Wonderful World if Book: Review & Excerpt Tour - Betting on Cinderella + Giveaway!

Title: Betting on Cinderella

Series: The Cinderella Romances #2

Author: Petie McCarty

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 16, 2017

Garrett Tucker inherits his grandfather's casino empire and steps into the reclusive billionaire's shoes as the "Prince of Vegas." His first act is to buy a bankrupt casino in Biloxi.

When he discovers embezzling in his new operation, Garrett goes undercover. His prime suspect is the new finance supervisor—the spitfire brunette who stole his heart at first sight.

Andi Ryan moves to Biloxi to care for her godmother and takes a job as finance supervisor for the renovated Bayou Princess casino. She discovers someone is skimming from the till and starts her own investigation, worried she will be blamed for the theft when the new owner discovers her godmother has a gambling addiction.

A rival Vegas competitor has sent a spy in to ruin the Bayou Princess, and Garrett and Andi are forced to work together to prove her innocence and discover the identity of their casino spy.

Garrett Tucker cracked open the door of the vestry and peered out at the growing crowd in the church. The sanctuary was filling up fast, already half-filled on both sides with more guests coming in, all escorted by Rhett’s ushers.

No sign of Lily, her maid of honor Tammy, or her bridesmaids out in the narthex from what he could see through the open double-doors. Panning the half-filled church, he spied many of his own friends and business associates.

Neither Lily nor Rhett had parents, aunts, or uncles still alive, and the first row on either side looked bereft. The next few rows on Lily’s side were full—Lily’s friend, Rob, and a slew of familiar faces Garrett recognized from his numerous trips to her Bloom & Grow Nursery.

The girl at the end of the third row suddenly turned back around from searching the seated guests behind her. Garrett stilled. He knew that face, yet he didn’t. Her shoulder-length brown hair shifted like silk with her movement.

She wasn’t beautiful in the classical sense, like magazine supermodels. She was beautiful in a unique sense . . . that fit just her. He couldn’t stop staring. As though she felt his gaze, the brunette glanced up and smiled.

The jolt of awareness hit Garrett so hard it almost took his knees from beneath him. She had to feel it, too. He stared into the most incredible blue eyes he had ever seen, like the sun-brightened sea in the Bahamas, almost a turquoise-blue. Blue eyes that made him think of lazy days out on the water or swimming naked . . .

Whoa! Where had that come from? The beauty blinked—twice—as though stunned, and her amazing smile slid to an all-out grin. Is she thinking the same thing I am? Dimples peeked out from her cheeks. Garrett hadn’t thought this blue-eyed girl could look more beautiful, but she just did.

Well? How’s it look out there? Rhett asked impatiently. Garrett ignored Rhett’s voice, mesmerized by the beauty in the third row who was obviously amused by his stare. Someone called to Blue Eyes from the row behind, and she turned away. The spell was broken.

Come here a minute. I can’t, Rhett argued. I’m not supposed to see the bride before the wedding. Lily’s not here yet. Come here. Wow, Rhett said softly, peering over Garrett’s shoulder. The church is filling up fast.

Unwilling to relinquish his spot at the cracked door, Garrett asked, Who’s the girl at the end of the third row? Rhett shifted for a better look. Third row? Oh, that’s Andi Ryan, a college friend of Lily’s from Florida Atlantic.

Lily didn’t go away to school, so she didn’t have a lot of college friends. I met Andi after Lily’s wedding shower. Why do you— Garrett felt Rhett’s stare, ignored it. Come on, Blue Eyes, smile for me again.

Well, damn, Rhett said softly. I know that look. Had it myself the first time I clapped eyes on Lily. What? That got Garrett’s attention. No. No, I just wondered, um, who she was.

Why are you two peeking through the door? Aidan Cross asked, entering the vestry from the outside door. Do you know how goofy you two look? Yes, I do. We were checking the crowd. Rhett pulled the door shut in Garrett’s face.

So, what were you two gawking at? Do I need a peek? No. Apparently, everyone we invited is going to attend. The place is filling up, and no one needs another look-see, he said, ignoring the glare Garrett cast his way.

Not everyone is attending, Aidan said cheerfully. Chester Armstead and Delia aren’t coming. Rhett rounded on him. They weren’t invited, and you know it. Take it easy. I come bearing gifts.

Aidan held up an open bottle of champagne he’d had behind his back and tugged three plastic flutes from his tuxedo pocket. How did— Aidan grinned at Rhett. I heisted them from your limo. Are you nuts? Bringing champagne into the pastor’s study?

Hey, stop yelling. We kissed and made up over me helping you save Lily’s nursery. And I gave you a half share of my Cypress Key project as penance. Rhett rolled his eyes.

Good thinking. Garrett reached for a glass. Rhett could use a glass to calm him down. I don’t need calming. I just don’t like hearing about the Armsteads on my wedding day. Rhett scowled at him, but took Aidan’s proffered flute and downed half of it.

Garrett chuckled and got another scowl from the groom. Today, Rhett Buchanan was marrying Lily Foster, his fairy-tale princess, in the biggest Jupiter Island wedding of the year.

After the couple’s rocky start and Rhett losing Lily twice—thanks to Delia Armstead’s shenanigans—he had whisked Lily off to Vegas one evening when he’d coaxed her back for the third time.

He’d been unwilling to take any more chances with their future, but he had promised the love of his life a big church wedding later with all the trimmings, and today was the day.

Dressed in their tailored tuxedoes, Garrett and Aidan were standing up for Rhett. Both had played matchmaker for the happy couple, and Garrett now played best man along with Aidan as groomsman for the biggest day in their friend’s life.

Aidan unfortunately never knew when to keep his mouth shut. So, what did happen with Delia? Rhett chugged the other half of his champagne. You mean after her father Baker-Acted her into a primo private mental hospital before the police could get to her? he growled.

Yeah. What then? Aidan had his own reasons for hating Delia Armstead, after she played Aidan against Rhett in her plot to steal Lily’s land. Aidan had warned Rhett in time, but promised Delia retribution for her duplicity.

She couldn’t avoid the police or prosecution for the assault charge, but Chester raked in every favor he had coming from local and state politicians and legal folks to keep her out of Chattahoochee, and managed to substitute Chappington, the private facility in Miami, for her incarceration.

She’s still under lock and key, Garrett pointed out. But not far enough from Lily to suit me, Rhett grumbled. Delia Armstead had consorted with her father Chester to steal the property where Lily owned and operated her landscape nursery.

Delia had always wanted Rhett for herself, and when Rhett fell in love with Lily, Delia had attempted to physically eliminate her competition.

Rhett saved Lily in time, but Delia escaped, and the three friends hadn’t seen her since, though Rhett had his attorneys keeping watch on the witch.

The moon isn’t far enough away to put Delia to suit you, Aidan said and finally got a grin out of Rhett. Garrett grabbed the champagne bottle and refilled their glasses. Is this illegal to drink champagne in the pastor’s office?

Aidan shrugged. Nah, he’s Lutheran. Pastor Mark will just be glad the groom is calm and won’t pass out during the ceremony. Garrett’s pocket loudly buzzed in the quiet room with an incoming text.

I told you, no cell phones, Rhett said, and glared at Garrett’s pants. Lily made me promise. Garrett checked the readout, a text from his grandfather’s personal assistant that said only, Call me ASAP.

Everything was ASAP with Halbert Horton, Samuel Tucker’s personal assistant for more than a decade. Halbert doted on Garrett’s grandfather. If Sam wanted a cup of coffee, Halbert got it ASAP. Garrett pocketed his phone.

Rhett’s glare softened. Everything all right? Just Halbert wanting a call back ASAP. Oh. Rhett went back to pacing, and the three best friends resumed their wait for the wedding ceremony to begin.

Maybe I’ll just check the crowd again, Garrett said. Get away from that door, Rhett said, stepping in front of him. Focus. You’re about to be my best man, and I don’t want you screwing up.

What’s on the other side of that door? Aidan wanted to know. Nothing! Rhett and Garrett barked in unison.

©Petie McCarty 2017

"5 Stars... The characters attracted me instantly...I gave this one a full five hearts for touching mine several times!..."

—Romance Authors That Rock

"5 Stars... This series only gets better. Petie McCarty writes a riveting romance... full of twists with an unbelievable ending..." —Booktalk with Eileen

"5 Stars... The story is fast paced and keeps the reader guessing to the end..." —eBook Discovery/Margaret W.

"5 Stars... love, love, love...this is an awesome read..."

—Mickala R., Net Galley Reviewer

Cinderella Busted

(The Cinderella Romances #1)

Petie spent a large part of her career working at Walt Disney World -- "The Most Magical Place on Earth" -- where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her new series, The Cinderella Romances.

She eventually said good-bye to her "day" job to write her stories full-time. These days Petie spends her time writing sequels to her regency time travel series, Lords in Time, and her cozy-mystery-with-a-dash-of-romantic-suspense series, the Mystery Angel Romances.

Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturist husband, a spoiled-rotten English Springer spaniel addicted to pimento-stuffed green olives, and a noisy Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameo appearance in Angel to the Rescue.