Spotlight & Giveaway: The Duplicate Bride by Ginny Baird

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Ginny Baird to HJ!

Hi Ginny and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Duplicate Bride!

 
Thank you! It’s great to be here. I love chatting with readers and so much appreciate your interest in The Duplicate Bride.
 

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Of course. The Duplicate Bride is a really fun story about twin sisters, one who has typically gotten the other twin out of trouble. This time, the “trouble” is that the engaged twin, Jackie (a busy Boston wedding planner), can’t make it to Blue Hill, Maine in time for her own pre-wedding celebrations. So she asks her helpful and sweet schoolteacher twin, Hope, to fill in for her for a day in order to help her save face with the groom’s judgy grandmother.

At first Hope says no way, but when she gets to Maine and meets the family, a comedy of errors results in a mistaken identity. Then Hope winds up standing in for her sister after all—believing it’s only short-term. Hope is initially confused that the hero, Brent, can’t tell the difference between her and the woman he’s supposed to marry, then she learns it’s a marriage-of-convenience type deal for business reasons, and that the bride and groom barely know each other at all.

When Hope (as Jackie) confronts Brent about this, he thinks he’s hurt her (Jackie’s) feelings and determines to do better, planning to seriously romance his soon-to-be bride. Only the bride in question is the duplicate one, who gets stuck in the job longer than she intended. Then—yikes!—Hope starts accidentally falling for the groom, who is such a great guy. This all leads to one big hot mess during a series of pre-wedding events, with fun family dynamics, and lessons to be learned about holding out for real love and being true to yourself. The book should appeal to readers who enjoy sweet romance and twin swap stories with a different twist. I had so much fun writing it, and hope that readers will love going along for the adventure, too.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

From Brent’s POV, when he decides to make his bride fall for him for real.
“Just give me this chance, and I promise you, I won’t let you down,” he said, growing more confident by the minute. He was great at tackling challenges and could do almost anything when he put his mind to it. “By this time on Saturday, you’ll be crazy about me.”

What inspired this book?

Yes! First of all, I’ve always loved twin stories and the remake of “The Parent Trap” is one of my absolute faves. Secondly, sometime ago I saw a cute British film called “The Decoy Bride” about a woman who stands in for a famous bride who’s in hiding from the paparazzi and then winds up crushing on the groom, for whom she’s actually an ideal match.

When writing this book, I sort of combined the two ideas of a twin swap and a stand-in bride, and came up with a unique story that incorporates Sophia Kinsella-style humorous moments, as well as family relationship dynamics, and ultra-romantic scenes between the hero and heroine. It’s the perfect mix for a fun beach read: light and entertaining, and sweet. I hope readers will want to keep turning pages to find out what will happen, and when!

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

My characters always surprise me, lol. I especially loved how well Hope bonded with Brent’s family. I had planned for that to happen, but some of the scenarios that unfolded (like where Hope is extra supportive of Brent’s sister-in-law Sofia, who is in crisis) caught me off-guard in a way that was extremely heartfelt. Even while making flawed decisions, Hope’s heart is always in the right place and her approachability and goodness just leap off the page. I also adored Brent as a hero and fell in love with his entire family. The authentic relationships and banter he shares with his siblings had me smiling, because they made him so real to me. Both Brent and Hope are conflicted people, imperfect in that they are still figuring out who they are and what they want in life. I empathized with their struggles to better understand themselves—and each other—as the relationship between them deepens. Neither is perfect, although I do believe they are perfect for each other.

What was your favorite scene to write?

Oh my gosh! I have lots of favorite scenes, some funny, others touching. I suppose if I were to choose an early favorite (from the first part of the book) I’d pick the scene where Hope is trying to keep Brent from looking at his cell phone because she’s already assumed the role as Jackie and worries he’ll read a missed text and get that she’s pretending to be her twin. She’s freaking internally the whole time, while trying not to let on that she’s not Jackie. She’s also freaking herself out by realizing she’s finding Brent attractive.

She turned her attention back on Brent as he shoved his hands down into the framing of the loveseat, obviously searching for something.
Her heart lurched when she realized what it was: his phone.
“I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.” Concentration furrowed his brow. “I had it yesterday, and I was sitting right, aha.” He reached for something.
She didn’t think twice. “Wait!”
One second she was by the French doors, and the next she’d rammed into Brent and flung her arms around him, pinning his upper arms to his solid torso.
They were muscular arms, too. Unnervingly masculine. And strong.
So strong, Brent could probably break out of her hold if he wanted to. But he didn’t appear eager to pull away. Mostly, he seemed intrigued—or maybe amused.
One dark eyebrow arched, and Hope’s pulse fluttered. Not good. Not good at all.
“Um… What are you doing?”
She stood there, helplessly looking up at him with her right hand clasping her left wrist, as she held his solid build against her.
From the corner of her eye, she spied Brent’s cell phone resting on the loveseat frame, where he’d dropped it in surprise. It lay faceup, showcasing a text alert from Jackie.
Emergency delay…
Brent tried to see what she was staring at, and Hope yelped. “Brent!”
“What?”
“Your phone.” Wrong thing to say, because he turned to glance at it. In one lightning-fast move, Hope released his arms and pressed her palms to his cheeks.
“Well, hey there,” he said, grinning.
Wrong result. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Hope bit her bottom lip, and her mind spun furiously. His cheeks were stubbled with five o’clock shadow and really sexy feeling. Hope swallowed hard.
Think. Think. Think.
“Yes?” He leaned toward her, and Hope’s heart thumped. At least she had his full attention and he wasn’t glancing at his phone. Unlike Hope’s last boyfriend.
Wait a minute. What was she doing? Making comparisons. Now?
She snatched his phone from the couch and held it behind her back. “I don’t want you to look at it.”
“What? Why not?”
Yeah, why not? “Because,” she said, scrambling for a good reason. “This week is supposed to be about us, remember? Not cyber communications.” She added a play pout for good measure.
“Wow,” he said, looking her over. “You’ve changed.”
“It’s our wedd…wedding,” she said, slightly mangling the word. “Shouldn’t we be all about each other?”
Brent’s eyes danced. “Absolutely. And here I thought it was only me.”
“Only you?”
“Who feels this ramped-up attraction between us.” He brought his arms around her and drew her close.
Hope’s pulse shot through the roof and she nearly dropped his phone. Oh no, I’m feeling it. Maybe a little too much.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

There a few difficult scenes to write, but to avoid any spoilers, I’ll stick with this one…
When Hope and Brent have their heart-to-heart on the porch swing. They talk about their past romances, and share about their real selves, offering so much comfort and understanding to each other. It was a little heartbreaking to write because I could feel Hope’s pain at realizing she was falling for Brent, but—in the end—wouldn’t have him.

Brent was perfect. So perfect for somebody, and Hope was starting to think that was her and not her sister. She was the one he’d been getting to know and bond with, not Jackie. And yet, Jackie would be here on Wednesday, and Hope’s little fantasy life, where she pretended she’d finally found a guy who was really into her, would be ended.
Brent checked his watch. “It’s getting late. Are you ready to head back to the carriage house, or do you want to sit here a while?”
Hope wished she could sit there for hours with Brent, snuggled up against his warmth.
“I don’t mind sitting,” she said shyly. “For a little longer.”
“Good.” Brent reached over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her close. “Neither do I.”
Then, they sat staring over the water as Hope’s mind spun and her heart ached, and she wondered what on earth she was going to do. She was giving her heart to her sister’s fiancé, and it was seeming more and more impossible that she’d ever get it back without it breaking completely apart.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

I’d say this book showcases my writing style in the sweet romance subgenre in that it portrays romantic and emotionally intimate moments, but the language stays clean and passionate kissing is as far as things go on the page. (Some of my earlier books have steamier moments, but over the years I’ve gravitated toward sweeter stories.) The book also highlights my sense of humor, which I inject by including the main characters’ internal thoughts and putting them in compromising situations they have to work themselves out of. I’d like to think The Duplicate Bride is the sort of book that readers would feel comfortable about recommending to a friend, or even a teenager, or their grandmother. With the exception of my Romantic Ghost Stories (paranormal series), my work is similar to the classic PG or PG-13 romantic comedies that Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan once made. People who like those kinds of movies, will probably generally like my books as well.
 

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

Mostly, I’m hoping readers will be able to mentally escape to Blue Hill, Maine, and just enjoy themselves being swept up in the action as the romance unfolds. As stressful as life sometimes is, it’s really good to become absorbed in a fictional place for a while, and see how others resolve their difficulties as they work toward that HEA. At the end of the day, I hope The Duplicate Bride leaves a smile on my readers’ faces, making them feel a little better about a world in which forgiveness, and good things, are possible—even for those who are imperfect, and make unfortunate choices.
 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I have a not-yet-revealed book with Entangled Publishing scheduled for release next summer, which fans of The Duplicate Bride will probably like. I’ve also got a new Christmas romance coming out from Hallmark Publishing in fall 2021, and more projects planned beyond that.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 
Thank you for having me! I’ve enjoyed being here and answering your great questions.
 

Giveaway: An autographed copy of the print book, The Duplicate Bride (US only).

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: In The Duplicate Bride, both Hope and Brent begin to believe that destiny brought them together. While they experience an initial chemical attraction, it’s not about that. As the story moves along, it becomes more about the deeper level soul-to-soul connection they share. Do you believe in soul mates, and that two people can be fated for each other, even under extraordinary circumstances? I’d love to know your thoughts!

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from The Duplicate Bride:

She tilted up her chin and said something that confused him. “If only we could make this real.”
“It is real, darling,” he said, bringing his arms around her. Then he held her up against him, deciding to show her just how real it was.
His lips brushed over hers, slowly at first—until she whimpered. Then he deepened the pressure of his kiss until she ran her fingers through his hair, begging for more. They stood there lost in each other as tiny droplets speckled their cheeks and clothing. Finally, thunder rumbled above them, and the skies opened up in a torrential downpour.
“Oh no,” she cried, but she was laughing. “It’s raining. So hard.” The sky had morphed from powder blue to an angry gray haze beneath rumbling thunderclouds.
He took her hand. “We’d better make a break for it.”
Then they raced back toward the house as the rain came down in droves, splashing up against the gravel drive and splattering their clothing, but neither one cared.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Saying “I do” has never been this much fun in this charming new romance from New York Times bestselling author Ginny Baird.

Hope Webb can’t believe her twin sister, Jackie, is begging her to swap places and play fiancée at Jackie’s pre-wedding festivities. Sure, it’s only a business-deal sort of marriage, but Hope is a carb-loving teacher who enjoys curling up with a good book. Jackie is a workaholic whose idea of a good time is a brisk five-mile run at the crack of dawn. The two sisters couldn’t be more opposite.

Now Hope is stuck in the middle of a warm, tight-knit family she can’t help but adore and a groom who turns out to be entirely wonderful…for her.

Hotel magnate Brent Albright knows something is off about his fiancée, but he doesn’t care. Gone is the driven woman with similar career goals, and in her place is someone warm and funny who not only charms his family but him as well. She’s doing everything she can to avoid him, but that’s probably just nerves. Two people about to wed couldn’t know each other less.

Now Brent is determined to woo his fiancée, for real this time, because the more he gets to know her, the more his sweet fiancée turns out to be entirely wonderful…for him.

And that’s when things start to get really complicated…

Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird writes sweet contemporary romance with a dash of humor and a whole lot of heart. She’s published over 25 novels and novellas, both with traditional presses and independently, and is currently working on several exciting projects. Watch for The Duplicate Bride from Entangled/Macmillan in fall 2020. Ginny invites you to sign up for her Newsletter to stay posted on her work.
http://ginnybairdromance.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=16fb2e43f837da56a145c71cc&id=16b89ee5f7
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |