Trisha Ashley is a writer who knows how to create a novel that is heart-warming and feel-good without becoming sickly and sentimental – it’s not that easy as I can confirm having read many books in the “women’s fiction” genre. I have always found her books easy to read and very satisfying and The Wedding Dress Repair Shop is no exception.
Garland is a seamstress and costumer who works in theatre and film creating costumes. She is also an historian of the craft and has created a beautiful replica of an historic dress worn by an ancestor for her own wedding. Unfortunately, things go badly wrong, she is betrayed, and she does something which is impulsive and destructive. Now without a job or a fiancé she takes a role at a new museum dedicated to disastrous weddings and moves to the country.
I liked the fact that Garland is a craftswoman with expertise in an exacting profession. This is a feature of this author’s books and one that makes them very readable for me – her heroines are competent and usually sensible women. I don’t really believe in the museum (not sure how many visitors it would have in its location) but the various dresses that Garland works on give the author the opportunity to include little stories about various weddings that are sometimes funny and sometimes sad. In the town is a past love who may well be a future partner and a range of minor characters who are enjoyable to spend time with and who have their own issues. Garland begins to make herself at home in the new location and find new friends whilst also coping with the repercussions of her previous actions.
In addition to Garland’s narrative we also have chapters about the story of her ancestor who wore the lovely dress and what happened when she seemed to disappear mysteriously. I didn’t really need this part of the book, although I understand that it was necessary to draw various plot points together – I wasn’t really invested in this story thread and identified much more with the present day story.
This book is a romance but also a story about women and weddings. It’s captivating reading because the author knows how to grab and keep your attention. I liked Garland and wanted her to be happy and, although I knew what the ending would probably be, I wanted to accompany her on her journey.
If you want a bit of feel good fiction then I think you will enjoy this book. I did.
Anne Is Reading 
I enjoyed this one too although felt that there was a bit too much descriptive detail. We seemed to get the menu for every meal Garland ate.
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Not one of her best but still a goodie
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