Review - Always the Baker, Finally the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker

ALWAYS THE BAKER, FINALLY THE BRIDE 
by Sandra D. Bricker 


In the first book, readers fell in love with Emma Rae and Jackson, and they’ve gotten more acquainted with them in the two books that followed. But now it’s time for the diamond to meet the road as Jackson fields an offer to sell The Tanglewood, a move that will uproot this high-flying family act once and for all. Get reacquainted with all of the lovable and quirky characters from the first three books as your favorite diabetic baker figures out if she’ll achieve her greatest goal of all: Will Emma, at last become FINALLY the Bride?

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

                                                    My Review

Two years ago we were introduced to a wonderful set of characters in Sandra Bricker’s Always the Baker, Never the Bride. While that story didn’t give Emma Rae Travis and Jackson Drake the ending I had hoped for; it was more of a happy for now type ending, Ms. Bricker has kept us up to date on the comings and goings at The Tanglewood Inn, the premier wedding destination hotel Jackson owns and where Emma creates her one of a kind cakes. Now in Always the Baker, Finally the Bride, Ms. Bricker gives us a last glimpse into Emma Rae and Jackson’s life with the big event we’ve all be waiting for …..their very own wedding.

In love with Jackson Drake from almost the moment they met, Emma Rae Travis has spent the last couple of years creating masterpiece’s for other women’s weddings. Now after accepting Jackson’s proposal, Emma Rae is faced with the challenge of creating the perfect cake for her own wedding reception.  Unfortunately she can’t make up her mind about a design or even pick out the flavor. Especially since Jackson is thinking of selling The Tanglewood Inn, something which would impact quite a few of their friends, and spending a year in Paris to give them both a chance at their dreams.

Jackson Drake can’t wait to marry the woman he’s been in love with for two years. When a business opportunity provides him with a chance to make a fortune and sell The Tanglewood Inn, Jackson wonders if selling would be an answer to prayer or not. While he and Emma would get the opportunity to concentrate on themselves, they’d be walking away from a business they’ve built together and the chance to visit with their friends on a daily basis.

The scenes between Emma Rae and Jackson are fun, full of lively dialogue and give and take.  They also showcase a mature love that comes when two people know what they want, are willing to work to get it and place their trust in their shared faith in God. Ms. Bricker does a good job developing their characters, their romance and their shared understanding of what they want in life, and what's really important. While they’ve both had challenges to get where they are; Emma Rae is a diabetic pastry chef who can’t take more than a bite of her own creations and Jackson had to recover over the loss of his first wife, both characters relish the challenges they face ahead as they forge a new life for themselves.

The secondary characters are mostly characters we’ve met in the previous books in this series. From Fee, Emma’s Goth assistant, who always makes me laugh, to Sherilyn, the wedding designer who can’t get Emma to pick out a cake and is secretly angry that Jackson is thinking of selling the hotel, to Emma’s mom and dad, who’s second chance at romance took place in the first book. I especially love Emma Rae’s aunt, whose words of wisdom and generous heart are clearly an inspiration for everyone around her.

Will Emma Rae get up the nerve to tell Jackson she doesn’t want him to sell The Tanglewood Inn? And will their wedding go off without any last minute catastrophes? You’ll have to read Always the Baker, Finally the Bride to find out. While I’m really sad to see this story end, I can’t wait to see what Ms. Bricker writes for us next.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns

FTC Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I was not compensated for my review; it is solely my opinion of the material I was provided.