Heather (bookishheather) reviewed Wedding of the Season (Abandoned at the Altar, Bk 1) on + 21 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Gurhrke bucked romance traditions with this novel, and it worked wonderfully. Everything about the characters and the story was refreshing. Daring and unique, the time period (early 20th century) was unusual, since most period romances take place a bit earlier. It lent itself well to the clash of tradition and modern mores; what surprised me more was that it was the woman clinging to tradition, and not the man.
Lady Beatrix expected that her fiance Will would stay home, work the land with his tenants, and continue his fascination with Egypt from afar. Will's travel plans and unknown future are frightening to a woman looking to build a family. Will expected that Beatrix, always daring and following his footsteps, would follow him when he was given the career opportunity of a lifetime. Will's feelings that if Beatrix loved him enough she would have left, and Beatrix's fear that he couldn't support a family are seated in a truth that they must work out.
Years later, Beatrix has moved forward without Will, looking for a companion and a marriage of affection and finding it with Aiden. Will's been holding her engagement notice for months, and finally returns home. For closure? A mad elopement? Money? Even Will isn't sure. And this is when the fun begins. The sparks between these two lit up the pages; they love to clash. He upsets her comfortable world and she rattles him thoroughly. Their love shines through and their honest conversations about what they expected from each other in the past was heart-wrenching. I loved that Will pushed her to be what she was, and not what she thought people wanted. Eating caviar, drinking lemonade when she wants champagne, being SAFE - Will gives her the push to break the boundaries she has allowed others to place on her. And he comes to realize that professional success is worthless without someone to share it with. Does she realize that playing it safe doesn't always lead to happiness?
Much is happening with the secondary characters marriages - Julia and Pete in particular. I'm looking forward to seeing what happened between Julia and Aiden. There are strong hints of a shared past, and I can't wait to read book two in the series. And the follow up to previous books in her other series was done tastefully and made me want to go grab the other books and do some re-reading.
Wedding of the Season is a definite add to my personal and library collection.
Lady Beatrix expected that her fiance Will would stay home, work the land with his tenants, and continue his fascination with Egypt from afar. Will's travel plans and unknown future are frightening to a woman looking to build a family. Will expected that Beatrix, always daring and following his footsteps, would follow him when he was given the career opportunity of a lifetime. Will's feelings that if Beatrix loved him enough she would have left, and Beatrix's fear that he couldn't support a family are seated in a truth that they must work out.
Years later, Beatrix has moved forward without Will, looking for a companion and a marriage of affection and finding it with Aiden. Will's been holding her engagement notice for months, and finally returns home. For closure? A mad elopement? Money? Even Will isn't sure. And this is when the fun begins. The sparks between these two lit up the pages; they love to clash. He upsets her comfortable world and she rattles him thoroughly. Their love shines through and their honest conversations about what they expected from each other in the past was heart-wrenching. I loved that Will pushed her to be what she was, and not what she thought people wanted. Eating caviar, drinking lemonade when she wants champagne, being SAFE - Will gives her the push to break the boundaries she has allowed others to place on her. And he comes to realize that professional success is worthless without someone to share it with. Does she realize that playing it safe doesn't always lead to happiness?
Much is happening with the secondary characters marriages - Julia and Pete in particular. I'm looking forward to seeing what happened between Julia and Aiden. There are strong hints of a shared past, and I can't wait to read book two in the series. And the follow up to previous books in her other series was done tastefully and made me want to go grab the other books and do some re-reading.
Wedding of the Season is a definite add to my personal and library collection.
Michelle D. (Michelle74) reviewed Wedding of the Season (Abandoned at the Altar, Bk 1) on + 153 more book reviews
I liked it. Set during the turn of the century, it's interesting to see a historical novel with items such as motor cars rolled into it. The hero and heroine are definately a match and I liked watching them spar off. The secondary characters were okay. You can see a few people who (I now think will have the next book) are carrying baggage that was interesting, but the main characters were at the forefront. Cute story and a recommended read.
I really enjoyed this book. I am a fan of Luara Lee Guhrke and she did not disappoint!
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Review This is the first of the "Abandoned at the Altar" series. Will is a duke who decides to go to Egypt to do archeology work two weeks before his wedding to Beatrix, literally leaving her at the altar. Will wanted Beatrix to accompany him but she refused. That was 6 years ago. Now, Will is back in England, looking for a sponsor (to continue his archeology work). He gets back in time; Beatrix is going to marry another duke, Aidan.
Laura Lee Guhrke is a delightful author, but this isn't one of her best. I just got tired of the fighting between the Will and Beatrix. It was the same old fight ad nauseum. They tried to talk the issue to death. As I was reading this indeterminable grouching, I just wanted it to end. For my dime, Beatrix deserved that old stuff-shirt Aidan. This book was just too long (375 pages, for goodness sake) and said the same thing too many times. This book is such a disappointment; I may try book 2, but if it doesn't improve, I'll just dump this series.
Abandoned at the Altar
** 1. Wedding of the Season (2010)
2. Scandal of the Year (2011)
3. Trouble at the Wedding (2011) (less)
Review This is the first of the "Abandoned at the Altar" series. Will is a duke who decides to go to Egypt to do archeology work two weeks before his wedding to Beatrix, literally leaving her at the altar. Will wanted Beatrix to accompany him but she refused. That was 6 years ago. Now, Will is back in England, looking for a sponsor (to continue his archeology work). He gets back in time; Beatrix is going to marry another duke, Aidan.
Laura Lee Guhrke is a delightful author, but this isn't one of her best. I just got tired of the fighting between the Will and Beatrix. It was the same old fight ad nauseum. They tried to talk the issue to death. As I was reading this indeterminable grouching, I just wanted it to end. For my dime, Beatrix deserved that old stuff-shirt Aidan. This book was just too long (375 pages, for goodness sake) and said the same thing too many times. This book is such a disappointment; I may try book 2, but if it doesn't improve, I'll just dump this series.
Abandoned at the Altar
** 1. Wedding of the Season (2010)
2. Scandal of the Year (2011)
3. Trouble at the Wedding (2011) (less)
