Holly Jacobs, Everything but a Wedding

Everything but a Wedding

Holly Jacobs

Avalon, Dec 2008

ISBN: 0803499248

Elderly Hungarian matriarch Nana Vancy still regrets the 'curse' she issued when she was young and in love with Bela Salo who failed to show up their wedding on time due to an accident. Now decades later her misgivings turn to fear as she worries about bad things happening at Salo family weddings since she angrily cursed big weddings, Bela and his relatives especially since she has proof with two of her grandchildren (see 'Everything But A Bride' and 'Everything But A Groom').

Her last hope to see the curse defeated in her lifetime resides with her last grandchild Pennsylvania developer Dori Salo. However, Dori shows no interest in men ever since her former boyfriend ended their relationship. Instead perhaps as a mental defense mechanism Dori puts all her energies on the Erie Hazard Hills housing development. Also on the project is architect Carter Hastings IV who pretends to be Bill the interior designer as he wants Dori to hire his cousin CeCe's firm to design the interior of the model homes. However as they fall in love he must admit his deception and she must challenge the curse.

Returning to Erie, site of her WLVH Radio Romance saga (see 'Laugh Lines,' 'Night Calls,' 'Love Handles' and 'Pickup Lines') as well as the prime locale of the Everything But saga, Holly Jacobs provides a charming contemporary romance. The enjoyable storyline is fun starting with the likable lead characters although he appears to have committed a professional ethics violation. They in turn are supported by a strong cast of returning characters and the 'curse.' Readers will enjoy Holly Jacobs' fine lighthearted tale that contains everything to warm the heart over the holidays.

Harriet Klausner