The Bowen Bride
Book 1 in the Bowen, Nebraska Series
Katie Schmidt runs The Bowen Bride, a wedding dress shop in charming Bowen, Nebraska. Rumors abound that a woman who wears a Bowen Bride creation stays married forever, drawing hopeful brides to the heart of farm country in search of a dream dress.
Katie plays into the rumor because it’s good for business, keeping the real magic behind her custom gowns a secret. However, when sexy single father Jared Porter enters the shop, looking for a wedding gown for his engaged—but far too young to be married—daughter, Katie wonders if a little rumor control might be in order.
Or will she and Jared give the residents of Bowen something to talk about?
Behind the Scenes
Nicole’s mother is from a small town in Nebraska, and Nicole’s always enjoyed hearing stories about her mom’s upbringing. Though her mother’s hometown of Elkhorn has been swallowed by Omaha, Nicole’s always wanted to write a story set in a fictional version. She created the town of Bowen in farm country north of Omaha, near the real towns of Blair, Tekamah, and Herman. Nicole has relatives in Tekamah and, after exploring the area and playing bingo at the Herman VFW hall, she decided to incorporate elements of those towns and their histories in writing The Bowen Bride.
Read an Excerpt
“I’ll be out in just a sec,” a feminine voice called from the back room. He could hear the rat-a-tat of a sewing machine with its foot pedal pressed, then a rustle of fabric. “That you, Amy?”
“Um, no. Jared Porter.”
The sewing machine abruptly cut out. “Oh, sorry. I was expecting Amy Cranders for a fitting.”
He turned to see a striking blonde in her late twenties or early thirties emerge from behind the thick blue curtain that functioned as a door to the shop’s back room. She raised a can of black cherry diet soda with beads of condensation clinging to the sides. “Can I get you one?”