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thedeathmaven's review against another edition
4.0
http://lauramorningstar.com/review-one-winters-day/
I was expecting great things from One Winter’s Day after reading fantastic reviews of the first book in the series One Day Like This. I haven’t read the first book and wonder if doing so would have influenced my review of this one.
As I said I was expecting great things from One Winter’s Day and unfortunately it just didn’t quite deliver. It does feature all the things, it was festive, it was romantic, it had family and friendships, and if all that wasn’t enough it’s main character was a person of colour. Something that is so bloody rare to find in a book, especially one that falls into the romantic comedy, chick-lit genre that does this.
But then is Ama the main character as the book seemed to be pretty well split between her and her friends Tessa and Nathalie. Not that was necessarily a bad thing as friendship was such a strong theme but it didn’t feel as if Ama was getting her time in the spotlight.
It also wasn’t particularly Christmassy, which is sort of perfect for this autumnal time of year when we are still a couple of months from the festive period. Not so great when I’m shopping for a festive romance for my Crimbo adoring Nan.
So what is it about? One Winter’s Day focuses on the lives of Ama and her friends who are partners in a wedding planning business. It is obvious that all three women are talented with Tessa being able to envision all of the details, Nathalie as the dress designer and Ama the cake creator. However they are all painted as not really having any business sense and part of me found this frustrating. I would have liked to have seen creative women with good business knowledge yet it didn’t feel that way.
During this book they are planning a last minute festive wedding which really tests them, especially while personally they are also having issues with their own romantic lives. Tessa is a will they won’t they type relationship with the businesses unofficial fourth partner Blake. While meanwhile both Ama and Nathalie are under pressure to settle down by their families.
In some ways the most frustrating this about this book is that I didn’t not enjoy it. It was actually very good and the author’s skill as a writer shone through.
Throughout One Winter’s Day she highlights cultural differences and the family expectations that come from those. Ama comes from a Punjabi family who want her to settle down with a boy that has been matched for her. Ama wants to settle down with a man she has fallen in love with. She wants passion and romance, above good background and career prospects. It was interesting to see what things are considered in whether someone is a good match. Although the practice seems outdated and old fashioned to me it must be tricky to walk the line of modern woman or man who has a traditional Indian family.
At the same time Nathalie is having similar issues with her very close-knit Italian family who again want her to settle down. Both are subjected to the horrors of suitors being suggested and even invited to family events. These moments were described in such vivid detail that it was easy to imagine both women’s embarrassed horror.
The conversations and dialogue between the characters was fantastic and read like a sitcom. There were so many moments where I chuckled and could relate or picture myself in a similar situation. I loved the relationships beween Ama and her family, and the frustration and love they all had for each other was really heart-warming.
The author’s talent at describing the situations that the characters face was exquisite all the way through. There was a memorable scene between the two mothers-in-law of the couple who were getting married and I felt so uncomfortable wondering which one would lose their cool first it felt as if I was in the room with them.
This is a good and enjoyable book, and may yet be one I purchase as a Christmas gift. I just think I was expecting more. It was almost like there was too much happening for anything to actually take centre stage. I came away feeling as if this book was very much the prequel to the next one and I am really interested to see how the characters stories develop within that.
I was expecting great things from One Winter’s Day after reading fantastic reviews of the first book in the series One Day Like This. I haven’t read the first book and wonder if doing so would have influenced my review of this one.
As I said I was expecting great things from One Winter’s Day and unfortunately it just didn’t quite deliver. It does feature all the things, it was festive, it was romantic, it had family and friendships, and if all that wasn’t enough it’s main character was a person of colour. Something that is so bloody rare to find in a book, especially one that falls into the romantic comedy, chick-lit genre that does this.
But then is Ama the main character as the book seemed to be pretty well split between her and her friends Tessa and Nathalie. Not that was necessarily a bad thing as friendship was such a strong theme but it didn’t feel as if Ama was getting her time in the spotlight.
It also wasn’t particularly Christmassy, which is sort of perfect for this autumnal time of year when we are still a couple of months from the festive period. Not so great when I’m shopping for a festive romance for my Crimbo adoring Nan.
So what is it about? One Winter’s Day focuses on the lives of Ama and her friends who are partners in a wedding planning business. It is obvious that all three women are talented with Tessa being able to envision all of the details, Nathalie as the dress designer and Ama the cake creator. However they are all painted as not really having any business sense and part of me found this frustrating. I would have liked to have seen creative women with good business knowledge yet it didn’t feel that way.
During this book they are planning a last minute festive wedding which really tests them, especially while personally they are also having issues with their own romantic lives. Tessa is a will they won’t they type relationship with the businesses unofficial fourth partner Blake. While meanwhile both Ama and Nathalie are under pressure to settle down by their families.
In some ways the most frustrating this about this book is that I didn’t not enjoy it. It was actually very good and the author’s skill as a writer shone through.
Throughout One Winter’s Day she highlights cultural differences and the family expectations that come from those. Ama comes from a Punjabi family who want her to settle down with a boy that has been matched for her. Ama wants to settle down with a man she has fallen in love with. She wants passion and romance, above good background and career prospects. It was interesting to see what things are considered in whether someone is a good match. Although the practice seems outdated and old fashioned to me it must be tricky to walk the line of modern woman or man who has a traditional Indian family.
At the same time Nathalie is having similar issues with her very close-knit Italian family who again want her to settle down. Both are subjected to the horrors of suitors being suggested and even invited to family events. These moments were described in such vivid detail that it was easy to imagine both women’s embarrassed horror.
The conversations and dialogue between the characters was fantastic and read like a sitcom. There were so many moments where I chuckled and could relate or picture myself in a similar situation. I loved the relationships beween Ama and her family, and the frustration and love they all had for each other was really heart-warming.
The author’s talent at describing the situations that the characters face was exquisite all the way through. There was a memorable scene between the two mothers-in-law of the couple who were getting married and I felt so uncomfortable wondering which one would lose their cool first it felt as if I was in the room with them.
This is a good and enjoyable book, and may yet be one I purchase as a Christmas gift. I just think I was expecting more. It was almost like there was too much happening for anything to actually take centre stage. I came away feeling as if this book was very much the prequel to the next one and I am really interested to see how the characters stories develop within that.
zooloo1983's review against another edition
4.0
Ok, I am only going to say this once, you do not need to have read the first book before reading this one. Shocking I know, but then ask yourself, why deny yourself! Go get the first book!!
I said it last time and I say it again, I love these girls and Blake. I love the behind the scenes of making a special day tick for couples, and did I say I love these girls!
And I have to shout about how there will be a third book *squeal* I am not sure how to contain myself, more from these girls yes!
So this story is focusing on Ama, and her meddling family trying to find her a man, setting up an online dating profile. It goes against her grain, she wants sparks, the unknown and fireworks! Not the constructed romance life the family want her to have.
However, as much as it focuses on Ama, we still see the other girls. Natalie with her big Italian family, deciding she is over the hill because she doesn’t have a man!!! Seriously! She is much more focused on her beautiful designs, and should she try her designs on the catwalk?
Tessa, dealing with her crush on Blake *swoon*, and to drum up more business, taking on a second job to pay for a billboard. The lengths she goes to, to support their business and her dreams that she has for the Wedding Belles just shows her determination.
I love the descriptions used by Laura, when she describes their office space, the cakes, the clothes designed, I can picture it clearly and to be honest if they were around they could have done my whole wedding!
I love seeing how they all interact and deal with the different demands both at work and at home, and see what would be the final straw for them. Plus any scene with Blake in is a bonus! It is one story but with three different love stories as we follow each Belle on their journey.
So it will come as no surprise that I loved this book, it was just what the doctor ordered something nice, filling you with happiness and hope for the future instalments to come!
I said it last time and I say it again, I love these girls and Blake. I love the behind the scenes of making a special day tick for couples, and did I say I love these girls!
And I have to shout about how there will be a third book *squeal* I am not sure how to contain myself, more from these girls yes!
So this story is focusing on Ama, and her meddling family trying to find her a man, setting up an online dating profile. It goes against her grain, she wants sparks, the unknown and fireworks! Not the constructed romance life the family want her to have.
However, as much as it focuses on Ama, we still see the other girls. Natalie with her big Italian family, deciding she is over the hill because she doesn’t have a man!!! Seriously! She is much more focused on her beautiful designs, and should she try her designs on the catwalk?
Tessa, dealing with her crush on Blake *swoon*, and to drum up more business, taking on a second job to pay for a billboard. The lengths she goes to, to support their business and her dreams that she has for the Wedding Belles just shows her determination.
I love the descriptions used by Laura, when she describes their office space, the cakes, the clothes designed, I can picture it clearly and to be honest if they were around they could have done my whole wedding!
I love seeing how they all interact and deal with the different demands both at work and at home, and see what would be the final straw for them. Plus any scene with Blake in is a bonus! It is one story but with three different love stories as we follow each Belle on their journey.
So it will come as no surprise that I loved this book, it was just what the doctor ordered something nice, filling you with happiness and hope for the future instalments to come!
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
From the first paragraph, One Winter's Day had my mouth watering with thoughts of delicious, winter spiced baking. This is the story of Ama, Tessa and Natalie who run a wedding planning company called Wedding Belles in a town called Bellegrove in the southern part of the States. Ama creates those wonderful cakes which made my mouth water, Natalie designs beautiful wedding gowns and Tessa organises everything else, such as the venue, the flowers, the entertainment.
In One Winter's Day, the women are working on a winter themed wedding and being seriously challenged not by a demanding Bridezilla but by her mum and future mother in law who both have very different ideas about what makes a perfect wedding! As the big day gets closer, it seems that everything which can go wrong does go wrong and it was hard not to feel for the women who were working so hard to give the bride and groom a memorable day.
As well as following his wedding preparations, we also follow the developments in each of the women's love lives. Ama's family are very traditional and keen for her to use a matchmaking site to find a nice Indian boy. She is not keen on this idea especially after meeting handsome biker Luke. Tessa has a crush on Blake, a jack of all trades who has been working on the building where the business is based. It seems that he may be rather taken with beautiful interior designer Mac though. And finally there is Natalie whose large Italian family is keen to see her settled and are delighted when she meets Chad, an adventurer who loves to travel. I enjoyed reading about the ups and downs of these romances and with none of them completely resolved, it looks like we might be getting to follow the story of the Wedding Belles in another book.
One Winter's Day is an easy to read and enjoyable feel-good story. It's just right to read by the fire on a chilly night.
In One Winter's Day, the women are working on a winter themed wedding and being seriously challenged not by a demanding Bridezilla but by her mum and future mother in law who both have very different ideas about what makes a perfect wedding! As the big day gets closer, it seems that everything which can go wrong does go wrong and it was hard not to feel for the women who were working so hard to give the bride and groom a memorable day.
As well as following his wedding preparations, we also follow the developments in each of the women's love lives. Ama's family are very traditional and keen for her to use a matchmaking site to find a nice Indian boy. She is not keen on this idea especially after meeting handsome biker Luke. Tessa has a crush on Blake, a jack of all trades who has been working on the building where the business is based. It seems that he may be rather taken with beautiful interior designer Mac though. And finally there is Natalie whose large Italian family is keen to see her settled and are delighted when she meets Chad, an adventurer who loves to travel. I enjoyed reading about the ups and downs of these romances and with none of them completely resolved, it looks like we might be getting to follow the story of the Wedding Belles in another book.
One Winter's Day is an easy to read and enjoyable feel-good story. It's just right to read by the fire on a chilly night.
bookstasamm's review
3.0
“One Winter’s Day” by Laura Briggs tells the stories of three friends who own a wedding planning business, Wedding Belles. This is the second book in a series however I did not read the first book and do not think you need to to fully understand this story. With that said, I do plan on getting the first book to read now that I’m finished with this one.
Tessa, Ama, and Natalie are partners in a wedding planning business with a fourth “silent” partner, Blake. They are new to this industry, but each has their strengths to keep their business afloat. They take on new clients, Nadia and Lyle, and only have a short amount of time to get the wedding planned. It seems that the Wedding Belles are jinxed though as things just keep going wrong. and the bride and groom’s over-involved mothers aren’t making anything easier for the Belles.
While the ladies stress about getting things right for the couple they are also dealing with their own love lives. Will the girls find happiness in their personal lives while finding success in their business? You’ll need to read this cute, romantic novel to find out!
I had a hard time with my rating of this book. If 3.5 stars were an option that would have been my rating, but I had to go with 3 stars. I think the author does a great job with her descriptions and attention to details especially when it comes to wedding details like the dress and the cake. However, “One Winter’s Day” was a little long for a romance in my opinion. I also had a hard time figuring out what day/month it was. One day it was Thanksgiving and then it was the wedding, but I think having a better idea of the timeline would make this book a little easier to read. With that said I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens with the Belles and their love lives.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tessa, Ama, and Natalie are partners in a wedding planning business with a fourth “silent” partner, Blake. They are new to this industry, but each has their strengths to keep their business afloat. They take on new clients, Nadia and Lyle, and only have a short amount of time to get the wedding planned. It seems that the Wedding Belles are jinxed though as things just keep going wrong. and the bride and groom’s over-involved mothers aren’t making anything easier for the Belles.
While the ladies stress about getting things right for the couple they are also dealing with their own love lives. Will the girls find happiness in their personal lives while finding success in their business? You’ll need to read this cute, romantic novel to find out!
I had a hard time with my rating of this book. If 3.5 stars were an option that would have been my rating, but I had to go with 3 stars. I think the author does a great job with her descriptions and attention to details especially when it comes to wedding details like the dress and the cake. However, “One Winter’s Day” was a little long for a romance in my opinion. I also had a hard time figuring out what day/month it was. One day it was Thanksgiving and then it was the wedding, but I think having a better idea of the timeline would make this book a little easier to read. With that said I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens with the Belles and their love lives.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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