While Country Hearts by Cindi Madsen introduced readers to the wonderful town of Haven Lake (see previous post here), Hallmark Publishing’s newest title, A Simple Wedding by Leigh Duncan, being released on March 10, 2020, welcomes readers into the community of Heart’s Landing where brides come to enjoy their perfect wedding. An hour outside historic Newport, Rhode Island, this story creates a magical town that caters to every bride’s desire…even a fake bride.
Arriving in Heart’s Landing feels like coming home to Jenny Longley, who has dreamed of this location for her own wedding since she was a child. However, Jenny isn’t the one getting married. Her famous cousin, Karolyn “Kay” Karter, is getting married to her co-star Chad Grant, and as Kay’s personal assistant, it’s Jenny’s job to manage Kay’s life, including her wedding. There’s just one catch: To keep the paparazzi at bay, Jenny has to keep Kay’s wedding a secret, and she does this by arriving at Heart’s Landing posing as the bride-to-be.
Ordinarily, Jenny is so busy keeping her cousin’s life organized that she doesn’t have much of a life outside of work. In Heart’s Landing, however, despite the chaos of planning a wedding in two weeks and juggling Kay’s demanding and ever-changing requests, Jenny somehow finds time for Nick Bell, the owner of I Do Cakes in Heart’s Landing. Their meet-cute, which is right out of a rom-com—complete with a collision and squashed cupcakes—is utterly delightful.
Although no one should be spending this much time with an engaged woman, Nick can’t quite help himself from helping Jenny, and something about Jenny’s story doesn’t entirely add up. When will the charade blow up? You’ll have to read for yourself to find out, but it’s quintessential Hallmark, with a few near-miss kisses, a baking montage, and a stray cat.
Between a town known for weddings and local businesses named Forget Me Knot Flowers, Dress for A Day, and Food Fit For a Queen, I envision a series of stories that will fill Hallmark’s June Wedding lineup for the foreseeable future.
If you love weddings and/or are planning a wedding (or dreaming of one), check out Leigh Duncan’s A Simple Wedding.
When will we see a movie, A Simple Wedding? Hopefully Jill Wagner and Victor Webster, or Maggie Lawson and Paul Greene!!!