Always the Designer

"It’s taken Audrey Regan years to establish herself as a wedding dress designer, and to date she’s been roped into creating dresses for nine of her girlfriends. Request #10 follows her vow to “Just say no!” and comes from her very best friend. She can hardly turn Carly down!          

Audrey arrives in Atlanta early to perform all of her maid-of-honor duties along with final fittings for a one-of-a-kind dress. But Carly’s wedding is nothing short of an event, complete with Prince Charming, and the festivities make Audrey question whether there’s a prince of her own anywhere in her future.   

Enter the groom’s brother and best man. Shaggy-haired, tattooed bad boy J.R. Hunt couldn’t be any more different from Prince Charming if he rode in on a Harley Davidson.  Oh, wait. He actually did ride in on a Harley!" - Amazon Blurb

*May Contain Spoilers*

After absolutely loving the first two novels in the "Never the Bride" series by Sandra D. Bricker, I knew that I could not resist Always the Designer, Never the Bride. And happily, I was right. (This doesn't happen as often as I would like...)

Everyone from The Tanglewood Inn is back in this side-splitting-hilarious, romantically involved novel. For the first time in the series, the main character is not previously connected with anyone at the dream-wedding destination hotel. It was incredibly refreshing to see Bricker bring in outsiders and throw them in with the crazy crew of The Tanglewood. 

Audrey is the new main character, though Bricker does a great job at sharing the stage with the other characters. Audrey has always wanted to be a designer and nothing has stopped her from pursuing her goal, but it seems as if the last thread of her career is about to be severed. 

Readers will connect with Audrey through her success and failure at doing what she loves. This passion to obtain her dream job is something everyone can relate with and Bricker does a fantastic job at making sure that happens. As Bricker throws roadblock after roadblock at Audrey, her friends and new acquaintances make sure she knows that she can't give up. 

Did I mention there's a love story involved? Could you tell from the cover or the blurb above? :) I absolutely adore the way that Bricker tells a love story. It never seems cheesy or forced. She doesn't go over the top. It's all in all a simple lovely love story. Though, I have to admit that when I was nearing the end of the novel, I had no idea how Bricker was going to tie up all the loose ends. 

The only thing that bothered me was that I waited too long between this novel and the first two. It was hard remembering the characters and the references Bricker makes to past stories. But that's my own fault... 

However, this novel completely met my expectations and if you haven't read the first two in the series, I highly recommend them. These three books combined will have you laughing out loud and making new friends for life while also enjoying the free recipes included in every novel. 

Always the Designer, Never the Bride

on Amazon

rating: 4/5 cups

See also:

            Always the Baker,                         Always the Wedding Planner,

Never the Bride                                    Never the Bride

Wedding Cake Crumbles

Disappearing dresses.
Skeletons hiding in the closet.
Allergic reactions to her fiance.

Not to worry, Sherilyn is determined to marry the man of her dreams in Sandra D. Bricker's Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride.

When Sherilyn and Andy become engaged, they decide to move back to Atlanta, Georgia. Sherilyn earns herself a career at The Tanglewood Inn as the hotel's wedding planner, working with her best friend, Emma. But it seems Karma has set her sights on Sherilyn's happiness as things take multiple turns for the worse.

If Sherilyn could only forgive herself for the mistake she made when she was younger, perhaps Karma's revenge would retreat. Then she could have her own happy ending.

This sequel to Always the Baker, Never the Bride had me reading at lightening speed. It's as delicious as the first one, maybe even more. Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride centers around Sherilyn Caine, wedding planner extraordinaire. And now it's her turn to be the bride. Readers can find themselves right beside Sherilyn as each piece of her wedding begins to fall apart, before the date is even set. The connection that Bricker's words create with the reader is a wonderful flow of friendship. The more the reader comes to know Sherilyn, the closer they step to being in her shoes.

And what fun shoes to fill!

Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride on Amazon

rating: 5/5 cups

Also look at:  "Swept Away with Love"

Swept Away with Love

Sandra D. Bricker's novel Always the Baker, Never the Bride is a story as sweet as the baking creations described within the pages.

Emma is an amazing pastry chef with awards tucked under her belt for the masterful creations she whips up in the kitchen. As a diabetic, she can only taste test her delectable desserts, never fully enjoying them.

Jackson is a man trying to step out of the shadows of his wife's death. Building a romantic wedding destination hotel was his wife's dream, and her only regret. He vows that he will see that dream brought to life to honor his wife.

The two meet when he hires Emma based on her reputation and problem solving attitude to be his head wedding cake designer.

As the two characters grow closer, their worries leak into the open. Jackson can't seem to stop comparing Emma to his deceased wife while Emma fears she'll end up like her parents: hating each other so much that they can't be in the same state, let alone the same room.

Always the Baker, Never the Bride is a novel of two people letting go of their fears and stepping into the chance of love while discovering new facets of their personalities they never thought to explore. Sandra D. Bricker will sweep you off of your feet with her words bringing you joy, understanding, hope, and laughter.

Always the Baker, Never the Bride on Amazon

rating: 5/5 cups