Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

Nearly the whole town was coming. Marilee had sent her regrets, which was a huge relief to everyone. Ryan had flown up to be there for Griffith. From what Olivia could tell, he was thriving in Phoenix.

Helen reached for the veil and secured it on Kelly’s head. Olivia had already done her makeup and pinned up her hair. On the table was the bridal bouquet—white roses with exotic tulips, of course, and similar but smaller bouquets for Olivia and Helen, with peach-colored roses instead of white.

Olivia and Helen were Kelly’s only attendants. They wore matching knee-length mint cocktail dresses that were sleeveless and empire style. Olivia would have been happy with something more fitted but with Helen nearly five months pregnant, they’d needed to go flowy.

Jeff walked into the dressing room. “How’s it going?” he asked, walking up to Kelly. “You’re beautiful. The photographer wants to get started. Can I send her in?”

“You can,” Olivia said. “Make sure Griffith isn’t lurking nearby. He can’t see the bride yet.”

“I will.”

She noticed her dad seemed a little more interested in Helen than Kelly. He was especially doting these days, what with her being pregnant and all. Plus they’d just found out the baby was a boy and Jeff was over the moon.

Most people had assumed Helen was giving up the chance to be a mother when she married a man Jeff’s age. But he’d made it clear he was more than willing to enjoy fatherhood again.

The photographer came in and started taking pictures. When she was done with everyone but the bride, Olivia ducked out to find Sven.

Her sexy man looked good in his dark tux. He would stand up with Griffith, along with Ryan. The starting over and going slow thing had worked for them. Over Thanksgiving, Sven had proposed.

Not wanting to overshadow Kelly’s upcoming wedding, Olivia and Sven had kept things quiet. They’d stolen away for a long weekend in Seattle where they’d bought their matching wedding bands and he’d given her a beautiful engagement ring she only wore when they were together. Next week, while Kelly and Griffith were honeymooning in Hawaii, Olivia and Sven were going to elope to Las Vegas. Neither of them wanted a big wedding. As busy as everything had been with her starting her various businesses and working her different jobs, they hadn’t had a whole lot of time together. She wanted to get married, then retreat to a gorgeous room for five days of being with the man she loved.

He pulled her close and smiled at her. “You’re beautiful.”

“So are you.”

“We leave in less than forty-eight hours. I can’t wait to make you mine.”

“I feel exactly the same way.”

He kissed her palm. “Are you still planning on moving in when we get back?”

She laughed. He’d asked her to come live with him several times, but she’d been firm about keeping her own place until they were married. Being unconventional had gotten them into trouble. She was determined to be very ordinary until they said “I do.”

“I’m already packed.”

“Good. I need you in my life, Olivia. For always.”

She smiled at him. Helen stepped out of the bride’s room.

“We’re ready to start,” she said.

Olivia stepped back. “I’ll see you at the altar,” she told Sven.

“Yes, you will.”

Olivia joined Helen and her sister. She adjusted Kelly’s dress, then handed her the bouquet.

“You’re stunning.”

Kelly drew in a breath. “I’m nervous. What if I trip in my heels?”

“You’ll do fine.”

“I love you,” Kelly told her, then turned to Helen. “You, too.”

Helen’s lower lip trembled.

Olivia put her hands on her hips. “No crying. You’ll ruin your makeup. This is a happy day. Weddings and babies. What could be better?”

Kelly smiled. “Having my sister and best friend with me. That’s the very best of all.”

*

Read on for a sneak peek of YOU SAY IT FIRST, the first book in the exciting new HAPPILY INC series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery!





Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

    Book Club Discussion Questions and Menu Suggestion





Book Club Discussion Questions

          In Secrets of the Tulip Sisters, everyone has a secret (or two). What secret is each character hiding at the beginning of the book? Whose secret did you think had the most potential to create problems, and why? Were you right?

     Susan Mallery is known for creating complex interpersonal relationships with characters in very true-to-life situations. Neither Kelly nor Olivia was wrong or right, but they were certainly in conflict with each other. How would you describe the conflict between the sisters? How did it start? Was it relatable for you? How do you think the sisters felt about each other when the story began, and how did their feelings change throughout the book?

     Discuss the external plot of this story—the events that moved the story along. (For example, the ailing tourism industry in Tulpen Crossing.)

     Each character is connected to the others in multiple ways, making for a multilevel storyline. Talk about the ways in which these characters’ relationships are intertwined: Kelly, Griffith, Olivia, Ryan, Jeff, Helen, Sven, and Marilee.

     What did you think of the way Jeff and Marilee raised the girls? Did their mistakes make you dislike both of them? Did you forgive them by the end of the book? Why or why not?

     What did you think of Griffith’s plan to have a semi-serious, committed, monogamous relationship, but not to fall in love? Do you think a relationship like that could ever work?

     Helen fell in love with Jeff long before she confessed her feelings to him. How would you feel if you found out one of your closest friends was secretly dating your father? Do you think a relationship with a significant age difference can work? Were you happy with the way this story line ended?

     Were you surprised by the way Olivia’s relationship with Sven developed? Did anyone in your group take the time to look up www.Sven-the-viking-god.com?

     How did Olivia’s life differ by not spending her adolescence in Tulpen Crossing? What experiences did she have that Kelly, who lived her entire childhood and most of her adult life with their father, never had?

     How did the characters view themselves differently by the end of the book? Were you satisfied with the ending? Why or why not?





Book Club Menu Suggestion SVEN’S BLUEBERRY CHEESE BLINTZES

These can be made ahead of time, and then just complete the final step while your book club arrives so they’re nice and fresh. These make a great breakfast, too! Makes about 12 blintzes.

FILLING: 1 lb cottage cheese 8 oz cream cheese 1 egg





1 tsp vanilla


BLUEBERRY SYRUP:


16 oz blueberries, fresh or frozen ? cup water ? cup sugar Zest and juice of half a lemon





1 tsp corn starch


     Blend all filling ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

     Stir together the blueberries, water, sugar and lemon juice in a heavy-bottomed pan.