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shadowmaster13's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment
lifeand100books's review
4.0
Definitely nice to see Elise in non-bridezilla mode. Loved Jay's "a-ha" moment.
jaimejustreadsromance's review
4.0
I loved the slow burn aspect of this novella. Jay and Elise had an instant attraction but they let that attraction simmer in favor of friendship and working relationship. This resulted in the most delicious and electric coming together between them, and I loved every minute of it. There is just something really special about the quiet nerd who really brings it in the bedroom, they are my favorite kind of heroes.
I also love that they had similar ideas of what they wanted out of a relationship and their future and how that was just the icing on the cake and not the reason they worked so well together. While their relationship developed pretty quickly, I appreciate that they really took the time to get to know each other and how each step they took getting together was well thought out and carefully navigated.
I also love that they had similar ideas of what they wanted out of a relationship and their future and how that was just the icing on the cake and not the reason they worked so well together. While their relationship developed pretty quickly, I appreciate that they really took the time to get to know each other and how each step they took getting together was well thought out and carefully navigated.
shellysbookcorner's review
4.0
I loved this story on how Jay and Elise met! Novellas are usually hit or miss for me and when its over I'm not always left satisfied. I'm happy to report this was a good read and Jenny Holiday laid a good foundation for the other books with this story. Elise was trying to find her footing and I loved that she wanted to be independent and she was very assertive. Jay took me by surprise in this story because he wasn't as uptight like i thought he was in "One and Only" and there's a nice sexy side to him as well. This was a well written novella and I'm so excited to read "Merrily Ever After" and catch up with Jay and Elise.
michellesantiago's review
4.0
Originally posted on Undeniably Book Nerdy
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
I am so happy that Jenny Holiday wrote a novella about Elise and Jay. We first met them in One and Only, which was Elise's friend Jane and Jay's half-brother Cameron's book. We only got to see them through Jane and Cameron's eyes. Since One and Only was set in the days leading up to Elise and Jay's wedding, Elise was in her preoccupied let's-do-ALL-these-awesome-crafts-I-saw-on-Pinterest bridezilla mode. I still loved Elise, though, because she just wants the perfect wedding she envisioned and she did come through for Jane in the end.
As for Jay, Jane likes him well enough, but she doesn't quite know how her vivacious and elegant interior decorator friend Elise ended up with boring accountant Jay. But, it was hinted in One and Only that Jay might be hiding a sexy beast beneath his staid persona.
In Once Upon a Bride, we go back to the time Elise and Jay first met. Elise just got out of her rich father's controlling thumb and starting her interior decorating business and he hired her to decorate his office building. It was fun reading about Elise and Jay first hand, rather than through other characters' eyes. I love having that switch in perspective and it was great learning more about their background and how they intertwined with the other characters we already met.
Even though Once Upon a Bride is a novella, it was still as satisfying and wonderfully written as One and Only. It's an excellent addition to the Bridesmaid Behaving Badly series and a must-read if you're following the series. I can't wait to read more about Elise and Jay in their upcoming Christmas novella set, if I remember correctly, 6 months after their wedding.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
I am so happy that Jenny Holiday wrote a novella about Elise and Jay. We first met them in One and Only, which was Elise's friend Jane and Jay's half-brother Cameron's book. We only got to see them through Jane and Cameron's eyes. Since One and Only was set in the days leading up to Elise and Jay's wedding, Elise was in her preoccupied let's-do-ALL-these-awesome-crafts-I-saw-on-Pinterest bridezilla mode. I still loved Elise, though, because she just wants the perfect wedding she envisioned and she did come through for Jane in the end.
As for Jay, Jane likes him well enough, but she doesn't quite know how her vivacious and elegant interior decorator friend Elise ended up with boring accountant Jay. But, it was hinted in One and Only that Jay might be hiding a sexy beast beneath his staid persona.
In Once Upon a Bride, we go back to the time Elise and Jay first met. Elise just got out of her rich father's controlling thumb and starting her interior decorating business and he hired her to decorate his office building. It was fun reading about Elise and Jay first hand, rather than through other characters' eyes. I love having that switch in perspective and it was great learning more about their background and how they intertwined with the other characters we already met.
Even though Once Upon a Bride is a novella, it was still as satisfying and wonderfully written as One and Only. It's an excellent addition to the Bridesmaid Behaving Badly series and a must-read if you're following the series. I can't wait to read more about Elise and Jay in their upcoming Christmas novella set, if I remember correctly, 6 months after their wedding.
maymay0316's review
4.0
I enjoyed this novella. It was a good little brain break and fun read. I was curious about Elise and Jay because we got some references in the first book that they are both a bit SPICY. I also wanted to see how Elise was before being a bridezilla and I really enjoyed this.
ria_mhrj's review
4.0
I feel like a birdwatcher who has just spotted a rare bird, only I'm a romance reader who has come across the mythical stern brunch daddy, Jay fit this description to a tee. Really lovely novella, sets up the series well and I'm looking forward to reading Jay and Elise's next novella, as well as seeing them pop up in the rest of the bridesmaid's escapades.
drealovesbooks's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
anabelsbrother's review
4.0
3.75 stars
Ugh I haven't been reading much lately because of work so novellas are just perfect for me because they are short and don't take much time to finish in one sitting.
This one is a joy! I haven't read any of the books in this series or any of Jenny Holiday's works so this one is a fun starter to her books. Jay and Elise have a sizzling connection from the beginning and I love seeing their relationship developed. I love the domestic scenes, the cuddling and the boardgames playing. I'm so excited to see the continuation of their story.
Ugh I haven't been reading much lately because of work so novellas are just perfect for me because they are short and don't take much time to finish in one sitting.
This one is a joy! I haven't read any of the books in this series or any of Jenny Holiday's works so this one is a fun starter to her books. Jay and Elise have a sizzling connection from the beginning and I love seeing their relationship developed. I love the domestic scenes, the cuddling and the boardgames playing. I'm so excited to see the continuation of their story.