Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Wedding in a Week

AUTHOR: Con Riley

PUBLISHER: Figment Ink

LENGTH: 296 pages

RELEASE DATE:  July 26, 2023

BLURB:

A second chance with his brother’s best friend also comes with a deadline.

Three years after inheriting his family farm, an accident forces Stefan Luxton to rethink his future. Turning his farm into a five-star wedding venue is one goal. Another is to reconnect with Marc, who Stefan loved but let slip away to the city.

Now Marc’s back, trying for a job that might keep him in Cornwall long term, and Stefan’s determined to help him. There’s just one problem — he only has seven days to do it.

REVIEW:   

First off, I’m convinced Con Riley is unable to write a book worthy of less than 5 stars/hearts. She could do it in her sleep at this point. Her writing resonates with me so completely and deeply. I hold each and every book of hers dear.

A Wedding in a Week is a wonderful, heartwarming romance starring two smitten kittens who I want to hug the stuffing out of. These two have loved each other for ages but Stefan hasn’t pursued anything because Marc is his brother’s best friend. This book has the swooniest, most loving gesture ever involving Cornish pasties. Seriously, it’ll make your heart skip a beat. The leading men are endearing to say the least, and the ending of this highly romantic, second chance novel ensures they’ll achieve their happily ever after.

And, this book has my very favorite thing: inevitability. You’ll feel a strong sense of destiny between these two men. They are made for each other, perfect together, a love years in the making.

For the three years since his father’s death, Stefan has been keeping the family farm up and running. When Stefan is convalescing after an accident, Marc, the best friend of Stef’s younger brother Lukas, comes to the farm to assist Stef. The accident changed Stef’s perspective and made his priorities clearer. Conveniently, this coincides with Marc’s visit to the farm. Stef has to admit to himself that he still has romantic feelings for Marc – it seems his years-old crush was never extinguished. Marc makes him feel alive and it becomes obvious to him that Marc belongs on the farm. He wants to give Marc a home but if he doesn’t act on those feelings now it might be too late as Marc seeks a partner elsewhere and contemplates returning to London.

As a foster child, Marc didn’t always have solid role models for loving adults. When he visited the farm as a boy, he was so affected by seeing the love in Stefan’s family. I enjoyed the tree metaphors (from the Master of Metaphors) and the turning point for Marc when he was stuck in a tree. You’ll see! The partnership of Stef’s parents – working together with a common purpose – made Marc believe in the possibilities and power of love for himself. Now as an adult he wants that love; he wants Stefan. There’s a strong pull between them, deeper than a simple physical connection, although there is certainly a build up of UST. Their developing love story will make you melt.

Side characters, including Lukas and his and Stefan’s mom, Emma, are fantastic. Lukas badly wants to see his big brother and his best friend each find their person. (I would love to see Lukas in his own book, hint hint.) Emma’s love for her son is evident in her laughter with him, the wisdom she imparts when talking about love and her relationship with Stef’s dad, and even when baking scones and waltzing around the house with Stef.

You won’t believe all the cameos Con packed in: Rex and Pops, Rob and Jude, the Lawsons, Hugo, and I’m probably missing others. There’s even a reference to Dymond and Daughter. All their tiny roles enrich the story – it’s like visiting old friends.

There is such a wonderful sense of family among the whole community coming together. I guffawed (a much underused word) during a scene in which everyone and their brother shows up and, ahem, interrupts Stef and Marc during…well, you know. I love that Con’s Cornwall universe is tied together over multiple series and standalone books.

Don’t take my word for it, experience this sweet and swoony love story for yourself. By the way, this book is based on Con’s short story, Keeping Him in Cornwall, that appeared last year in the charity anthology, Heart2Heart #6. I loved that short and if you did too, you’ll adore this full length novel. Con hit it out of the park again. Oh, and Ms. Riley…you’re killing me with yet again a fabulously hot and handsome cover model!

RATING:

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