Editorial note: I received a copy of A Wedding in December in exchange for a review.
I’m thrilled to be part of the Harlequin holiday blog tour for A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan! A heartwarming story about family and relationships set during Christmastime—this is a perfect story to finish out 2019.
I was first introduced to Sarah Morgan’s writing last year with The Christmas Sisters. I absolutely love her writing and the story was quite emotional. Sarah also released One Summer in Paris earlier this year and I loved that one too.
So when I received the chance to review Sarah’s A Wedding in December, I did not hesitate! While all three stories are quite different, each features Sarah’s signature writing style and impactful character development. There’s so much emotional depth in each of the stories.
Here’s the synopsis for A Wedding in December:
The story takes place in Aspen and follows the White family as they gather for youngest daughter Rosie’s whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the bride’s parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughter’s marriage is a milestone they are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret of their own: they are on the brink of divorce. After living apart for the last six months, the last thing they need is to be trapped together in an irresistibly romantic winter wonderland.
Rosie’s older sister, Katie, is also dreading the wedding. Worried that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake, Katie is determined to save her sister from herself! If only the irritatingly good-looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans…
Bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiancé but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived—how can she tell them she’s not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one White family Christmas none of them will ever forget!
Family dynamics
I really enjoyed getting to know the White family. When we first meet Maggie and Nick—they’re living apart but haven’t told their daughters about their impending divorce. They decide to pretend to be together for the wedding and it’s definitely provides some entertaining scenes. There’s plenty of comedy with the couple trying to act like happily married but we do also learn some of the forces and actions that drove them apart. And maybe being in Winter Wonderland can help mend some tension.
Maggie, especially, is quite interesting as we slowly learn about her unhappiness with her career choice and how she felt somewhat stuck in the label of “good wife/mother,” even if she doesn’t want to fully admit that. This is one reason why Sarah’s stories resonate with so many people—the characters feel real.
The sister dynamic between Rosie and Katie is very compelling. Rosie suffers from asthma and as a result, her sister is quite protective of her. In fact, Katie went into medicine so that she could always help her sister. But she’s perhaps acting too much like a mother and less like a sister. Katie also experienced a traumatic event, which is having her question her career decisions.
Romantic relationships
I love that Sarah does not shy away from the romances in her stories. We have Maggie and Nick and we get to know Rosie and her fiancé Dan. I really liked how Rosie and Dan’s relationship progressed. Katie, on the other hand, is typically closed off but she can’t deny the connection with Dan’s best friend Jordan.
Final review thoughts: With a perfect setting in Aspen during Christmastime, this is a heartfelt story that will make you laugh and possibly cry too.
For book clubs, check out my discussion questions.
