A Bouquet of Love {by Janice Thompson}

Title: A Bouquet of Love

Author: Janice Thompson

Series: Weddings by Design #4

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cassia Pappas has found herself in a nearly impossible situation. She wants to spend her time immersed in her new job at a Galveston Island floral shop, arranging blooms and brightening occasions with her lovely creations. But her huge Greek family–especially her father–has other ideas. They’ve all relocated to Galveston to open up a new family restaurant location on the Strand– directly across the street from the Rossis’ popular pizza place–and they want Cassia’s full participation.
To make matters worse, as Cassia is trying to develop a strong professional relationship with Galveston’s premier wedding coordinator, Bella Neeley, her own father is intent on stealing all of the Rossi family’s faithful customers. Not exactly the best way to get into Bella’s good graces!
Still, at least Alex, that hot delivery guy from the nursery, is always hanging around the flower shop . . .

Ah, Janice Thompson  has done it again. I don't know what it is about this author, and this series, but it has completely won over my heart, and this latest installment did not disappoint. In fact, this may be one of my favorites. Favorite main character, favorite family, favorite swoony love interest.

I've mentioned before, in my review of The Dream Dress, how my favorite part of this series and Janice Thompson's books are the characters, the family, and this one was definitely no different. Babbas and his antics had me cracking up. I will say, I wish there had been some more on the sibling side. I don't think we ever heard the little brother's name until finally at the end, he was always just the younger brother, and I was confused for a while on how many of them there actually was. But other than that, I loved it. I will say, I think I have a weakness for anything Greek, so this was destined to be a sure favorite.

Alex...sa-wooon. Did I mention I think he's my favorite love interest so far? Well, he is. I did have the same issue that I've had with the other books, on how it seemed too insta-lovey. I mean, it wasn't the annoying kind of insta-love (insta-lust), but it did seem to move really fast. But whatever. The romance did seem more developed and substantial than in others, though.

And of course, the culture. Loved it. I loved the everyday family interactions, the "battle" between Babbas and Uncle Laz had me cracking up, and of course our lovely Splendora Sisters were back in action. My favorite Rossis were back, as well as Scarlet, Hannah, Gabi and yes, even Guido the parrot. Even Brock and some characters from Thompson's other series, Backstage Pass, (which I haven't read so wasn't too concerned with) made an appearance.

So yes, this book was everything I have come to expect from this series and this author. It made me smile, laugh, swoon. But, as I guess this is the last in this series, I neeeed her to write another spin-off. I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters!

Weddings by Bella:

Weddings by Design:

Janice Thompson:

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The Dream Dress {by Janice Thompson}

Title: The Dream Dress

Author: Janice Thompson

Series: Weddings by Design #3

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A seamstress at a swanky bridal boutique, Gabi Delgado dreams of doing more than ripping out seams and fitting dresses to doe-eyed brides. She wants to see her own dress designs gracing the young women of Texas. When Jordan Spencer, the editor of Texas Bride magazine visits the shop to do a feature, Gabi is devastated to lose her job in his very influential presence. Convinced she'll never get her dreams off the ground now, Gabi needs lots of encouragement--especially from her friend Bella Neeley--to take a chance and start her business. And as she gets to know Jordan, she discovers that she may have to take a chance on love as well. Could it be that she'll have to design her own wedding dress soon?

Guys. I don't know what it is about this series or this author. It started with the Weddings by Bella series. I was absolutely hooked. There wasn't even a reason why I loved it so much, because it wasn't my usual type of read, but I just did. I fell absolutely, completely in love, and that love has continued to her spin-off series, Weddings by Design. While Bella's series was all about, well, Bella, each book in the Design series has a different MC, and I loved that just as much.

Gabi is an alterations girl by day, closet wedding dress designer by night. She doesn't dare tell her boss, the infamous Demetri *insert pretentious sounding something here*. Until the day she gets humiliatingly fired, in front of a (very cute) reporter, no less. 

One of the reasons I like this series so much is the people. I mentioned how I loved Bella's series, and it was most in part to the absolutely crazy, lovable, mixed-up family she had. So I love how the author brings all those people back in. It might seem a little crazy at times (in fact, I would definitely recommend reading Weddings by Bella before this one because of all the people), but that is just part of the charm. I LOVE culture, especially when talking about food ;). So each new MC bringing in her own culture and differences makes it that much more special, and Gabi is no different. I love the family aspect in each story, and absolutely adored Mimi Carmen.

Gabi herself was such a cute character. She was hard-working and sweet and loyal, and just wanted to do what she loved. And Jordan...okay, actually, I wasn't as impressed with this love interest as I was with some of the others. (You know, I wasn't super impressed with Drew either, although Armando then made up for that.) He wasn't as swoony, and the romance seemed a bit underdeveloped in this one. It seemed to just...happen without any reason or substance. I know that all the romances in this series have seemed to happen really fast since they only got one book instead of three, but this seemed faster than most.

This book had plenty of moments that just made me laugh. Demetri and his "Fab Five", the Splendora Sisters (Lord, help us all), even Guido the parrot has his moment (yes, he's in this book too). I loved Bella, and how she was a part of this one, as well as Scarlet and Hannah from the first two books. 

I realize that some people might have problems with this book, in how cheesy it can come across, how everything works out just perfectly, how Gabi's fascination with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers is overdone, especially considering Scarlet did the same thing with Lucy in The Icing on the Cake. And, even I will admit that this is all true. But I don't care. This book just made me really, really happy. I have no doubts about giving it the rating I did, because when it comes down to it, this book did exactly what a book is supposed to do. It entertained, it made me laugh, it made me swoon, it made me just all-around happy. 

*This novel is Christian fiction

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Weddings by Bella:

Weddings by Design:

A Bouquet of Love is expected August 2014

Janice Thompson:

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