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A Year of Weddings 1 #5
An April Bride
War changes everything . . . even their love.
Bride-to-be Stella Carson can’t wait to marry her longtime sweetheart Marshall Henderson. But Marshall has been away serving his country and after suffering a head wound and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome, he has distanced himself from Stella by asking her not to visit him in a Washington, D.C. hospital.
Marshall returns to Louisiana just four weeks before the wedding, but as the big day draws near, Stella wonders if the man she’s loved for most of her life still wants to marry her.
Bride-to-be Stella Carson can’t wait to marry her longtime sweetheart Marshall Henderson. But Marshall has been away serving his country and after suffering a head wound and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome, he has distanced himself from Stella by asking her not to visit him in a Washington, D.C. hospital.
Marshall returns to Louisiana just four weeks before the wedding, but as the big day draws near, Stella wonders if the man she’s loved for most of her life still wants to marry her.
140 pages, ebook
First published March 25, 2014
About the author
Lenora Worth
267 books342 followersLenora Worth has written 75 books for three different publishers. She reached a milestone when she received her 50th book pin from Harlequin. Her books have won both regional and national awards and she now has millions of books in print and is a NY Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Currently she is writing both Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense and Tule Publishing. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Lenora has two grown children and lives in Florida.
Pen name: Lenora Nazworth
Pen name: Lenora Nazworth
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
November 15, 2014
Original review on https://thebookishfoodiereviews.wordp...
This book is disgusting to the core. Let me tell you why. After reading this book, I feel HarperCollins editors have lost their marbles.
This is one of the books I picked up from NetGalley thinking yeah, it’ll be good. It is a series. I’d already picked up the December, January, March and May Bride books and I wanted to make a whole set. I was really excited for this one. And the blurb caught me! It got to me. War changes everything. It makes a healthy man hate. It destroys families and tears countries and societies. Even though so many people are against war, yet many powers are behind keeping the countries at war, mostly to profit themselves.
The whole book harps all about how good Stella is and how Marshall and Stella are meant for each other. But hey, did someone just forget that Marshall was back from war? That being stupidly emotional and double guessing the wedding and trying to “act” like a martyr didn’t do anyone any favours?
This is a really pathetic story. I don’t know how it got past the editor. Was the author attempting to brush off PTSD? Stella is the most disagreeable character but the tragedy of the book is that everyone sings her praises. Her fiance is suffering and all she can whine, yes that’s all she does. Whine Whine Whine. I wanted to slap her. Did she think war meant someplace where people went to have fun? PTSD and repressed memories can take years to cure. And all Stella cares is about whether Marshall loves her or not. And whether she would be married.
That was just horrible. Everyone trying to counsel and trying to bring back Marshall’s memories. I’d have liked to see a stronger woman who shows her love for her man instead of being a spoilt brat wondering about the fate of her wedding. I mean, really?!!! My heart went out to Marshall. He is just back from a traumatic experience in the war. A near death one and he doesn’t remember. All he knows is that he has to get married in 4 weeks.
All I saw was one selfish woman focused so deeply on her wedding that she forgets the fact that marriages happen with both the parties, and that if her fiance isn’t well, she should support him.
I do not recommend this book at all. Not a good read and a little insulting to anyone who fights in war to deal with a prick like that!
This book is disgusting to the core. Let me tell you why. After reading this book, I feel HarperCollins editors have lost their marbles.
This is one of the books I picked up from NetGalley thinking yeah, it’ll be good. It is a series. I’d already picked up the December, January, March and May Bride books and I wanted to make a whole set. I was really excited for this one. And the blurb caught me! It got to me. War changes everything. It makes a healthy man hate. It destroys families and tears countries and societies. Even though so many people are against war, yet many powers are behind keeping the countries at war, mostly to profit themselves.
The whole book harps all about how good Stella is and how Marshall and Stella are meant for each other. But hey, did someone just forget that Marshall was back from war? That being stupidly emotional and double guessing the wedding and trying to “act” like a martyr didn’t do anyone any favours?
This is a really pathetic story. I don’t know how it got past the editor. Was the author attempting to brush off PTSD? Stella is the most disagreeable character but the tragedy of the book is that everyone sings her praises. Her fiance is suffering and all she can whine, yes that’s all she does. Whine Whine Whine. I wanted to slap her. Did she think war meant someplace where people went to have fun? PTSD and repressed memories can take years to cure. And all Stella cares is about whether Marshall loves her or not. And whether she would be married.
That was just horrible. Everyone trying to counsel and trying to bring back Marshall’s memories. I’d have liked to see a stronger woman who shows her love for her man instead of being a spoilt brat wondering about the fate of her wedding. I mean, really?!!! My heart went out to Marshall. He is just back from a traumatic experience in the war. A near death one and he doesn’t remember. All he knows is that he has to get married in 4 weeks.
All I saw was one selfish woman focused so deeply on her wedding that she forgets the fact that marriages happen with both the parties, and that if her fiance isn’t well, she should support him.
I do not recommend this book at all. Not a good read and a little insulting to anyone who fights in war to deal with a prick like that!
November 18, 2021
Her fiance suffers some brain damage from being in the service and all she cares about is getting married? Wow, the guy has memory issues and she just wants to walk down the aisle??
August 25, 2017
3.75/5
I thought that this one needed to be a full length story or at least 200 pages to really feel the effects of Marshall's PTSD. There was also some wasted space where Stella kept asking him the same question repeatedly of how he wanted to call off the wedding and break up with her. If she had shown this in other ways besides Stella randomly getting flustered every time and asking it in the same way each time, I would have had zero problems with it. It would have also been more realistic that way I think. Other than that, the journey that both of them take together to get towards marriage and their wedding even while Marshall had no memory of Stella was quite heartwarming.
I thought that this one needed to be a full length story or at least 200 pages to really feel the effects of Marshall's PTSD. There was also some wasted space where Stella kept asking him the same question repeatedly of how he wanted to call off the wedding and break up with her. If she had shown this in other ways besides Stella randomly getting flustered every time and asking it in the same way each time, I would have had zero problems with it. It would have also been more realistic that way I think. Other than that, the journey that both of them take together to get towards marriage and their wedding even while Marshall had no memory of Stella was quite heartwarming.
August 11, 2016
Definitely not as good as the other novellas in the A Year of Weddings series that I've read so far. I couldn't connect with either of the main characters. I didn't dislike Marshall, the solider who comes back home suffering from a head injury and PTSD. In fact, I thought it was commendable that he wanted to go on with the wedding despite all that had happened to him. Stella, Marshall's high school sweetheart and finacée, simply irritated me. She was constantly thinking about the wedding when I felt like she should have been more focused on Marshall and his recovery. Because of this, I wasn't too invested in their relationship and I wasn't invested in this story.
July 5, 2022
First off, I think that Marshall and Stella were likeable people, plus, I really like the name "Stella" and I loved that she liked hydrangeas so much. They're some of my favorite flowers, too. :)
The premise of this story was really interesting and sounded heartbreaking and sad,yet held great potential and promise for some character growth and I was excited to listen to it via audiobook, but I'm afraid that this story fell flat for me overall.
If I can be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of Stella. She seemed to complain a lot about her fiance's memory loss and I get it, it must be excruciating to have the man you loved come back from serving his country and not even remember you a matter of weeks before the wedding is supposed to take place, but her attitude seemed to be one of "this is so inconvenient" and "I can't believe he can't remember me!" I've never personally dealt with this before and I know that military wives/fiancee's, etc. give up so much for our country along with their significant other, but Stella's attitude seems kind of selfish throughout the whole story. She gets upset with Marshall a little too easily and their conversations seem a bit repetitive through the whole book.
Now, with that being said, I did really like Stella's conversation with her mother and Myrtle towards the end of the book. Myrtle's analogy of the rainbow and how the colors are formed was neat and her point about how Marshall is a bit different than he was when he left for his deployment but is still the same man inside (even with his lost memory) was sweet and encouraging. That was one of my favorite parts of the book and of course, the ending was definitely swoon-worthy.
So there were definitely parts of this story I enjoyed and I also understand that it's hard to incorporate a ton into a shorter story. I might even try another book by this author, this story just wasn't my favorite.
The premise of this story was really interesting and sounded heartbreaking and sad,yet held great potential and promise for some character growth and I was excited to listen to it via audiobook, but I'm afraid that this story fell flat for me overall.
If I can be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of Stella. She seemed to complain a lot about her fiance's memory loss and I get it, it must be excruciating to have the man you loved come back from serving his country and not even remember you a matter of weeks before the wedding is supposed to take place, but her attitude seemed to be one of "this is so inconvenient" and "I can't believe he can't remember me!" I've never personally dealt with this before and I know that military wives/fiancee's, etc. give up so much for our country along with their significant other, but Stella's attitude seems kind of selfish throughout the whole story. She gets upset with Marshall a little too easily and their conversations seem a bit repetitive through the whole book.
Now, with that being said, I did really like Stella's conversation with her mother and Myrtle towards the end of the book. Myrtle's analogy of the rainbow and how the colors are formed was neat and her point about how Marshall is a bit different than he was when he left for his deployment but is still the same man inside (even with his lost memory) was sweet and encouraging. That was one of my favorite parts of the book and of course, the ending was definitely swoon-worthy.
So there were definitely parts of this story I enjoyed and I also understand that it's hard to incorporate a ton into a shorter story. I might even try another book by this author, this story just wasn't my favorite.
March 5, 2014
This was a story that tugged at my heart.
Marshall is fighting in Afghanistan when an IED explodes, leaving him with a head injury, four months of hospital stays and no memory. He finally returns home to Louisiana four weeks before his wedding to his childhood sweetheart, Stella.
I couldn't believe that Stella didn't notice that he didn't remember her after talking to him on the phone every day. Otherwise, I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other all over again. And yes, I cried a few times as I imagined how hard the situation must be for both of them. I liked how supportive everyone was, and only hope that I could face a similar situation with such strength and faith.
This was one of the Year of Weddings novellas that didn't appeal to me as much because it had the potential to be a sad and dramatic story. I was surprised that I enjoyed it, and am glad I had the opportunity to get a copy through NetGalley.com, otherwise I might have missed this one.
Content: clean
Marshall is fighting in Afghanistan when an IED explodes, leaving him with a head injury, four months of hospital stays and no memory. He finally returns home to Louisiana four weeks before his wedding to his childhood sweetheart, Stella.
I couldn't believe that Stella didn't notice that he didn't remember her after talking to him on the phone every day. Otherwise, I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other all over again. And yes, I cried a few times as I imagined how hard the situation must be for both of them. I liked how supportive everyone was, and only hope that I could face a similar situation with such strength and faith.
This was one of the Year of Weddings novellas that didn't appeal to me as much because it had the potential to be a sad and dramatic story. I was surprised that I enjoyed it, and am glad I had the opportunity to get a copy through NetGalley.com, otherwise I might have missed this one.
Content: clean
January 25, 2014
I realize my opinion may not match the others but I loved this book. I am a softie for military heroes.
An April Bride is the most emotional book I have read in the Year of Weddings series. Marshall has been hurt serving his country and has been in the hospital for the last year. He has not wanted anyone but his parents by his side. He comes home four weeks before his wedding to his long time sweetheart, Stella. Marshall appears to be a very different person now and Stella is worried that he doesn’t still want to marry her. She is still in love with him but wants what is best for him. Both must rely on their faith to get them through this tough time. An April Bride has several emotional scenes that had me tearing up.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
An April Bride is the most emotional book I have read in the Year of Weddings series. Marshall has been hurt serving his country and has been in the hospital for the last year. He has not wanted anyone but his parents by his side. He comes home four weeks before his wedding to his long time sweetheart, Stella. Marshall appears to be a very different person now and Stella is worried that he doesn’t still want to marry her. She is still in love with him but wants what is best for him. Both must rely on their faith to get them through this tough time. An April Bride has several emotional scenes that had me tearing up.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
July 5, 2017
Welcome to spring! It is that time of year where the brides start walking down the aisle. Lenora Worth brings us the story of a bride who has to decide whether it is worth, it to walk down the aisle. Have you ever had the experience of having trials surprise you? How will you react or will you change your plans?
Synopsis:
Stella is looking forward to marrying her fiancé Marshall, when he comes back from his deployment. Around the time that Marshall would have been sent home he and his unit encounter an IED. Marshall survives but is injured. He wakes up with no memory of Stella and their time together. His parents initially keep Stella away because of his amnesia. When Stella discovers what her current circumstances are she begins to reconsider plans. Will she still marry Marshall? Or will he come up with the perfect plan to help her down the aisle?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed Lenora’s story of the reluctant bride. She did a great job of creating positive interactions between Stella and Marshall. Grand gesture by Marshall to get his bride to say I do won me over completely. The story is peppered with great characters. The story is set in Renaissance Louisiana.
Synopsis:
Stella is looking forward to marrying her fiancé Marshall, when he comes back from his deployment. Around the time that Marshall would have been sent home he and his unit encounter an IED. Marshall survives but is injured. He wakes up with no memory of Stella and their time together. His parents initially keep Stella away because of his amnesia. When Stella discovers what her current circumstances are she begins to reconsider plans. Will she still marry Marshall? Or will he come up with the perfect plan to help her down the aisle?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed Lenora’s story of the reluctant bride. She did a great job of creating positive interactions between Stella and Marshall. Grand gesture by Marshall to get his bride to say I do won me over completely. The story is peppered with great characters. The story is set in Renaissance Louisiana.
January 26, 2022
An April Bride by Lenora Worth 140 ebook pages
A Year of Weddings 1 #5 according to series and publication date Incorrectly #4 on Goodreads
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance, Novella, Women's Fiction > Chick Lit; Christian Fiction
Featuring: Louisiana, Small Town, New Orleans, Audubon Zoo, Discussion Questions, War Related PTSD, a mom name Kitten
Rating as a movie: PG for adult themes
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
My thoughts: 21% - I have read this plot before and it was done better. On the brightside it's a novella so it will move quickly, I hope.
So after being unimpressed after aed few chapters I was actually disappointed when it ended. I was thinking 4 star but it became 5 star around the 60% mark. I fell in love with Marshall and Stella and wish there was more of their story.
Recommend to others?: Yes. The spring section seems to be more sweet than funny.
A Year of Weddings 1 #5 according to series and publication date Incorrectly #4 on Goodreads
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance, Novella, Women's Fiction > Chick Lit; Christian Fiction
Featuring: Louisiana, Small Town, New Orleans, Audubon Zoo, Discussion Questions, War Related PTSD, a mom name Kitten
Rating as a movie: PG for adult themes
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
My thoughts: 21% - I have read this plot before and it was done better. On the brightside it's a novella so it will move quickly, I hope.
So after being unimpressed after aed few chapters I was actually disappointed when it ended. I was thinking 4 star but it became 5 star around the 60% mark. I fell in love with Marshall and Stella and wish there was more of their story.
Recommend to others?: Yes. The spring section seems to be more sweet than funny.
July 18, 2020
This was a sweet read and my first read by Lenora Worth.
Stella and Marsh have planned their lives together since they were kids. However, Marsh went off on his second deployment and ended up seriously injured and memory-less.
Upon his return, he is frustrated that his wedding is only weeks away and he can't remember anything about his bride.
Stella is heartbroken that Marsh can't remember her.
A trying of faith and love is evident in this short story.
It's a HEA, but the way it came about was the icing on the cake!
Fast and cute read. But with some heavy-handed overtones.
Triggers: PTSD and war-related nightmares.
I would have finished this quick read in one sitting but I fell asleep! It was a long week at the office. LOL
Stella and Marsh have planned their lives together since they were kids. However, Marsh went off on his second deployment and ended up seriously injured and memory-less.
Upon his return, he is frustrated that his wedding is only weeks away and he can't remember anything about his bride.
Stella is heartbroken that Marsh can't remember her.
A trying of faith and love is evident in this short story.
It's a HEA, but the way it came about was the icing on the cake!
Fast and cute read. But with some heavy-handed overtones.
Triggers: PTSD and war-related nightmares.
I would have finished this quick read in one sitting but I fell asleep! It was a long week at the office. LOL
October 1, 2017
Stella can't wait until her wedding to her childhood sweetheart Marshall. But wedding bliss turns into an emotional roller coaster when the news comes. Marshall has had an accident while serving in the military and can't remember her.
Marshall comes home suffering from PTSD with no memories of his soon to be bride. Stella is everything he ever hoped to marry but he isn't sure his memories could come back in time for the wedding.
I simply loved this story. It was sweet the way Stella and Marshall kind of fell in love a second time.
I recommend this for everyone.
Marshall comes home suffering from PTSD with no memories of his soon to be bride. Stella is everything he ever hoped to marry but he isn't sure his memories could come back in time for the wedding.
I simply loved this story. It was sweet the way Stella and Marshall kind of fell in love a second time.
I recommend this for everyone.
April 8, 2024
This was a delightful and unique short story with many emotions. Maxwell was injured and doesn't remember his bride to be. She deals also with many frustrations but both have faith. I enjoyed the ending and both of their love and determination.
November 8, 2018
Ive read " an april bride " ,,, it was okay it reminded me of " the lucky one " kinda ,, i gave it 3 out of 5 stars
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 5, 2022I feel like I'm on a losing streak here, 2 dnf in a row!
dnf at 13% I can't do it. Poor man has PTSD and the main focus is on the wedding. no thanks.
dnf at 13% I can't do it. Poor man has PTSD and the main focus is on the wedding. no thanks.
February 15, 2022
A beautiful love story!
June 6, 2023
An April Bride tells the story of a bride-to-be eagerly awaiting the return of her soldier fiancé from the frontlines, only to learn that he's suffered an extreme head injury, one that has left an effect on his memory...in particular, his memory of her.
Yes, the Year of Weddings series decides to tackle the very serious subject of memory loss and PTSD with...a popular fanfic trope.
Ok, I would be lying to say that I haven't read and even *gasp* written fanfic involving this trope, and I won't deny that I have gobbled up such stories when they dealt with my favorite fictional pairs from book, film, and television. THAT BEING SAID, I never felt those works were taking themselves too seriously when it came to this subject where one person loses their memory of the other, and the remaining partner has to do everything in their power to more or less convince the other to "fall in love with them again". Here, while An April Bride doesn't fall too deep into the cliché pool for this trope, at the same time, I do feel that it is trying to tackle the issue somewhat seriously...and in my opinion, fails to do so.
Stella (our bride) is devastated to learn that Marshall (our groom) has forgotten who she is, and I don't blame her; that is devastating news to hear. So I do pardon her for initially feeling sorry for herself in this situation. That being said, Marshall is very willing to keep the wedding planned on schedule and wants to try and renew/rekindle this romance the two of them have, though perhaps not for the best of reasons. Meaning, Marshall is doing this more so out of stubbornness and a determination to perhaps "return to normal" and prove everyone that he's fine. But he isn't fine, and Stella knows this, and thus begins what seems like an unending tug-of-war over "will they cancel the wedding or won't they".
Realistically, they should postpone the wedding. Absolutely they should postpone. Even if it wasn't a head injury that he suffered, after the trauma that he has been through, regardless, it's crazy to think that in so many days/weeks you can go on as if nothing happened. I know that logistically, it's an expensive pain, but at the end of the day, it is for the best for all involved. Marshall needs to heal, and in this particular case, he and Stella need some time together to rebuild their relationship. Court anew, so to speak. And if the series weren't so obsessed with the characters getting married within a short time frame, this idea of the two courting again is very romantic. But nope, "wedding" is in the title, so a wedding we must have! Even if it drives them crazy.
I felt that the added ~*~drama~*~ in the whole "will they/won't they" was unnecessary. Both Stella and Marshall became unlikeable by the halfway point, especially since they acted like if they didn't get married on the planned date, then they *had* to break-up (uh no, no you don't). They both behaved like spoiled children, in my opinion.
At the end of the day, An April Bride does what so many other novellas of its kind have done; try to tackle a serious subject in far too short a format. And that, along with the spoiled characters, earns this book 1.5-2 stars
Yes, the Year of Weddings series decides to tackle the very serious subject of memory loss and PTSD with...a popular fanfic trope.
Ok, I would be lying to say that I haven't read and even *gasp* written fanfic involving this trope, and I won't deny that I have gobbled up such stories when they dealt with my favorite fictional pairs from book, film, and television. THAT BEING SAID, I never felt those works were taking themselves too seriously when it came to this subject where one person loses their memory of the other, and the remaining partner has to do everything in their power to more or less convince the other to "fall in love with them again". Here, while An April Bride doesn't fall too deep into the cliché pool for this trope, at the same time, I do feel that it is trying to tackle the issue somewhat seriously...and in my opinion, fails to do so.
Stella (our bride) is devastated to learn that Marshall (our groom) has forgotten who she is, and I don't blame her; that is devastating news to hear. So I do pardon her for initially feeling sorry for herself in this situation. That being said, Marshall is very willing to keep the wedding planned on schedule and wants to try and renew/rekindle this romance the two of them have, though perhaps not for the best of reasons. Meaning, Marshall is doing this more so out of stubbornness and a determination to perhaps "return to normal" and prove everyone that he's fine. But he isn't fine, and Stella knows this, and thus begins what seems like an unending tug-of-war over "will they cancel the wedding or won't they".
Realistically, they should postpone the wedding. Absolutely they should postpone. Even if it wasn't a head injury that he suffered, after the trauma that he has been through, regardless, it's crazy to think that in so many days/weeks you can go on as if nothing happened. I know that logistically, it's an expensive pain, but at the end of the day, it is for the best for all involved. Marshall needs to heal, and in this particular case, he and Stella need some time together to rebuild their relationship. Court anew, so to speak. And if the series weren't so obsessed with the characters getting married within a short time frame, this idea of the two courting again is very romantic. But nope, "wedding" is in the title, so a wedding we must have! Even if it drives them crazy.
I felt that the added ~*~drama~*~ in the whole "will they/won't they" was unnecessary. Both Stella and Marshall became unlikeable by the halfway point, especially since they acted like if they didn't get married on the planned date, then they *had* to break-up (uh no, no you don't). They both behaved like spoiled children, in my opinion.
At the end of the day, An April Bride does what so many other novellas of its kind have done; try to tackle a serious subject in far too short a format. And that, along with the spoiled characters, earns this book 1.5-2 stars
March 25, 2014
Happy Release Day!!!
This is another in the "A Year of Weddings" series published by Zondervan - Fiction. Each of these novellas focus on a wedding and the trials and tribulations leading up to the event. These are nicely clean, but have some UST for our reading enjoyment. Kisses can be FUN! They are also inspirational, but they don't beat you over the head about it. Again, nicely done.
An April Bride comes out on 3/25, but you can order your copy now.
I am certainly enjoying these novellas. This one, with a returning soldier, was quite good. There was a bit of "telling" as opposed to "showing" at the beginning, but I liked it anyway. It's difficult to put everything IN that is needed when one is constrained by a novella word count.
Marshall has been injured and asks that his fiancee not visit him as he's recuperating. He has a brain injury. We come to find out that he's lost his memory and doesn't remember his bride-to-be.
Stella doesn't find this out until he returns, just weeks before the wedding they've planned. This was by his request, but still, I would have been ticked.
Marshall is attracted to Stella. She's everything a bride should be. Sweet and devout...and pretty, too. By all accounts he's loved her forever. And he wants to honor his promise.
Stella's not sure of anything except the fact that she loves him. But what if he doesn't remember her? Ever?
Stella needed to do some growing, and when she finally does, I was quite proud of her.
There were a few time line issues, but all in all, this was an enjoyable read. One thing that is odd with the preview copies from Zondervan, is that many of the sentences don't begin with capital letters! It's odd and takes a bit to get into the flow of reading. The actual books have that issue taken care of, but still hard to read the books.
This is a FOUR BOOKMARK read for me.
*Thank you, NetGalley and Zondervan, for the opportunity to read An April Bride
This is another in the "A Year of Weddings" series published by Zondervan - Fiction. Each of these novellas focus on a wedding and the trials and tribulations leading up to the event. These are nicely clean, but have some UST for our reading enjoyment. Kisses can be FUN! They are also inspirational, but they don't beat you over the head about it. Again, nicely done.
An April Bride comes out on 3/25, but you can order your copy now.
I am certainly enjoying these novellas. This one, with a returning soldier, was quite good. There was a bit of "telling" as opposed to "showing" at the beginning, but I liked it anyway. It's difficult to put everything IN that is needed when one is constrained by a novella word count.
Marshall has been injured and asks that his fiancee not visit him as he's recuperating. He has a brain injury. We come to find out that he's lost his memory and doesn't remember his bride-to-be.
Stella doesn't find this out until he returns, just weeks before the wedding they've planned. This was by his request, but still, I would have been ticked.
Marshall is attracted to Stella. She's everything a bride should be. Sweet and devout...and pretty, too. By all accounts he's loved her forever. And he wants to honor his promise.
Stella's not sure of anything except the fact that she loves him. But what if he doesn't remember her? Ever?
Stella needed to do some growing, and when she finally does, I was quite proud of her.
There were a few time line issues, but all in all, this was an enjoyable read. One thing that is odd with the preview copies from Zondervan, is that many of the sentences don't begin with capital letters! It's odd and takes a bit to get into the flow of reading. The actual books have that issue taken care of, but still hard to read the books.
This is a FOUR BOOKMARK read for me.
*Thank you, NetGalley and Zondervan, for the opportunity to read An April Bride
February 19, 2017
Really enjoyed this book. Loving this series.
February 7, 2014
Disclaimer: I received an advance galley proof of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher, which may vary slightly from the final published form.
This is the second of the, to-date, five novellas in the "Year of Weddings" series that I would give a pass. Several of the story arcs seemed completely implausible to me, and I never developed any sympathy for the bride who was more concerned with her wedding and whether her fiance loved her (he couldn't remember her!) than whether she loved him.
First of all, and the primary thing I simply could not get over, while her fiance was recovering from a head injury and dealing with PTSD in military hospitals for several MONTHS, Stella stayed home, planned her wedding, and had five(?) bridal showers. This was explained away as her obeying the wishes of her fiance, Marshall. I scoff.
If I was in love, engaged, and my fiance was injured severely enough to spend more than a day in the hospital (I give it a day, since he was serving far enough away it would probably take 24 hours to reach him) I would be there. Period. No discussion.
Second inconsistency, in my opinion, although this involves PTSD so I'm not qualified to comment, if I lost my memory and was struggling to recover it, I would not refuse to read the communications that would most likely prompt my memories. You either want to remember or you don't. Pick one!
For these reasons, and despite the happy ending, I'd recommend giving this particular book in the series a pass.
This is the second of the, to-date, five novellas in the "Year of Weddings" series that I would give a pass. Several of the story arcs seemed completely implausible to me, and I never developed any sympathy for the bride who was more concerned with her wedding and whether her fiance loved her (he couldn't remember her!) than whether she loved him.
First of all, and the primary thing I simply could not get over, while her fiance was recovering from a head injury and dealing with PTSD in military hospitals for several MONTHS, Stella stayed home, planned her wedding, and had five(?) bridal showers. This was explained away as her obeying the wishes of her fiance, Marshall. I scoff.
If I was in love, engaged, and my fiance was injured severely enough to spend more than a day in the hospital (I give it a day, since he was serving far enough away it would probably take 24 hours to reach him) I would be there. Period. No discussion.
Second inconsistency, in my opinion, although this involves PTSD so I'm not qualified to comment, if I lost my memory and was struggling to recover it, I would not refuse to read the communications that would most likely prompt my memories. You either want to remember or you don't. Pick one!
For these reasons, and despite the happy ending, I'd recommend giving this particular book in the series a pass.
March 3, 2014
An April Bride was such a touching story. Filled with just the right amount of tension, romance, conflict and blessed resolution, it was a winner in my eyes.
I loved that the author spoke about the impact that war and injury can have on a serviceman and his loved ones. PTSD is tough to deal with; add amnesia to the mix due to a head injury and you could potentially have a powder keg of emotion. But in love and faith, there is power to recover and to heal. That's what this book is about.
This book is about the unconditional love of family and friends, but more importantly it is about the always purposeful, ever enduring, merciful love of God. It is about how He perfectly delivers those in need every single time.
This book is about prayer and its influence on those far and near. I loved that the author placed emphasis on the importance and the reach of prayer. In a sense, it brought this community together to rally for this couple.
I must confess that this story really caused me to think deeply and appreciate just how much we actually grow when we go through trials. At the time, of course, it doesn't feel like it, but it's happening. On the other side of the trial, things become much clearer. Indeed.
Beautiful job!
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
A complimentary e-copy of this title was made available for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved that the author spoke about the impact that war and injury can have on a serviceman and his loved ones. PTSD is tough to deal with; add amnesia to the mix due to a head injury and you could potentially have a powder keg of emotion. But in love and faith, there is power to recover and to heal. That's what this book is about.
This book is about the unconditional love of family and friends, but more importantly it is about the always purposeful, ever enduring, merciful love of God. It is about how He perfectly delivers those in need every single time.
This book is about prayer and its influence on those far and near. I loved that the author placed emphasis on the importance and the reach of prayer. In a sense, it brought this community together to rally for this couple.
I must confess that this story really caused me to think deeply and appreciate just how much we actually grow when we go through trials. At the time, of course, it doesn't feel like it, but it's happening. On the other side of the trial, things become much clearer. Indeed.
Beautiful job!
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
A complimentary e-copy of this title was made available for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 25, 2015
(3.5 Stars) I honestly can't imagine how war can affect a person. Marshall and Stella are planning on getting married when Marshall returns from his service, but a severe wound and amnesia/PTSD complicate their plans.
Stella is absolutely amazing! I kept putting myself in her shoes and wondering if I'd have the guts to go through with a wedding to a man who doesn't seem to remember me. Of course, she is human and those doubts came creeping in. Marshall is pretty amazing himself. He had every chance to walk away and decided since he'd promised something to someone else, he would stay and try to figure it out, but he could only take things so far without coming to a conclusion.
One thing that bothered me--if he couldn't remember her, why didn't he want her to see him all beat up when he was in the hospital? That aside, it was heartwarming to watch a couple work through issues and feelings to really dig down deep and figure out what they love about each other and if a marriage to one another is worth it and the right thing to work for. Such a tender story.
Content: mild war-type violence; mild romance; Christian elements. Clean!
*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Stella is absolutely amazing! I kept putting myself in her shoes and wondering if I'd have the guts to go through with a wedding to a man who doesn't seem to remember me. Of course, she is human and those doubts came creeping in. Marshall is pretty amazing himself. He had every chance to walk away and decided since he'd promised something to someone else, he would stay and try to figure it out, but he could only take things so far without coming to a conclusion.
One thing that bothered me--if he couldn't remember her, why didn't he want her to see him all beat up when he was in the hospital? That aside, it was heartwarming to watch a couple work through issues and feelings to really dig down deep and figure out what they love about each other and if a marriage to one another is worth it and the right thing to work for. Such a tender story.
Content: mild war-type violence; mild romance; Christian elements. Clean!
*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
September 29, 2015
An April Bride is the first book I've read in the A Year of Weddings series and for a novella I thought it was a wonderful story. The story didn't feel rushed at all, it almost had the feel of a full length novel so that was a huge plus! If all the books are as good as this one it's going to be a great series.
I found this book to be very sweet and a little emotional. The main characters were so believable and I connected with them almost immediately. If you enjoy contemporary romance stories, I think you should give this story a read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
I found this book to be very sweet and a little emotional. The main characters were so believable and I connected with them almost immediately. If you enjoy contemporary romance stories, I think you should give this story a read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.
March 10, 2016
I thought this was a great plot. I enjoy stories of soldiers who serve their country and the women who support them. The amnesia angle was interesting, especially as they began to connect again and Marshall began regaining his memories. The countdown to the wedding was a stress factor for the couple, but it also hindered the development of the relationship in the story since Stella's thoughts and scenes were for the majority focused on whether or not to continue with the wedding, postpone, or call it off. The characters seemed to be stuck in limbo which became a little repetitive. I loved the ending, but I don't want to give anything away!
(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)
(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)
February 1, 2014
An April Bride is #5 in "A Year of Weddings" series.
This was a great tale of childhood sweethearts that are planning a wedding while the groom-to-be is serving our country. When he comes home, he's not quite the same but the couple are determined to get married anyway. Their love is strong, deep down inside.
This sweet and touching story is the perfect length for a quick read without skimping on storyline. I truly enjoyed this one.
This was a great tale of childhood sweethearts that are planning a wedding while the groom-to-be is serving our country. When he comes home, he's not quite the same but the couple are determined to get married anyway. Their love is strong, deep down inside.
This sweet and touching story is the perfect length for a quick read without skimping on storyline. I truly enjoyed this one.
October 27, 2015
I really enjoyed this one! It's not super great, but it is very good-- especially for a shorter story. :)
April 21, 2018
Girl is planning her wedding while boy is overseas in the military. Boy has been hurt, but refuses to let girl see him, and when he finally returns home it is discovered that the boy has lost all memory of said girl. -_-' I mean really, the plot of this one was rather predictable, of course he was going to regain his memory by the end of it, but what bugged me more was the fact that the conversations that the bride-to-be and the amnesiac groom had together were repeated time and time again.
Girl: I want to marry you.
Boy: I know I wanted to marry you.
Girl: How can we get married if you don't remember me?
Boy: I will remember you, just give me time.
Girl: But what if you don't remember me? How can we start a life together?
Boy: Don't worry about it. I just need time. Do you want to marry me?
Girl: I do want to marry you.
And repeat. I really feel like this story would have been better served if the groom-to-be had come back with some sort of physical disability, or if the memory loss had been more total and his entire life WAS a complete blank and the wedding WAS actually called off and then they fell in love all over again.
As it stands, I didn't like this one at all.
Girl: I want to marry you.
Boy: I know I wanted to marry you.
Girl: How can we get married if you don't remember me?
Boy: I will remember you, just give me time.
Girl: But what if you don't remember me? How can we start a life together?
Boy: Don't worry about it. I just need time. Do you want to marry me?
Girl: I do want to marry you.
And repeat. I really feel like this story would have been better served if the groom-to-be had come back with some sort of physical disability, or if the memory loss had been more total and his entire life WAS a complete blank and the wedding WAS actually called off and then they fell in love all over again.
As it stands, I didn't like this one at all.
December 17, 2018
*I spoil the ending you likely already know, FYI*
I don't write many reviews. (I often tell myself I'll start next year then fail to follow through. 🤷🏾♀️) Like many people in spaces all across the web though, when I have a memorable negative experience, I am more prone to commenting on it. I'm honestly a bit annoyed with myself for finishing this book since I don't have any qualms about stopping a book if I'm not into it. Anyhow, this book worked my last nerve. It was extremely unrealistic to me. There was WAY too much focus on getting to the altar because the wedding date had already been set. This focus completely disregarded the *war experience* from which the groom had to recover. Who would expect a man who woke up in a hospital--with limited memories of what happened in battle that led to that hospitalization--to get married on his planned wedding day?! *Everything* would have to stop to focus on his wellness and recovery. The wedding would *have to be* postponed!!!!! That the book would march toward any other outcome is really ridiculous. I mean, Stella coulve been An April Bride in another April years after things stabilized... which would have been a story worth telling. This story could have remained untold as written.
I don't write many reviews. (I often tell myself I'll start next year then fail to follow through. 🤷🏾♀️) Like many people in spaces all across the web though, when I have a memorable negative experience, I am more prone to commenting on it. I'm honestly a bit annoyed with myself for finishing this book since I don't have any qualms about stopping a book if I'm not into it. Anyhow, this book worked my last nerve. It was extremely unrealistic to me. There was WAY too much focus on getting to the altar because the wedding date had already been set. This focus completely disregarded the *war experience* from which the groom had to recover. Who would expect a man who woke up in a hospital--with limited memories of what happened in battle that led to that hospitalization--to get married on his planned wedding day?! *Everything* would have to stop to focus on his wellness and recovery. The wedding would *have to be* postponed!!!!! That the book would march toward any other outcome is really ridiculous. I mean, Stella coulve been An April Bride in another April years after things stabilized... which would have been a story worth telling. This story could have remained untold as written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2018
An April Bride by Lenora Worth focuses on bride-to-be Stella Carson, who's been in love with her fiance for as long as she can remember. They grew up together, and soon their beloved friendship turned into something more. Stella knows in her heart that her and Marshall belong together, but life throws an unexpected curve ball her way, that no bride would want so close to her wedding day. Marshall had been serving in Iraq, and was badly injured in an attack. Unbeknownst to her at the time, Marshall's memories have been jeopardized, and she soon comes face to face with the truth-their wedding is in less than a month, and her groom can barely remember who she is.
Stella is soon plagued with unease as to whether this wedding can truly be God's plan for her and Marshall. Is she forcing Marshall into something he doesn't want? Is Marshall only going along with the wedding plans to avoid breaking a promise to her? In this beautiful story, Lenora Worth tackles the tough topic of PTSD, and the devastating effects it has on those suffering with it. The reader soon discovers there's a lot more to Marshall's story than was originally hinted at, and Stella and Marshall will both need to learn to rely on God's power and grace to help them on their turbulent journey.
I really enjoyed this lovely novella, and it's emphasis on faith, healing, family, and love, and I thought it was wrapped up beautifully, while still focusing on the important aspects as to why Marshall was having all the troubles he was. It also brought attention to the fact that you can't ever hide from your problem's, and that our Heavenly Father can't truly help us heal until we're willing to let him do so. This was another great addition to the Year of Weddings series, and I really really enjoyed it.
Stella is soon plagued with unease as to whether this wedding can truly be God's plan for her and Marshall. Is she forcing Marshall into something he doesn't want? Is Marshall only going along with the wedding plans to avoid breaking a promise to her? In this beautiful story, Lenora Worth tackles the tough topic of PTSD, and the devastating effects it has on those suffering with it. The reader soon discovers there's a lot more to Marshall's story than was originally hinted at, and Stella and Marshall will both need to learn to rely on God's power and grace to help them on their turbulent journey.
I really enjoyed this lovely novella, and it's emphasis on faith, healing, family, and love, and I thought it was wrapped up beautifully, while still focusing on the important aspects as to why Marshall was having all the troubles he was. It also brought attention to the fact that you can't ever hide from your problem's, and that our Heavenly Father can't truly help us heal until we're willing to let him do so. This was another great addition to the Year of Weddings series, and I really really enjoyed it.
April 6, 2023
This was a new to me author and I liked the book but I didn’t love it.
I feel like the storyline about Marshall serving in the military is a story that can have so much depth to fit into just a novella specially with him coming back injured and with PTSD. I would have preferred for this book to be a full length book instead of a novella in order to really be able to explore Marshall’s story and trauma. But since it was in a novella I felt like it was rushed and didn’t give the full weight and seriousness that military PTSD deserves.
Also in this story I liked Marshall’s character but I didn’t love Stella, yes it’s hard to navigate what to do when your fiancé returns from war without his memories specially so close to the wedding but I do think she could have handled it better and made more of a effort to understand Marshall instead of just focusing on the wedding so much.
I do plan on reading more books from this author in the future and hopefully I will enjoy her other books more.
I feel like the storyline about Marshall serving in the military is a story that can have so much depth to fit into just a novella specially with him coming back injured and with PTSD. I would have preferred for this book to be a full length book instead of a novella in order to really be able to explore Marshall’s story and trauma. But since it was in a novella I felt like it was rushed and didn’t give the full weight and seriousness that military PTSD deserves.
Also in this story I liked Marshall’s character but I didn’t love Stella, yes it’s hard to navigate what to do when your fiancé returns from war without his memories specially so close to the wedding but I do think she could have handled it better and made more of a effort to understand Marshall instead of just focusing on the wedding so much.
I do plan on reading more books from this author in the future and hopefully I will enjoy her other books more.
October 24, 2017
I really didn't mind the premise of the book, but the somewhat fumbled execution made finishing the story a chore for me. Along with a few grammatical errors, there were some redundancies in the writing that should have been caught by editors. I struggled to keep up with Stella's constantly swinging emotions an occasional forced drama in conversations which were very draining and gave her a feel of flippancy instead of the steadfast devotion she was credited with throughout the book. The last issue I had was with the way love was approached in this book, coming off as more of a feeling that is rooted in history than a daily choice to sacrifice for someone other than yourself. All in all, the actual writing style was good, and the plot line paced well, but I wouldn't recommend it as a stand-alone work.
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