Then she meets Jordan Singer, hunky reporter for Texas Bride magazine – and her life is forever changed.
Jordan, as well as Gabi’s friends who are all connected to the wedding world, encourage Gabi to follow her own dreams – really to dare to dream.
“The Dream Dress” is funny, sweet and encouraging. Janice Thompson teaches patience and forgiveness, as Gabi must learn to forgive the father who abandoned her and the boss who treats her badly. As Gabi waits for her Prince Charming, Thompson also uses a great image of the Bible being a Cinderella story, and that God is the ultimate Prince Charming, waiting for us to accept his invitation and join Him.
“I think the whole prince and cinder-girl theme is really about God’s love for us, not man’s. … In the meantime, just realize that the real Prince Charming is already here. … He’s loved you even before you were born and will go on loving you every day of your life, even on those days when you feel most unlovable.” (Bella to Gabi)
Gabi and her friends – the engaged baker Scarlet, married with children wedding planner Bella and newlywed photographer Hannah – are a great group of ladies that anyone would want as their friends. Mimi Carmen, Gabi’s grandmother, is cute, adorable and funny. There is a hilarious scene early in the book with Mimi Carmen, Gabi and “the Singer man.”
My only criticism is I found Demetri’s Russian “accent” a bit grating.
“The Dream Dress” is a fun story full of redemptive messages, showing God’s love for all.
Four and a half stars out of five.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.