Every Bride Needs a Groom by Janice Thompson

Katie Fisher's small town of Fairfield, Texas is all she knows and all she wants. Surrounded by family, friends and her long-term boyfriend, Casey, her life is almost complete. Having dreamed of being a bride and wife all her life, she is beyond ready for Casey to pop the question. She's sure it will be soon and with the encouragement of her cousin, she enters an essay to win a one-of-a-kind wedding dress. Ironically, on the same day she wins the dress, her boyfriend breaks up with her. Tired of everyone knowing and talking about her business, she travels to Dallas for some time away from Fairfield and to inform the bridal shop owner that she can no longer claim the prize. She's unprepared for the owner's son, a recovering, handsome and single pro-basketball player named Brady. As Katie is swept along through the fitting and designing, she and Brady strike an easy friendship that could be so much more. Will Brady discover her secret and will he want anything to do with her if he does? Read more in Every Bride Needs a Groom by Janice Thompson.

Every Bride Needs a Groom commences Janice Thompson's “Brides with Style” series and delivers an emotional story about losing dreams and finding new hope. Though there were plenty of issues for Katie to work through, I would have liked a little more depth. In spite of Katie's (and her family's) issues, the story felt pretty light overall. Katie's character exemplified uniqueness and beauty. I was initially unsure if I would like the first person point-of-view, especially since Katie has such quirky, small-town mindset (at least in the beginning), but after a few chapters, I enjoyed seeing her life from her perspective. As with other books by Janice Thompson, movie trivia and humorous situations are woven into the plot.

Every Bride Needs a Groom is solidly written and will likely appeal to readers looking for a clean, sweet romance with touches of humor.

Read an excerpt from Every Bride Needs a Groom on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Hello, Hollywood! by Janice Thompson

Sometimes it's hard to be funny, even if you have an natural talent for humor. Athena Pappas knows just how important it is to be able to produce humor on demand. As head writer for Stars Collide, a television sitcom with sagging ratings, she is is determinded to introduce a new spark that will put Stars Collide back on the up and up. When Stephen Cosse, a Vegas comedian, is hired on the writing team, Athena's job suddenly seems less secure. Stephen is confident, creative, and handsome. As the attraction and competition escalates between Athena and Stephen, they must relinquish control and combine their efforts in both the plots of Stars Collide and their personal lives. They just might find that sometimes the best things in life are unscripted.

Hello, Hollywood! by Janice Thompson is a lovely contemporary romance and the second book in the Backstage Pass Series. Although it works well as a stand-alone novel, I enjoyed it so much that I plan to go back and read the first book in the series, Stars Collide. Thompson's experience as a screenwriter shows through in the setting and plot of the novel. I felt like I was getting a “backstage pass” into what a screenwriter's life is like. I have to admit that I've never watched the Dick Van Dyke Show, so I didn't quite understand all the references to it, but I enjoyed the scenes, nonetheless. The characters are fun and authentic. The Pappas family was definitely humorous and enjoyable. However, under all the fun and merriment of the outer layer of the novel, Athena, Stephen, and several of the supporting characters have some very serious issues and situations to deal with. The inner layer of depth was what really made this novel successful for me. I recommend Hello, Hollywood! to fans of Christian romance.

Read an excerpt for Hello, Hollywood! by Janice Thompson, here.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."