Janice Thompson: Every Bride Has Her Day

By Kelly Bridgewater

Katie Fisher is ecstatic. Pro basketball star Brady James has proposed, and she can't wait to start planning their life together. She's confident she'll make it down the aisle this time--but it still may be easier said than done. A high-society Houston bride has Katie and the Cosmopolitan Bridal team scrambling to get the perfect dress done in time for her spectacular wedding. Meanwhile, Katie finds herself bombarded with everyone's competing visions regarding her own special day--and she's beginning to worry that her own ideas will get lost in the crossfire. Will she ever manage to settle all of the details for her perfect day? Or will bridal shop chaos and overzealous friends and family make a mess of everything?

From Amazon

My Review:

I have enjoyed reading the first two books in the Brides with Style series by Janice Thompson. I enjoyed seeing Katie struggle as she tried to figure out if she wanted to marry Casey or Brady. With the conclusion to the series in Every Bride Has Her Day, Thompson has created a touching feel good story that fans of contemporary romance will enjoy.

The story interacts with Katie and Brady as they finalize their plans for their wedding. The story begins right after the proposal from the second book and ends after their actual wedding. While the story is predictable, the familiar characters brought a good feeling to me as the reader. I enjoyed getting lost in Dallas and Fairfield with the numerous characters who have populated all three stories.

Thompson does a good job at using simple, easy to follow language to invite me into the story. I saw the bridal shop, the different churches, and the numerous weddings that took place without having to stretch my imagination at all. Thompson really shines when describing a  wedding. I never once doubted her terminology for the wedding dress material.

While Thompson does a good job at bringing back into the fold of the story from the first chapter of Every Bride Has Her Day, I felt like the story was a little too happy for me. There was a little conflict at the beginning of the story, but then it got solved, and the story was rainbows and unicorns for the rest of the book. Too much happiness for me. But that is just my humble opinion.

Overall, fans of the first two books by Janice Thompson will be happy to return and watch Katie reach her happily ever after. Thompson reminded me that a wedding is about the people who come and see you, not on how much money someone spends on the event. Glad I didn't have an expensive wedding, but I have a great marriage, which is what matters in the end.

I received a complimentary copy of Every Bride Has Her Day by Janice Thompson and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars

Purchase Every Bride Has Her Day

Do you enjoy reading a story where there is no conflict and every character is happy where they reach their goals? Why or why not?

Janice Thompson: Every Girl Gets Confused

By Kelly Bridgewater

From Amazon

Back Cover Copy:

Katie Fisher and Brady James may be a match made in heaven, but that doesn't seem to guarantee them a happily ever after accompanied by angelic choirs. In fact, the sounds being heard at the bridal shop where she works are on the contentious side lately, as a bride- and groom-to-be try to mediate the growing rivalry between their basketball-obsessed families in the middle of play-off season. On top of that, Katie's parents are nagging her to get out of Dallas and come home to tiny Fairfield where her former boyfriend Carson is waiting for her, ready to rekindle their relationship. Oy vey! What's a girl to do? And will she ever be able to wear that gorgeous wedding dress she won?

The breezy fun continues as Janice Thompson throws everyone's favorite small-town girl into big-city bridal chaos--and makes her choose between the love she thought she lost and the love she stumbled upon in the aftermath.

My Thoughts:

I read Every Bride Needs a Groom, and I loved getting to know Katie Fisher. I was excited to know there was a second book in the series, Every Girl Gets Confused, which reminded me of why I enjoyed the first book. I love a story that has a small town girl who heads to the big city and tries to make a name for herself, something different than what she originally was. Thompson does exactly what a contemporary romance should do.

From the first page, I was reminded of the events that occurred in Every Bride Needs a Groom. I felt like no time had passed since I read that story. I remember the connection between Katie Fisher and the bridal shop, Cosmopolitan Bridal. I couldn’t forget her unengagement to Casey and her new developing relationship with ex-basketball player Brady James. Thompson created a story that brought comfort, joy, and a sense of familiarity when I opened this book.

In the second book, Katie struggles with feelings of homesickness. She keeps returning home to prepare for her grandmother Queenie’s upcoming wedding to a local pastor. During this book, Thanksgiving and Christmas occur, which brings a lot of memories of home and fitting in where she belongs. To throw another wrench in the pile, Thompson brings back Casey, her almost finance, and Katie ponders if she did the right thing in moving on to Brady. Even through all her emotions, Katie is still a successful business woman with tons of ideas to improve Cosmopolitan Bridal, even when she works herself to pure exhaustion. I really relate to how much she wants to succeed, but life throws her for a loop

Seasons. The story hits on the theme of the different seasons of our lives. Some seasons are good, warm, and bright while other seasons have more treacherous weather with a variety of storms, but we have to learn to trust in the Lord with every difficulty in our lives. The footprints poem came to mind when I think of all the different seasons and how we cope with them.

I think I enjoyed Every Girl Gets Confused more than most contemporary romance novel because of the continuing main character. I enjoyed returning to a setting that I knew well and returning to a character that I could relate to. It was nice watching her grow and mature from the girl I met at the beginning of Every Bride Needs a Groom. In that book, all Katie thought about was getting engaged and settling down. But now, Katie doesn’t define herself by whether or not she is getting married. She is making a name for herself in the Bridal business. She is still improving spiritually and emotionally. Just like me.

I wouldn’t change anything about the story; I enjoyed it just the way it was.

In true bridal fashion, Janice Thompson’s Every Girl Gets Confused comforted me and reminded me of all the trials in my life and how I need to stay focused on God’s plan for my life, not my plan for my life. I can’t wait for the third book in the series, so I can see what becomes of Brady and Katie’s whirlwind romance.

I received a complimentary copy from Revell Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Every Girl Gets Confused

Janice Thompson: Every Bride Needs A Groom

By Kelly Bridgewater

Back Cover Copy:

Small-town girl Katie Fisher is planning her wedding. Sure, her boyfriend hasn't managed to pop the question just yet, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't enter a contest in Texas Bride magazine to win the dress of her dreams, right? But when her boyfriend breaks up with her and takes a job in another town--the very same day Katie wins her dream dress--her world is turned upside down. Should she claim her prize? And will the hunky former pro-basketball player who runs the swanky Dallas bridal shop--yeah, you read that right--catch on to her humiliation if she does?

My Review:

When you think of a novel dealing with weddings, Janice Thompson’s name comes to the forefront of my mind. She has written a number of novels, featuring the wedding industry and all the struggles involved with a comedic flair. I have only read one other book by Janice Thompson, but something about the cover on the book from Every Bride Needs a Groom grabbed my attention. Maybe it is the pretty model in the beautiful wedding dress, modeling it in front of the mirror.

Anyways, Every Bride Needs a Groom is a unique and totally unpredictable story. From the moment, I met Katie I knew something had to be different about her. She enjoys her small town Fairfield, Texas and enjoys working in her father’s hardware store. But after winning the wedding dress and cover on the Texas Bride magazine, she travels to the big city and changes her status in life. I didn’t see the story as a typical romance; it was nicely handled. I enjoy romances where the hero and heroine take awhile to fall in love, and Thompson did just that in Every Bride Needs a Groom.

The setting of the bridal shop in Dallas, Texas appeared to be realistic. From the tulle and lace, wrapped around the various mannequins in the bridal shop, I never once doubted Thompson description about the shop. I haven’t been in a bridal shop in fourteen years, so I take Thompson at her word, but from what I remember, and what the television shows portray, it rang true.

Katie Fisher and Brady James were not the normal pairing. What I mean is that Katie Fisher actually enjoys the small town living where she grew up and was prepared to marry her small town boyfriend, so she enters this contest. But what would happen, he breaks up with her just after she finds out she won the dress and cover. Katie is innocent, sweet, and wants the best for her family. On the other hand, Brady, a professional basketball player on leave, honors his mother by offering to take control of her bridal shop while she fulfills her dream in Paris. Brady is sweet, caring, and truly a noble man who honors his commitments to God, family, and his career.

Overall, Janice Thompson’s Every Bride Needs a Groom is a unique wedding story with characters that will attach themselves to your heart and not let go. I truly enjoyed this story and anxiously wait for the next volume in the continuing saga of Katie and Brady.

I received a complimentary copy of Every Bride Needs a Groom from Revell Publishing and all the opinions stated are my own.

From Thompson's Amazon's Author Page

Janice Thompson’s Writing Bio:

Inspirational author Janice Thompson also writes under the name Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over 100 books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds.

Where to connect with Janice Thompson:

Website

Facebook

Where to purchase Every Bride Needs a Groom:

Amazon

Barnes and Nobles

Christianbook

Your Local Favorite Bookstore

What aspect of a contemporary romance novel with a bride on the cover draws your attention?

Family Dilemma with a Hint of Romance

By K. L. Bridgewater

When I think of romance novels, I think of two people arguing and emotions coursing through their bodies like fireworks on the Fourth of July.  The couple secretly wants to be together, but something, either       internally or externally, keeps them apart.

 

I received a complimentary copy of Janice Thompson’s latest book, A Bouquet of Love, to read and review. I, however, don’t gravitate toward romance novels, as most people understand who follow this blog. I’m a huge fan of suspense novels with a little bit of romance thrown in.

Thompson’s book compares a lot to the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which I enjoyed. The book features a Greek family, the Pappas, who moved from California to Galveston, Texas to open a new Gyro restaurant. At first, the family is reluctant to move, but over time, the family, except the father, Babbas, makes friends with the dreaded Italian family across the street.

The POV is in Cassia’s perspective, a twenty-three year old woman, who adores flowers and Judy Garland. Cassia wants to “cut the apron’s strings” from her Babbas, but she doesn’t want to offend him by losing his respect. While working in the flower shop down the Strand (the street where their restaurant is located), Cassia meets Alex, the flower man, who brings in the flowers from his family’s nursery.

I, personally, see the story as a Contemporary story with hints of romance. Kind of like the story I write, suspense with hints of romance. The plot focused mostly on the dilemma between Cassia and her Babbas and the problems between Babbas and the Italian Rossi’s family across the street. The romance between Alex and Cassia occurred, but it seemed too easy. Alex and Cassia fall in love right away, and Babbas frowns at Alex as he takes Cassia on a bike ride or comes to the restaurant, but I imagined him acting like the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which he doesn’t. Alex and Cassia like each other from the start, and never once argue. There were a number of places that an argument from Alex and Cassia would have made their relationship more interesting and realistic.

The real dilemma of the story is the “hate” relationship between Babbas and the Rossi patriarch, who owns Parma Johns across the street. Every other member of the family secretly becomes friends with a member of the Rossi family. Even so far that one day Cassia sneaks into Parma John’s to eat the dreaded pizza without her father knowing she’s there. However, she mentions a Greek pizza, which the owner adds to his menu, further fanning the flame of anger from Babbas.

The plot line of the story is interesting, and I was curious how the family would convince Babbas to stop the feud between the two families, but I think the romance should have been more convincing to the story. As a contemporary story, I believe Thompson did a good job, but to be labeled as romance might have been a stretch since the romance didn’t appear to be that important to the storyline.

I was given a complimentary copy of A Bouquet of Love from Revell publishing and all my thoughts are my own.