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A Year of Weddings 1 #1-3
Winter Brides: A Year of Weddings Novella Collection
Cozy up by the fireplace for three heartwarming stories of love and weddings in the wintertime.
The honor of your presence is requested at three winter weddings . . .
A December Bride by Denise Hunter
When Layla O'Reilly and Seth Murphy make their engagement public, she knows it's only to convince a major client that she's high-society enough to work for his agency. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, but she’s never given him the time of day. For Layla, this engagement of convenience is the chance to save her career. And for Seth, it's the chance to finally win her heart.
A January Bride by Deborah Raney
Novelist Madeleine Houser arranges a temporary office in a local bed and breakfast to escape the distracting renovations on her own house. Although she's never laid eyes on the inn's owner, an unlikely friendship blossoms between them as they leave daily notes for each other, and before long, Maddie finds herself falling for her mysterious host—a man likely many years her senior—and a man she's never even met.
A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant
History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day—wearing the same wedding dress passed down for generations of women in her family, all women with histories of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus but fears she's destined to repeat her family's mistakes. When thrown unexpectedly together for a wedding months later, Allie and Marcus discover their own story might be far from over.
The honor of your presence is requested at three winter weddings . . .
A December Bride by Denise Hunter
When Layla O'Reilly and Seth Murphy make their engagement public, she knows it's only to convince a major client that she's high-society enough to work for his agency. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, but she’s never given him the time of day. For Layla, this engagement of convenience is the chance to save her career. And for Seth, it's the chance to finally win her heart.
A January Bride by Deborah Raney
Novelist Madeleine Houser arranges a temporary office in a local bed and breakfast to escape the distracting renovations on her own house. Although she's never laid eyes on the inn's owner, an unlikely friendship blossoms between them as they leave daily notes for each other, and before long, Maddie finds herself falling for her mysterious host—a man likely many years her senior—and a man she's never even met.
A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant
History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day—wearing the same wedding dress passed down for generations of women in her family, all women with histories of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus but fears she's destined to repeat her family's mistakes. When thrown unexpectedly together for a wedding months later, Allie and Marcus discover their own story might be far from over.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2014
88 people are currently reading
1066 people want to read
About the author
Denise Hunter
85 books4,711 followersDenise Hunter is the award-winning author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
January 4, 2023
Loved buddy reading this with my friend Amy! We both really liked the first 2 novellas but didn’t love the last one.
A December Bride - Denise Hunter: 3.5-4 stars
This is actually a Hallmark movie - which is pretty cool. I could see that for sure. This is about Layla trying to get her home staging business up and running when some circumstances happen where Seth gets them in a situation where they have to pretend they're dating and engaged. He agrees to let her decorate his home for Christmas Home Show and the story takes off there. Liked this pretty good, but the ending was too rushed.
A January Bride - Deborah Raney: 5 stars - loved!
This is all about Maddie who is an author and needs a place to write her manuscript because her house has some electrical issues going on. Ginny, who is her 80 year old neighbor, recommends Art's house that used to be a bed and breakfast. She goes to his home for about a week, each day, writing her story. Each day they write letters back and forth, never actually meeting in person. Each one of them thinks each other is an older person, Ginny's age, which adds a lot to the story. You are rooting for them to finally meet the entire time and loving them writing letters back and forth. Loved this one. So engaging and the characters and chemistry were great. Would love to check more by Deborah out, as I had never read anything by her before.
A February Bride - Betsy St. Amant: 2 stars
This didn't make any sense to me.... This starts with Allie leaving her fiance at the alter because she is afraid she will make the same mistakes as her mom, aunt and grandmother.....Marcus doesn't know why she left. So much miscommunication. The characters keep getting forced back togther but.............this just was so ridiculous of a story. The last chapter had some good redemption and realization points and this was the only short story that had a couple who already come in knowing each other for a while, but still did not like it.
A December Bride - Denise Hunter: 3.5-4 stars
This is actually a Hallmark movie - which is pretty cool. I could see that for sure. This is about Layla trying to get her home staging business up and running when some circumstances happen where Seth gets them in a situation where they have to pretend they're dating and engaged. He agrees to let her decorate his home for Christmas Home Show and the story takes off there. Liked this pretty good, but the ending was too rushed.
A January Bride - Deborah Raney: 5 stars - loved!
This is all about Maddie who is an author and needs a place to write her manuscript because her house has some electrical issues going on. Ginny, who is her 80 year old neighbor, recommends Art's house that used to be a bed and breakfast. She goes to his home for about a week, each day, writing her story. Each day they write letters back and forth, never actually meeting in person. Each one of them thinks each other is an older person, Ginny's age, which adds a lot to the story. You are rooting for them to finally meet the entire time and loving them writing letters back and forth. Loved this one. So engaging and the characters and chemistry were great. Would love to check more by Deborah out, as I had never read anything by her before.
A February Bride - Betsy St. Amant: 2 stars
This didn't make any sense to me.... This starts with Allie leaving her fiance at the alter because she is afraid she will make the same mistakes as her mom, aunt and grandmother.....Marcus doesn't know why she left. So much miscommunication. The characters keep getting forced back togther but.............this just was so ridiculous of a story. The last chapter had some good redemption and realization points and this was the only short story that had a couple who already come in knowing each other for a while, but still did not like it.
December 26, 2015
This was a quick, fun read. My favorite was the second...a couple who shares a love of classic things and forms mistaken ideas about the other before meeting. It was hilarious...and sweetly conniving neighbor Ginny topped the cake quite nicely.
The others were great, too. Layla finding that love had been in plain sight all along...and Allie learning to trust in something more than her family's disasters.
The others were great, too. Layla finding that love had been in plain sight all along...and Allie learning to trust in something more than her family's disasters.
January 20, 2018
These three novella's were good but Denise Hunter's Was the best and it had me at page one! I loved how it pulled me in. I can see why it was made into a hallmark movie. I highly recommend this book.
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March 24, 2021OMG sooooooooo good I recommend this for all yall !!!
April 27, 2017
These three novellas were very good! I read all of them in a matter of days.
A December Bride was definitely my favorite. Layla and Seth were super cool main characters. I just wanted to keep reading and reading. The fact that they are pretending to be engaged is hilarious and sweet at the same time. I wanted this book to be a full-length novel just because of how good it was.
A January Bride was probably my least favorite. It seemed to be a little “too quick” of a story. It was only okay. I never got to really “know” the characters. It was like “Hey, nice to meet you, let uss fall in love, the end.”
A February Bride was right in the middle. It wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t my least favorite. There is always the “middle book” of the group, especially when there are only three books. The plot was kind of confusing. I think it would have been better if it had been a full-length novel.
The cover was okay. I mean, it was kind of plain. So, I will give it 2 stars. It would have been better if it had some more color.
As for the book, I will give it…3 stars. It would have gotten 4 stars if I would have liked A February Bride better. And, it would have gotten 5 if I liked A January Bride better.
Title: Winter Brides
Authors: Denise Hunter, Deborah Raney, and Betsy St. Amant
Authors’ Websites: http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/, http://www.deborahraney.com/, and http://www.betsystamant.com/
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
A December Bride was definitely my favorite. Layla and Seth were super cool main characters. I just wanted to keep reading and reading. The fact that they are pretending to be engaged is hilarious and sweet at the same time. I wanted this book to be a full-length novel just because of how good it was.
A January Bride was probably my least favorite. It seemed to be a little “too quick” of a story. It was only okay. I never got to really “know” the characters. It was like “Hey, nice to meet you, let uss fall in love, the end.”
A February Bride was right in the middle. It wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t my least favorite. There is always the “middle book” of the group, especially when there are only three books. The plot was kind of confusing. I think it would have been better if it had been a full-length novel.
The cover was okay. I mean, it was kind of plain. So, I will give it 2 stars. It would have been better if it had some more color.
As for the book, I will give it…3 stars. It would have gotten 4 stars if I would have liked A February Bride better. And, it would have gotten 5 if I liked A January Bride better.
Title: Winter Brides
Authors: Denise Hunter, Deborah Raney, and Betsy St. Amant
Authors’ Websites: http://www.denisehunterbooks.com/, http://www.deborahraney.com/, and http://www.betsystamant.com/
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
January 18, 2020
December Bride: 4 stars (Chapel Springs)
This story takes place in Indiana. It's the story of a home stager and a business (hardware store) owner falling in love. She decorates his house for Christmas. It also involves an ex-fiance, a sleigh, and a fake engagement.
January Bride: 4 stars
This story takes place in Kansas. It is the story of a writer and a professor falling in love. The story involves misunderstandings, notes, a cat, and soup. She works on her novel at his inn.
February Bride: 4 stars
This story takes place in Louisiana. It is the story of a furniture restorer and a mechanic getting back together. She left him at the alter and is her ex-fiance's sister's maid of honor. The story involves a wedding dress, wedding planning, a car, and a bench.
This story takes place in Indiana. It's the story of a home stager and a business (hardware store) owner falling in love. She decorates his house for Christmas. It also involves an ex-fiance, a sleigh, and a fake engagement.
January Bride: 4 stars
This story takes place in Kansas. It is the story of a writer and a professor falling in love. The story involves misunderstandings, notes, a cat, and soup. She works on her novel at his inn.
February Bride: 4 stars
This story takes place in Louisiana. It is the story of a furniture restorer and a mechanic getting back together. She left him at the alter and is her ex-fiance's sister's maid of honor. The story involves a wedding dress, wedding planning, a car, and a bench.
January 3, 2018
I have not read much Christian contemporary since I was a teenager, and I find myself pleasantly surprised whenever I do read it, so maybe I should be reading it more! This book features 3 short stories, and while they did read like Hallmark movies (in fact, the first story in this book WAS made into a Hallmark movie!) I quite enjoyed them. This was the perfect time of year to read this. My favourite story was January Bride, then December Bride, and February Bride being my least favourite. I'm not sure if the rest of the series is available on audio for me, but my mom has the rest of them so I may be borrowing them from her each season.
May 8, 2020
I listened to the audiobook of this book on Storytel & loved every minute of it. This was a light & enjoyable read & was ideal to relax my mind while doing other works like journaling, workout, household chores, etc. It was funny, sweet & cute. Out of the 3 novellas, 2nd was my favorite out of the 3. The narration was also quite good. Overall it was a great audiobook & definitely recommend listening to it.
January 3, 2015
Winter Brides:
A December Bride - At first I wasn’t sure if I would like a contemporary engagement of convenience story. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed it very much. The characters were likable and fun. Layla is trying to get her home staging business off the ground. Seth agrees to let her decorate his home for the Christmas Home Show which led to some adorable scenes between the two of them
A January Bride - Maddie is an author and needs a place to work while the house she is staying in is being renovated. Ginny her 80 year old neighbor recommends Art’s house which used to be a Bed and Breakfast. Art is a widower and an English professor. Maddie and Art leave notes for each other as they ‘pass in the night’. Both assume the other is Ginny’s age which gives them the freedom to write openly
A February Bride - The book opens with Allie leaving her fiancé at the altar. Allie is terrified that she will repeat the mistakes of her mom, aunt and grandmother. Marcus cannot understand why she has left. Hannah is her best friend and Marcus’ sister. Hannah is having a Valentine wedding which is forcing Allie and Marcus into several uncomfortable situations. Allie and Marcus were both likable characters
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
A December Bride - At first I wasn’t sure if I would like a contemporary engagement of convenience story. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed it very much. The characters were likable and fun. Layla is trying to get her home staging business off the ground. Seth agrees to let her decorate his home for the Christmas Home Show which led to some adorable scenes between the two of them
A January Bride - Maddie is an author and needs a place to work while the house she is staying in is being renovated. Ginny her 80 year old neighbor recommends Art’s house which used to be a Bed and Breakfast. Art is a widower and an English professor. Maddie and Art leave notes for each other as they ‘pass in the night’. Both assume the other is Ginny’s age which gives them the freedom to write openly
A February Bride - The book opens with Allie leaving her fiancé at the altar. Allie is terrified that she will repeat the mistakes of her mom, aunt and grandmother. Marcus cannot understand why she has left. Hannah is her best friend and Marcus’ sister. Hannah is having a Valentine wedding which is forcing Allie and Marcus into several uncomfortable situations. Allie and Marcus were both likable characters
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
January 23, 2015
A lovely book containing three Winter wedding stories. Easy reading and great to lose yourself in.
In December bride appears to be a marriage of convenience- or is it? Will Layla and Seth have the happy ever after.
In a January Bride Madeleine falls for a man she’s never met- the owner of the inn she’s staying in. They leave notes for each other.
In a February Bride Allie feels that her wedding will be cursed, as she’s wearing the dress passed down through her family and she leaves the church and everyone there, including her prospective groom- Marcus.
Many thanks to Zondervan and Net Galley for a copy of this book.
In December bride appears to be a marriage of convenience- or is it? Will Layla and Seth have the happy ever after.
In a January Bride Madeleine falls for a man she’s never met- the owner of the inn she’s staying in. They leave notes for each other.
In a February Bride Allie feels that her wedding will be cursed, as she’s wearing the dress passed down through her family and she leaves the church and everyone there, including her prospective groom- Marcus.
Many thanks to Zondervan and Net Galley for a copy of this book.
December 19, 2015
Requested from NetGalley and didn't realize I had read all three stories individually. December Bride-4 stars, January Bride-5 stars, February Bride-3 stars. Total stars-4 via average. I would recommend it. Solid stories.
March 21, 2015
I like having collections of books. I've read each of these separately, but now they are gathered together for your reading pleasure:
A December Bride
by Denise Hunter
What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?
Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiance would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart.
Kathie's Review:
Again, I know Christmas is over for another 9 months...but this was cute! And short, and I needed something to read that wouldn't take all day. This fit the bill nicely.
I really enjoyed the staging of Seth's house. I could see all the goodies Layla was setting up. The sleigh? Yes, that was a fantastic touch!
And Seth, ah he was a sweetheart. Jumping at the chance to get the girl of his dreams. He was a bit awkward, but that made him all the more endearing.
The thing that I didn't like about this one was Layla never laid the blame for her broken engagement where it belonged. That would be on her cousin and her ex-fiance. She forgives Seth, but he really didn't do anything wrong. That bothered me.
He was a very forgiving guy, himself, and while he shouldn't have felt guilty, he was a great guy who did. Yes, he's a keeper.
Even though their fake engagement and then their real one doesn't take all that much time, it worked here. They had known each other for a long time. Finally, the time was right...and it was sweet. There's no steamy scenes in this book. There is some lovely UST in the form of kisses. It was a lovely, clean read.
So, if you are still wishing for a bit of Christmas Cheer, check this one out.
A January Bride
by Deborah Raney
Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper––but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner––a man who's likely many years her senior––and who she’s never even met.
Kathie's Review:
This is the third book in the "Year of Weddings" series that I've read. And I loved this one the most. Maybe because I'm an editor, and reading about Maddie's life as she writes books, there was something that rang true here.
Maddie can't work in her sister's house as it undergoes a major renovation. Her elderly, but spry, neighbor Ginny finds a place for her to work in a friend's B&B. It's empty during the week and the lovely surrounds and the quiet are the perfect place for Maddie to get her novel going.
She and the landlord, Arthur, leave each other notes. She assumes that he's this older gentleman, because he's Ginny's friend. He assumes she's elderly because she's Ginny's friend.
Neither are correct.
Times passes as do their letters to each other. They are rapidly becoming friends through their words. I found myself getting anxious about their actual meeting. Ginny has a hand in that, too.
Arthur's beloved wife died nearly three years ago. He struggles to accept his growing attraction to Maddie and, once again, Ginny helps out. I think she needs her own book! Maybe Alex, the cat, needs one, too.
Yes, I enjoyed this Wedding Series book the best so far. Well done, Ms. Raney. I will be looking up more from you!
A February Bride
by Betsy St. Amant
In A February Bride, history repeats itself when this bride runs out of the church on her wedding day---in the same dress that had been passed down for generations and worn by her mom, grandma and great-grandmother who also ran out of their weddings. The heroine struggles to break destructive cycles of the past. Can this bride shuck expectation and discover who SHE is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she finally walks down the aisle, what dress will she be wearing? Readers will enjoy this novel of redemption centered on a winter wedding.
Kathie's Review:
Ah, Allie...she hasn't had the best mentors as she stands in the church on her wedding day. She's wearing THE DRESS that the women in her family always wear to be married in. Each and every time they marry. They enjoy saying they are cursed. That they leave (or push out) the men that they love...before their own hearts can be broken. They've all been married over and over again. And now it's time for Allie to enjoy her own FIRST marriage.
Allie loves Marcus. Loves him to distraction. While I don't agree with her method (leaving him standing at the altar) I can see why she does it. A tear in the sleeve of THE DRESS seems like a sign to her...and she sprints away, to save Marcus from the torment of a broken marriage later on.
It's four months later and Hannah, Marcus' sister and Allie's best friend makes a huge request. She wants Allie to be her Maid of Honor in her own wedding, slated for Valentine's Day.
My issue here is that Allie and Marcus haven't run into each other in FOUR MONTHS. This is a very small town. Very small. And once the initial meeting goes awkwardly by, they keep running into each other. And the sparks are still there. Oh, Allie admits to herself that she loves him, and probably always will. But she just doesn't want to hurt him any further.
This book has alternating POV and Ms. St. Amant does it well. We get to read Marcus' confusion, and about his continuing love for Allie, and she does this very well.
Just when Allie thinks maybe she can break the curse, and get back together with Marcus and they can live HEA, her mom calls. She needs THE DRESS back. She's getting married for the umpteenth time.
I really enjoyed the VOICE OF REASON when she came to Allie. And I enjoyed the sweet ending. This was a fun way to spend a few hours.
Thank you, NetGalley and Zondervan, for the opportunity to read these books.
A December Bride
by Denise Hunter
What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?
Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiance would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart.
Kathie's Review:
Again, I know Christmas is over for another 9 months...but this was cute! And short, and I needed something to read that wouldn't take all day. This fit the bill nicely.
I really enjoyed the staging of Seth's house. I could see all the goodies Layla was setting up. The sleigh? Yes, that was a fantastic touch!
And Seth, ah he was a sweetheart. Jumping at the chance to get the girl of his dreams. He was a bit awkward, but that made him all the more endearing.
The thing that I didn't like about this one was Layla never laid the blame for her broken engagement where it belonged. That would be on her cousin and her ex-fiance. She forgives Seth, but he really didn't do anything wrong. That bothered me.
He was a very forgiving guy, himself, and while he shouldn't have felt guilty, he was a great guy who did. Yes, he's a keeper.
Even though their fake engagement and then their real one doesn't take all that much time, it worked here. They had known each other for a long time. Finally, the time was right...and it was sweet. There's no steamy scenes in this book. There is some lovely UST in the form of kisses. It was a lovely, clean read.
So, if you are still wishing for a bit of Christmas Cheer, check this one out.
A January Bride
by Deborah Raney
Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper––but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner––a man who's likely many years her senior––and who she’s never even met.
Kathie's Review:
This is the third book in the "Year of Weddings" series that I've read. And I loved this one the most. Maybe because I'm an editor, and reading about Maddie's life as she writes books, there was something that rang true here.
Maddie can't work in her sister's house as it undergoes a major renovation. Her elderly, but spry, neighbor Ginny finds a place for her to work in a friend's B&B. It's empty during the week and the lovely surrounds and the quiet are the perfect place for Maddie to get her novel going.
She and the landlord, Arthur, leave each other notes. She assumes that he's this older gentleman, because he's Ginny's friend. He assumes she's elderly because she's Ginny's friend.
Neither are correct.
Times passes as do their letters to each other. They are rapidly becoming friends through their words. I found myself getting anxious about their actual meeting. Ginny has a hand in that, too.
Arthur's beloved wife died nearly three years ago. He struggles to accept his growing attraction to Maddie and, once again, Ginny helps out. I think she needs her own book! Maybe Alex, the cat, needs one, too.
Yes, I enjoyed this Wedding Series book the best so far. Well done, Ms. Raney. I will be looking up more from you!
A February Bride
by Betsy St. Amant
In A February Bride, history repeats itself when this bride runs out of the church on her wedding day---in the same dress that had been passed down for generations and worn by her mom, grandma and great-grandmother who also ran out of their weddings. The heroine struggles to break destructive cycles of the past. Can this bride shuck expectation and discover who SHE is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she finally walks down the aisle, what dress will she be wearing? Readers will enjoy this novel of redemption centered on a winter wedding.
Kathie's Review:
Ah, Allie...she hasn't had the best mentors as she stands in the church on her wedding day. She's wearing THE DRESS that the women in her family always wear to be married in. Each and every time they marry. They enjoy saying they are cursed. That they leave (or push out) the men that they love...before their own hearts can be broken. They've all been married over and over again. And now it's time for Allie to enjoy her own FIRST marriage.
Allie loves Marcus. Loves him to distraction. While I don't agree with her method (leaving him standing at the altar) I can see why she does it. A tear in the sleeve of THE DRESS seems like a sign to her...and she sprints away, to save Marcus from the torment of a broken marriage later on.
It's four months later and Hannah, Marcus' sister and Allie's best friend makes a huge request. She wants Allie to be her Maid of Honor in her own wedding, slated for Valentine's Day.
My issue here is that Allie and Marcus haven't run into each other in FOUR MONTHS. This is a very small town. Very small. And once the initial meeting goes awkwardly by, they keep running into each other. And the sparks are still there. Oh, Allie admits to herself that she loves him, and probably always will. But she just doesn't want to hurt him any further.
This book has alternating POV and Ms. St. Amant does it well. We get to read Marcus' confusion, and about his continuing love for Allie, and she does this very well.
Just when Allie thinks maybe she can break the curse, and get back together with Marcus and they can live HEA, her mom calls. She needs THE DRESS back. She's getting married for the umpteenth time.
I really enjoyed the VOICE OF REASON when she came to Allie. And I enjoyed the sweet ending. This was a fun way to spend a few hours.
Thank you, NetGalley and Zondervan, for the opportunity to read these books.
August 3, 2017
December Bride by Denise Hunter - 3.5/5 - this was a really fun fake romance trope story, with characters who were relatable, pleasant, and had good chemistry. The situation was plausible, and I liked how they both had their doubts, but it didn't descend into nothing but internal angst. The story is set in Chapel Springs, where several of Hunter's other books take place, but was a completely individual story.
January Bride by Deborah Raney - 4/5 - this was my favorite out of the three, about an author who ends up writing letters to a fellow she has never met. The whole story was just adorable fluff. I loved the misconceptions they had about each other and how that played into their comfort with sharing letters. I would have enjoyed having more of their letters and less of the drama of the fellow getting over his guilt about falling in love again (his first wife died several years earlier), but all in all a really fun little story.
February Bride by Betsy St. Amant - 3/5 - while this wasn't a bad story by any means - and I actually really liked the characters - sooo much of this story was just listing to the protagonist internally bemoan how she just isn't good enough to marry this guy and how their marriage would be doomed to failure if she even tried. I think this story would have worked better at a longer length, where those internal monologues could have been broken up more with a bit of actual things happening. Like, she had valid points and important issues she needed to work through, but because so much time was spent on those, the whole story kind of dragged a bit.
All in all, a fun collection of stories, and I'm looking forward to checking out Spring Brides next!
January Bride by Deborah Raney - 4/5 - this was my favorite out of the three, about an author who ends up writing letters to a fellow she has never met. The whole story was just adorable fluff. I loved the misconceptions they had about each other and how that played into their comfort with sharing letters. I would have enjoyed having more of their letters and less of the drama of the fellow getting over his guilt about falling in love again (his first wife died several years earlier), but all in all a really fun little story.
February Bride by Betsy St. Amant - 3/5 - while this wasn't a bad story by any means - and I actually really liked the characters - sooo much of this story was just listing to the protagonist internally bemoan how she just isn't good enough to marry this guy and how their marriage would be doomed to failure if she even tried. I think this story would have worked better at a longer length, where those internal monologues could have been broken up more with a bit of actual things happening. Like, she had valid points and important issues she needed to work through, but because so much time was spent on those, the whole story kind of dragged a bit.
All in all, a fun collection of stories, and I'm looking forward to checking out Spring Brides next!
July 22, 2017
Three novellas that explore the path to love while not always easy, can lead to a happy ending if the love is true. December Bride Layla O'Reilly and Seth Murphy announce an engagement only to convince a client that she is ready for a high society assignment despite the fact that she sees herself as from the wrong side of the tracks. Seth has always loved Layla and agrees though he holds out for a real engagement. January Bride Novelist Madeleine Houser stays at a local bed and breakfast to escape the noise and distraction of renovations at her sister's house. She has never seen the owner of the inn, but begins a tentative friendship via note she writes to him which he answers. Maddie finds herself attracted to the mysterious innkeeper who gradually feels the same way about her. Surprises await both of them when they finally meet. Allie Andrews leaves her groom at the altar out of fear of repeating family history symbolized by a wedding dress worn by all the brides on her mother's side of the family. Because all the marriages end, Allie's fear of history repeating itself nearly aborts her chance for happiness. True love prevails amidst circumstances that bring love to fruition. Delightful, light and engaging stories that beg to be read by any needing a happy ending and the courage to continue believing in love.
October 2, 2021
Read the first two stories and decided to table the third one.
First story - A December Bride by Denise Hunter: I wasn't convinced with the romance. Seth, yes, I can see his interest. Layla, no way. The engagement party seemed so awkward and cringe-worthy; if I was Layla, I would've been pissed. This story would've been better off as a full novel to develop the romance between Seth and Layla and not have it be so rushed.
Second story - A January Bride by Deborah Raney: Absolutely adorable! I really liked the chemistry between the two main characters. Very well done as a novella.
Third story - A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant: I'm not convinced about why Allie left Marcus. What happened to her not talking it to him about it? I'm okay with not knowing how they resolved their issues.
Also, I had no idea this was a Christian themed book. I could've done without all the God references.
First story - A December Bride by Denise Hunter: I wasn't convinced with the romance. Seth, yes, I can see his interest. Layla, no way. The engagement party seemed so awkward and cringe-worthy; if I was Layla, I would've been pissed. This story would've been better off as a full novel to develop the romance between Seth and Layla and not have it be so rushed.
Second story - A January Bride by Deborah Raney: Absolutely adorable! I really liked the chemistry between the two main characters. Very well done as a novella.
Third story - A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant: I'm not convinced about why Allie left Marcus. What happened to her not talking it to him about it? I'm okay with not knowing how they resolved their issues.
Also, I had no idea this was a Christian themed book. I could've done without all the God references.
May 17, 2017
I thought the stories in this collection were pretty cute.
I am a fan of Denise Hunter and reading the story of Layla which is connected to the Chapel hills series she has was fun. I especially liked the plot between the hero and heroine and faking an engagement.
My favorite one was the second one. I really liked the plot of Madeline and Arthur writing letters to each other before meeting. These correspondence led them to have wrong assumptions against each other and it was cute when they finally met.
The third one was my least favorite. It was kind of predictable and the idea that a person would not marry the love of her life because of a self perceived curse is kind of unreal to me. But it was still cute. I liked the idea that "there are times to tear and times to mend" that was basically the lesson behind the story.
I am a fan of Denise Hunter and reading the story of Layla which is connected to the Chapel hills series she has was fun. I especially liked the plot between the hero and heroine and faking an engagement.
My favorite one was the second one. I really liked the plot of Madeline and Arthur writing letters to each other before meeting. These correspondence led them to have wrong assumptions against each other and it was cute when they finally met.
The third one was my least favorite. It was kind of predictable and the idea that a person would not marry the love of her life because of a self perceived curse is kind of unreal to me. But it was still cute. I liked the idea that "there are times to tear and times to mend" that was basically the lesson behind the story.
January 21, 2019
December Bride: I enjoyed this story, which I’d read previously. I do wish this had been a regular length-novel, as novellas aren’t my chosen venue for telling a tale. There’s just not enough time to really get to know the characters. But other that that, it was a good story.
January Bride: I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would (mostly since it’s a novella). I felt like I got to know the characters well and that there was enough time to tell their story. Good read!
February Bride: I did not care for this story as much as the other two. There were parts I liked, but mostly it was too much drama and back and forth for me.
January Bride: I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would (mostly since it’s a novella). I felt like I got to know the characters well and that there was enough time to tell their story. Good read!
February Bride: I did not care for this story as much as the other two. There were parts I liked, but mostly it was too much drama and back and forth for me.
January 6, 2022
These were all fun stories, creative and well-written. It is nice to get to read sweet, clean romance stories, and to see how people resolve misunderstandings in a good way.
I like novellas, especially when I am looking for a quick read, but I find that they sometimes leave me wishing for a bit more depth to the story, or to wrap up too quickly. Novellas can also be a good way to be introduced to a new author, and this book is no exception, as I now am interested in reading other books by these authors.
I like novellas, especially when I am looking for a quick read, but I find that they sometimes leave me wishing for a bit more depth to the story, or to wrap up too quickly. Novellas can also be a good way to be introduced to a new author, and this book is no exception, as I now am interested in reading other books by these authors.
October 2, 2018
This was a delightful, simple, feel-good compilation of three wedding novellas from three featured Christian authors. They were sweet, short stories full of love, hope and goodness. Nothing incredibly complex or profound, just happy, quick reads.
A December Bride by Denise Hunter: 5 stars
A January Bride by Deborah Raney: 3 stars
A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant: 4 stars
A December Bride by Denise Hunter: 5 stars
A January Bride by Deborah Raney: 3 stars
A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant: 4 stars
March 1, 2025
No idea where I picked this one up, but it was enjoyable. Seasonal wedding short stories, including a December, January, and February wedding. After I started reading, I realized it was published by Zondervan, a religious publisher. The stories are modern with religious undertones. I hadn't read any of these authors before but will be on the lookout for them in the future.
June 24, 2017
4.5 stars.
This book contained three stories by authors Denise Hunter, Deborah Raney and Betsy St. Amant. Each story was well done (including the writing) with just enough drama and angst, ending in a HEA. I probably won't be repeating, but I did enjoy them all.
This book contained three stories by authors Denise Hunter, Deborah Raney and Betsy St. Amant. Each story was well done (including the writing) with just enough drama and angst, ending in a HEA. I probably won't be repeating, but I did enjoy them all.
February 17, 2018
I won this collection of novellas. I read the first one and found it well written but mostly predictable. It doesn't say it anywhere on the cover, but an acknowledgement inside confirms that it's "Christian" fiction.
February 27, 2018
I love reading quick, clean, Christian short stories.
A December Bride - Really cute. Probably my favorite of the three.
A January Bride - Cute story, but slow.
A February Bride - Not your average story. Fun and not bad.
A December Bride - Really cute. Probably my favorite of the three.
A January Bride - Cute story, but slow.
A February Bride - Not your average story. Fun and not bad.
June 7, 2018
When I got this book, it was because I really wanted to read the 1st short story: "A Decenber Bride". It was just o.k.... Chances had ne really loving the 2nd " A January Bride"
As for the 3rd story I didn 't read it.... Yet.
As for the 3rd story I didn 't read it.... Yet.
December 19, 2018
Three lovely weddings
The three weddings all told stories of love, hurt, and eventually harmony. With faith filled moments and supportive family and friends, the stories are heartwarming.
The three weddings all told stories of love, hurt, and eventually harmony. With faith filled moments and supportive family and friends, the stories are heartwarming.
January 12, 2019
A fun read!
Do you need a dose of good romance? Then, these novellas are for you. I think my favorite is February...as a young woman breaks feee of the idea that her crazy family equals no happy ending for her.
Do you need a dose of good romance? Then, these novellas are for you. I think my favorite is February...as a young woman breaks feee of the idea that her crazy family equals no happy ending for her.
March 27, 2023
I liked the staging of the house in A December Bride.
I though A January Bride was super cute. I really liked the romance in this one.
I don't know how I feel about A February Bride. I felt bad for them, but I'm not sure I liked how it ended.
I though A January Bride was super cute. I really liked the romance in this one.
I don't know how I feel about A February Bride. I felt bad for them, but I'm not sure I liked how it ended.
August 4, 2017
Very glad they were short novellas. Skimmed thru a couple of them.
November 9, 2017
Read the first two stories.
December 18, 2017
Most of these were much better than the norm. I especially liked the Christian themed ones. Nice, clean stories with a religious bent - perfect for Christmas time.
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