After leaving her old life behind and starting over for good, a former country star finds herself at odds with a handsome new man. But is he the enemy . . . or her only ally?

Musician Ella McMillan can’t believe she just walked away from her life. So long, boyfriend. Goodbye, country music career. Coming home to Magnolia Harbor could be a fresh start with her mom—until Ella discovers that her mother is getting married again. Now Ella’s been roped into planning an engagement party with the groom’s utterly gorgeous and infuriatingly buttoned-up son. Fortunately, they have one thing in common, even if they don’t agree on what to do about it . . .

Dr. Dylan Killough strongly objects to his father’s upcoming marriage. He’ll do almost anything to sabotage the engagement, and he needs Ella’s help. But despite her own feelings, Ella is determined to throw the perfect party and give her mother the wedding of her dreams. Between sampling party hors d’oeuvres and visiting romantic wedding venues, sparks are suddenly flying between Ella and Dylan-and Dylan is questioning everything he thought he knew about relationships. Now can he convince Ella that he believes in happily-ever-afters after all?

Titles in the Moonlight Bay series include — The Cottage on Rose Lane – Summer on Moonlight Bay – Return to Magnolia Harbor – A Wedding on Lilac Lane –

Title:  A Wedding on Lilac Lane
Series:  Moonlight Bay #4
Author:  Hope Ramsay
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  April 27, 2021
Publisher:  Forever
My Rating:  4 stars

A Wedding on Lilac Lane is the fourth title in the Moonlight Bay series.  While this one “could” be read as a standalone title, I believe reading the series in order would give you a better feel for the town and the secondary characters that you’ll meet along the way.  Not totally necessary as some folks and their relationships are explained either in dialogue or narration, but a suggestion.

Ella has returned home to reconnect with her mother after leaving her long-term boyfriend and band far behind.  It’s hard to be in a relationship when half of the couple thinks flirting with every female in sight equals promoting the band.  Yeah, easy to see through that excuse.  It wasn’t the easiest of choices but Ella felt it was time for the break.  She had hoped that time with her mom would ease old hurts, give them a better relationship to grow with… unfortunately, she hadn’t counted on her mom continuing on with her life and getting married soon after Ella got back in town.

Dylan has absolutely no intention of letting this woman take his mom’s place in his father’s or his own life.  None.  It’s beside the point that his mother died when he was a child, or that as an adult he should be glad that his father has found love again.  No, just no.  And he will do anything and everything in his power to break up this relationship.  When he and his soon-to-be stepsister, Ella, are challenged with giving the happy couple an engagement party Dylan sees this as a perfect opportunity to wreak chaos on his dad and Brenda’s so-called happy event.  He didn’t count on being attracted to Ella, for the sparks to ignite between them, or to start questioning his reasons because he’s right, isn’t he?

I confess that I didn’t like Dylan at all.  Oh, he grew on me by the story’s ending, and I was glad for his change of heart and his own happiness.  But like him?  No.  For me, he comes off as a petulant child not getting his own way — and he’s an adult, a medical professional, and should have known better than to act this way at his age.  He’s a grown-up but didn’t act like one for much of this story.  On the other hand, I did adore Ella.  She’s been through a lot, made tough choices, and even though at times it seems she allows others to take the lead – she at least wanted her mom’s happiness even if she felt a bit left out at times, but that’s what happens when adult children go off and live their own separate lives.

A Wedding on Lilac Lane is a good story with several points of view, we get to catch up with some favorite residents, enjoy watching two totally opposite people find happiness, and see adult children learn that parents are people, too.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Forever via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available in paperback or for your favorite e-reader, mine is the Kindle.