Lovely story. Well a start of a story.
It’s the beginning of what hopefully will be a great romance.
Ella is a seamstress and with her two best friends is looking for love bt work and family and her bullying boss take over her life in a over bearing way.
I was dissatisfied with how the story ended in its abrupt way.
Hopeing to read part 2 very soon.

I read this initially as a standalone but have now finished the complete book.

This was a quick and easy, light-hearted read but I wasn't totally convinced by the characters. My full review is posted under the full book

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I have read and enjoyed 2 other books by this author but this is a little different as it is split into 4 novellas. The story is original, with Ella working as a talented seamstress in a bridal shop although her own experience of weddings is as the eternal bridesmaid and without a hint of romance in her personal life. Bella's descriptions and dialogue are so witty and funny I had to keep telling my husband what I was reading because I was laughing so much!
I can't wait to read more of this story.

I thought this was a complete story but it’s only the beginning, so rather disappointing not to be able to read the whole book. It’s a promising start but not long enough to form an opinion of how interesting it will be. However I’ve already fallen in love with Kit so look forward to the next instalment

Book one in a new 4 part series and I'm now waiting in anticipation for the next installment. I love Bella Osborne's style of writing and was so excited to be able to read an advanced copy thanks to netgalley & Avon books. This book has certainly got this series off to a great start & now I'm left wanting more.

This book consist of 4 part and this review is on the beginning to the series.

It is a story about friendship and self discovery. Ella is the main character of the story. In this introductory part of the story, Ella is a passive character is obviously being bullied by her employer. She met her father at a restaurant together with another women and she was confronted by the son of the women.

Based on the first part, it is a delightful read for me. Looking forward to read the other remaining part..

Review will be publish on my blog 30/6/22

This is a good book as far as it went. The two main characters are Ella and Kit. Ella is a seamstress at a bridal shop and Kit is the owner of a construction company. Ella was on a blind date when she meet Kit, who just happened to be at the bar she was meeting her blind date at. Ella had just seen her father at the bar meeting a woman who was not her mother. Kit was there to see who his mother was meeting with turns out it was Ella’s father. Ella and Kit plan to break up the couple. This book ends with them making plans.

A really great part 1 - I love the characters and the storyline promises great things, looking forward to part 2.

Why oh why do I put myself through this every. single . time? I absolutely love Bella Osborne’s style of writing. She creates such great characters you can easily warm to and wonderful storylines that grab you and hook you in. Then, just as things are hotting up and I find myself fully invested in the lives of the main characters the book ends. I am not a fan of novellas or stories divided into sections, and given the choice will always wait until the full story is released as one whole. But I am a greedy and impatient reader so put myself through it time and time again.
It’s worth it though, a great story, as always filled with fully-formed and believable characters. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

I normally avoid books that are split into serials because I don’t like the wait in between parts getting released, however when I saw that this was by Bella Osborne I couldn’t resist it! It was a lovely, easy read and I found there were lots of really funny moments intermingled with the more serious ones which was a refreshing change. I adore Bella’s style of writing and i am counting down to the next instalment now to see what happens next.

I do enjoy novels by Bella Osborne and this was a nice, easy read. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Ella is an excellent seamstress working for a terrible woman. She decides to get back out there after a break up in hopes of finding “the one”. Unfortunately, she discovers something that will change everything she thought she knew about her family. With help from a gorgeous man named Kit, maybe they can get everything sorted out.

I was irritated that this was a serial when I reached the end and there should have been more...I wanted to lower my rating but it was clear on the description and I enjoyed it. I’m intrigued and looking forward to the next part!

Thank you for the advance copy!

Sigh. I told myself I would stop reading books that are split into four parts because waiting for each part to come out is slow torture! But, here I am...

Ella is a seamstress who is working for Wanda at a bridal salon. She is good at her job and loves the brides but she is overworked, unappreciated and lacking in confidence. She is supposed to have a blind date with Stuart, but she runs into Kit instead. The surprises don't end there, however. Kit and Ella have something in common that threatens to upend Ella's life.

Lucy and Ella are friends with Brittany, who is getting married. They are both bridesmaids and somehow they have to wear a hideous dress without saying anything negative to the bride. I can see this dilemma coming to a head.

Very good storyline and I am intrigued as to what happens next!

Please put me out of my misery?

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK.

Perfect summer reading!
A story full of romance, friendship, wedding drama and many laugh out loud moments.
Looking forward to part 2!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinion expressed are my own.

Bella Osborne has again created a novel with wonderful warm characters overcoming personal obstacles. Ella works in a bridal shop for a woman taking advantage of her strong work ethic and kind personality. Ella is also dealing with the fact that her father may be fooling around on her mother. While out on a date, she spots her father with another woman. When she goes after him, she runs into Kit, who is following his mother w, who is having a fling with Ella's dad.
Although fate has thrown them together, they must navigate their relationship while trying to figure out what is happening with their parents and while dealing with their own career path choices.
This was a definite feel-good book. I can't wait to read the follow-up to this book to find out what happened to these characters! Bella Osborne has an enjoyable writing style that hooks the reader. The character dialogues are witty and entertaining and add to the charm of this warm and engaging story. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars out of 5
Part 1 of this book is out now, and the following Parts 2,3 and 4 will be out in June and July
Available now

A light and breezy summertime read that I enjoyed was disappointed about how short it was and I'm hoping the follow on is a longer read

You can't go wrong with a book by Bella Osborne and the same goes for this read. The first of a four part series, in this one we meet Ella, who works in a bridal shop along with her friends.
This is a lovely funny read and I cannot wait for the next installment

Ella works at Frills, Frocks and Fairy Tails as a seamstress for a nightmare boss called Wanda. She continues to work there because she wants to help every bride find their dream dress.

Outside of work, Ella is about to be a bridesmaid AGAIN! This will be the eighth time, but this time, her friend has chosen dresses which are a shade of muddy brown and could possibly be the worst bridesmaid dresses that Ella has seen!

I absolutely loved this – it was a very short read and felt like a long story in a magazine rather than a book. I was also left hanging at the end which made me really excited for the next part of the book. I think personally I would prefer to buy this in the complete novel form rather than in parts.

I love Bella’s relaxed writing style and the way that she draws you into the lives of the character which feels so natural.

A brilliant start to what I just know will be several parts of a great story.
Ella is a great character but I think there is going to have to be some development and self help for her along the way. She’s got good friends around her that will help I’m sure.
Wanting to find out what her Dad is up to with a woman (who is definitely not her Mum) leads her to meet the interesting Kit. He’s determined to find out what his Mum is doing.
Great read by one of my favourites. Looking forward to the next part!

It’s been awhile since I have read any books published as a serial prior to their full length publication but the cover for A Wedding at Sandy Cove caught my eye and I knew I had to dive straight in. Always the Bridesmaid is part One of Bella Osborne’s new series and it has the most gorgeous cover with such lovely attractive colours and reading through the blurb made even keener to see what awaited me. Yes, it’s short but there is lots happening which really set the reader up nicely for what is to come in future parts. With Bella Osborne, you always know you are in good hands and this introduction to Ella and her job as a seamstress in the bridal shop, Frills, Frocks and Fairytales was a pleasure to read and perfect for when you want something quick and light in between more longer or serious books.

Ella has often been a bridesmaid but never a bride and it appears as if this isn’t going to change as in just a few short weeks she will be bridesmaid for her friend Brittany alongside fellow friend Lucy. Ella loves her work but not necessarily the owner of the shop Wanda. She gets such a kick out of transforming dresses to suit brides and make their dreams come true. Yet as her friends tell her she is a bit of push-over when it comes to standing up for herself and they aren’t shy about telling her about the way Wanda treats her. You can see from the outset that Wanda is a bully and never minces her words. She takes Ella for granted and certainly doesn’t value her talent. The way she spoke to Ella was horrible and you wish she would stick up for herself more and not take the comments thrown at her but it’s not something she does. Ella trusts people to be decent but they take her for granted and crap all over her. She pushes things to the back of her mind instead of confronting things head on and ‘mentally ropes it off with warning tape’ To be honest, I think a lot of us do that with our own lives and like Ella we would love to be forthright and out there and say what we really feel but she is afraid that if she confronts Wanda then she will no longer have a job and in turn let so many brides down.

We do see Ella slowly start to gain some confidence and let her true feelings rip but unfortunately this doesn’t work out to her advantage and she finds herself in new and unfamiliar territory but maybe Kit can help her out with this? Ella is very much alone when it comes to romance and not having her ex by her side anymore makes her feel like the armour she once had has been striped from her. I found I instantly connected with Ella and alongside the more personal side of her life explored her we get lots of funny and laugh out loud moments. One scene in particular regarding a bride had me cringing and laughing in equal measure. But then the tables turn when a bride does something which leads to a change in direction work wise for Ella.

I loved how we got to know Ella’s family and how she aspires to one day have a relationship like her parents. But whilst she is on a blind date her world comes crashing down. She presumed everything to be rosy in the garden but is it? Here is where Kit enters and I can see where this angle may develop in the long term but for now they are like co-conspirators trying to solve a conundrum that if exposed and proven true than several lives will alter forever. I’m keen to see how this aspect of the story will develop over future parts. As for Lucy, I’m glad we get so see her work as a family lawyer and what she is dealing with. I sense there will be much more of a focus on her to come and Brittany too as we get closer to her wedding.

Always the Bridesmaid was the perfect introduction to this new series. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel we have been nicely introduced to all the characters and we know a good bit about them and I am excited for what is in store for them. I can’t wait for part two Stitched Up to be published as I feel there are lots of twists and turns coming Ella’s way.