Couldn't finish. Did not enjoy. ( )

November Bride
Beth K. Vogt

Book Summary: Can a decades-long friendship marred by two romantic missteps ever lead to happily ever after? Sadie McAllister’s clients know how lucky they are to have her: an ultra-fastidious personal chef who leaves behind a spotless kitchen and a week’s worth of mouth-watering meals. Erik Davis, her best friend since middle school, is content to enjoy Sadie’s culinary skills too while maintaining their “friends only” status. Most of his energy is focused on his just-launched freelance business and casual dates that never come close to a commitment. But when Sadie is offered a once-in-a-lifetime cooking job across country, Erik realizes maybe he’s taken his best friend for granted. Even more, he’s about to lose his only chance for lasting love. How can Erik convince Sadie that the well-known adage “Marry your best friend” just might apply to them? With God’s help, can they both move past their assumptions about each other and their future? Should Sadie and Erik risk taking their relationship to the romantic point of no return? If they do, their decades-long friendship is as a good as done . . . unless it ends at the altar.

Review: I did not start out liking this book. I continued on thinking ‘I will see where it goes’ and than like a bolt of lightning it did not go the way I thought it would. It has a solid Christian message of forgiveness that is not preachy and great life to the story overall. For a novella it packs a lot! I really found this to be a sparkling end to the series. I am going to say the last ones were the best. The thing that turned me off in the beginning was when Sadie asks Erik to marry her. I am not that kind of person. I do not like bossy woman characters and that seemed the way this story was going, when suddenly that was a minor history portion and the characters had depth and were broken people in a fallen world.
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. ( )

Sadie McAllister and Erik Davis have been friends since junior high school. Now that they are in their early 30's, they were both beginning to question the purpose of their lives. Did they really want to continue the direction they were going? Erik has his dream job, self-employed in marketing and working on a novel. He's just landed a plum account and is happily established. Still, he has been yearning for something more. He just couldn't decide what that more was. Sadie went to a culinary institute and graduated at the top of her class. She is now a personal chef, cooking for two families in the Denver area. She is satisfied with her life, if you didn't consider her pathetic dating habits. But she was feeling the tug of her internal clock, desiring a family and home of her own.

When Sadie is asked by one of her employers to consider moving to Oregon with the family and be their chef, she is faced with a dilemma. She has friends, a church family and a home in Denver. Should she pull up roots and start her life over at the age of 30? Why is making this decision so difficult? Her friend, Mel, also a chef, has a few ideas about that. In the meantime, Sadie's quandary wrenches Erik out of his complacency. He and Sadie are best friends. He doesn't want her to leave. One day, during a talk with his friend Phillip, he realizes he may be in love with Sadie. What will he do if she moves away? He decides to take her out on a date, but Sadie refuses to take him seriously and turns him down. Should Erik try to change their status from friends to more? Would it even be possible?

There are several reasons why I enjoyed reading this faith-based novelette. First, it is a quick read, uncomplicated in structure and plot. It can be read in just a few hours, perhaps one or two sittings. The theme is light and breezy, without being overly shallow, perfect for a weekend read.

Second, I love the author's sense of humor. Ever since Erik helped Sadie find her first apartment, he would surreptitiously disrupt her orderliness such as change a few books around on a compulsively neat bookshelf, or re-arrange items on a coffee table or mantle. Then he would sit back and wait to see how long it took her to notice. He'd also spent the past 17 years trying to guess what her middle name was. How many names could there be that started with "J"? One of my favorite moments occurred when Sadie's friend finally made arrangements for her to appear on a televised cooking show as a guest chef. Things went so completely awry that she felt shamed months later.

Third, it is a faith-based book, and despite the story's brevity, the character development in this book involves searching their hearts for the reasons why either Erik or Sadie were holding back on their relationship. Erik avoided commitment beyond a few months with his girlfriends, and Sadie wouldn't allow herself to let go and trust the men she dated. No wonder they kept dumping her by text. These issues had to be taken before the Lord in prayer before they could move their own relationship forward. The author deserves kudos for bringing satisfying depth to such a simple storyline. I enjoyed reading this upbeat story very much.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of Zondervan books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )

Sadie McAllister is a great cook and loves being a personal chef to some very appreciative clients. But she just can't seem to cook-up any romance in her life, although she's tried. Erik Davis is a great guy with a great sense of humor and although he has no trouble finding a girlfriend, no one seems to be the 'right one'. Erik and Sadie have been best friends for years. They enjoy each others company and always have each others backs. Erik especially enjoys his once-a-week meals with Sadie. When the family Sadie works decides to move out west they invite Sadie to move with them. Erik realizes that in looking for the right one, he may have missed the obvious. Sadie knows moving would be a great opportunity for her but is she willing to leave her home behind; not to mention Erik, who just might be her future. Can the love between two best friends turn into to something much deeper?

This was a great little story. I enjoyed getting to know Sadie and Erik. Both were fun-loving and down-to-earth in spite of the fact that they've both had some pretty deep hurts. Hurts that have made them cautious. I just loved how Sadie's friend Mel, and Erik's friend Phillip played an important roll in each of their lives. It's a good reminder that having a good friend is as important as being a good friend; someone who knows you really well and will be honest with you, even if it's not what you want to hear. So, how does it all turn out? I recommend you pick up A November Bride and find out! The story is sure to warm your heart on a chilly November day!

This complimentary copy was provided by Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more information on this book or other books by this author, I recommend you visit her website at http://www.bethvogt.com/ ( )