He tried to play Cupid…

But was he playing with fire?

Wedding planner Gabriella Espiritu’s down on her luck: first, she flunks the CPA exam, then her long-distance internet boyfriend vanishes just before her brother’s wedding! Fortunately, Gabby’s best friend, Chip Lowry, jumps in as matchmaker.

Unbeknownst to Gabby, though, Chip’s been crushing on her for years! And the more he tries to play Cupid, the more he falls under the spell of his lovely friend. But he can’t help fearing that finally baring his soul to his bestie would destroy everything…or is going from friends to lovers a leap worth taking?

Titles in the Spirit of the Shenandoah series include: It Started with a Secret ~ Love Letters from the Trail ~The Forever Wedding Date ~

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  The Forever Wedding Date
Series:  Spirit of the Shenandoah #3
Author:  Tif Marcelo
Published:  July 29, 2025
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
My Rating:  4.5 stars

The Forever Wedding Date is the third title in the Spirit of the Shenandoah series, and brings best friends, Gabby and Chip, to a whole other level of emotions when romance enters their friendship, and so much is on the line if they act on those new feelings.

Gabby never imagined that with so much bad going on, especially having her internet boyfriend basically ghost her right before her brother’s wedding, that there was any way to salvage this mess she called her life.  But she hadn’t counted on her best friend, Chip, to step in and save the day.  Only.  While Chip is trying to be a matchmaker, all she’s noticing is that her best friend sure looks good, and with a sexiness she never noticed before.  In fact, he’s sometimes acting more like a boyfriend than a friend.  Intriguing, but their lives aren’t a romance novel where going from friends to lovers guarantees a happy ending… is it?

I adored this couple.  Forever friends are going to start feeling something more, something that could lead to a far different future as a happy, loving couple.  But it’s not going to be a smooth road for either of them.  While Chip has known for some time that he feels more for Gabby than just friendship, she’s in the dark.  He hesitates because risking putting his feelings out there could cost him Gabby’s friendship… but what if they could be so much more?

I had such fun with The Forever Wedding Date by Tif Marcelo.  It’s a well-written, emotional friends-to-lovers trope, with humor and wit.  Acknowledging that their friendship has changed will carry a risk, but eventually, the attraction overrules logic.  I loved watching them navigate the feelings that are emerging, and while there are still some rocky patches ahead, Gabby and Chip are heading for their own happily ever after ending.  If you love watching friends discover that there’s so much more they could be together, then you’d enjoy this story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust.  It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)