An Alaskan Wedding

by Nance Sparks

Andrea Daniels’s life is overflowingly full. She puts every ounce of energy she has into being a mom to her two daughters and her work as a registered nurse. When her best friend, Sara, asks her to be her maid of honor at her wedding in Fairbanks, Alaska, Andrea accepts. A week off from work and an adults-only trip filled with relaxation and scenic tours sounds amazing.Wedding photographer Riley Canon can pick and choose her clients, so when she’s asked to shoot a wedding in a remote lodge in Alaska, she jumps at the opportunity for a trip of a lifetime. It’s been on her bucket list for years. The last thing either Andrea or Riley expects is to bump into the one who broke her heart fifteen years ago, but when they meet at the welcome party, their feelings come rushing back. Trusting each other again might be impossible, but if they can overcome the hurt from the past, they just might get a second chance at love.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Lesbian, Bisexual, Friends To Lovers

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

Nance Sparks is a Goldie Award winning author of lesbian romance. She lives in south central Wisconsin with her spouse. Her passion for photography, homesteading, hiking, gardening and most anything outdoors comes through in her stories. When the sun is out and the sky is blue, especially during the golden hour, Nance can be found on the Wisconsin River with a camera in hand capturing shots of large birds in flight.

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

“An Alaskan Wedding” is a second-chance romance and the sophomore release from Nance Sparks.

Riley Canon is a highly sought after same-sex wedding photographer. She gets the shock of a lifetime when she’s hired to shoot a wedding in Alaska and the maid of honor is none other than her high school love, Andrea (Andi) Daniels. The two haven’t seen one another in 15 years and it doesn’t take long for their attraction to spark back to life.

This is only getting two stars from me because while the book wasn’t all bad, especially the second half, the first half almost had me DNF’ing several times and I was never able to completely get over it to enjoy the second half. There were a few different things that got on my nerves but the worst for me was how the second-chance trope was handled. It’s been 15 years since Riley and Andrea have seen one another but that doesn’t seem to matter as they basically pick right up from where they left off. I didn’t feel like the new relationship was earned with how quickly they get back together. I have expectations for second-chance including angst and some push-pull. Neither one show up here(at least not enough), which may be a positive for some but it disappointed me.

It felt like Sparks found her groove during the second half and it got better. I thought Riley and Andrea had a sweet, heartwarming romance and probably would’ve enjoyed it more had they met at the wedding and taken it from there, instead of being exes. I liked how they communicated with each other told the other what their expectations were. I don’t see that a lot with reading romance so I found it to be refreshing. Also, kudos to Sparks for avoiding the black moment we all loathe.

Another thing I liked was how Sparks wrote the different settings. Starting with Alaska and the different sights Andrea and Riley tour together to the arcade and even Riley’s home/studio. It was very descriptive and I felt like I could look up and see exactly what was written.

I really can’t recommend this to second-chance romance fans, but it would work if you’re in the mood for a light, feelgood read.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

True love.

Honestly, if i had known that being pregnant with someone else was the reason that ended the relationship the first time round, I would have avoided this book at all cost, even though no cheating was involved. This type of second chance romance is one of my least favourite storylines and it isn't about the children. It's the complicated historical baggage that I can't deal with. But the fault is entirely mine for not reading between the lines of the blurb.

But I must admit, the story is quite nicely done and even though it was a bit weird that Andrea and Riley reconnected so quickly, the rest of the story was heartwarming. The characters haven't met in 15 years and live completely different lives but I liked how they tried to include each other into their worlds. I love how Riley bonds with Andrea's daughters easily, especially Syd, and I love how welcoming the kids are towards Riley. I think it helps that the kids are 12 and 14 and are at the age where they have a mind of their own and Syd in particular, is a great young character and stole the show multiple times.

What is missing from this book though is a proper chance for Riley to make peace with Andrea's ex-husband and parents, all of whom had played a part in destroying their relationship the first time round. I thought closure in that aspect would have been nice. But I'm still pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this when I hadn't expected to.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Della B · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I read a romance novel and found myself physically smiling as I read the last few chapters. The exquisitely written An Alaskan Wedding did that to me and more. It wrapped me in the warmth and comfort of its second chance love story.

Andrea Daniels is a full time mom to two daughters, fourteen and twelve. She is also a registered nurse who works at her local hospital. Andrea is taking her first child free vacation in fifteen years. It is a solo trip to Fairbanks, Alaska to attend her best friends wedding and then explore the wonders of the northern state. I

Riley Canon is ‘the’ professional photographer for lesbian weddings and is constantly on the move from job to job. She is excited to be in Fairbanks for work and to take some personal time to scratch things off her bucket list. It has been fifteen years since she heard Andrea’s voice but she would recognize it anywhere and Fairbanks appears to be anywhere.

Nance Sparks adds just the right touch of angst to this novel. The storyline is full of twists and turns and to this reader seemed impossible to have its happy ever after. But Sparks is a master storyteller and does not disappoint. Her writing captured me from the first chapter and did not release me until the last page.

Andrea, her girls and Riley are all appealing characters. And the attraction between Andrea and Riley just sizzles off the page.
There is a soft humour written into some of the dialogue and the use of Canon as Riley’s last name is lovely irony. All of these attributes come together to create a wonderfully crafted romance which is both entertaining and uplifting.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is one of two books I read last weekend at the same time- but with the difference in their genres it wasn't difficult. In fact this was a nice palate cleanser when the other book got too much.

So earlier this year I read Nance Sparks' book Cowgirl, and it wasn't a perfect book but I did enjoy it. I was really impressed by the way Sparks writes detail into her books, and describes scenes- it creates a really vivid image- and it doesn't seem overblown or distract from the characters. And I'm really pleased to see her exercise that imagery again in her sophomore novel An Alaskan Wedding.

An Alaskan Wedding is a second chance romance between Andrea Daniels and Riley Canon. Andrew and Riley were childhood best friends and eventually girlfriends until Andrea's parents forcibly separated them, and they haven't seen each other in 15 years. But while attending a friend's wedding in Alaska, Andrea can't help but recognize the wedding photographer as her long lost love. And the sparks are definitely still there between them. But can children and distance get in the way of them finding love?

I've mentioned before that second chance romances are probably my favorite trope to read- and this book hit a lot of those angst filled points. It was really fun seeing the love that Andrea and Riley had for each other in the past as well as them picking it back up in the present- as well as working out their troubled history too.

Earlier i referred to about how well Nance writes scenery and details, and in this book, Alaska seems to be the perfect backdrop to write breathtaking beauty in the environment that surrounds a large part of this book. Honestly that was probably my favorite part of this book.

My main criticism of this book is similar to what I didn't love about Cowgirl- everyone is perfect all of the time. Both Andi and Riley are interesting characters and they were fun to root for, but also I want some flaws in my characters too that extend beyond mistakes as a teenager. This was definitely improved upon since Cowgirl, but I do think it can be better. Also pettiest of points- naming the photographer character Canon? I mean...

I did really enjoy this book by Sparks- especially her writing of detail. 4/5

Thank you Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[MJSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn’t read this author before, and found this to be ok, but not great.

This features Andi, who is in Alaska for her BFFs wedding, and Riley, who is the photographer at the wedding. The two knew each other from childhood to just prior to college when they were split apart by Andi’s parents. This drove Andi to make a bad decision, which in turn results in a loveless marriage and two kids (who she adores).

Both MCs are shown to have constantly pined for the other, so when they reunite and realise both are now free they immediately hook up. I found this part a bit hard to swallow, they do eventually talk about everything that split them up but I’d have preferred this clearing of the air to occur first. They then decide to spend the rest of the trip together. Andi then returns home to her (delightful) daughters and Riley to her nomadic existence and they keep in touch and do various meet ups where Riley meets the girls and they continue their romance.

The issue I had is that there’s not much substance. While the MCs spend a lot of time together, most of it is references to the past and/or sex. Apart from the girls, the other characters are barely fleshed out, Andi’s ex Scott, while often mentioned, appears only off-screen, so it’s hard to get a handle on what this relationship was or wasn’t, as we only see it from how Andi describes it to Riley and through actions recounted to us. Same with his wife Cathy, who seems lovely, but is never in an actual scene.

I also found the insta-love a bit much, I get that they knew each other before, but they know nothing about each other now, and I’d have preferred a bit more of them getting to know each other before jumping into a family unit. Riley’s pining for Andi through photos was also a little creepy.

I did enjoy the interactions between Riley and the girls and how quickly they bonded and I also appreciated that the dramatic moment had nothing to do the the MCs breaking up and that communication was strong in this book. Overall, it’s an ok read and I’d read this author again. 3.5 stars.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Nance Sparks's debut Cowgirl, so it was only logical to pick up this author's second book.

This is a whirlwind of a second chance romance, I liked it. The biggest plus for me, there is actual communication, they are acting like responsible adults. I didn't expect Riley and Andrea to exhibit any communication skills at all because of how their relationship ended some 15 years ago and how they go together again in present day. They do go from 0 to 60 in 1 second flat, but I wouldn't call this instalove or instalust. Side note, lots of lust in this book and they fit really well together. Why I wouldn't call this insta anything is because of the history, but mostly the communication. They establish ground rules, communicate, on and off the page (off-page communication is a bit hard to wrap my head around at times), discuss the past, present and possible future. Communication makes all the difference. This rings especially true for second chance romances.

What I didn't expect is this book having me laugh out loud a couple of times, Andrea's BFF has no filter and I love it. She, or at least her Alaskan wedding, is the reason Riley and Andrea see each other again after such a long time and instantly reconnect. The interactions are funny, but there is this one scene that is straight out of any rom-com that had me laughing out loud in the middle of the night. I couldn't sleep and decided to continue to read, big mistake if you haven't read this scene yet and you don't want to disturb your partner.

Sparks's writing has improved since the debut, and the debut was pretty good to begin with. Some of the newbie bumps are smoothed out, some are still there. The style is very nice to read and I appreciate adults communicating and the absence of the formulaic big drama. I feared it was coming well over the 90% mark, but luckily it didn't. I'd recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a second chance romance, very close to 4 stars read.

*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it, even though it seemed to peak too soon and then proved me wrong. Really loved the characters and the 2 children. Recommended.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical 2nd chance romance. There are many layers to their past and their journey and many obstacles. But it all resolves very nicely. And on the way you get to meet 2 great kids, learn a lot about photography and witness a very hot romance between two interesting characters. I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparks debut novel was an average read for me but I'm so happy I got to read this, her next one. (Always give new writers a second or third chance.) It begins at a wedding in Fairbanks, Alaska. Andrea (Andi) Daniels is the maid of honor and surprisingly Riley Cannon is the photographer. Riley was Andi's best friend and first everything until Andi's parents force them to part. They haven't seen each other since finishing high school 15 years earlier. This isn't a will they or won't they. (They're gonna!) Their joy at finding each other is in every word. It becomes more about now they've found each other how can their worlds mesh. Riley travels for weeks at a time and Andi is a mother of two, works full time as an RN and lives three hours away.

The dialogue feels real as do the logistics of figuring out a new relationship when kids are involved. There is passion and humor on the journey too. The author's love for outdoors and photography comes through the pages as well. Sparks description of the northern lights has moved them up on my bucket list to see. I was genuinely sad to turn the page and find the book was finished and I was saying goodbye to these characters Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrea is excited to be in Alaska for her best friend’s wedding. This is the first week she has been able to get away for adult time without her teenage kids in years. Riley has been booked to be the photographer for a destination wedding in Alaska. When she starts photographing for the welcome dinner she notices a face that she’s never been able to forget.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the second release from Nance Sparks and it was solidly written, filled with heartwarming characters that you can’t help but cheer for. I always love second chance romances and this one hit all the high marks for me. Loved especially the interactions at the airport coffee shop towards the end. And who can resist the romantic backdrops in Alaska, complete with the Aurora Borealis and highly entertaining Miss Charlotte! Loved this one!

[Henriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this well-written second-chance romance. Some of the features I enjoyed:
- there are obstacles, but no big drama / big misunderstandings where you want to yell at the mc because it is so frustrating. Just enough to give the story spice and keep it going.
- I loved the very visual writing, e.g. of the Alaskan nature or the description of photographs
- The part involving the kids are well-done.
- The Alaskan queen and the lilac prince ::))
- The infusion of humorous, lighthearted parts.
There is chemistry and attraction between the characters (not a given for romances) and the story moves forward on a good pace with enough slower parts for reflection.
If you look for a lighthearted, well-written romance - look no further.

[Michelle Schuler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sn Alaskan Wedding

I enjoyed this book by Nance Sparks. It was well written, great chemistry, and full of beautiful scenery. The second-chance romance was well done. I loved seeing the MCs grow. The reunion felt quick. This is my first book by Sparks, but I will be following her as more books come out.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this new author. This is her second book. I’ll be reading her first one.

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

I really enjoyed An Alaskan Wedding. Just the right mix of angst and happily ever after. I loved the story.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was afraid this book would break my heart without gluing it back together.

This is not your run-of-the-mill "girl meets girl, loses girl, gets girl back" kind of story. This has a past, a present and (maybe) a future, and how those parts of the book are written is the mark of a mature storyteller who might well have been through what Andrea and Riley have been through. Otherwise, how could she write such an un-putdownable book?

The characters are compelling: Andrea and her childhood friend Riley, fall in love quite early in their lives, only to be forced apart by Andrea's sphincter police parents. Time passes and each woman goes down a path different from the other. Andrea marries and has two children. No time for a personal life. Riley buries herself in her photography, and she's so good at it that she's in constant demand. Also, no time for a personal life.

The book blurb tells the gist of the story, but it merely scratches the surface of this beautifully written book. This second effort from Nance Sparks is a "run to your favorite book provider and get this book right now" kind of story. And that's what I think you should do.

"Cowgirl" is Sparks' first novel, which I also loved. "An Alaskan Wedding" is "Cowgirl" with the training wheels taken off. Ms. Sparks is just gonna get better and better!

Are you still here reading this review? Go! Go get the book!

[Domi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of Nance Sparks, after reading her first (cowgirl) I was entertained enough to keep an eye out for her future books and this one has improved in a few areas.
What's still the same is the great descriptions without taking away from the pace of the book, ofcourse Alaska and its Northern light is a thankful subject and it gave me a bit of a holiday feel along with Andrea who's there for a wedding, leaving her single mum life behind for a week.
In comes Riley Canon, the photographer hired for this wedding and coincidentally they were eachothers first love, the one that got away. The characters are likeable and the dialogue felt a bit more natural than in Spark's previous book. Yet it still was a little bit too perfect and for me it edged towards the boring territory. There's a few weeks between reading and writing this review and the fact that I had to go back and re-read because I forgot a big part of the plot is a sign that while this is a nice relaxing read, it's not one that is overly memorable.
But that is also a good reason to pick up any romance: to float away for a couple of hours and shut down your brain.

3,5 stars for me.

[Trudy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My biggest regret is that it took me so long to finally get around to reading this book! I won’t lie … I’ve quickly become a fan of Nance Sparks and I hate that I have to wait until next year to read her next book!

Sara and Kay got married but that isn’t the best thing here. Yeah, I’m happy that they got married but I am even more excited that they hired Riley as their photographer. Riley and Amanda (Sara’s maid of honor) knew each other since kindergarten and were each other’s ‘first’ for everything! Though circumstances changed a lot for them, the love they had for each other never died.

I can’t recommend this book strongly enough! I could write a novel about how wonderful this book is and it wouldn’t be enough. Please, if you like romance with some snark thrown in, READ THIS BOOK! I promise you that you won’t regret it.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slightly different type of romance book, Riley and Andrea are former high school sweethearts that got separated due to parents homophobia are having a chance encounter at a remote wedding in Alaska where Andrea is the maid of honour and Riley the photographer. They reconnect instantly and embark on a 3 day trip in Alaska before returning to their very different lives where Riley is always travelling and Andrea is a single mother to two teenagers and a nurse. Or so they thought. I liked that Andrea is given a second chance to respond to a homophobic reaction to her relationship with Riley. This sweet second chance romance is a good read and I rate it 4.5 stars.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brilliant story. It's the 2nd book I have read by this author, and it didn't disappoint. It was such a wonderful romance with a few racey bits. It had so great funny bits, too. It was very well written and flowed well. It was a great story that I just couldn't put down. I love how this book was a second chance romance story. The characters were great and realistic. I recommend reading it. I loved the photography theme and it certainly put a smile on my face.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such a wonderful story to wind away the hours with. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this fantastic author.

[Patty Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very well written and I loved the relationship between Riley and Andrea it was so sweet and loving. Andrea's teenage children Sidney and Olivia were so smart and cute, I loved how they took everything happening in their mom's relationship with Riley in stride and just went with it. There was a bit of family drama, but this didn't bog the second down, I feel it only made this book better. I would definitely recommend this book and author to all my friends and family, and I look forward to what comes next from this author.

[Chel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy a second chance love story, particularly when they've reached a point in their life that they're content, but there's that one that got away - not my experience nor something I want, but it's always interesting to read- the instant connection can be lovely to see. This story didn't disappoint - lovely connection between the main characters, and the other characters, including Andrea's children, add a great contribution to the story! Thanks to Bold Stroke Books and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexa Steli · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5
meh ,honestly this is one of those books where they should had stayed exes.And based on their first interaction I would had thought it was 2 best friends that lost contact with the years,not 2 people that once had been in love and ended their relationship in tears.

I didn't liked those kids,too much focus on Sydney beacause she's masc and "like " Riley,so much focus on Riley's job, like it's literally mentioned every chapter and barley something about Andrea's job ,I forgot she even had one

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely second chance romance. I particularly enjoyed the Alaskan experience and the respect paid to the area and it's many features. The story itself was endearing and moved fluidly at a steady pace that kept me interested. And the characters were well written and robust, adding depth to the story. Enjoyable !

[Sabra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. The MC’s made a sweet couple, and there were some nice steamy scenes. Sydney and Olivia added to the story. Nice HEA to top it off. Well done.

[HornFan2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1st part wasn't bad, although felt like the author could have released a prequel novella about the beginnings of Riley and Andrea's relationship, and rushing the ending killed me. Easily could have stopped it with her talking to Jodi, about moving the business and adding employees. Then write a sequel, continue the story of Riley and Andi, with the kids and concluded it with a 2nd wedding in Alaska. At times the author gets lost in details, which works with them in Alaska. Then other times she keeps it too simple, when details should have been added and the part with Syd running away wasn't authentic or at least I thought it could have been written better.

[Doug Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance with some beautiful scenery, an amusing visit to a sex-toy store and a few complications. There are some dramatic moments but the main characters mostly behave like adults so the story arc does not devolve into melodrama. Overall a decent read with the anticipated HEA.

[Rebecca Gaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

renewed romance

Well thought out romance based in the past of the protagonists. Sweet story with a nice conclusion. Not earth shattering but fun.