An October Bride by Katie Ganshert, A Review ★★★★★

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Book Description

Happily ever after guaranteed.
She wants to make her father's dream come true. She doesn't realize her own dream has been in front of her the whole time.
Emma Tate isn't a risk taker, so everyone in her small Midwest town is surprised when she suddenly becomes engaged to lifelong friend Jake Sawyer. No one but Jake and Emma know the true reason they're getting married---so Emma's dying father can walk her down the aisle.
While Jake and Emma plan an autumn wedding together, it becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications---the biggest being their true feelings for each other.
In this novella by award-winning author Katie Ganshert, a young woman must reconcile her dying father's dreams with her own dreams for love and for her future.

Review

Source:  Purchased.  Here is my honest review.

I can't name any other books Ganshert has written off the top of my head but I do know that I recognize her name and know that she writes books I really enjoy. An October Bride was beautifully written. I always enjoy books that are wrapped around the idea of a marriage of convenience or best friends falling in love. This book combines both into one sweet story. I'm not sure, but for some reason I feel like this series is actually novellas.....if so, this one is very satisfying. I felt the characters were developed well and the story progressed smoothly and all the details were there. I have not read all of the books in the series (at the time of this writing) but do feel like this is one of the best books that I have read from the series.

I gave this book: ★★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

A Groom for Christmas by Cara Marsi, A Review

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A Groom for Christmas by Cara Marsi

I was provided an eARC copy of this book by the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I always enjoy reading a romance set during the Christmas holidays. I also always enjoy stories that involve marriages (or engagements) of convenience. Marsi combines both of these elements into a sweet and enjoyable story. This is definitely what I consider to be a formulaic romance. The heroine Graceann is sweet and likeable. Jake is the perfect romance hero: good-looking and confident. I also enjoyed the sense of family and commitment from Graceann and her entire family. 

I do wish there had been a little more development into both Graceann and Jake. I feel like there is more to them and wish that there had been more time given to show their inner character. For example, Graceann repeatedly points out how "tough" she is and capable of taking care of herself. While she can certainly support herself, Jake repeatedly tells her how sweet she is. I felt like she was more guarded of her heart and falling love than tough and not needing a man. I don't want to spoil the ending for you .... I know there is usually debate about the groveling that the hero must do and Jake comes through in such a great way at the end. Being a formulaic romance, the happy ever after is guaranteed, but I did not predict it playing out as it did. Marsi definitely threw in a twist! It was so satisfying in fact that I wasn't quickly turning the page for an epilogue (although there is one).

Two of Graceann's friends, Kate and Zach are mentioned very briefly in the book (her family actually are the main secondary characters) and Marsi almost (fingers-crossed) sets up that there may be a story between these two in the Epilogue. I would certainly look forward to reading that book. 

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy sweet, quick-to-read romances, especially those stories set during the magic of the Christmas season.

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it     ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it