HERE COMES THE BRIDE by Hope Ramsay

Publisher:     Forever
Published:     August 29, 2017
ISBN:        978-1455564880
Genre:      Contemporary Romance
Format:     Print  
Obtained via:  Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

FIVE HEARTS

 

Laurie Wilson is about to make her march down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams.  Or at least the man she’s spent the last ten years with and has always known she would marry.  For Brandon Kopp, her soon to be husband, she’s given her all—given up a job she would have loved, bought a house that needs some serious work and shifted every aspect of her life just for him.  As she approached her groom the last thing Laurie expected happened—Brandon walked away.  In a matter of minutes her friends rallied around her.  Surprisingly it is Brandon’s best friend and best man, Andrew Lyndon, who is among the first to step up to care for Laurie. 

 

Not that Laurie’s friends are slouches when it comes to standing by their friend.  They want revenge; Laurie wants her groom back.  Added to the mix is her father, Noah, a prominent D.C. attorney.  Noah wants his daughter to be happy and if marrying Brandon is what she wants, then marrying Noah is what she’ll have.  To do that he has a plan, a plan that includes Andrew.  As an employee of Noah Andrew has little choice but to go along with the older man’s plan—which is for Andrew to set Laurie up with a string of dates.  Noah is convinced that will bring Brandon to his senses…and down the aisle with his daughter.

Hope Ramsay’s Chapel of Love series just gets better and better. I love the characters, the way she describes the town of Shenandoah Falls and how you have a chance to catch up with the core characters while meeting new ones that appear in each book. Even knowing how her latest, HERE COMES THE BRIDE is going to end – it IS, after all a romance, I couldn’t wait to see how Ramsay got Andrew and Laurie down the aisle. And how she did gave me an out loud chuckle.  Nicely done. 

 

Ramsay gives her characters a nice mix of backgrounds – there are the Lyndons with their political connections that go back quite a long time, a family with wealth, an average family and a host of Shenandoah Falls residents with different, true to life, jobs and issues.  There were some nice changes in Andrew from SMALL TOWN BRIDE to HERE COMES THE BRIDE.  The protectiveness he had for his sister, Amy, in SMALL TOWN BRIDE carries through when Laurie is left at the altar, but with a mellowness to it.  Ramsay also does a great job with how Laurie becomes her own person – going after what she wants, through the story.  There are no jarring epiphanies that rush to the finale, but a really nice, realistic progression. 

 

One character I really liked and hope we see his story soon is Ryan Pierce.  From Marine to police officer you know he’s got a story to tell.  Then again, there’s Matt and Edward and Courtney…among others.  Ramsay brings you into their lives and you can’t wait to see where she takes them next.

 
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

LAST CHANCE CHRISTMAS by Hope Ramsay

Hachette Book Group

September 2012

978-0-446-57607-9

Contemporary Romance

Paperback

Reviewed by Angie

Obtained by Publisher

 

Lark Chaikin’s father’s last request was for his ashes to be spread on a mini golf course in Last Chance, South Carolina although she has no idea why he wanted her to spread them there.  After a long trip from New York she arrives to find out her father’s request may be impossible, although he left there decades ago, his reputation is still alive – and he is thought of as a troublemaker and worse a possible murderer.

Stone Rhodes is the police chief in Last Chance and while he truly does want to know who killed his grandfather, he is more interested in keeping the peace in his family.  And that means keeping Lark as far away from his father’s mini golf course as he can.  What he really wants is her to just go home and leave him and his daughters alone with their memories.

LAST CHANCE CHRISTMAS is a book filled with love and honor.  The family ties are so strong they often seem unbendable, but as in every good romance novel, true love prevails.  The small town atmosphere comes off the pages so strongly you feel pulled in and as though you are just sitting on a bench watching the town pass you by.  Hope Ramsay is a talented author that truly knows how to take a “Hatfield’s and McCoy’s” story and turn it into a modern day fairytale.  Her characters are loveable, strong and definitely three dimensional.  She will leave you wanting more…

This book brings controversy into play with scenes from the past – races were still being segregated, maybe not legally, but in small towns and Ms. Ramsay’s characters were strong enough to fight for their beliefs.  She brings together two young adults one Jewish and the other Christian and lets them learn about the cultures.  She has a tasteful way of making the “Love One Another” rule come from her pages.  This talented author is one I will be watching for more form in the future.

As a reader I fell in love with more than Stone and Lark.  His daughters are adorable – and need their own future.  I would love to know what happens with Lizzy and David, will he be her first true love?  I can’t wait to learn more about Last Chance in March of 2013 when Ms. Ramsay’s next novel in the series is released LAST CHANCE BOOK CLUB.