💍💒💕 “Her Cowboy Wedding Date” (Three Springs, Texas #3) (2022) 💕 💒💍 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Three Springs, Texas (Book #3)
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (June 28, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335555110
ISBN-13: 978-1335555113
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Could this cowboy…
Be her wedding date?
Maid of honor Tess Palmer has two weeks to plan her cousin’s wedding. She will do anything to make the ceremony perfect…even if it means wrangling best man Carter Sloan’s help. The cynical cowboy would rather focus on his business than wedded bliss, and widowed Tess isn’t looking for a second chance at love. But could planning a trip down the aisle bring the two of them together?”
Thank you in advance to the author, Cari Lynn Webb, for providing a complimentary review copy through her launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
This is the author’s 15th book with Harlequin – so, congrats to her! 🎉🥳👏🏻
A lot of milestones for Harlequin writers this month.
While this is her 15th, this is the 7th one I’ve read – three from the previous series – City by the Bay, one from the Blackwell Sisters, and the three from Three Springs, Texas. I was lucky enough to find another book from the City by the Bay series – Ava’s Prize – from the library. I haven’t read it yet – but it is on the TBR stack. And, I would like to track down paperbacks of the others.
That said …
Most series books like those in the Heartwarming line, or other Harlequin lines, can act as standalones. Some of those in her previous series could. This series? No. They have to be read in order.
These are connected by:
🏡 Location (Three Springs, Texas). Returning locations: Feisty Owl, White Olive Pizza, Silver Penny
🤠 Characters (in fact the characters from the previous two books play a significant role in this one; Abby & Wes from book #1, The Texas SEAL’s Surprise, are getting married)
📖 Story (it is in the first book the treasure hunt is started; and storylines from the previous two books are continued here)
With most new stories of a series – there are new characters introduced. But, this book takes established characters and crafts a story around them.
💒 Wes & Abby
💕 Evan & Paige (Trusting the Rancher with Christmas)
🤠 Boone
🤠 Sam (Carter’s grandfather)
🤠 Roy (Sam’s Brother)
🤠 Carter
🍫 Tess (Paige’s sister, Abby’s cousin)
🤠 Ryan (Carter’s brother)
👧🏻 Riley (Evan’s daughter) [mentioned but not seen]
🍪 Breezy & Gayle (sisters, first seen in book #2)
👩🏻 Frieda
There are some characters from the previous two books that are not seen or mentioned again despite playing significant supportive roles.
This is one of those books that contains more than just the story mentioned. In fact, there are about five (5) total story arcs:
🚀🥃 Carter’s whiskey launch
🔍📜 Uncle Roy looking for the recipe for the profits of Carter’s whiskey
💍💒 Tess trying to plan Abby & Wes’ ruined wedding
💰🪙 The continued coin/treasure hunt
🍫💰 Tess trying to win a chocolate contest (while also doing chocolates for Breezy & Gayle’s get-together)
This is definitely to be a great weekend read … if not a nice week-long vacation read.
The first line right off just grabbed me and gave me quite the giggle:
“Give him back, Tess.”
These are the first words readers read from Carter Sloan. He’s referring to his grandfather Sam. And, Tess doesn’t have the man per se. He’s hiding out after and incident with his brother Roy. Tess is just accommodating him.
Carter doesn’t have time for it – he’s trying to launch his brand of whiskey. And, by the end of chapter one – he’s roped into wedding planning after learning that Wes and Abby’s wedding planner took their money and went off to the Bahamas for her own wedding using their money. [FYI: readers of book #1 will learn about Abby’s baby here].
While Evan and Paige are slated to help – most of the planning falls to Carter and Tess.
And, wedding planning is the LAST thing Carter needs.
Unfortunately, he gets roped into it. What’s worse – Breezy, Gayle, Sam, and Boone think he and Tess are a cute couple.
I had to laugh at Tess’ experience with a bridezilla. FYI: I can’t really stand the types. The wedding is about the couple – not just the bride.
One of Carter’s ideas is to marry at the courthouse (that comes up believe it or not). But, despite Tess’ lack of a perfect wedding, she wants her cousin Abby to have one – a courthouse wedding ISN’T the perfect venue.
Carter’s troubles get crater sized when Uncle Roy starts digging on the property around the time a producer shows up to work on promotion for Carter’s whiskey. Roy is sure Carter is using his recipe which leads to some harsh feelings and later some laughs.
One thing that Carter notes – Tess does a lot for others, but gets nothing for herself. This is going to be somewhat of a theme.
Carter finally encourages Tess to chase her dream with him. But, Carter insists he isn’t the man for her. Yet, he might be in this sweet – down to the wire, clean romance.
This was one of those books that I loved reading, and at times it was hard to put down. There were a few moments when I did need a break. It was definitely an easy read with short chapters and a pace that kept the story rolling.
There was so much going on – and while one issue was concluded (though I’d love to see it go on), there were others left open. Webb does get around to who kept dropping off the mystery boxes from Abby, Tess, and Paige’s late grandparents. It was a twist I thought was possible, so it made sense at reveal time.
One thread I did want more from … what was going to happen to the wedding planner and the money? Readers of The Texas SEAL’s Surprise will (or should) remember that Wes was upset with his brother Dylan for running off with his share of the family ranch inheritance – so, I can’t imagine he’d just let the wedding planner get away with what happened. Hopefully that will get addressed in a future installment. From what I understand – there will be more in the series.
I absolutely adored the older folks – Gayle, Breezy, Sam, and Boone – matchmaking. It was adorable.
Also, the author NEEDS to include some recipes. You cannot mention whiskey chocolate truffles or salted chocolate-covered bourbon vanilla caramels and NOT have a recipe! Talk about simply scrumptious. 🍬🍫😋
I won’t hesitate to read future books, and I sincerely hope the treasure hunt story comes up again.
Those who’ve read the previous two books, fans of the author, and fans of the Heartwarming line are sure to enjoy this light and clean romance.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Previous Books in the Series:
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (August 24, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 133542640X
ISBN-13: 978-1335426406
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“New town…
New set of problems
Suddenly single—and pregnant—Abby James hopes Three Springs, Texas, will give her the fresh start she craves. But five minutes in and she’s already clashed with a former Navy SEAL on horseback. Wes Tanner might be devastatingly handsome, but Abby has no time for romance. Especially with a man intent on leaving town. Abby wants to plant some roots…and falling for the tempting Texan could upend all her plans!”
Series: Three Springs Texas (Book #2)
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (October 26, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335426493
ISBN-13: 978-1335426499
Click Photo for Purchase Information ➡️
“A visit for the holidays
Brings love for a lifetime
Cattle rancher Evan Bishop is desperate for Paige Palmer’s help. The veterinarian is in Three Springs for the holidays, but the single dad hopes she has time to save his ailing livestock. Paige is up for the challenge, though not quite up to resisting the cowboy’s rugged charm and his darling devotion to his little girl. Can Paige learn to trust the rancher before the countdown to Christmas ends?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cari Lynn Webb lives in South Carolina with her husband, daughters and assorted four-legged family members. She's been blessed to see the power of true love in her grandparent's seventy-year marriage and her parent's marriage of over fifty years. She knows love isn't always sweet and perfect – it can be challenging, complicated and risky. But she believes happily-ever-afters are worth fighting for. She loves to connect with readers.
She can be found on the following social media accounts:
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