A Year of Weddings Novella 1 & 2 by Denise Hunter & Deborah Raney

Over the next 12 months, Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) is releasing a new novella each month as part of their "Year of Weddings" series.  You can read more about the titles on the Zondervan website.  Today, I have the first two for you.

A December Bride 
Author: Denise Hunter
Date of publication: November 2013

What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

A December Bride features characters from Barefoot Summer.   Layla and Seth have known each other for a long time.  He used to be the best friend of Laya's ex-fiancee.  In order to spare herself the humiliation of going to his wedding (to her cousin) alone, Layla agrees to go with Seth.

I thought this was a sweet romance.  Layla and Seth were perfect for each other.  What starts out as an innocent lie grows into something that neither of them can deny. I loved all of the little things that Seth did for Layla.  I absolutely loved their HEA.  It was also nice to visit with some of the characters from Barefoot Summer.  A great start to the novella series!

A January Bride
Author: Deborah Raney
Date of publication: December 2013


Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. 

The second in the series, A January Bride features two characters who fall in love before they ever really meet.  I enjoyed this one.  I liked the idea of the characters getting to now each other through notes and letters. The most amusing part was that each of them thought the other one was old.

 Arthur has been mourning his wife's death for a few years.  Madeleine has been unlucky in love.  They were perfect for each other.  Maddie was just what Art needed to help he move on with his life and reopen his heart. My only wish was that story would have been a little longer.  I felt like the proposal came a little too quickly.  I would have liked to see them spend more actual time together.  Despite that, it's a cute addition to the series and worth reading!