Can one bridesmaid undo the disasters caused by a poorly chosen maid of honor and save her sister's wedding from disaster?
Mari's older sister Crystal is getting married, and Mari is one of her bridesmaids - actually, the last in a lineup of five bridesmaids, but that doesn't really bother her. Much. But Sienna Jameson as the maid of honor? Really? She might be Crystal's best friend, but she's ditzy and undependable on her best days. When the best man turns out to be hunky Derrick Richardson, the right fielder for the Houston Astros and one of Houston's most eligible bachelors, Sienna abandons her duties as maid of honor to chase Derrick, and it's up to Mari to make sure Crystal's wedding day goes off without a hitch.
While Mari is wrapped up in dress fittings, bridal showers, and bachelorette nights, Derrick has taken notice of her devotion to her sister and her determination to make the wedding perfect. But between dodging Sienna's advances and watching Mari running around like a madwoman, Derrick is left to steal moments whenever he can to get to know this beautiful bridesmaid.
When the maid of honor shows up to the ceremony late and more done up than the bride herself, Mari fears her attempts to make her sister's wedding perfect have all been for naught. Will the bride be up-staged by the maid of honor? Will the fifth-in-line bridesmaid ever be recognized for all the work she's done? And will Mari finally have a moment to revel in the magic of a wedding and dance in the strong arms of a man?
First of all, the title is a bit of a misnomer, as Mari is certainly a bridesmaid. What she is is the last bridesmaid—the one who stands farthest away from the bride. Her frustration as she deals with the hurt of being passed over for maid of honor duties and strives to make her sister's day the best day possible anyway is palpable ... and totally relatable.
Amid the frustration, though, is a lighthearted wedding story that completely fits with the Janice Thompson brand. The romance between Mari and Derrick is sweet, and I also loved the dynamic between Mari and her sister Crystal—despite Crystal's insensitivity toward Mari and her tendency to bow to her future mother-in-law's wishes, she clearly loved Mari, and Mari loved her. Never a Bridesmaid is a great entry in the Year of Weddings series, and fans of wedding stories will love it. 4-1/2 stars.
See what others are saying.
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of Thompson's Queen of the Waves (set on the Titanic, 4-1/2 stars) and Bouquet of Love (Weddings by Design, 4 stars).
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.
Janice Thompson got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. She has published over ninety books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children's books, and more. She particularly enjoys writing light-hearted, comedic tales because she enjoys making readers laugh. In addition, she enjoys public speaking and mentoring young writers. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. Visit her website at www.janiceathompson.com. Twitter: @booksbyjanice Facebook: Janice Hanna Thompson's Reader Page
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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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