Heartbreak from betrayal is a hard emotion to overcome. Instead of directing the blame to the person that betrayed them, people have a tendency of blaming a third party. In A December Bride, Layla O’Reily makes herself attend her cheating cousin, Jessica, and Ex-fiancé’s, Jack, wedding with the last person she wants to accompany her, Seth Murphy. When her date Copper is bed ridden by a terrible cold, Layla has to make a choice. She can go to the wedding alone, or she can go with “Murphy”. Weighing the options, she would rather go with a date to avoid sympathetic eyes and unwanted match making.

Seth Murphy has loved Layla for years, but his former best friends beat him to the punch. Ever since that day, Seth has beaten himself up mentally for not starting a relationship with Layla. Now, he stand next to Layla disgusted by her cousin, Jess, rude comments and shameless affection towards her new husband, Jack. The empathy he feels for Layla’s suffering, causes him to announce their false engagement to her cousin and ex-fiancé. Though Layla is infuriated with him, her false ties to him gave her an opportunity to get her business off the ground. Against her better judgment, Layla gives Seth a proposition. Until she is hired for staging homes by Stanley Malcolm, she wants to stay engaged. Eager to win her over, Seth agrees to the arrangement he got them in. A series of events keep the two engaged longer than Layla would like, Seth doesn’t mind. He knows this maybe his last chance with the woman he loves.

It can be difficult to find Romance novels that coincide with your religious beliefs. With this Christian novella, readers learn the importance of forgiveness. Seth does not deserve the amount of blame Layla has placed on him. Denial is an easier pill to swallow than the truth. If we cannot forgive, we may miss out one people and opportunities that are sitting right in front of us. In addition, children should not be judged for the sins of their fathers. Unfortunately, this happens in some small communities. This is another theme in the novella.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read for me, and I could visualize the tension between Layla and Seth. I prefer books that allow you to read what other characters are thinking. It brings the story full circle for me. Denise Hunter makes you strongly dislike her cheating duo. Layla’s work on Seth’s home sounds like a Christmas Spread in Better Homes and Gardens. Great for anytime of the year, you can enjoy an eBook or audio copy of A December Bride. By the way, A December Bride is one of many books from “The Year of Weddings Novella”. Denise Hunter’s book was published November 26, 2013. Get your copy on Amazon today.
Plus, Denis Hunter loves to connect with her readers. Once you have finished her book, you can like her Facebook Page, send an e-mail to Denise@DeniseHunterBooks.com , or visit her website. Do not forget to add A December Bride to your GoodReads Account!

If you read this book already, What did you think of it?