Title: Trash the Dress
Author: A.B. Medley
Release: November 8, 2024
Genre: contemporary romance
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, surprise pregnancy, jilted bride, small town
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221062217-trash-the-dress
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/trash-the-dress-by-a-b-medley

Blurb:

One woman’s trashed dress is another man’s gift.

Scarlett Shepard knows something is off.

With her wedding day fast approaching, she chalks it up to nerves. But when her fiancé’s mistress stands up and objects at the ceremony, the wedding is definitely off.

Before she can get herself out of the church, her gaze connects with Zander Bailey, the grumpy but hot photographer hired by the groom’s family.

Much to her surprise, he follows her outside with a proposal of his own.

A photoshoot–to trash her dress.

Accepting his offer, she tries to remain lighthearted in the wake of the heartbreak weighing her down, and suddenly this fun distraction turns into a not-so-innocent night of passion between them.

Weeks later, when what Scarlett believed to be food poisoning turns out to be a surprise neither of them expected, they are both forced to reconcile their past and their own jaded hearts to become parents.

Scarlett won’t accept Zander’s affection out of obligation or a sense of duty, which forces him to face a deep-rooted fear he hasn’t vocalized–his love not being enough.

Can Scarlett and Zander choose love when three hearts are at stake?

Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Books2Read (Amazon Universal): http://books2read.com/trashthedress
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4fkTWwl
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0D5SZKFGH
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0D5SZKFGH
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0D5SZKFGH
Discreet Paperback Cover: https://amzn.to/40w6Bby

Trash The Dress has some of my favorite tropes; surprise pregnancy, grumpy sunshine with a dash of forced proximity and I’m in! Even knowing all that, I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did.

Scarlett and Zander are just wonderful. He’s a grumpy, cynical former photographer who lost his muse after a heartbreak. She’s an excited bride-to-be who suddenly understands Zander a lot more than she ever hoped to.

Throw in a failed wedding, a cathartic photo shoot and BAM, these two are tossed together for one roller coaster of a ride! I loved Zander so much, the way he pushed past his fears and worries and stepped up made him perfect book boyfriend material.

Scarlett was a solid heroine, tough and sweet and ready to take on the world for her little one. There were some parts of her that I could do without but overall I liked her character. There were more religious overtones than I expected but it didn’t get in the way of the story.

This story was an emotional journey and both Scarlett and Zander grew a lot from the beginning of the story which is always appreciated.