REVIEW: A Winter Wedding by Brenda Novak

In A Winter Wedding (Whiskey Creek #9) by Brenda Novak, Kyle Houseman has struggled for years to let go of his one true love Olivia, but with her now married to his step-brother Brandon and living in the same town, it makes things doubly difficult. Also pestering Kyle is his ex-wife Noelle, even though their disastrous marriage ended over five years ago. In a dating slump, Kyle perks up with the arrival of his new winter tenant Lourdes Bennett, a beautiful country-western artist. They get along well right from the start, so when he contemplates a temporary fling with her, he never thinks it might turn into something life-changing.

‘For someone like him, she was way out of reach–a shooting star, streaking across the sky. If he tried to catch her, he’d get dragged along for a short time before being dropped painfully back to Earth.’

With her music career uncertain, Lourdes hides out in rural Whiskey Creek to write her next album. Her manager-slash-boyfriend Derrick was supposed to come with her to work on their also uncertain relationship. She has a feeling something else is going on with him and it shakes her confidence. At least Lourdes is lucky enough to have a landlord like Kyle to make her stay easier. Unfortunately, though, as her personal life continues to fall apart, he becomes more than the friend she can bounce her ideas off of. She can see herself staying in town with Kyle. And that’s just not in her plans at all.

‘Could the downturn in her career be a wake-up call? she wondered. A chance to stand back and reassess, to decide whether she really wants to exchange fame and fortune for everything else?’

Welcome back to Whiskey Creek, Brenda Novak fans! In A Winter Wedding, major attraction simmered between Kyle, a local businessman, and Lourdes, a country music artist–both of whom were still in love with someone who had done them wrong. It actually kind of sounds like the makings of a country song, doesn’t it?

Book nine in the series was like a reunion of sorts thanks to a wedding among two members of the tight-knit group of friends we’ve come to cherish. So on top of the seemingly ill-fated romance between Kyle and Lourdes, we got to catch up with other characters and watch two deserving people walk down the aisle at Christmas. I loved that the spirit of the Season was definitely in this story, but the romance and all of the complications Lourdes and Kyle faced were the predominant factors.

I can honestly say that after reading this, Noelle is currently my least favorite person in Whiskey Creek. Fans will know who I’m talking about. And new readers of the series will definitely understand just by this book alone. Wow. I now see what Kyle had to put up with regarding his ex-wife over the years. It was interesting that a few thoughts I’ve had over the course of the series came up, like why no one was pointing any fingers at Olivia for leaving Kyle and then falling for his step-brother Brandon, but they berated Kyle for getting tangled up with Olivia’s manipulative sister Noelle. Such a complex situation. Just saying…

Lourdes seemed to blossom personally in Whiskey Creek, realizing that the trappings of fame may not be worth it or what she really wants. It was nice that Kyle was a traditional kind of a guy and he grounded her while she was having such a difficult time both personally and professionally. I think to some readers it may seem that they moved into a relationship, albeit a supposed temporary one, at a pretty fast rate. I thought it made sense with the way Ms. Novak explained their chemistry and where they were in their lives. I really liked Kyle and Lourdes together and was definitely cheering them on right away.

The drama, passion and complicated relationships thankfully never stop in the Whiskey Creek series. If you’re looking for something to enjoy this Holiday Season, I suggest giving this one a chance.

Book Info:

Publication: Published October 27th 2015 | Mira | Whiskey Creek #9

One Christmas can change your life…

Kyle Houseman believes he’ll never find anyone he could love as much as Olivia Arnold, who’s now married to his stepbrother. Not only did he lose her, he’s been through one divorce and has no desire to go through another. He’s determined to be extra careful about the next woman he gets involved with—which is why he fights his attraction to the beautiful stranger who rents his farmhouse for the Christmas holiday.

Lourdes Bennett is a country music artist. She’s only planning to stay in Whiskey Creek long enough to write the songs for her next album—the album that’s going to put her back on top. Her dreams don’t include settling in a town even smaller than the one she escaped. But as she comes to know Kyle, she begins to wonder if she’d be making a terrible mistake to leave him behind.