Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Southlea Bay #3

The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding

Rate this book
Southlea Bay's favorite sweethearts, Flora and Dan, are getting married and the members of the Rejected Writers' Book Club are excited to help. Especially the group's head honcho, Doris Newberry, who, much to Flora’s frustration, wants to control every detail, attempting to strong-arm Flora into accepting ridiculous wedding vows, wayward bongo players and into wearing a huge, old-fashioned wedding dress. But when a new resident arrives in town with information about Flora's past that threatens her chance of happiness, the overwhelmed bride-to-be disappears overnight. To find her, The Rejected Writers set off on yet another zany road trip adventure, this time to a make-believe Bavarian town. Where they meet lederhosen clad, young men, are entertained by oompah bands, go on wild sleigh rides, and sing in a yodeling competition. But when they eventually find the bride and the bridegroom learns the truth about her, will he still want to marry her or will all the wedding plans be in vain.

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2017

112 people are currently reading
311 people want to read

About the author

Suzanne Kelman

17 books635 followers
Suzanne Kelman is an Amazon international bestselling author in America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Her books have sold over 475,000 copies worldwide and accumulated ten rights deals across eight territories.
Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K.

She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".

Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.

In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.

As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.

Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.

Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch - https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
182 (44%)
4 stars
145 (35%)
3 stars
59 (14%)
2 stars
13 (3%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,307 reviews1,780 followers
December 23, 2017
My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

A busboy arrived at the table and gave us unsure glances. We had never really lived down the rumors that we were just a bunch of cougars after one of the young busboys, even though we’d just been looking for chorus members for our musical show. The sandy-haired boy approached the table, biting his lip.

“I love red… I’ve always wanted to be a scarlet woman.” Lottie, who was looking at lace gloves in a wooden drawer, didn’t look up when she said dryly, “What do you mean ‘wanted to be’?”

I saw how much you didn’t like the dirty white dress that posh shop put together for you, so I thought I would do you a great service and let you use the wedding dress that I got married to my husband in, God rest his soul. It’s very classy. It came out of the Sears catalog.


My Review:

I frequently grinned with glee and occasionally laughed aloud while reading this enchanting and amusing tale featuring an eccentric and eclectic group of failed yet fervently aspiring women writers living on a small island in Washington State. The story was a quick and pleasurable read detailing the efforts of a well-meaning yet meddlesome and peculiar group that included a constant knitter; a fairy obsessed geriatric who at various times stylishly sported a feather boa, tinsel crown, red-and-white polka dot rain boots, and a Tinkerbell onesie; a dichotomous pair of wealthy identical Texan twins of indiscriminant age – somewhere over sixty; an old hippy radical with an odd manner of dressing or undressing; a bombastic and mega bossy baker and her nebbish sidekick whose face appeared locked into a constant scowl; a married librarian who was the only member approaching normalcy; and the youngest member - a timid and near albino florist who was the bride to be. I adored the writing style, colorful descriptions, amusing premise, clever chapter titles, and sneaky wry humor, and although it was not necessary to have read the previous books, I would love to have been following this series from the beginning.
Profile Image for Joan.
4,370 reviews126 followers
October 18, 2017
This is the third in the Rejected Writers series. It's as funny as the others. I don't know how Kelman keeps creating such great plots with warmth and humor propelled by crazy characters.

In this slice of small town life on an island in the Pacific Northwest, the ladies plan a wedding. Things get pretty crazy when Doris thinks she can make all the arrangements for Flora, the soft spoken bride. There is one laugh out loud scene after another.

The novel also has its serious side when a misunderstanding derails the romantic relationship. There are some good lessons about truth and honesty and forgiveness woven into the plot. The strong friendship bond these women have forged is very inspiring.

All the elements of a great novel are here. The characters are crazy funny, like Ruby-Skye, the eccentric hippie in her 70s. The plot is wonderful. You'll revel in how the ladies help relationships heal, even while you're laughing at the mess they make on the way. The location is superb, that special island of which I'm a native and call home.

Get ready to laugh until the tears flow as you read this fun and warm look at life in a small island town. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a good laugh and appreciate a heart warming story woven through out.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.
3 reviews
July 2, 2019
This is the third book I've read by this author . They are light and funny and I find myself laughing

out loud. They are different from the types of books I usually read but I read the three of them in two days. I would recommend them to anyone who wants a good laugh with all the women in them.
Profile Image for Elyse.
3,093 reviews149 followers
January 4, 2023
A cute if sometimes annoying end to the Rejected Writers of Southlea Bay. I feel like every time I read another book, I was annoyed. Some of the antics in this trilogy go too far. Poor Flora, my goodness. And aside from the twins' doorbell chime, you'd never know this was set around Christmas so that was a little disappointing. But I really enjoy most of these characters and I will miss them!
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,380 reviews28 followers
October 21, 2017
Southlea Bay is a community that cares about each other. Sometimes Flora wishes they would not be so ready to give their opinion about everything in her life. Will she be able to have the wedding she wants with so many ideas on what she should do. Sometimes the Rejected Writer's Club walk all over each other to decide what is to be done. They all work to make strangers welcome and part of the community so no matter what happens that is a great influence to the new man in town. Will they be an influence for good? Read to find out what they are all up to this time.
Profile Image for Nikki.
1,426 reviews12 followers
May 4, 2019
The 3rd book in this funny trilogy about a group of Rejected Writers.

This book is about Dan and Flora's wedding, how Doris takes over (again!), and a secret emerges which threatens to stop the wedding. Stacy arrives again, this time with the twins in tow but without her husband, Chris.

I'm not going to say anymore as I don't want to spoil the story, but suffice to say is as good as the 1st 2 books. Look out for Gladys, waitress at the Crab Apple Diner, she says the most funny one liners!

I'm really sorry to see this series end, it's a series I'd go back to time and time again.
Profile Image for Debby.
472 reviews25 followers
August 28, 2018
I really enjoy the Rejected Writers' characters and how they have developed. Each has remained true to character throughout and what characters some of them are.

It is a light, lovely read and I truly enjoyed it! I can see it and it's predecessors becoming a Hallmark movie. There is suspense, laughter, a few warm tears and love sprinkled throughout with a wonderful overriding theme of friendship and family.

I recommend it as a "feel good" read. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Annie Leadley.
490 reviews7 followers
April 25, 2019
Another story full of the wonderful locals who live in Southlea Bay !

I have laughed and cried my way through this book with the wonderful and quite crazy at times members of The Rejected Writers Club ! The characters are all such a wonderful mix in memory of similar people I have known in my life plus the types of characters I would adore to have in my life especially now in my Twilight years
Profile Image for Evelyne Fallows.
Author 19 books9 followers
February 11, 2018
This is the third novel I've read in that series and am not getting tired of those fun, zany and touching characters. The wedding scene alone made me laugh my head off...I highly recommend it if you want to laugh, be touched and immersed in that small town community where a lot is happening!
Profile Image for Julie.
617 reviews3 followers
May 31, 2019
A piece of fluff that I needed at this time. Funny, gentle, sweet, and there was a plot that kept my interest. I enjoy this series.
Profile Image for Elaine .
660 reviews8 followers
December 31, 2021
I did laugh a lot while reading the Rejected Writer's Christmas Wedding. The book is full of quirky characters who have their hearts in the right places even if they can really mess things up. The ladies of the Rejected Writers Club, who have all had their books and poems rejects, meddle and interfere with the plans for the upcoming wedding until the bride is a puddle of tears and runs off and the groom is missing. I think I would have enjoyed the book even more had I read the previous books in the series. Events and people from the earlier books kept cropping up and I did not have the background. But I did still enjoy the read, the small-town setting on an island in Washington State and the Christmas ending.
11.4k reviews197 followers
October 20, 2017
This is best characterized as mad cap adventures with women. It might be hard to fully appreciate this latest installment in the series if you haven't read the earlier ones because there's a lot going on among the group that is more meaningful if you are familiar with the relationships. That said, the basics of this- that Flora, the bride, takes off when a stranger (to the others) turns up in town just before her wedding to Dan- are the skeleton for a pretty entertaining road trip. Periodically a bit twee but always full of heart, this is a quick read. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Tessa Stockton.
Author 20 books50 followers
December 30, 2019
This series has kept me laughing. Clever story, quirky and irritatingly loveable characters, crazy yet warm small-town antics – it's the best of everything. I've thoroughly enjoyed following The Rejected Writers and have been completely entertained by them. For me, this was also nostalgic as I grew up near where this book was set. The culture, dynamics, and personalities are truly fitting – and gosh darn it, I’m homesick.
138 reviews9 followers
January 15, 2018
Being the third book in the series, I think I probably should of read the others first, however it does still work as a standalone. There are more than a few laugh out loud moments and the characters are fun and quirky, would recommend, however may need to read the first books for a more enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
12.7k reviews190 followers
November 15, 2017
Wow. Flora and Dan are getting married with a bit of help from the gang. Unfortunately it doesn’t go smoothly. Hilarious as usual, just made my day, loved it.
298 reviews4 followers
October 4, 2019
Laughed out loud

Janet once again gets involved in craziness with the Rejected Writers club. This time it all revolves around Flora’s wedding. This is the third in the series. It could probably stand alone, but read the others, you will laugh.
885 reviews9 followers
July 9, 2018
I received a copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review. I so enjoyed going back to Southlea Bay for the wedding of Flora and Dan. It is always fun to see what the writers' club gets up to in these books. I feel as if Southlea Bay and the cast of characters are all old friends now and I look forward to sharing many more adventures with them.
Profile Image for Anita Kovacevic.
Author 27 books31 followers
November 18, 2017
There is something melancholic about reading the final part of a book series. I've now read all the books in The Rejected Writers' Southlea Bay series, and reading the final pages was like saying goodbye to old friends, or at least very good acquaintances. You know those people you always look forward to meeting again at the vacation spot you like to revisit with your family? Yes, them. This series has been like that fun vacation for me - a witty and warm account of extraordinarily ordinary friendships in small towns, where people still care about what happens to you if you miss an appointment, and where their noses are still just a little bit too much in other people's business but, then again, their nosiness can sometimes literally save your life or marriage.
This last part in the series, so appropriately ending with a wedding, although not quite in a way you might expect, may have started off slower than the other parts, but if you have met the characters before, you will enjoy the little hints the author drops every now and then about their previous adventures. The author skillfully lets the group of local ladies, The Rejected Writers' Club pals, prepare a wedding for their youngest member, gets her blackmailed into running away, and then allows them all to rescue the bride and groom in their own, unorthodox, ridiculous and loving way. The characters and humour are relaxing, quirky and precious - the best quality of this book and the entire series. If you are new to Southlea Bay novels, Doris will make you go bananas with her controlling obsession, but we all know people like her - a bit too pushy, and yet their hearts in the right place eventually. The aged Southern belles, the Labette twins, with their contradictory nature and funny dialogues, will make you laugh till you cry - I am so glad those two have a bigger role in this book. For those who have read the previous parts, the reappearance of some characters from books 1&2 will make you smile and warm your heart. The twin babies, on the other hand, add that realistic element of drama and fun, which every family goes through, especially on holidays such as Christmas. The crescendo of comical scenes towards the ending, as the plot thickens and then unwinds, is simply adorable. The sleigh ride scene had me giggling out loud, vividly described and well-timed. One thing I must mention (again) are the pun-filled chapter headings - those are a pure joy in themselves - like a funny menu, just asking to have a pop tart or cupcake made after them, or at least a cocktail. I can easily see the Southlea Bay series as a TV series, and would enjoy watching it and rereading the books.
This book made me laugh, which is a treasure in this day and age, and it is the perfect Christmas gift for people who enjoy clean, witty, light comedy with warmth and friendship, and people's little quirkiness and prejudice dealt with through humour and kindness.
Profile Image for Layla.
424 reviews24 followers
December 23, 2017
I'm not sure I should have read this book without reading the other in the series... But I still enjoyed the story. The characters were lovable and the friendship amazing. Big plus of the book, it's a book club!! How can any book lovers not like that ?
It was a nice read but I think I'm going to read the other books now.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Profile Image for Alicia.
822 reviews16 followers
December 29, 2017
“The Rejected Writers’s Christmas Wedding” (A Southlea Bay novel) by Suzanne Kelman

Flora and Dan are finally getting married!! A day they both have been looking forward to for a long time. Flora has everything almost set, but they are not up to Doris’s liking!! And we all know what that means: fight Doris or give in to her outlandish ideas. And quiet Flora is hoping if she goes along with Doris she can appease her but still keep her plans already set. No dice. When Flora loses her temper and finally tells Doris to back off she is applauded by the others. Doris backs off a bit, but Doris is Doris.

Then when Flora goes missing, all her wedding plans may be for naught. So off do the members of the club, as well as Dan, to try to find Flora and figure out why she disappeared. Then when the groom is quite late on the day of the wedding, no one is sure if there will be a wedding.

Come back to Southlea Bay and enjoy the craziness of the Rejected Writer’s group members, as well as the chaos of Stacy’s twins and life in general. Goodness knows, it never gets boring....

Rating: 4.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨
Profile Image for Deanna.
41 reviews2 followers
November 21, 2017
So funny!

I am so grateful that I found the Rejected Writers. What a wonderful ensemble of characters. This was the third book in the series and just as crazy as the others. This one was a little more real with Flora and Dans approaching wedding. I felt for Flora having to deal with Doris and her hilarious crazy ideas. I'm glad she was able to find her voice. I do hope there will be more stories to follow. I can totally picture Gladys waiting on the group at the Crab and Lottie and Lavinia breaking into Floras cottage. Suzanne has a wonderful sense of humor that is seen throughout the series. I do wish I could come up with Martins zingers. I love them! If you like to laugh and enjoy reading about a crazy island town then you will be laughing out loud throughout the book.
1,063 reviews4 followers
May 11, 2018
Great read

I love all the characters that live in Southlea Bay this cozy series by Suzanne Kelman will make you laugh and cry and is a must read I can't wait till the next one
25 reviews
January 10, 2018
I highly recommend this series.

If you are looking for an enjoyable read, this is it. I absolutely adore the quirky characters. The story is a continuation of a riotous romp. I love that you never know what direction the grumbling group will go. It is easy to imagine that these adventures actually happened. Bravo! Thanks for a fun read.
Profile Image for Millie.
104 reviews
October 3, 2017
I would have loved this book if there were any references to what happened in the previous books. Since I did not read them, I had a hard time understanding most of the book and found it really confusing.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Melissa Henderson.
Author 8 books189 followers
October 17, 2017
I love this story!!! From the first page, I was laughing out loud. The characters are unique and the story is heartwarming and hilarious at the same time. Truly, I did not want this story to end. This is a book that I will read again and again.
Profile Image for Deborah Reynolds.
9 reviews
September 8, 2018
I liked the Rejected Writers series because (1) it was funny and light, (2) it was a quick read, (3) I'm familiar with the northwest setting, and (4) this kind of fiction gives me a nice break from the more serious books I read.

I just have one other thing to say.... Doris is freakin crazy!
Profile Image for Emilie Perez.
34 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2018
Marvellously enchanting.

As a continuation of the 2 previous books it was simply wonderful. Will there be a sequel,I truly hope so because this bunch is a lot of fun.
Profile Image for Misty.
67 reviews
February 4, 2018
Love it

I love this series! The different personalities make up a wonderful and funny group of ladies! This is one book worth a read!
60 reviews
March 19, 2018
Entertaining Book

This was another good book with this crazy bunch of ladies. There was laughter and tears. Very entertaining to read.
Profile Image for Dena.
335 reviews
April 26, 2018
This is the 3rd book in the series and my favorite out of the three. I loved the story line with Flora and Dan and it had just a little mystery in it that the other two books didn't have. Fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.