Every Girl Gets Confused

“Want to take a spin around the dance floor, Katie?” Casey took hold of my hand. “For old times’ sake?”

I hesitated, but then Casey tugged me to the center of the dance floor as “Unforgettable” played overhead.

“It’s our son,” Casey whispered in my ear as he pulled me into his arms.

Correction. It used to be our song. Still, as the lyrics rooted themselves in my heart, I found myself caught up in the moment. I settled into Casey’s familiar, comfortable embrace and was whisked back in time to the days when we were young and in love.

Book: Every Girl Gets Confused: A Novel (Brides with Style) by Janice Thompson, Revell Publishers, 2015

Genre: Romance

Subjects: Identity, Trust in God, Love, Family Relationships, Prayer

Target Audience: Adult Women

Summary: What’s a girl to do when the man she was in the process of falling in love with seems distracted and moody and isn’t really showing signs of wanting to continue pursuing her and her former boyfriend from childhood, the one who dumped her instead of proposing is now showing signs of wanting to pursue her again? Katie really did think she was falling in love with Brady but his knee injury and the accompanying inability to play professional basketball seems more important to him these days and he’s not letting her in. Meanwhile, between the holidays and the wedding for her grandmother as well as the preparations for the wedding keep giving her opportunities to see Casey who is back in Fairfield and being attentive again. That’s not the extent of her problems though. Business is going great at the bridal store in Dallas – too good. They have more customers than they can handle, including some they don’t want. Then there’s her parents, particularly her mother who expects her to hurry up and be done pursuing any dream that takes her out of Fairfield. And somehow, Katie finds herself caught up in the drama of all the other romances around her, those of her brothers, co-workers and aunt. Is it any wonder she’s confused?

Notes: Janice Thompson is known for her “comical romances” as she puts it. Her books feature characters with large crazy families – usually with strong demanding parents with expectations for their grown daughter that differ from the life she is almost accidentally carving for herself. The author is often creating comical scenes as the characters interact. Each book features older women who almost exist just to provide comedy to the story, but also spiritual encouragement at times the main character needs it most. This is the second in the Brides With Style series. Katie is a small town girl who accidentally finds herself working in a bridal shop in Dallas and falling in love with the owner’s son. The comical characters are her grandmother and grandmother’s sister. In this book Katie is struggling with doubts about her love for Brady and her decision to move on from Casey. She faces the temptation to let doubt ruin her relationship. There is also the spiritual issue of Brady struggling with finding his identity now that his career as a professional basketball player is at least temporarily over. He and Katie are both encouraged to find their identity in Christ rather than anything else.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

James 1:5-6 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion