A January Bride by Deborah Raney

Overview: A year’s worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed.

What will happen when novelist Madeleine Houser’s “pen pal” friendship with a lonely widower takes an unexpected turn?

Who can work in a house that's overrun by contractors and carpenters? Not Madeleine Houser, a successful novelist who gladly accepts the help of her octogenarian friend, Ginny, to arrange for a temporary office in the charming bed and breakfast owned by Ginny's friend, Arthur. Maddie’s never met the innkeeper—but a friendship grows between them as Maddie and Arthur leave messages for each other each day. To Maddie’s alternate delight and chagrin, she seems to be falling for the inn’s owner—a man who's likely many years her senior—and who she’s never even met.

Arthur Tyler is a college professor who lost his young wife to cancer. Together they ran the bed and breakfast where Art lives, but without his wife, the house is missing warmth and cheer. He jumps at the chance to have author Madeleine Houser use the space that was once filled with guests. He, too, begins to enjoy the daily exchanges with Maddie, but a series of misunderstandings lead him to believe she’s far from being a prospective date—even if he were ready to date again, which he’s not.

When Maddie and Art finally meet and discover one another’s identity, sparks fly. Even so, they each have obstacles to overcome in order for this winter romance to blossom.

ISBN-13: 9780310337706
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication date: 12/24/2013
Series: A Year of Weddings Novella , #1
Sold by: Zondervan Publishing
Format: eBook
Pages: 147

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: This was such a fun story! I loved the characters and the little notes they left for one another. The description of the Inn made me want to visit. The emotions of the characters was well developed, for a novella.

The characters were tangible. I could relate to their situations and their character development was well-timed. The romance between Maddie and Art seemed a little bit rushed, but other than that it was well-written.

Overall, I enjoyed this sweet story! Sometimes, it's hard to get a feel for the characters and the story line in a novella. This is not one of those novellas!

About the Author: DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her books have since won the RITA Award, ACFW Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Home to Chicory Lane, first in Deb's new Chicory Inn Novels series from Abingdon Press just released. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy life in Kansas. They have four children and five small grandchildren, who all live much too far away.

CONTACT DEBORAH

OR FOLLOW HER on:
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram