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| Image Graphic designed by Sandra Lopez |
Noelle is reluctant at first, but the payment Brooke offers is more than enough for Noelle to start a new life. It’s also an opportunity for Noelle to prove to herself—and her former fiancé—that despite her broken heart, she still has what it takes to pull off a wedding worthy of an heiress in the two months Brooke has given her.
But the best man, Brooke’s older brother Everett, is dead-set on stopping the nuptials. Will he succeed, driving the final nail into the coffin of Noelle’s career as a wedding planner—and shattering what’s left of her expectations of love?
Available on Amazon
My review: Noelle was
glad to be rid of a man who proposed to her then cheated on her. She was! But I
guess the quickest way to get over a wedding that didn’t happen for you was to
plan someone else’s, right? Yeah right! But that was Noelle’s job as a wedding
planner, even though her world was crumbling all around her.
I liked her
sarcastic wit and biting humor. Sometimes she babbles when she’s in her sour
and self-deprecating mood, which is pretty much how she’s been since the big
dump. I get that she’s been in a rotten funk, but does she have to be so
b#@chy, especially when some broad is throwing 25 grand at her to plan her
wedding? For that, you push that sourness aside and just do it.
While
planning the wedding, Noelle is also nervous about spending her first holiday
as a single woman. Can you say bitter
part for one? Of course, her bitterness just means she’s human, which is
relatable. But sometimes it can be a little much.
This was a
pretty good read overall. There were some enjoyable moments like her drunken
escape from her ex and his perfect girlfriend. She definitely gets more
neurotic as we get closer and closer to the wedding date.
She was
supposed to plan a wedding. The plan was NOT to fall for the bride’s brother.
A nice
holiday romance.
My rating: 3 stars
Excerpt:
It feels like hours have passed by
the time I’m finally spent. My cheeks are stiff with dried tears and a
throbbing, aching pressure has taken residence behind my eyes. I sprawl on the
couch with the cool wet washcloth Erin’s given me draped over my face and
listen to the dull hum of the TV’s low volume and the rush of water in the
kitchen sink as my assistant washes my dishes.
“That’s not part of your job
description,” I call. I sit up and rub the cloth over my face, trying to erase
any sign of tears. This is ridiculous. I’m not the first woman to be dumped by
her fiancé. I won’t be the last. But most of all, it’s not permanent. A bit of
thinking has convinced me. Drew won’t be happy with Heidi of the Made in Taiwan
wardrobe. Drew likes intelligence, and the few times I spoke to her did little
to convince me that Heidi had anything going for her in that department. He
likes ambition and drive—how many times has he told me how amazing he thinks it
is that I started my own business? Yet Heidi’s idea of ambition seems to be
sleeping with the boss. That might give her a temporary boost, but it certainly
won’t hold his interest. Not the way I held it for eight years.
I feel better than I have all day,
or at least since Drew made his big confession. I roll off the couch just as
Erin shuts the water off and slides the last plate into the overloaded drain
board.
“Thank you,” I say. “You didn’t
have to do that.”
“Well, it didn’t look like you were
going to.” Erin ventures a small smile, as if to gauge my reaction, and seems
relieved when I laugh.
“Someday your teachings will
stick,” I promise. “You look a little better. How are you feeling?”
“Better.” I think I might even feel
hungry, but then I catch sight of the abandoned bag of croissants and know I
can’t do it. Not yet. “Thank you so much for being here today. You have no idea
how much it helped.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Erin finishes
drying her hands and hangs the towel on its hook over the sink. “I know you’re
my boss, but we’re friends, too. Right?”
Warmth suffuses me. How great is
she? “Right.”
“So…” Erin looks down at her feet,
points a booted toe. “What about work?”
“Oh.” Right. Work. I’m kind of
responsible for her income, aren’t I? Suddenly I feel awful for having her
cancel my appointments. The two weddings on my books have already been paid
for, the money allocated for certain things. If I’m not bringing in any more
money, how am I supposed to pay her? But I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m
ready. Oh, I know Drew will come crawling back. But the question is when. Do I
have what it takes to plan the amazing wedding I promise each of my clients
while waiting for my fiancé to remember me?
I race through the math in my head.
The business account has several thousand dollars in it— more than enough to
pay Erin’s regular salary and an adequate one for me. Erin’s cleared the next
few days for me so I have until Monday to get myself together. I can do that.
I’ve already paid November’s rent on the building, so I don’t have to worry
about that. And it should only take Drew a few weeks to realize that he’s made
the biggest mistake of his life. Silver Bells be fine. A few days off is all I
need.
“Okay,” I say slowly. “You go in.
Answer the phones and all that stuff. I’m going to keep the next few days for
myself, though.”
“Understandable.” Relief relaxes
her face. “I can hold down the fort until you’re ready to come back. However
long it takes.”
“Monday,” I say with certainty. “If
anyone calls, schedule them for after Monday. I’ll be fine by then.”
“If you’re sure.” She smiles.
But by the next morning, the denial
stage is already over, and I’m not sure at all. Of anything.
This looks like the perfect read for the holidays.
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