Review: The Tanglewood Wedding Shop

The Tanglewood Wedding Shop by Lilac Mills
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I chose this book because I enjoyed the previous book in the series (The Tanglewood Flower Shop). Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed.

Mild spoilers below.

The overwhelming problem was that I strongly disliked both of the main characters. Edie was very judgemental, both of James, jumping to the conclusion that he’s rich and doesn’t work, and of people in general. She thinks “you never see a poor farmer”! Most farmers are very poor indeed, they do it for the love of it, not the money. Edie also jabs a pin into a bridesmaid because they were discussing setting her (the bridesmaid) up with James.

James is twice emotionally manipulative towards Edie near the beginning of the book, and combined with the way he thinks about her, and treats her generally, makes me think he is very likely a controlling person. He refers to her as a “little seamstress” and “his little doe”.
I worry he would become even more emotionally abusive as time goes on. He also waits outside her house for her and Danny (her son) to get home. That is creepy, when you’ve only been on one date! There are many more worrying signs, but I won’t bore you with them. He seems to want to please her, but doesn’t bother actually asking what she wants.

However, I did enjoy the last quarter or so (though there was plenty of Edie jumping to conclusions AGAIN). James seemed a little less creepy/controlling. Although I don’t like Edie, I hope James either learns to listen properly, or she and Danny manage to escape from him.

I really liked the wedding shop, the fact that a disabled person was included, but wasn’t an object of pity, and many of the other characters. But this book was REALLY not my cup of tea. I think I’ll avoid the author in future.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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