Wedding photography is Maggie’s passion. The art of capturing a moment forever in time is magical to her, and she’s worked hard to become the best of the best. Week after week, she works with couples as they plan their happily ever afters, but she hasn’t been so lucky in love.
Behind the camera, it’s easy to hide from the pain and rejection of her past. The life she has made for herself is safe and predictable, until the owner of a rival photography studio sets up shop in her small town and comes to her with an unexpected proposal. Suddenly, everything she has worked so hard to build is threatened and her simple, controlled life is thrown into chaos.
As she travels the state of Michigan photographing weddings, she struggles to keep her business afloat and the wall around her heart intact. But along the way, she learns more about loyalty and love than she ever imagined.
Goodbye, Magnolia is a sweet, highly romantic story. It's one of those reads that, though it's imperfect, you find yourself completely drawn into. I started reading before bed, and I didn't put the book down until I was finished ... and I paid for it the next day!
Maggie and Simon are wildly imperfect people. Maggie has major trust issues following a bad breakup, and Simon is a little too charming and free with his affections. These issues cause major obstacles on their road to happiness, especially regarding the pivotal misunderstanding that serves to keep them apart until the end of the novel. I will admit I had some major reservations regarding Simon—he wasn't a bad guy, but it also didn't seem wise for Maggie to begin a relationship with him. By the end, though, I'd come around!
Even though I wasn't sure of Simon's character for a while, I definitely enjoyed the romantic scenes. Maggie and Simon's chemistry practically leaped off the page, and I loved the back-and-forth dance they did around a relationship. I also enjoyed the supporting characters—especially Maggie's best friend and assistant Sarah.
I did think the beginning was a bit choppy, and I noticed a couple of continuity problems, but overall, I greatly enjoyed Goodbye, Magnolia, and I'll definitely be watching for what Krista Noorman comes out with next! 4 stars.
Buy the book. (Only $0.99 through 8-28-15.)
KRISTA NOORMAN is the author of the young adult novel The Truth About Drew and the contemporary romance Goodbye, Magnolia. Most of her life has been spent scribbling away in journals, honing her writing skills, while documenting her every day life. But it wasn’t until she took part in National Novel Writing Month in 2008, that she found her true calling and turned her pen (or rather her computer keyboard) to fiction.
Krista studied music education at Cornerstone University. After college, she turned to her love of photography and spent nearly a decade running her own wedding photography business. She is constantly inspired by books and movies, enjoys beautiful instagram feeds, and loves a great cup of coffee. Krista makes her home in a small town in western Michigan with her husband, Jacob, and their two children.
She writes about life, family, faith and whatever else comes to mind at bykrista.com.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. 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 the 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."
Thanks for the review, Becky. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Book 2 coming soon. ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it!
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