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!

This book was good. It was highly entertaining and I enjoyed it. It was a great book to enjoy on a rainy day. This kept you wanting to know how it's going to end.
I just reviewed The Secret to a Southern Wedding by Synithia Williams. #TheSecrettoaSouthernWedding #NetGalley
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THE SECRET TO A SOUTHERN WEDDING by Synithia Williams is a contemporary romance that tells the dual point of view of Imani and Cyril, whose parents are getting married after dating for a short time. Imani's mother, Linda, sends her a picture of the wedding invitation and refuses to answer any calls or texts, which prompts Imani to come home to see if this wedding is serious. After the infamy of her parent's divorce, Imani left Peachtree Grove, a small southern town that she feels is more focused on gossip. From when Imani was 14 until now, she doesn't trust men, and she's lived her life with the view NEVER to wear rose-colored glasses and not trust love. She learned this way of thinking from her mother, so her mother's decision to get married to a man Imani knows nothing of, she's convinced her mother is brainwashed and is set on breaking the marriage up.

When she arrives at Peachtree Grove, she meets Cyril, her mother's fiancee's son. They are immediately attracted to one another, and though they are hesitant to explore these feelings, they eventually do.
Cyril, for his part, left Boston four years ago to move to Peachtree Grove after his mother was murdered and the strain of that death. 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.

I also liked that we met so much of the town and both character's friends and colleagues. There were some bonus chapters at the end of this book, so this is the start of a series.

The romance was told to me more instead of experiencing it along with the characters. It didn't seem plausible when Cyril immediately told Imani he loved her after their one night together.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book. It was mildly steamy but still a solid romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this Advanced Reader Copy. All thoughts were my own and were left voluntarily.

I just reviewed The Secret to a Southern Wedding by Synithia Williams. #TheSecrettoaSouthernWedding #NetGalley
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Synithia Williams has a winner on her hands with the “Peachtree Cove Series.” This is an enjoyable easy quick fast-paced read, that is cute, witty, forgiveness, drama, healing, second chances, the characters are awesome and a plot that will have you on the edge of your seat turning page after page. Imani is from the small town of Peachtree Cove is now one of the most sought-after OB-GYNs in Tallahassee. Imani can’t believe that she is receiving the award for doctor of the year. Imani and her friend Towanda are having lunch in the hospital cafeteria when she receives a text for her mother Linda inviting her to her wedding to Preston Dash. So, Imani is headed to her hometown of Peachtree Cove to put a stop to the nuptials. Cyril and his dad Preston moved to the small town of Peachtree Cove after the tragic death of his mom. Preston is the owner of A Couple Beers the local bar. When Cyril and Imani meet Imani is dead set on putting an end to her mom and Preston’s upcoming wedding. Cyril has other plans he is not going to let Imani interfere with the wedding as his father has found Linda the love of his life. As these two go and back and forth with their camaraderie they find out they are attracted to each other.

In addition to Linda and Preston making their way down the aisle will there be a double ceremony. If you’re looking for a fun and exciting read that is witty with some drama then you will need to pick up “The Secret To A Southern Wedding.” I know you will enjoy it just as much as I have.

I received an ARC and I am leaving my review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGally and Harlequin I just finished The Secret to a Southern Wedding by Synithia Williams. This is a Contemporary, Black Romance set in a small town. This a touching story about Imani and Cyril who’s parents have suddenly dropped on them that they are getting married. Imani is completely blindsided and questioning 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 parents. Imani and Cyril have great chemistry and are loving children to their parents. They both have experienced childhood trauma which features heavily in the story and serves as the source of conflict for them and their parents. I really enjoyed this story and the small town vibes, and gave this book 4 Stars. There is a little steam and hoped for more. This appears to be the first in a series and I look forward to reading more about Peachtree Cove.

3.5⭐️I loved the representation of a black OBGYN! The story as a whole was pretty interesting but the pacing was slower than I anticipated. The plot was decent, the FMC returned back to her small town after learning that her mother with a plan to stop the wedding. I liked Imani and Cyril together, and I understood why they were protective of their parents. However, I felt there needed to be more boundaries between the parents and the children. Imani overstepped a few times, albeit for good reason, but it seemed like she didn’t trust her mother. I think the the narrator did a good job bringing the story to life.

All opinions are my own. I received advanced copies through book tours hosted by HearOurVoices.
The author did an amazing job with character backstories, the descriptions of the town and the storyline of the main characters.
I chose to cosplay as Imani because in some ways I could relate to her. I wanted to cry every time she cried. When her mother and father divorced due to infidelity plus a bigger scandal, she didn't allow anyone but a select few to get close. Love is false in her eyes, men will betray her just like her father. My first marriage ended due to infidelity and what seemed like a lifetime of lies. When I tried dating the first time, all I got were lies or false personas from the suitors. I gave up.
Imani intent on stopping her mother's impending nuptials doesn't expect to fall for anyone in her hometown let alone the son of her mother's fiancé.
When I gave up and decided to make friends instead, I ended up finding someone I clicked with who understood me and was willing to be patient with my healing heart.
Imani and Cyril are the opposing teams to each other. One wants their parents to be happy more than anything while the other wants them broken up. As they are pushed together by the parentals and get to know one another, sparks are flying even more than they were.
But secrets don't make for good relationships.

Quick Summary: A down home Southern romance experience

My Review: The Secret to a Southern Wedding by Synithia Williams is associated with the Peachtree Cove series.

Premise of the Story: A mother, a daughter, a father, and a son each find love and happiness after enduring horrible tragedies

About the Book: Family secrets, gentlemen callers, dirty affairs, community gossip, and disgruntled relatives are a part of this novel. Despite all that goes wrong, two couples find out what it means to truly have family, as well as a second chance at life.

About the Characters: The leads in this story had an instant attraction to one another. Even though they initially fought against exploring what they felt for each other, they always ended up being drawn back together. I suppose one could say that their coupling was inevitable. With that said, the intensity and expressed depth of love that was communicated toward the story's end came across as rushed, which made me consider the story in a different light.

The parents of the main characters were often a bit much, in my opinion. I did not care for either of them at the beginning of the story. They came across as pushy, stubborn, and a wee bit selfish. They grew on me later (after the pop up visit situation and post the resultant actions taken) but not by much more.

My Final Say: Readers who enjoy hometown love stories with a bit of busybody mess and a hint of second chance reconciliation should like this novel.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Cover: ⭐

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press), and to NetGalley for making this work available in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 3.25 stars?

A long time ago I saw this STUNNING cover and went "oh that looks like something I want to read", then months later I saw the book on Netgalley and decided to check it out and actually see if it was something I'd be interested in. When I read that the MCs' parents were getting married to each other I had to request the book to see how the author would handle that because... that is a trope with the potential to get weird.

Imani and Cyril are both constantly saying stuff like “I can’t fall in love with the person who’s actively working against me” but this is not some kind of rivals to lovers situation. If their parents marry then they’re going to become step-siblings, yet that is never a worry for them?? They finally mentioned it explicitly around the 35% mark, saying that it would be weird since their parents are getting married, only to then go “but they’re not married yet so let’s keep going” and then hook up.

And like, I get it, it's no big deal because they're not related by blood, but if they marry they will be legally siblings, and there is not one single characters to brings up how that would be weird. Nope, everyone actually encourages them to be together, even their parents.

In the end the two of them get together seriously and the parents are also dating (not married yet but they tease that they potentially could in the future). If you're okay with it, good for you. To me that was still weird, I'm sorry.

Generally speaking the story was okay. Some conversations felt a little repetitive at times but it was interesting enough to keep me reading.

The pacing was kind of all over the place towards the end. They move out of the small town, then literally in the following chapter they’re going back because something happened, then the following chapter has a sudden time skip of six months. We don’t even see them get back together during that chapter (we just see the parents telling them they can be together if they want) and then in the random time skip of the following chapter they’re saying I love you and proposing marriage.

We meet Imani Kemp first. She is newly named 'Doctor of the Year' at Mid-State Health, and by all accounts, she is a successful and beautiful OB-GYN. To escape her small town, Peachtree Cove, Georgia, and the sordid history she has there, she finds herself in Tampa, FL, going along to get along. When an unexpected and shocking text from her mother, brings her back to her childhood town, Dr. Kemp can't begin to take in what her small town has become and who the cute guy at the Dairy Bar is.

It would seem that the Dairy Bar is on the outskirts of town, but somehow, this is where Cyril Dash and Imani meet, unknowingly where their paths will eventually cross. Cyril is a transplant from Baltimore, MD. He and his dad, Preston, moved down after a tragic family event tore them away from the only family they knew. However, the people of Peachtree Cove have taken in Cyril and his dad and have been the extended family that they needed. Cyril is a handsome business owner who has been bitten by the small-town bug and has no intentions of going back up north to Baltimore.

This was a cute read. I needed this love story to break up all the heavy books I'd read this month. I love a good small-town romance no matter how unrealistic it seems. Secrets, love, beer, and corndogs, what more could you ask for from this cute love story?

After everything Imani's mother had gone through, there would be no doubt that she'd return to her hometown to ensure her mother was safe with her new fiance. Just as she gets her coveted corn dog, she meet-cutes Cyril. But Cyril is not just a handsome newish resident, he's her mother's fiance's son. And the sparks are undeniable. There is a lot of intrigue and suspense in the backstories. Despite all of the harrowing events, everyone gets their happily ever after. The Secret to a Southern Wedding is a lovely romance book. The cover is gorgeous. Synithia Williams is now a go-to author.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved it!! It was giving everything I love— black love, small town romance and SECRETS!

Great on character development and the relationship between Cyril and Imani was truly organic!

Synithia is new to me but this won’t be the last I read from her.

Thank you to the NetGalley, Hear Out Voices Tour and Canary Street Press for the physical arc of this in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are the truth and of my own volition.

Imani is living her life as Doctor of the Year in FL. Until her mom texts her and says she getting married. Imani is shocked because her mother swore off men and dating after her father betrayed her. Imani rushes back to her hometown of Peachtree Cove GA with one mission. To stop the wedding. That is until to runs into a cute guy as soon as she gets to town. Such a lovely meet cute at the local Diary Bar. Sparks fly between them until she’s figures out the cute guy is actually Cyril, the son to the man her mother plans to marry. Cyril and his father Preston moved from Baltimore to Peachtree Cove a few years ago after the death of his mother. Are they running from something or could they not just bare the memories of their deceased loved one and decided to start over somewhere new.

This book was messy in such a good way. Southern small town nosiness. She doesn’t believe in love after her parent’s divorce but the one guy she falls for should be off limits but I didn’t say we were in a small town in Georgia so who knows what will happen. Both of these families have secrets they are hiding but are there really any secrets in a town so small where everyone knows everyone. The book very much gave small town feel and the fact that I live in one I could really relate. I loved that it brought up serious issues also that as shown in the book are prevalent all over. I wish there was more at the ending. I didn’t want it to ended. I needed like a look a year in the future to see where everyone would be at. I love the secondary characters and I need stories for them asap especially Imani’s best friend. There is a bonus story at the end of the book. I read the 1st page and I know it’s giving me drama and it’s going to leave my reeling and I’m totally here for it.

I have read many of the authors books, and I have enjoyed every one of them, but this one is now my favorite. I absolutely loved this story. From the messiness to the representation and coverage of some sensitive subjects. The writing style and flow of the story is top notch . It was emotional and mixed with laughter and some tears. This was one of those books that I could not put down until I was completely finished with the story. I'm hoping we get a couple more stories about this particular town

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions

This was a fun and FUNNY Southern romance full of family drama that sees a successful Black OBGYN's mother getting re-married to a new man with a swoony older son who her daughter can't help falling for. I LOVED the forbidden love angle and Southern setting. It was such an enjoyable summer read! Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Beverly Jenkins or Preslaysa Williams. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This was my first book by Synithia Williams and I was not disappointed!

This cover is stunning, but unfortunately that’s about all I liked. I was very bored and this close to DNF-ing. Not for me.

This is my first read by author Synithia Williams. Also, I'm pretty new to the romance genre and most definately the ones that are tear-jerkers. I liked this book overall! It was a fast read! A Black romance story set in a fictional Georgia small-town. It follows a doctor named Imani Kemp who is under a lot of stress as the hospital's doctor of the year. Imani’s is quite a likeable character. I enjoyed that it was a small-town trope, but I wasn’t too keen of the parents about to get married and their kids falling in love at the same time. I will read more books by this author. #netgalley #TheSECRETTOASOUTHERNWEDDING

Phenomenal read!
This is my first book by Synithia Williams and it will not be my last! I loved the cover first but when I finally dove in I was like omg this is what I need.
The sense of community was something that I felt gave me a warm hug. It was exactly what I was needing. The romance def came in second to all of the developments, both internally and family wise, but I did not mind it.
All secondary characters were bright and vivid, I def laughed out loud so many times.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dr. Imani Kemp receives a text from her mom stating she is getting married. That’s really odd because from what Imani knows her mother isn’t even dating anyone. Imani is forced to take time off and return home to Peachtree Cove to talk some sense into her mother. After an impromptu meeting between mustard, corn dog, Imani and a handsome stranger’s shirt she is finally ready to talk to her mom. Cyril is here to have his fathers back and is determined to not let his father’s fiancé daughter break up their happily ever after.

This story was very cute starting from when Imani and Cyril meet. I ate this book up. This was my first read from Synithia Williams and it definitely won’t be the last. The mixture of funny moments and tear jerking moments made me hold this dear to my heart. Definitely worth the read. 4.25/5 stars

Thank you Hear Our Voices Tours, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Imani left her hometown years ago after a scandal and never planned to go back. However, she learns her mother is remarrying and she's concerned - she hasn't heard about the groom to be before and thinks its too soon for a wedding and goes home to stop the wedding. She soon learns that you can go back home again and starts to fit right back in with her old high school friends. Great character development, an entertaining storyline and a new romance in the works.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.