A Wedding in December

by Sarah Morgan

My thoughts:

Aside from reading a few reviews, I went into this one blind and ended up falling in love with it–nearly reading it in one sitting. A Wedding  in December consumed the majority of my Sunday.

The book opens with Maggie, mother of two daughters (Katie and Rosie) who are now both in their twenties and living on their own. Maggie sort of has some empty nest syndrome because she’s spent most of her life making a home for her family, including her husband Nick, but so much has changed. It’s Christmas, Maggie’s favorite time of year, and she can’t wait to decorate their home in England (Honeysuckle Cottage) for their annual family celebration. She expects both girls to come home for Christmas. After a phone call brings the announcement of a Christmas wedding (in Aspen, Colorado), Maggie begins to think this might be the worst Christmas ever.

I was talking to my friend about this book and the first thing that came to mind is how easy it would be to do a complete character analysis on the main characters in this story, especially Maggie. Each one is so well-developed. No one character takes precedence over the other; their stories are all well-understood and it keeps the book interesting from beginning to end.

It was easy to resonate with Maggie most though, especially as a mom. She’s feeling unsure of what her role is anymore, and somewhat irrelevant now that her children are grown and her relationship with Nick has changed. What is she going to do now? She’s finally opening up to show her inner feelings which no one in the family has ever heard before now. Truly, all of these characters have secrets that they’re keeping from one another. What’s funny too is how the entire family seems to be dreading this wedding trip, when it might be exactly what every one of them need.

I love the way this story is written, alternating between Maggie, Katie, and Rosie. All the characters were likable. Katie was another favorite. It’s sweet the bond she has with Rosie and the way she’s so protective of her sister; that’s something you don’t always get with an older sibling.

It’s hard not to love the way they’ve all been transported into the winter wonderland of Aspen, Colorado at Christmas. The only issue, which made the book feel a little unrealistic to me, was how everyone seemed to become perfect communicators by the end of the book. Otherwise, the story is plausible to me. The book isn’t overly Christmassy either.

A Wedding in December seems to have everything I love in a good story: romance, charm, comedy, and even emotion. The family theme pulled me in from the first pages. I just loved this and highly recommend.

5*****

Find this book on Goodreads and Amazon:

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HQN; Original edition (September 24, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1335147276
• ISBN-13: 978-1335147271

Blurb:

In the snowy perfection of Aspen, the White family gathers for youngest daughter Rosie’s whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret of their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland.

Rosie’s older sister, Katie, is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself! If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans…

Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiance but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived–how can she tell them she’s not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget.

This is book #6 for the 20 Books for Christmas reading challenge. You can click on the image below if you’d like to see my progress or find out how to join in!

Thanks for reading my review! What Christmas books are you reading? Do you like Sarah Morgan? Let’s chat!

♥️ Mischenko