Save The Date

by K.S. Thomas, Karina Gioertz

Calista Luvalle has mixed feelings when it comes to love. On the one hand, working in the bridal business means she’s basically dedicating her life to love and the dream of happy ever after. On the other, she’s a jaded, love hating cynic who isn’t about to fall for any of that crap herself.

Except of course, she already did. When she was six.

Emerson Barrett isn’t worried about finding the right woman. After a tumultuous past, he’s happy just dedicating his life to his work. Content in knowing what to expect day in and day out, he’s thrown for a loop when he’s suddenly standing face to face with little Lissy Luvalle again.

Only now she’s not so little anymore…

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Amazon, Romance

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2014

About the author

Dog Lover who likes her pastries full of cream and sugar...oh...and I write some ;-)

Aside from being an author, I am also a mom to a beautiful little girl. I tell everyone I named her after my great-grandmother (because that's the mature answer), but really, I named her after my favorite princess - just so happens I got lucky and they had the same name...If I wasn't a writer, I would work on a horse ranch - I'm an animal lover (in addition to dogs, horses are at the top of my list). I wear flip-flops pretty much everywhere I go. I would rather stay awake until 5 am than get up at 5 am (years of bar tending have left their mark), if I can, I'm going to the beach AND I will always be nice to people who bring me chocolate...or coffee...if you bring me both, I'll probably love you forever.

I write the way I live, following the story wherever it may lead, always ready to start the next one. This is clearly reflected in my body of work which to date includes everything from Children's Lit to Thrillers.
I happily reside in sunny Florida (for now) with my daughter and three dogs.

Reviews

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/9/2020)! 🎁

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lissy and Emerson's Story . . .

Calista Luvalle (“Lissy”) isn’t sure she really believes in love. She’s sort of jaded now. Back when she was 6-years-old, she knew the boy she wanted to marry. He was older than she was and protective of her. Emerson was friends with her cousin Spence, and she tagged along with them at the Lake House. Emerson was the only one who ever made her believe love was real. She even told her mom she was going to marry him, so her mom gave her two “Save the Date” cards so they would both remember not to marry anyone else because waiting until 25 seemed a long time to wait for getting married. But now, something special is waiting for her when she is asked to come to Kentucky, 20 years after that magical time, to save her cousin’s wedding.

Emerson Barrett works with horses at a prominent stable in Kentucky. He isn’t interested in finding a woman… until he is face-to-face with Lissy Luvalle from his past. But she’s all grown up now. And both of them remember their time at the Lake House. It was obvious to everyone that they were meant to be together. But they have both been through things that left scars inside. Would they step forward and claim the love that has been waiting for them? Or would they panic and walk away?

This was such a good story. Lissy was so sure of herself about her feelings for Emerson. Would her fairy tale come true? Then one day, he handed her an envelope, a “Save the Date” card he had saved for almost 20 years, and taped to the back was … possibly her future?

[Mimia The Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars

So, this would be good entertainment for a lazy afternoon, but it made me a bit too mad to be able to like it.
I enjoy reading love stories, but this one was ponctuated with the idea that soulmates are a real thing, which in the end just means our hero and heroine never got to know each other at all and their whole relationship was based on the fact that everyone else thought they had a connection when they were children and that they were atracted to each other in the present. Since they hadn't seen each other ever since Calista was 6 and they are not talking or trying to not talk, for most of the book, that seems a rather fragile base for a relationship, even a fictional one, I'd say.
Besides that, there were a lot of crude innuendos trying to be funny which I never enjoy.

All in all, this book had some potencial plot-wise but the delivery didn't work for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 1 in Thomas' Once Upon a Wedding Story and oh what a sweet, clean romance read/listen. Well written and narrated this book has a good storyline that flows smoothly. Our main characters are Calista and Emerson. I love how the past is unknowingly so influential on the present and we also get a taste of the future in the epilogue. I adore the dual point of view and there is not a lot of duplication going on which I think is also well done. Love the family dynamic as well as the angst that comes into play. Calista is such a fierce character, strong and independent and Emerson is swoon worthy with his honesty and southern charm and just overall being a gentleman - we definitely need more of those now a days! This is just and overall, sweet, heartwarming romance. I am definitely looking forward to more in this series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. The Once Upon A Wedding series begins with the fated love between Lissie and Emerson. These two have had their souls tied together since the tender age of six. Imagine their surprise when years have gone by and they still feel an attraction. Emerson and Lissie are jaded but that does not stop love from finding a way. Even though they still have as many commonalities as differences, time has changed them. Lissie was so set against love, shaped by her past. His baggage has built his own walls. With family and friends help, they find love right where they left it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, lovely and romantic

Save The Date is the first book in the a Once Upon a Wedding Story series. I had read the other books before I got this one but as they are all stand-alone it does not make a difference in what order you read them. This is a sweet and light romance between Calista "Lissy" Luvalle and Emerson Barrett. They are complete opposites but have known each other since they were children. Actually when she was six she was planning her wedding to him. Some things are fated and these two are meant to be, even if they may not think it along the way.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this sweet read. Calista feels she found her true love in Emerson and the age of six.
Her mother gives them a save the date card for the future.
When they are reunited again this cute read steals my heart. It should be a movie and a great feel good pick me up read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go to author. I absolutely love her stories. The first person point of view is always another plus for me. The story is very well written, the characters are amazing. This was another win from the author that never disappoints.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sue Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Loved this story in all its romantic fairytale glory.
When it comes to an easy to read rom-com that’s metaphorically glued to your hand through the day and into the night you can always rely on this author. Liszt and Emerson paved the way for childhood crush’s to become everlasting love.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and flowed nicely. The turn of events was done beautifully, and the ending was terrific! This is a fun and exciting paranormal romance! I liked it!! It has drama and steam, with very likable characters.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Emerson & Lissy's book. It was an emotional roller coaster for me. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Jean Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story started out interesting, but I didn't get too far before I stopped because of the bad language.

[Lyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real story of soulmates! Despite planning weddings for a living, Lissy Luvalle is skeptical of love. When a family wedding emergency evolves, Lissy joins her family in Kentucky where her path crosses again with the hot, hunky cowboy Emerson Barrett. When she was only six, Emerson who was 16 at the time, spent the summer looking out and taking care of her. Almost twenty years later, he picks up right where their relationship left off. It's obvious to everyone except Lissy and Emerson that the two were meant to be together. It's a modern day Romeo & Juliet when you toss in the "other side of the tracks" drama. Their budding relationship and emotions kept me turning the page wanting to know when they'd finally get it together. As a sentimental person, I loved all the ties back to their childhood and adult life. This is a sweet story that will make you want to find the one to save the date with!

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Lissy and Emerson - the wedding dress designer and the cowboy - are complete opposites. There's so much chemistry between them. Six-year-old Lissy was in love with Emerson, planning to marry him when she was old enough. Grown-up Lissy is jaded about romance and marriage. It was so much fun watching her change, and seeing them find their way to love. I read the book last year, and recently had the opportunity to listen to the audio book. I enjoyed the narration by S.E. Ellsmore, except her interpretation of the male voices was a bit off to my ear. Otherwise, she did an outstanding job with it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy Lundy-Munn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Save the Date is a standalone book by K.S. Thomas. I absolutely fell in love with book from page one....actually from the first paragraph. The storyline was very well written and had lots of depth and emotion. I'm a sucker for a second chance romance with lots of history between the characters and finding your soul mate at the age of 6 is definitely one with lots of history. The characters were well developed and had lots of great chemistry. Loved the twists and turns the author put into this book that truly made this book that much better. Looking forward to more books by this author and I would absolutely recommend this book!!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sugar high....so stinking sweet, my teeth ached!! None of the spice I normally consume, but hey, a change in the diet is needed sometimes!!

Lissy is sassy, full of wit and one-liners (food grazing turning to heifering made me *snort*). Emerson, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, working hard and done good...definetly no Prince Eric, but who doesn't prefer a cowboy??? A few blips, a couple of miscommunication moments and then the warm and fuzzy HEA.

An easy sweet read for a Sunday afternoon, all unashamedly "hallmark movie", but indulge and don't forget the chocolate!

[Laura Hannaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this story a lot, and wanted to give it a higher rating as the writing and the plot were both engaging. However the heroine was just too abrasive in the beginning and reading those first chapters became a chore. She improved as the story progressed and I came to really like the protagonists. Reasons were also given for her earlier behaviour, but for me the damage had already been done....

[Paula Genereau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. Lissie knew from the time she was 6 at the Lake House who she wanted to marry. But after her cousin was desperate need of a wedding planner. She calls on Lissie to come back to Kentucky. When she runs into the man she had a crush on when she was 6... Things start to come together. But will it be enough to hold them together?

I received a copy of this book for my honest review

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Read! I like the fairytale aspect that doesn't come true, but then again maybe it does. You can't go wrong with a book that references Prince Eric from Little Mermaid. It's a light read, but it's all in good fun.

[C.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nice story. Predictable but pleasantly so. Enjoyed the save the date thing - it was a nice touch.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!! Will read everything she has !!!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise, if not the execution. Clean, sweet read with no perceivable angst, no spice, no real development, just a couple of characters changing their minds every time they are together.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 starts

Very funny, but a little too saccharine for my tastes.