Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay & Rene Gutteridge

What if God showed up in the flesh and offered to write your love story? That's the premise for great this book.

Jessie Stone has spent thirty-five years fantasizing about marriage proposals, wedding dresses, and falling in love. She’s been a bridesmaid eleven times, waved dozens of couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember. But shopping in the love-of-her-life department hasn't been quite as productive. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best…well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.

So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life, Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her that God has a better love story than one of the thousands she’s cooked up in her journals? Will she trust Him with her pen when it appears her dreams of being the bride are forever lost?

A romantic comedy with a spiritual twist, Never the Bride is what it means to lose control—and getting more than any woman could ever imagine.

My review:

I just finished rereading Never the Bride, this time, aloud to my husband. We both laughed our way through, hmm-ing at the poignant prose. Rene’s writing is such fun to read. She gives you glimpses into the heart of her heroine while keeping the story light, fun and moving swiftly forward.

My favorite part? God. I loved how Rene (and Cheryl) portrayed God longing for relationship with us. And for God to write your love story? C’mon! But the story doesn’t ignore the truth about how waiting on God can be confusing, difficult and painful. The story dives into those emotions. You’ll see your own struggles.

Bravo to Cheryl for coming up with this story (& writing the screenplay) and to Rene for penning the novelization. Fantastic teamwork and a fantastic story. Can’t wait to see it on film.

Highly recommended.