TITLE: Always a Bridesmaid
AUTHOR: Cindi Myers
RATING: 3 STARS
PUBLISHED: April 2012 - Entangled Publishing
SERIES: No
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"Love can be a volcano…
After two failed relationships and six stints as a bridesmaid, StephanieLudlow is convinced she’s man-poison. So when her hormones point due south to her sexy new landlord, she throws up every guard in her arsenal to protect herself from heartbreak. Problem is, her cache is sadly lacking.
When Mike Brubaker’s wife left him, he focused all his energy on raising his nine-year-old son and providing a stable home. Relationships are a complication he can’t afford–until Stephanie walks into his life. She's intelligent, irresistible, and driven, and he can’t take his mind off her, no matter how hard he tries.
Will interfering friends, an over-protective dad, and past mistakes keep them apart, or will they fight for the happiness that each deserves?"
MY REVIEW:
Always a Bridesmaid was my first novel by Cindi Myers. I enjoyed everything about this novel except for the romance between Stephanie Ludlow and Mike Brubaker. I know crazy right? I really enjoyed Ms. Myers fluid, easy-to-read writing style, but I had trouble believing in the relationship/attraction/connection between Stephanie and Mike. I think it had a lot to do with how wishy-washy they were about their feelings, wants, and desires. They were like: Yes, I want to be with. No, we can't be together. Screw it, let's be together. Oh, we should slow things down. Yes, lets love each other forever. Agh! I understood that they were both a little jaded when it came to love because they had both been hurt and walked out on before, but they didn't really get my sympathy. They "wanted" my sympathy so much that in the end, I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for them. I just wanted them to make up their damn minds about what they wanted in life: a relationship or no relationship. Also, I didn't really feel like they built a foundation for a lasting relationship. They didn't interact or connect enough for my liking.
On to the good...
I really, really enjoyed the non-romance aspects of this novel. In Always a Bridesmaid, Mike and his ex-wife are raising their son together. Mike genuinely wanted to do right by his son, and his concern for his son's well-being was very endearing. Certain moments really melted my heart, like when Mike saw a picture of his son with his ex-wife's boyfriend. His pain was heartfelt. He hated seeing someone else fill his shoes as Ryan's father, but he was mature and considerate enough not to bad mouth the man to his son. I really admired him for that.
I gave Always a Bridesmaid by Cindi Myers 3 STARS. Overall, it was a cute story, but it wasn't one of my favorites.
On to the good...
I really, really enjoyed the non-romance aspects of this novel. In Always a Bridesmaid, Mike and his ex-wife are raising their son together. Mike genuinely wanted to do right by his son, and his concern for his son's well-being was very endearing. Certain moments really melted my heart, like when Mike saw a picture of his son with his ex-wife's boyfriend. His pain was heartfelt. He hated seeing someone else fill his shoes as Ryan's father, but he was mature and considerate enough not to bad mouth the man to his son. I really admired him for that.
I gave Always a Bridesmaid by Cindi Myers 3 STARS. Overall, it was a cute story, but it wasn't one of my favorites.