What a cute little short story about finding your soul mate! I loved the whole idea about ‘The Marriage Cake’ tradition within Ava’s family that has been a tradition for years and years on end. I think this story sends off such a good message for young readers where we need to stop succumbing to the pressures of being married, having a house, and having X amount of kids by a certain age. Your time will come and there’s no reason whatsoever to rush fate ❤️

Nice, short and sweet.

This was about Ava and her family tradition of making the groom-to-be go through a marriage test of retrieving an egg to be used in a marriage cake. As you would expect, of course it wasn't about the egg, but about the couple's journey to find out about each other before committing their lifetimes to each other.

I liked Ava as a character, but the others were quite unmemorable. While the message was quite important (you need to really 'know' your partner before marrying them), it wasn't anything new or fresh. I'm not quite sure if I liked the ending, as a few things hinted throughout the story didn't actually eventuate and I was quite disappointed.

Having said that, I liked Suzanne Redfearn's writing. I actually wanted to check one of her books last year, but didn't end up getting a chance to read it. So, this was a good opportunity to check out her writing style and see if I'd like it (I did!).

This is a short story from Suzanne Redfearn, Ava Nicole Barnes work is diving in the oceans in the fight to save marine ecosystems with her close friend, Walton. After a whirlwind romance, Ava is convinced she has found her soul mate in Justin, a man she has become engaged to, so that her beloved grandmother, suffering from cancer, will be able to attend her wedding. There is a family tradition of the couple going on the marriage cake journey, a mystical ceremony that in the past every family member who have completed this have had long and happy marriages, whilst those who have failed to undertake the task have encountered heartbreak. Involving the acquisition of a frigate bird's egg, Ava believes in and is invested in the reality of this magical journey and wants a reluctant Justin to complete the tradition with Walton as a witness. Will Ava find all her dreams of love coming true in Florida? Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories for an ARC.

I love short stories, and holiday tales, and Suzanne Redfearn books, like In An Instant, but sadly, this short story did not work well for me. I needed more from the plot and the character development. Wish I had liked it more.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the advanced reader’s copy of this book.

The Marriage Test is a short story that explores the path that we take toward finding our soulmate. Ava embarks on a journey to complete a marriage cake- baking ritual that has been a part if her family's history for generations. As the adventure progresses, she sees different sides to her fiance Justin and her best friend Walton. As she prepares for the big day, the wisdom of others and her faith in tradition ultimately help her make the best choice to ensure her happiness.