"A Tailor-Made Bride" by Karen Witemeyer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Hannah as dreamed of owning her own shop where she can design and make clothes for others. J.T. hates anything to do with fashion since his mother deserted the family for a rich man able to supply her with all the latest fashions. Will they ever be able to find a middle ground?

I had read Witemeyer's "Short Straw Bride" and it was okay--a way to kill a couple of hours. I was exhausted and just wanted some fluff to pass a little time. This took "fluff" to the extreme!

Hannah is portrayed in the first part of the book as a quiet, meek girl who barely answers when questioned, but after being left a store in another town to open her own dress shop, she's suddenly this strong, confident spit-fire. Let's be honest, J.T. is basically a total jerk throughout a good portion of the book. He resents Hannah as he thinks pretty dresses turn all women bad, and he wanted to buy that store to help out the laundry woman next door, and keeps his sister in dull, drab clothes to make sure she doesn't turn out like their mother. That sub-plot is beyond ridiculous! When J.T.'s sister spills her secret love for a man in town that never notices her, Hannah not only makes her a new dress, but puts her on a diet and exercise regime to slim down. Yes, Hannah has a whole, exercise routine (not just getting in a good walk, though that is included) she does daily, and it's talked about a LOT in the book. It leaves you with the message that if you don't slim down and dress your prettiest, you'll never get your guy.

The story line is ridiculous. Typical hate-turns-to-love theme with the heroine constantly falling into the hero's arms, her life put at peril so he can save her and realize his feelings for her, and a "bad guy" that is portrayed as turning that way due to bullying and low self-esteem because of his birthmark and unrequited love for J.T.'s sister. (There is a subtext that the two were always together because of his birthmark and her chunkiness and lack of good looks, so he expected them to get together as no one else would look at her.) It even tries to "rehabilitate" him in the end.

I would not recommend this book to anyone. I like an occasional "fluff" book, but this was beyond ridiculous.

"Short-Straw Bride" by Karen Witemeyer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Meredith Hayes has loved Travis Archer for years since he saved her from a trap when she was a girl. She never sees him, though, as the Archers stay on their land and no one steps foot on Archer land unless they want to risk their lives. That's exactly what Meredith does, though, when she hears a plot to burn them out. Meredith, however, is injured while helping them and her reputation is left in tatters. Four brothers, four straws, one bride. Will they find true love?

This is one of those kinda cute, kill-a-couple-of-hours kind of books. Parts of it had me rolling my eyes, but there was some laughter and a few sweet moments as well. Not a great book, but kind of cute.