One thing I will say about this book is that is entertaining for sure! The drama that unfolds between the family members is definitely something of true fiction. I feel, ha ha ha. In the first book of the series, we’re exploring a different set of characters in this world, but in this second novel, we are actually Following a different character, which is Martha one of the two sisters from the first book. In this book, Martha is navigating dealing with the beginning and not only a new and fresh relationship but also the compromises it takes when you are considering marriage. I love that Martha still gets what she is wishing for in the end, I just wish that it didn’t take so many stressful situations to get there at times. The Greenwald family (specifically Eve) was working my nerve most of the story, but I understood that her actions were supposed to lead us somewhere greater in the end. I did enjoy the story and getting some closure about some of the other characters from the first book of the series! 3.5 ⭐️

This was such a calm, comfy, palette cleanser read. At one point, I was ready to throw in towel for my girl Martha because the MIL was insufferable. I did see a lot of her struggles came from herself and insecurities A self journey of self and love was refreshing to see Martha go through. The struggles previously do seem to fit in so it’s kind of hard not to see the growth as much. I did enjoy this book but at times it did get long winded.

Thanks Net Galley and Waterbrook for this Arc

this book felt so very true and human. the books felt like it truly did know the characters.
when you hear authors talk about how often feel like they know there people, they are there with them, they sit with them, they become part of their world and they see and talk through them because they did infact create these living characters on the pages. and this feels so true with Rosey Lee. she knows her characters. she knows them all the way through and they are written with that knowledge. the book is full of all the nuance of real families and relationships. we dont see into many of other people actual lives. and im sure if we did we would have things to say. but i dare say if anyone looked into our own they would have a fair few things to say! and that because family is family and love and love, and it makes us in our little bubbles be and do anything and everything in the end, for each other.
Martha truly finds herself growing in this book. noone is born whole or formed. some people might go on more journey routes than others. or they might hit stumbles which mean walls get built or defences come down which changes who we are or who we manage to be. this is what Martha feels like, full of prickly walls. but she learns so much. and she and her fiance are so great. the way they communicate and move together is just gorgeous to read. i really was rooting for them two.
i know some people felt off towards Martha especially at the start. but i always liked her(does that say something about me?) i always felt soft towards her. and in this book im so glad i stuck my kneck out for her as she truly comes through for herself and the reader. and of course for her fiance.

A Garden Wedding was good. It wasn’t bad, just not super memorable for me. The setting was really nice—I liked the whole garden vibe, it made the story feel cozy and peaceful. And I appreciated that the book tried to explore family stuff and second chances. There were definitely some sweet moments.

The pacing felt kinda off—some parts dragged, and others moved too fast. I also didn’t feel super connected to the characters, which made it harder to stay invested in what was happening.

That said, it was still an easy, light read. If you're looking for something chill with a little bit of romance and reflection, its a cute read!

There was just WAY too much therapy-speak, but not in a literal therapy sense. Let me try to explain.

I think it's great that people are becoming more comfortable with therapy techniques in their relationships. It's definitely becoming more common for people to verbalize these techniques with both family members and romantic partners! But, like, who actually talks like that 24/7? Was there a reason for these characters to be constantly talking about and thinking through things like they thought someone was secretly evaluating them? Earning points for virtuosity?

This review probably sounds ruder than I mean it to be, but I'd rather read a story with messily imperfect dialogue and characters that do not try so hard to be perfect. This one was just not for me.

A Gardin Wedding is a heartwarming, lighthearted addition to the Gardin family saga that thoughtfully explores grappling with past trauma for personal growth. The story centers on Martha, a highly strung doctor focused on social climbing and making decisions based on external validation. She finally achieves her goal – a proposal from her wealthy and well-connected boyfriend – only to discover he may not be the person she believed him to be. This realization triggers a significant self-reflective journey for Martha, where she confronts her behaviors, motivations, and their deep connection to her past trauma.

I enjoyed rejoining the Gardin family in this installment, gaining deeper insight into Martha's character and how her past influences her present actions. I particularly appreciated how the book handled themes of grief, forgiveness, and mental health with care and sensitivity, allowing the reader to truly follow Martha's path toward becoming a healthier, better version of herself.

You may enjoy this book if you like:
- Novels centered on multigenerational families
- Stories focusing on character personal development
- Light relationship drama anchored by Christian values

This novel follows The Gardins of Edin, and it's best to read that book first to better understand the Gardin family, the central characters in this series.

Star Rating: 3.5

A lovely follow up to Lee's Gardin of Eden! This installment is no less filled with drama, family secrets and reconciliation. I'm looking forward to the continuation of this series.

Revisiting the Gardin women is an absolute treat. This story is one of evolution...the way a human being evolves into who they are meant to be, who they are meant to be with and how a family finds themselves and becomes the source of strength each person needs. I found myself crying in the end throughout the last chapter because Rosey Lee beautifully ties this story in a gorgeous bow that will make you wanting more.

Rosey Lee did a terrific job in incorporating the importance of health, supporting caregivers and of course libraries and community. I absolutely loved the details throughout with regards to the beautiful surroundings of flowers and gardens and the wedding dress, which I had to Google to see in real life (the incredible story of the designer is one not to be missed and a beautiful tribute that Rosey pays homage to).

Entertaining and well written. A Gardin Wedding picks up where The Gardins of Edin ends so reading that first helped me to better enjoy this book and understand the characters. The Gardin ladies are back and apparently still full of shenanigans. This story takes you along Martha's and Oji's relationship and it did not disappoint. I was hesitate to take this journey with Martha as she wasnt a fave in the first book but glad I did. It was beautiful to read the growth of the characters and the life lessons put into the story. Overall I really enjoyed the story and hope to read more from Rosey Lee.

Thank you Netgalley and Waterbrook & Multnomah for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

pretty good, well written, romance with some good ideas and fun themes. would recommend. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

“This is love. Wherever we are and whatever we go through, this is home. And because of it, I’ve found everything I’ve needed all along.“

Though I don’t typically quote the end of a story in my review, the events leading up to the wedding in this story were so engaging I read it in two days! The moment Martha’s cousin said that she and her fiancé are both “playing a game of chess”, I worried that she might not get a Happily Ever After. In the previous story, if Martha had questions, she demanded answers. This time, we saw a softer side of her. Rather than getting angry, she thought about Oji’s ringless proposal until she almost combusted. LOL. I won’t delve into why Martha finally discussed the topic, but the tension leading to that moment, Oji’s momma, and Martha’s past insecurities made for a compelling narrative.

The author’s research, realistic depiction of dementia, and Martha and Oji’s premarital counseling are other aspects I found commendable. Now I’m waiting for Mary’s HEA, as I recall from the first story, her ex-boyfriend was horrible.

Great story for those who love contemporary romance, African American stories, family sagas, inspiration, Women’s fiction, and Christian romance.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

Interested in new beginnings? Check out A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee. It’s available soon, don’t miss this one.

Great read! First read from this author. This book makes me want to read more from this author. Kept my attention and interest until the end.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I didn’t quite enjoy A Garden Wedding as much as the first book in the series. Although I understand the author uses biblical parallels for the characters, I struggled to grasp the connection between the biblical events and the story of the Gardin Eve. For me, the character of Eve was difficult to like, and even when her relationship with Martha started to improve, I didn’t feel any real change in her.

The pacing of the book also felt off at times. Some parts seemed to drag, while others progressed too quickly. The author is a talented writer, but I did feel that certain themes, like the constant crying and wiping of tears, became repetitive. Perhaps it’s just me, but it didn’t feel realistic for an entire family to be so emotionally vulnerable in every scene.

That said, I did appreciate the way the author tackled difficult topics like dementia. The subject is handled with care, offering insight into the support available for family members and ways to ease the effects on the patient. The storyline involving Oji and Martha, especially when she didn’t recognise that they were the same person, was well done and added depth to the narrative, particularly when it contributed to the wedding cancellation.

I also liked how the author advocates for self-reflection, improvement, and therapy. However, I would have liked to see more development of Eve’s character—specifically, what changed her heart. A bit more perspective on her transformation would have been helpful. Additionally, the author could work on showing the emotions the characters evoke, rather than telling the reader.

Overall, it’s a good story with some valuable themes, and I think it’s worth a read. I’m giving it 3 stars

This follow-up to The Gardins of Edin promises a heartfelt journey filled with love, forgiveness, new beginnings, and a sprinkle of family drama.

🌿 Meet Martha Gardin: a successful yet delightfully messy heroine whose road to happiness with the charming Oji Greenwald is far from smooth. Between navigating family tensions, a crisis in Oji’s life, and her own insecurities, Martha faces challenges that might just lead to the ultimate growth and redemption.

🌟 If you’re a fan of stories about complicated families, second chances, and emotional journeys with guaranteed happy endings, this one’s for you!

Loved this story, but that couple and their mother-in-law were wild! I was really into how they handled their relationship while dealing with her opinions. It got me thinking about balancing personal life and family. The story was great, and I bet lots of people will relate. It made me think about family and boundaries. It was well-written; I highly recommend it—you won't be sorry! Thanks for the ARC!

Thank you very much to Just Read Tours and NetGalley for providing with with a copy of A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee! It is always an honor to read advance copies of authors' work and I appreciate the opportunity!

I want to preface this by saying that it's possible that I would have enjoyed this book more of I had read the first book in the series prior to reading this one. There were lots of references back to the first book and I'm sure certain plot points would have been more meaningful with the context of the previous book. For that reason, if you do read this book, I recommend reading it AFTER the first book. Some series can be read out of order; although you can read this book as a standalone, I definitely felt like I was missing some information at some parts of this book.

That being said, A Gardin Wedding fell really flat to me. For starters, the character development lacked depth. Again, it's possible that the characters were more fully developed in the first book and maybe Ms. Lee felt that she didn't need to spend as much time fleshing them out this time around. Even so, I think it's important that each character, especially the main characters, feels real to the reader. I struggled to see the characters beyond the basic text. It's clear that the other characters see Martha as hot-headed and intrusive, but actually seeing inside her head as the reader, she comes off as very analytical and thoughtful. Even though a major theme of the book is that she's working on this part of herself, as the reader, we never actually see her struggle - we're told that she's struggling, but it's never portrayed in a way that adequately conveys the turmoil that must go along with such a personal journey.

Additionally, the chemistry between Martha and Oji is practically non-existent. I thought it was so bizarre how little they seem to know each other at the beginning of the novel, and while they apparently get to know each other and work out their communication issues through therapy, those surely pivotal sessions and conversations are never shown to us. It makes their pathway from being on the verge of breaking up to getting married after all seem very sudden.

Pacing in general was another flaw. Time progresses with each chapter, and the time jumps were both inconsistent and resulted in major chunks of the story being left out. This isn't just limited to the progression of Martha and Oji's relationship; many of the obstacles that the characters face progress or are solved in the space of these gaps between chapters and we're just told of them after the fact in the next chapter.

I love that Rosey Lee wanted to write a romance story with more depth to it. This story tackles tough issues like in-law struggles, dementia, and the challenges that come with merging lives as a couple. Unfortunately, I do think A Gardin Wedding is need of some more thorough editing to help bring some vibrancy to the story. One of the most common pieces of writing advice I've seen is "show, don't tell," and I think applying that concept to this manuscript would solve a lot of its flaws. While the story might have been more meaningful had I read the first in the series, there are some deeper problems here beyond me just not understanding the full context that can only be solved by further edits.

Unfortunately, I have no memory of reading this, except for the fact I know that I restarted it multiple times. It just didn't stick with me.

Overall: 4

We back with the Edin sisters and get an update on where everyone is. Although they've made strides, somethings never change. They are still trying to hide the truth from each other instead of leaning on each other for the love and support they need. We continue the miscommunications, lies and secrets among the women and their men. Will Martha and Oji make it down the aisle? Another great romance written by Rosey Lee.