Customer Reviews

Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride (Emma Rae Creation)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wedding planner Sherilyn Keyes has left Chicago behind to marry Andrew Drummond IV, an Atlanta native with a family name that tops all the social registers. She joins Emma, her old college roommate and baker, in working at the Tanglewood Inn, a destination wedding hotel. But Sherilyn faces a series of challenges to her relationship and her faith as she and Andrew settle into their new jobs and begin planning their own wedding.

This is the second book in Sandra Bricker's Never the bride series, following Always the Baker, Never the Bride (which I found to be a sweet love story, if you will excuse the pun). The final two titles in the series will apparently be Always the Designer, Never the Bride and Always the Baker, Finally the Bride. Always the Wedding Planner was enjoyable, with moments of humour, but overall I found it bittersweet - there just seemed to be a sadness about it that was not present in Always the Baker, which I enjoyed much more.

Some of what I found funny might have been unintentional. For example, at one point in the story, Emma bakes a new desert. She says, "it's called Pavlova. It's an Australian dessert that Russell told me about". Hmmm. The actual origin of Pavlova is the source of much trans-Tasman rivalry, and we in New Zealand don't exactly agree with this interpretation. The e-book I reviewed had a few entertaining but slightly distracting typographical errors (the song title `Waltzing With Matilda', a reference to an `empire waste' dress), but these will hopefully be fixed in the final print version.

Overall, this was good but not great. However, I often find the second book in a series is the weakest, so I will probably read the next book, if only to find out how the characters are moving on in their lives.

Thanks to Abingdon Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This is the second book I've read by Sandra D. Bricker (read "Always the Baker, Never the Bride" as well). Both were really cute and clean. I appreciate that! Both are Christian books, so religion, prayer, church, etc., are woven throughout. These are not super heavy-duty stories, they are light, clean and fun. I love the books put out by Abingdon Press and try to snag them up whenever I can!

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Honestly, this book was a little too religious for me. There was a lot of praying and references to God. They even went to Andy's massive childhood church. There were others, but I don't want to give anything away with too much detail. I'm sure the first book was like this too but it had been a little while since I've read it.)

Underneath all of that though, it was a cute love story. They had their ups and downs just like everyone. I was unsure why they brought in Russell Walker in for awhile (actually I'm still kind of not sure). I thought they were throwing a wrench into the Sherilyn and Andy relationship. That ended up happening, but they didn't use Russell They ended up bring back exes of both Sherilyn and Andy.

There's a major "twist" to the whole story about Sherilyn. Emma briefly mentions something that Sherilyn did years ago that gave her awful karma, but Sherilyn always stopped her before any details were shared. At the end you find out what her deep dark secret is. I had a hunch from the beginning and I ended up being right.

There were a lot of current references that threw me off. Like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. They were a bit unnecessary, in my opinion.

All in all I enjoyed the book. I won't read it again, but I'll more than likely ending up reading her next books to find out what happens to everyone in the story line. I've really come to enjoy all the characters.

(I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.)

This book doesn't have a riveting plot, but the characters were interesting enough. They seemed like real people, who weren't perfect, but, like us, were striving for happiness. The female protagonist was hard to care for at times, but her finance was quite likeable.

The novel was a little less tasteful than I expected a Christian, inspiration published by Abingdon house to be. For example, "fart" was used twice, and, since it served no purpose that I could see, I was surprised it wasn't edited out.

I appreciated being able to read a romance, which wasn't splattered with graphic sex scenes, but I was disappointed God didn't seem to be more of a factor in their lives. I expected it to be more faith based, since I ordered it from that category, but it was still a clean, easy read.

I would have rather read more about Emma. I think the problem was that we did not get to read about why the main characters fell in love so I spent the book worrying that there would be no wedding for Sherilyn. Russell was a funny character but the whole circumstance was a bit unbelievable. I really liked the first book so I'll read the third. Overall, it was a good book, just not as fun to read as the first in the series.

I actually read this before the first in the series and liked it so much I went back to the first (Although I didn't like it nearly as much as I did this one.)

I enjoyed this book a lot because it wasn't just another romance about two people falling in love. When we meet the main characters they've already done all that. The focus of this book is a couple dealing with doubts before getting married. In my opinion it was a refreshing take on a romance novel.

I thought the characters as well as the situations were very believable. From Sharilynn discovering Andy's a dog person and she isn't, the appearance of exes, and family pressure I was caught up in the story and rooting for Andy and Sharilynn to make it. I felt like this book did a good job showing the humanity, doubts and fears that people go through as they learn to work through things together and trust each other. Can't wait to read the next installment.

More weddings are being planned at the Tanglewood hotel. This time around Sherilyn(Emma Rae's best friend from college) has been hired as the new wedding planner for the hotel.

Sherilyn and her fiance Andy have moved back to Atlanta, both with new jobs. They soon find the house of their dreams but has Andy gotten cold feet about marrying Sherilyn? And what's up with Sherilyn losing two wedding dresses?!

This second installment of the Emma Rae creation series was just as much fun as the first one Always The Baker Never The Bride. Each chapter has helpful hints for wedding planning and also some yummy recipes that Emma Rae bakes up in the story. I was quite pleased with the way the romance played out and the interaction of the characters. Looking forward to the next installment!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series (Always the Baker, Never the Bride) so I had high hopes for this book. I was disappointed. I found the characters flat and the situations overly contrived. I found myself skimming big sections. I wanted to finish the book to see what happened, but it was hard slugging through some scenes. I think the problem is that the two main characters start out the book already engaged and in love - and instead of spending the book getting them together, we have to work through one problem after the next. Instead of light and fun - it was almost a little frustrating and depressing.

Sherilyn and Andy, who have only known each other a couple of months, are engaged and move from Chicago to make their home in Atlanta. Sherilyn becomes the wedding planner at the wedding destination hotel where her friend Emma works as head pastry chef. Sherilyn and Andy have to face sudden cold feet and the appearance of both of their exes while they try to decide if their wedding should really be this soon. This was a good story. Like in Always the Baker, I didn't find the religious overtones to be too intrusive. It is definitely a Christian-themed story but I felt that the religion of the characters fit them. Plus I love everything about wedding planning, so this was a fun read for that.

Sometimes an author creates a place and a people so warm and intriguing that you want to return. Again and again.

This explains, at least in part, the popularity of Lucy Maud Montgomery's ANNE OF GREEN GABLES books or Jan Karon's MITFORD novels. And I also believe it applies to the whimsical world Sandra Bricker creates for her readers in her EMMA RAE CREATION series.

At the Tanglewood wedding hotel in Atlanta, little things mean a lot. And Sherilyn Caine, diva of detail, is ready. She has her dream job, a dream fiancé, even a dream return to friends and adoptive family in Atlanta to accompany them. But as she manages others' weddings in expert style, she wonders if her own is about to fall apart.

The problems begin when little things--including two lost wedding dresses, an unwanted pet, and a mysterious allergy--loom large. Will they overpower Sherilyn's happiness as well?

In ALWAYS THE BAKER, NEVER THE BRIDE (Abingdon, 2010), readers fell in love with the Tanglewood and its diabetic cake artisan, Emma Rae Travis. A warm wedding party of characters and sparkling touches of humor only added to the book's charm. ALWAYS THE WEDDING PLANNER, NEVER THE BRIDE (Abingdon, 2011) brings it all back with the delightful additions of Sherilyn; her doctor fiancé, Andy; and plenty of detours along the way. Creative, fun extras include wedding tips and tricks at the close of each chapter with the additional bonus of some of Emma's best recipes.

If you need a fun book to help you escape the winter doldrums or an inspiring read to remind you that the truth sets free, say "I do" to ALWAYS THE WEDDING PLANNER.
Like me, you'll wish the Tanglewood were real--because you know and love the people who work there.