The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey 406 pages Present Day: Julia Baxter's wedding veil, bequeathed to her great-grandmother by a mysterious woman on a train in the 1930s, has passed through generations of her family as a symbol of a happy marriage. But on the morning of her wedding day, something tells her that even the veil's good luck isn't enough to make her marriage last forever. Overwhelmed and panicked, she escapes to the Virgin Islands to clear her head. Meanwhile, her grandmother Babs is also feeling shaken. Still grieving the death of her beloved husband, she decides to move out of the house they once shared and into a retirement community. Though she hopes it's a new beginning, she does not expect to run into an old flame, dredging up the same complicated emotions she felt a lifetime ago. 1914: Socialite Edith Vanderbilt is struggling to manage the luxurious Biltmore Estate after the untimely death of her cherished husband. With 250 rooms to oversee and an entire village dependent on her family to stay afloat, Edith is determined to uphold the Vanderbilt legacy and prepare her free-spirited daughter Cornelia to inherit it despite her family's deteriorating financial situation. But Cornelia has dreams of her own. Asheville, North Carolina has always been her haven away from the prying eyes of the press, but as she explores more of the rapidly changing world around her, she's torn between upholding tradition and pursuing the exciting future that lies beyond Biltmore's gilded gates. I loved the way the story is told by 4 different women from different stages of life and time periods. The story unfolds the mystery of a wedding veil and if it really is the famous veil from the 1920s. I really enjoyed this book and the stories of each individual character as well as how they are all intertwined together.

The Apple Creek Announcement by Wanda E. Brunstetter

 The Apple Creek Announcement by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Welcome to Apple Creek, Ohio, where piano teacher and artist, Andrea Wagner, has a fascination with painting the rural Amish landscapes around her home. She has made it to her thirties feeling like she has had a charmed life and finally has fallen in love with Brandon Prentice, a local veterinarian.

But then she discovers she was adopted and all she thought she knew about herself has crumbled. Andrea becomes so fixated on finding her birth mother that she pushes Brandon away, so she writes to the "Dear Caroline" column in the n
ewspaper for romance advice. 

What will Andrea lose before she finds herself again?

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary -- 384 pages

Addie and her sister are about to embark on an epic road trip to a friend's wedding in the north of Scotland. The playlist is all planned and the snacks are packed.

But, not long after setting off, a car slams into the back of theirs. The driver is none other than Addie's ex, Dylan, who she's avoided since their traumatic break-up two years earlier.

Dylan and his best mate are heading to the wedding too, and they've totalled their car, so Addie has no choice but to offer them a ride. The car is soon jam-packed full of luggage and secrets, and with three hundred miles ahead of them, Dylan and Addie can't avoid confronting the very messy history of their relationship...

Will they make it to the wedding on time? And, more importantly... is this really the end of the road for Addie and Dylan?

The Invitation by Vi Keeland

The Invitation by Vi Keeland -- 315 pages 

The first time I met Hudson Rothschild was at a wedding. I’d received an unexpected invitation to one of the swankiest venues in the city. Hudson was a groomsman and quite possibly the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. He asked me to dance, and our chemistry was off the charts. I knew it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with him, considering the wedding I was at. But our connection was intense, and I was having a great time.

Though the fun came to a screeching halt when Hudson figured out I wasn’t who I’d said I was. You see, that unexpected invitation I received? Well, it hadn’t actually been addressed to me—it was sent to my ex-roommate who’d bounced a check for two months’ rent and moved out in the middle of the night. I figured she owed me an expensive night out, but I guess, technically, I was crashing the wedding. Once caught, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. As I bolted for the door, I might’ve plucked a few bottles of expensive champagne off the tables I passed, all while the gorgeous, angry groomsman was hot on my tail.

Outside, I jumped into a taxi. My heart ricocheted against my ribs as we drove down the block—but at least I’d escaped unscathed. Or so I thought. Until I realized I’d left my cell phone behind at the table. Take one guess who found it? This is the crazy story of how Hudson Rothschild and I met. But trust me, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. 

The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa

The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa -- 368 pages

A wedding planner left at the altar. Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s managed to make other people’s dreams come true as a top-tier wedding coordinator in DC. After impressing an influential guest, she’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials.

Tired of living in his older brother’s shadow, marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning—absolutely off-limits—ex-fiancée. And she loathes him.

If they can survive the next few weeks and nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina’s ready to dish out a little payback of her own.

But even the best laid plans can go awry, and soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn’t interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again...

The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen

The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen - 444 pages

Much has happened in idyllic Ivy Hill in recent months, and while several villagers have found new love and purpose, questions remain--and a few dearly held dreams have yet to be fulfilled.

Jane Bell is torn. Gabriel Locke is back and has made his intentions clear. But Jane is reluctant to give up her inn and destine another man to a childless marriage. Then someone she never expected to see again returns to Ivy Hill. . . .

Mercy Grove has lost her school and is resigned to life as a spinster, especially as the man she admires seems out of reach. Should she uproot herself from Ivy Cottage to become a governess for a former pupil? Her decision will change more lives than her own.

A secretive new dressmaker arrives in the village, but the ladies soon suspect she isn't who she claims to be. Will they oust the imposter, or help rescue her from a dangerous predicament?

In the meantime, everyone expects Miss Brockwell to marry a titled gentleman, even though her heart is drawn to another. While the people of Ivy Hill anticipate one wedding, an unexpected bride may surprise them all.

Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury

Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury - 326 pages

 Against the advice of her doctor, Mary Catherine moves to Uganda to work at a new orphanage. Whatever time she has left, Mary Catherine wants to spend it helping children – especially since she is unable to have children of her own. The only problem is Marcus Dillinger, the Major League Baseball player she was never meant to fall in love with. But neither Marcus nor Mary Catherine’s other friends – Tyler Ames and Sami Dawson – know just how serious her heart condition is.

  Still, Marcus suspects something isn’t right. After months of silence, a divinely timed letter from Mary Catherine leads him on a desperate life-or-death mission to rescue her and get her to a US hospital before time runs out. Meanwhile, as Sami and Tyler prepare to marry, the group receives shocking news that changes everyone’s plans.

  The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death. Brush of Wings is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the power of faith.

The Bridge Quartet series by Nora Roberts

Vision in White by Nora Roberts - 336 pages
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts - 352 pages
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts - 336 pages
Happily Ever After by Nora Roberts - 336 pages

This series follows the romances of four best friends who together run a very successful wedding business.  Mac is the photographer.  Emma is the florist.  Laurel is the baker.  And Parker manages everything.  Each book focuses on one of the friends and their romance.  It was interesting that as the series went on, the books focused less on the specific character and instead told the stories of each friend so that the final two books were almost more general fiction than romances.  Overall, a good series for fans of romance or chick-lit.

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen - 357 pages

Louna is nearly as jaded about love as her mother who owns a wedding planning business with her best friend.  She doesn't believe there is a happily-ever-after out there for her.  So when happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose starts working at the wedding business, he annoys her endlessly.  They make a bet that he can't stay monogamous for seven weeks while she won't be able to date serially for seven weeks.

This is typical Sarah Dessen.  You have the guarded and wounded girl who is healed through time spent with caring friends and a boy who understands her.  The only thing that is slightly different is her good relationship with her mother as a lot of times in Sarah Dessen books the girl is also at odds with her parents.  I would recommend this to readers of Deb Caletti and Jennifer E. Smith.

Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson

Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson
323 pages

Book 15 in the Culinary Mysteries series finds Aspen Meadow's favorite caterer, Goldy, busy planning a wedding reception when a friend of her godfather is murdered.  Shortly thereafter, her godfather is also married.

Filled with murder, mystery and lots of cooking, this book keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

The Last Suppers by Diane Mott Davidson

The Last Suppers by Diane Mott Davidson, 229 pages

Book 4 of the Culinary Mystery series finds Goldy on her wedding day. She's at the church, the food she prepared all set for the reception...only 1 problem - there's no groom.
Suddenly, a call from Schulz and the wedding is off - he priest has been killed. An hour later, Schulz is nowhere to be found.

Goldy tries to let the police handle the investigation, but it's her groom, for crying out loud!

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts - 368 pages
(Brides Quartet: bk 4)

Parker channeled her grief over her parents' death into starting a wedding planning business with her three best friends.  Several years later, they are one of the most successful wedding planning businesses in the state.  In the past year, all three of her best friends have found the loves of her life.  Parker too is looking for the same thing -- she just didn't expect it to be mechanic Mal.
I truly enjoyed the conclusion to the Brides series.  This book did a great job of tying up the entire series.