Member Reviews
I couldn't get enough of Love on Beach Avenue. This is such a sweet read. You will just fall in love with the Sunshine Sisters. This is book one and I'm already hooked. Avery is the oldest of the Sunshine Sisters and took over the family business. She believes in love and marriage and can handle any wedding related problems that pop up. Then you get Carter. He is anti love and marriage. He doesn't believe he is worthy of settling down. Even though his relationship with Lucy (his dog) may point to a more carrying side of him. I love Carter and Avery's banter as they go toe to toe to make his sister's wedding one of her dreams. Yes this is a best friends brother romance that you will just love. The chemistry between Avery and Carter is fantastic. I love the fight between them and watching Avery slowly break down the walls of both Carter and Lucy. This one made my heart so happy. I can't wait to dive into more Sunshine Sisters to come.
I love Jennifer Probst's books. I thought Avery and Carter were adorable. I read the whole book with a smile. Great read!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.
I'm a big Jennifer Probst fan and this new series did not disappoint! The Sunshine sisters run a wedding planning company and work together. When they plan a wedding for Ally, sister Alexa's best friend from college, they contend with a tight timeline and the bride's stubborn brother.
The characters draw you in, and the book is well written and moves along quickly.
Thanks to Montlake Romance and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I needed a break from many hours of work lately and this was the perfect book to lift my spirits! Ms. Probst provided a story full of loving family, friends, an adorable child and dog, career-oriented men and women, and a beautiful locale. I want to live in Cape May – it sounds like it’s the best of both worlds with the small-town feel, friendly neighbors, and close to other cities.
Avery couldn’t wait to leave home for college and moved away from her family to find her way in life. She met Ally and they became instant best friends. Unfortunately, Ally’s older brother Carter was in strict parental mode and felt that Avery was too reckless as he tried to keep Ally safe.
Ten years later, Ally’s getting married and wants to have it on Cape May and asks for Avery’s help. Avery is a wedding planner and runs the family business along with her two sisters, so Ally moves there for the summer to work within the short time frame. Carter decides to take the summer off to help as he doesn’t trust Avery to give Ally the best wedding. It seems that Carter catches Avery at the most inopportune times and makes her look less than professional which irritates Avery as she’s well known in her field. Some of the stories about weddings were hilarious!
There were so many sweet and funny scenes with Avery, her two sisters, Taylor and Bella, and Bella’s daughter, Zoe. Zoe just brings such sweetness and fun with her precocious personality. Carter’s dog, Lucy was a surprise and such a diva!
Avery believed in an HEA and wants a husband and family to love. Carter, due to certain circumstances, won’t even consider that as a possibility for him. I wasn’t too crazy about Carter at first – he was rude and arrogant and believed he knew what was best for Ally and what she would prefer. Even when he was usually right, his behavior was just too irritating. He could seem so cold at times but the more time they spend together there is definite chemistry. Trying to fight the attraction and knowing he will go back to DC at the end of summer made Avery wary of getting too close to him. Many times I wanted to knock some sense into Carter but he had valid issues and concerns for the way he felt. His whole life changed when he became his sister’s guardian at a young age and gave up his plans for the future.
There were some emotional scenes which were heartbreaking. There are some sexy times that showed the explosive chemistry between Avery and Carter and yet, he would pull back emotionally. Avery was falling in love but was unsure of Carter and his feelings. Carter was in new territory and only knew he wanted to be with Avery but wasn’t sure how that would work. He really aggravated me with his cold comments towards the end and while I think Avery took him back too quickly, she understood his misgivings.
Ms. Probst gave me my HEA and I’m looking forward to the next books to see how Taylor and Bella find love.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this new work. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Probst’s work.
I cried when I read the Author’s Note from “Love on Beach Avenue”, because I have also dreamed about spending time by the beach listening to the waves, breathing in the salt air and relaxing in contentment. I can see why Jennifer Probst always wanted to write a series based on a beautiful seaside town. Even when Avery Sunshine was wrapped up in wedding plans and nervous brides, all she had to do was step out her front door, gaze at the blue sky, smell the fragrant flowers, and she could begin to relax.
I admire the closeness Avery has with her sisters, who all bring their own unique style to Sunshine Bridals. Avery gets a bit teary eyed at all of her weddings because it makes her wonder if she will ever meet a man who will sweep her off her feet. Avery’s days are consumed with work which leaves her very little time to relax and enjoy her life by the beach. When confronted with the imposing, older brother of her best friend Ally, she knew that he would become a thorn in her side while she planned his sister's wedding. Carter was a stiff task-master who insisted on being involved with every detail of the wedding preparations. Avery was insulted by his pushy behavior, condescending attitude and smug grins. Unfortunately, she did find him handsome and sexy in a nerdy, bookish kind of way, and she needed a plan on how to handle him. Carter raised his sister and had never believed in true or everlasting love, and of course he was happy for her, but marriage wasn’t for him. Carter was impressed with Avery’s work ethic and business acumen. He couldn’t deny his attraction to Avery or how she made him laugh for the first time in a long time. If he was a different man without a past or demons that haunted him, would she be the woman for him?https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/59988964
New Series, New Family, New Setting
My two favorite things about a Jennifer Probst series are that we get a family that loves each other but also isn’t afraid to fight and say mean things, in other words is realistic, and we get a setting/location that is lovingly described and makes you not only feel like you’re there but makes you want to be there too!
Love on Beach Avenue introduces the Sunshine sisters and Cape May. The sisters run a premier wedding planning company in what is becoming a destination wedding hot sport. Avery, the oldest sister, has agreed to plan her best friend’s wedding but now she has to deal with an old nemesis. Carter loves his younger sister more than anything, except maybe his dog, and believed Avery was once a bad influence. Now as they work together they both realize how wrong they were about each other.
I loved that this was a best friend’s older brother book but also a bit of enemies to lovers too! I also loved that he was 40 but there was no mention of “hot for his age.” But most of all I love that we are getting a new family and new place to visit!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
I thought this was such a feel good book. I really fell in love with the characters in this book. Such great storytelling.
Love On Beach Avenue
The Sunshine Sisters Book 1
Jennifer Probst
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oohhh what a great start for a new series.., The Sunshine Sisters own and run Sunshine Bridal, a very well loved and successful wedding planning company. Started by their parent’s, Avery, Bella and Taylor are smart, funny and so very good at their jobs. Not much fazes them, a nervous bride, monster mother of the bride, crazy exes… these girls and their assistant, Gabe can take in and conquer all of it!
Avery is the number one woman, she’s all business. But when her childhood best friend, Ally contacts her and wants to hire her for her upcoming wedding (in just 3 months), she not only jumps at the chance but is about to come face to face with one maid of honour who drives her crazy, has more opinions then any bride and well, makes her fall in love.
Ally Ross and her older brother, Carter are returning to Cape May to arrange her upcoming wedding, but it’s meeting back up with childhood friend, Avery Sunshine who will make to big day perfect. “Helping” Ally choose all facets of her upcoming wedding, just makes wedding planner Avery mad, like stark raving mad. Carter presses all of her buttons and this just makes Carter want to help more, with some ulterior motives. Although Avery wants to to hate Carter, she can’t help the flitter low in her belly, for a man who would bet on, pay for and for anything for his little sister.
Like those car trips when you were a kid and your parents telling you just over the next hill, Love On Beach Avenue will have you thinking “ahhhhh now is the time” then nope just one more hill… Avery and Carter have an interesting relationship, first displeasure, then downright hate before likes and loves arrive. Starting with a slow burn, this book takes a while to hit top gear, but it’s definitely worth the ride, leaving you gasping, laughing and love in your eyes.
A great beginning story for The Sunshine Sisters. The sisters inherit their parents bridal business when they retire each assumes a role in both the business and personal lives. Which often seemed to spill over into each other. At least it does for Avery and this is her book.
When Avery's best friend from college announces she's getting married and wants to have her wedding there and have Avery handle things, Avery can't say no. Taking on Ally's wedding is no small feat during the peak of wedding season and with that also comes her uptight, unpleasant brother Carter. Carter's taken a leave from his hacker job to help with the planning when he extends his vacation through the end of summer, he quickly becomes a thorn in Avery's backside. Think no see um's and fire ants. That's Carter. But oh, I'm being polite. While I loved the story and the sisters and Gabe. I had a couple problems with the story, I didn't like Carter at all, throughout the book. Then there was the small issue of one of the sisters leaving her small child with Carter, who she didn't really know. But overall I liked the sisters and will read the next book.
arc from publisher for an honest review
This book is a great start to what looks to be another fantastic series by Jennifer Probst. The novel centers on a wedding planning business run by 3 sisters in historic Cape May, NJ. The best friend of one of the sisters is getting married, and at the last minute requests Avery to plan the wedding. If that wasn't difficult enough, to pull off a wedding in a few short months, Avery is forced to deal with Ally's Man of Honor, her older and protective brother, who has never approved of Avery.
There's plenty of conflict, building up to a hot romance and a successful wedding. Will Avery and Carter have a happy ever after? Read it and find out!
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
Jennifer gives us an inside view of the life a wedding planner. Life is hectic for Avery, no time for time off let alone dating. Throw in a last minute client who happens to be her best friend Ally that brings along her PITA brother to help out. Let the games begin
I almost didn't finish this book because I just didn't like Carter the first 2/3 of the story. I knew that it would turn because that's how romances work, but it was a lot of work to get there. Carter was so rude and hard to handle. Avery was super stubborn but really did seem like she was doing her best for the situation. Carter's intentions for helping his sister plan her wedding and have it be the very best were great, but his delivery was horrible and it really made this book hard for me to read. I liked the resolution and I liked the slow burn and personal growth for both Carter and Avery, but came to realize that I probably wouldn't be friends with him in real life and that matters to me when I read.
The story is solid if you can get past the personality differences when you are reading!
Yay, another Jennifer Probst series! After the Marriage to a Billionaires series, the Searching For and the Stay series I was very happy to see a new storyline from Jennifer. This one is about the Sunshine sisters (and yes, that is their actual name in the series). The sisters Avery, Bella and Taylor run a wedding business: Sunshine Bridal. Of course, every girl has her own story, but this book is mainly about Avery.
She is asked by her high school best friend, Ally, to be her wedding planner. And although Avery is practically swamped with work, she agrees to have her friend's wedding fixed in no time. She didn't count however on the ever presence of Ally's brother Carter during the process.
Carter, Ally's older brother by eight years, has taken care of his sister from the early age of nineteen, when both his parents died. So, as her guardian, he didn't allow Ally a lot of fun during her high school years with Avery. So, Avery isn't very happy to work with her nemesis on this wedding. Especially, when all Carter tries to do is to show her he can do better.
Yep, a classic enemy to lovers story, but with a twist. Wonderful, funny and heartwarming. And I can't wait to see the story of Bella and Gabe unfold. And what will happen with Taylor? Find out for yourself in the next books of the Sunshine series. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.
I always enjoy readIng Jennifer Probst’s books. This is the first book in this new series. The characters are funny, caring, strong and enjoyable to read. There may be one or two characters that you would love to hate but in the end, you end up loving, LOL. As always, Jennifer does not disappoint! Can’t wait for the next book in this series😉
I featured Love in Beach Avenue a little while back as my Can’t Wait Wednesday pick so of course I was excited when I got the chance to read it and I am so happy I did too, it was great!
The story centers around Avery Sunshine who runs a wedding organizer, Sunshine Bridal. She is a hopeless romantic who believes in happily ever after. Enter the over bearing brother of one her close friends who has asked her to do her upcoming wedding. I am a fan of the enemies to lovers trope and this turned out to be a really good one.
Avery is good at her job for sure. Dealing with all the arrangements from venues to bachelorette parties to receptions. She wasn’t prepared for just how much grief she would get from Carter, Ally’s brother.
Carter has raised Ally since she was young after the deaths of their parents. Of course he’s protective and always thought that Avery was a bad influence on Ally. But he hasn’t seen her in years and doesn’t know how much she’s changed.
There is an epic battle of control when it comes to just about everything that has to do with the wedding. The banter between these two was so much fun. Little snide comments, bets being made and stolen kisses. Definitely lots of push and pull between these two and it was clear that there was an attraction between them. The problem is he’s a cynic when it comes to love. And they seems to hate each other at first. Things do start to change though.
I enjoyed this cast of characters so much. Avery is strong and independent and kinda sassy. Carter started off as kind of an ass but his earth was in the right place when it came to Ally. He did grow me, especially his love for his little Yorkie. Yep, I adore a man who loves dogs. Ally was a bundle of happiness and just adored her. Avery’s sisters were great too. And I am hoping that we get their love story next.
Did Avery and Carter get their happy ending? Yes, and it was a such a fun journey to get there! I can’t wait to get my hands in the next installment in this sweet romantic series.
Loved this first book in this new Jennifer Probst series! Her books are always such a draw for me because I love the way she blends all the best ingredients that I look for in a contemporary romance, humor, emotion and passion to name a few, and comes up with the most wonderful characters and stories. I love Avery and Carter and their story! They don’t exactly start off on the best foot but during the time they spend together planning his sister Ally’s (also Avery’s best friend) wedding, they find they might just be perfect together. I loved watching their relationship develop and especially seeing Carter grow and change his thought process about relationships with Avery’s help and realize they just need to stay out of the past and be present to what is happening between them now. As always humor is injected into the story at just the right times. I absolutely adore Lucy, Carter’s little pooch, (and his relationship with her is too sweet) and Zoe, Bella’s little girl, who is an absolute doll. Pretty swoony man, that Carter, awfully hard for Avery to resist. Love their story! Can’t wait for Avery’s sisters, Bella and Taylor to get their HEA too!
A 3.5 stars story.
This series is the beginning of a series that centers around three very different sisters, all working the family business, Sunshine Bridal.
This first story belongs to Avery. When her best friend from college calls asking Avery to plan a wedding in just three months, something Avery wouldn’t dream of doing for someone else, Avery commits and will do anything to make her friend happy.
But when her friend, Ally, arrives in town, along comes her very strict, unbendable brother Carter. The man that became Ally’s guardian when she was only 10 and he 18, and the one that has a great dislike for Avery. That’s when the plot thickens.
I have to confess that I was 30% into the story, was not liking it at all and was ready to call it quits. But I was committed to read it to the end. The main characters, Avery and Carter were not to my liking and their behavior was at times condescending , and at others obnoxious.
But then the story got interesting and we get to understand Carter’s behavior as well as Avery’s. The secondary characters, especially Zoe, Avery’s niece as well as Carter’s dog Lucy were delightful and helped to make the story more enjoyable..
Due to the fact that it took 1/3 of the story for me to start getting engaged, I have given it a 3 stars.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Montlake Romance. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Carter was always leery of his sister Ally's friend Avery- he raised Ally and always thought Avery was a bad influence. Now, of all people, Ally's chosen Avery to plan her wedding. Who would think a man could be so into wedding details? This is an enemies to lovers tale where the characters fight over little things. Carter isn't very nice, to be honest, in the beginning of this- he insults Avery, he battles over stuff that doesn't matter, and he's just unpleasant. Avery wants nothing more than to do a good job; she's totally focused and she too has a problem moderating. Slowly, however, the sparks - the grown up sparks- start to fly. This introduces us to the three Sunshine sisters so you get to meet a variety of characters (I liked the kid). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Readers of the genre know how this will end but that's ok because it should cheer you up.
Be it; the grooms ring bearer dog peeing in the aisle before the bride can walk down or the best man puking his guts out or an ex boy friend showing up to contest the wedding, Avery Sunshine as CEO of Maine's leading Bridal company can handle any and all disasters with aplomb. Wedding Planning 101 and jostling for position between the wedding planner and man of honor kicks off what looks to be a delightful trilogy from one of my favorite contemporary romance authors.
Carter Ross has nightmares of what his sister's dream wedding will turn out to be if left in Avery Sunshine's disorganized hands. Determined to be the alpha dog and ensure that all goes smoothly Carter has no problems challenging Avery at every step of the way. I can tell you that Avery isn't alone in wanting to scream in frustration as he takes over control of the cake, the flowers and finding that perfect wedding dress. How can a computer hacker be that perfect?
From the get go Avery is a bit different from what Carter remembers of the fun loving college student whom he once had to bail out from jail. Now he's the one who challenges her to break the rules which only ends up with them being caught on the beach by the local police and the worst gossip in the small town where Avery lives. Of course the chemistry between them is insane regardless of how much each one wants to deny it and before long Carter is embedded with Avery's inner circle.
I absolutely can't wait to see how Ms. Probst will flesh out the simmering romances that we've caught a glimpse of here.
Not my first read by this author, she happens to be one of my very first reads and a favorite author!!
Avery: She has a nick for giving people what they want before they even know it. That’s why she is perfect at her job, wedding planning. Even if that one time, a ex almost ruined a wedding. She’s very head strong, beautiful, super smart, sassy and can hold her ground. Her capacity of love is un-measurable, just plain loved the heroine through out the entire book!
Carter: Is a strong, sexy , successful and very competitive man who can’t understand how his little sister is getting married. He is not ready to let her go fully, but when she asks him to be her man of honor, he can’t say no to her. Carter buds his head into EVERYTHING Avery has planned, meaning he is no on-the-side-line Man OH nooo, he gets a joy from riling up Avery. After all she is the first woman to make him feel anything after all the years.
This is where two clash, one wedding planner and one man that is very OCD and has to be and have control. They both re so alike, determined, hard working, smart, hard-headed, stubborn and lonely even though neither would admit that. Their banter and little games at times got really frustrating but in a fun way, loved seeing them go head to head…*sigh* it’s a sweet can-and-mouse game because when they both swore they’d never get feeling involved to protect them selves…one falls first and when the other WON’T CHASE…well that’s where this heartfelt story turns! A MUST READ!!
A MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #1 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦