Wedding Books

A Familty Wedding, Angela Benso

A Family Wedding, Angela Benso

Patsy is shocked when her life-long frined Kenny asks her to marry him for the sake of his daughter. Kenny's wife died several years earlier and his daughter wanted a mommy like her other friends.

Patsy had been hurt in a previous marriage, but she always loved Kenny. Kenny didn't realize how precious Patsy had been to him. He was fighting the feelings he still had for his dead wife and the ones he had for Patsy.

This was a warm story of love and family. Ms. Benson always writes a good story no matter the plot.

I think the main character of the book, Faye, was suppose to be a Maria (as in the Sound of Music) type character. Unfortunately, instead of coming off as sheltered but determined she comes off as an idiot doormat. The whole hate to love relationship seemed forced and ridiculous. Last but not least, Faye would make a terrible wife for a ruler of a country.

I really enjoyed this story. Tariq is great and all the way through it, you could tell he really loved the heroine.

I see very different opinions, but I can deffinitely say that I loved THE ARABIAN MISTRESS. True, it was wrong of Prince Tariq Shazad ibn Zachir to accuse Faye of being a gold-digger, but I think it made it more interesting because Faye had to "earn" back his trust. Although it was good to watch Tariq feel like an idiot, once he finds out how wrong he was.

I didn't think Faye was being weak because Tariq needs that warm and loving person, which was Faye. Although Faye really was NOT a weak character because while they were about to make love, Faye kept on throwing out insults to Tariq. And she knows that Tariq didn't like the comments she was makiing.

Well...I thought Faye was sacrificing herself too much for her family. Her family treats her like dirt. The only family that she has is her stepfather, Percy, who is a real pig and Adrian who takes her for granted. Faye gave up herself to be Tariq's mistress to save her brother and her brother didn't even know about it! I hated her family but I guessed they created the elements that suited the book. All in all, I can deffinitely say that I have not regretted reading THE ARABIAN MISTRESS.

^_^ ~ Izzy

... by this outing from Lynne Graham. I usually enjoy her work, but I felt that the plot line of "The Arabian Mistress" was forced and jerky. In my opinion, the two lead characters, Prince Tariq and Faye, were not well developed and their relationship went from hate/betrayal to "playing family" without any true emotional resolution of their conflict. Faye is only 20, and by her own admission lacking both education and life experience. Her lack of maturity shows in her relationship with Tariq, yet she is portrayed as a natural to the role of wife of a country's ruler. The gaps in the plot were a bit too wide for me.

Faye and Prince Tariq were supposedly "married" a year ago, but Faye believes the wedding was fake. She has not seen her "husband" since her wedding day. Her brother, living in the Arab country that Tariq rules, lands in prison, and Faye approaches Tariq to ask for aid in securing her brother's freedom. Tariq's price: Faye must become his mistress. The expected conflicts ensue from that point.

I'll look forward to Ms. Graham's next book, but I felt this one was not up to her usual high standards.

Faye and Prince Tariq have an unusual courtship and marriage to start. A car accident with Prince Tariq's limosine at her brother's commanding officer's wedding introduces Faye to Prince Tariq who is instantly attracted to her. Adrian teases Faye about how young she is and how worldly & experienced Prince Tariq is in comparison. At the reception Prince Tariq seeks Faye out and thinking of her brother's comments Faye lies about her age and says she's 23 years old when in fact she's 18.

Prince Tariq is a highly public figure and is somewhat older than Faye. Not realizing how young and inexperienced Faye is Prince Tariq begins courting her. Faye's brother and stepfather are very upset when they find out she's lied about her age & is dating someone so obviously above her class. Faye rebels and decides to be grown up and invite Prince Tariq over to her home when she knows no one else will be around. Faye's horrible stepfather Percy overhears the telephone conversation, surprises them when the Prince is visiting and causes a scene. Percy then blackmails Prince Tariq threatening to go to the press if he doesn't pay up. To avoid scandal Prince Tariq arranges for an immediate marriage at the embassy. Faye doesn't know about the blackmail & thinks this is a real wedding. After the ceremony Prince Tariq confronts her and tells her to leave him so she does. As she's leaving he throws an envelope at her while yelling at her in another language. Faye gives the envelope to her stepfather assuming it's divorce papers. She's heartbroken and goes home thinking she'll never see Prince Tariq again.

Faye's older brother Adrian goes to Prince Tariq's country to start up a business. A year later he is imprisoned when his business fails to meet it's debts. Prince Tariq realizes Faye will probably try to contact him to ask for her brother's release. Percy talks Faye into flying to the Gulf state of Jumar to beg for Adrian's release. When Faye meets with Prince Tariq sparks fly as he angrily demands she stay with him as his sex slave in retribution for the blackmail scheme and to save her brother's life. Although Faye is still a virgin and terrified of staying with Prince Tariq when he's so obviously out for revenge she can't let her brother rot in prison so she agrees. Adrian is immediately released from prison & leaves the country with Percy. They don't care enough about Faye to find out where she is or what she had to do to get her brother released.

Faye goes through a tough adjustment of a new environment, culture & a language barrier. Prince Tariq has her go through a public ceremony which is entirely spoken in another language so Faye doesn't know what is going on or what people say to her. In the meantime she discovers that Prince Tariq is responsible for several children since most of his immediate family were killed in a plane accident but the kids weren't with them. She begins to get close to the children and becomes a mother to them. Prince Tariq is shocked when he finds out how close the children are to her & begins to realize Faye isn't the uncaring gold digger he thought she was. After many surprises they finally begin to reconnect and in the end Prince Tariq learns the truth of Percy's actions. This book has a lot of passion & interesting twists to it. I highly recommend it!

I recently bought the book "The Musician's Guide to Brides." and found it full of tips that will make playing wedding gigs more enjoyable. I haven't played at a wedding yet but plan to in the future and this book will help me have the knowledge and confidence to do a good job.

This book assumes that every wedding musician is completely stupid. Do you really need to waste space in a book stating that I should check the FAQ's in my email program before using email? Do we have to be instructed on how to maneuver ourselves to avoid wind? We're also told that roadies should bring homework to stay busy and that we shouldn't get drunk or use illegal drugs while on the job.
I will admit there are some useful tips, such as using news releases to enhance business and what PR jargon to use and what to avoid.
Despite some useful tips, when it comes down to it, if you are a violinist who needs this book to inform you that "Pachelbel's Canon" is popular at wedding ceremonies or you're a DJ who needs to be informed that "YMCA" might be a good choice at a reception, then you need far more than this book. You need a job doing something else.

I have a copy of Anne Roos' new book "The Musician's Guide to Brides."
It is a 321 page, user friendly, easy to read guide filled with tips
covering most everything you need to know when playing for a wedding.
It discusses advertising, communicating with the bride (or client),
essentials to include in your contract, preparing for the wedding day,
necessary equipment and mindset for performing, how to deal with
unexpected things that may come up and follow up after the wedding.
There are checklists and forms to help you make sure that you're
organized and that you've covered every little detail that you may not
otherwise think of so the day will go smoothly. Anne shares her own and
other's experiences to help you be well prepared for anything.

This book is for anyone providing music for a wedding or similar event. It's a must for a novice and there are so many tips that even an experienced person could pick up something new.
I highly recommend it!

I recently received this book as a gift. I would recommend this to any musician either starting out or a pro. This book is filled with hundreds of tips.

This book is a fabulous resource for would be wedding musicians. What to play is pretty easy, but how to play is another story. Anne Roos has put together a nifty handbook on the how of wedding performances that should be in every musician's bookshelf.

It's been a while since I read such nice, well written stories. They were easy to read and made me wonder about issues like being an organ donor and how to trust after having endured a broken heart. It's my first book by this author and I'll be looking for more of her books to buy.

This book embraced important issues about life-decisions very well. Marrage is business - ask an attorney or anyone in or near divorce.

Single or married, HAPPY PEOPLE DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE UNHAPPY. Most miserable people are so mixed up that they tend to follow nature's law of "like attracts like". Many insist that you join "their ranks", no matter what your personal feelings or costs will be. Truely happy and healthy people want you happy and making the best life-decisions for YOU.

I'm a medical clinician and have taken many very private personal histories over the years. Candidly, MANY married friends or aquaintences (a wife or husband - without their spouses present)have stepped up to the plate and have told me point blank in private HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE SINGLE. These stories happen over and over, year after year. I hear them from all levels - all the way up to professionally degreed ladies and gentlemen. They couldn't believe what they traded and gave up, wishing more than anything that they could get out of their marrages.

I was married once briefly and very happy then, too. Unfortunatley, she abandoned our plans of dual professioanl incomes, saving and investing. We were retiring early together to travel to follow a "lets have fun together following our instincts and interests" lifestyle. She wanted to retire THEN. I was loaded with all financial responsibilities with my new, irresponsible, yet loving (in her ways) wife. Six months after we married, a short gentleman's discussion cleared any misunderstandings that I may have had about our plans. We thoroughly discussed our marrage GOALS. I NEEDED to be sure she changed. Three days later, my divorce was on the way and I felt a tremendous sense of relief. One of my most happiest and most productive days was the day the judge signed my divorce. It felt I, MY ONE CHANCE IN LIFE, was born anew with a fresh start every morning.

As a happy single, I have to make up my own mind based on my true feelings. "Marrage pushers" grasp at holding "spouse power cards" - typically, the non-worker party (yes, they're having a party). The longer someone stays in a clear misadventure with wrong parties, the potential of great emotional and financial losses skyrocket.

Today, many younger first generation immigrants entering the U.S. refuse to get a U.S. marrage. They feelit's too risky for hard workers trying to embrace dreams of a new life. Their solution? They adopt or parent their children overseas and raise them in the U.S. independently. I've read through U.S. BLOG sites where ladies have "Divorce Showers" BEFORE saying vows. These groups plot and plan to take their husbands for everything, BEFORE the wedding day. The typical execution takes 1 to 3 years plus the pleasant divorce.

Need to valadate a potential spouse? Look at their Real World ADULT Report Cards: Family history, read their credit ratings, lifetime social security earning statements, financial records, and validate REAL Monthly Cash Flow. Are they "true" or are they taking monthly cash advances (your future debt, so get ready) to snow-job everyone concerned with your well-being and appear more attractive as a valuable mate?

Gravitating towards a variety of happy people who stay busy with socially healthy, personally challanging activities is probably the best choice. Validate their Adult Report Cards. Someone who loves you and looking out for your best interests, too, will discuss everything with you willingly and openly.

Of course, you can smile, date, go out, and just stay happily single. Spend that dough on you and protect your future!

I wish I could put a finger on it -- but this book has probably done more to convince me that there's something wrong with my single state than anything. It seems to suggest that there's no natural desire for a mate, that if it weren't for the marriage agenda we'd all be happily single, and it just seems to fly in the face of common sense and overstretch too often. I would prefer to stay single after a bad marriage but find it difficult to accept, and was hoping this book would give me more to support that choice. Instead I find myself going, "well, maybe it's not really all that natural for a married couple to invite a single to a social function in this or that circumstance...." Being single isn't about doing things alone (humans are social animals), and I think she misses that point often. That's not to say that there isn't plenty to ponder, but I don't agree with her conclusions too often. It's an interesting read.

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"I do wish married people would understand that a lot of singles actually WANT to be single. Why does that bother you?...It is like the story my (happily married) friend...likes to tell about meeting the late Ann Landers, who said, `You tell that Richard Roeper to figure out what's keeping him from getting married and to fix it!'""

The above is found in this meticulously well-researched book by social psychologist Dr. Bella DePaulo (who is unmarried herself). (Specifically, the above quotation comes from an essay written by movie critic (of TV's "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper") and columnist Richard Roeper's reaction to two married friends who wanted Roeper to get married.)

I think it's important for people to know what social psychology is: it is that branch of psychology that concentrates on any and all aspects of human behaviour that involve persons and their relationships to other persons, groups, social institutions, and to society as a whole. Social psychology exchanges freely ideas, models, and methods with other social sciences, particularly sociology.

This is why I chose this book. It's based on an objective social science (or, at least, it tries to be) and not on subjective opinions. This book is not a "diatribe" or a rant.

The best chapter in this book, in my opinion, has the title, "Science and the Single Person." Here, DePaulo looks at data and their numbers with regard to different kinds of people (single, married, divorced, etc.). She then interprets the data. The final conclusions are eye-opening and completely unexpected.

Then we proceed to examine the myths of being single that form the core of this book. Here are the myths that each form an independent chapter for analysis:

Myth #1: Marrieds (that is, married couples) know best.
Myth #2: You are just interested in one thing--getting coupled.
Myth #3: You are miserable and lonely and your life is tragic.
Myth #4: Like a child, you are self-centered and immature and your time isn't worth anything since you have nothing to do but play.
Myth #5: (For single women). Your work won't love you back and your eggs will dry up. Also, you don't get any, and your promiscuous.
Myth #6: (For single men). You are horny, slovenly, and irresponsible, and you are the scary criminals. Or, you are sexy, fastidious. frivolous, and gay.
Myth #7: (For single parents). Your kids are doomed.
Myth #8: You don't have anyone and you don't have a life.
Myth #9: You will grow old alone and you will die in a room by yourself where no one will find you for weeks.
Myth #10: (Regarding the term "family values"). Let's give all the perks, benefits, gifts, and cash to couples and call it family values.

In all chapters, Depaulo delves into history, tells us true stories, and logically analyzes arguments.

Finally, you would expect a book like this to be overly harsh on married people or couples. Actually, it's not. The book tries to be fair and balanced.

In conclusion, this book is an intriguing cultural study that gives a complicated subject the attention and respect it deserves. I leave you with other quotations regarding marriage and the single life (the title of this review is actually a quotation uttered by Mae West):

(i) Marriage is like a besieged fortress. Everyone outside wants to get in, and everyone inside wants to get out. (Quitard)
(ii) My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met. (comedian Rodney Dangerfield)
(iii) People think I'm gay because I'm single, slim, and neat. (comedian Jerry Seinfeld in the sitcom "Seinfeld")

(First published late 2007; 15 chapters; main narrative 260 pages; notes; bibliography; acknowledgements; index)

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A very selective review of the literature on singlehood. DePaulo has a good point--alone does not equal lonely, and our society should be aware and open to that. However, she protests too much--and misinterprets a lot of other people's meaningful words in very negative ways.

I know some people are marriage-obsessed and I've certainly experienced one of the main questions at a family gathering being, "So, do you have a boyfriend?"; still, I've never realized the extent of discrimination against singles. (And yes, Bella DePaulo is very aware that singles do not face the discrimination many other groups must survive.) Sometimes she seems to be digging too deep into a frankly benign situation, but other times she uncovers surprising truths. The tone rarely contains bitterness - yes, there is some, but DePaulo approaches her subject matter with humor. Each chapter focuses on a different subject singlehood in a fairly self-contained manner. She concisely debunks most of the popular myths about singlism.

In one of the concluding chapters, DePaulo writes, "I think that most Americans - including most single Americans - want the marital mythology to be true. They passionately want to believe that if only they find their soulmate, they will live happily ever after." My friends and I talk all the time about this concept, and we do want it to be true. We grew up in an age of high divorce rates, but we still hold the Disney dream close - jaded, cynical teenagers who still believe one day we'll find the one. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. Who cares? We'll be just fine on our own, whether Prince Charming arrives on the scene or not.

Don't be put off by the non-fiction aspect. SINGLED OUT is a fascinating read. It may not change your paradigm, but it will open your eyes to various injustices.

Excerpted from In Bed With Books.

This is the 4th book I've read of the Susan Henshaw suburban housewife "sleuth" series and with each book I find myself shaking my head in disbelief; but this one, so far, takes the cake. What mother of the bride would be running the streets at two in the morning the night before her daughter gets married trying to track down a murderer, leaving dog "poop" and "pee" on the kitchen floor knowing she is to host a large brunch early the next morning. When the next morning comes she never sets foot in the kitchen to see if the mess is still there but goes off on another wild goose chase. She always uses her best friend Kathleen who was a police officer before she quit and got married as a errand and delivery person more than what she is, a trained professional. As a trained professional Kathleen should be solving the crime(s) and Susan should be assisting her, not the other way around. All the books I have read so far are just not believable but this one ...forget it, I can not recommend it, it seems more like a fantasy than a mystery.

Susan's Henshaw's daughter is getting married and, as usual, everything that could go wrong does. However, a missing wedding gown is nothing compared to the dead body which Susan has found. If you can swallow the premise that Susan wouldn't report the murder to the police because she doesn't want to spoil her daughter's wedding day, then you should enjoy this cozy. Acually this book is one of the better ones of the series and contains amusing characters and situations, along with plenty of red herrings and a satisfying conclusion.

I have enjoyed all of the Susan Henshaw mysteries and was very disappointed in this one. No self-respecting mother in the world would allow her daughter to abuse her this way. I was so annoyed with Chrissy's behavior, I didn't even finish the book! If this is the only one you have read, please, please try one of the other ones, they are much, much better!

I enjoyed this book. It was a light mystery with a lot of fun thrown in via the dissapearing body, the vanishing wedding dress and the other problems that arise from having a murder and a wedding.

The author did a good job of picturing the tense times of a wedding. All that was lacking was the normal night before the wedding fight between groom and bride.

I read the other reviews and I disagree in that I didn't find the main character, Susan, to be extremely self centered. Rather I found her to be a normal, flawed mother who was working hard to make the best wedding she could for her daughter. I thought her reaction to finding the dead body and her solutions to hiding the dead body funny.

The book was fun and enjoyable. It was a light mystery that didn't have a lot of gore. I will read others by this author.

Normally I am a fan of the Susan Henshaw series, but this installment was just terrible. By the end I couldn't care less about the identity of the murder victim much less who killed her. The entire premise was so unbelievable. Most of the characters had two different names which kept me confused and the frantic pace that Susan ran around town for 24 hours left me so exhausted I couldn't wait for the book to just end. I would love to know what police chief would only smile upon learning of a dead body being hidden for a day or so in order to not ruin the wedding day for the bride! The fact that her friend Kathleen, a former police officer, agreed to go along with the plan only made it worse. By all means, skip this book.

Most Hindu youngsters who grow up in the Western hemisphere undergo a gradual attrition of knowledge regarding their own hoary customs and traditions. Ms. Shubha Subbarao has done an outstanding job in fulfilling a very important need of the South Indian Hindu diaspora in English speaking countries by writing this book. Her book very adequately answers any, and all, questions one may have regarding Hindu wedding ceremonies and the significance of various rituals and traditions associated with it.
This book is very well written. It is also full of beautiful illustrations taken from, several different, real life Hindu wedding ceremonies. Ms Subbarao's book is a must read for couples who are on the threshold of getting married but do not know much about their own traditions & customs. It also makes a great gift item for engagement ceremonies.
Srinath N. Bellur MD.
Memphis, TN

When I picked up this book I had no knowledge of the traditions and symbolism of Hindu weddings. The author explains each part of the preparations and actual wedding in an easy-to-understand way which uncomplicates a fairly complicated social event. As a Western Christian I especially enjoyed the commonalities between Hinduism and other religions. If I were planning a Hindu wedding in America I would especially appreciate Shubha's advice on where to buy food and wedding articles and the use of the Internet to help make the planning easier.

We have learned of some of Luke Prescot's guilt in the Wedding Raffle - now we get to understand some of Rafe Malone's guilt and why he has come to honor his given word so strongly.

Now meet 4 rascally pirates:Captain Benjamin Scovall, who appears to be the leader,Cutless Gus Thomas, Snake MacKenzie and Lucky Nichols. Are they lost, so far away from the Gulf of Mexico? You should love the pithy language these 4 aged pirates come up with.

And all for the good of Mary Margaret St. John, the little girl that they have raised. Now at 25 she seems to be shedding the proper lady attitude that they have tried to engrain in her. But she loves these old gentlemen and wants to help reclaim their hidden treasure.

Rafe is ready for some blood tingling adventure, but can he help these men and still honor his word to Luke.

Rafe has invaded the East Texas domain of the Texas Rangers and Nick Callahan, who wants to hang him. What is their secret?
Is Rafe caught red handed stealing from Andrew Montgomery?
And who is Drew? Seems to be a compatriot of the 4 pirates.

Well Maggie wanted to surrender herself to Rafe and he obliged.
[the twit] Rafe also stole her heart - boy is he in trouble.

Mud baths, hot springs - all good for what ails you.
Quite an enjoyable story - wonder if Nick gets one?

DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED -M - great set of stories.

Gentleman Rafe Malone comes from the pages of "The Wedding Raffle" as the sexy, quirky former thieving friend of Luke Prescotts and starts his own brand of heat when he meets Mary Margaret St. John in this wonderful sequel to "Raffle". And yes, Luke, Honor and the funny Luella return in "Ransom".

I believe the author, Geralyn Dawson, is going to keep weaving her magic until she's in the top ten list of romance writers. She just gets better and better!

Ms. Dawson writes from the heart. She makes you want more, and leaves you waiting impatiently for the next book to come out. While waiting it is nice to reread the others again and again. It is nice to find out what happens to the people you meet in other stories.

Although I enjoyed the reading about the history of Texas and the exotic places in the book (they are some of my favorites too), this book was just too predictable and syrupy sweet for my tastes. It was an easy, light read and the characters at least weren't so hard headed you wanted to kick them, but things just wrapped up too nicely at the end. I guess , I've been reading too many mysteries and romantic suspense novels to appreciate this book. The only thing I wish she would have explained(being a Texan myself), is how Luke Prescott went to the Alamo and survived? Maybe that was explained in the first novel , "A Wedding Raffle", which I haven't read.

Geralyn Dawson's The Wedding Ransom is truely heart warming story. "Gentleman" Rafe Malone is a fantastic hero and at one time he was the slickest theif in Texas. I've never seen anyone with four grandfathers and each one has a personality of their own. This book is heart warming, lovely, and with some funny scenes added into make a light hearted read that you won't want to put down.

I am a wedding planner (eventsbykaren@hotmail.com) and if you aren't using a planner, you are nuts, and if you are and they haven't read this book, they are nuts! All people planning a wedding should read this book. Even if you don't read it and only use it as a reference then you still should buy this book. A wedding is a one shot deal and if you haven't planned one before, trust me, you have NO IDEA what it takes! There is a reason why planners make good money. This is one book that I recommened to all brides, mothers, fiances, and planners regardless of if you are using a coordinator or not.

If you are on a mission to plan a fantastic wedding, this is the book to read. This is the 3rd wedding book I have read in the last few months, and by far the most useful! It has great advice on how to get organized and plan the perfect wedding. I would recommend it to anyone planning a wedding.

This is by far the best wedding book available. The author is a mega wedding planner and you can tell why after reading the book. My fiance and I both read the book when we first got engaged and loved it! I am the groom and I learned a lot. I went from totally naive to getting a bunch of inside tips on getting the most bang for our buck. It made my involvement in the plans really enjoyable.

I was thrilled when Robbi published this book! As a member of JWI, I know how difficult it can be for a couple to plan a wedding. There are so many things to do and hiring experts for every piece can cost an arm and a leg! I love that this book offers all the great tips that JWI event professionals share with their clients ... in one easy resource book. A couple can save lots of time and money by reading this book. But best of all, it can help ensure that their wedding day is as fun-filled and stress-free as possible! Happy weddings, everyone!

WOW, I bought this book with not so great expectations, but to my pleasure it turned to be one of my favorites books ever. Give practical advices, how to care of details, everything you need to know and how to do it, it's a great book for wedding consultants, (novice or expert) and of course for the bride to be, giving them a practical inside look of everything they have to know to make the wedding a dream wedding... just two words:
BUY IT!