Page Turner: The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts
Here Come the Brides [Amazon]So I told myself I wouldn't get sucked into romance novels, but this was too hard to resist. From the 'classy' looking covers, to the fact it had best friends, it was a series of books (I love a good series, cause I can't let go of characters), wedding planning and lots of weddings (AND DON'T FORGET THE HOT MEN), this book obviously had all the elements I wanted in a fun read.
And so for four straight days, I literally do nothing but read this quartet -- keeping me distracted from work and real life and just everything that wasn't Vows-related. Obviously, I'm starved for romance and this was like a hit for a junkie. Good times.
So first off, I enjoyed this series. It was so easy to read; the characters were so adorable; the chemistry was through the roof and you still got to see old characters and how their relationships bloomed even after moving to the next story. Basically, this is my jam.
Visiion in White
Two out of three isn’t bad, right? Mackensie “Mac” Elliot had the perfect job and the best friends in the world, Emma, Laurel, and Parker. Together, the four were Vows, Connecticut’s hottest wedding-planning company. So what if Mac hadn’t found her own Mr. Right yet. Then Mac literally bumps into shy, scholarly, yet surprisingly sexy Carter Maguire when he turns up for his sister’s wedding-planning meeting, and Mac quickly discovers exactly what is missing from her up-until-now satisfactory life. [Amazon]
It's so hard to choose a favorite among the four just because each of them are special in their own way but it was a great introduction to the quartet with Mac at the helm. She's adorable and spunky and totally funny but has a weak spot when it comes to her mom and you can't blame her for it.
Of course, she gets the hots for the shy but totally handsome English professor who just so happens to be amazing in bed. Do men like this exist in real life? I think not, because Carter Maguire is just all kinds of incredible -- from standing in for his sister's fiance to totally wooing the socks off Mac, to trying to get tips from his friend Bob, it was so refreshing to see them both fumble their way through this.
Naturally, there would be a point of contention and though I'm happy Mac got over her inability to admit to the willingness to commit, I'm glad she gave her mom the boot. Yes, Linda is her mom but she's also annoying and a total GTFO character. Look at Carter put her in her place. That's an awesome tag team with Parker right there.
Bed of Roses
Florist Emma Grant is finding career success with her friends at Vows wedding planning company, and her love life appears to be thriving. Though men swarm around her, she still hasn't found Mr. Right. And the last place she's looking is right under her nose. But that's just where Jack Cooke is. He's so close to the women of Vows that he's practically family, but the architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. When Emma returns his passion-kiss for blistering kiss-they must trust in their history...and in their hearts. [Amazon]
Meanwhile, there's Emma, the romantic and Jack the cool & non-committal architect who's just too hot for words. I know they're branding Mal as the bad boy, but I imagine Jack to have some swagger, and enough confidence to woo a girl in a garden and make Emma's cutesy dreams come true.
I'm probably least like Emma just because her idea of romance is over the top, but I like that she believed in it and stuck to her convictions. Her parents are adorable and totally in love so you can't blame the girl for not wanting to settle and yet her joy with being with Jack was sort of enough to actually make her want to settle and that was just wrong.
So I'm really glad Jack came around and did the 'right thing' by her though it felt like an abrupt change in character. But hey, their scenes together are always hot and I imagine this one to be the All-American football player, boy next door so let's give him that. At least he came around for Emma.
Savor the Moment
Wedding baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working at Vows wedding planning company with her best friends Parker, Emma, and Mac. But she's too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that their clients seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker's older brother Delaney, on whom she's had a mega-crush since childhood. But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her-or so she thinks. When Laurel's quicksilver moods get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, all-together mind-blowing kiss with Del-she'll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever... [Amazon]
Then there's Laurel who's forever in love with her best friend's brother which is honestly a hard place to be in especially when your best friend is Parker. So really, it's amazing that she managed to cross the 'friend zone' with Delaney even if Del's been 'suppressing' his feelings for long, because it is NOT EASY getting away from the friend zone.
I love that they both couldn't stick to their bets of how long they'd stay apart, but it was a valiant effort to even try to make things work without the physical aspect. Though you know me, I was totally watching out for that, so I'm glad they didn't last the complete cycle. They win at life anyway.
And yes, Del wasn't exactly going to do the grand gesture and make an honest woman out of Laurel and she was sort of okay with it until she wasn't and demanded he man up and I'm glad he stepped up to the plate. I see Del as the GQ-est man of the bunch and his confidence comes out of his ears so it was nice to see him get all flustered over his feelings for Laurel. These kids were cute too.
Happy Ever After
Bridal expert Parker "Legs" Brown meets her perfect match in Roberts's delicious ode to weddings and happy endings, the charming conclusion of the Bride Quartet (after Savor the Moment) about four childhood friends who as adults form a Connecticut wedding planning company. In the palatial Brown estate, a multitude of marriages have been celebrated while each wedding planner in turn has found her heart's desire. Cupid's target for Parker is her brother Del's friend Malcolm Kavanaugh, a former stuntman turned mechanic. Harley-riding Mal is a rough-and-tumble hunk who captures Parker's heart with twinkling eyes and steamy moves that melt her cool reserve. [Amazon]
Finally, there's Parker, the Alpha Female who can do everything and handle anything except for Mal. Mal of course, isn't her usual type and YET SO FREAKING HANDSOME, that she couldn't help but be drawn to his animal magnetism. Of course, these macho men don't talk and that would be horrible for Miss Let's-Talk-It-Out so it was fantastic to see Parker so powerless.
On the flip side, it was awesome to see Mal question all the new 'feelings' he was going through with Parker. Of course, it took some time for him to get around to admitting to things (but don't all guys?!) but at least when he came to his senses, he didn't put a minute to waste and just went for it.
I'm sad we didn't get to see all four weddings nor have I found decent fanfic for this, so if anyone sees anything, please let me know because I am desperate for a continuation to the four stories. I'm also curious as to who you see 'cast' in your head as the eight leads. My imagination is poor and if I had celeb-pegs, I'm sure I'd enjoy my re-read even more. Do you have favorites?
Poll Bride Quartet
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