The Wedding Diary by Margaret James

All chocolate is medicinal. It’s a well known fact. When taken in sufficient quantities, it mends a broken heart.

Published by Choc Lit in May 2013

Pages - 304

Goodreads Summary

Where's a Fairy Godmother when you need one?
If you won a fairy-tale wedding in a luxury hotel, you d be delighted right? But what if you didn't have anyone to marry? Cat Aston did have a fiancé, but now it looks like her Prince Charming has done a runner.
Adam Lawley was left devastated when his girlfriend turned down his heartfelt proposal. He's made a vow never to fall in love again.
So when Cat and Adam meet, they shouldn't even consider falling in love. After all, they're both broken hearted. But for some reason they can't stop thinking about each other. Is this their second chance for happiness, or are some things just too good to be true?

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Imagine winning your dream wedding, only to discover you are now groomless! A frightening prospect for anyone, so it isn’t surprising that the main character Cat, panics just a little. She has always dreamed of the most amazing wedding, so you can’t blame her for going along with it, hoping that a groom might land in her lap from nowhere. How fortunate for her that one does and what a charmer he is.

The story appears in a calendar format rather than a diary, as each new chapter is a new day in the lives of Adam and Cat. Told from alternate viewpoints, you watch helplessly as they get used and spat out by their respective spouses, until they find each other. A gorgeous weekend in the stunning and beautifully described Italian setting, seals their blossoming friendship, only to find the glue wasn’t permanent by the time they returned home. Slippery exes have a habit of screwing everything up and one in particular makes their relationship a little difficult.

I enjoyed the plot of the story and some of the characters. Unfortunately one in particular really annoyed me and I found it difficult to ignore her. Fanny drove me mad. She was so bossy and rude in the first half of the book that I found it really difficult to believe her complete transformation by the end of the book. She really just didn’t gel with me. Also Cat wasn’t a favourite with me either, she comes across as very weak and easily led. I wanted to give her a good shake to realise earlier on what an awful choice Jack would be especially when she takes him back so easily.

I loved Adam, from his first step onto the page – even if  he was a bit of a romantic fool. I’m always wary of people who rush into marriage and is this book there are a few characters who get swept away with the romance of it all far too easily for my liking. However, if Adam should fall from the shelf, I would happily swoop it to put the broken pieces back together. His gentlemanly ways of paying for everything and opening doors, caused my heart to flutter just a little.

Other than finding certain characters annoying, the book was enjoyable. The story was warm and funny, showing just how wonderful and romantic it can be when you find the right person to spend the rest of your life with. A quick and easy read, with a fairy-tale ending.