EPILOGUE
One Year Later
Ian
Sixteen years since I first laid eyes on my princess, and a year since our reunion in New York, I stand across from her in the Cranford Rose Garden, under a bough of second-flush roses.
Just behind the young Catholic priest from the progressive, neighborhood church we attend together, is Albie’s bench. My brother is with us in spirit, if not in flesh.
Between us, under our clasped hands, are Dylan, a handsome ring-bearer, and Carina, a lovely flower girl.
Tina’s sister-in-law Bella, who traveled from Switzerland with Nico, is her matron of honor, and Craig, dressed up in his Sunday finest, stands behind me, my best man.
Smiling at us from a row of white chairs are Nico, plus Brenda and her brother, Eugene, who’s come all the way from Ireland to witness and celebrate our union. It was a surprise to see Dr. Trímian after so long, but Tina’s reassurance that what happened with Jack Murphy is no longer a liability to Dr. Trímian made him more comfortable about attending.
Though we’ve lived as husband and wife in Tina’s loft for the better part of a year, recent news that we’re expecting a baby prompted us to make everything official. Dylan and Carina will have a little brother at Christmastime; a little one we plan to name Romeo.
There are some that might be stumped as to how one of the richest, most beautiful and sophisticated royals in the world ended up married to a scrappy Irish restaurateur in Brooklyn, but that’s only because they don’t know our story:
Once upon a time, long ago and far away, in a magical city by the River Shannon, a street rat fell in love with a beautiful princess…
…at first sight.
THE END
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Dear Reader:
You will no doubt recall, from the 1992 Disney-version of “Aladdin,” that most of the action between Aladdin and Jasmine happens in three (very brief!) acts:
The first is the magical night when they meet on the streets of Agrabah;
The second is when Aladdin arrives at the palace under the guise of Prince Ali Ababwa to pursue Jasmine’s hand;
And the third is when Aladdin returns to the palace one final time for his showdown with Jafar and to proclaim his love for Jasmine not as a prince, but as himself.
Plotting these three acts into a semi pre-written narrative about the Italian princess from Shear Heaven was challenging, as was finding room for Abu (Albie), the Genie (Eugene Trímian), the Sultan (Steve), and wicked troublemakers, Jafar (Gaspare) and Iago (Iago.) There were times I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull off an updated modern version of “Aladdin” with any finesse…which is why it took three years longer than planned to publish.
But now that it’s finished, At First Sight is one of my all-time favorite novellas. How I’ve loved seeing my Aladdin (Ian Ladd/Prince) and Jasmine (HSH Princess Valentina Yasmina De’Medici) thrust into the familiar story-scaffolding of such a beloved fairytale, complete with the happy ending they both deserve. I hope you will find it similarly enchanting!
With so much love to all of my fans and readers, both loyal and new,
Katy
xoxo
** PURCHASE MORE OF KATY’S FAIRYTALES HERE **
The Vixen and the Vet
2015 RITA® Finalist
2015 Winner, The Kindle Book Awards
(inspired by Beauty & the Beast)
Never Let You Go
(inspired by Hansel & Gretel)
Ginger’s Heart
(inspired by Little Red Riding Hood)
Dark Sexy Knight
2017 Finalist, The Kindle Book Awards
Don’t Speak
2017 Silver Medalist, International Book Awards
(inspired by The Little Mermaid)
Shear Heaven
(inspired by Rapunzel)
At First Sight
(inspired by Aladdin)
For announcements about upcoming
a m o d e r n f a i r y t a l e
releases, be sure to sign up for Katy’s newsletter at http://www.katyregnery.com!
Katy Regnery Standalone Romances
BRAVEHEART – Available on Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo
When Ashley’s mother passes away unexpectedly, her evil stepfather lays out a gruesome plan for her life, which includes being his sex slave and unwilling wife. With the help of her godfather, she escapes, but hot on her heels are her stepbrothers, who will stop at nothing until she is found.
UNLOVED – Available on Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo
Cassidy Porter, the son of Maine’s most notorious serial killer, is eight years old when his father is arrested for the murder of a dozen innocent women. Though he promises his mother to live off-the-grid, quiet and hidden, it becomes hard to keep his promise when an injured hiker arrives on his doorstep.
AFTER WE BREAK – Available on Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo
Zach and Violet meet as students at Yale where they have a whirlwind love affair that ends in pain and regret, leaving them both broken. When they meet by chance 10 years later, long-forgotten feelings come alive again. Will they be able to find their happy ending this time?
ALSO AVAILABLE
from Katy Regnery
a m o d e r n f a i r y t a l e
(A collection)
The Vixen and the Vet
Never Let You Go
Ginger’s Heart
Dark Sexy Knight
Don’t Speak
Shear Heaven
At First Sight
THE BLUEBERRY LANE SERIES
THE ENGLISH BROTHERS
(Blueberry Lane Books #1–7)
Breaking Up with Barrett
Falling for Fitz
Anyone but Alex
Wild about Weston
Kiss Me Kate
Marrying Mr. English
THE WINSLOW BROTHERS
(Blueberry Lane Books #8–11)
Bidding on Brooks
Proposing to Preston
Crazy about Cameron
Campaigning for Christopher
THE ROUSSEAUS
(Blueberry Lane Books #12–14)
Jonquils for Jax
Marry Me Mad
J.C. and the Bijoux Jolis
THE STORY SISTERS
(Blueberry Lane Books #15–17)
The Bohemian and the Businessman
The Director and Don Juan
Countdown to Midnight
THE SUMMERHAVEN SERIES
Fighting Irish
Smiling Irish
Loving Irish
Catching Irish
THE ARRANGED DUO
Arrange Me
Arrange Us
ODDS ARE GOOD SERIES
Single in Sitka
Nome-o Seeks Juliet
A Fairbanks Affair
My Valdez Valentine
STAND-ALONE BOOKS:
After We Break
Braveheart
(a stand-alone, suspenseful romance)
Frosted
(a stand-alone romance novella for mature readers)
Unloved, a love story
(a stand-alone suspenseful romance)
Under the sweet-romance pen name
Katy Paige
THE LINDSTROMS
Proxy Bride
Missy’s Wish
Sweet Hearts
Choose Me
Virtually Mine
Unforgettable You
Under the paranormal pen name
K. P. Kelley
It’s You, Book 1
It’s You, Book 2
Under the YA pen name
Callie Henry
A Date for Hannah
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One
year later, she signed her first contract, and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.
Several dozen books and three RITA® nominations later, Katy claims authorship of the multititled Blueberry Lane series, the A Modern Fairytale collection, the Summerhaven series, the Odds Are Good collection, the Arranged duo, and several other stand-alone romances, including the critically- acclaimed mainstream fiction novel Unloved, a love story.
Katy’s books are available in English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish.
Check out Katy’s Website: http://www.katyregnery.com
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