Love on a Deadline

This book is part of the Year of Weddings Novella Collection. I picked it up on NetGalley because I've always enjoyed reading these kind of books. Each month a new novella is released based on a common theme. This series involves people who make weddings happen- the planners, photographers, musicians etc.. These books are stand alone and do not depend on any of the others.

MacKenzie was such an easy character to like. I loved her sense of loyalty and devotion to her dad. She leaves the life she has created post college and the future she had planned to move home and watch over her dad. It's not necessarily what she wanted but she is determined to make the best of it. She takes on the less than stellar job at the local newspaper but longs for more. MacKenzie really wants to make it big in the world of journalism.

For me, Mackenzie stole the show but the other characters in this book brought depth and color. I really liked Ethan and his devotion to his family. He works hard to stand by them and make them happy. He is an easy going guy and he is very interested in MacKenzie- all grown up and looking good.

I really liked the idea that people can change and you should be careful about judging situations and people by only what you can see. Chances are if you really knew them, and their story, you would feel differently. Mac learns this throughout the book and it was very satisfying.

Overall, a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. It is clean- no swearing or sexual situations. Light Christian Fiction.

Journalist Mackenzie Davis is working for the Red Leaf Register, the paper in her home town, while she waits for her big break in a major publication. Meanwhile she’s left covering insignificant local interest stories. And now her high school nemesis is marrying a rising movie star, and she’s been asked to cover the wedding preparations … which are being undertaken by her high school crush, the boy next door, the brother of said high school nemesis.

“This was Hollis Channing they were talking about. The girl who’s been taking selfies a decade before there’d been a name for it.”

The characters were well-developed, with a convincing and believable rationale for the big misunderstanding she and Ethan had in high school. I was especially impressed by the way she was able to show change in the various characters—not just Mac and Ethan—and the way she brought all the threads of the plot together. The plot was another strength, as it had more complexity than I usually see in a novella.

I think this is the first book I’ve read by Kathryn Springer, but I’ll certainly be keen to read more, as Love on a Deadline was a thoroughly enjoyable short romance

Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Love on a Deadline was a really cute read and much better than the first book (Love at Mistletoe Inn) in this second set of "Year of Weddings" novellas.

I liked the characters and how Mac had feelings for Ethan in high school, but certain circumstances caused them to never get together. This story is kind of their second chance at love.

While the ending isn't the happily ever after you expect, it was still sweet and I liked it. I also enjoyed the other romance story in Ethan's sister's wedding -- I really liked that couple!

All in all, a fun read and I recommend it if you have a couple hours and want to read a light, romance story.

*I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book via NetGalley for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Thanks to Zondervan Fiction & Netgalley for the ARC. This short Novella from Kathryn Springer, is a quick easy read, that takes you to the small town of Red Leaf,min the shore of Lake Michigan. For 'Mac' Mackenzie Davis who grew up here as the High School football coaches daughter, it is the place she didn't want to return to, but she has come home to take care of her Father. She sees it as a stop over on her way to bigger and better things as a reporter for a larger newspaper in the city. She sees her current job writing small stories about things around town as insignificant and uninteresting, and doesn't enjoy the way she feels she is treated by those around her, as if they all see a kid, and not the woman she wants to prove she is. We meet pretty quickly her former next door neighbor Ethan Channing, the guy she had a pretty big crush on through her childhood, who has finally come home to the town, which he loves. Despite having different outlooks for the future, this sweet little story brings them together, to a place they both want to be. I enjoyed the outlook of her friend, and the perspective she shares. I think this story would have made a great basis for a longer book, especially once the twist about half way through, turns this story into something a lot deeper tha a simple wedding in a small town. Good read, recommend. I was unaware that this made up a collection of twelve different similar themed novellas.

This was a sweet love story about the people on the sidelines at weddings. Mac went to college to become a big time reporter, but ended up back in her hometown watching over her ailing father. She wants to be interviewing politicians, instead she gets asked to cover Hollis Channing's wedding. After Hollis filled the role of "mean girl" in Mac's life, that's the last thing she wants to do. But running into Hollis' brother, Ethan, just might be worth it.
Mac's reaction to her past with Ethan seemed a bit extreme, but the romance that developed between them was sweet and believable. I loved the small town setting and characters. I also loved the interactions between Mac and her former nemesis, Hollis. This was a great addition to the series.

Content: clean Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley.com, in exchange for an honest review.

this will post on Sept 7

Mac, Mackenzie Davis, is back. She returned to Red Leaf last year to take care of her father and still hasn’t escaped yet. As the only child of everyone’s favorite widowed coach Mac wasn’t raised in a traditional way. Now, years later everyone treats her like she’s still the coach’s daughter tagging along.
But being back brings painful memories. Like a lack of friends and her first crush, Ethan Channing.

The same Ethan Channing that has just arrived in Red Leaf after disappearing ten years ago. He’s looking to because the person his father would have wanted him to be. If he can remember who that is.

Hott Review:

I LOVED Love on a Deadline! It’s a very romantic novel. I loved how Ethan and Mac both allowed God to change them and give them the gifts their hearts had been seeking. Though the romance itself is a bit rushed it’s not something that’s uncomfortable or weird. They do have a deadline, after all. :)

More…

Author: Kathryn Springer Source: NetGalley Publisher & Date: July 28th 2015 by Zondervan Genre: Contemprary Christian Romance ISBN: 9780310396048 Pages: 119 Grade: A Ages: 16+
Steam: Nada Setting: Red Leaf, Wisconsin This Counts for these Challenges: 2015 Let Me Count The Ways Reading Challenge, 2015 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge, 2015 Women Challenge, 2015 NetGalley Reading Challenge, Reading Road Trip 2015 Challenge,
Series: A Year of Weddings Set 2, novella 9

Love at Mistletoe Inn
A Brush with Love
Serving Up a Sweetheart
All Dressed Up in Love
In Tune With Love
Never a Bridesmaid

Picture Perfect Love
I Hope You Dance
Love on a Deadline
Love Takes the Cake
The Perfect Arrangement
Love in the Details Author Bio:

Kathryn Springer, winner of the 2007 Write Touch Reader’s Award (long contemporary), grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child, she spent many hours sitting at her mother’s typewriter, plunking out stories, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love of books – which eventually turned into a desire to tell stories of her own.
After a number of busy years, when she married her college sweetheart and became a stay-at-home mom, Kathryn rediscovered her love for writing. An unexpected snow day from school became the inspiration for a short story, which she submitted to Brio magazine. She went on to publish over a dozen more short stories for Brio, but it wasn’t until her youngest child started school that she decided to pursue her dream to write a novel. In August 2004, her Love Inspired® debut novel, Tested by Fire, was published.

Encouraging women in their faith journey is the reason Kathryn loves to write inspirational fiction. She hosts a women’s Bible study in her home and volunteers in a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) ministry. When she isn’t at the computer, you’ll find her curled up with a good book, spending time with family and friends or walking on the trails near her country home.

Websites & Links: author's website twitter facebook

Second chances are the best sometimes. A fun, flirty book that is 9th in the Year of Weddings 2 series. Even though it is novella the author has some very well developed characters with serious conversations. Thoughts of coming home again and rekindling old friendships are pleasant themes. Definitely worth spending a little midnight oil to finish! Enjoy! NetGalley and Zondervan Fiction provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Well this is the first one of these books that has brought me to tears! The book actually started out a little slow for me and I thought "I am going to just read it quickly and get it over with so I can do the review." - little did I know I was going to be falling in love with it! The tears came about half way through and just kept coming till the tearful end (a happy ending, just more tears!) I am such a sap!
Excellent character development! I loved the two main characters - MacKenzie “Mac” and Ethan, they were perfect! But I also loved Hollis and her fiance' - wow what a story theirs was!

This is a very emotionally charged story, I won't give anything away - but parts are very sad, but other parts are happy and very romantic! By the end my heart was pounding and I was in tears yet again.
I thought this story was very nicely done. It was a very sweet love story - for two couples actually.
I think this was my favorite one so far!

This is my second book by this author (I read "A September Bride" last year), and it certainly won't be my last. I had heard of "The Dandelion Field" but didn't realize she had so many other books! This is definitely an author I am going to look into.

Thank you "Book Look Bloggers" for sending me this book for my honest review!

I love when I find a great new author after reading a novella! After reading Love on a Deadline I wanted to shout, “Give me all the Kathryn Springer books! This novella is short but sweet with characters that are lovable.

Mackenzie “Mac” Davis returned to her hometown of Red Leaf to take care of her father after he suffered a heart attack. She never planned to stay long-term, and she certainly never planned to work at the weekly newspaper forever. She just needs one great story to help her get her big break, and then she’ll be gone again. When she’s assigned to cover the story of a hometown girl’s wedding to a movie star, she thinks her time may finally have come. But the bride’s charming brother may just stand in her way. Mac had a crush on Ethan Channing in high school, but he broke her heart. She doesn’t want to let him do it again, but wedding plans continue to throw them together. If Ethan can convince Mac that he loves her, can they make it work long-distance when she decides to leave?

I loved this book from beginning to end! I’ve been in a fall-ish mood lately, and this book felt like the perfect opener to the season. Mac and Ethan are perfect characters, and I loved watching them fall in love! I definitely recommend this one, and I can’t wait to read more from Kathryn Springer!

Happy Reading!

Lyndsie

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. Love on a Deadline is available now.

I always enjoy Kathryn Springer's stories since she has a way of making her characters realistic and easy to connect with. Mac has conflicting emotions as she reunites with her unrequited love and it was fun to see Ethan's instant attraction to her. She doesn't make it easy for him, but a new level of friendship naturally occurs as they work together to give Hollis the quiet wedding she wants while still providing a story for Mac to report. Mac's new dilemma is whether or not to hang around the small town to be with Ethan or move on to a bigger city and focus on her career. A great addition to the Year of Weddings novella line!

(Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

This is such a sweet story. The characters were wonderful. The plot was amazing. I love romance novellas and this one is no exception. The chemistry between Mac and Ethan was perfect.

I read this in a couple of hours. I connected with the characters. I liked this story and the surprising little turns that made it deeper and more than just about the budding romance between Mac and Ethan.