The Morning After Marriage

by Kelly Kay

GINNY
Colin Davis rescued me in a dark parking lot. One perfect kiss later, he was gone, heading home to San Francisco, leaving me with exactly three days to stop thinking about him.

I failed.

Three days later, I'm at my best friend's surprise Vegas wedding. The real surprise? Colin's there too. Looking at me like those three days didn't erase the kiss. Like he's been thinking about it as much as I have.

One lost evening. An extended one and done. Just fun, Vegas, and whatever happens in the next 30 hours. No promises. No future.

Except when we get home, Courtney hands me a marriage certificate.

I remember being there. I just don't remember saying, "I do."

We were drunk, we were happy, we were together, and apparently, an Elvis impersonator made it official. It's funny. It's surreal. But when his Gran overhears me freaking out, it becomes a disaster.

Colin's 92-year-old grandmother is thrilled. My best friends won't stop laughing. And now I'm married to a man I've known for three day, and possibly a past lifetime.

Waking up married in Vegas is a cliché. Waking up married to him is a disaster.

Content Note: This book contains themes of family violence/abuse, financial coercion, and protective marriage elements but I assure it has a happily ever after.

Tropes: Accidental Marriage Black Cat/Golden Retriever One Perfect Kiss Vegas Wedding Banter Hurt/Comfort Found Family

454 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 13, 2026

About the author

I used to create "dreams" with my best friend growing up. We'd each pick a boy we liked, then we'd write down a meet-cute that always ended with a happily ever after.

Now I get to dream every day, although it's a little steamier these days. And I've discovered I can and will write anywhere I can. Keep tuned to Instagram to see all the times I fit in a sentence or two.

I'm a writer, married to a writer, mother of a creative dynamo of a nine-year-old boy and currently a little sleepy. I'm a klutz and goofball and love lipstick as much as my Chuck Taylors.

Good things in the world: pepperoni pizza, Flair pens*, wine, coffee, laughing with my friends until my stomach hurts, a musician at the top of their game, getting lost somewhere I've never been, matinee movies on a weekday, the Chicago Cubs, a fresh new notebook full of possibilities, bourbon on a cold night, Fantasy Football, witty men, walking through the local zoo in the rain and that moment when a character clicks in and begins to write their own adventure. I'm just the pen.

Reviews

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another entertaining part of this friend group, and getting to know Ginny was both sad and sweet. Her life as a contemporary art gallery owner is far from perfect, but it's hers.
She has secrets she's keeping from her friends, meant to hide her past trauma from them, but we all know that doesn't always work.

Meeting Colin by accident (not knowing who he is) and thinking she'll never see him again, she shares secrets with him. Having a night to unburden herself from the secrets she carries is everything, and a sweet memory. But as we all know, fate can be funny sometimes!!

When your friend Courtney says "fly to Vegas, I'm getting married", you go. Facing the man who knows your drama wasn't ever supposed to happen, but instead of leaving, she throws herself into the fun of Vegas. Normally, that doesn't mean YOU come back married as well, but as Ginny and Colin find out, on this trip, it does!!

Colin has made a name for himself in California, and has the resources and spirited, flirty nature to make Ginny his priority and the relationship that forms between them is fun to follow. The chemistry between them isn't ever in doubt, but by tying themselves together so quickly, there's SO much to settle. Fortunately, the people in their lives are supportive, and I enjoyed seeing how they reached their HEA.

This is entertaining, steamy, sweet, with a protective hero who falls hard and fast for a woman who deserves the space to feel safe and loved.
I enjoyed my time with these characters and this storyline.
It's best to read in order to avoid spoilers and have the best experience. I cannot wait for more.

My ARC came from the author (thank you) and I voluntarily leave my thoughts.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wildflower Brides: Colin and Ginny

⭐⭐⭐1/2
I really struggled with how to rate this one. I didn’t hate it, but I also ne ver really felt drawn into the story the way I’d hoped.

I think part of the problem was that I just didn’t really connect with Colin and Ginny. Colin was actually very likeable for most of the book. He was sweet, protective when it counted, and I enjoyed the whole black cat/golden retriever dynamic.

But… then we got to some of his behaviour, and he really started to grate on me…
The way he reacted when his Gran found out they were married, the attempts to “control” things with grand gesture apologies, and then the way he completely lost his mind towards the end just didn’t work for me.

I’m trying not to spoil anything, but I really struggled with the way he treated Ginny. A slip of the tongue, and suddenly everyone turned on her, and honestly, I just couldn’t get behind it. I don’t care how much a hero supposedly loves the heroine, I’m not a fan of treating her like that and then expecting everything to be okay.

There were definitely things I enjoyed…The Vegas wedding, the banter, the found family and some of the sweeter moments, especially as she found herself while running from her brother, but the way the story played out towards the end really put me off.

I don’t like to DNF books, and by the time I got to that point I was far enough in that I figured I might as well see it through… but I really didn’t like the ending, and essentially she ended up grovelling (in a way), when he was the toxic one.

Definitely one of those books where I’m glad I finished it, but I’m not sure I actually enjoyed the last part of it.

[Christine Biesheuvel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fake Turns Into Real
They belong to the same group of friends, but haven’t met, because of the distance (NY vs SF). But when Colin is in New York and happens upon an assault, he disables the man and takes the beaten up woman with him to a well-known bar. They share a kiss when saying goodbye and this kiss stays with them, even thinking they will never meet again.
The surprise of seeing each other at Ben and Courtney’s wedding in Las Vegas is topped by the surprise when Ginny learns their wedding was real too.
Colin has learned most of Ginny’s secrets and wants to carry her burden for her, something that is in his nature to care for everybody else. To keep her safe and lessen her financial burdens, they make a deal while staying married. But secrets don’t stay that way and sometimes, when they are unveiled, misunderstandings arise.
A captivating story, with charismatic characters, who both have to find themselves first before they can become a couple. A lot of steam, humor, sweet flirting, loyal friends and a wonderful grandma.
But also violence, hurt, physically and emotionally. Laughs and some tears. Really loved it!
I received an advance review copy from the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story
This is book 3 in the Wildflower Bride Series and this time we follow Ginny’s story.
Ginny is hiding secrets from her friends and her life is a mess that she desperately doesn’t want them finding out about.
Her life prior to meeting her friends was horrendous and running from it was her only option.
But nothing stays quiet and Ginny’s old and new life is about to implode.
This is when she meets Colin, Ben’s college roommate and great friend.
One night Colin saves her from her ugly past and spirits her away, spending one unforgettable evening and a magical kiss.
Neither of them exchanging numbers or knowing who each other were, until fate had them meeting up again at Ben and Courtney’s Las Vegas wedding.
This is where the fun starts and they wake up the next day having married.
This story was emotional at times and tackled some serious violence issues but it was also fun, steamy and there were some lovely moments.
There was also danger, drama and truths that finally come out.
Another wonderful addition to this series.
Thank you Kelly Kay and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read this story.
4.5 Stars ⭐️
3 🌶️

[Lou Li Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Wildflower Brides series as we follow the best friends girl gang through their trails and tribulations of finding their HEA. You are in for a wild ride with Ginny and Colin…ooph the ups and downs! Ginny has suffered so much at the hands of her own family, she’s as closed off as they get, and even her closest friends don’t know the real Ginny Lawrence. When she meets Colin, he’s the knight in shining armour she didn’t know she needed. After meeting again with Ben and Courtney (book 1) in Vegas, they accidentally get married and neither make haste to annul it. Chemistry is off the charts, but sometimes, love alone isn’t enough, hence the ups and downs while we watch Ginny takes charge of her own life and stops hiding in the shadows and Colin learns to be more selfish too, after fixing everything for everyone, he’s let his own hopes and dreams slide. For a quick minute Kelly had me wondering if this was going to get a HEA, a much deserved one for Ginny, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions, prep your tissues!

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own

[Sandie Chraponski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vegas is always a good idea 😏

If you know me at all you know I’m a HUGE fan of Kelly Kay, as a person, as a friend and especially as an author. The way she puts everything she has into every story she writes proves that, and this one is no exception. She’s not just going to pick a trope and give us something we think we’ve read before. No, she took the accidental marriage trope and made it something totally different. It’s emotional, it’s engaging, and it’s impossible to put down.

Ginny has never relied on anyone but herself for most of her life, so when she meets Colin and all he wants to do is help she does not know how to handle that, and what comes next is a story that I found emotionally honest and almost heartbreaking at times.

With all that said, this is still a Kelly Kay story, so be ready for the banter, the laughs and the steam. I can’t get enough of these Wild Flower Brides and I look forward to what’s to come!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Ginny le ha costado muchísimo llegar al lugar donde está. Después de dejar atrás una infancia marcada por el miedo, logró construir una nueva identidad, abrir la galería de arte con la que siempre soñó y rodearse de personas que la hacen sentir a salvo. Pero justo cuando cree que por fin puede bajar la guardia, su hermano aparece dispuesto a recordarle que el pasado sigue muy presente.

Colin Davis solo iba de regreso de su casa después de visitar a su abuela, hasta que escucha un grito y decide intervenir. Lo que comienza como el rescate de una desconocida se convierte en el inicio de una conexión imposible de ignorar. Ginny guarda demasiados secretos y Colin no tarda en darse cuenta de que detrás de su sonrisa hay una historia mucho más dolorosa de lo que ella deja ver.




Gracias Love Notes por el ARC.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was everything. i cried and laughed soooo many times. the only reason, it was not a 5 star read was the ending. I LOVEDDD colin all the way up to about 85%. if I was ginny, i don’t know if i could forgiven him after his cruel words. i do think she was wrong for telling his gran that they were fake married but i can also realize that it wasn’t on purpose. i mean i get it his perspective but i also don’t. i think colin understood ginny to a certain degree but when he needed to stand by her, i don’t think he did it all that well. you can be upset and not treat someone like crap. she struggled with trauma and only knew how to love platonically which is completely understandable. i don’t know why it was so hard for him to grasp that. with all that being said, i will be going back to read the other books.

thank you love notes pr for the arc!

[Alexandrea Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in this series and the first book by this author I have read. It has made me want to read the first two books in the series and any other books Kelly Kay writes!

Ginny has been through a lot in her life. Has a group of friends she hasn’t truly opened up to. She is hiding secrets, trying to protect the ones she loves. Colin saves her one night while he is in town. They share a kiss, and both think they'll never see each other again. What they don’t know is they are both attending a wedding in Vegas for their friends who are marrying each other. They all get drunk, and Colin and Ginny accidentally marry each other. This is when the story gets really good! There are a lot of bumps in the road to their HEA, but they make it.

I loved these two and their friend group! I cannot wait to step into this world again and see all these characters!

[Kimberly S45 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t hit for me.

I really enjoyed Runaway Roadtrip and I think I was expecting the same kind of vibe.

I did however enjoy the Vegas trip with the friend group and all the banter especially with Zane and Kat. That story could be juicy 😉

This story had some sweet moments, but also not so sweet moments especially with Collin the MMC towards the end.

What to expect:
💍 Accidental Marriage
🐈‍⬛ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🧡 Found Family
❤️‍🩹 Hurt/Care
👀 Fake Relationship
🤭 Marriage with Benefits
💋 One Perfect Kiss

If you’re into these tropes though give it a whirl 😊
Thanks love notes for the ARC

[Gia · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒⁣

2.5⭐️
⁣
I really wanted to love this one because the vegas wedding premise is one of my favorite tropes. There were sweet moments and fun chemistry. But for me, the writing just didn’t do it. Personally, felt rushed or missing something. It was also hard for me to read at times because I am a DV survivor and there were tough moments in this. I do think a lot of other people (especially those without PTSD) are going to like this.
⁣
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗣𝗥 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆!

[Simplymetaramarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. There was insta attraction between Colin and Ginny. Neither are looking for more, so they never look to reconnect and then there was Vegas. They are banter and heat. Ginny is running, and though it's against his nature, Colin, is chasing her. If you are looking for a quick, entertaining read, with some emotions and baggage look no further. I love how this story had a different feel than Ben and Courtney's story. Strangers-to-lovers, hero protector, traumatic past, and a sassy grandmother make for an enjoyable read.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed story continuing the series about family, friendship, and love. Parts of this book were lovely and sweet while other parts contained cruelty, terror, and evil. But the love story, rocky at times, counterbalanced the bad. I loved the creative solutions and the joy that resulted.

[Laney Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Review coming later. This was so funny and so touching. So much healing and Colin is my absolute newest book boyfriends. There are tough issues in this book but they are dealt with so well. Ginny overcoming her past to find a future with him Colin was everything. And so much great banter.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It has some hard moments but it is also fun and tender. I liked the relationship that develops between Ginny and Colin. They both end up giving the other what they need. The storyline was good and I liked seeing all the characters again. Overall it was a good read.

[Blake Fox]

ARC Review:

Thank you to Kay and Love Notes PR for the chance to read this book. Review to come!

[Marivel (marislitcorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars