Allie believes the women in her family have been "cursed" in making a marriage last, and Allie fears it will pass on to her. Allie begins to believe she is about to continue the curse when she walks down the aisle to marry the love of her life, Marcus. So she makes a run for it at the last minute. This story takes place mainly in the months after she left Marcus at the altar. Allie was attempting to save Marcus, and not hurt him, even though leaving him at the altar broke his heart. Now Allie has agreed to be the Maid of Honor in her best friend’s wedding, (who just happens to be Marcus’ sister). During the few shorts weeks leading up to the wedding, Allie and Marcus constantly are seeing each other and being reminded of what they had between them. Can Marcus forgive Allie for leaving him at the altar? Can Allie get over her fear of this “curse” that is on her family?

I liked the way Allie's friend (and sister to Marcus) worked out this whole throwing these two together again. The unconditional love between these friends was precious. So was the way Marcus and his family, especially his Mom, treated Allie. They didn't scorn her or think evil of her, but loved her and accepted her and gave her very good advice. This was a very sweet and precious story about love and forgiveness and letting go of the past. ( )

A superb second chance story! Can Marcus ever forgive Allie after she left him at the altar? This is a wonderful story that shows us how strong true love can be if given the chance. I recommend this for everyone. ( )

The novellas in The Year of Weddings novella collection keep getting better and better. A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant is my favorite novella in the collection so far. Even though the premise of this novella is predictable, sometimes reading a predictable love story is exactly what you need.

Allie’s family has been cursed in love for decades. The curse goes back as far as her grandmother (from what the reader knows) and has passed down to her mother and her aunt and Allie fears it will pass on to her. Her family is cursed in love. The women get married and divorced as much as a normal person changes their underwear. Now Allie is about to continue the curse when she is about to walk down the aisle to marry the love of her life, Marcus. The novella takes place in the months after she left Marcus at the altar in an attempt to save Marcus and not hurt him, even though leaving him at the altar broke his heart. Now Allie is to be the Maid of Honor in her best friend’s wedding, who just happens to be Marcus’ sister. During the few shorts weeks leading up to the wedding, Allie and Marcus constantly are seeing each other and being reminded of what they had between them. Can Marcus forgive Allie for leaving him at the altar? Can Allie get over her fear of this “curse” that is on her family?

For the short length of this novella, I think it was well written and I loved the idea of a tool shower for the groom. I would give this novella a 4 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written and quick fluff romance. ( )

I received a free ARC of A February Bride via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Good points: short read, characters were written well and the descriptions of places, things and people were great.

Downside: Allie's (main character) penchant for being overly dramatic about family curses, the dress and her general, almost teenage like angst when it comes to her love life. When I find myself getting annoyed at the main character's behavior because it reminds me of how kids sometimes act, then it makes me want to not finish.

I'm glad I did finish but the pacing of the story and Allie's pity party were almost too much for this reader.

Would I recommend this to others? Maybe. ( )

February Bride
Betsy St. Amant

Book Summary: A year’s worth of novellas from twelve inspirational romance authors. Happily ever after guaranteed. Allie left the love of her life at the altar---to save him from a lifetime of heartbreak. When a Valentine’s Day wedding brings them back together, she struggles against her family’s destructive history. Can Allie ever realize that a marriage is so much more than a wedding dress? History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day---in the same dress passed down for generations and worn by all the women in her family---women with a long history of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus but fears she’s destined to repeat her family’s mistakes. She can’t bear to hurt Marcus worse. Marcus Hall never stopped loving Allie and can only think of one reason she left him at the altar---him. When the two are thrown together for his sister’s Valentine’s Day wedding, he discovers the truth and realizes their story might be far from over. Can Allie shuck expectation and discover who she is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she ever walks down the aisle, what dress will she wear?

Review: Loved this story!! It was so easy to read and read quickly I did. I enjoyed and empathized with Allie, Marcus was great, and Hannah was a prize! It was a book you felt like you knew these people and went by so quickly, yet I was eager to see all things resolved. It was a book that looked to the marriage not so much the things leading up to the ceremony. Saying ‘I do’ was the bridge to cross for their relationship to grow more. A refreshing look at being a couple, in a day where couples do not always identify themselves as one. I found it so refreshing that no one believed in happily ever after, but in building a relationship. These were so readily pressed into the pages of this story.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan Fiction for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. ( )