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Pleasant Surprises
Due to her newfound convictions, Angel’s event planning company now offers only wholesome entertainment. Clients who booked bachelor parties months ago are furious and demanding refunds. In a desperate move to pull her business out of its downward spiral, Angel compromises. . .and a teenage girl is rushed to the hospital. She compromises a second time and almost loses the rescuer she’s always dreamed of. Wade stops to help a damsel in distress on the highway and ends up falling for the feisty redhead. But is he willing to wait while Angel figures out how to do things God’s way?
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Becky Melby
39 books51 followersWisconsin resident Becky Melby is the author of more than 20 titles, including her latest, Candles in the Rain, plus the Lost Sanctuary Series, four books in the Guideposts cozy mystery series Secrets of Wayfarers Inn, and a novella in A Door County Christmas. Married for 48 years, mother of four, grandmother to sixteen, Becky thrives on writing, reading, camping, rides on the back of a silver Gold Wing, and time with family. Connect with her at www.beckymelby.com or Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 28, 2022
A book with more issues than good points. You'd think with TWO authors, it would be better, but I think it's actually worse.
1. Angel leaves her business in Chicago (which is failing) ON A WEEKEND when most of her business (party planning) happens, to go home. After thumping a deer, she accepts a ride from a stranger and his sister (dangerous, much?), and... then the authors decided NOT to story-tell, but to story-narrate. They don't show us the scene when Mom/Grandma meet the hero... no, they inform us after the fact of what happened. This is BAD writing. And started me on the wrong foot.
2. Wade has little money... BUT after one car ride, he's willing to drain his nest egg to hire Angel and to take her to Ruth Chris' four-star restaurant in Chicago... why, again? Because she's kind, patient, gentle, and gracious? Oh, no... because she's a hot mess. There's NO reason he would do this, the day after meeting her.
3. Wade's sister is written to be a brat. He says that his parents were divided on how to deal with her personality (read: lack of discipline), so she's unmanageable... BUT "IT'S A.D.D". Because we must diagnose anything and everything, and can't own up to bad parenting models. This is a HUGE peeve of mine.
4. Angel was turned in at her previous job for cheating by Matt... who she hates so much, she saves his life by giving him the Heimlich in a restaurant. R'something. Because she's not only the ONLY person who moves to help, *AND* she's conveniently certified to teach CPR, according to the authors. Overkill, much? And WHY would she be certified to teach CPR, again? She went to hostess school and is a party organizer. I could see TAKING a CPR class, but... ????
5. Speaking of, they never tell us where Matt and Angel worked together - was it in Chicago? If that's the case, what's he doing in Galena? There's very little explanation for a LOT of things. People just call or show up as the authors decide they should, with little background or motivation or explanation.
6. 'Biceps the size of bocce balls'. *Seriously!?*
7. "... wrapping his arms around the woman... might result in Irish setter teeth in his lateral epicondyle muscle". Wade's a HISTORY TEACHER, not an anatomy professor. What the heck?! Have I mentioned the writing in this thing is seriously not good?
8. Speaking of history, she asks if he's done the Gansta tour in Chicago. She doesn't mention a WORD about the fact that they're in GALENA - where Ulysses S. Grant's home is, for the love of Pete. In fact, aside from a few gangster mentions, the only history in the book is church/missions history. Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Mel Trotter (who is big in my area, Grand Rapids, MI). This is because he teaches that in sch... wait, no... it's because he's doing his doctorate on... wait, no... his doctorate is on Route 66. So basically, the authors wanted missions history. So *BOOM*, there it is.
9. So then there's an 'accident' which results in pending lawsuits, bankruptcy, media smears, loss of business and credibility, as a result of possible sabotage... and as if THAT isn't enough (on top of daddy issues, A.D.D, faith crises, etc.) ... THEN the book shifts to self-inflicted fat shaming. It becomes all about her weight, and overeating and binging and self-image... it's just a MESS. Like there wasn't enough going on?!
10. Angel slept on the sofa for FIFTEEN YEARS in her childhood home - a house with two bedrooms and only three women living in it. WHY - in the name of all that is holy - did they not share rooms? My grandma shared her room with her grandmother. I shared all my growing up years with my sister. Who makes their kid sleep on a sofa for years?!
11. So Angel has been a christian for TWO months, according to the book. Except this makes NO sense, whatsoever. First, she's raised by two women who are Christians - Grandma is quoting scripture over her breakfast griddle. If she's as close to her mom and grandma as they portray her to be, she would've shared their faith. And on top of that, her best friend and roommate is a Christian - not just a lifelong Christian, but she's working on her MASTERS at Moody Bible Institute. There is NO WAY Angel only came to the Lord two months ago. Not when everyone she loves and values have faith. She would have that same faith. It. Makes. No. Sense. Not at all.
I... really wanted to throw this thing against the wall more times than I can mention. The thing was begging me to give it one star. The *ONLY* thing that saved it was the decent resolution at the end. I can give it a star for the ending, but getting there was MISERY, both because of the ridiculous catastrophe of a story *and* the bad story-telling.
Will not be keeping this one.
1. Angel leaves her business in Chicago (which is failing) ON A WEEKEND when most of her business (party planning) happens, to go home. After thumping a deer, she accepts a ride from a stranger and his sister (dangerous, much?), and... then the authors decided NOT to story-tell, but to story-narrate. They don't show us the scene when Mom/Grandma meet the hero... no, they inform us after the fact of what happened. This is BAD writing. And started me on the wrong foot.
2. Wade has little money... BUT after one car ride, he's willing to drain his nest egg to hire Angel and to take her to Ruth Chris' four-star restaurant in Chicago... why, again? Because she's kind, patient, gentle, and gracious? Oh, no... because she's a hot mess. There's NO reason he would do this, the day after meeting her.
3. Wade's sister is written to be a brat. He says that his parents were divided on how to deal with her personality (read: lack of discipline), so she's unmanageable... BUT "IT'S A.D.D". Because we must diagnose anything and everything, and can't own up to bad parenting models. This is a HUGE peeve of mine.
4. Angel was turned in at her previous job for cheating by Matt... who she hates so much, she saves his life by giving him the Heimlich in a restaurant. R'something. Because she's not only the ONLY person who moves to help, *AND* she's conveniently certified to teach CPR, according to the authors. Overkill, much? And WHY would she be certified to teach CPR, again? She went to hostess school and is a party organizer. I could see TAKING a CPR class, but... ????
5. Speaking of, they never tell us where Matt and Angel worked together - was it in Chicago? If that's the case, what's he doing in Galena? There's very little explanation for a LOT of things. People just call or show up as the authors decide they should, with little background or motivation or explanation.
6. 'Biceps the size of bocce balls'. *Seriously!?*
7. "... wrapping his arms around the woman... might result in Irish setter teeth in his lateral epicondyle muscle". Wade's a HISTORY TEACHER, not an anatomy professor. What the heck?! Have I mentioned the writing in this thing is seriously not good?
8. Speaking of history, she asks if he's done the Gansta tour in Chicago. She doesn't mention a WORD about the fact that they're in GALENA - where Ulysses S. Grant's home is, for the love of Pete. In fact, aside from a few gangster mentions, the only history in the book is church/missions history. Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Mel Trotter (who is big in my area, Grand Rapids, MI). This is because he teaches that in sch... wait, no... it's because he's doing his doctorate on... wait, no... his doctorate is on Route 66. So basically, the authors wanted missions history. So *BOOM*, there it is.
9. So then there's an 'accident' which results in pending lawsuits, bankruptcy, media smears, loss of business and credibility, as a result of possible sabotage... and as if THAT isn't enough (on top of daddy issues, A.D.D, faith crises, etc.) ... THEN the book shifts to self-inflicted fat shaming. It becomes all about her weight, and overeating and binging and self-image... it's just a MESS. Like there wasn't enough going on?!
10. Angel slept on the sofa for FIFTEEN YEARS in her childhood home - a house with two bedrooms and only three women living in it. WHY - in the name of all that is holy - did they not share rooms? My grandma shared her room with her grandmother. I shared all my growing up years with my sister. Who makes their kid sleep on a sofa for years?!
11. So Angel has been a christian for TWO months, according to the book. Except this makes NO sense, whatsoever. First, she's raised by two women who are Christians - Grandma is quoting scripture over her breakfast griddle. If she's as close to her mom and grandma as they portray her to be, she would've shared their faith. And on top of that, her best friend and roommate is a Christian - not just a lifelong Christian, but she's working on her MASTERS at Moody Bible Institute. There is NO WAY Angel only came to the Lord two months ago. Not when everyone she loves and values have faith. She would have that same faith. It. Makes. No. Sense. Not at all.
I... really wanted to throw this thing against the wall more times than I can mention. The thing was begging me to give it one star. The *ONLY* thing that saved it was the decent resolution at the end. I can give it a star for the ending, but getting there was MISERY, both because of the ridiculous catastrophe of a story *and* the bad story-telling.
Will not be keeping this one.
Read
July 25, 2016Angel Cholewinski's pickup broke down on her way home from Chicago to Galena. She lived with her mother and grandmother there. Her mother had never married and she didn't have any idea who her father was. Wade Ramsey and his sister Taylor stopped and offered Angel a ride home. She accepted even though she had been warned not accept rides from strangers. She felt it was safe to accept the ride since Wade had his 15 yr. old sister with him.
Angel had a party planning business, Pleasant Surprises, in Chicago but it wasn't doing so well. She had accepted Christ as her savior and had received a lot of cancellations for parties that she backed out on doing because she felt they were less than honorable to God.
While traveling with Wade and Taylor, she told them what she did for a living and accepted a job to plan an anniversary party for his parents. Taylor wasn't getting along with her parents and their parents weren't getting along too well either. Taylor had come to live with Wade for a while to give her parents a break and some time to work on their problems. They seemed to be fighting a lot.
Angel went out to eat one night and saw a previous co-worker, Matt Peterson. She was still angry with him for costing her a job when she was younger. While employed, she often worked late off the clock and had someone clock her in if she were to show up late. Matt had complained about the practice and that had cost her the job. Matt was choking and she used the Heimlich maneuver on him and dislodged what was stuck in his throat so he could breathe. He came by to thank her the next day.
Angel had a party scheduled for a recently suspended linebacker for the Chicago Bears and one of her employees was supposed to have hired a girl band for the event and instead had hired some high school cheerleaders. One of them was served alcohol and was involved in a serious car accident and was hospitalized. The girl ended up being OK but Angel's company was involved and looked to be blamed. Angel was very upset and was afraid of losing everything she had worked for in building up her company. She was charged and a court date was set.
She was very much interested in Wade and he continued to call and offer her support. Matt was also calling her and trying to help her in his way. He offered Angel a ride back into Chicago because her truck was still in the shop. He owned a restaurant close to where Angel's business was located and offered to help work with Angel and take over some of the parties that she had refused to work due to her change in attitude after accepting Christ. Angel was hesitant to turn over the business to Matt stating that he needed to not do the parties either.
Wade's sister also had asked Angel for employment. Wade found out and told Angel that Taylor had been in trouble lately and didn't think she would be a good fit for her. Angel suggested that Taylor needed work and that it would be good for her. Wade wasn't so sure. Angel went ahead and offered to let her work for Pleasant Surprises on the weekends she was in Chicago with her parents. Wade also asked Angel for a date since he was coming into Chicago over the weekend and Angel accepted.
Angel let Wade drive her back to Galena to pick up her truck and they ate breakfast at her house. Taylor had been keeping Angel's dog and she brought her back to Angel. Angel went to a picnic with Wade with the group of teachers that he worked with in town. The picnic was at the home of the school principle, Steven. He found out what Angel did for a living and asked if she would consider preparing a fund raiser for a local mission. They ended the day with a walk. Her and Wade had only known each other for just over a week and were totally taken with each other. Angel wondered where they would be if the business went under or if she ended up in jail. Wade told her that he would still try to get to know her better.
Matt had redesigned the website for Pleasant Surprises. Angel was satisfied with all of the work with the exception of the button that read 'Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties'. Matt told Angel that information would go directly to him to work on. They were now working together with Matt's Place handling all the catering for Pleasant Surprises events. Angel told Wade that she had decided to work with Wade and to let him handle the parties that she didn't want to. Wade wasn't happy about the merger and told Angel that he felt she was making a compromise that might be good for Wade and his business but he didn't think it was a good decision for her.
Wade told Angel that at ten he wanted a baby sister like a friend of his had gotten. His parents then started looking at adopting a child and found Taylor in Russia. He felt that she was a burden to his parents with her ADD. He blamed himself for them taking on the responsibility of having her and that was why he kept her when he could.
Angel found out that Wade was working with Chuck, the guy who had hired the cheerleaders and she had fired. She went to see Matt because he wasn't answering his phone. She told Matt that she wouldn't be working with him.
Taylor went to work with Angel and the deejay working the event gave Taylor alcohol. She ended up drunk and she called Wade to tell him. Wade came and picked up Taylor but blamed Angel. In the morning, Wade went for a run and when he came home Taylor told Wade that he had no right blaming Angel for what she had done to herself. Angel couldn't sleep and knew that she wouldn't be seeing Wade anymore. She had a real problem with eating her problems away and she started eating. She felt guilty about that and ended up throwing the tiramisu away that she was binging on.
Taylor sent Angel a text the next day asking if she could call her at noon. Angel went to her office and waited for the call. Taylor had been in touch with some of the cheerleaders from the past party and when they found out that Taylor had gotten drunk, asked her if she had also gotten the alcohol from Gary. Angel called her lawyer because it wasn't a Pleasant Surprises employee that had gotten the girls drunk at the party, it had been Gary. Gary was arrested and he was quick to point the finger at Chuck having been behind what happened. Chuck wanted Angel to sell her business to him. She refused so he decided to start his own business and discredit hers.
Wade ran in the Chicago marathon every year and Angel hadn't heard from him. Angel watched the Marathon every year with her mother and made plans to watch it again this year. Wade came to town with Steven and ran into Angel with her family the day before the race. He asked Angel if she would forgive him for blaming her for Taylor's bad decision. She accepted the apology. Angel was waiting for Wade at the end of the race.
Some time later, Steven had called Angel asking her some personal questions and to discuss the fund raiser. The fund raiser went off nicely and it was suggested that maybe her company would do more fund raisers in the future. At the end of the fund raiser, Wade asked Angel to marry him and she said yes.
Angel's mother told her that she needed to talk to her. She then confessed to Angel that when she was younger, she had fallen in love with an English teacher and gotten pregnant. She moved to California to have the baby and stayed there for three years before returning home. She had never told her father about the baby. It turned out that Steven had asked enough questions to figure out that he was her father. Angel asked him if he would give her away at her wedding and he agreed.
Angel and Wade were married. She wore a size 14 dress rather than the size 10 that she wanted but she was thankful that it didn't bother Wade at all. He loved her for who she was.
Angel had a party planning business, Pleasant Surprises, in Chicago but it wasn't doing so well. She had accepted Christ as her savior and had received a lot of cancellations for parties that she backed out on doing because she felt they were less than honorable to God.
While traveling with Wade and Taylor, she told them what she did for a living and accepted a job to plan an anniversary party for his parents. Taylor wasn't getting along with her parents and their parents weren't getting along too well either. Taylor had come to live with Wade for a while to give her parents a break and some time to work on their problems. They seemed to be fighting a lot.
Angel went out to eat one night and saw a previous co-worker, Matt Peterson. She was still angry with him for costing her a job when she was younger. While employed, she often worked late off the clock and had someone clock her in if she were to show up late. Matt had complained about the practice and that had cost her the job. Matt was choking and she used the Heimlich maneuver on him and dislodged what was stuck in his throat so he could breathe. He came by to thank her the next day.
Angel had a party scheduled for a recently suspended linebacker for the Chicago Bears and one of her employees was supposed to have hired a girl band for the event and instead had hired some high school cheerleaders. One of them was served alcohol and was involved in a serious car accident and was hospitalized. The girl ended up being OK but Angel's company was involved and looked to be blamed. Angel was very upset and was afraid of losing everything she had worked for in building up her company. She was charged and a court date was set.
She was very much interested in Wade and he continued to call and offer her support. Matt was also calling her and trying to help her in his way. He offered Angel a ride back into Chicago because her truck was still in the shop. He owned a restaurant close to where Angel's business was located and offered to help work with Angel and take over some of the parties that she had refused to work due to her change in attitude after accepting Christ. Angel was hesitant to turn over the business to Matt stating that he needed to not do the parties either.
Wade's sister also had asked Angel for employment. Wade found out and told Angel that Taylor had been in trouble lately and didn't think she would be a good fit for her. Angel suggested that Taylor needed work and that it would be good for her. Wade wasn't so sure. Angel went ahead and offered to let her work for Pleasant Surprises on the weekends she was in Chicago with her parents. Wade also asked Angel for a date since he was coming into Chicago over the weekend and Angel accepted.
Angel let Wade drive her back to Galena to pick up her truck and they ate breakfast at her house. Taylor had been keeping Angel's dog and she brought her back to Angel. Angel went to a picnic with Wade with the group of teachers that he worked with in town. The picnic was at the home of the school principle, Steven. He found out what Angel did for a living and asked if she would consider preparing a fund raiser for a local mission. They ended the day with a walk. Her and Wade had only known each other for just over a week and were totally taken with each other. Angel wondered where they would be if the business went under or if she ended up in jail. Wade told her that he would still try to get to know her better.
Matt had redesigned the website for Pleasant Surprises. Angel was satisfied with all of the work with the exception of the button that read 'Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties'. Matt told Angel that information would go directly to him to work on. They were now working together with Matt's Place handling all the catering for Pleasant Surprises events. Angel told Wade that she had decided to work with Wade and to let him handle the parties that she didn't want to. Wade wasn't happy about the merger and told Angel that he felt she was making a compromise that might be good for Wade and his business but he didn't think it was a good decision for her.
Wade told Angel that at ten he wanted a baby sister like a friend of his had gotten. His parents then started looking at adopting a child and found Taylor in Russia. He felt that she was a burden to his parents with her ADD. He blamed himself for them taking on the responsibility of having her and that was why he kept her when he could.
Angel found out that Wade was working with Chuck, the guy who had hired the cheerleaders and she had fired. She went to see Matt because he wasn't answering his phone. She told Matt that she wouldn't be working with him.
Taylor went to work with Angel and the deejay working the event gave Taylor alcohol. She ended up drunk and she called Wade to tell him. Wade came and picked up Taylor but blamed Angel. In the morning, Wade went for a run and when he came home Taylor told Wade that he had no right blaming Angel for what she had done to herself. Angel couldn't sleep and knew that she wouldn't be seeing Wade anymore. She had a real problem with eating her problems away and she started eating. She felt guilty about that and ended up throwing the tiramisu away that she was binging on.
Taylor sent Angel a text the next day asking if she could call her at noon. Angel went to her office and waited for the call. Taylor had been in touch with some of the cheerleaders from the past party and when they found out that Taylor had gotten drunk, asked her if she had also gotten the alcohol from Gary. Angel called her lawyer because it wasn't a Pleasant Surprises employee that had gotten the girls drunk at the party, it had been Gary. Gary was arrested and he was quick to point the finger at Chuck having been behind what happened. Chuck wanted Angel to sell her business to him. She refused so he decided to start his own business and discredit hers.
Wade ran in the Chicago marathon every year and Angel hadn't heard from him. Angel watched the Marathon every year with her mother and made plans to watch it again this year. Wade came to town with Steven and ran into Angel with her family the day before the race. He asked Angel if she would forgive him for blaming her for Taylor's bad decision. She accepted the apology. Angel was waiting for Wade at the end of the race.
Some time later, Steven had called Angel asking her some personal questions and to discuss the fund raiser. The fund raiser went off nicely and it was suggested that maybe her company would do more fund raisers in the future. At the end of the fund raiser, Wade asked Angel to marry him and she said yes.
Angel's mother told her that she needed to talk to her. She then confessed to Angel that when she was younger, she had fallen in love with an English teacher and gotten pregnant. She moved to California to have the baby and stayed there for three years before returning home. She had never told her father about the baby. It turned out that Steven had asked enough questions to figure out that he was her father. Angel asked him if he would give her away at her wedding and he agreed.
Angel and Wade were married. She wore a size 14 dress rather than the size 10 that she wanted but she was thankful that it didn't bother Wade at all. He loved her for who she was.
January 9, 2019
It was a fun book, and it kept me engaged. I felt like there was a little too much that went wrong. And it’s a Christian romance, but I felt like the romantic relationship progressed a little too quickly. Also, not a huge fan of the surprise reveal at the end (no spoilers).
April 1, 2022
Just a so so book for me. I found it a little slow.
September 10, 2015
After becoming a recent Christian, Angel decided to change her party planning policies to convey her new beliefs. Stuck on the side of the road, a passerby Wade couldn't leave her and strikes up a friendship as he takes her home. Wade witnesses the aftermath of an employee of Angel's being fired and his revenge upon her. The story has a lot of humor and touching parts. I enjoyed it and wondered how Angel was going to get out of the predicaments she was in.
March 12, 2011
This book was given to the office staff where I work from one of the authors. It's part of a set of three books. Christian romance is the genre. It was a cute story and yes, a bit romantic. Very quick read, perfect for something to do on an airplane or at the beach.
October 24, 2010
It was a quick read with not as much substance as most of the hearsong books have. There was a bit of mystery but wasn't really a mystery.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews