68th out of 558 books
—
445 voters
Swinging on a Star (Weddings by Bella #2)
Bella Rossi's life is nearing perfection. She's got the perfect guy, she's running a successful business, and she's about to plan her most ambitious wedding yet, a Renaissance-themed fairy tale come true, complete with period costumes and foods, horse-drawn carriages, and even a castle. There's just one hitch. The best man just happens to be Brock Benson, Hollywood's hotte...more
Paperback, 331 pages
Published
January 1st 2010
by Fleming H. Revell Company
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Once again the crazy and raucous Rossi clan will have you laughing-out-loud and shaking your head!!
In the midst of trying to put together and coordinate a Renaissance themed fairy tale wedding for Rob and Marian, poor Bella is forced to deal with more than she bargained for.
A famous Hollywood actor, Brock Benson, ends up staying at the Rossi home undercover in hiding from the media. Brock is the best man at Rob and Marian’s wedding. The Food Network is coming to film Rosa for a feature on their...more
In the midst of trying to put together and coordinate a Renaissance themed fairy tale wedding for Rob and Marian, poor Bella is forced to deal with more than she bargained for.
A famous Hollywood actor, Brock Benson, ends up staying at the Rossi home undercover in hiding from the media. Brock is the best man at Rob and Marian’s wedding. The Food Network is coming to film Rosa for a feature on their...more
Last week I saw the movie, Guys and Dolls with Frank Sinatra and Marlin Brando for the first time. I loved the music. It was fun to see these actors together in a musical. While I was reading Swinging on a Star I felt as if I were transported into a Frank Sinatra movie with a bonus feature. Janice talks about the Lord in the most natural way in her book; you won’t see that in any movie Frank Sinatra or Marlin Brando made. I’m so thankful to have received a review copy of this book.
Janice’s chapt...more
Janice’s chapt...more
With the success of her first themed wedding – a country-western extravaganza – Bella Rossi has taken on an even bigger challenge. She must plan an elaborate, authentic, Renaissance style wedding, complete with a castle and moat. As if installing a temporary castle wasn’t enough, the wedding party happens to feature one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, Brock Benson, as the best man. In an attempt to remain anonymous so the paparazzi can’t crash the ceremony, Brock takes up residence with Bella’s fa...more
Bella Rossi, is doing the biggest wedding of her career. And if anything goes wrong, she figures with her family it will, beginning with the Food Network showing up the day before the wedding to tape her Aunt Rosa, who won a contest to do a cooking show episode.
The Rossi family is not your everyday family, they live as an extended family in a large Victorian house and there is always someone coming and going, and it is a large Italian family. So when her bride of this big wedding suggests they...more
couldn't wait to get my hands on this book ever since I finished "Fools Rush In." I knew it was going to be just as good, if not better, when I read "If Aunt Rosa hadn't landed that gig on the Food Network, I probably wouldn't have ended up on the national news. And if their pesky camera crew hadn't shown up at our house on one of the most important days of my life, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been hauled off to the Galveston County jail."
Now any book that starts off with the main character...more
Now any book that starts off with the main character...more
I want to say here and now I simply adore Bella and her quirky Italian family!
The struggles aren’t over for Bella in her wedding planning business. A medieval wedding is in the works and nothing must stop this wedding. Not the food network showing up to film Aunt Rosa, not the neighbor kid on the roof taking pictures and not even the best man living with her family- and did I mention he is a hot Hollywood movie star, trying to avoid paparazzi? And the struggles aren’t going to end any time soon,...more
The struggles aren’t over for Bella in her wedding planning business. A medieval wedding is in the works and nothing must stop this wedding. Not the food network showing up to film Aunt Rosa, not the neighbor kid on the roof taking pictures and not even the best man living with her family- and did I mention he is a hot Hollywood movie star, trying to avoid paparazzi? And the struggles aren’t going to end any time soon,...more
A story of love and laughter, Swinging on a Star is book 2 in Janice Thompson's Weddings by Bella series. Though, I didn't read book 1 on the series, Fools Rush In, I am truly happy that I got the chance to read Swinging on a Star! I wasn't confused in anyway by the plot or characters, so this, though I'm sure it's best read with the series, makes a good stand alone title, as well.
Janice Thompson uses lots of humor in this book, making it one that will be a memorable book that you will want to...more
Janice Thompson uses lots of humor in this book, making it one that will be a memorable book that you will want to...more
Bella's at it again! She's has another themed wedding to get off the ground, and it's even bigger and more astounding than the last!
Bella Rossi's newest client has asked for a dream come true wedding, and Bella's doing her best to see the wish made reality: a medieval themed wedding, complete with a castle, horse drawn carriages, authentic food, and renaissance costumes. With the wedding only two weeks away the plans are in full-swing, keeping Bella busy and happy doing what she loves. But when...more
Bella Rossi's newest client has asked for a dream come true wedding, and Bella's doing her best to see the wish made reality: a medieval themed wedding, complete with a castle, horse drawn carriages, authentic food, and renaissance costumes. With the wedding only two weeks away the plans are in full-swing, keeping Bella busy and happy doing what she loves. But when...more
After reading Fools Rush In, the first book in the Weddings by Bella series, I knew that I had to read Swinging on a Star. I think I said this in my review of Fools Rush In too, but Janice Thompson has a talent for creating scenarios that are just so funny. She writes in a way that makes it easy to visualize what is happening, which makes the funny scenes funnier. Now, I found that Swinging on a Star was not as laugh out loud funny as Fools Rush In. That is by no means a criticism. This book was...more
The story of Bella continues as she plans her second themed wedding - a renaissance wedding. The antics caused by the groom's famous best man provide most of the momentum for this book.
Some of our favorite and colorful characters return in this sequel. At times, the pace seemed to drag a bit and I found myself wondering what the scene had to do with the story. There were a few scenes that were set up for future interactions, but they were a little weak on their own.
Of course, in Janice Thompson...more
Some of our favorite and colorful characters return in this sequel. At times, the pace seemed to drag a bit and I found myself wondering what the scene had to do with the story. There were a few scenes that were set up for future interactions, but they were a little weak on their own.
Of course, in Janice Thompson...more
Janice Thompson has done it again with this great second book in the Weddings by Bella series. The characters we know and love are back and better than ever, with some new lovable characters too. But things such as a medieval wedding extravaganza, the Food Network team coming to her house (the day before the wedding), nosy little neighbor children, a serious case of mistaken identity, a startling event involving uncle Laz, and a tropical storm threaten to destroy all of Bella’s struggles for bal...more
Bella Rossi works as a wedding planner. She wants to make sure everything goes perfectly for her latest couple. This includes housing the groom’s best man at her house till the wedding. This is because the best man is none other than famous Hollywood actor, Brock Benson. Word has gotten out about who the best man is. The people of Galveston, Texas are going wild to get a glimpse of Brock. Bella is trying hard to convince herself to not get caught up in the hype surrounding Brock but it is hard w...more
I think I liked this book, better then the first. Although I enjoyed them both, this one wasn't quite as 'stressful' for me. I think I am slowly getting over my triggered anxiety response to the words wedding and planning in the same sentence. I almost wish I could have been at the wedding in this book. It sounded like so much fun.
There are only a few things I question about the book... one being: can you seriously plan such an elaborate wedding in 3 months? What happened to the much touted the...more
There are only a few things I question about the book... one being: can you seriously plan such an elaborate wedding in 3 months? What happened to the much touted the...more
Swinging on a Star by Janice Thompson is the second book in the Weddings by Bella series. Bella is back, along with the rest of the raucous Rossi family. This time she is planning a grandiose medieval wedding complete with castle, moat, authentic food, and traditional style clothing for all attendants and guests. That's stressful enough, but Bella's Aunt Rosa has been selected by the Food Network for a segment that will be filmed the day before the medieval wedding. Now throw in a best man, umm...more
I didn't think it was possible for Janice to top her last book, Fools Rush In, which made my top fiction list for 2009. Well, I liked this story even better, so it's definitely making my top fiction list for 2010. Swinging on a Star was incredible. There were enough romantic moments to make even the stodgiest woman swoon. And the kisses were to-die-for romantic. Did I mention that D.J. is probably the hottest hero ever? Mainly because he lives his faith from the inside out and he's so genuine! G...more
After reading "Fools Rush In" at the end of December I went out and got "Swinging on a Star" as soon as my local Christian Book store had it in. Once i started reading it I could not put it down and I finished it all in one day. The light hearted romance in it is amazing and all of the twists and turns of the novel are wonderful and I truely laughed out loud a few times. I hope Janice Thompson will continue this series to include a few more Rossi Weddings that are clearly in the future and to ex...more
Feb 16, 2010
Victor Gentile
added it
Janice Thompson in her new book, “Swinging On A Star” Book Two in the Weddings by Bella series published by Revell returns us to Galveston Island where Bella Rossi, is the Wedding Planner. This book is a slice of life, it is 2 weeks in the life of Bella Rossi and her delightful Italian family and friends as she prepares to do her first ever Medieval wedding.
To complicate things Bella’s Aunt Rosa is going to be filmed by the Food Network for a show on Italians and then, to further complicate life...more
To complicate things Bella’s Aunt Rosa is going to be filmed by the Food Network for a show on Italians and then, to further complicate life...more
After finishing book number one is this series, I HAD to go get the 2nd one!!!
Swinging on a Star was a wonderful continuation to the story of Bella and her family. The characters are just so vividly portrayed in the words that you feel a strong connection to them all and can almost feel like you are just another person in the crazy family from Galveston Island!
The love that is felt between Bella and her cowboy DJ is just wonderful to visualize. Built on Christian morals and a conviction that is...more
Swinging on a Star was a wonderful continuation to the story of Bella and her family. The characters are just so vividly portrayed in the words that you feel a strong connection to them all and can almost feel like you are just another person in the crazy family from Galveston Island!
The love that is felt between Bella and her cowboy DJ is just wonderful to visualize. Built on Christian morals and a conviction that is...more
I thought this book - the second in Thompson's series - was cute. It was easy to fall in love with Bella and her family.
While this was the second book in the series, it was easy to "catch" up on what happened in the first novel (spoiler alert - she gets her guy and begins to build a successful business).
I enjoyed the book - complete with a set of three women who are quite the characters.
I also found it interesting that the book is set in Galveston, Texas, in its post hurricane form. I think Thom...more
While this was the second book in the series, it was easy to "catch" up on what happened in the first novel (spoiler alert - she gets her guy and begins to build a successful business).
I enjoyed the book - complete with a set of three women who are quite the characters.
I also found it interesting that the book is set in Galveston, Texas, in its post hurricane form. I think Thom...more
The first book in this series "Fools Rush In" was cheesy, but cute enough to get through with minimal eye-rolling. This book, however, was 10X as cheesy and my eyes are permanently scarred from the rolling. Yes, it is Christian fiction - HOWEVER, I am a strong Christian, surrounded by other strong Christian, and none of us talk this way! The Christian-ese was totally overdone. Surely there is a way to have a novel about a family of faith without overdoing the cheesy language! The story is predic...more
Second in the series of 3 books. I got the first one for free on my Kindle and purchased this one and the last one to read. I really enjoy this author and this story line. It's about an Italian American family living in Galveston TX, and the daughter Bella who runs the family wedding business. There's a lot of family living under one roof and they also own a pizzeria/coffee shop. She meets a cowboy from Texas whom she falls in love with, and the three books follow their relationship, as well as...more
This is the second book of the series, weddings by Bella. While good, I enjoyed the first one much more. The story was still cute and she stayed true to the characters. I still love Bella and her family is still as fun and catastrophic as ever- which makes for quirky yet entertaining situations. It is another light, fun, easy read. And just a side note, the Christian themes were picked up a bit in this book. However, it was more fitting in this novel due to the nature of the relationships betwee...more
Wow, this book is too good to be true.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but the 2ndone was such an overemphasized fairytale. I know the author tried her best to stir up drama but the love stories not to mention the entire story sounded way too good to be true, including the part with the Hollywood character obtaining ‘too good to be true ‘ salavation. I can’t help it, I always cringe when the plan of salvation is falsified in books..ITS NOT JUST A SINNERS PRAYER PEOPLE! That is not...more
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but the 2ndone was such an overemphasized fairytale. I know the author tried her best to stir up drama but the love stories not to mention the entire story sounded way too good to be true, including the part with the Hollywood character obtaining ‘too good to be true ‘ salavation. I can’t help it, I always cringe when the plan of salvation is falsified in books..ITS NOT JUST A SINNERS PRAYER PEOPLE! That is not...more
Feb 20, 2010
Lori
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Lori by:
Revell Publishing
Shelves:
2010-books-i-ve-read,
books-i-ve-reviewed
I fell in love with the Rossi clan back in book one, Fools Rush In (my review), so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Swinging on a Star. I was very excited to find out what everyone's been up to. Well, as I discovered, total chaos has broken out at the Rossi home. Whew-weeee! There is so much going on, that I had to stay on my toes just to keep up!
Bella is in the midst of planning her second "themed" wedding, medieval this time, while Aunt Rosa is getting ready to be featured on Italian Chefs f...more
Bella is in the midst of planning her second "themed" wedding, medieval this time, while Aunt Rosa is getting ready to be featured on Italian Chefs f...more
I have enjoyed the Weddings by Bella series from the very beginning. I love weddings though. So, it's no surprise that I enjoyed this series. I do enjoy reading Christian fiction and Janice Thompson has several books I am looking forward to reading. In this second installment, Bella Rossi is attempting what seems like the impossible. She is trying to coordinate a medieval themed wedding, and keep the world-famous best man a secret. As with most weddings, there are bound to be some snags and mish...more
Hmmm....I'm not sure what it is about movie stars and weddings that fascinates me. Bella Rossi is an up and coming wedding planner in Texas--one who plans theme weddings. In this story, she is tackling a renaissance wedding--with a movie star as the first knight (best man). Battling the paprazzi, a tropical storm, the Food Network crew, and a crazy/big family just might be more than Bella can manage.
The characters are a lot of fun--not as many Italian phrases as book 1, but still the same banter...more
The characters are a lot of fun--not as many Italian phrases as book 1, but still the same banter...more
I fell head over heels in love with this book, enjoying it so much that I completed it in just one day! While I enjoyed the first book in this series, having the familiarity of the characters already set made this plot twice as enjoyable. There were many pages of laughter and tears from me. If you're looking for a lighthearted feel-good book, you've found it in this one.
The plot line felt a bit forced this time. I just couldn't buy into the story that Mr. Movie Star would fall in love so quickly. And I'm now raising my eyebrow at D.J.'s and Bella's relationship because it just didn't feel realistic to me either. While I enjoyed this book, I didn't really like it as much as the first one.
I think that Janice Thompson is becoming my new favorite author. This sequel to Fools Rush In picks up where the first book ended, continuing along with just the right combo of humor and sappiness. I found myself gasping in surprise at some parts, and I cannot wait to see how the final book of the trilogy ends.
Cute!!!! I love Guido -- the reformed once a gangsta chatty parrot. His first owner loved The Godfather. In the first book, Guido came to live with the Rossi's clan. By the end of this book (the 2nd), Guido is singing "Amazing Grace" and quoting Bible verses...and still calling people "Wise Guys!" :)
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Bella's journey continues! | 7 | 19 | May 10, 2010 10:33pm |
My name is Janice Thompson. (You will find me published under Janice Hanna as well.)
I’m a Christian freelance author of novels, non-fiction books, magazine articles and musical comedies for the stage. I live in the Houston area, where the heat and humidity tend to reign, regardless of the season.
I’m the mother of four beautiful daughters, (Randi, Courtney Rae, Megan and Courtney Elizabeth. Yes, I...more
More about Janice Thompson...
I’m a Christian freelance author of novels, non-fiction books, magazine articles and musical comedies for the stage. I live in the Houston area, where the heat and humidity tend to reign, regardless of the season.
I’m the mother of four beautiful daughters, (Randi, Courtney Rae, Megan and Courtney Elizabeth. Yes, I...more
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Jan 31, 2013 03:25pm