The Weekend Wedding Assistant
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
A Romantic Comedy about Death and Second Chances
30 year-old Nashvillian, Julia Holmes is just weeks away from becoming Mrs. Aaron DeMinthe. For as long as she can remember she’s dreamed of getting married at Whitfield Chapel and now her dreams are about to be realized. Julia has meticulously planned every detail of her big day from the flowers to her gown but the one thing she didn’t plan for is Aaron’s announcement: he needs to tick something off his bucket list before they tie the knot and that something is to hike the last leg of the Appalachian Trail; a project several years in the making. Julia is appalled by this idea and tries to dissuade him from going but his mind is made up and so, she reluctantly gives him her blessing. Less than 48 hours later, as he summits Mt, Katahdin, the last mountain of the trek, he’s struck by lightning and killed, effectively kicking the bucket while ticking something off his bucket list.
Julia is grief stricken and inconsolable and despite the fact that she’s surrounded by her best gal pals, her parents and Lincoln Douglas, who was on Mt, Katahdin with Aaron when he died, she loses her grip on reality and quickly starts unravelling at the seams. Returning to Whitfield in search of closure she happens upon the Chapel’s Wedding Director who offhandedly mentions that they’re looking for a Weekend Wedding Assistant and before she can even think about it she takes the job. As she ushers four brides a weekend down the aisle she was supposed to walk down herself, Julia tries to understand why she said “I Do” to a job she never set out to get, in a place she’d only meant to occupy for an afternoon and wonders if she’ll ever find true love again.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gladstone debuts with the humorous and tender story of a grieving heroine whose fianc has recently died and who finds work fixing other people's weddings now that she's no longer planning her own. When Julia Holmes masochistically visits the church where she would have married the late Aaron DeMinthe, she spontaneously accepts a weekend position assisting with the chapel's weddings. She hopes the job will restore order to her life and distract her from her growing feelings for Aaron's best friend, Lincoln Douglas, whom she's bonded with over their shared mourning. She meets attractive wedding photographer Garrett McLeod and embarks on a passionate affair with him in an attempt to move on, but with the distraction of other people's weddings and her continued sadness over Aaron, Julia's thoughts linger on Lincoln. Julia's funny, sympathetic narrative voice allows for a nice balance between comedic interactions with outrageous bridezillas and heavier emotions as she struggles to accept Aaron's death and forge a new life. Despite repetitious elements and a reliance on clich , the sometimes fluffy plot remains entertaining and Julia's emotional journey is authentic. This optimistic romance tackles dark subjects with a light touch, making for a sweet tale of second chances.