September Bride
Kathryn Springer

Book Summary: Annie's always wanted a home and a family. But will pretending to be a bride get her closer to her dreams? All Annie Price has ever wanted is a place to call home. Growing up in the foster care system, that dream seemed far away, but now Annie's dream may be coming true. A friend she met in an online book group wants to retire and has offered Annie a fresh start managing her little bookstore. Believing the opportunity is an answer to prayer, Annie packs her suitcase and moves to Red Leaf, Wisconsin. The residents of Red Leaf welcome Annie into the fold . . . everyone except the bookstore owner's son, Jesse Kent. But Annie refuses to let the handsome deputy keep her from embracing her new home with open arms. She even volunteers to help the local historical society refurbish an old church and agrees to be the "bride" for a special reenactment celebrating the museum's open house. Jesse Kent can't believe his mother has handed the keys to her business over to a woman she met on the Internet. Annie's beautiful, of course, and smart as a whip, but what do they really know about her, anyway? What if she's come to their town just for his mother's money? The only way to see if his suspicions about Annie Price are true is to keep a close eye on her-even if it means he has to marry her! Planning their mock wedding will give him the chance to uncover Annie's motive for moving to town. But as the day of the wedding approaches and secrets come to light, Jesse must face the truth. He wants Annie to be his September bride . . . for real.

Review: Predictable and yet very charming. I loved Annie and Jesse. Whimsical characters that are delightful balanced out by some drama. It all made for a quick breezy read. I loved the amount of things that occurred in a short period of time and that at times Jesse was used to introduce us to all the characters. He lived in Red Leaf all his life and we got to learn of the changes and lives of everyone through great a well written novella. It was so well written I wanted to look Red Leaf up on the map and mover there myself.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondevan Fiction for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. ( )

A September Bride is one of Zondervan's Year of Weddings novellas of 2014. All the stories in this series are stand alone books. This one is bright, cheery, filled with good humor and laughs, a sweet romance, small town family dynamics and a happy ending. Conflict is on the light side with just a smidgen of mystery. It's the perfect read for a get-away or a weekend.

Anne Price was looking for a new start in her life. So when she was offered the opportunity to manage a small town bookstore, she jumped at the chance. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Anne felt Red Leaf was a refreshing change for her. Everyone treated her like family and she immediately became involved in the town's events. She even joined the historical society. She finally felt like she belonged--until she met no-nonsense Deputy Jesse Kent, her employer's son. He regarded her with suspicion and wariness. She knew with her friendship with Lorna, the owner of the Second Story Bookshop, she'd be bumping elbows more than she liked with Jesse. But what had she done to earn his dislike?

Deputy Jesse Kent had gone on a three-week training conference. When he'd returned, his mother had hired a manager for her bookstore and seemed to have found a male admirer. Both were disturbing changes. His mother liked continuity, such as Monday night meatloaf; but here she was with a new manager, a new recipe, and even possibly a boyfriend. Why had all this change happened? All this prompted memories of another time years ago when he'd had to stand by helplessly while she'd had her trust betrayed with a so-called suitor turned con-artist. He had stolen the savings of many townspeople including her own. Jesse was only twelve at the time, but the event laid the foundation for his desire to become a law enforcement officer to protect his mom and his community. He couldn't help being wary of the two newcomers, Michael and Anne. With Anne, there seemed to be an air of mystery around her, yet his mother trusted her completely. He only hoped it was merited; he was going to do what he could to be certain it was.

The one thing I most enjoyed about this book was the author's sense of humor. There were many occasions for a few chuckles and a smattering of giggles. Good clean humor.

Second, the light romance combined with good character development was a treat to read. Both Jesse and Anne had obstacles to overcome before their relationship could get off the ground. Jesse's lack of trust was a major issue he had to overcome. Anne simply didn't believe in herself. The author worked this out well, considering how short the novella is. Both Anne and Jesse were likable and even lovable in their own unique ways.

Finally, the author includes faith issues as part of the character development. Faith was part of their lives. It blended in seamlessly with the story line and felt as natural as breathing. The issues didn't seem forced or unrealistic. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good light romance.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of Zondervan Fiction. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are 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.” ( )