Contemporary
The Substitute Bride
By Char
Oct 2, 2006 - 10:36:00 AM

Emiline Anastasia Gray, Ellie is a small town girl with big dreams.  All she needs is the opportunity to study a real wedding dress produced by a world famous designer.  Ellie happens to be in the right place at the right time and is offered a chance at her dream; all she has to do is be the substitute bride for a look-alike celebrity and if she pulls it off the designer dress is hers to keep and study.

Samuel Clay Oglethorpe, Sam just happens to be the cousin of a famous movie star.  His cousin asks Sam to stand in for him at the “fake” wedding while he and his fiancé have a private wedding elsewhere away from the press.  Sam would have helped his cousin out with no incentive, but his cousin offers Sam the one thing that he has always wanted; the opportunity to purchase the family land that his grandfather lost on a bet.

Sam likes Ellie as soon as he sees her and when he offers her a ride back to their home state after the “wedding” he learns that Ellie is a strong, determined lady but she is all alone in the world and struggling to make it on her own.  When he drops her off at her dress shop he discovers that she has no electricity, food or telephone service.  Sam convinces Ellie to come with him to his home town and open a shop there where he would feel better knowing that she was doing alright. Ellie is resistant at first but realizing she has nothing to lose decides to take the chance and start over in a new place.  Working together to help each other realize their individual dreams draws them closer together and starts them down the road to a shared dream life.

THE SUBSTITUE BRIDE by Carol Hutchens is a beautiful and heart warming romance.  Ellie and Sam are wonderful and extremely likeable characters who had this reader cheering them on all through the book.  I was hooked from the beginning of the story by the fake wedding and enjoyed watching Ellie and Sam fall slowly in love and come to realize that dreams are meant to be shared.  I recommend picking up this book, finding a cozy chair and plan on losing yourself in a delightful story.