Julia London Wedding Survivor

Wedding Survivor

Julia London

Berkley, Oct 2005, $7.99

ISBN: 0425206319

In Los Angeles Thrillseeker's Anonymous needs a wedding planner to go into the rugged Colorado Mountains in order to host a special marriage between actors Vincent Vittorio and Olivia Dogwood. None of the candidates have been willing to take the physical test until now. Chatty Marni Banks tries the rope climb, but fails. However, Eli McCain and his partners hire her anyway.

Eli explains to Marni that physical conditions in the Colorado Mountains where the wedding will occur are rough and getting stuff in near impossible. He introduces Marni to Vincent and Olivia; the latter makes incredible demands driving everyone crazy. Later Marni visits Eli at his home and though he has doubts, he cannot stop himself from making love with her.

Eli escorts Olivia and Vincent canyoning in which the actress whines throughout the trek. In Colorado a storm hits destroying the bridge to the main lodge; Eli, Marni, Vincent, Olivia and the chef are temporarily trapped. Over the next few days Eli knows he loves Marni, but fears commitment. When Marni tells him she loves him, he runs away leaving her heartbroken.

The delightful lead protagonists supplemented by a strong eccentric support cast make this a fine contemporary romance. The not subtle sexual comments of the friends of the heroine's mother start off cute, but quickly beat the meat to death. Still her mother's book club members make infrequent appearances so that the amusing plot never turns vulgar or lose its rhythm of a strong male fearing commitment having been burned once before. Julia London's fans will receive immense delight with her first tale since the Lear trilogy and will look forward to more Thrillseeker romances.

Harriet Klausner