I ended up DNFing this book not very far into the story. I just wasn't connecting with the writing style and didn't want to force myself to finish and give this book a lower rating. Maybe I'll try again with either this story or author at a later time, but for right now its a DNF.

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt like the pacing was a little too slow and I never found myself eager to pick the book back up. It wasn’t the writing that I didn’t care for but the development of the story.

The Secret to a Southern Wedding is a fun rom-com. I liked the chemistry between the main characters but more than that, I liked all the outside plotlines - like Imani being Doctor of the Year and her being an OBGYN. I liked the relationship between Imani's mom and Cyril's dad. I particularly enjoyed when Imani's friends would point out when she was being a bit unreasonable in regards to her mother's romantic relationship.

Imani's wish to break up her mother's wedding did grate on me while I read it after a while. While it is explained why Imani would be against her mother's wedding, there was a sense that Imani was a bit too suspicious.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be continuing in the series.

This book is about the budding relationship between Imani and Cyril. There shouldn’t be any issue only that their parents too are also in love.

It delves into some heavy themes like friendship, grief, trust, love while keeping true to its southern character.

I love the simplicity and the refreshing plot. I enjoy how the author highlighted some interesting societal issues without flair or drama.

I enjoy small town romance and this was no exception. I love how people never mind their business yet act like their nose is not other people’s business.

All of the characters were wonderful and relatable. They delivered exactly what was expected of them.

If you love small town romance with a sprinkle of drama and a dash of southern charm you will enjoy this.

I received an advanced copy of this book and the review is entirely mine.

I was here for everything this book had to offer. It was right alley at the right time. Most of all the black romance in this story. Now you know there has to be some drama, which I love to read about.

It was a good time reading this story that I could not put it down. This book touches on relationships, healing, and discovery.

Some of my favorite quotes:
🔔 You're the only person I know who gets so excited when we have corn dogs for lunch. 🤣
🔔 More than anything, I'm not chasing money or status.
🔔 There’s no competition.
🔔 Even if I don't get it, I won't give up.
🔔 I'll let her be happy as long as he's not a creep. Or worse.
🔔 I just want to make sure you're good. You know I'm here for you. I've always had your back. I'm being cautious.
🔔 I don't listen to gossip. I listen to what people tell me directly and pay attention to what they show me.
🔔 Learning to trust isn't easy, but it can come with time.
🔔 Feel safe enough to fall in love.

This story had too much stuff happening and not enough stuff happening at the same time. The pace was slow. I didn’t like the storyline of I thought my dad was perfect turned out he wasn’t and now I distrust all men. And why were her mom & his dad pushing so hard for two almost 40yr olds to be a “ family”, very weird.
Imani & Cyril. This is a small town romance with a little chaos so if that’s your vibe I recommend this book.

This book is perfect for lovers of small town romances, family, and, friendship. Dr. Imani is a OB/GYN who comes back home to protect her mom from getting her heartbroken…again. Cyril is the son of the groom and wants to support his dad newfound happiness. They both have familial issues they have to work out, thank goodness they’ve found each other along the way. I look forward to spending more time in Peachtree Cove.

The Secret to a Southern Wedding has Imani Kemp returning home when she learns of her mother’s pending nuptials to a man, she met on a dating app. Imani feels her mother is rushing and does not want to see her hurt again. Cyril Dash and his dad Preston relocated to Georgia to start over and leave the gossip behind. Once Imani and Cyril cross paths, the attraction is evident, however Imani does not trust Cyril’s dad really loves her mom and works to stop the wedding.

The storyline was a good concept but I felt there was too many opportunities for the truth to come to light and a lot of back and forth. While the author does a decent job of developing the chemistry between Cyril and Imani, it seemed a long time before the two really explore a possibility of a relationship only for the past the come in and hinder their progress.

Overall, this was an okay read that

Note: I received an advance copy from Netgalley

Imani wholeheartedly believes that her mom is making a horrible decision. And the wedding must be stopped.
After a devastating loss Cyril just wants his father to be happy.
I enjoyed the story, overall.
I thought Cyril was a very solid and put together mc. I appreciated how he tried to hold his dad accountable.
I think imani got her disdain for love honestly.

This book was a laugh and a good time. Imani has been hurt before and will not allow her mother to enter a relationship without reviewing the situation first.
She doesn't trust Cyril Dash and his father, especially because she knows nothing about their past.

Cyril Dash is hiding something, but his dad is in love with Imani's mother.

The feelings arising between them must be ignored since their parents are in a relationship.

I wasn't expecting to laugh at the interactions, but they made me laugh. Then the story became more profound, and I didn't hate it.

A good read all around

3.5 Stars! Going home has never been so sweet!

This is a small town romance where the FMC, Imani, comes home and to stop her mother's rushed wedding. Little did she know that the cute guy she met at the restaurant before she got home is her future step-brother. As she tries to stop this wedding, she must work closely with Cyril and they can't deny their attraction to each other.

The setting for this town made me miss my small town roots. I loved how the author showed that the town was working on revitalization and running for the best small town award. Imani spends her days reconnecting with old friends and remembering why she loved this town and the people in it.

Now I found Imani to be rather annoying in the beginning. She really took off from her job as an obstetrician at a hospital to drive home and stop a wedding. Honestly, who has the time! She is an adult and so is her mother so it should ultimately be her mother's decision. Then when she gets home she start talking bad about someone she don't know and I found it to be really immature. Now, luckily she met Cyril before she found out he was her future step-brother. I still don't know how I feel about their romance but the story was written to where I wasn't creeped out about it.

Ultimately, I loved this story and I can't wait to read more books by this author. Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you like drama, fun, and tons of love then you need to read The Secret to a Southern Wedding by Synithia Williams! I had so much fun reading this book and got through it in one sitting. This novel is a part of the Peachtree Cove Series and I cannot wait to read more!

Meet Imani. She is from the small town of Peachtree Cove, and is now one of the most sought-after OB-GYNs in Tallahassee. She’s receiving an award for Doctor of the Year, and nothing could be better. Then her mom sends a text message stating she’s getting married. WHAT?! So Imani packs up and heads home. Will she be able to talk some sense into her mother before she says, “I do”?!

Aside from drama, fun and love, there are many other things I loved about this book. It was witty, dealt with second chances, healing, and forgiveness, and Williams paired all of that with amazing characters and a plot that keeps you turning pages until three o’clock in the morning.

If you're looking for a dose of soapy drama with your romance, this delivers. Interesting story and well developed characters. Also, I'm hoping this will be a series, because I'd be very interested in these couples (based on who it appears she is setting up in this book)!

Synithia is out here writing small town romances and y’all need to get on board. I really enjoyed this book - Imani and Cyril were adult and smart and sexy. The tension! And I even loved her mom and Preston. This book has a great mix of small town goodness, soapy angst, and Swoony tension.

Cyril is a gentleman and I love him. Also I loved how much Williams includes real life concerns within healthcare. All around very enjoyable. It’s a little slow but I think it’s worth it to see two people in their late 30s work through real life issues like trust and grief.

I enjoyed this title. It was a well written story that I would love to see adapted into a movie or limited series. I wouldn't mind a sequel as well .

Most importantly, I feel like every Black American has their roots tied into the south which makes the story even more relatable.

Imani Kemp has come a long way from her small town roots in Peachtree Cove, Georgia. She is an OB/GYN working at a large hospital in Tampa and was recently named Doctor of Year. Sure she thinks she received the title for optics sake to boost the hospital's image, but it is an honor just the same, right?

After her parents marriage ended in scandal Imani's mother had sworn off men and for years she was just fine with being alone. That is until she connected with newcomer Preston Dash. Preston and his son Cyril moved to Peachtree Cove to start anew after their lives were shattered after the death of his wife.

Somehow despite the odds and their pasts Linda and Preston meet and quickly decide to get married. News of her mother's upcoming wedding is enough to get Imani back to Peachtree Cove; however it's not to help Linda plan as she hopes it's to put a stop to everything,

Once Imani arrives she and Cyril have a meet-cute at the local Dairy Barn. Sparks fly, but Imani is at the Dairy Barn for a corndog and afterwards she has plans to talk some sense into her mother not chat with a handsome stranger. She has a singular goal and it does not involve this handsome man or at least that's what she believes.

Alright so now that we have that part out of the way here goes...

There is a lot missing with this story. It felt like an upside down jigsaw puzzle. Linda and Preston have both experienced some pretty traumatic events before meeting and falling in love, but they have both decided only decided to share with each other bits and pieces of their stories with each other and that's perfectly fine with them.

Imani is 36 years old. She is a successful OB/GYN. She is a caring and compassionate doctor. Yet when she finds out her mother is planning to get remarried after being alone for over 20 years her first thought is that she has to return to her hometown and stop her mother's wedding. While I can understand her being wary at her mother's sudden engagement her reaction/behavior is not one of a mature adult.

The reader is supposed to believe that PC is one of those small towns where everybody knows everybody's business and yet somehow Preston nor Cyril heard anything about the events that lead to Imani's parents' divorce. Cyril says he doesn't listen to gossip so not one person has tried to tell him anything as it relates to his father's fiancée and her past. Things that make you go hmmmm....

Small-ish issues that drove me bananas...

Why was Cyril always wearing a fedora? I feel like I really don't have an idea of what he looks like at all. It's mentioned several times that he's handsome, but other than that I really can't picture him in my mind's eye.

The description of the book says Imani works in Tallahassee, but in the story she says she lives in Tampa... I mean I get it because.....Florida, but these are two very different cities.

Overall this was just ok for me. I am not familiar with the author's other work so I am not sure if this was just a one off or not. I definitely think this one could have been fleshed out a lot more. I feel like so much was time was spent leading up to the big reveal that the plot had quite a few holes that needed to be filled.

Talented author, Synithia Williams has returned to Peachtree Cove, Georgia to entertain us with another delightful story. Our first trip to that idyllic Southern town was in ABOUT LAST NIGHT that featured Joanne Wilson and Devante Thompson. Dr. Imani Kemp and the fedora wearing Cyril Dash are the highlighted couple in this story. Imani is a native of Peachtree Cove and Cyril and his father, Preston are transplants from Baltimore, Maryland. When the story opens, Imani is a doctor practicing and living in Tampa, Florida. She is not a happy camper. Loves her profession but does not love the practice that she is associated with. Although recently named Doctor of the Year, Imani realizes that it is just that…a title. She puts up with a lot of disrespect, but to her, returning to Peachtree Cove to live is not doable at all. You’ll understand her predicament when you read the story. On the other hand, Cyril, who has opened a bar, A Couple of Beers, and his father, Preston cannot fathom returning to Baltimore because of the tragedy that destroyed their family. They find a new life and new opportunities in Peachtree Cove, and they can’t imagine living anywhere else.
The intriguing storyline is punctuated with some serious plot points, and the appearance of some equally intriguing characters who will keep you turning pages. One of the most compelling subplots that undergirds this story involves the LGBTQ community and how it is regarded in the medical profession. Kudos to Ms Williams for this insightful inclusion.
Imani and Cyril, as well as Preston and Linda, will have their HFN after a lot of maneuvering and soul-searching. I just love it when a plan comes together! And yes, they will discover “the secret to a southern wedding.” THE SECRET TO A SOUTHERN WEDDING is a great read, and I recommend it for your reading pleasure.

This is a touching story about Imani and Cyril who’s parents have suddenly dropped that they are getting married. Imani is completely blindsided and questions her mother’s decision to get married to this man she has never heard of. She rushes to her mother’s side to find out what is going on and meets her mom’s fiancé’s son, Cyril. They immediately are attracted to one another, but push their feelings aside for the sake of their parent. Her goal is to get the wedding called off. What she doesn’t expect is to catch the attention of hot bar owner Cyril Dash. To make matters worse he is the son of the future groom. This isn’t icky. They aren’t related. But they both have things they don’t want to share. Imani is concerned that her mother is impulsively wedding as she has just heard that Imani’s dad is marrying a woman younger than herself. Cyril is concerned that his dad hasn’t been honest than he was once suspected in the death of Cyril’s mother. Cyril and Imani have experienced childhood trauma, which the author explores and details in a way that moves the story forward and allows the reader to understand why Cyril dislikes secrets. And Imani has trust issues.

Wow! Another amazing read by Synithia Williams! Part 2 in the Peachtree Cove Series this book was great. I really enjoyed About last night but this book was lengthier and added more story to the town and the people that live there. The drama, the love and chemistry that Cyril and Imani shared had me hooked from the begginging. Two people with pasts they wished they could make disappear managed to fall head over heels in love. Of course there was drama but that kept me hooked. A must read!

Enjoyed this a lot - Dr. Imani Kemp heads home for the surprising news that her mother (who has sworn off love) is getting married in a few weeks. Even more surprising, her new “stepbrother” is hot af and sparks start flying.

I loved Imani’s strength and competence, and the way she loved and supported her mom while still being skeptical of a quick wedding. Her friendship trio seemed like so much fun.

Cyril is also hesitant about his dad getting married so quickly, and both characters have some secrets in their past that they needed to process and share. I liked how their connection through their parents added a little taste of forbidden relationship to the mix, but when they finally got together it was fantastic.

I generally don’t like stories about returning to small town life, but this one worked for me because of the network that Imani clearly had in her hometown. I also appreciated her passion as a doctor to make sure all patients got appropriate treatment.

There were a few things that needed polishing (St. Patrick’s Day isn’t in November?!) but overall a wonderful story and a beautiful cover!