Wedding Books

I adore romances that begin on the premise of the hero and heroine being childhood friends, or having known each other for a long time. I also appreciate the unusual setting of this romance occurring between two "commoners," rather than always being between two titled people of London's elite. That said, coupled with the brilliance of most of Maxwell's other works, this story had a lot of potential, but the delivery of it fell short of my expectations. Because the plot has already been summarized several times, I will just point out why this book only earned 3 stars from me --

- The heroine behaved like a shrew towards the hero for 4/5 of the book. While I appreciate feisty and independent-thinking heroines, this one was unnecessarily rude, bitter, and sometimes even downright cruel to a man far too deserving for her.

- The amount of tension in the novel between the hero and heroine (mainly caused only by the heroine herself for ridiculous plot-contrived reasons) really took away from the romance of why I even read romances to begin with.

- The plot was very predictable, there was really no "villain" or secondary characters to speak of, and I doubt I will remember much about this story after a couple weeks of reading several more romances.

All in all, this book gets 3/5 stars for me for its original storyline, background, and the fact that it was well-written. Minus 2/5 stars for the unnecessarily shrewish behavior of the heroine, and the predictability in the deliverance of the promising storyline. I would recommend it only if you merely want to pass your time -- you won't find a ground-breaking, heart-wrenching story here, but I suggest checking your local library or buying a cheap used copy.

Mary Gates wants this stud in her stables. The Stud is a prime piece of horseflesh up for auction in her hometown of Lyford Meadows. The entire town's male population will be in attendance to witness who places the winning bid. Mary believes this horse is just what she needs to bring her stables back to full operating glory of the past. The town views Mary's independent and willful behavior as quite eccentric, including her normal attire of donning men's breeches. And her desire to win the horse may also have something to do with her constant battles with her neighbor and rival, Tye Barlow.

Tye is just as determined to win, because it would secure his stable's future as well. And he believes he has a good shot with the amount of money he's willing to bid. In the end, Mary outbids him but he's suspicious, because he knows there's no way she could own that kind of capital. Mary's winning bid is well beyond her means, but she makes up a fictitious, wealthy fiancé, and then convinces the seller she needs a little time to make her payment. The independent Mary, who never intended to settle down, sets out for London and the marriage mart to snag herself a rich husband. Tye discovers where she's gone, and follows with the intention to foil any possibility of her paying for the horse.

Their complicated history resurfaces, as well as their desire for each other, which of course has always been there in the form of a battle of wills. Together, they may discover the real prize isn't the horse, but their love for each other.

I've read three or four novels by Maxwell, and this is my favorite so far. I enjoy romances that involve the battle of wills, which is done well here. Although, I did think Mary's obstinance over her independence did go on a little too long, but that's only a minor issue. Even though there's not much new here for a romance story, I still found it refreshing and the witty dialogue probably had a lot to do with that. Mary and Tye were both headstrong characters and well matched for each other. There's nothing heavy-duty about this story, it's a nice light, recommended read.

Tye and Mary are delightful characters--very likable, feisty and well suited to each other--in this very fun and fast-paced Regency romance. The warmth, wit and lust for life characteristic of all Cathy Maxwell romances is evident here and makes this winning novel a charming read.

I enjoyed this offering by Cathy Maxwell. In this story a woman who is basically trying to save her family horse breeding ranch does what she must. She feels that all she is worth is what she is able to do to the home she knows. So one day she sets out to buy the "stud" of the areas for her horses and ends up in a bidding war with one of her neighbor. Who she shares a past with.

She ends up bidding more than she can handle and to get the rest of the money she goes to London to find a husband. What she doesn't count on is an embarrassment from her past showing up as well as her neighbor Tye. What ensues is a great romance story!

Barely making ends meet, horsewoman Mary bids over her means in order to secure a prized 'horse stud' for her estate in hopes that breeding will bring about her financial success and sticking it to neighbor and fellow horseman, Tye, makes it that much sweeter. In a desperate attempt to get the money in order to pay for the horse, Mary goes to London to find a rich husband. That doesn't sit well with Tye, sore from being out-bid and a bit suspicious, he follows her -because he wants the horse of course. Mayhem insues when, gorgeous, but socially inept, Mary storms the London social scene. Tye's there for rescue her when scandal results. Romance blooms in the shadows and maybe they figure out that the stud isn't that important anyway.

Great romance. I love fiesty females and Mary takes the cake! She causes scandals just by breathing, a real tough cookie that doesn't take it from anybody -including Tye. He's just that man to lasoe this filly in. One of my favorite Maxwells. If you liked Falling in Love Again and You and Only You, you'll like this one too.

The collaborative effort of Elizabeth Lluch & Alex Lluch, The Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide is a superbly organized and handily accessible wedding planner. Subject tabs, no-nonsense instructions and recommendations, color photographs, practical advice, enduring traditions, and more fill the pages of this useful and highly recommended guide which is specially crafted with a spiral binding to lay flat for easy reference. If there is a wedding in your future, then get yourself a personal copy of The Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide!

I love a good chicklit book every once in awhile, so I was really excited to give Wedding Season a try. From the start, there are entirely too many characters with complicated, not-that-interesting stories, which had me constantly trying to figure out who was engaged/married to who, and understand the complications between characters and their significant others. I do not recommend anyone who believes in the institution of marriage to read this book, because the author obviously does not, and she tries to push this view on the reader as she draws out the story by throwing in several forgettable wedding scenes and ultimately ending the book with the main character suffering the consequences of her stubborn insecurities. Send "Gabe" my way and throw this book in the trash. Ultimately tiresome and frustrating, leaving me in disbelief, wondering "Why in the world did I just waste my time on this?!?"

Like a lot of the posts on here, I agree that this book wasn't great. I read it for a book club and I found the writing and the ending so disappointing. Yes, I think it was good that it was a different twist/ending from what you would usually expect from "chicklit", but it just wasn't done in the right way. It didn't leave me happy, sad, nothing. Just kinda blah. Not worth. Wouldn't read it again.

This is the first book in a while that I've been less than impressed with. I was glad to finish it so I could move on to something else. It is very obvious that this is the author's first work...at times the working is confusing and because of that, it is often unclear who is speaking. There are WAY TOO MANY characters in the book, many with little or no importance to the bigger story. She provides too much detail, it seems the first half of the book was dedicated to building the plot - too much! Ultimately I was quite bored with this one and am glad to be done with it...I won't even mention the less than impressive ending!!

The good points of this book -- good writing in places; interesting descriptions of the various weddings; and a really fascinating job that I wish I'd thought of (an anonymous free-lance writing firm called Invisible Inc). Bad points -- WAY too many characters to keep track of; overly-colorful secondary characters that are so exaggerated they're stereotypes; and an annoying, neurotic heroine. This last is what will probably keep me from attempting this book again. It's impossible to enjoy a book when you have so little sympathy for the main character. It should be possible to be against marriage for whatever reasons without judging other people who are not against it and making their lives totally miserable along with your own.

I have read some of the other reviews of this novel by my fellow readers, and they are right. This is not Jane Austen. It's not Charlotte Bronte. It's not Virginia Wolfe. It is Darcy Cosper.

Wedding Season is a touching, funny, neurotic, playful, satiric and very enveloping tale about a modern woman's relationship to marriage. It's not social criticim. It's not anthropological. It's storytelling of a high caliber. I was captured by Cosper's mind for madness, her fantastic use of metaphor, and detailed creation of delightful characters.

I suggest reading it before the movie comes out in 2009. The richness and detail are sure to be somewhat lost and the written work is too good to miss.

I confess. I made it through only 60% of the book before I allowed myself to just GIVE UP and not read anymore. Dear Lord, the characters were such horrible stereotypes that I didn't care if got married, divorced, or fell off the planet: The spoiled heiress who is dimmer than a 4watt bulb and the tortured hero so full of angst he really needed professional help than true love. I do agree with other reviewers that the supporting characters (Jack's loyal servants and his siblings) are the scene stealers in this book. I love regency romances too. Try Mary Jo Putney for characters that you find believable, funny, and easy to care about...

I rarely rate any book that I review as 5 star worthy. Now, as I review this amazing book, I know of two others that will be receiving 5 stars after I get done with this review.

After reading 'The Prisoner' I found myself wanting to read more about Genevieve and Haydon's band of unfortunates and misfits. This book gave me humor, passion, love, and a damn honest telling of England and surrounding areas in the late 1800's. Monk's straight forward descriptions of the horrendous lords and their lacking wealth are a refreshing perspective from many who glorify and romanticize that particular era.

Jack, in my opinion, is far from a violent homophobe (and believe me, I know homophobes). Satisfyingly dynamic, there is a definite change in him from the beginning to the end of the novel. Where there once stood an angry, self-loathing man forever haunted by his less-than-respectable parentage (I, for one, knew what role Lord Hutton played instantly), at the end there is a worldly man who loves a brave woman and is finally at peace with himself. Lovely.

Amelia, I also found, was surprisingly dynamic as well. Originally I didn't have much hope for her character, but she made me laugh a few times with her typical heiress-naievety. To me, Jack did a good job in making Amelia more down-to-earth, even though she had a large part in that as well. A very compelling heroine.

I recommend Monk's books to anyone who asks me. The majority of the time, she will never leave readers wanting. This book is a perfect example of it.

I read the Queen's Fool and really liked it. So naturally I had to go get the next book. I was disappointed in the fact she didn't use a original fictional character like Hannah, but never the less it was pretty good. Her description of the Tudor ear is beautifully written. I thought that Amy wasn't as constantans as her attitude had been in the first one. It was interesting to see all the different viewpoints of how people saw Robert. As a finial note some of it did seem to drag on and the plot was driven by this one piece of mysterious history that she really wanted to point out. Don't get me wrong it was interesting, but certain parts were dry.

Courtesy of The Best Reviews

Wealthy American heiress Amelia Belford is being forced into a marriage she does not want. Her mother desires her to marry into a high ranking reputable family and Amelia's father is eager for the business connections this marriage will open up to him in Europe. All she wants is to be happy and to find a marriage of love rather then convenience.

Jack Kent is attending the high society wedding of the wealthy socialite from America and her groom-to-be Duke Whitcliffe, for an opportunity to spend time with his family before heading off on another sea journey. When he escapes the Church to go outside for some air prior to the wedding, she is shocked to see the young bride making a break for freedom by shimmying out a Church window and down the wall, on a beeline for a carriage to escape in, and ends up in Jack's own carriage!

Jack is immediately taken with Amelia's spirit and bid for freedom, agreeing to help her by taking her first to London, then on to his home in Inverness, Scotland. Suddenly he finds himself protecting the young beauty, wanting to see no harm come to her as she discovers how it feels to be free. Jack and Amelia are drawn to each other... he to her indomitable will and she to the kindness in his heart, which can't quite mask the pain in his eyes - a pain he refuses to reveal.

However, fate is not ready for them yet. Someone has plans to ruin Jack's growing shipping business, destroying any credibility he's acquired by overcoming his less-then-stellar past. Amelia's family will do anything to get her back and married off. Will Jack and Amelia be able to overcome the obstacles - internal and external - to find the happiness only they can grant each other?

Ms. Monk continues the Kent family saga with this impressive read. Jack and Amelia show such passion and strength, still having their weaknesses, as the reader gets to know them. Jack is convinced everyone looks down on him for his scandalous past and Amelia longs for someone to love her for herself, not her money. Each longs for the other to love them for whom they are inside, not what is on the surface. All of the secondary characters are delightful as well... from Jack's extended family of reformed thieves to Amelia's brash family of "loud obnoxious" Americans.

Plenty of plot can be found in Jack's lowly background, Amelia's escapades to escape for The Wedding Escape, and the mystery behind the vandalism to his sea fleet and the attempts to destroy his business. Jack's brothers and sisters... and servants... add humor to the story, keeping it lighthearted and full of entertaining and memorable scenes.

One can't help but fall in love with Jack and Amelia, and all of the Kent family throughout this entire book. This reviewer loved this book and is eager to read more adventures of this loveable family.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2003. All rights reserved.

Wow! That Publisher's Weekly review really had an ax to grind--and it bore little resemblance to the book. That reviewer seems to have forgotten the mores & laws of the day as well as the other factors involved.

Jack definitely has his problems, and there were times I was put off by them. Indeed, his character seemed so changeable--for example, his later anger problems seemed at odds with his more laid-back demeanor early in the book. But Jack has not completely overcome the horrors of his youth, and Amelia--or his surprising feelings for her--become the trigger for years of repression to fall away. Much like organizing your basement, it gets worse before it gets better. But Monk really makes you feel Jack's despair at the thought that Amelia might leave him and his inability to articulate what he feels for her. As for the charges of near rape, ah....no. Amelia was a full participant.

Speaking of Amelia, she's a pampered gal who gains a lot of wisdom after she meets Jack. Unfortunately, there also comes a time when she seems to lose her newfound backbone. The servants and Jack's family are terrific secondary characters--sometimes they nearly steal the show. Ha! And Jack as a doctor was excruciatingly funny.

On the charge of too many unanswered questions....that's a big Yes. It's the book's major downfall. So many threads are set up--very important ones--and they are never resolved. Very bad form that. Therefore, I'm rating it at 3 stars.

I've written a couple of reviews of books about being a best man because I just bought a bunch and went through the process. In the end, all of them were incomplete. This one doesn't cover much beyond the speech, and there are better quotes online.

I found a good ebook called The Best Man Bible. That was the most comprehensive and worth the time and money.

To be the best man is not an easy task (speeches, shaking hands, talkingto people). This book was a great help. It helped me put things in perspective, create an awesome speech (I received many congratulations for my speech) and we had a great great time. The wedding was an absolute SUCCESS.
I definitely recommend this book.

Great tricks, easy to understand. It's a great book to flip through. At parties and around kids, I have shown off these tricks, andthey are very impressive. The book is well worth your money.

This book is fair for the beginner; it does teach some easy sleights and vanishes. For those who may be starting out in magic but are fairly serious about it, Modern Coin Magic is a much better value.

I don't think there's an inch of tulle in any of the projects in this book. If you're really looking for "101 uses for tulle and gold ribbon," this is probably *not* the book you want.

The book is visually gorgeous, and the three wedding "themes" that are explored have a simple, somewhat eclectic, elegence to them. If you are the sort of person who likes antique shops, flea markets, Asian groceries, and gramma's attic, you will probably swoon. A little "Martha"-esque, only more personal and intimate.

I especially like the idea of incorporating texts into the design elements. Many projects use color photocopies of old letters, maps, and rebus-like cut-out letters that spell messages like "cherish."

I think this book will be a great resource if you are looking to create a wedding that has a a unique artistic sensibility.

When my daughter was preparing for her wedding last year, our crafty family was determined to do as much as possible with our own hands. This inspiring book helped us achieve that goal.
The book includes three "stories": Country Lanes, Color Brights, and Antique Whites. Each has associated stationery, decorations, flowers, candles, favors, gifts, photography, and accessories.
There are instructions for many of the projects, and all can be accomplished within reasonable time and budget constraints, by people with average crafting skills.

I have been buying from Amazon for years, and this is the first review I have written... and NOT to rave about this purchase, but to convey my disappointment. I was expecting a more professional book... this is certainly not it... I also decorate cakes, and was confused as to how this one got the description it did.... and yes... WHY IS THE COVER OF THE BOOK NOT PROVIDED??? The picture here is located way in the back of the book, and is much smaller... I also thought I received the wrong book... I have to say, that the picture they did choose to advertise the book was the best of the bunch.... so just look at this picture and forget the book.

The cover of this book does not match the one above...but does that really matters?????!!!!!!!! Is a nice cover anyway. The pictures inside???....I dont see anything wrong in them!!!!!!!
Give this book a chance. The designs of the cakes could have been better but the bakers featured are not british..at the end of the day the book shows the kind of work american bakers do.

First of all, this is not a book for those of you who want to learn how to decorate cakes. This is a book for the bride who wants to learn about the right cake to ORDER. My cover matched the one shown so, maybe the book has a couple different covers, not a big deal. Anyway, I enjoyed the book but, if you are looking for a how-to on how to bake and decorate your own cake, this is not for you.

The pictures are sloppy and amateurish. The editorial is very inaccurate. The author/editor appears to have done little or no research and clearly does not know the first thing about cake decorating. There are so many great cake decorating books out there. Don't waste your money on this one.

Note to the idiot from Ilford, England whose review suggests that this is a bad book because it only features American bakers instead of British bakers: there are plenty of books that only feature American style cake decorating which are GREAT. There are two different styles: british decorating covers everything with some sort of rolled icing and cement-tasting flowers. American usually uses soft, piped icings. Both styles can be incredibly complex in their own way and require great skill. This reason this book is bad is not because it is a typical example of american skill, as you sugggest. It's bad because it's NOT typical. The author wasn't really interested in showcasing the best examples.

I liked the cake on the cover (which happens to be the same cover listed on amazon.com) but the photos inside were horrible. They were very fuzzy and you couldn't see the detail of the cakes that well. The cakes were just okay, nothing fabulous to look at.

This is a competent, important collection for the classical guitarist who plays weddings. It has most of the 'required' pieces, however does not include the important Canon in D(No doubt the editor is trying to send a message to the wedding crowd!). I like most of the fingerings and has some nice material that cannot be found elsewhere. As noted in the other review, a violin can easily be substituted as well. Page turns are a problem, but with some copying and taping this flaw is fixed. Highly useful and recommended.

this book is good because the flute part can also be played by violin, so you have some options there. It is easy to read and everything that you need. The only problem is some page turns here and there but otherwise good