Wedding of the Season

Dec 01, 2010 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Gurhrke bucked romance traditions with this novel, and it worked wonderfully. Everything about the characters and the story was refreshing. Daring and unique, the time period (early 20th century) was unusual, since most period romances take place a bit earlier. It lent itself well to the clash of tradition and modern mores; what surprised me more was that it was the woman clinging to tradition, and not the man.

Lady Beatrix expected that her fiance Will would stay home, work the land with his ten...more Gurhrke bucked romance traditions with this novel, and it worked wonderfully. Everything about the characters and the story was refreshing. Daring and unique, the time period (early 20th century) was unusual, since most period romances take place a bit earlier. It lent itself well to the clash of tradition and modern mores; what surprised me more was that it was the woman clinging to tradition, and not the man.

Lady Beatrix expected that her fiance Will would stay home, work the land with his tenants, and continue his fascination with Egypt from afar. Will's travel plans and unknown future are frightening to a woman looking to build a family. Will expected that Beatrix, always daring and following his footsteps, would follow him when he was given the career opportunity of a lifetime. Will's feelings that if Beatrix loved him enough she would have left, and Beatrix's fear that he couldn't support a family are seated in a truth that they must work out.

Years later, Beatrix has moved forward without Will, looking for a companion and a marriage of affection and finding it with Aiden. Will's been holding her engagement notice for months, and finally returns home. For closure? A mad elopement? Money? Even Will isn't sure. And this is when the fun begins. The sparks between these two lit up the pages; they love to clash. He upsets her comfortable world and she rattles him thoroughly. Their love shines through and their honest conversations about what they expected from each other in the past was heart-wrenching. I loved that Will pushed her to be what she was, and not what she thought people wanted. Eating caviar, drinking lemonade when she wants champagne, being SAFE - Will gives her the push to break the boundaries she has allowed others to place on her. And he comes to realize that professional success is worthless without someone to share it with. Does she realize that playing it safe doesn't always lead to happiness?

Much is happening with the secondary characters marriages - Julia and Pete in particular. I'm looking forward to seeing what happened between Julia and Aiden. There are strong hints of a shared past, and I can't wait to read book two in the series. And the follow up to previous books in her other series was done tastefully and made me want to go grab the other books and do some re-reading.

Wedding of the Season is a definite add to my personal and library collection.(less)

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Dec 17, 2010 Evangeline Holland rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ms. Guhrke's books have been rather hit and miss for me, with the experience falling mostly in the latter category. Despite this, I continue to look forward to her new releases because her plots are inventive and her books are a pleasurable way to spend a few hours. In Wedding of the Season, Guhrke moves into the Edwardian era. Her Girl-Bachelors series, set in the 1890s, edged towards this period in British history, but in this book, the first in a trilogy, the author goes all out on the modern...more Ms. Guhrke's books have been rather hit and miss for me, with the experience falling mostly in the latter category. Despite this, I continue to look forward to her new releases because her plots are inventive and her books are a pleasurable way to spend a few hours. In Wedding of the Season, Guhrke moves into the Edwardian era. Her Girl-Bachelors series, set in the 1890s, edged towards this period in British history, but in this book, the first in a trilogy, the author goes all out on the modernity of the early 1900s. However, despite an exciting premise and an intriguing setting, the book falls flat.

Lady Beatrix Danbury is set to marry the Duke of Trathen, only for her ex-fiancee to appear weeks before the wedding. Will, the new Duke of Sunderland, is an Egyptologist whose obsession with finding the tomb of King Tut led to the breakage of his engagement to Beatrix. He and Beatrix (known as Trix to her family and friends) were childhood sweethearts, but the book missed the poignancy of this aspect of their relationship. For one thing, I found Will rather annoying. I love a good rogue and bluestocking/repressed heroine plot (and vice-versa), but his pushing and prodding of Beatrix to move beyond her comfort zone did not come across as an old and beloved friend, but of an arrogant busy-body. I also found Beatrix an impossible heroine to like, mostly because I never had the chance to know her: nearly every scene consisted of Will or secondary characters telling who she was, who she thought she was, and who she ought to be. Since the sole source of Beatrix's personal conflict rested on her submergence of her personality in order to please others, I found it incredibly ironic that when she found herself, it fit within the constructs of everyone else's opinions about her "true" personality.

Ultimately, the main issue plaguing my enjoyment is the weak conflict on which the plot is based, and the "sequel-bait"/set-up feel to the book. This is readable, and fans of the Girl-Bachelors series will appreciate the appearance of a few characters from those books, but Wedding of the Season lacks the fun and exuberance and gripping emotions that should exist in a book featuring this premise and set in a new and exciting time period.

3.5 stars

eGalley from NetGalley(less)

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Jan 01, 2011 ♡KarLynP♡ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: published-2011, genre-historical, ebook, read-2010, steam-warm

4.5 stars. I finished this yesterday and really enjoyed. It is set in 1902, and I loved the more modern take on historical England. Women are becoming more independent (smoking, driving and showing some ankle!), aristocracy is losing power to commercialism, and the rules of society are quickly being rewritten to allow people more personal freedoms. Music, fashion, and even transportation are all evolving, and I thought LLG did a great job bringing many of these elements into this story.

At age 23...more 4.5 stars. I finished this yesterday and really enjoyed. It is set in 1902, and I loved the more modern take on historical England. Women are becoming more independent (smoking, driving and showing some ankle!), aristocracy is losing power to commercialism, and the rules of society are quickly being rewritten to allow people more personal freedoms. Music, fashion, and even transportation are all evolving, and I thought LLG did a great job bringing many of these elements into this story.

At age 23 William Mallory, heir to the Duke of Sunderland, had his life all planned out for him and handed on a silver platter - a title, money, a beautiful fiance...etc., but instead chose to follow a once in a life time opportunity and left for Egypt in hopes of unearthing King Tut's tomb. His fiance Beatrix (Trix) Danbury, dutiful daughter to a neighboring Earl, refused to go with him and live in such a horrid climate, and therefor gives him an ultimatum. He chooses Egypt, and now 6-years later has comes back to England to find financial support to continue his archaeological digs.

Will and Trix are now older, wiser and living the lives they thought they wanted. Newly engaged to the Duke of Trathen, Trix has finally gotten over the love of her life leaving his ducal duties behind to pursue his dreams, and is now ready for the comfortable (but passionless) companionship her upcoming marriage will provide. And then she see's Will riding his horse on the side of the road, and nothing is the same again.

While both Will and Trix felt they made the right decision 6-years ago, spending time together again reveals the deep passion they once shared is far from gone. Six years ago they were so focused on their own desires that the other person's desires were dismissed without any real consideration.

The chemistry between Will and Trix was so believable, and the way they slowly reveal their past hurt and accept their own part in it while learning to see the situation through each others eyes was well done. While I did get frustrated with Trix for taking so long to finally lighten up, her strict background made her actions believable. And now for Will to win Trix back, he has to prove his love and take on the monumental task of winning back her trust.

If you are looking for a regency historical with a simpering, doe-eyed virginal heroine and a dominate alpha-male hero, this isn't that book. This is a more modern historical that addresses issues of conflict where both the hero or heroine made many mistakes. It was such an enjoyable read and I recommend it to LLG fans. I can't wait for the next in the series. (less)

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Apr 08, 2011 LuvGirl rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, heroine-in-pursuit, 2-stars, zzzzzzzzzzz

I was so excited to read this because the storyline seemed so interesting. The storyline went down hill for me because I lost all respect for the hero when I found out that he wasted all his inheritance and had no shame in begging for money from anyone who was willing to give it- all for searching for Tutankhamen in Egypt! I was also hoping for some real life drama with the heroine being engaged to marry to someone else - but come to find out- she doesn't really want the fiance and he doesn't re...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Rebecca (everyday reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Beatrix has loved Will her whole life, and vice-versa. Two weeks before their wedding he gets the opportunity to follow his dream to go on a dig in Egypt, and goes, without her. Six years later, Will comes home to find more funding for his work in Egypt and meets up with Trix who is engaged to another man, but isn't in love with him. Their feelings for each other have never gone away, they are like magnets and this time when he leaves to go back to Egypt, her fiancee breaks their engagement and...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Leya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book

It's been ages since I read a book by Laura Lee Guhrke, I believe the reason I stopped reading her was because of a few of her previous books I felt were, for the lack of a better word, crappy. Lately I've been seeing her titles around and it got me curious. I know she's in the middle of a new series, so I decided to start at the beginning. I'm beginning with the first book of Abandoned at the Altar series, Wedding of the Season.

Beatrix and Will were childhood sweethearts, they always knew that...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Callixta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...

Cela faisait longtemps que Laura Lee Guhrke n’avait pas publié un roman. Elle revient en ce début d’année 2011 avec deux livres qui se suivent et se complètent. Pour ceux qui ont apprécié la série Les Jeunes filles en fleurs, nous restons dans le même monde, puisque nous allons retrouver Harry et Emma Marlowe, quelques années plus tard et dans un rôle très secondaire. Mais ce sont des amis de la famille du vicomte qui sont ici au premier plan. Cette série...more http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...

Cela faisait longtemps que Laura Lee Guhrke n’avait pas publié un roman. Elle revient en ce début d’année 2011 avec deux livres qui se suivent et se complètent. Pour ceux qui ont apprécié la série Les Jeunes filles en fleurs, nous restons dans le même monde, puisque nous allons retrouver Harry et Emma Marlowe, quelques années plus tard et dans un rôle très secondaire. Mais ce sont des amis de la famille du vicomte qui sont ici au premier plan. Cette série débute également quelques années plus tard lors de la première année du vingtième siècle donc au tout début de la période dite edwardienne [1]. Ce contexte plus rare est admirablement rendu dans le livre et est un élément fondamental du contexte mais également de l’histoire car les comportements des personnages sont typiques de leur époque.

Beatrix Danbury et William Mallory, duc de Sunderland, se sont connus et aimés toute leur vie, pourtant alors qu’ils étaient fiancés et prêts au mariage, Will a préféré partir en Egypte pour devenir archéologue, abandonnant la jeune femme quinze jours avant la cérémonie. Six ans ont passé et Beatrix est sur le point d’épouser Aidan, le duc de Trathern. Will, après des années passées en Egypte ne revient au pays que pour trouver de l’argent et repartir aussi vite mais revoir Beatrix va faire revenir à la surface des souvenirs nombreux et bien difficiles à oublier de nouveau.

L’histoire d’amour qui unit Beatrix et Will est assez inhabituelle. Malgré un amour profond et vibrant, et de nombreux moments passés ensemble, ils ont une conception de la vie très différente. Beatrix, élevée par un père craintif et seul a toujours couvé sa fille et veut faire d’elle la quintessence de la lady britannique. Par amour mais aussi par conviction, Beatrix est entrée dans le moule préparé pour elle. Le non conformisme de Will, duc et totalement indifférent à ce rôle lui a toujours plu et souvent le jeune garçon qu’il était, a poussé la petite fille à se dépasser à transgresser les interdictions. Au moment, les plus graves, Beatrix a toujours choisi la raison et a refusé d’accompagner son fiancé dans une hasardeuse expédition égyptienne. Six ans plus tard, rien n’a changé véritablement et la douloureuse séparation va rejouer entre eux.

Laura Lee Guhrke va alors admirablement exploiter cette situation. Par des dialogues, brillants, elle oppose les deux amoureux qui se lancent dans de longues analyses sur leur échec mutuel et leurs désirs. A coup de provocations, de petits jeux qui font des clins d’œil à ceux qu’ils avaient lors de l’enfance et poussés par une ambiance qui leur rappelle leurs vacances d’enfants, ils vont se redécouvrir, retomber amoureux. Mais voilà, Beatrix est fiancée de nouveau et c’est bien plus compliqué encore qu’auparavant.

Laure Lee Guhrke sait alors admirablement recréer une atmosphère digne de ce début de vingtième siècle. L’étouffant règne de Victoria vient à peine de se terminer et on sent les velléités d’indépendance notamment des femmes, les envies de liberté qui s’élèvent mais qui sont si difficiles à réaliser. Elle décrit aussi cette société aristocratique anglaise qui se meurt gentiment sans s’en rendre vraiment compte. Les nobles perdent du pouvoir, ont des problèmes d’argent et se perdent dans des règles sociales d’antan entre la saison, les vacances dans l’ouest du pays, les garden parties. Il y a aussi un douceur de vivre toute particulière dans cette période qui précède la première guerre mondiale, puisque c’est une époque plutôt prospère, sans guerre justement et qui connaît une importante et rapide modernisation des moeurs. Le travail de Laura Lee Guhrke est admirable de ce point de vue car nous avons vraiment l’impression de plonger dans cette époque bien plus originale car moins exploitée dans la romance.

Les personnages de Beatrix et de sa cousine Julia, future héroïne du roman suivant, sont totalement emblématiques du propos de l’auteure. Ces deux jeunes femmes de leur époque conduisent des voitures pétaradantes qui effrayent les campagnes, fument, s’amusent mais elles ont toutes deux dû obéir à des règles sociales bien plus anciennes. Julia a conclu un mariage de raison qui n’a rien d‘heureux et Beatrix vit sous la surveillance de chaperons et un contrôle permanent des femmes plus âgées. Ce propos vient servir l’histoire d’amour de Beatrix et Will mais est également très intéressant en soi.

Laure Lee Guhrke a un peu de mal à conclure son très bon roman, parce qu’il n’est pas facile de faire évoluer ses deux personnages l’un vers l’autre puisque leurs envies de liberté les conduisent dans des directions opposées. Mais, même si le dénouement semble un peu rapide, la qualité du récit, la beauté de cette histoire simple, l’intelligence et la vivacité des dialogues (inspirées du langage de l’époque) permettent un formidable moment de lecture. Nous avons hâte de découvrir ce qui arrive à Julia, la cousine de Beatrix dont les outrances cachent sans doute beaucoup de souffrance. Ce roman arrive heureusement très vite pour notre plus grand bonheur !(less)

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Oct 08, 2012 Carrie Olguin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 09, 2012 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, 3-star, dom-quixote, meu, tiara

Ultimamente a minha vida ficou um pouco atribulada demais o que me levou a deixar um pouco de lado uma paixão minha - ler.

Como quebra-jejum literário queria um livro bem levezinho e que exigisse muito pouco de mim. Assim, numa ida à FNAC este menino veio comigo.

Comecei a lê-lo passadas algumas horas depois e acabei-o na tarde do dia seguinte, tal foi o meu entusiasmo.

As personagens estão muito bem construídas. Se por um lado compreendemos que o facto de um jovem homem se sentir preso na avalanch...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Célia Loureiro rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: meus-books-i-own, favoritos-favorites, romance-histórico-historical-novel

O mais importante a reter é que, como na grande maioria dos romances, a sinopse dá-se ao trabalho de deturpar a história. Isto é, puxa a brasa no sentido de simplificá-la para questões simples do coração - “William estava certo de que Beatrix o receberia de braços abertos” - bom ele não se ilude, sabe que ela está magoada e ela deixa isso claro desde o primeiro encontro. E também ele não vem por ela - não teve nenhuma epifania no deserto que o trouxesse de volta a casa. Ele vem à procura de solu...more O mais importante a reter é que, como na grande maioria dos romances, a sinopse dá-se ao trabalho de deturpar a história. Isto é, puxa a brasa no sentido de simplificá-la para questões simples do coração - “William estava certo de que Beatrix o receberia de braços abertos” - bom ele não se ilude, sabe que ela está magoada e ela deixa isso claro desde o primeiro encontro. E também ele não vem por ela - não teve nenhuma epifania no deserto que o trouxesse de volta a casa. Ele vem à procura de soluções para poder prosseguir com o seu sonho... Desenganem-se porque a história é bem mais complexa do que um rapaz egoísta a largar a noiva para ir atrás de algo imprudente... O Will é arqueólogo e está a ajudar Howard Carter a desvendar túmulos no Egipto, numa época em que a Inglaterra se dedicou a “pilhar” o espólio da civilização Egípcia e a despachá-lo para o Reino Unido. É obcecado com o túmulo do Tutankamon e está convencido que vai encontrá-lo. Tanto ele como a Beatrix tem motivos válidos para terem ficado afastados, e a validade inquestionável destes motivos fez-me ler o livro em num record de cinco horas (noite dentro). Ainda são 360 páginazitas, e este não estava planeado para este mês... mas eu sabia que ia amá-lo. Como pontos negativos destaco apenas a repetição constante dos motivos de cada um, quando já era demasiado óbvio para o leitor, já se antecipavam os argumentos e contra-argumentos. Alguns aspectos da revisão deixam a desejar, assim como alguma escolha de vocabulário, mas não é culpa da autora. «Por amor da Santa!», é muito corrente e muito português.

Enfim, em termos históricos está super interessante, uma vez mais o prémio RITA para romance histórico não foi atribuído a uma autora ao acaso. Adorei o facto de a intimidade do casal não ser o motivo do livro, como tantas vezes o é neste género de livro. São os sonhos deles que importam, os seus medos, derrotas, impulsos e triunfos. Apaixonei-me pelos dois; pelo Will e pela Trix, e várias vezes me identifiquei com ambos. Ela quer saltar das rochas para o mar, mas tem medo. O Egipto é o sonho da vida dele e, se ela não está disposta a partilhá-lo com ele... quão grande será a afeição que lhe tem? Valerá a pena desistir de tudo por uma mulher que não está disposta a fazer sacrifícios para ficarem juntos? E ela, que só sonha com uma vida responsável e tradicional, e que sonhou em ser duquesa ao lado dele... porque é que tem que lhe provar que o quer mudando-se para o deserto? Porque é que não pode ser ele a fazer o sacrifício de ficar no local onde cresceram e onde se apaixonaram e onde sempre foram felizes?

Agora... quem irá ceder?
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Feb 24, 2011 Kate L rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Don't let the cover fool you, this book doesn't take place in the 1980s as you might expect, but instead takes place in turn of the century England. The storyline follows a pretty classic romance novel storyline: boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl separate, girl moves on, boy returns, girl feels torn between safe new love and exciting old love. We all know what happens at the end of these books, but just in case you don't know, I won't spoil it for you here, but you'll learn after you get a...more

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Jan 28, 2011 SidneyKay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-edwardian

"Now, when I die,
now don't think I'm a nut,
don't want no fancy funeral.
Just one like ole king Tut."

http://www.lauraleeguhrke.com/index.htm
We are about to reflect upon a pet peeve moment. Sometimes when one reads historical novels, one stumbles across history that authors tamper with for one reason or another. Usually, unless you are Virginia Henley, the author includes a page or two saying something like, yes, I changed this or that because I wanted to blah blah blah. And, when the author does t...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Title: Wedding of the Season SubTitle: Abandoned at the Altar Publisher: HarperCollins Imprint: Avon Pub Date: 12/28/2010 ISBN: 9780061963155 Author: Laura Lee Guhrke

Wedding of the Season is set in one of my favorite times in history…during the ending Victorian era and the start of the Edwardian era This tends to be a rather over-looked part of England’s history as far as the Romance Genre is concerned.
Will Mallory has this need for adventure and what a better adventure that to go digging for...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Claudine rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was the first book I choose to read by Laura Lee Guhrke. I can honestly say I wasn't impressed with her main characters Beatrix and William - the Duke of Sunderland, I found them quite predictable and often dull, Boring. This book took me 4 days to read. I had a very difficult time getting into the story. I really felt I wasted my money purchasing this book. The only reason I picked it up was because I was out of reading material while waiting for the new releases for this month. I had some...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Jane Stewart rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance-prior-to-wwll

2 ½ stars. It was ok, but I couldn’t get excited about it. Nothing special or different. Weak on passion.

STORY BRIEF:
Will and Beatrix have been in love since childhood and were engaged to be married. Then Will got an offer to join a famous archaeologist in Egypt. This was his dream. He wanted Beatrix to go with him, but she refused, so the wedding was called off. Six years later, Beatrix is engaged to Aidan. Will has used up his inheritance and returns to England to look for a sponsor for his wo...more 2 ½ stars. It was ok, but I couldn’t get excited about it. Nothing special or different. Weak on passion.

STORY BRIEF:
Will and Beatrix have been in love since childhood and were engaged to be married. Then Will got an offer to join a famous archaeologist in Egypt. This was his dream. He wanted Beatrix to go with him, but she refused, so the wedding was called off. Six years later, Beatrix is engaged to Aidan. Will has used up his inheritance and returns to England to look for a sponsor for his work. He is searching for King Tut’s tomb. Marshall invites a group of friends to his summer home in Devonshire for a few weeks. Will attends because he hopes to ask Marshall to be his sponsor. Beatrix and Aidan also attend. While there, Will and Beatrix realize they are still in love with each other. Beatrix doesn’t want to admit it.

Beatrix’s father influenced her to be caution and avoid risk. He wanted her to stay close to him forever. After he died, Beatrix’s cousin Julia brought Beatrix out of her shell by teaching her to smoke and to drive. Julia even gave her a car. After that, Beatrix met and became engaged to Aidan who was similar to her father – cautious and conservative.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
A theme of the book is Beatrix wanting to travel and go on adventures but afraid of taking risks. It’s an ok idea but felt too long and drawn out when trying to tell a full length story about it. There was too much pondering repetition. There is a scene with Beatrix probably in her teens. Will and others jump off a cliff into the ocean, a 30 foot dive. Beatrix wanted to do it but backed out and claimed she preferred to admire the view from above. This scene is discussed and pondered several times during the book. Most of the book seems to be about Beatrix figuring out what she wants in life, who does she love, and will she take risks. There wasn’t much plot. The characters didn’t intrigue me.

Another part of the story is that they love each other but they each want something else more. She claims she wants a home, children, and to stay in England. He wants his archaeological career. And when he returns it’s not for her, it’s for money for his work. So it’s weak on passion.

Her last minute change of mind and actions annoyed me. Instead of suspense, I felt anxiety over someone being too late for something.

DATA:
Story length: 360 pages. Swearing language: mild, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 2. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 16. Setting: 1896 and 1901 England. Copyright: 2011. Genre: historical romance.(less)

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Nov 16, 2010 April rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance-regency-england

WEDDING OF THE SEASON by Laura Lee Guhrke is a delightful historical romance set in 1900 England. It is the first in Abandoned at the Altar. It is well written with depth,details,fast paced,with twists and turns. It has passion, archeology,sweet sensuality, adventure, romance, forgiveness, trust, courage, responsibilities, and motorcars. The heroine, Beatrice, is beautiful, predictable,intelligent, charming, raised to be a Lady, has been in love with the hero,Will, since childhood, was engaged t...more WEDDING OF THE SEASON by Laura Lee Guhrke is a delightful historical romance set in 1900 England. It is the first in Abandoned at the Altar. It is well written with depth,details,fast paced,with twists and turns. It has passion, archeology,sweet sensuality, adventure, romance, forgiveness, trust, courage, responsibilities, and motorcars. The heroine, Beatrice, is beautiful, predictable,intelligent, charming, raised to be a Lady, has been in love with the hero,Will, since childhood, was engaged to him. Their engagement was broken when Will chose his lifetime dream of finding King Tut's tome in Egypt over Beatrice's dream of family and children in England. Will, handsome, adventurous, an archaeologist, a Duke, in love with Beatrice since childhood, believed she wanted the same thing as he with adventure and a love of archeology. But when she refuses to leave England,and her father to follow him to Egypt that dream is lost until he returns some six years later. Her father and his are dead, Beatrice is engaged to someone else.Although, they try to refuse their feelings for each other, it doesn't take long for Will to realize all may not be lost after all. He has returned to England to find additional funding for his dig in Egypt.Beatrice's fiancee is no love match,but based on respect, and mutual companionship. When Will and Beatrice are found in each other's embrace, the fiancee breaks off the engagement. What is left is a passion between Will and Beatrice. Will is determined to win Beatrice's heart again. But time is not on their side. For Will will have to leave England for Egypt sooner than he had expected. Beatrice still refuses to marry him or go to Egypt with him. Will the heart win over the brain? or will Beatrice be left behind again by Will? Love can conquer all if truly given the chance. This is a story of love from childhood through adulthood, the many sacrifices, hurts and longing. Will one man give up his dream of finding King Tut's tomb and Archeology in order to live his life with his one true love? and Will one woman give up her dream of a family of her own, her love of her country, and the land for the adventure of following her heart and her one true love?In order to find out you MUST read this book for it will capture your heart. I would recommend this book especially if you enjoy history, true love, passion and adventure. This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and details can be found at Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins and My Book Addiction and More.
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Feb 05, 2012 Suzanne the Mighty ~Satin Seductress~ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, can-i-kill-the-bitch, fugly-cover, pdf-kindle

Being jilted two weeks before her first attempt of marriage has left Lady Beatrix Danbury shy of marrying again but she has now found a sensible and reliable man to marry, he doesn't stir her passions as Will, Duke of Sunderland her childhood sweetheart did, but he is dependable. But when Will returns from Egypt her well planned future doesn't begin to look as exciting as she thought. Will has always loved Beatrix but after 6 years of being apart after she refused to come with him to Egypt he th...more

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Nov 30, 2011 slayra rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, in-portuguese, historical-romance

RATING: 2 estrelas.

O "Casamento do Ano" inaugura uma nova série de romances históricos passados nos inícios do século XX. Neste livro encontramos personagens de livros anteriores (os Marlowe e os Weston, mas nenhuma das suas histórias foi ainda publicada em Portugal) e somos apresentados a Beatrix (estava sempre a ler "Belatrix" o que me distraia bastante da história) e Will, os protagonistas.

Os livros de Laura Lee Guhrke são geralmente "hit or miss" para mim. Ou seja, algumas das suas obras são...more RATING: 2 estrelas.

O "Casamento do Ano" inaugura uma nova série de romances históricos passados nos inícios do século XX. Neste livro encontramos personagens de livros anteriores (os Marlowe e os Weston, mas nenhuma das suas histórias foi ainda publicada em Portugal) e somos apresentados a Beatrix (estava sempre a ler "Belatrix" o que me distraia bastante da história) e Will, os protagonistas.

Os livros de Laura Lee Guhrke são geralmente "hit or miss" para mim. Ou seja, algumas das suas obras são tão agradáveis de ler que ocupam um lugar na minha lista de livros preferidos dentro do género (falo de "Prazeres Proibidos" e de "And then he Kissed Her", por exemplo) enquanto outras são pura e simplesmente medíocres e nada memoráveis.

Apesar de ter gostado bastante do ambiente em que a história se desenvolve - em 1901, onde temos ainda a clássica aristocracia britânica mas também telegramas, carros e electricidade - a história não me agradou particularmente.

O romance histórico é um género muito dependente das personagens. A história é, na maior parte das vezes, formulaica e contém sempre os mesmos elementos: passados trágicos, um macho alfa, uma heroína decidida e claro, muita química. Por isso é normalmente a construção das personagens o elemento-chave nestes livros. Se as personagens são interessantes, se as suas interacções são interessantes então o livro será interessante.

Em "O Casamento do Ano" isto não acontece. Tanto Will como Bea(trix) são personagens sem sal e mais importante, não há qualquer tipo de química entre eles. Oh, eles discutem, eles não gostam um do outro, mas toda essa ferocidade pareceu falsa e morna. Quando as personagens secundárias me interessam mais do que as principais é um sinal claro de que a autora está a fazer alguma coisa mal. Sinceramente não queria saber se Will (que achei um idiota, no geral) e Beatrix (uma chata) ficavam juntos no final. E é esse interesse que um autor de romance histórico tem de criar.

Assim, suponho que este romance de Laura Lee Gurhke se vai juntar à pilha dos que foram um 'miss' para mim. Calculo que isto se tenha devido um pouco também à tradução pois li todas as outras obras da autora em inglês e consegui detectar os erros (na tradução) a milhas. Mas pronto.

No geral, "O Casamento do Ano" não é, definitivamente, uma das melhores obras da autora. Para os que queiram experimentar algo de Laura Lee Guhrke recomendo o livro "Prazeres Proibidos", uma leitura muito divertida e enternecedora. (less)

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Apr 08, 2011 willaful rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: eye-roller, reunited-or-have-history, same-old-same-old

Wedding of the Season is set in Edwardian England and it was rather surreal seeing an otherwise typical historical romance novel with dialog that took me back to E. Nesbit or P.G. Wodehouse: people calling each other “old bean,” crying pax to make up... I don’t think anyone ever actually said “pip pip,” but I wouldn’t put it past them. Unfortunately, other than the novelty of the setting, the book was not particularly notable.

The noise of a passing motorcar causes the Duke of Sutherland’s horse...more Wedding of the Season is set in Edwardian England and it was rather surreal seeing an otherwise typical historical romance novel with dialog that took me back to E. Nesbit or P.G. Wodehouse: people calling each other “old bean,” crying pax to make up... I don’t think anyone ever actually said “pip pip,” but I wouldn’t put it past them. Unfortunately, other than the novelty of the setting, the book was not particularly notable.

The noise of a passing motorcar causes the Duke of Sutherland’s horse to bolt -- but this symbolic clash of old vs. new is deceptive. Will is the one who left a dukedom behind to make archeological discoveries in Egypt, and the car is driven by his former fiance Beatrix, who refused to leave the safety and respectability of England behind and go with him. Six years later, Beatrix is marrying another Duke -- the respectable, upstanding kind of Duke -- while Will is only back in England to get funding for his expeditions... it has nothing to do with that engagement announcement he cut out from the paper and just can’t seem to throw away...

The first half of this story was nothing special but enjoyable. The pain the characters felt about their estrangement, and the way their lives hadn’t gone as they hoped, was strong. Beatrix seemed a little unfeeling towards someone she had once loved, but I liked how Will’s feelings are drawn:

“He’d forgotten, he realized in astonishment. He’d been gone so long, he’d forgotten just how beautiful her smiles were. How could he have let that happen?

Slowly, however, another feeling came to the fore, an uneasy sense that something was wrong... She was smiling at whoever had just entered the shop. ‘Aidan,’ she said as a man approached the counter where she stood, and Will realized what was wrong. Her smile seemed different to him because it was not for him. It was for another man.”

Around midway, I started feeling dissatisfied. The tone of the book became oddly jocular in feeling, as if the emotions involved were trivial; Beatrix is the only one who still seems to have a sense of what went wrong, and everyone, including Will, treats her like she’s being silly. Add in a fairly ridiculous hymen scene -- in a book written in 2010? Seriously? -- and I could not feel really thrilled with this book, even if it did start out somewhat like “The Philadelphia Story” and ended like “The Harvey Girls.” Three stars for keeping me engaged throughout, and I will definitely read the next book in the series, because that involves the respectable Duke Aidan and there’s nothing I love more than a stuffed shirt hero.(less)

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Jan 02, 2011 Stella rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, romance, 2011, for-review

Based on the (quite horrible) cover and blurb I was expecting Wedding of the Season to be a regency romance, well imagine my shock when in the scene where the heroine is introduced to us she's driving a car and wearing trousers! Yes, I warn you: make no mistakes this historical romance is set in the beginning of the 20th century, around 1904: Beatrix is a modern young woman of 25: she wears trousers, drives a car and shock: she has even smoked a couple of cigarettes!

I don't think I've ever read...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, listened-to-in-2012, soa-listening-challenge-2012

SOA Listening Challenge 2012, Track 4: Historical 4/4

4-star for plot, 3-stars for narration.

I haven't read the print version. Other reviewers of the audiobook say they enjoyed Anne Flosnik's narration in this one, so I decided to give this a try. Her narration is definitely less monotone and with more inflection particularly during H/h's verbal catfights. Her breathy narration of clinches and love scenes can be jarring, though. I have to remind myself not to listen to a sex scene in a public pla...more SOA Listening Challenge 2012, Track 4: Historical 4/4

4-star for plot, 3-stars for narration.

I haven't read the print version. Other reviewers of the audiobook say they enjoyed Anne Flosnik's narration in this one, so I decided to give this a try. Her narration is definitely less monotone and with more inflection particularly during H/h's verbal catfights. Her breathy narration of clinches and love scenes can be jarring, though. I have to remind myself not to listen to a sex scene in a public place or I will burst out laughing and look loony.

If you're in the mood for a reunion story circa 1900, this is a fun not-too-angtsy one for you. Lady Beatrix and her childhood friend, ducal heir Will Mallory were set to marry six years ago when Will was presented an opportunity to pursue his passion for archaeology. Beatrix had signed on for a traditional life in the English countryside; Will had expected her to know him and love him enough to go to Egypt with him. They fight, call off their engagement, Will goes to Egypt to dig tombs.

Six years later Beatrix is about to marry another duke, a handsome responsible man who values her and shares her values of family and traditional English life. Two months before the wedding, Will comes back to England to seek funds for his dig. Their reunion is funny. Will encounters a "modern" Beatrix: she wears trousers, drives a car, smokes cigarettes. Yet the life she wants to live is still very much the predictable, safe, privileged British life.

Will is torn: he finds himself still desiring Beatrix, perhaps regretting jilting her. Yet he is also very glad he has escaped the stifling confines of tradition and expectations of how a British duke should be. He is free, yet not really free. In Will's struggle to reconcile his sense of adventure, sense of honor and responsibility, one could perhaps discern the sign of the times. England at the turn of the 20th century was torn between preserving tradition and history, vs adopting modern norms (including appreciating crass American imports like ragtime).

So if you want to take a break from alpha hero sweeps her off her feet regency historicals and want something a bit more intelligent, you won't be disappointed. My only pet peeve was how I wanted the hero to grovel more.(less)

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Jan 12, 2011 Rane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Rane by: ♡KarLynP♡

Shelves: keeper, victorian-romance

Before I started to read or even picked up Wedding of the Season, I was already carrying two strikes against it. Strike One!: Since reading LLG’s And Then He Kissed Her and His Every Kiss, I haven’t felt drawn to any of her recent works, putting them aside to pick up something else. Never truly feeling the magic I felt with those two novels. Strike Two!: While I enjoy those second-chance/reunion romance stories, many of the recent works fall onto the cliché BIG MISUNDERSTANDING that broke the r...more Before I started to read or even picked up Wedding of the Season, I was already carrying two strikes against it. Strike One!: Since reading LLG’s And Then He Kissed Her and His Every Kiss, I haven’t felt drawn to any of her recent works, putting them aside to pick up something else. Never truly feeling the magic I felt with those two novels. Strike Two!: While I enjoy those second-chance/reunion romance stories, many of the recent works fall onto the cliché BIG MISUNDERSTANDING that broke the relationship apart or having someone drive the lovers apart etc etc. This got old quickly for me that I tend to stay away from said type novels. Wedding of the Season never made it to Strike Three for me, instead hit it out of the park with such a great storyline, with understandable characters and how their able to build back their love when given a second chance.

Six Years ago William James Mallory,The Marquess of Richfield (and would later become the Duke of Sunderland) is given the chance of a lifetime to go to Egypt to study and be a archaeologist. Wanting to take his fiancée Lady Beatrix with him, is shocked when she begs him to stay instead. Beatrix wants to stay and Will wants to go, and because of their different wishes and dreams, tears them apart. Six years later Will has return to England a different man, in need of money to fund the tomb site, when he runs into a very different Beatrix whose to marry another. This reunion starts off a chain reaction of return feelings that never truly went away and a second chance at forever for Will and Trix.

The setting and time period is one of my favorites, with the world of discovery and industry blooming. With cars taking over the roads, and women starting to come out of their marriage cages. WOTS having a modem touch, but not overwhelming the reader, but giving you a chance to look into the past.

With reunion romances, you know the main characters are meant to be with one another, but having to deal with a lot of bitterness when they parted is a given and both Will and Trix have a lot to get off their chests. Six years worth! Will thinks Trix was a bird in a golden cage, forced by her father to never leave, never takes chances in life after her mother left and never returned. Trix felt Will was to selfish in his dreams to think of how it would effect her and others, and both cases they were both right and both wrong.

Will knew in his heart Trix had the passion for adventure, and always knew he had her heart and love. Will took for granted Trix thinking she just follow, giving up her dreams. Will gets a huge wake up call when he returns and sees the wrongs he has done. Although he still wishes for Trix to be his wife and come with him to Egypt, he has a lot of wooing to do and a few more adventure to take Trix on to prove to her he loves her. I really liked Will, and grew to love his character. He kept pushing Trix to go out there and live, spread her wings and fly, while taking a step back to prove to her, that their love never died, and was willing to keep on fighting to prove it. It was beautiful how he went out there and proves over and over again his love.

Trix was a little harder to like at times, but once you got to know her story, you felt for her, and saw that she had dreams and expectations of her own and she wanted Will to be apart of that with her and for her to be able to be with her father. Her father cuddled Trix, making her scared to go out there and only after her father’s death did she start to spread her wings. Trix is torn between Will and Duke of Trathen. Between living her dreams, and adventure. The greatness I felt in this book was that LLG didn’t make Trix give up on her dreams of a family and her love for her home. I felt the compromise and finding the middle ground for Will and Trix to be together and live happily ever after was the true cherry topper of this book.

This series started off wonderfully and any doubts I had when I first started reading this book vanish into a puff of smoke. I can’t wait for the next in the series with Trix awesome, fun loving but sad cousin Julian and the straight lace Duke of Trathen!
(less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Brittany rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, 2012-romance-challenge

I have read the 2nd and 3rd in the series and had to read the first in the series! It was interesting to see the characters of the 2nd and 3rd book in this novel. In this book, Beatrix and Will are the romantic pair! Lady Beatrix was engaged to Will and two weeks prior to their wedding, Will went to Egypt to help search for King Tut's Tomb. A lot changes in both their lives and 6 years pass before they see each other again. Beatrix is engaged to marry another man and Will is looking for a sponso...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Malin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

William Mallory, the Duke of Sunderland, is back in England for a brief time to see to his estates and borrow more money to fund his archaeological expedition in Egypt, where he's searching for the tomb of King Tutankhamen. He knows he can't avoid seeing his former fiancee, Lady Beatrix Danbury, as he wants to borrow the money off her cousin. Six years earlier, Will asked Beatrix to come with him on his adventures in Egypt, shortly before the couple were due to marry in a huge society event, but...more William Mallory, the Duke of Sunderland, is back in England for a brief time to see to his estates and borrow more money to fund his archaeological expedition in Egypt, where he's searching for the tomb of King Tutankhamen. He knows he can't avoid seeing his former fiancee, Lady Beatrix Danbury, as he wants to borrow the money off her cousin. Six years earlier, Will asked Beatrix to come with him on his adventures in Egypt, shortly before the couple were due to marry in a huge society event, but she turned him down. Now she's engaged to the Duke of Thrathen and likely to have all her dreams of a big family fulfilled.

Beatrix was shocked when Will asked her to come to Egypt. Her cousin's best friend, she always knew they'd get married, and she loved him since she was a little girl. Leaving one's family, estates and social obligations to go off digging for elusive treasures in the desert was never part of her plans, and she felt forced to turn Will down. Hoping for years that he'd return and choose her over Egypt, she finally convinced herself that she was over him, and accepted the proposal of another man, Aidan Carr, who is everything Will is not. He has a sense of tradition, honour, family and plans their honeymoon around his obligations on his estates and in Parliament. Some may consider him dull, Beatrix knows that he is safe and trust-worthy, if a bit overprotective.

Shortly before Beatrix is due to finally get her wedding of the season, she and Will are thrown together at the house party of a mutual friend. Upon seeing her again (when she nearly runs him over in her Daimler), Will is determined to win her back, and convince her to come with him to Egypt this time. Can he awaken Beatrix' dormant sense of adventure and persuade her that she's not over him after all?

I'd read a few romances by Laura Lee Guhrke before, and I like that she doesn't feel the need to set them during the Regency era, standard setting for a vast majority of historical romances (or so it seems, anyway). I'd heard mixed reports of this one, mainly from historical sticklers who couldn't get over the fact that Will is looking for the tomb of King Tutankhamen far earlier than the actual excavations for said tomb actually took place. I did not feel that this factual error in any way detracted from the story. Will and Beatrix are a nice couple, and complement each other well. It's clear that they're meant to be together, and that to an extent, it's a misunderstanding of each other's expectations of marriage, and Beatrix's controlling father that caused them to break up in the first place.

It's always a tricky thing when your hero has to steal the heroine away from another man. How do you do that without making him an unsympathetic cad? Sometimes the author chooses to make said other man utterly unlikable, but Guhrke has chosen not to make Aidan (the hero of a companion romance) a villain or a freak who clearly doesn't deserve the heroine, just someone who doesn't suit her very much, and who is clearly the rebound guy. He's kind and honourable, and reacts remarkably calmly to losing his fiancee, and I'm actually looking forward to reading the novel where he gets his own happy ending.(less)

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Jan 08, 2011 Julia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, historical-romance, series, reviewed, pub-avon

This book started out awesome. I loved the fact that there was a car. But the more I read the more bored I became. I'd say 200 pages of this book are either the hero or the heroine thinking about why the other isn't going to change, why they should change, or remembering the past.

Let me back up. Will abandoned Trix three weeks before their wedding to go to Egypt. It was made known in the first 10 pages she did not want to go and he did not want to stay.

300 pages later and we are still at that po...more

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Jan 03, 2011 Mallorie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I continuously buy Laura Lee Guhrke's books because I feel her plot lines are really creative. The synopsis always sounds astounding. Yet, I always end up more disappointed with the book then I anticipate. I feel that, despite her creative plot lines, she's not always the most expressive person when it comes to words. Her writing is more straight forward then it is descriptive. Don't get me wrong, she describes things, but it's almost in a generic sort of way. In authors that I adore, I adore th...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Cristina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: couldn-t-finish, historical-romance-european

Cuando uno comienza con una lectura, automáticamente busca un gancho con la historia, digamos que un flechazo. Últimamente no tengo paciencia para libros que se tornan predecibles desde la primera página... Cuando empecé la lectura del libro, a pesar de no existir originalidad (porque el tema de las cartas ya lo hemos visto en otros libros...) sí que pensé en darle otra oportunidad; pero llegados al punto del por qué regresa el héroe y del cómo regresa y del encuentro entre ambos protagonistas (...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Juanitah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Após a leitura de "Aposta Indecente", outro título da coleção Tiara, mas de diferente autora, as minhas expectativas em relação a "O Casamento do Ano" eram baixas, mas de certa forma esperançosas, sentindo um desejo secreto de que esta leitura me alegrasse o dia... e tanto o fez, que o li em pouco mais de um dia!
Laura Lee Guhrke apresenta-nos a sociedade inglesa dos finais do século XIX, inícios do século XX. Uma sociedade aristocrática, realidade da qual os protagonistas fazem parte, sendi Will...more Após a leitura de "Aposta Indecente", outro título da coleção Tiara, mas de diferente autora, as minhas expectativas em relação a "O Casamento do Ano" eram baixas, mas de certa forma esperançosas, sentindo um desejo secreto de que esta leitura me alegrasse o dia... e tanto o fez, que o li em pouco mais de um dia!
Laura Lee Guhrke apresenta-nos a sociedade inglesa dos finais do século XIX, inícios do século XX. Uma sociedade aristocrática, realidade da qual os protagonistas fazem parte, sendi Will um Duque, e Beatrix, a filho de outro com o mesmo título.
Sendo Will e Beatrix dois privilegiados, viveram em pequenos aventuras memoráveis que deram origem ao amor. Amor esse que se transformou numa proposta de casamento, posta por terra a duas semanas do evento, devido à oportunidade única de Will mudar-se para o Egipto para procurar o túmulo de Tutankamon.
Anos de promessas trocadas em momentos de amor, são quebradas, juntamente com o casamento do ano!
Beatrix e Will não chegam a consenso, pois Bea deseja fica em Inglaterra, enquanto que Will quer que a futura esposa o acompanhe a terras egípcias, para em conjnto viverem esta aventura.
Com o casamento cancelado, Will lança-se na nova etapa da sua vida, e regressa a Inglaterra seis anos depois, com o intuito de conseguir um novo patrocínio para a sua escavação.. ou será que na realidade, Will deseja Beatrix de volta, agora que soube do seu noivado?
De casamento marcado com Aidan, Bea pensa que a felicidade mora ao seu lado, e que com o marido perfeito, terá um futuro risonho, até que Will reaparece, e coloca tudo em questão, a ponto de acabar com o segundo noivado de Beatrix.
Se Will pensava que com Aidan fora do caminho, Bea aceitaria o seu pedido de casamento, não podia estar mais enganado, e empenha-se arduamente em mudar as ideias da sua amada, e convencê-la a passar o resto da vida com ele.
Como já vos disse, a leitura deste livro tomou-me pouco mais de um dia, portanto é escusado dizer o queão fácil e rápida é, mas devo fazer-vos notar que é aquele tipo de romance que mal o começamos a ler, não o conseguimos largar, fazendo-nos desafiar o "João Pestana" até não podermos mais.
"O Casamento do Ano" é uma leitura deveras envolvente e embora saibamos, de antemão, que qualquer destes romances têm sempre um final feliz, cada página aguça-nos mais o apetite, e os pequenos elementos surpresa são lufadas de ar fresco desejadas e bem vindas.
Gostei imenso do casal principal, Beatrix e Will. São ambos personagens muito interessantes, vivas e com as quais os leitores facilmente se identificam.
Essa mesma sensação de sintonia coexiste com as restantes personagens, sejam elas a irreverente Júlia, ou o atinado e cavaleiresco Aidan... até mesmo o distante Paul se torna alguém querido para o leitor.
Uma escritada detalhada e fluída, sem nunca cair no vulgarismo ou repetitividade, trazendo sempre algo de novo ao leitor, factos pelos quais a autora está de parabéns, pois prendeu-me bem desde as primeiras páginas!
Sem dúvida, uma excelente leitura e com muito potencial, e digo isto pois espero, que num futuro próximo, nos chegue as estórias de Aidan e Júlia, cujos finais em "O Casamento do Ano" ficaram em aberto e com uma novidade esmagadora e que surpreenderá tudo e todos!(less)

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Jan 09, 2011 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review, historical-romance

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: 12/28/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

I must say I was expecting this to be another fabulous Regency Romance, but was surprised to find that we were actually in the 20th century, as the opening scene has Beatrix driving a car, almost plowing over our reluctant hero. Although I had to shift my expectations, I found myself liking the book as we went on.

Beatrix has been in love with William her whole life, and just before their wedding, he decides that he needs to live...more Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: 12/28/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

I must say I was expecting this to be another fabulous Regency Romance, but was surprised to find that we were actually in the 20th century, as the opening scene has Beatrix driving a car, almost plowing over our reluctant hero. Although I had to shift my expectations, I found myself liking the book as we went on.

Beatrix has been in love with William her whole life, and just before their wedding, he decides that he needs to live his life the way he has always wanted: off exploring the tombs of Egypt. After Beatrix turns down his offer to go with, he leaves her behind. Fast forwarded and we are at a point where Beatrix has somewhat moved on, and has plans to remarry.

William is now back, hoping to find financial assistance for his expeditions. When he finagles an invite to an old friends home for a few weeks, he finds himself stuck with Beatrix, her new fiancé, and her two cousins. As Beatrix and William find themselves together throughout the weeks, will they be able to deny the passion that exists between them, or will they have a second chance at the altar?

Once I got over the fact that I was in a different era than expected, I really started to enjoy Beatrix. She was a total free spirit: not caring that she wore pants like a man, drove a car, smoked cigarettes, and got a little wild. I liked that about her. Although she did care what people thought of her at times, she was almost always true to herself, doing as she pleased when she pleased. She is the kind of strong heroine that I enjoy reading about.

William on the other hand drove me absolutely batty. For those of you who know my reading loves, I tend to enjoy my fictional heroes to be a little on the caveman side. William just doesn’t live up to that. He is somewhat nerdy, his first love being his archeological digs. He is also somewhat self absorbed, not thinking about what it was like for Beatrix when he left her standing at the altar. While he does somewhat redeem himself towards the end with what I thought to be his only selfless act in quite possibly his whole life, I just couldn’t really connect to his character at all.

With that in mind, I also had a hard time believing why Beatrix would fall in love with a man like William. At times the two seemed like polar opposites, and their romance while very sweet and endearing, didn’t always seem real to me. I loved the little challenges and dates that William planned for the two of them, but again it seemed as if he was doing them to prove his point, not win her love.

The real highlight of this book for me was Beatrix’s cousin Julia, another free spirit, anything goes kind of woman who provided many laughs for me though out. I am excited to see where her story takes us, especially since it seems as if she will end up with Beatrix’s jilted fiancé, Aiden.

All in all, I give Wedding of the Season 3 out of 5 new motor cars.(less)

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Jan 16, 2011 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

My favorite thing about this book is when it takes place - early 20th century. There are motorcars and other things that aren't usually present in historical romances. This is not a typical book in another way either. Will and Beatrix have already had there turn and she has moved on. Will comes back, not because of the engagement even though he carries around her announcement, but because he needs money for his archaeological dig. I loved that the chemistry between Will and Beatrix was still so...more

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