with the mutual fund company just for the summer for some extra cash to help out his grandfather. But working for Kate, his high school crush, is an added benefit.

  Attraction ignites on both sides as the demands of work throw them together. A true No-Bride Club member would never fall for the man who may be here to steal her hard-earned promotion. Despite the long-buried feelings for Kate, Jon fears she may, like his parents, love her work more than she loves him. Is Kate willing to believe Jon and break her no-bride vow for the true joy their love could bring? Is Jon ready to trust his heart and embrace the love an ugly duckling never believed he’d find?

  Get your copy at SweetPromisePress.com/NoBrides

  * * *

  NO TIME FOR SURPRISES BY KAREN MCCULLOUGH

  Three years ago rising star programmer Julie Harrison was forced to leave her job in disgrace when code from a project she was working on leaked to a rival company and all signs pointed to her as the guilty party. Worse yet, her fiancée and co-worker, Daniel Foster, believed in her guilt, and their relationship imploded as a result. Heartbroken and devastated, Julie found support in a group of friends who all decided to swear off romance and throw themselves into their careers. Through hard work, taking some chances, and a bit of luck she has become a successful freelance software developer whose work commands high prices.

  Dan Foster has wondered for some time if he made a mistake when he chose to trust the evidence that Julie had leaked code to a rival, instead of believing her denials. His own ambition to become chief operating of the company made him quick to take the company’s side, but reaching that goal didn’t bring the fulfillment he hoped. He fears he may have made the wrong choice and paid too high a price for his success.

  Julie is shocked to learn that Dan’s company has bought out the group that represented her software. She isn’t happy that they’ll be forced to work together again. Dan recognizes that he has a second chance with her. Though the attraction is still there, Julie won’t risk her heart by trusting Dan. When disaster threatens to strike again, can Dan convince her he believes in her and she can trust him to have her back this time? Can these one-time enemies recapture the love they let slip away once before?

  Get your copy at SweetPromisePress.com/NoBrides

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  More from Sydney Logan

  Standalone Novels

  Songbird

  Listen to Your Heart

  Turn the Page

  Between the Raindrops

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  Appalachian Hearts Series

  Lessons Learned

  Mountain Charm

  Soldier On

  Stealing Hearts

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  Short & Sweet Collection

  Cracks in the Crystal Ball

  Meet Cute

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  Novellas & Short Stories

  Breathe Again

  Once Upon a December

  Force of Nature

  Halfway to Anywhere

  Winter Song

  It’s All In Your Head (Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Inner Strength)

  Silencing the Should Monster (Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Less)

  About the Author

  Sydney Logan writes heartfelt novels that feature strong women and the men who love them. In addition to her novels, she has penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul. She is a Netflix junkie, music lover, and a Vol for Life. Sydney and her husband make their home in beautiful East Tennessee. Visit her online at www.sydneylogan.com.

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