A Novel with Thoughts and Ponderings

THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY

Author: Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James, Charlotte Featherstone ISBN: 9780373775507 6/2011 SUSPENSE Publisher: HQN

The Wedding of the Century and Other Stories by Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James, Charlotte Featherstone
The Wedding of the Century by MARY JO PUTNEY

Stunningly beautiful and extraordinarily wealthy, Sarah Vangelder had always wanted more for herself than to be sold into marriage for the price of a dukedom. But marriage to Justin Aubrey might be the adventure she's always dreamed of….

Jesse's Wife by KRISTIN JAMES

When a late-night walk on her father's ranch inadvertently destroys her reputation, Amy McCallister finds herself married off to Jesse, a sinfully handsome farmhand. But can he convince her to give him her heart, despite their rocky beginning?

Seduced by Starlight by CHARLOTTE FEATHERSTONE

Jase Markham, London's most dashing—and notorious—rake, has loved his brother's fiancée for as long as he can remember. When his brother casts Blossom aside, Jase is determined to finally make her his—if she's willing to overlook his scandalous reputation!

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Bizarre. That’s the best word I can come up with for this anthology, a mishmash of two stories reprinted from 1994, and a new story that is part of an ongoing series. The three have in common a nineteenth-century time setting, but two are set in England and one in the United States. Two of the heroes are aristocrats, but only one of the heroines is, the other two being Americans.

Putney’s story, “Wedding of the Century”, is less a romance than a somewhat biographical-ish fantasy of the best outcome that one could hope for from an arranged marriage. Sarah Vangelder is sold to an impoverished duke to save his family home, and they eventually fall in love.

In James' “Jessie’s Wife”, the innocent heroine is ruined by a blackguard, only to be rescued by her family’s trusted employee. After their marriage, she sets out to make sure her marriage is a true one, despite her husband’s promise to leave her alone.

Lastly, Featherstone’s “Seduced by Starlight” is branched from two series I haven’t read, so I am unfamiliar with the many, many characters introduced. The artist heroine’s fiancé dumps her, which is fine with her because they are friends, not lovers. Luckily, many other men want her, including her ex’s brother.

While all of the stories are competent, the first two suffer from an older, more passive writing style than usually used today. I was so confused by the question of what caused these stories to be put into one volume that I had trouble enjoying them.

Heather Hiestand

Close Window or Back to Previous Page