Wedding Bell Blues (The Piper Cove Chronicles #1) (Paperback)

by Linda Windsor (Author)
Key Phrases: josh nodded, Sue Ann, Wedding Bell Blues, Piper Cove (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Billed as inspirational women's fiction, the first offering in Avon's inspirational line is pure, chaste romantic diversion. Alexandra Alex Butler was jilted years ago when her hunky husband, Josh Turner, left soon after their marriage to become a rock star. When Josh returns to Piper Cove on the Atlantic Ocean as best man in Alex's sister's wedding, the professional decorator and divorcée finds to her dismay that her passion for him still simmers under her businesslike exterior. Alex's three bosom buddies provide interest throughout, especially the mechanically minded Ellen Brittingham, one of the most promising characters in the novel. A few unfortunate sentences are over the top, even for this genre: She was as indelibly etched under his skin as his tattoos and the sight of Alex... was enough to send the wooden totem pole at the Ocean City inlet jumping in the water before it self-ignited. Some plot elements are insensitive enough as to be unbelievable, such as Alex's father giving away Alex's beloved first home to her sister as a wedding gift, and then asking Alex to decorate it. But Windsor, an RWA Beacon Award–winning author and Christy Award finalist, is a competent writer, and the Piper Cove Chronicles should hold their own in inspirational romance. (July)
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Review
"A sweet, faith-infused romance seasoned with small-town, seaside flavor." -- Library Journal

"Delightful characters … a heartwarming story that will appeal to fans of romance fiction." -- Christian Retailing

"Pure, chaste romantic diversion...." -- Publishers Weekly

"Windsor is an excellent writer and Wedding Bell Blues is a heartwarming tale." -- Kristin Billerbeck, author of What a Girl Wants

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Avon Inspire (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061171379
• ISBN-13: 978-0061171376
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #479,242 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hoping To Help, October 9, 2007

By	Miralee Ferrell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It took me awhile to get into this book, for some of the same reasons as mentioned by others, the seeming "non-Christian" actions/vocubulary of some of the characters.

I decided I needed to give it another chance and am SO glad I did. About half way through, I met Linda Windsor and had a chance to chat with her. I expressed my concerns and she blushingly explained. Linda used to write non-Christian romances and has switched over to Christian fiction. She was embarrassed to admit that there were some slip-ups in her novel that she and her editor didn't catch, that shouldn't have been there. It's tough doing a cross-over novel, when you've been used to writing secular fiction. If the book goes into reprint in the future she assured me those items will be changed.

Now..for my opinion. I loved the story line. It was fresh and the two main characters fleshed out enough to feel you knew them. I enjoyed the fact that they were far from perfect and depicted some of the struggles that do go on in our personal lives. The secondary plot that centered around the heroine's father added to the depth of the story line and the last half of the book in particular grabbed my attention and kept me moving forward. If you can turn a blind eye to some of the small boo-boo's that Linda overlooked, you'll enjoy the story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing book from a good author, September 26, 2007

By	T. Davis - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like to read inspirational books because I don't have to worry about how clean they are, especially the language. I felt like this book pushed the envelope a bit. It had at least one actual swear word and a few abbreviations. There were a couple other things that made me uncomfortable like it was a little more sensual then was necessary. I won't be reading the rest of the series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wedding Bell Blues, September 6, 2007

By	Cara Putman (Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

The first installment of The Piper Cove Chronicles from Linda Windsor shines with good writing and fun deeply layered characters.

This is the first book of Linda Windsor's that I've read, but it won't be the last. She writes with a sensitivity that allowed me, as a reader, to fully engage with the characters and see both Alex and Josh's perspectives. And there are huge hurdles in this romance. Much more than the fact that he left her with only a note 16 years ago.

While the old sparks and attraction are still there, Alex isn't willing to jump into his arms and repeat the mistakes of the past. And the characterization fully supports her reactions.

The setting is the fun Maryland Eastern Shore which Linda writes well. I could practically see the community and the real ones that surround it. There is also a full cast of supporting characters who add to the book's warmth and layering. And I have a feeling her girlfriends will find themselves in leading roles in future books.