This was an enjoyable 2nd chance romance between a couple that have been together since they were kids. She has a large family and he is almost an orphan so the way they grew up and their support systems they each had were very different.

Melissa and Judson have been together off and on for a great many years. Twice engaged and twice broken up until he shows up at her sisters beach wedding in the state of Florida. Both Judson and Melissa live in Louisiana but Judson follows her to Florida for the wedding with a bum leg.

He wants her back and this time they decide to grow up a little and also Judson gets more of a family as Melissa's brothers in law try and help him out. I enjoyed the story but I just did not see Melissa's great love story and the feeling Judson had for her. I was not sold on their passion and romance. Honestly I felt that for them it was more of a comfortable relationship rather than a passionate relationship.

This is a short, clean romance that I struggled to finish. This book had such great reviews I decided to check it out. I feel like I must have read a completely different book from those reviews. This is the third book in the series but my first, and my first by this author.

From the beginning, we know Melissa and Judson have a tumultuous past. Melissa is working two part time jobs and still living at home. She is visiting a neighboring town for her sister’s wedding when Judson shows up. Judson was thrown from a bull, broke his leg in two places, and is still recovering. He’s come home to finally make Melissa his permanently.

I never could tell how old these two are but they are both very immature. Judson was raised by his aunt and uncle after his mother abandoned him and his father dies from drinking too much. His father constantly berated him and he has some serious issues from all this. Melissa is the baby of the family and sheltered. I did not feel any connection between these two and found myself not rooting for them to get together but just for them to grow up. Maybe if I had read them in order and not just picked this one up I would have liked it better, but I don’t think so.

The writing felt like it was geared toward adolescents/young adults. I received this ARC after publication date, so I assume the typos I found were corrected. I voluntarily reviewed a copy provided by NetGalley.

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I hadn't read the previous books in the series. I loved the name Judson. I found him to be stubborn alpha male. Hurt from his past and a rodeo injury. He has pushed everyone away.

Melissa has been the one that he has been chasing his entire life. Envying her family, her life and her ability to love.

Melissa has seen those she loves go threw so really difficult times. She has loved Judson since her childhood. But I don't believe that she believes in herself. It was nice to see them really work on their relationship. To realize that living in the fast lane isn't the best way to live life.

Will their relationship overcome the newest of obstacles or will they part and ride into the sunset?

Steady paced read about what a real relationship takes. Overcoming curveballs, and going after what means most to you.

A sweet romance about childhood sweethearts with a pattern of breaking up and getting back together that finally learn with their mistakes and try a fresh new start. This was very well done, showing the growth in both characters and also the familiarity and ease that comes from being with someone who knows you well and makes you happy.
I really liked the hero, all the feelings of inadequacy, unworthy and loneliness that make him hold back and hold the heroine away. And on top of that, the end of his rodeo career and a debilitating injury.
Lenora Worth crafts a consistent wounded hero with a painful childhood and experiences that slowly learns to change his negative and resentful attitude towards life.
I also liked the depiction of the family relationships and meeting characters that I already knew from previous books.

Sweet read about a rodeo rider who has come back to town to win back his girlfriend. They've broken up far too many times but he vows this is it. I like a male lead who is a little more alpha, this guy was way to complacent for me.

This was a story about second or third chances. Melissa and Judson had had an on-again, off-again relationship for quite a while. Judson was a rodeo bull rider and he didn't want anyone telling him how dangerous the sport was or that he needed to stay home, especially Melissa. He loved Melissa so much but he didn't feel worthy of her love so he kept pushing her away and she kept leaving. Finally, at her sister's wedding in Florida, Judson shows up and declares that he wants her back and he was willing to do whatever it took to get her. She wasn't so sure about his sincerity or willingness to make the changes necessary for them to have their happily ever after. But, as she spent time with Judson, she began to see changes he had made and she began to wonder if forever was possible for them.

This was a sweet, clean romance that was fairly fast paced. However, it wasn't so fast that you couldn't form a connection to the characters or want to cheer for them to make it and have a forever love.

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

The Southern Bride (formerly Driftwood Bride) is very much another chance romance. I can’t really say second chance because this couple have been together and broken up and gotten back together numerous times in their lives. They belong together, but neither is really ready for that forever kind of commitment until now. Call it fear or stubbornness, call it not old enough to realize what you’re tossing away when you break up so many times. Or simply call it becoming adults who finally see the reality of their lives. There are issues to be faced, decisions that might be painful to make and the certain knowledge that there really is no one else for either – so this time they simply have to make it work, forever.

I enjoyed Judson and Melissa separately and together. There are definitely emotions to be felt in this story as convincing someone that you’ve changed and really mean what you say this time isn’t always an easy thing to accomplish. They’ve both grown, and wised up. This time around they could find their happy ever after and make it stick. Now Melissa has to make that final decision of risking everything for one more try. There may be heartache or there may be love forever lasting. That’s a choice only she can make.

I had purchased this title as Driftwood Bride last year and without realizing that it had a title change picked it up on NetGalley. So I've both purchased and gotten this one through NetGalley.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

"Driftwood Bride" is a sweet and second chance romance. A great story of two people who belong together.

"Driftwood Bride" by Lenora Worth is book number three in the "Driftwood Bay" series. This is Melissa Sonnier and Judson Duvall's story.

Melissa is home for her sister's wedding. She is happy for her sister and wonders if her day will ever come. Melissa's true love has always been Judson but their relationship has been an on again and off again relationship.

Judson is a rodeo guy and has to quit the rodeo due to his last injury. After suffering depression and using alcohol to drown his miseries he realizes that he needs to get to the only woman he has ever loved, Melissa. His goal is to convince her that his feelings are real. Is it too late for them to have a chance at love?

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

A great story to read on vacation at the beach, by the pool, or in your favorite chair. Curl up and enjoy this sweet story.

Driftwood Bride is the third story in Lenora Worth's Driftwood Bay series and is set on the USA south east coast. Although this is part of a series, it can comfortably be read as a stand-alone. This is a short, sweet contemporary story, perfect for a quick weekend read.
Although I quite enjoyed it there were several elements which grated on me. Firstly, I loathed the hero's name. Illogical, I know, but Judson does nothing for me. Secondly the dialogue seemed to limp at times, and there were quite a few spots where the author resorted to telling me how a character was feeling or what they were thinking. This interfered with the flow of the plot and detracted from the story.
Nonetheless, while this has not been my favourite read ever I am sure there are plenty of readers out there who will love it.