Always a Bridesmaid

Bridesmaids #2

by Melinda Curtis

“Wonderfully entertaining…” Jayne Ann Krentz

Nicole Edwards has walked down the aisle as a bridesmaid thirteen times! Thirteen times! In an effort to change her luck, this master baker plans to give up waiting for Jake – who doesn’t know she’s alive – sell her business in New York City, buy a food truck in Los Angeles, and find her own happily ever after.

Chef Sean O’Malley could use Nicole’s dessert skills at his restaurant in New York City. In fact, he’s banking on a joint venture with Nicole, although he hasn’t yet approached her about it. When he learns during a pre-wedding event they’re both working that she’s moving to L.A. because she’s giving up on Jake, he decides to give her a crash course on how to be noticed. Sean has, after all, three younger sisters. He knows how a woman’s mind works. But he doesn’t factor in how his heart works or how easily it could be broken.

The Bridesmaid Series (sweet romantic comedy):
Book 1: The Wedding Promise
Book 2: Always a Bridesmaid

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2015

About the author

Prior to writing romance, award-winning, USA Today Bestseller Melinda Curtis was a junior manager for a Fortune 500 company, which meant when she flew on the private jet she was relegated to the jump seat—otherwise known as the potty. After grabbing her pen (and a parachute) she made the jump to full-time writer. Between writing sweet romance and sweet romantic comedy, Melinda finds time to bond with her husband over home remodeling projects. She recently came to grips with the fact that she’s an empty nester and a grandma, concepts easier to grasp than jet-setting on a potty.

Sign up for her newsletter on her website to receive two free reads.

Reviews

[Emmyreads444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

wait this series is so cute!!

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun witty read that is completely entertaining!! Nicole Edwards is convinced she is cursed and destined to always being the bridesmaid. She completely freezes around men she's interested in. She's lusted after Jake forever but decides it will never happen so she decides to move to LA to start fresh. Chef and restaurant owner Sean O'Malley can't let that happen. He needs her for an important business deal and will do whatever it takes to keep her in town.

This is one you will definitely want to read! I highly recommend it.

[SammiKoalaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this sweet novella ❤️🤗✨ short but the story was well developed

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute novella

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Will Leave You With a Smile on Your Face!

Nicole Edwards is a master baker, but as far as her love life is concerned, she’s definitely not a master. Her impulsiveness and spontaneity may help her in the kitchen, but they don't help her her love life. After all, she's been a bridesmaid thirteen times, but that's as close as she's gotten to being a bride. Maybe it's because of her family curse. Well, no matter, because Nicole has plans to get rid of that curse once and for all; plans that have her leaving New York just as soon as she's finished helping with yet another wedding.

Sean O'Malley is a master at cooking, something he takes seriously. Very, very seriously. As a top chef, he receives rave reviews about his cooking talents, but his entrees are known for their lack of creativity. His menus are much too predictable. But that's the way Sean likes things. Predictable. 100% predictable. Which is why working around Nicole makes him crazy. Or is there more to it than that?

What can I say about this book? Well, where shall I begin? I loved, loved, loved it! It's a wonderful contemporary romance that is just plain and simply a lot of fun. It's entertaining from the first page to the last page. Melinda Curtis draws you in from the first few lines of the story. In no time at all, I fell in love with Nicole and Sean. Their conversations had me laughing over and over again. I think what I loved most was how well Sean understood Nicole and how that played out throughout the story. I felt it was an integral part that enhanced much of the story. One of my favorite parts was when Sean made a discovery about himself and ultimately shared that discovery with Nicole. The author writes that scene beautifully showing Sean as sweet, open, honest, and real. It drew me into the story so completely that I found myself holding my breath waiting to see how Nicole would respond. Amazing! Not every author can draw you into the story like that, making you feel what the characters are feeling. And yet, Melinda Curtis does just that, making Always a Bridesmaid a wonderfully entertaining story that will leave you with a feel good feeling and a smile on your face.

*****I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions, viewpoints, and comments are my own.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect Valentine's gift to myself. At 97 pages, it was easy to read during the kids' nap time, but long enough to feel well developed.

Nicole is baker, and she's working a pre-wedding weekend in St. George, UT for her friend Tiffany. Her colleague, Sean, is a chef she's worked with on numerous occasions. Just when he is working up the nerve to ask her to go into business with him, she reveals that she's selling her business and starting over in Los Angeles. She feels cursed when it comes to interacting with men, and just wants a fresh start. Sean convinces her to let him help her gain confidence where it comes to men. He has three sisters, how hard can it be? Before he knows it, Sean is the one wanting her attention. Would romance ruin the business deal he has in mind?

I loved Sean and Nicole. They worked well together despite their different styles. This story was full of humor from embarrassing clothing malfunctions to auto-corrected texts. I was laughing out loud and grinning often.
Always a Bridesmaid is the second book in The Bridesmaid Series, and I would recommend reading The Wedding Promise first, since Tiffany and Jax do crop up in this story.

Content: clean (a few kisses)

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable read! Vivid, well developed and engaging
characters involved in a pre-wedding event. The cook and the
baker for the event have an undeniable chemistry going on
between them. But both of them are two stubborn to realize it.
The baker, Nicole Edwards has walked down the aisle thirteen
times BUT only as a Bridesmaid. Her grandmother informed
her that she has the “ Siberian Curse”.
What is this curse? Why is the chef helping her to be attractive?
Will Nicole learn how to use her new phone and how to shut
off auto-correct? Will Nicole be a bridesmaid fourteen time or
will she up and move away? Is there a future for the chef and
baker beside a business partnership? You need to read this book
for the answers.
Always a Bridesmaid is second book in the Bridesmaid Series.
It can be read as a stand alone and you will not be lost.
You will find yourself laughing out loud at some of the
shenanigans. You will enjoy a witty, surprising, unpredictable
romance story.
Thank you to book author for this eBook. My opinion is my own.

[Wilani Wahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was well written. There was humor sprinkled in to make it a fairly enjoyable read. Although this is not a Christian book, I still had a hard time reading about a gay character. This was a major turnoff to me.

[Harley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was fun, I just didn’t enjoy the couple as much as the first book but I still liked them. And I loved that we got to see more of the first couples wedding planning!

So the main characters for this one are working the wedding for the characters from book one. The wedding is still a couple months away but they’re at the location planning out the menu for the day. Nicole is the baker and she’s decided to give up her business after the wedding and move cities to find love and break her grandmothers curse. Sean is a very straight laced chef who needs some spice for a new business venture and the girl he’s got his eye on for the job has just informed him she’ll be skipping town. So he takes it upon himself to help her break the curse to get her to stay.

I did like seeing them realize they’re falling for each other.

[Karla Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in a few hours, I was that into it. I had to see what happens next with Tiff and Jax. Not gonna lie, I was a bit disappointed at first. I that it was gonna be all about them. But nope, it was about Sean and Nicole's story. The caterers for tiffs wedding. How cool is that. And boy are they perfect for each other too!!! Love love this one too. On to the next one to see how it relates to Tiff and Jax. ❤️❤️

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, entertaining read. Nicole and Sean are interesting, relatable, complex intriguing, entertaining characters. I enjoyed them as individuals and their romance. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story. I love that we got the email exchanges from the couple in the first book and that we got to see more of Tiffany. The story is easy to read and get into.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.

[Lenn ♡ | anatomyofabooknerd (IG) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Wow, this book was so cute and way better than the first one in the series!

Nicole and Sean were the perfect pair and I love the chemistry between them. I also appreciated the characters' backstory. I love romance books with cooking/baking tropes, so this was really nice. Despite me not being a fan of the first book in this series, I found the connection between the characters so cute.

[AmazingChester · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Really cute.

While they went the same pace as the first, at least they knew each other before the book started.

I found the love in this book was more real than the last, the falling in love felt like more time even though it was only over a weekend. Plus I loved the references to the last book.

[Judy Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story!

I read book one and then bought the entire series! I love this book. It is so nice to read a story, just for fun and not have all the drama that sometimes comes with a story. I am so looking forward to starting book three tomorrow!

I have read many books by Melinda Curtis and she is a favorite author of mine. So glad I found this series!

[K B · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
I purchased The Bridesmaids Series book 2: Always a Bridesmaid by Melinda Curtis and this review was given freely.
Well written. Loosely connected to the series. Good stand alone.

[Lisa Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good short story. This one is about a chef and baker falling in love.

[Jodi_ice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cawpile: 3* 5.36

[AnnieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, predictable novella. The romance felt a little forced to me. The first outfit fiasco seemed to go on forever... I mean REALLY??! But it was good for what it was.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters were not flushed out, things moved very quickly. There was nothing compelling about the story or characters.

[Lacey Lytle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short and quirky.

[Victoria Weimar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fun fast read/listen. I’m definitely enjoying this series, so can’t wait to see what the other three have in store.

[Autumn Denise Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little read but it was not a long enough getting to love part and marriage was rushed for me. Plus the come play with me part 🤢

[Leena Aluru · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's nailed it. Such a sweet, sweet novella. Sean and Nicole are just great. For such a small capsule it sure packs in a punch.

Recommended 👍👍

[Ida Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

:) :)

[Griselda Fuentes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Bobbie Baggett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Fun. Clean.

[readbynatalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did i listen through this. Such a boring storyline, nothing to give really.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Edwards is a professional baker living in New York. She also happens to be extremely unlucky in love. In fact, she’s convinced she has a curse when it comes to men, causing her to clam up and freeze when she’s anywhere near a man she’s attracted to. She’s always had her job to fall back on though and she’s let it become the love of her life. That’s why she decides to completely uproot herself, sell her business, and move clear across the country (literally) to work out of a food truck and give herself a fresh start to find love. However, Sean O’Malley doesn’t want that to happen. He’s a chef that often works with Nicole and he’s got a business proposition for her. He’d like to go into business with the spunky, spontaneous baker so that he can expand his own business. However, he thinks it’ll take more than a business proposition to get her to stay so he offers to help her overcome her “curse” and takes her under his wing to teach her a thing or two about what men want in a woman. Can Sean help Nicole overcome her curse? He desperately wants her to stay and not only for the expansion of his business. Is there a future personally or professionally for them?

This book was SO entertaining!! I literally laughed out loud several times. I loved the dynamic between Nicole and Sean. Since they’re polar opposites, it made for several really funny scenarios. I thought the story was great and super fun to read. It was really funny to see Sean trying to help Nicole because oftentimes it was an epic fail. I loved the dialogue and the chemistry between the two of them. I also really loved that the author had a sweet little twist dealing with Sean’s perception of Nicole and how it relates to his memories of his deceased mother. This was SUCH a fun book to read. I read it in about a day because I just couldn’t put it down. It’s a great sequel, but totally works as a stand-alone if you haven’t read the first book in the series. I HIGHLY recommend this great read!

(I recieved an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book all in one sitting! I couldn't put it down! Nicole and Sean were great and so realistic! Nicole thinks she has been stricken by "The Curse" as her grandmother calls it, which means she clams up and is unable to talk to any eligible man when she is near him! She believes this so much that she literally clams up in front of every man she thinks is a potential date! She's been a bridesmaid 13 times and she's getting sick of it. She is currently working with her friend, Sean, at a "pre-wedding" event for her friend Tiffany's wedding (the first book in the series, which was awesome as well!). Sean is a master chef with problems of his own but somehow during the weekend he has to get Nicole to go into business with him to "shakeup" his restaurant. Nicole is an innovative baker and is just what his restaurant needs to bring a breath of fresh air to it - all he needs to do is convince her to join him! First, however, he needs to help her overcome this "Curse" thing and he's perfect for the job because he has 3 sisters and he knows what men like! I really enjoyed Nicole's experiences with auto-correct on her smartphone! They were so funny and made me laugh out loud! Tiffany (from the first book in the series) is in this book also and I liked her appearances throughout the book as she continues to plan her wedding to Jackson. Her future mother-in-law is a piece of work! I liked the way Nicole and Sean finally realize that they are perfect for each other! All in all, I would highly recommend this book. It is funny, charming and poignant. Can't wait for the next book in the series