MARRIAGE BY DESIGN

Author: Lynn Michaels ISBN: 0345476018 7/2006 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: BALLANTINE

There’s only so much taffeta and toile a girl can take. Passionate, talented, and noticeably stunning, Mia Savard is the top designer at her father’s thriving bridal design company. But her life has hit a bit of a snag. Thirty, recently dumped, and suddenly single, Mia has grown weary of white lace and craves couture. But when Mia’s most spectacular creation is leaked to the competition, the silk hits the fan. Someone inside Savard Creations is trading with the enemy. In the world of fashion, that means war. Enter private investigator Joe Kerr, the exceedingly handsome ex-cop hired to nab the clever mole. Stalking dangerous territory–where jittery brides, hysterical mothers, and deadline-challenged designers clash in clouds of gossamer and gossip–Joe is torn between suspecting Mia and seducing her. Amid the treachery, hijinks, and flirtations galore, it seems that for Mia, romance just might be tailor-made.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Lynn Michaels' MARRIAGE BY DESIGN is a fun romp in contemporary romance. Jam-packed with outlandish characters, bittersweet relationships and one super hot romance, this is one book that will keep you turning the pages!

Poor Mia. Right before she is about to quit her father's bridal gown design company, she finds out that somebody leaked one of her fantabulous designs to one of the company's competitors. Partnering with her father, they decide to hire a private eye to find out how their rival company, Heavenly Bridals, received knowledge of Mia's couture design.

Enter Joe Kerr, owner of his own private investigation company. What should be a cut and dried case turns out to be anything but! After getting some "dirt" on Mia, Joe is starting to think that she's not as innocent in this debacle as she appears to be. But Mia doesn't take any of his innuendos lying down. She decides to do a little investigating of her own, which really annoys Joe.

Mia and Joe are very funny together and really bring this book to life. Even though I found MARRIAGE BY DESIGN a very enjoyable book, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who leaked Mia's design; and if I'm being honest, the length of this book was a bit of a turn off for me. Aside from those two little complaints, I did enjoy reading it.

Lynn Michaels once again proves that writing contemporary romance is her forte! MARRIAGE BY DESIGN is another enjoyable read by this talented author.

Julie Kornhausl