It’s been awhile since I have read any books published as a serial prior to their full length publication but the cover for A Wedding at Sandy Cove caught my eye and I knew I had to dive straight in. Always the Bridesmaid is part One of Bella Osborne’s new series and it has the most gorgeous cover with such lovely attractive colours and reading through the blurb made even keener to see what awaited me. Yes, it’s short but there is lots happening which really set the reader up nicely for what is to come in future parts. With Bella Osborne, you always know you are in good hands and this introduction to Ella and her job as a seamstress in the bridal shop, Frills, Frocks and Fairytales was a pleasure to read and perfect for when you want something quick and light in between more longer or serious books.

Ella has often been a bridesmaid but never a bride and it appears as if this isn’t going to change as in just a few short weeks she will be bridesmaid for her friend Brittany alongside fellow friend Lucy. Ella loves her work but not necessarily the owner of the shop Wanda. She gets such a kick out of transforming dresses to suit brides and make their dreams come true. Yet as her friends tell her she is a bit of push-over when it comes to standing up for herself and they aren’t shy about telling her about the way Wanda treats her. You can see from the outset that Wanda is a bully and never minces her words. She takes Ella for granted and certainly doesn’t value her talent. The way she spoke to Ella was horrible and you wish she would stick up for herself more and not take the comments thrown at her but it’s not something she does. Ella trusts people to be decent but they take her for granted and crap all over her. She pushes things to the back of her mind instead of confronting things head on and ‘mentally ropes it off with warning tape’ To be honest, I think a lot of us do that with our own lives and like Ella we would love to be forthright and out there and say what we really feel but she is afraid that if she confronts Wanda then she will no longer have a job and in turn let so many brides down.

We do see Ella slowly start to gain some confidence and let her true feelings rip but unfortunately this doesn’t work out to her advantage and she finds herself in new and unfamiliar territory but maybe Kit can help her out with this? Ella is very much alone when it comes to romance and not having her ex by her side anymore makes her feel like the armour she once had has been striped from her. I found I instantly connected with Ella and alongside the more personal side of her life explored her we get lots of funny and laugh out loud moments. One scene in particular regarding a bride had me cringing and laughing in equal measure. But then the tables turn when a bride does something which leads to a change in direction work wise for Ella.

I loved how we got to know Ella’s family and how she aspires to one day have a relationship like her parents. But whilst she is on a blind date her world comes crashing down. She presumed everything to be rosy in the garden but is it? Here is where Kit enters and I can see where this angle may develop in the long term but for now they are like co-conspirators trying to solve a conundrum that if exposed and proven true than several lives will alter forever. I’m keen to see how this aspect of the story will develop over future parts. As for Lucy, I’m glad we get so see her work as a family lawyer and what she is dealing with. I sense there will be much more of a focus on her to come and Brittany too as we get closer to her wedding.

Always the Bridesmaid was the perfect introduction to this new series. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel we have been nicely introduced to all the characters and we know a good bit about them and I am excited for what is in store for them. I can’t wait for part two Stitched Up to be published as I feel there are lots of twists and turns coming Ella’s way.

Lovely read, I just wish it had been the complete story and not just part of it. Talk about leaving you on a cliffhanger, how long do we have to wait for the next part or will it be published as a complete novel. Bella always delivers great books and this is no different. 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

This book was sent to me by Netgalley electronically for review…a quick read with quirky characters…Fun story…talented author…love and romance with family involved…I hope this author give us more about these characters.

This was a tantalizing first installment of a new serial by Bella Osborne. Ella is such a likeable character who lacks confidence and feels very much alone. Working in a bridal shop, dealing with brides daily is not helping the situation. With some encouragement from her friends, Ella agrees to a blind date, but ends up meeting a different man. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Brilliant story from Bella Osborne. This was easy to read and loose yourself. I couldn’t believe it when I finished it and I can’t wait for the second part to see what happens. The first part set the scene ready for the next instalment. This is going to be a great summer read.

This was a perfect fun summer read.
It was light hearted and full of fun, friendship and romance. The only downside us that this is only part one and I have to wait for part two to be released.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.

always a pleasure to read books by this author she never fails to deliver and now ready to read follow up brill

A WEDDING AT SANDY COVE- PART ONE: ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID
BY
BELLA OSBORNE.

Ella is a seamstress in a bridal shop. She works hard to make sure that every bride leaves the store with their dream wedding dress.
Ella herself is yet to wear her own perfect wedding dress, but she has accumulated an impressively shocking collection of bridesmaid dresses. As her best friend is due to tie the knot shortly, Ella is about to add another hideous dress to her collection.
Ella is set up on a blind date, and when he is a no show, an unexpected chain of events begins which sees Ella meet the lovely Kit.

Add in a right old cow bag of a boss, some butt - kickingly - good friends, an adorable rescue cat and what you get is a fun packed quick read.

This is part one of four quick reads, that will be released together as one full length novel. I’m not a massive fan of books being released in this way. I do prefer a full novel released in one hit.

Well, what can I say that I haven't already said about the amazing Bella Osborne.
As in all her books, Bella writes with charm, sensitivity and some side-splitting humour.
There are some wonderful characters and lots of action all packed into this short read.

Bella’s books are reliably feel good and unpardonable. This one doesn't disappoint.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of what I know will be another outstanding book from Bella.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #Netgalley and #AvonBooksUk for a digital arc of this title.

A fun rom-com read, perfect for sitting by the pool or beach. The cover sets the mood perfectly!

It's a very easy read, nice pace and good easy writing style. However, I don't feel like it delivers anything special or different from the usual sterotype of this genre. I had in my head a lot of your standard chick-flick type films

What a great start to a new series! We've all been in jobs with horrible bosses but Ella definitely wins for worst boss in the world! Ella is a great character to spend most of this first in a series with because she is just so relatable. She has a dream but she has squashed that dream in order to follow what she believes to be the right path but then things come along in Ella’s life to push her further and further away from that path, unexpected things, the kind of things that happen to all of us as we get older.
Ella also has really great friends and one of them is getting married, obviously being the talented seamstress she is, Ella is sorting out the bridesmaids dresses for the bride, but nothing tests a friendship like a wedding does it? Again something that we can almost all relate to, it is such a right of passage being a bridesmaid for a close friend but worrying about what she is going to have you walk down the aisle in.
The third member of Ella’s friendship group is another big player in this book. She is a lawyer dealing with messy divorces, if that doesn’t make you cynical about marriage, I don’t know what will! We get a few chapters from her point of view and I really liked that insight into the other side of the friendship group. I can’t wait to hear more from her.
Then throw Kit into the mix, he has some secrets for Ella and is determined to make her push her own boundaries. I don’t yet know what he is going to bring to the table as the book progresses but I know he will definitely cause some excitement and will certainly shake things up for Ella. I can’t wait to read the next instalment in this series, I need it in my hands right now-highly recommend A Wedding at Sandy Cove!

I Really enjoyed the first instalment of the book, so many twits and turns, I am really looking forwards to getting the next one to find out what happens.

I really love Bella Osborne's books and this one us no exception. It is a short, easy read, that had me laughing as I rushed to read the next page. It's funny, romantic and uplifting. The only bad thing about this book is that I have to wait to read the next part. I'm really looking forward to reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

First part of this new series. Mostly from the point of view of Ella, a seamstress in a wedding dress shop, and her best friend Lucy who is a divorce lawyer. Both seem a bit stuck in different parts of their lives - will they move past these?
Can't wait for the next part of this story to see what happens next.

I really loved this book, the main character Ella is a very put upon seamstress working in a bridal shop for a very unappreciative owner. Throw in a twist when instead of meeting a blind date she meets with Kit instead, sparking off further troubles.
There is a great mixture of humour, counterbalanced with some not so happy moments, not to mention the prospect of muddy brown bridesmaid dresses. The only downside is that it finishes in a cliffhanger and I can't wait for the second book to become available....
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

While I love the idea of this 4-part series, how am I going to wait for each to come out? After reading this first one, I'm completely in love with it and need more. The characters are so easy to relate to and are mostly delightful, however there is one I would love to strangle. Bella Osborne has become one of my favourite go-to authors. Looking forward to more instalments!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

An entertaining read that draws you into Ella's world of demanding brides, ungrateful bosses, and wedding dresses. She's a lovely character, hardworking, constantly put upon and always trying to please others. I love the mix of laugh out loud hilarity and poignant moments. The believably created friendship dynamic between Ella, Lucy and Brittany defines this story and makes it engaging.

Meeting Kit is unexpected for Ella and threatens unwelcome life changes. The plot has twists, and this first part has a dramatic ending, making reading the rest of the story essential.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A must read! Absolutely loved this, it was a quick read and left you really waiting for part 2, to come out.
You really get a sense of the characters, their lives and the places around them.
Well written, great characters and a wonderful story line.

Oh I do love Bella Osbornes books! This was fantastic and I can't wait to finish the rest of the book! I was thrown in to Ella's story, feeling under appreciated with her job, newly heart broken and with family drama. I'm excited to find out how she deals with it all!
It the perfect start to draw you in, warm characters, a dress shop setting and laugh out loud moments, everything you could want for a light hearted and cheery read.

I really loved this one. I always enjoy Bella’s books and this one shows so much promise. It’s so frustrating that it’s only part one as now I’ve got to wait for the next part. Let’s hope it’s soon. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A Wedding at Sandy Cove is part one in hopefully a new series! I felt like I was at Sandy Cove. I didn't want to leave! Enjoyed this sweet story and hope to read more.