My Review: Wedding of the Century

The Wedding of the Century & Other Stories: The Wedding of the Century\Jesse's Wife\Seduced by Starlight

About the Book:

The Wedding of the Century by MARY JO PUTNEY

Stunningly beautiful and extraordinarily wealthy, Sarah Vangelder had always wanted more for herself than to be sold into marriage for the price of a dukedom. But marriage to Justin Aubrey might be the adventure she’s always dreamed of…

Jesse’s Wife by KRISTIN JAMES

When a late-night walk on her father’s ranch inadvertently destroys her reputation, Amy McCallister finds herself married off to Jesse, a sinfully handsome farmhand. But can he convince her to give him her heart, despite their rocky beginning?

Seduced by Starlight by CHARLOTTE FEATHERSTONE

Jase Markham, London’s most dashing—and notorious—rake, has loved his brother’s fiancée for as long as he can remember. When his brother casts Blossom aside, Jase is determined to finally make her his—if she’s willing to overlook his scandalous reputation!

My Comments:

Come on, a girl is allowed a little mind candy sometimes, isn't she?  This is one volume made of three Harlequin romances.  All the relationships are consummated after the weddings, and yes, we get to watch.  There is no literary value to any of these stories, they are all pure fluff and I had a great time reading this book.    There is nothing new original or different about any of the stories;  as the saying goes, "they are what they are".  Grade:  B (I can't give any higher rating for this type of story).  

Never Too Late by Robyn Carr

Never Too Late (MIRA) is a sweet romantic novel about three sisters who live in Colorado.  The book is mainly about Clare.  She and her  husband are separated because of his repeated infidelity.  She drops by to drop off a birthday card and catches him in bed with yet another woman.  She drives away like a bat out of ---- and is pulled over by this gorgeous cop.  When she explains what happened, he lets her go with a warning.  Seconds later she is broadsided in an intersection.  Since the cop was right there, he knew the accident happened, and knew her name etc.  Is he going to be the new Mr. Right, or will her husband get his act together?  What about the guy she knew when she was in high school?  As Clare sets about getting control of her life, suddenly she has more men than she knew what to do with.  

Her sister Sarah was a wild child, but following her mother's death became a frumpy homebody.  Now she sets her cap for someone.  Will she get him? Maggie has been married for years, but things aren't quite the same.  Will the spark return?

This is mass-market romantic fiction with several vivid sex scenes (though I found it interesting that when  the married couple started, we didn't get a blow-by-blow, unlike the scenes with the unmarried couples).  There is nothing earth-moving or unique about this book but it is a happy feel-good read and I'm glad I found it at the library.

The Recipe Club: Book Review

The Recipe Club is the story of two friends, Valerie and Lilly. Valerie is the daughter of an agoraphobic (afraid to leave the house) and a high school science teacher/inventor. Lilly is the daughter of a psychiatrist (who happens to be making house calls to treat Val's mother) and a singer/actress. Lilly's dad seems far more fond of Val than he does of Lilly, who, like her mother, is a singer. Valerie ends up as a doctor.

Starting when they are in sixth grade in 1964, the girls exchange letters, and with the letters, recipes. Most of the story is told in those letters. We follow the girls through teenaged angst, first boyfriends, losing their virginity, college, an abortion, a lesbian relationship, marriage and motherhood. We watch them learn their parents' secrets and finally get their lives in order (or so it seems). We see them go from girlhood chums to betrayal and hatred followed by a mature relationship.

I enjoyed the book but think I would have liked it more if I liked any of the characters. However, I didn't find any of them likable. Valerie and Lilly seemed to be Exhibit "A" in the "How to parent so as to produce messed up kids" book. The recipes in the book looked good, and I'll have to try some.

I'd like to thank the folks at FSB Media for providing a review copy of this book. At their website you can read other reviews and and excerpt from the book, including a recipe.

To purchase from Amazon: The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship