Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Everything But A Bride-Holly Jacobs

Everything But A Bride
Holly Jacobs
Avalon, Aug 2008, $23.95
ISBN: 9780803499041

Back when she was young and in love in her native Hungary Nana Vancy said the “curse” when her beloved Bela Salo failed to show up their wedding. She knew words had power and felt guilt and happiness when he arrived to exchange I do; he had been delayed due to an accident. However it was too late to pull back her angry mutterings about big weddings, Bela and his relatives.

In Erie, Pennsylvania, Nana’s grandson Noah Salo is being toasted with a stag party before he marries Juliana. However, at the gala, Juliana ends their engagement. At about the same time that Juliana informs Noah it is over, her younger stepsister Callie breaks up with her boyfriend. Commiserating together, Callie and Noah go to Hungary on what they facetiously dub a “non- honeymoon trip together. As they get to know one another, they begin to fall in love, but she has doubts that she can step in Juliana’s larger shoes and besides she refuses to be a rebound.

Returning to Erie, site of her WLVH Radio Romance saga (see LAUGH LINES, NIGHT CALLS, LOVE HANDLES and PICKUP LINES), Holly Jacobs provides a warm contemporary romance starring two likable characters, a strong support cast, and the “curse”. The relationship between the stars starting at the stag party through the non-honeymoon and the aftermath in Pennsylvania is well written and fun to read while the secondary players strengthen the story line. As always Holly Jacobs entertains her fans with a fine tale that has everything.

Harriet Klausner

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