weddings | Book Girl & Little Bear

The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn

Emily and Michael are getting married, in Paris!

Layla was Emily’s sister-in-law, and is amicably divorced from Emily’s older brother, Jamie. Emily pleads with her to come to Paris for the week. Awkwardly, Jamie is bringing his new girlfriend.

Griffin is Michael’s best man. Griffin and Michael have been best friends since they were kids. Griffin has chronic pain and visible burn scars. Bridesmaid Rosie thinks he might be a billionaire, though that’s not actually true.

Emily has second thoughts about the wedding. Griffin tells Layla that Michael’s happiness means everything to him, and that it’s imperative she talk with Emily and fix things. They met on the flight to Paris, when Layla helped another passenger with a health crisis. Layla is a doctor, traveling from city to city for temporary positions. She doesn’t like Griffin, who rarely smiles, but finds him fascinating, and a slow burn romance begins.

The main section of the book is set during a week in Paris and at Versailles while the next section is set three months later, well before the epilogue. There are plenty of tricky family dynamics and secrets that need to be revealed. I found this contemporary romance to be an engaging, immersive read. Not at all a light-hearted book, but well worth reading for memorable main characters, originality, and the Parisian setting.

Brenda

Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews

Another welcome cozy holiday mystery by Andrews, in the much-loved Meg Langslow series. Meg and her family live near Caerphilly, Virginia, and her parents and other relatives live nearby. Meg’s mother has a large extended family who are descending on Caerphilly the weekend before Christmas for two family weddings. Cousins Lexy and Emily are both getting married at Trinity Episcopal Church and have receptions planned for the lovely Caerphilly Inn. But this is definitely not a double wedding. The cousins have different styles and color schemes and won’t even agree to share a room at the inn to display their wedding gifts. Emily has also chosen a bridesmaid who used to date Lexy’s fiancé. Unfortunately, Meg is hosting some of the wedding party at her house, and they are being rude to both her mother and her favorite cousin, Rose Noire.

Meg’s husband and grandfather keep the kids amused at the local zoo, including zoo sleepovers, but even the kids are arguing with each other, over an upcoming holiday musical. When Meg finds a dead body with a connection to both wedding parties, she has to work fast to make sure the weddings can proceed as planned. I liked the connection to the first book in the series: Murder, With Peacocks, where Meg is the maid of honor for three summer weddings and has to arrange many of the details, such as getting the brides to select their wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. I always enjoy this series, and especially appreciate the humor and Meg’s large, lovably quirky family. Enjoy!

Brenda