The Wedding Race

by Leanna Ellis

Two grumps. One goldendoodle. Zero chance of not falling for each other.

Charlotte Peterson isn’t running from her sister’s wedding—just the drama. Her plan? A quiet week in a mountain cabin with her dog, her camera, and the wedding letter their late mother left for the next bride. Charlie’s job is to keep it safe—especially from her unattached younger sister.



But when her car battery dies in the North Carolina wilderness—and the letter ends up in the river—she’s suddenly got more drama than she bargained for.



Enter Sam grumpy professor, solitude seeker, and the last man who wants to rescue a stranded woman with strong opinions, a talent for trouble, and a goldendoodle with boundary issues. Still, he agrees to help her hike back to civilization.



What begins as a simple trek turns into slips, stumbles, and surprising kisses.



Getting to the wedding is the goal. But falling in love might be the real adventure.



A sweet, closed-door romantic comedy full of laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt emotion, and grumpy-sunshine chemistry—perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Katherine Center, and Sarah Adams.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2025

About the author

Award-winning author, Leanna Ellis, writes sweet, heartwarming romances and closed-door romantic comedies with heart, humor, and hope. With over a million books sold, Ellis has won numerous awards, including the National Readers' Choice Award. She lives in Texas with her husband where they raised their two children, who now live too far away living their dreams but apparently still like to come home, probably to visit their doodle siblings who never grow up and move away. Readers who love Hallmark-style, wholesome love stories, will love The Wedding Letter series and the coming Love Note sereies. You can find more about Ellis at leannaellis.com.

Reviews

[Liz Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute grumpy/sunshine romance with some realistic mental health representation (anxiety, auditory sensory aversions, etc.) Part of a series, but definitely can be read as a standalone. Thank you to Goodreads for the free copy of this book!

[Takeisha Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m currently reading this. I received it from the Goodreads book give away! Let me tell you so far this book has been interesting and cute, it’s also funny. So far I’m definitely enjoying it. Give it a try! I’ll finish my review once I’ve completed the entire book !

I’ve finished this book and let me say I absolutely loved it! It’s funny! This book had me giggling. I love both characters! I love all the names Charlie gives Sam throughout the book! I can’t wait to read more books from Leanna Ellis. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to others that reads!

[Dorothy Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Wedding Letter series is just as entertaining and heartwarming as the first.
Wedding photographer Charlie only wants some time away from the drama of her career. A cabin in the mountains seems the perfect place to unwind. Until she arrives to find Sam, a professor conducting research on a rare salamander. So much for peace and quiet.

Rom com readers who love forced proximity and grumpy heroes will adore this sweet story. An adorable goldendoodle with a mind of her own adds to the chaos... and the charm. With a generous dollop of humor to keep the pages turning, The Wedding Race delivers a satisfying and uplifting read.

[LaurenB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the series, but could be read as a standalone as the author weaves the background information into the story. This one started out a little shaky for me because I wasn’t the biggest fan of Charlie, but I enjoyed their story and their growth.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leanna Ellis]

Last weekend to enter the giveaway on Goodreads! I hope you'll enter!



I already have a first review for this book: "This was so good! I loved the characters! Loved the camping. Great meet cute! Love all of the family dynamics! Great read!"


Very excited to bring this book to readers! It was so much fun to write. Charlie is quite the character, as is her dog, Bailey! And Sam!!! Oh boy! Can't wait to hear what you think after you read it!

[Brenda Maximenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love wedding stories? Always loved weddings and all things related. Great story and great book! Want to read her other books!

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Charlie is the middle of three sisters who are in business together. Libby, the eldest, is a wedding planner, Charlie is the photographer, and Elle bakes the cakes. Not too long ago, Libby called off her wedding, after reading a letter from their deceased mother, and fell in love with Luke, the ex-groom’s best man. For Charlie, it was too much drama, something that she tries to avoid, even though her livelihood revolves around weddings which are the epitome of drama. At a family gathering, which included her father and his relatively new girlfriend Delia, Libby and Luke announced their engagement. This sent Charlie in a tailspin and it was suggested that she spend some time in the rustic cabin belonging to Delia’s uncle, to decompress. So off she went, junk food and her ever present dog Bailey in hand, for a week in the woods. Little did she know that Dr. Samuel McPhearson, someone she had previously encountered while working at another wedding, was also spending the week up there. What follows is a touching and ‘one near disaster after another’ tale of two loners who accidentally find something that neither one admitted to wanting. This story is told in the first person by the lead characters which makes it colorful and personal. Charlie has a way with nicknames and Sam is dubbed everything from Grump to Hot Tent Man. They bare their souls…..she fears heights, he fears weddings, and where is the bubble wrap when you need it. This is so well written that you feel like you are right there with the characters. You will find multiple surprises (like Biscuit Bill), witty dialogue, terrifying moments, and an exuberant and lovable dog who somehow manages to bring a whole new level to the word drama. But in the end, a very creative and dramatic interruption leads to joined hearts and hot kisses.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! This book was amazing. With it being the second in the series that I have read, this one is my favorite. I love how “drama” helps Charlie find what she didn’t think she needed or wanted, and that is Sam. Between the shenanigans of Bailey and Charlie’s “I don’t need your help”, there are some pretty funny scenes. I 100% recommend this book! Go get it now.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book two in the Wedding Letter Series. It’s an emotional romance with two people set against falling in love. I loved the characters. This story is well written and will draw you into the characters emotions. You feel all their angst and love. I can’t wait to read Charlie’s story next. This review is based on an early review copy I was sent by the publisher, but this didn't affect the content of my review that I am voluntarily providing.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a charming story. I loved the personalities of the characters. The stoic attitude of the male character, Sam was a wonderful compliment to the quirkiness of Charlie. Their interactions often made me laugh out loud. I particularly loved the way the story unfolded. I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a HEA with a new, unique story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaitlyn Raasveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sam and Charlotte. Together they are perfect and made me love love. This was a great story of two people coming together and creating just a beautiful thing that had me wanting it too. They are just perfection. Love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! I loved the characters! Loved the camping. Great meet cute! Love all of the family dynamics! Great read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte and Sam were such a hoot. These two grumps really made for a funny, laugh out loud story. I loved the path to romance they were on and loved the adventures they were on.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.