Well, as I've been on the road and reading a little bit at night's lately, I stumbled across a great year-long series on NetGalley and wanted to share my thoughts with all of you!
I'm usually a sucker for a long book that I can get lost in, because I read quickly. But I wanted to give the "Year of Wedding Novellas" a shot, and I fell in love with them. I'm ready for the next set of them to be released on NetGalley, because they were that much fun to read! As Zondervan, the Christian publishing house, promotes these fabulous little fiction stories: "A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed." So much fun!
A December Bride, written by Denise Hunter, was the very first "A Year of Weddings Novella" that I read, and I wasn't sure what to expect at first. I'm not always a novella or shorter novel person. I love to get lost for a long time, but with the level of busy I have been, this was perfect to keep me reading! The story of Layla and Seth and how an accidental engagement became a real one was almost comical at times. When the phony news makes Layla's professional life a lot better, Seth plays along to see if he can win his long-time crush's heart for real. It's a cute story of a Christmas love. Available now on Amazon Kindle for $3.63.
I loved A January Bride by Deborah Raney! Madeline Houser is a successful novelist, and accepts an invitation to visit and write at a friend's neighbors charming bed and breakfast while her house is overrun with carpenters and workers fixing problems. Arthur owns the B&B, and has been leaving notes to Maddie who is using the main part of his B&B as an office during the day. She writes back, knowing she may be falling for the old man who runs the place. Imagine her surprise when he isn't an old man, but a handsome man just her own age... the only problem becomes if he is truly over the passing of his late wife. As a writer myself, I loved the writing aspect of notes and books in this novella. It was so fun to read about! Available now on Amazon Kindle for $3.63.
A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant was my second favorite of all of the "A Year of Weddings Novellas" that I have read so far! Allie left the love of her life at the altar because she was afraid of her destructive family history. When they are thrown back together for a Valentine's Day wedding, the reader isn't sure if sparks will fly or if there will just be more heartbreak for the duo as they take part in wedding festivities. Marcus, it seems, has never stopped loving Allie. Having to walk down the aisle together in his sister's wedding should have been a piece of cake as they would have been married themselves already.... but after being left at the altar, Marcus isn't sure what to think about his feelings now! Loved this book, and Allie and Marcus were an easy couple to read about and love! Available now on Amazon Kindle for $3.79.
A March Bride, by Rachel Hauck, was my favorite out of the December-May wedding novellas. Why? I absolutely adored to royal twist to the plot. American Susanna is three weeks away from marrying a real-life king, Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. When the government of Brighton demands she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, she has second thoughts on losing one of the only things she was going to retain from her old life. Heading home mere weeks before the wedding to see family, and try to thing things through, Susanna struggles with her decision. Nathaniel decides to take matters into his own hands, and sets off for St. Simon's Island, Georgia to see his bride-to-be. This story was so much fun to ear - and it was the perfect little escape of a novella from our winter weather right now! Available on pre-order from Amazon's Kindle for $3.79; available Feb. 25, 2014.
An April Bride by Lenora Worth was one of those great books that made you think "what if?" Sweet Stella is all set to marry her longtime love Marshall when he is injured serving his country overseas. He wouldn't let Stella come to see him, and he didn't return until four weeks before their wedding date. That's when Stella finally learns the truth from Marshall. He had a traumatic brain injury, and doesn't remember any details of their lives together. With just four weeks to figure out what to do, the pair sets out fall in love again - but is it enough time? I loved following along to se what happened to this sweet couple in this novella! Available for pre-order on Kindle for $3.79; release date is March 25, 2014.
A May Bride, by Meg Moseley, was just precious. I loved the relationship the main character, Ellie, has with her sister, and how that secondary plot plays out. Ellie had always dreamed of her perfect wedding. When she finally fell in love with Gray Whitby, everything is ready when he proposes, until a falling out between her already-engaged sister and her mom, her mom refuses to pay for the wedding as promised. Ellie decides to hand her wedding account over to her sister. Gray, understandably, gets mad that she didn't consult with him, and their relationship and pending wedding is almost derailed. I loved this book. Perfect for a spring read when we are all dreaming about warmer weather too. Available for pre-order on Kindle for $3.79; release date is April 22, 2014.
Hope you enjoyed these! I hope I'm back to share more soon!
XOXO,
Mrs. Jones
