True love is in the details for the Jersey shore’s premier wedding planner in this heart-swooning series about big dreams and happy endings from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.
Avery Sunshine might not have a soul mate of her own, but she still believes in happily ever after—for her clients. Making dreams come true is her business at Sunshine Bridal, which she runs with her … Bridal, which she runs with her two sisters. When her best friend announces her engagement, Avery is thrilled to take charge of the giddy bride-to-be’s big day. Less thrilling? Her best friend’s arrogant and demanding brother, who just so happens to be the man of honor.
Carter Ross’s first instinct: call 911. He promised to always take care of his impulsive little sister, and he honors that vow. Even if it means taking over her wedding, where he is sure Avery will fail. At best, Avery is unpredictable. At worst, if she’s anything like the spitfire of a college girl he remembers, the main event could run wild.
With Avery and Carter wrestling for control, tempers heat up. So does the spark of attraction they’re fighting with every kiss. As the wedding draws near, it’s time to reconcile a rocky past and make a decision that could change everyone’s lives. Because what they’re rebelling against looks a lot like love.
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3 STARS
Love on Beach Avenue is the first book in a new series by Jennifer Probst called The Sunshine Sisters. I loved the family dynamics in this one. I love the small town setting, the beach scenery and the enemies to lovers connection between the two main characters. Or at least I did initially but then it just became too much! The push and pull between them overpowered their connection. They were always trying to one up each other and at times I couldn’t believe the story was about two grown adults. I did enjoy their banter but overall this was lacking the usual chemistry and connection I have come to love in a Jennifer Probst novel. There were a few times I almost DNF’d this but I am glad I stuck through as the second half of the book was much better than the first half. I look forward to next book in the series.
Jennifer Probst can write beautiful romance novels. In Love on Beach Avenue, she chooses an surprising connection. Wedding planner, Avery, knows she has not time for romance. Computer hacker, Carter, doesn’t believe in love, period. Yet when his sister Ally asks Avery to be her wedding planner, Carter insists on being in on the decisions. You’d think the two would rather kill each other than think about hooking up. With a history since Ally and Avery were best friends, Carter just knows the girl will be up to no good. Avery knows bossy big brothers are no help. But one night on Beach Avenue….,
I get giddy every time Jennifer releases a book. She is definitely one of my go-to authors when I’m in a funk and want to be swept away in a good story. Now take that excitement and multiply it by 10 when she releases a new series. New characters to love and new adventures to be had. And let me say, I am totally in love with the Sunshine Sisters!
Avery Sunshine runs her family wedding planning business along with her two sisters. The dynamic between these sisters is fun but at times can get tense. Avery is really the only sister who has always planned to run the family business. With her sister’s help, she’s doing great, but their sometimes lack of enthusiasm can put a lot of stress on herself. And so when her best friend Ally from college calls and needs help planning a last-minute wedding, during the busiest time of the year for the sisters, they aren’t the happiest to have the added weight to their already loaded down schedules.
No one was more surprised when Ally shows up with her brother in tow. Carter was not Avery’s biggest fan, and yes, she had a crush on him back then. Tensions are a little high between the two and when Ally gets a call that she’s needed back home and decides to leave Carter in Cape May with Avery to plan out the wedding – well let’s just say that things get interesting, to say the least.
I love love love Avery and Carter together. They are a bit opposites, but these two together are pure magic. This was a romantic, forbidden (you know GIRL CODE!!) love story that totally swept me off my feet.
I loved her sisters and can’t wait for the rest of the books in the series.
Not bad, but…!
I generally enjoy Jennifer Probst books, and as the first book in The Sunshine Sisters series I expected something to really draw me in. Unfortunately, this one didn’t really do that for me. I wasn’t keen or cheering for either Carter or Avery, and I found each bothered me in their own way. There were some parts which seemed to improve, but then, I found myself either rolling my eyes or even skimming some sections. I hope the next book in this series makes up for this one! I know Jennifer Probst can write phenomenal books, but this one just didn’t meet my high expectations.
I received an ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.
This is truly an opposites attract book. I really liked Avery from the start, she didn’t hesitate to help her friend with wedding planning and was so happy to help. It took me a while to warm up to Carter, who was pretty much a jerk for a while to Avery. I did like that while he didn’t believe in having a HEA he wanted his sister to have her dream wedding & he also said he’d be the Man of Honor. Avery & Carter truly had a lot of issues to work through and I was happy when the finally did.
This was a light hearted read by Jennifer Probst. Avery, a wedding planner, is recruited to plan her college friend’s wedding. She whole heartedly agrees but that puts her in the path of Carter, her friends older brother. This is an enemies to lovers storyline.
I liked Avery and the dynamic with her sisters was great. I couldn’t make myself warm up to Carter. He’s really kind of an ass for most of the book. He’s very rude and patronizing but not even in an alpha male kind of a way. He constantly undermines Avery as she’s planning his sister’s wedding. I didn’t really find myself rooting for Avery and Carter to get together.
Rating: 3 – 3.5 stars
Carter, the hero, was quite the contrary, controlling, used to getting his way type of guy. At least when it came to interacting with Avery, his baby sister’s college bestie, who she’s hired to plan her upcoming nuptials. She seems to push all his emotional elevator buttons at the same time without even trying. These two war with words so much you have to wonder if any sharp objects should ever be left in the same room with them. Honestly, they could come off rather childish, immature, and petty with the manner and how often they always were trying to outdo each other. Let’s just say, I’d like to have given them both some time out in a corner facing the wall somewhere, especially Carter, the provoker most of the time. Not surprisingly, we learn some past history and circumstances between this party of three that sheds light and perspective in this enemies to in love story line.
Avery always seems to come up with the perfect game plan when it comes to weddings. She’s got a knack, connections, and a posse of two other sisters plus a handsome assistant to pull off every itty bitty detail and nightmare scenario that might pop up. She doesn’t have time to breathe yet still hopes to find her dreamboat man one day and set sail for her own HEA. Carter, of course, couldn’t have been more inclined never to say I do. Hence, the inevitable relationship angst. But you know what they say about never…Never say never, my fellow romance book loving friends.
It is likely safe to assume the other two sisters will be featured in upcoming sequels. Bella’s story should be a good one. Single mom with a tragic loss, yet love is patiently waiting in the wings with a handsome, young, dapper gentleman. The other hot tempered, wild child sis has some groveling to do up front if she hopes the Mr. Right she wronged a long time ago will forgive and forget her head full of puddin’ mistake.
If you are looking for a beach backdrop romantic read while sunning on the beach, this feels like it would fit right in. Brace yourself though for some impetuous, back and forth bickering and knucklehead actions, along with the realization a closed mind keeps from having an open heart. Also, thinking you always have to win..makes you the biggest loser.
Having read this genre before, it had a very familiar feel to it, complete with the broken heart and inevitable groveling. However, I’m glad they finally stopped throwing the gauntlet down and gave in to love instead of animosity.
Title: Love on Beach Avenue, Series: The Sunshine Sisters (Book 1), Author: Kristen Probst, Pages: 315, Pub. Date: 5/1/20, stand-alone but part of a series, despise turns to lust/love, back and forth bickering, wedding planner heroine, wishy-washy/afraid to love/jerk at times/handsome computer expert hero, slow burn, a few smexy scenes late in book, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM drama.
Book 1 – Love on Ocean Avenue
Book 2 – Temptation on Ocean Drive (Bella’s HEA)
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no relationship or affiliation between this reviewer and the author, publisher, or NetGalley.)
When I read the blurb and saw that this series is based in my home state of New Jersey, I was excited to read it. Love on Beach Avenue was an alright read. This was an enemies-to-lovers romance and while I am not a major fan of them I still like to read them. There was an obvious tension between Avery and Carter-a mix of feelings, lust, and somewhat animosity. It was interesting to see how it would all play out and how the relationship would grow. I did like the family relationships on both sides. That was sweet. I am intrigued by Avery’s sisters, Taylor and Bella and want to read their stories. Overall this was a fine read.
4.5 Stars for Love on Beach Avenue which book one in The Sunshine Sisters Series.
Wow what a great start to a new series!!!
This is a fun entertaining read with great characters and a great story, it has all the feels you want in a great book and it’s small town romance at its best.
Avery Sunshine runs Sunshine Bridal with her two sisters and it’s their job to make dreams come true, it’s their job to make the perfect wedding day and when her best friend announces her engagement she couldn’t be happier to make her day perfect, what she didn’t expect was to deal with the brides brother on a day to day basis and she certainly didn’t expect him to question every choice she put forward and more to the point she didn’t expect Carter Ross to be so hot!!!!!
Carter and Avery end up butting more than just heads as they get to know each other and feelings come to the surface but Carter has always said relationships are not for him will Avery be the woman to make him change his mind….
This book ticked all my boxes, I smiled, I laughed and at times I cried but most importantly I loved every minute of this fun small town romance and I can’t wait for the next visit to Cape May.
New Series, New Family, New Setting
My two favorite things about a Jennifer Probst series are that we get a family that loves each other but also isn’t afraid to fight and say mean things, in other words is realistic, and we get a setting/location that is lovingly described and makes you not only feel like you’re there but makes you want to be there too!
Love on Beach Avenue introduces the Sunshine sisters and Cape May. The sisters run a premier wedding planning company in what is becoming a destination wedding hot sport. Avery, the oldest sister, has agreed to plan her best friend’s wedding but now she has to deal with an old nemesis. Carter loves his younger sister more than anything, except maybe his dog, and believed Avery was once a bad influence. Now as they work together they both realize how wrong they were about each other.
I loved that this was a best friend’s older brother book but also a bit of enemies to lovers too! I also loved that he was 40 but there was no mention of “hot for his age.” But most of all I love that we are getting a new family and new place to visit!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
What an interesting read! The characters are engaging and have intense connections throughout. Love the story line as old friends reconnect and new friendships are formed. Look forward to more from the Sunshine sisters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book; all opinions expressed are my own.
A 3.5 stars story.
This series is the beginning of a series that centers around three very different sisters, all working the family business, Sunshine Bridal.
This first story belongs to Avery. When her best friend from college calls asking Avery to plan a wedding in just three months, something Avery wouldn’t dream of doing for someone else, Avery commits and will do anything to make her friend happy.
But when her friend, Ally, arrives in town, along comes her very strict, unbendable brother Carter. The man that became Ally’s guardian when she was only 10 and he 18, and the one that has a great dislike for Avery. That’s when the plot thickens.
I have to confess that I was 30% into the story, was not liking it at all and was ready to call it quits. But I was committed to read it to the end. The main characters, Avery and Carter were not to my liking and their behavior was at times condescending , and at others obnoxious.
But then the story got interesting and we get to understand Carter’s behavior as well as Avery’s. The secondary characters, especially Zoe, Avery’s niece as well as Carter’s dog Lucy were delightful and helped to make the story more enjoyable..
Due to the fact that it took 1/3 of the story for me to start getting engaged, I have given it a 3 stars.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Montlake Romance. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
This is steamy love story that will keep you reading until the very last page. Love can strike when you least expect it. You need to be open and willing to embrace it or it can crush you in ways you can’t even imagine. This stubborn and sassy couple prove that love is worth the risk. Planning a wedding can bring people closer together and show them love is magical and consuming. Jennifer does a beautiful job with her writing. It’s like you can picture ever little detail of the world she creates in your head. I have to admit I really wanted some cake after the cake testing everything sounded so amazing. The characters are charming and easy to fall in love with. The sisters bring such charisma to the story. You get a glimpse of their love interests for their own book which only make you look forward to reading more of this series. This book brought me some much needed joy at a time where everything else seems to be falling apart and I am so grateful to Jennifer for that. This is one read that will have you smiling and laughing the whole way through I suggest you get a copy.
So I am a big fan of Jennifer Probst. This one was good and a solid start to a series about three sisters running a wedding planning agency. But it wasn’t 100% for me this time. First I’ll tell you what I liked. I like each of the sisters and their unique personalities. Book one is about Avery, who was a little wild in college but now is a workaholic and dreams of her own HEA. I like the feel of the town they are in, I like the hint of the stories to come, and I mostly like the love story here. But.
Carter is such a butt in the first half. Like condescending and rude and messing with her business! Then in the second half, it’s like he gets a personality transplant. Gone are his uptight judgey ways , just poof. Also the love scenes were worded a little cheesy to me. But all in all, it was enjoyable and I’ll continue to look out for more of her books.
ARC received for an honest review
You know when you pick up a JP book you are going to get heartfelt, wonderful story that you are going to fall in love with.
And I did with Love on Beach Avenue – though it took me a while to warm up to Carter – just like it took Avery to. Sheesh that man was frustrating!
I mean, what could be better than a wedding planner who wants nothing but to fall in love, and a man who doesn’t believe in love? You know that there are going to be sparks. We knew that we would get our HEA, but boy it was a bit rough getting there for our lovelies.
Someone must have been cutting onions near me at times too, as there was definite eye leakage at times.
We have a wonderful cast of secondary characters, and I cannot wait for you to meet them, especially Lucy and Zoe.
I am really looking forward to Avery’s sisters to get their stories. I think I know who they will be with, but can’t wait to see how the tales go.