Janice Thompson delights again with the oh-so-sweet and funny “Every Girl Gets Confused.”
Paying homage to Doris Day with quotes by or about her and chapter titles named after her songs or movies, the second installment in the “Brides with Style” series picks up the story of Katie Fisher and Brady James.
Katie is still working at Cosmopolitan Bridal with her pro basketball player turned bridal shop manager boyfriend Brady. The shop is in full-on crazy mode after the public fell in love with the “Loretta Lynn” dress — the bridal gown Katie won earlier in a contest. As they navigate a busy season at the shop, Katie also is in the midst of helping her lovable grandmother, Queenie, prepare for her upcoming wedding.
And in the midst of all this craziness, in waltzes Katie’s ex-boyfriend, Casey, acting as if he wants to get back together.
With Katie needing to decide which guy she truly loves, and Brady trying to face an uncertain athletic future after facing a second potential knee surgery, both must learn to accept that God places each of us through many different seasons in life — some great, some not so great. “God moves in seasons,” as one character says. This is a major theme throughout the novel.
“Every Girl Gets Confused” deals with many other themes like contentment, second chances, worry, finding our value in God’s love, and being an overcomer and not one who gives in to defeat. I loved this quote from Katie’s brother, Beau: “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
Thompson always fills her novels with great characters. You will absolutely fall in love with Katie’s zany family, especially Queenie and Great-Aunt Alva (they really are a hoot!); the shop employees, especially Eduardo with the televangelist hair; and new bride and customer Carrie Sanders, who inspires a Doris Day wedding gown. The author does a great job of providing a fun, heart-warming story that also packs a punch with deep thematic elements.
I can’t wait to continue Katie and Brady’s story!
Five stars out of five.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“Every Girl Gets Confused” (Brides with Style series, #2) by Janice Thompson