Review: A January Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella) by Deborah Raney

A January Bride (A Year of Weddings Novella) by Deborah Raney
Zondervan / 2013
  Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

A year’s worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.

What will happen when novelist Madeleine Houser’s “pen pal” friendship with a lonely widower takes an unexpected turn?

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. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper---but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner---a man who's likely many years her senior---and who she’s never even met.

Arthur Tyler is a college professor who lost his young wife to cancer. Together they ran the bed and breakfast where Art lives, but without his wife, the house is missing warmth and cheer. He jumps at the chance to have author Madeleine Houser use the space that was once filled with guests. He, too, begins to enjoy the daily exchanges with Maddie, but a series of misunderstandings lead him to believe she’s far from being a prospective date---even if he were ready to date again, which he’s not.

When Maddie and Art finally meet and discover one another’s identity, sparks fly. Even so, they each have obstacles to overcome in order for this winter romance to blossom.

My rating:

My thoughts:

I've only read two of the novellas so far, but Zondervan's A Year of Weddings novella collection is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I loved A December Bride, which I read last month, and I also loved this novella!

A January Bride was a great read! I loved how the main character - Maddie - was an author and working with a tight deadline, so she starts writing at a bed and breakfast, since her house is undergoing a lot of renovations. It was so neat how Maddie and Art (the owner of the B&B) started writing notes to each other - I loved that! There were a lot of misconceptions in A January Bride and, as a result, this story made me laugh so much! 

There are many little things about A January Bride that I really liked, but I won't mention them all. ;) One thing that happened towards the end of this novella did seem a little rushed/quickly resolved to me, but that's pretty much the only thing I didn't like.

All in all, a very enjoyable novella! I recommend it and look forward to continuing The Year of Weddings collection by reading A February Bride soon.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

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