A year's worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. Annie's always wanted a home and a family. But will pretending to be a bride get her closer to her dreams? All Annie Price has ever wanted is a place to call home. Growing up in the foster care system, that dream seemed far away, but now Annie's dream may be coming true. A friend she met in an online book group wants to retire and has offered Annie a fresh start managing her little bookstore. Believing the opportunity is an answer to prayer, Annie packs her suitcase and moves to Red Leaf, Wisconsin. The residents of Red Leaf welcome Annie into the fold . . . everyone except the bookstore owner's son, Jesse Kent. But Annie refuses to let the handsome deputy keep her from embracing her new home with open arms. She even volunteers to help the local historical society refurbish an old church and agrees to be the 'bride' for a special reenactment celebrating the museum's open house. Jesse Kent can't believe his mother has handed the keys to her business over to a woman she met on the Internet. Annie's beautiful, of course, and smart as a whip, but what do they really know about her, anyway? What if she's come to their town just for his mother's money? The only way to see if his suspicions about Annie Price are true is to keep a close eye on her---even if it means he has to marry her! Planning their mock wedding will give him the chance to uncover Annie's motive for moving to town. But as the day of the wedding approaches and secrets come to light, Jesse must face the truth. He wants Annie to be his September bride . . . for real.
Kathryn Springer grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child, she spent many hours sitting at her mother’s typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books – which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own.
After a number of busy years, when she married her college sweetheart and became a stay-at-home mom, Kathryn rediscovered her love for writing. An unexpected snow day from school became the inspiration for a short story, which she submitted to Brio magazine. She went on to publish over a dozen more short stories for Brio, but it wasn’t until her youngest child started school that she decided to pursue her dream to write a book. In August 2004, her Love Inspired® debut novel, Tested by Fire, was published.
Fast forward to today and Kathryn has written over thirty novels. She lives on a lake in northern Wisconsin where she enjoys long walks in the woods and the change of seasons (although sometimes she wishes the "change" between winter and spring didn't last quite so long!) When she isn’t at the computer, you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, paging through cooking magazines or sitting in the sun. A really, really good day includes all three! If you want to know more, follow her blog Table Grace. . .thoughts and musings on living a life with nothing artificial added.
I loved the small town setting of this book and loved how Annie and Jessie didn't hit it off right away. Trust was a prominent issue in this book and their relationship didn't start with any trust. What they ended up with was something that was developed over time and made it all the sweeter when trust finally developed between them. A little more romance and happily ever after played out on the pages of the book at the end of the story would have made this even better but over all this was a sweet story I highly recommend.
So adorable! This charming novella was the perfect afternoon read. Romantic, funny and endearing. I loved how the hero and heroine were roped into a historical wedding reenactment. Plus, the chemistry between the two in each scene was wonderful. Overall, A September Bride was an enjoyable and entertaining read!
~ Audiobook Review ~ This short visit to the fictional cute small town of Red Leaf, Wisconsin, was not long enough! I fell in love with the sweet community in this novella and would totally move there. My only complaint was I felt the ending could have been better written whilst still keeping the same ending.
This was like a 2hr audio Hallmark movie. Great for those days you just want to escape into a feel good, sweet romance.
Characters: These two definitely don’t seem like a likely match. We have a very friendly Annie ready for a fresh start and longing to belong! Then there’s a very suspicious Jesse who takes his job to protect his town wayyy too seriously.
Series: This is Book 10 of 12 in the A Year of Weddings 1 Series. The series is a compilation of short novellas each written by different Christian romance Authors. There is a book for every month. It’s my understanding that these would stand alone so this is the first of the series that I’ve read (since it’s September it seemed fitting!)
Content: The characters are Christians and one scene is set during a church service (no sermon or scriptures quoted). Major themes are trusting others and belonging. Annie grew up in the foster care system. The romance was very clean and only one kissing scene.
Audio Performance: 7/10 I felt Julie was a great fit for this book and her presentation was engaging. Julie gave a Solo Unvoiced Narration (meaning each character does not have a unique voice so they all sound like the narrator) most people like this style but I get very lost in the dialogue.
This is another cute installment to "A Year of Weddings". Each book focuses on a wedding taking place during a particular month. I received a copy from Netgalley a long time ago and I am just getting to read it.
Annie is a lovable character. She has had a rough life and is finally getting love from friends in her new town. Life is going well until she is pulled over by a handsome police officer. Yes, they meet on different occasions and romance blossoms.
This story holds promise for a happy future for Annie. It is cute and clean.
A small town with a heartwarming feel is exactly what Annie needs and is looking for. As a foster kid, she never felt that feeling of belonging and seems to have found it in Red Leaf, Wisconsin.
It's not in my personality to completely immerse myself in a new town the way Annie does, but she is very sincere and caring and finds herself planting roots with these great people after only a short time. I really loved Annie's creativity and bubbly personality and I could tell that those around her loved her just as much as I did. I also loved watching these friendships develop and strengthen.
One of my favorite things about a clean romance story is the first meeting and I love it when it's funny, just as this one is. Annie and Jesse meet in a very humorous way, not once, but twice and I was laughing out loud. Jesse is suspicious by nature, with good reason, and watching his work through his issues was endearing.
I love the wedding theme, the characters, and the sweet and clean romance. Although it's a novella, there was still time for a little bit of a mystery as well, which made things a lot of fun. I wish the ending would've lasted just a little longer, as that was one of my favorite parts, but otherwise, it's a fun story that can be read in one sitting.
Content: mild romance (kissing); mild religious elements (talk of attending church and of God). Clean!
*I received a copy from Zondervan Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Kathryn Springer’s contribution to A Year of Weddings, “A September Bride,” is so cute, and I loved every bit of the quick story (even with the slightly rushed ending). With great characters, quirky circumstances and sweet romance, I knew this novella wouldn’t disappoint me. All in all, it is quite a delightful read and I think readers of A Year of Weddings or simply fans of romance will enjoy it. I haven’t before read anything by Kathryn Springer, but in the future, I know I’ll be on the lookout for more of her books.
Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of “A September Bride” and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)
4.5...this was a sweet, fun, clean novella! I like that I can read a novella in a short time, but if I am really enjoying the story, I always want it to last longer!
I liked Annie and Jesse a lot. I thought the author did a good job at developing the characters for such a short story. I thought Jesse's initial distrust of Annie made sense based on what he went through with his stepfather, and I'm glad that he didn't let it get in the way for long.
The only reason I didn't give this five stars was because the ending felt a little rushed. Maybe if she'd either drawn out the ending or thrown in a quick epilogue of the next September, it would have helped. But I still really, really enjoyed this one.
This is only the second book of Ms. Springer's that I've read...I'll have to go back and her other ones. I really enjoy her writing!
What a sweet falling-in-love story set in a quaint small town. Annie and Jesse may not have started off on the right foot, but they quickly see the good in each other and with the help of some well-meaning townspeople, find themselves in situations perfect for a little romance. My favorite scenes were hunting for vintage treasures in Ms. Viv's attic and Annie dressing up to read to the children in the bookstore. There is even a mystery towards the end that has to get solved before the wedding if Annie is going to feel welcome in Red Leaf, and it's heroic how Jesse comes to her defense.
(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
Sigh. Such a great ending. Loved this book again the second time reading it!
***possible spoilers ahead*** I LOVED the beginning and how Jesse and Annie met (not in a pleasant way -- he pulled her over to give her a warning about her light being out and that the car's muffler was barely hanging on). Needless to say, they don't start off on the right foot and then he learns she's managing his mother's bookstore and his mom didn't even tell him. ;) I could go on and on about that, but I won't.
Oh, and it was fantastic that his mom started pursuing her goal of writing a book!
I really liked this novella by Kathryn Springer. The characters were very likable and believable. Since it's a novella, the romance was a little accelerated, but not extremely so. This is my first read by this author, but I certainly will read more by her.
What a sweet little story! I loved Annie's simple desire to find a place where she truly belonged, and Jesse's determination to keep everyone (especially himself!) safe from any hurt (real or imagined) that could come their way. I also really liked how the author used a gentle humour to tell the story, and how she wove in the fact that both Annie and Jesse were trying their best to follow God's lead in their lives. Was the romance a bit too quick? Yes, but the other elements of this story definitely more than made up for the almost 'insta-love' story.
This was a new to me author and I did like the book. It was a super fast and easy read and it was an enjoyable storyline. Yes it was super rushed but it was also a short novella so it’s fine. I liked Annie and Jesse individually and together they were cute too. I hadn’t read the synopsis before starting the book so Jesse being a cop was a nice surprise to me since I do like reading about deputies and first responders being main characters in books since I feel it doesn’t happen very often. I will definitely read more books from this author in the future.
I just finished the September story and I loved it. It reads just like a Hallmark movie and it was so sweet. The ending wrapped up very fast, I almost would have preferred a whole novel, but other than that it was such a delightful novella
Title: A SEPTEMBER BRIDE Author: Kathryn Springer Publisher: Zondervan September 2014 ASIN: B00GRYXP9G Genre: Contemporary romance novella $3.79 91 pages
A year’s worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.
When Annie moves to Red Leaf, she’s ready to call the little town home. But one handsome, suspicious policeman is ready to stand in her way . . . even if it means walking her down the aisle first.
All Annie Price has ever wanted is a place to call home. So when an online friend offers her a fresh start managing a little bookstore in Red Leaf, Wisconsin, Annie packs her bags and waves goodbye to her former lonely life.
Deputy Jesse Kent can’t believe his mother has handed the keys to her bookshop over to a woman she met on the internet. Annie might be vivacious, smart as a whip, and beautiful—ahem—but what do they really know about her? Jesse has seen his mother taken advantage of before, and he decides to keep a close eye on this Annie Price.
But when a close eye turns into a historical wedding reenactment with Jesse and Annie as the couple, make-believe nuptials quickly give way to real-life emotions. As the wedding approaches and Annie and Jesse’s secrets come to light, the deputy has to face the truth: this wedding may have started as a ploy, but he wants to make Annie his September bride . . . for real.
A SEPTEMBER BRIDE is the latest in the Year of Wedding series. I absolutely loved reading this and getting to know Annie and Jesse. It was beautifully crafted, fun, and kind of reminded me of one of Denise Hunter’s cowboy romances, but was different enough to be not a copycat.
I read Ms. Springer’s first books (Front Porch Princess) and would definitely look her books up and read more. The characters are real, quirky, and there’s a tiny undercurrent of romantic tension. The faith message is understated. Recommended.
"A September Bride" is another winning entry in Zondervan's Year of Weddings series, and it features some of the strongest chemistry of any of the novellas so far. Annie and Jesse's attraction is palpable, and they're both very likeable characters. The supporting characters are wonderful, as well, and I hope author Kathryn Springer revisits Red Leaf in the future, as there seem to be a lot more stories there!
I do think "A September Bride" suffers a bit because of its novella length. Annie has a secret that sort of, but not completely, comes to light, and as it was so important to her, I was surprised to see it dropped. (It's one of those cases where Jesse knows the truth, but she doesn't know that he knows.) I'm sure that in a full length novel, it would have been explored.
While I won't spoil anything, I have to say that the end didn't turn out as I'd anticipated—and I think this novella is so much better for it! Kathryn Springer is definitely moving onto my list of authors to watch. 4 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I would give this a 3.5. This was a cute story. I loved Annie and Jesse. They might be different at first glance but they are the same, especially with the trust issue. Jesse grew up in a small town. He meets Annie for the first time when he stopped her for a "fix it" traffic stop. Annie moved to Red Leaf to start a new and find somewhere to belong. She grew up in the foster system and has been burned by a past experience. Jesse's mom Lorna gives Annie a managerial job in her book store and introduces her to the residents of the town through the historical society. Sparks starts to fly between Jesse and Annie when they were pinned to reenact the wedding of a famous Red Leaf citizen.
The idea of a pretend wedding was a cute idea and I liked Annie and Jesse's characters. The things that I did not like was the speed of the book. It seemed like the story would have been formulated better if this was a longer novel. I also thought that the ending was a bit abrupt. How can a proposal happen when they haven't really spent that much time together? It just seemed a bit to unreal for me. I also wished there were more "swoony" moments between them.
Annie just wants someplace to call home, somewhere to belong. She hopes Red Leaf can be that place. Jesse doesn't trust newcomers, but as he's around Annie more and more, he finds that trusting someone might be worth the risk. The small town setting was charming. I loved the quirky characters and the comfort they had with each other. They were so kind to Annie and accepting of her. Some of the situations Jesse and Annie found themselves in just made me smile. This was a fun, sweet story! The one downfall for me was the abruptness of the ending. I expect a quick wrap up in a novella, and am okay with that. This one seemed really sudden, though. I still enjoyed it enough to lean toward 5 stars! This is the first book I've read by the author. I will definitely read more, and look forward to reading one of her full length novels!
This one finds Annie coming to Red Leaf and managing a book store for a friend she met on an online book club. It's a fresh start for her after going through years of foster care she is looking to settle somewhere and build a nice, new, happy life.
She's stopped by the local policeman with a broken tail light- and can't believe it when she goes to lunch with her friend and it turns out to be her son.
The historical society is re-enacting a local wedding and when the antique wedding dress arrives it only fits Annie! Now they need to find a groom- and guess who volunteers!
These are great books for reading between heavier stories- something nice and bright and cheery.
This novella caught me from page one, paragraph one. I loved Annie and Jessie, each with their own set of prejudices. Like all novellas, it ended too soon but it was perfect for a lazy day reading session before the real world snuck in and I had to get back to work. I had never read anything by Kathryn Springer previously, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if her books make my wishlist to check out very soon.
These novellas have been fun to read over the past ten months. It's a great way to learn about new authors and get a quick read filled with romance in.
Annie has always wanted something she could never have--a family. Now she needs a new start in a new town. In only three weeks she's an important part of the community. She has friends, a job, and a good life...and she doesn't want anyone to jeapordize it.
Jesse doesn't trust strangers, especially ones who have wormed their way into people's hearts as quickly as Annie has. Maybe she's not the person he thinks she is...but what if she is? He's determined to find out exactly what she's up to even if she has to be the groom to Annie's bride in the upcoming reenactment of a wedding.
This was such a good little read that I recommend for everyone.
A September Bride by Kathryn Springer 120 ebook pages A Year of Weddings 1 #10 according to series and publication date Incorrectly #9 on Goodreads
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance, Novella, Christian Fiction,
Featuring: Wisconsin; Small Towns, Police, Bookstore, Historical Society, Discussion Questions, Next Book Preview
Rating as a movie: PG for adult themes
My rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
My thoughts: 22% - This feel like it could be a 5-star banger. 67% - I will most definitely be looking this author up. This is comforting.
Despite moments where others might have rolled their eyes, I found this story highly enjoyable. I actually liked all of the characters and I hope there is a series based on Red Leaf.
Recommend to others?: Yes. This was one of the better ones of the series.
I didn't dislike it, but I didn't really like it either. It was just meh. Also, I admittedly have a less than warm feeling when I read about white people getting pulled over by Law Enforcement because their outcomes/experiences tend to be different than those of people of color. Having an officer as the love interest coupled with the history the protagonist had definitely impacted my experience with this novella. (I work with that population.) It wasn't as terrible as An April Bride or A June Bride though, so there's that.
A September Bride By Kathryn Springer, narrated by Julie Lyles Carr 4 stars March 6 I was really enjoying this story, until the very end. I thought it ended rather abruptly and could have used a few more sentences in not a whole chapter. The narration was good but I had a hard time distinguishing Jessie from Anne in a few scenes. There were some comical characters in this story and I’d be interested in getting to know this town and its people better.
Probably my favorite of the novellas. Jesse, small town deputy with deep roots in town, meets Annie when he pulls her over. Annie, new to town and already fully invested in the community, takes a liking to Jesse and his family. While the town is getting ready to promote the museum the two friends realize they feel more for each other. I enjoyed the meddling of the towns people and the natural conversations between Jesse and Annie, nothing awkward,
I feel in love with Jesse and Annie just about as quick as can be. Their characters were wonderfully written and I'm amazed at how attached I got in the short story. Excellent pacing and depth for a novella. I feel like novellas are often rushed or don't have much substance, but neither of those are true to A September Bride. I'll be looking for more from this author.
This was my first story by Kathryn Springer, and I was delightfully surprised. Love the journey that Annie and Jesse go on as they discover how to move past difficult childhoods. The pacing of the novella was easy to keep up with and filled with endearing characters. A sweet autumn read!