The Wedding Boutique

Blue Moon Bay #7

by Susan Hatler

Claire Davenport is a hopeless romantic who shared her first kiss with Alex Murphy during a game of Spin the Bottle. Only Alex never pursued her after their kissing session and Claire regrets not telling him about her crush. At twenty-seven, no boyfriends have captured her heart in the same way. Still, she hasn’t given up on finding the one. Unfortunately, Forever Designs, her boutique wedding dress business, is accumulating more bills than invoices so love has to take a backseat for now.

When a famous model books Claire to design her wedding dress, she jumps at the opportunity only to find out the client is her childhood best friend and rival, Missy Peters. Claire and Missy’s friendship imploded when Missy stole Claire’s high school boyfriend. To save her business, Claire has no choice, but to work with Missy. To Claire’s surprise, the best man turns out to be Alex Murphy. Gone is the skinny boy with the awkward-but-endearing kisses. Alex is now a sexy scientist, who for some reason seems determined to stop the wedding, which Claire can’t let happen.

Now, Claire must design the perfect dress for demanding Missy, while at the same time countering Alex’s attempts to break up the bride and groom. Can Claire convince Alex to give Missy and her fiancé a chance, and that true love is possible? And can she do it without him breaking her heart all over again?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Adult, Ebooks, Clean Romance

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2021

About the author

SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, French, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

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Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever in a Kiss by Susan Hatler is the seventh book in the contemporary romance Blue Moon Bay series. Now I haven’t read the other books in the series but upon a little investigation these seem to fall along the lines of most contemporary romance series and feature a different lead couple in each of the books so they read fine as a standalone. The series seems to all have in common the lovely little town of Blue Moon Bay and may have glimpses of previous leads but not having read all I can’t say that for sure.

At twenty-seven Claire Davenport has been focusing on Forever Designs, her boutique wedding dress business and hasn’t ever found the “one” for herself. With the business not making as much as she would like Claire has taken on a new challenging client in Missy Peters. Missy was a former childhood rival and not Claire favorite client. Soon Claire finds out though that along with Missy comes Alex Murphy back into her life. Claire’s once crush on Alex came to a halt when she shared her first kiss with him during a game and he never approached her afterward.

Forever in a Kiss was a cute, quick read. This one was a bit of a second chance with the characters having known each other previously and the story was enjoyable enough to follow with the characters being likable. It was a rather short read so of course there wasn’t a whole lot of depth to it but I would still rate this one in at three and a half stars and would give the author another try in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this quaint little seaside town and the characters who live there. The legend of the kiss is such a fun aspect to every book in this series and I always look forward to seeing how it will show up in the story.

Claire is a wedding dress designer and when she's asked to design the dress of her former best friend and #1 enemy, she's hesitant, but does it, all in the name of building her business. Claire is a great character to cheer on, especially as she tries to overcome her past. I wish she could stop by and bring me a pint of ice cream, as we rehash her non-existent dating life, hah!

But the best part of the story, the juiciest secret of all, is that she literally cannot get over her first kiss and even still, all these years later, dreams of it and of Alex and that spin the bottle game. He's ruined her for all men. And guess what?! Surprise, surprise--Alex is the best man of this wedding and is out to sabotage the I-do's, which unbeknownst to him, actually brings Claire front and center in the picture. Who can resist an opposites-attract match made in heaven? I sure couldn't!

In a childhood-crush-second-chance romance, this little gem delivered some swoony sparks, some stolen kisses, some hefty secrets, and a revamping of hopes and dreams. The backdrop setting is perfect for a blossoming love and I can't wait to visit once again.

Content: mild romance (kissing, vague talk of cheating)

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Hatler's books make me happy. I know exactly what I'm going to get every time I open one of her books. She has a way of writing characters, dialogue and settings that feel natural and easy. Love.

All the books in this series somehow include the legend of the bay in a small coastal town and I also love that. It connects the stories in a small way and adds a bit of the magical.

Claire is a fun character, a romantic at heart who believes in true love. She has never forgotten her first kiss with Alex (way back when!) so running into him, in her own wedding dress shop of all places, makes her heart pitter patter. Alex swears he doesn't believe in forever love. He is actively trying to stop a wedding and Claire is determined to save it. It makes for some fun, sparky moments. Claire and Alex begin to spend time together and learn more about each other. The build up was great and I loved the easy way the story progressed. Like I said before, Susan Hatler has that way about her writing. It makes me happy.

This book is on KU if you have that! Yes, this book is part of a series but each book can stand alone.

Content: kissing, mention of cheating

-I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really fun book by Susan Hatler. What I really liked about this book is that there weren’t too many secondary characters to keep track of. The story really was about the main characters and only a few other secondary characters that kept the story flowing. As always, the author writes only what is necessary with no long-winded descriptions and a down-to-earth writing style. I enjoyed the humorous moments and the characters were fun. It’s sweet, clean romance and well worth the read. I recommend it.

[romancejunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so romantic and sweet. I loved Claire and Alex and was happy when they got their hea.

[LMR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever in a Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book 7) By: Susan Hatler
Could There Possibly Be "Forever in a Kiss" & IS The Time's RIGHT For RoMANce...
Is IT Time To Find A Li'l Bit 'O "Forever in a Kiss!?!" Find OUT By One-Clicking "Forever in a Kiss!"
Your gonna be highly entertained reading "Forever in a Kiss;" a delightful Tale by Susan Hatler! I can't TELL you how many times I keep reading & Re-Reading Her books since finding Her as an Author in 2018... And YET, I keep coming back Again & Again! Why?! Because I truly LOVE Her work, & That's also it's the Hallmark of a TRULY Great RoMANce & a Spectacular Writer... When you can ReVisit a book like an OLD friend without getting Tired of it, but instead find Something New & hidden EACH & Every TIME!
I LOVE Susan's writing! It's witty & Fresh.... One-Click "Forever in a Kiss" & Experience IT for YourSelf!!
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, Susan Hatler's "Forever in a Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book 7)." I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!

[Erica (sand_between_pages) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I had a very difficult time wanting to finish Forever in a Kiss because it is frankly not my cup of tea. So I didn't.
The idea behind the story is cute, but the execution is not there. I didn't feel any chemistry between the main characters, there is very little plot, and the fact that a grown woman is solely obsessed by a kiss she had years and years ago was a bit juvenile.
There is very little substance to this novel and the characters do not seem real. I also found the read to be very unoriginal.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forever in a Kiss
Kissed by the Bay, Book 7

I Picked Up This Book Because: #Roll100

Media Type: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 2/14/23 - 2/28/23
Stars: 3
Narrator(s):

The Characters:

Claire Davenport:
Alex Murphy:
Michelle Moss (BFF), Missy Peters (Former BFF turned Frenemy)

The Story:

The short and quick of it is that I liked the characters. They had great chemistry. However, I quickly got sick of Clair’s obsession with a 7th grade kiss during a game of spin the bottle. I wanted her to grow up. I even considered DNF-ing as it was mentioned so often. It was nice to find out Alex felt the same way about the kiss but it would have been nicer if it didn’t feel so forced on the reader. Full disclosure, I also have a hatred of excessive repetition so this probably hit a few notes on that particular pet peeve. The story overall was okay.

The Random Thoughts:

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in Kissed by the Bay Series but can be read as a standalone. It's been 15 years ago since Claire shared her first kiss with Alex in a game of 'spin the bottle' . Even though she was only 12 years old at the time she remembers it like it was yesterday. He set the bar for any other kiss or guy even though he left her heart broken. Her struggling bridal design business gets a boost when she's hired to design a wedding dress for a celebrity. This celebrity turns out to be her high school rival Missy who also happens to be the first cousin of Alex, her 'spin the bottle' crush. Things get a little heated when Alex tries to sabotage the wedding which would also damage her business. He doesn't believe in true love and she's determined to prove him wrong. This was a cute story and their banter was funny at times. A mysterious matchmaker adds to the drama. A cute book that was a fun read. I read a free arc via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Susan Hatler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved writing Claire's story. She deserved a happily-ever-after. :)

[Luanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful sweet romance by Susan Hatler. If you are a dreamer and dream big then this second chance romance is for you.

This book is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. I was taken by Claire when we first met her in Charlie's book and it's about time she got her own story. Claire is a bridal designer who is struggling to get her business
going. Claire is a dreamer and an optimist and let's just say these traits are contagious to those around her.

Alex is a scientist who loves order in his life. I would have like Alex's past and struggles to get more exposition, it seemed like a missed opportunity to better develop the protagonists and their relationships. It also seemed that many of these points were brought up but then left unresolved.

The side characters were all wonderful and meaningful to the main characters storyline. The legend also played its part in this book, but not as much as some others.

All in all this is a good quick summer read.

*I received a copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.*

Luanna

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire is really struggling to start her wedding dress design business so it should seem like a godsend when Missy, her friend from high school (who has a huge social media following), wants her to design her wedding dress. But nothing can be that simple in Claire's world. Missy was more of a frenemy and watching her be super successful in her career and in love is stressing Claire out.

And the best man is trying to sabotage the wedding - the very wedding that could save Claire's business and put her on the map as a wedding dress designer. The best man, Alex Murphy, is distracting in too many ways to count! I thought Claire and Alex were a really fun couple - this was a great second chance story!

Rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet second chance romance

I read this book because I was intrigued by the bits of Claire's story I read in Fashionably Date. Now that I've read this one I feel like I need to read the rest of this series to find out everyone else's stories. LOL. My TBR pile just got a lot bigger. This was a fun and sweet second chance romance. Alex and Claire are so cute together in a good way. I loved their banter and Alex's sense of humor. I was not expecting that from the shy science nerd. I also wasn't expecting him to be romantic. He's definitely an example of don't judge a book by his cover. Claire was so sweet. I loved the growth both her and Alex went through during this story.

[Christine Galletly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a really enjoyable story.

It was a quiet romance that was slow to burn and an easy read with some great characters. I have read quite a few books by this author and this was another great story.

It is 4 stars from me for this one, it was well written and would be a great and easy story to read when you are on a summer holiday - highly recommended!!

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book seven of the Blue Moon Bay series and the main character in this book is wedding dress designer Claire Davenport, who has opened her own boutique called Forever Design by Claire. She’s twenty seven years old and still can’t forget the boy who kissed her during a game of spin the bottle in his bedroom, when they were both in seventh grade. His name was Alex Murphy and after the unforgettable first kiss, he never spoke to her at school again. She finally gets an answer to why, much later in this story. Claire has no time for boyfriends at the moment, struggling to pay the bills, as her design shop has not had many clients and she will soon run out of funds completely. When her landlady, who is also a wedding organiser, tells her she has just taken on a famous client who needs a one off wedding dress designed, she jumps at the chance. She is told the client is a bit difficult, but she doesn’t realise quite how much! The bride to be is actually a woman called Missy Peters and she used to be Claire’s best friend and rival at school, until she took Claire’s boyfriend away from her at the prom in high school. She never kept in touch with Missy after that. It turns out Missy is marrying Kyle Murphy, Alex’s cousin and Alex is his best man. Missy has even dragged him along to pick her up from her first meeting with Claire, where he starts to disagree with the final design, she had finally managed to get Claire to agree was what she wanted. That was after hours of work, with Missy changing her mind on everything she said she liked each time!

Claire hadn’t seen Alex since school, but still dreamed about him often, never having found anyone else that could meet the feelings she got when they kissed all those years ago. Alex is now a very sexy looking scientist, as Claire knows from looking him up on social media, and has apparently set up in a new lab, in a firm run by Missy’s dad. Claire is still a full blown romantic and believes in love and marriage, as she should when she owns her own wedding dress design business! Why Alex is being so difficult about her design is anyone’s guess. When Missy forces Claire to come to the cake tasting session the next day, Alex and others are there, and he yet again tries to cause problems with the first few choices of cake, giving silly reasons why they aren’t suitable or original enough! Missy is really worried about her wedding being special, as she is now a well-known model and everything will be posted on social media. Claire is hoping that all the publicity will get her loads more clients and keep her business afloat. For some reason Alex is pushing Missy to push the wedding back or cancel altogether, but doesn’t give a real reason why. He is against the idea of love and marriage, after events in his own childhood. He does actually have a very good reason behind his wish for the wedding to be cancelled and it all comes out in the wash. Alex likes to muck about around Claire and gets right in her face all the time. Their relationship almost seems to be getting back to how they were together as kids, but she can’t afford to get her heart broken by Alex, especially when he doesn’t believe in love! A funny and sweet romantic tale, with memories from your childhood still having a massive impact on your adult life and decision making process. Great characters and an easy to read story. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I'm feeling down and need a pick me up, I can always count on one of Ms. Hatler's books to lift my spirits. The stories are always so cute and sweet and filled with so much fun, I end up with a big smile on my face and a warm, contented feeling. Again, this book did not disappoint. It is the seventh installment of the Kissed by the Bay series but no worries if you have not read the others, it can be read as a standalone. Although, after meeting some of the other characters, I'm sure you'll want to go back and read their storires as well. This book features Claire and Alex and their second chance at love. Claire is a struggling bridal designer and working hard to get her business running. She is the sweetest person and forever the optimist and believes in true love. Alex is a nerdy scientist and definitely does not believe in true love. He is also Claire's crush back from childhood and now the best man at the wedding for which Claire is designing a dress. The sparks definitely fly when these two meet again and butt heads while he tries to sabotage the wedding and she desperately tries to save it. Another fun, laugh out loud, cute and romantic book by the talented Ms. Hatler that captivated me and just made my day. Most definitely recommend!

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

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Davenport and Alex Murphy had their first kiss in the seventh grade while playing spin the bottle. Claire never forgot about her first kiss. Today she is a wedding dress designer. She’s designing a dress for her former childhood best friend, Missy, who is marrying Alex’s cousin, Kyle. Alex doesn’t believe in love and tries to sabotage the wedding planning. Claire tries to stop him. I enjoyed this book. You were wondering if Missy was really Alex’s friend or not as they had a childhood rivalry that separated them when they were teenagers. Is Claire able to convince Alex true really exists or not? You will need to read the book to find out. I highly recommend this book.

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

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her business on the brink of bankruptcy, Claire agrees to design a wedding gown for her high school BFF, an Instagram influencer. Claire is surprised to learn that the groom's cousin is Alex, her childhood crush. The guy she can't seem to forget. And after all this time, the spark is still there.

Except that for some reason, Alex is trying to sabotage the wedding. Claire is counting on those wedding day social media photos to save her business—so what's Alex's problem? Is he such a cynic that he doesn't believe in true love? And what's Claire supposed to do when she can't help falling in love with him all over again?

This is a fun, flirty book that gradually turns deeply romantic and emotional. I love how Hatler uses side characters to expose the heroine' misconceptions—it seems to be a theme in her books. There's a strong sense of community here, a cast of well-meaning but flawed people just trying to do their best in the world. Claire and Alex filled my heart with the tender emotions they've cherished since childhood, which finally get the chance to blossom. This sweet small-town romance would make a great beach read.

Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[FD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new book from the Blue Moon Bay series. I’ve read some from this series, and it’s worth it, but you can absolutely read the books separately. In this book, cynical “ II don’t believe in love” Alex and wedding gown designer Claire reunite. Claire’s company is in financial trouble, but an important assignment is Claire’s big opportunity. It’s a shame the bride is a former frenemy, but she’ll get over that. However, the assignment also brings Alex back into her life, having not seen him since the end of their school days. And that also offers opportunities.
The author writes in a humorous and accessible manner. Recognizable feelings, situations and personalities. Romantic and sweet without getting too sentimental. I read it in 1 go.

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

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire runs a bridal boutique, with bills piling up, so she is looking for a high profile account. Missy, from her school, is a model and getting married. Missy contacts Claire to design her wedding dress so her boutique is saved. The crush she had on her first kiss, Alex, is the best man for his cousin and is trying to stop the wedding, knowing that his cousin is not really in love.
The author sets up some interesting situations and plots that pit these two together. The characters have great backstories and intense emotions . The surprises and twists to the storyline keep it entertaining and the details make you feel like you are a part of it. Loved how the two work together and come to some conclusions. Pretty sure I will be checking out the other books in this series as well.

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

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading it!
It is a engaging story,
about a second chance romance.
While playing spin the bottle at
Alex's party, fate choice Claire,
to be his first kiss. But after that
night, he acted like Claire, didn't
even exist. Years later, she was
shocked when Alex, walked through
the door of her shop. Their first kiss
was something she's never forgotten.
Another great book in the series.
I loved everything about this must
read story!!

[Hana Bilqisthi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am really sad that this book is not my cup of tea.
The cover is so cute and I really enjoy reading the first chapter.
It page turner and I thought I found my next 5 reads.
Sadly, I did not feel the chemistry between Alex and Claire. It felt forced and cringe to me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Susan Hatler books! In The Wedding Boutique she who a humorous romantic se love story for Claire (wedding dress designer)and Alex. Claire and Alex were easy to relate to and very easy to fall in love with them. I loved the chemistry between them and Alex’s attempts to sabotage Missy wedding plans and Claire’s attempts to stop Alex. This book is fun and really entertaining to read: I highly recommend reading this book for pure romantic fun and giggles.

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

[Michele Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire and Alex are so sweet. I love the history with these characters and the way Susan Hatler writes the story. Her books are so much fun to read, I feel like I’m an onlooker in the fictional Blue Moon Bay. Each of these stories is unique to each woman, just like it should be. The sweetness is so much fun and the “drama” pulls it all together. Read this series if you’re looking for a relaxing, fun series with great friendships.

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

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wedding dress designer Claire dreams of her own happily ever after some day and sees him as her first kiss Alex. But Alex has been trying to sabotage her client and former friend Missy’s wedding from the beginning. He said it was because he didn’t believe in love and doesn’t want them marry, but I think he feels guilty. I didn’t like Missy at first. She was so demanding, but then Claire has a dilemma whether to do what’s right or save her struggling business. There were plenty of sweet nostalgic high school and funny moments. This was a sweet kisses only romance.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! I loved the setting as well as the charming characters. It was easy to read and well written. The story line was realistic and had a little bit of everything with drama, humor, family and romance. I recommend reading the series or any of Susan Hatler's books.

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

[Helena Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg...I am still laughing with Alex and Claire's antics in order to boicote one another from their objectives...they are so funny and the chemistry between them is way up there and the more they fight it the hotter it gets. Wonderful characters, storyline and very well written I loved this story.

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

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in this series and we finally get to read about Clarie. She played spin the bottle with Alex when they were 12 and has measured every other guy against him. When they see each other after all this time sparks fly, can they get over the past to have a future?

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

[Divya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing romantic story with lovable main characters and an interesting plot. The interaction between the main characters is nicely portrayed and the story moves at a good pace.

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

[Kimberly Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The way Claire and Alex thought of each other and their kiss over the years but did not think the other remembered was great. Susan Hatler is a great author who makes you feel different emotions for the same person in her books. Missy seemed to be a bad person throughout most of the book. I love how despite what she did to Claire, Claire still tried to protect her from heartache. I love the relationship Claire had with Alex throughout the whole book. I like how Alex tried to keep Missy from marrying his cousin because he knew that Kyle was not in love with her. He didn't come out and tell her about his suspicions but he tried to protect her in his own way. I love how Claire ended up getting an apology from Missy and forgiving her.

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