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Pages: 63
Goes Well With: Christmas cookies and hot coffee
Christmas weddings can be absolutely beautiful—but, for those in chillier climates, the unpredictable weather can get in the way of the perfect day. In Late for the Wedding by Barbara Edwards (one of the Twelve Brides of Christmas novels from The Wild Rose Press), the sister of the bride finds herself battling the elements to make it to the church on time.
This short holiday romance finds Heather Green racing to prepare for her twin sister’s Christmas Eve wedding. She has everything ready for the drive to Boston: dresses, cake, favors, and a special handmade cake topper. But when a blizzard hits and Heather finds herself in the middle of a multi-car accident on the highway, she fears that she might ruin her sister’s perfect day.
Nick Burnes could be the solution to Heather’s problem. While helping his brother out for the night by driving a tow truck, Nick comes to Heather’s rescue. But while the attraction soon builds between them, Heather tries to fight her feelings, worried that she’ll get involved with the wrong guy yet again.
If you’ve ever experienced a Boston blizzard, you’ll understand the idea behind Late for the Wedding: when a nor’easter strikes, there’s simply no hope of getting anywhere—not even your sister’s wedding. And that dilemma gives Heather’s story an interesting set-up.
Unfortunately, though, while short e-books rarely have enough time to develop characters beyond the basic stereotypes, Late for the Wedding takes the stereotypes to extremes. From the beginning, when Heather meets Nick—with his unshaven face and coffee-stained shirt—she assumes that he’s just another “working guy.” And, to Heather, that somehow makes him a “fixer-upper.” For some reason—apparently due to a former relationship—she has something against him right from the start because of his outward appearance. But when it turns out that he’s actually a rich and fabulous womanizer, that suddenly makes it okay. Apparently, as long as he cleans up okay, he’s perfectly safe—despite his reputation for tossing women out with the trash. It’s an attitude that seems about as superficial as they come, and it makes Heather a frustrating character.
Meanwhile, the storytelling often feels rushed, the details left unexplained. It seems as though the author wanted to fill the story with interesting details and back stories—from the reason behind Heather’s sister’s rushed wedding to Heather’s relationships with both her twin and her ex. But these details are mentioned only in passing—and, as a result, instead of making the story more interesting, they make it feel like it’s lacking in development.
Had it been just a little longer, Late for the Wedding might have had more time to develop the characters and their stories. Instead, the interesting idea gets lost in a story that simply feels incomplete.
Ed. Note: For more on Late for the Wedding, visit WildRosePublishing.com.
