It's stories like this that remind me why I love romance. Kieran Kramer reminds us why it's okay to dream. Modern day reality meets fairytale fantasy and creates unforgettable magic. Greer is a dreamer, whose lost the will to dream. Ford is a realist who wants to learn how to dream. A beautiful dress, a chance encounter and one night that rivals any childhood fantasy could be the beginning of something wonderful. Wedding at Two Love Lane is a sentimental tale that allows readers to escape into the world of classic romance and remember when. ( )

Greer Jones is one of the three partners at Two Love Lane, a matchmaking agency. For years she dated her high school boyfriend, and everyone expected them to marry--but when he proposed, she realized she didn't love him, and said no.

It's just as well her business is in Charleston, South Carolina, rather than her little home town of Waterloo, Wisconsin, because everyone, including her parents, thinks she did the wrong thing.

But now, on the same day she finds out her old boyfriend, Wesley, is engaged, she attends a charity auction and loses out on a beautiful wedding dress with a magical story to it, to one of the few clients she was never able to find a soulmate for. He makes it clear he's going to use it in some revenge plan.

At the same auction, she meets an artist, who is handsome, charming, and only in Charleston temporarily. He says his name is Ford Smith. He wants to paint her portrait.

Where is all this going? Crazy places! Fun places!

Only one of the Two Love Lane partners is married. Ford, of course, has a much longer name, and a romantic history of his own that left him standing at the altar--but his ex-fiancée is now pregnant, and he might be the father of twins. Or his ex-groomsman might be... Julie, sister of one of the other partners, has a secret love she's separated from for reasons that might seem silly to people who don't have any serious phobias. The ex-client that got the wedding dress, Pierre Simons, launches a contest to promote his bridal wear business. Greer, for no logical reason, enters the contest with her new friend Ford, only to find they're competing against her ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée, Serena, in the finals.

Can this get any crazier? Yes, Yes, it can. And it's a lot of fun. Silly, but fun. And I admit I can't figure out how Ford, with both parents living and a living older brother, is the Eighth Baron Wickshire. But perhaps that's just being picky. It's still fun.

Enjoy.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily. ( )

A Wedding at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer is a 2018 St. Martin’s Press publication.

If you are looking for a love match, Greer Jones, who operates Two Love Lane, a matchmaking service, is at your service. With only one exception, she has managed to find a match for all her clients. Yet, for Greer, helping others find love leaves little time to find her own Mr. Right. However, she is sure that someday she will meet the man of her dreams, so despite having no boyfriend, or fiancé, and okay, she’s not even dating anyone, she still has her heart set on the wedding dress which is part of a local fundraising contest.

Enter, Ford Smith, an artist looking for his next model, who happens to be hiding out from a really awkward situation back in Britain, which is where he is from. Ford agrees to accompany Greer to the cocktail party and fundraiser and knows immediately she’s the person he wants to paint. He then finds himself entangled in her quest to win the wedding dress, when it appears her lack of a fiancé could hurt her chances of winning the contest.

As Greer and Ford begin to spend more time together they find their light, flirty relationship becoming more serious, but both are in denial. The timing couldn’t be worse for either of them.

But, love has its own timetable and for Greer it’s now or never- but does Ford feel the same way?

This is a really cute and sweet contemporary romance full of quirky characters and oddly humorous and awkward situations that added to the story’s charm. I wouldn’t have thought a droll British aristocrat would be a good match for the vivacious Greer, but somehow the British manners complimented the southern charms of Charleston. South Carolina.

This story has a lot going on, and touches on various themes, one of which is to avoid settling for comfort and companionship when you can have everlasting true love instead. I also enjoyed the artistic threads with added a extra dollop of depth to Ford’s understated stoicism.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this story. It is very light, very easy to read, but I found myself completely enchanted with it!

4 stars ( )

Greer has fallen in love with a dress called Royal Bliss. It is a beautiful beaded gown that has a romantic reputation. Greer sees it as a symbol of her future & future marriage. Her business rival, a pompous little sneak called Pierre, outbid her at the auction for the dress & promptly set up a competition for the dress. Greer's former fiancée & his new fiancée happen to be in town & Greer ends up competing for the gown.

Ford found a woman, Greer, that he wanted to pose for the portrait he is supposed to be painting. He followed her to observe her closer & ended up becoming her partner in the competition. He finds himself drawn to her, even though he has vowed not to trust any woman.

The main plot of this story concentrates on Ford & Greer but the author gives depth to the story with its subplot. The subplot follows supporting characters, like Miss Thing, in her life & adventures. The interactions between Greer or Ford & some of the supporting cast are unexpected & yet, add to the story. It's a good read & was enjoyable. ( )

A Wedding at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer
Two Love Lane #2

Greer Jones is a matchmaker but she is also a dreamer. She has been planning the “perfect” wedding with pins and scrapbooks for a long time. When she sees the “perfect” wedding gown she tries to pick it up at auction and fails only to be given another opportunity to win it through a bit of game playing promotion put on by the auction winner of the dress. Wanting to win she shows up with Ford Smith, an artist, and begins to compete. Ford is more than she thinks he is while also being leery of love. The two do finally end up with a HEA BUT there are some twists and turns and hoops to get through before it happens.

I had trouble relating to these characters and the idea of “perfect” dress, wedding, man, whatever…matches can be made but relationships take work. I didn’t see what Greer and Ford saw in one another and had trouble understanding their motivations. There were side characters and baddies and goodies and…maybe this book had the feel of a New Adult romance and that is what put me off…not sure. Anyway, I am sure some will love this story and find it a fun filled way to spend some time. It did not appeal to me, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars ( )