This is a fake engagement story set against the backdrop of Christmas. Layla and Seth have a temporary arrangement that benefits them both, but one of them wishes their fake relationship could be more permanent. Layla and Seth already know one another when the story begins, but end up spending a lot of time together in the time leading up to Christmas. I love the way their feelings progress and I love the ending.

This sweet story shares characters with another book by Denise Hunter: Barefoot Summer. She's one of my favorite authors. This was the first of her work that I read years ago, but since then I've read and reread a ton of Ms. Hunter's books and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

Audiobook Notes: I reread this one via audiobook loan since it had been a long time since I first read it. Honestly, I think reading it on my kindle was a better reading experience than listening to the audio. The narrator read the story in a rigid way, over-pronouncing words throughout. It sounded odd to me. So I would recommend checking the audiobook out from your library instead of purchasing a copy or using a precious Audible credit.

Title: A December Bride by Denise Hunter
Series: A Year of Weddings #1
Narrator: Julie Lyles Carr
Length: 2 hours, 17 minutes
Publisher: Zondervan ( )

A fake engagement give Seth the chance to win the heart of Layla, despite her animosity towards him. Getting over the betrayal of her ex-fiance and cousin and opening her heart to love is Layla's challenge, but Seth makes it happen. ( )

Loved this wonderfully witty and charming novella. What's the best way to show your Ex and his new bride that you've moved on? A fake engagement of course! Read this fantastic story to see how Layla and Seth pull this off! A great read I recommend. ( )

OK mom. I have to take back what I said... I LOVE this book!

When I started reading the book, I was sure it would end up on my "not a favorite" shelf in GoodReads. I could NOT have been more wrong. It's a FANTASTIC story. And now I find myself determined to go hunt down the rest of Denise Hunter's Chapel Springs stories.

I seriously misjudged this novella and I'm so glad I gave it a proper chance. Otherwise, I might never have discovered how wonderful is truly is!

It is possible I'm not the only one who might jump to the wrong conclusion so I'm going to give you a couple of hints that I really don't think will kill the story.

The synopsis might give you the wrong idea - especially if you've ever read Zebra or Harlequin romance novels. You might expect it to be one of those things where the two characters make a shady deal about getting married and then doing a "quicky" divorce later. It's NOT! Thank GOD!

Granted, the reasons for the "fake" engagement are not all that altruistic or even honest but they do not drag marriage through the mud like I was afraid they would. This is truly a good, decent, Christian story. And, while I hold that courtship is still the best way to head toward a marriage - it could be said that this is about what they have. They're "engaged" before they even kiss and there's a minimum of physical contact because the whole thing isn't real anyway.

A terrific story, excellent writing, real characters and great world-building! And it's easy to get right into the story - even if you haven't read any of the others that Denise has written. I didn't even realize this was part of a continuing series until I got to the end and saw "other books by Denise Hunter..." - which I now have to read...of course.

READ IT!

Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. ( )

A December Bride by Denise Hunter was a quick fun romance. This book is the first one in a series of novellas based around a wedding in each month called A Year of Weddings.

Layla O’reilly is in need of a date to her ex-boyfriend and cousin’s wedding when her date gets sick and can’t make it at the last minute. She finds herself agreeing to go with Seth Murphy, who she has been blaming her break up with Jack on. She was harboring a lot of negative feelings towards him, so when he randomly announces at the wedding that they are engaged and getting married in four weeks to say face for Layla she is shocked and understandably mad. Seth promises to fix it until Layla decides she needs his help, because the man she wants to work with didn’t give her the time of day until the engagement was announced. Her and Seth come to a deal that they will stay fake engaged to help her if she helps him decorate his house for a tour his house was chosen to be on. Seth needed this time to convince her that he would never hurt her and loved her. Can Layla continue lying to her family just to get a job? Can she ever forgive Seth for pushing Jack and Jessica together? Is four weeks enough time for Seth to convince her he loves her?

This was a quick fun read based around weddings and Christmas. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to all romance readers or someone looking for some light fluff reading. ( )