Summer Brides by Susan Wiggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a collection of three stand alone novellas:

The Borrowed Bride by Susan Wiggs (1996)
During her own bridal shower, Isabel Wharton is whisked away by past love Dan Black Horse to his retreat in the Cascade range. But returning to her Native roots, and Dan’s loving arms, is harder than she ever imagined.

I’m a Wiggs fan. Susan gives us a charming second-chance-at-love story, which I’m a sucker for. My only nit in this book was Isabel’s fiance, Anthony. Even if he did have a great family that she wanted to be a part of, he was too laid back and unconcerned to be totally believable. Who wouldn’t trade him for the uber sexy Dan Black Horse?

Wiggs has a knack for grounding the reader in the scene. I felt like I was right there in the woods with Isabel and Anthony. The romance and feelings between the characters were believable and the problems in their background realistic, making me root for their HEA.

A Bridge to Dreams by Sherryl Woods (1990)
With her vacation plans foiled, Karyn Chambers realizes that her long-awaited escape must give way to staying at home in San Francisco. Little does she know her Prince Charming is right in her own backyard.

I enjoyed the sibling exchanges in this one between Karyn and her brothers. She’s chafing under the protection of many family members while trying to be independent. Brad Willis is a man who sees her as a strong woman.

Susan Wiggs mentioned in her Dear Author letter than she’d updated a few spots in her novella and I wish Woods had done the same. The mention of negatives in a camera and scarcity of cell phones were somewhat of a distraction. Even so, I liked Brad’s determination and patience. Even Karyn’s growing pains were believable and provided a nice black moment in the relationship prior to the satisfying wrap-up.

Sister of the Bride by Susan Mallery (2010)
When Katie McCormick finds out that her sister is marrying her ex, she finally agrees to a setup for the big day. To her surprise, Jackson is a catch. But when wedding catastrophe ensues, will their sparks fizzle or ignite into flames?

What a hoot! I loved the humor and quirky secondary characters in this one as well as the banter between Katie and Jackson. Mallery’s authorial voice shines, making me glad I have more of her work in my Kindle for future reading.

All said, an enjoyable collection for fans of contemporary romance and bride stories.

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This book purchased by the reviewer.