"Every Bride Has Her Day" by Janice Thompson

Every Bride Has Her Day (May 17, 2016) by Janice Thompson.*

For someone who’s been planning her wedding since she was a little girl, it is a dream come true for Katie Fisher that she is an engaged woman. Her fiancé is pro basketball star Brady James. He is her perfect mate, though she never would’ve encountered him if he hadn’t been sidelined by a knee injury that prompted him to work at his mother’s store, Cosmopolitan Bridal, when she came through after submitting a winning essay. Katie has her groom-to-be, a beautiful wedding gown, and a calendar that is entirely too full. Friends and relatives around her are celebrating with their own weddings or engagements. And almost everyone around her is quick to share her thoughts on how they think Katie’s wedding should  look or progress, from where it should take place even down to where she and Brady will honeymoon. Isn’t Katie the bride? What about her ideas for her wedding day? Will she find the confidence to state what she wants so that this bride can have her day?

            Although this is a charming, Christian fiction, contemporary romance story, I struggled with it. As far as girly and over-the-top goes, the author nailed it. Unfortunately for me, the story was a bit fluffy. I’ve read more historical romance of late than contemporary, so the description sounded promising when I initially read it, but like a carbonated beverage, the luster of the story fizzled out. I did have a good chuckle with the line involving a “come-to-Jesus meeting,” only because that’s a go-to phrase that the mother of one of my sisters-in-law used in her youth. I also appreciated the part where fences are being mended between two long-time friends and they’re discussing forgiveness. We can all learn from those lines, because it’s not true only amongst friends, but family, coworkers, everyone on the planet: “And sometimes – just sometimes – they are misunderstood. They make mistakes. But then they forgive and move on. That’s how friendship works.”  So, if you’re looking for a light-hearted, whimsical story, this may be a novel for you. But if you’re seeking action and adventure or a story with a complex plot, I would advise you to choose a different book.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. 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.”