Slightly Married

Slightly #4

by Wendy Markham

All Tracey wants is to get hitched without a hitch—but as the calendarmarches toward her late-October wedding date, suddenly she and herfiancé can't agree on anything. From where to get married (New York Cityor Buffalo?) to how many attendants they're going to have (she's alreadyasked eight; he was thinking of just a best man). Meanwhile, Tracey's friendsare caught up in their own dramas. There's newlywed Raphael, who just hadhis gay wedding; newly pregnant Kate, who is trying to adjust to impendingmotherhood; and Buckley, who is acting inexplicably strange. When Buckleyunexpectedly breaks off his own engagement, all but leaving his fiancé atthe altar, Tracey is stunned to learn that he might be in love with her.

With plenty of snafus to keep them distracted, is being Slightly Married theroad to happily ever after, after all?

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, Adult

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than seventy published novels and has sold more than three million books worldwide. Under her own name, Wendy achieved New York Times bestselling status with her single title psychological suspense novels. Those novels and the women's fiction she writes under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also frequently appeared on the USA Today, Barnes and Noble Top Ten, and Bookscan bestseller lists.

Wendy grew up in a large, close-knit family in rural southwestern New York State and decided she wanted to become an author while in third grade. She worked in two independent bookstores during college, then moved alone to New York City at 21 to pursue her dream. After stints as a book editor for a Manhattan publishing house and an account coordinator for a major advertising agency, she sold her first novel, the supernatural young adult thriller SUMMER LIGHTNING. Early in her writing career, she published in various genres including suspense, horror, historical and contemporary romance, television and movie tie-in, and biography. She also co-authored a mystery series with former New York City mayor Ed Koch and has ghost-written for a number of bestselling authors and celebrities.

Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008 and is serving a three-year appointment to the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Reviews

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I just really enjoy this series because they are quick, mindless and fun books with a main character that is equal parts annoying and charming. In this one, Tracey and Jack are engaged and wedding planning. There is a lot of conversation around where they'll have it (upstate in her hometown, in the city, or in his hometown with his wealthy family), how many people they'll have in the bridal party (is 189 too many!?) and how it'll all go down. There is a little bit of conversation around moving to the suburbs, but thats not a big piece of this book. The biggest conflict is within Tracey as she tries to decide is Jack REALLY the one!? What about best friend Buckley? Are we ready to shut that door permanently? Overall super sweet and I can't wait to read the last one!

[Taysha Boehmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I waited until I finished all 4 books before I reviewed this. And now I wish I hadn't bothered. The main character is whiny, forgets constantly that she is in control of her own life, and just generally unlikeable.

[Sarah Hadd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to this for nostalgia purposes. I read the first 3 books in this series 10 years ago and I was obsessed. I still have my copies with all the underlined sentences and highlights where I thought they were hilarious and relatable.
Then I guess I just grew up faster than Tracey. I found her unrealistic expectations super annoying. Her hemming and hawing over feelings for another guy, I just didn’t care. And really, why all these years later was she still talking about Will, her loser ex who she dumped in the first book?! It wasn’t a terrible read - just disappointed that I wasn’t launched into some happy nostalgia from my younger years!

[Hailey Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

the last five chapters were my favorite out of the entire book. definitely got a bit of romance that i was longing for.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review taken from Blog Post (#69) in January 2011, after borrowing from local library.

Colonel Lord Aidan Bedwyn's life was saved to years previously by a young officer, but Percy Morris has never intended to call in that particular debt.

However, having taken a dreadful hit during another battle, Aidan found him just before he lost his fight to survive. Percy called in the debt, and asked him to take the news to his sister personally, that she should not mourn him, or wear black .... and more importantly he made Colonel Lord Aidan promise to protect her no matter what, he was quite definite about that ..... NO MATTER WHAT.

Therefore a few months later when Aidan returned home to England's green and pleasant lands on leave he travelled first to Ringwood Manor to carry out Percy's last wish.

Once there he finds that Eve Morris wants not part of his protection. Eventually he comes to realise that Percy's no matter what meant, when he discovers that she will be left destitute - along with all the various lame ducks by way of children, ex convicts, village idiots and injured ex-solders she has given homes to.

Aidan offers her a straightforward business arrangement - a marriage of convenience .... she will have the protection of his name, and he will go back to his duties as an cavalry commander. They have, however, failed to recognise that there is an ever growing, and unwilling attraction between them.

Will they ever be more than just slightly married in this poignant tale of two socially diverse people.

It was nice to see that Eve made a tiny chip in the ice exterior of Wulfric, Duke of Bewcastle along they way. A 3.5**** star read, but read it you must to piece together the whole of the mighty Bedwyn dynasty.

[Vicki M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is seriously THE BEST SERIES I have ever read! I highly recommend it to everyone! I love the characters, especially Tracey. I could relate to her on so many levels it was scary, at some points I was convinced author Wendy Markham had somehow gotten into my brain and wrote about my life! I breezed through the book and was eager to start the next, and the next - by the time Suburban ended I was so sad to have to say goodbye to the storyline and characters! I still say there needs to be a final book Slightly Parents or Slightly Pregnant ... so far no luck!!! :-)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 4th book to the series! I hope that she writes a 5th... Slightly Pregnant would be good!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was a lot better than the third book in the series, Slightly Engaged. Those who have read Slightly Single and Slightly Settled will find this book right on par with them. I can't get enough of Tracey's friend Raphael--he is such a hoot! I was kind of depressed he didn't show up until about halfway through the book (he was on his honeymoon for a good part of the book and MIA until later on). Wait until you read about him and Tracey's grandmother--too funny! I know he is not the main character in the book, but I still missed him. Overall I enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read the last book in the series.

This review is also posted on the LibraryThing website.

[Michele Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack has finally popped the question and this starts Tracey on an emotional roller coaster. She may, or may not, still have feelings for her friend Buckley. Her mother expects her to have the reception in the church hall and include her cousins in the ceremony, even though she already has 8 bridesmaids to deal with. We are kept guessing until the end how it all turns out.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy non thought provoking book - perfect for the virus.

I basically read it in one sitting and it was predictable but cute chick lit.

Yes it had a few details that I wondered why they were brought up but overall it was a sweet read.

[Farha Hasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this in the middle of the series. Slightly Married, is a fun, heart-warming trek down the aisle. I guess it's true, if you can plan a wedding, you can plan for a natural disaster.
@farha_writing

[Andreap · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very so so for me. I don't know if this is part of a series of books, as this says #4 on here. For me it was just ok, and to be honest there were too many characters to keep track of.

[Elusive · Rating 2 out of 5]

In ‘Slightly Married’, Tracey is busy with her wedding plans. In the beginning, she’s basking in the joy of being a newly engaged woman to the man she loves but soon she realizes that planning a wedding involves a lot of time and consideration for details.

Tracey is the sort of character who deteriorates with every book, hence causing you to dislike her intensely. After being tortured by her endless expectations of a proposal from Jack in the previous book, this book proves that Tracey is never ever happy. She finally has a ring on her finger and of course, it’s time to find something else to complain about, such as how stressful planning her wedding is, how stressful her job is, how busy she is with everything, how she wishes Jack would express himself more, how she still has eyes for her friend Buckley despite being engaged, how her friends seem to be distancing themselves from her ever since she’d gotten the promotion she coveted etc.

In the first place, it’s Tracey’s fault. She could have taken her time to plan the wedding but no, she gets right into the heart of it and it’s all because she insists on the third Saturday of October and no, she can’t wait till the next year. Fine, but don’t whine about it then. Plus, Jack didn’t give her hell for it and it felt more like her wedding as opposed to their wedding. I thought that was incredibly selfish of Tracey, not to consider what Jack might want. Even when he gave his ideas such as having only 50 people at the wedding, she went ahead with 300. Seriously? They’re struggling financially yet she refuses to be practical.

This book could have been a chance for the author to redeem Tracey and turn this engagement into a heartwarming story filled with hilarious and touching moments. Instead, the whole wedding felt like a pain in the ass. It’s like Tracey is just rushing and god knows for what. As for her “unresolved business” with Buckley, it’s ridiculous at this point after the author established the fact that they’re friends and she’s sure that Jack is The One. This should have been addressed two books ago. There’s no point drawing it out and concluding it too nicely to be realistic.

There was too much on Tracey’s (extended) family as well. I didn’t care about any of them. It would have been nicer to focus on Tracey and Jack and how they work together to achieve the wedding of their dreams (with some compromises). Unfortunately, it just felt like a boring mess and I’m amazed that it took Tracey 4 books to finally get rid of Will in her life. She takes forever to learn anything and not in an adorable way either.

Overall, this could have been a decent book if it had been light-hearted and jolly.

[Alicia Prevost · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I sped read through this one.

This series is...the writing keeps getting better every book. The first one I found to be rather roughly written but this one the writing it a lot better.

I just...can't stand Tracey at this point.

I mean, I get it. Your wedding is a big deal. But Tracey doesn't seem to care at all what Jack wants and then cares too much about what everyone else wants. I mean, she plans it all with hardly asking her future husband if he has any preferences and then the second a random person butts in, she's more than happy to just give in. It's annoying.

Not to mention, she was so whiny about the whole thing. I get that it's a stressful time but dear god, if she was my friend I'd just slap her. There's no reason to get that worked up.

Also the whole Buckley thing...I get it. I get having that one that it never worked out with, the timing was always off and is a perpetual what if. I have one (or had, I guess). And I guess when one is getting married they'd wonder what the hell could have been especially when he's admitting he still has feelings but...come on! You're about to marry someone else and you're this torn up about a guy that never was? Get over yourself. That's all I kept thinking. Get over yourself and get over all the crap and just...give up.

Getting married is supposed to be a happy time and there was no happiness here, just a complete mess and not an endearing one.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely cute...another fun, easy chick lit read. I finished it in one day, as I did the rest of the books in this series. However, I found that this book wasn't as compelling as the others in the series--it was 200+ pages of wedding planning. I planned my own wedding 2 years ago (today actually!) and I could sum it up in 10 pages...I didn't need to read 200. There were certainly some things that I could relate to in this book--such as the fact that Tracey wonders if Jack really is the right man or if she's just wanting to get married, in addition the idea that she thinks about the ones who got away, or the fact that she realizes that this is it--marriage, and how it changes your relationship from all romance and flowers to reality (such as dirty socks, less sex and more squabbles). But, in the end, she figures out what she wants and is happy with her decision. I'm looking forward to reading Slightly Suburban, but I have to wait for my Amazon shipment for that one...so, that will be the only one that I haven't read in succession!

[Francesca Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm. This one was better than Slightly Engaged, but only moderately.

I've never had a big wedding - but they definitely seem like more pain than their worth. So I can't say for sure, but some of this seems like Tracey is just addicted to stress and drama and making shit up to be upset over. And getting upset because your friends still have lives while you're planning your wedding?! Pathetic, Tracey.

I did just say that this one was better and then I rip on it. Ha. It is better! There was a lot less preoccupation on whether or not she was a worthy woman. Instead she focused her energy into manipulating Jack into doing what she wanted. Which, maybe isn't that much better....

All I can really say is I'm glad that Tracey found her happy ending - I just wish she could have been a stronger woman while she did it.

Check out more of my reviews at http://whatabookbitch.blogspot.ca

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the “Slightly” series by Markham. Tracy has been on a chick lit journey through a wrong relationship, weight loss, job promotion and getting engaged. She is a worrier and this book is basically about her worrying if she should marry her fiancé or if she really isn’t meant to be with her best friend Buckley. I was very annoyed with the first half (oh, the whining) but the second half was quite entertaining. I would recommend this to the chick lit audience who doesn’t need something really well written such as Jennifer Weiner.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

This series is unusual. Truthfully it's like reading the Cliff Notes of a chick lit novel. Most of the writing is inner monologue, and just as you get some actual interaction between characters leading up to an event, such as a dinner party, wedding, night out etc, it skips to the next day or week or whatever. You get another inner monologue from Tracey that briefly describes what happened. Although the premise of this series is a typical cute chick-lit, the execution is completely skim worthy... and by the 3rd and 4th book that's exactly what I did.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't thrilled with the way this one started out, but by the end I was a definitely a fan. I had the same issues with this one as I did with Slightly Engaged--I thought the main character was a little overbearing, unrealistic and whiny. By the end though, she became more grounded (more like her original character in the first two books), and made the book much more enjoyable to me. Excited now to finish up the series.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have figured out the "Slightly" formula and it only took 4 books. You spend the whole book holding on to an event you know will happen. Its even in the title. It is still an enjoyable read but in this book I felt that it was too similar to the last book, Slightly Engaged.

Tracey is finally engaged and the whole story is the build up to the wedding and just for fun there is a twist with Buckley that I'm not going into .

[Elissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was slightly better than the last, but not by much. I feel like the author's intent was to make this character relatable, but in the end her indecisiveness and insecurities overwhelm her as a character. For every step forward Tracey takes, she takes about 50 backward. I wanted her character to develop over time but instead she's fallen really flat. I'll finish out the series, but I'm not loving it.

[Dominica · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of the "Slightly" books are hysterical. Their cutesy and girly but sometimes you need an easy read. These books really try to encompass the crazy thoughts that go through our twenty somthing minds when we're single/engaged/married. If you're looking for a great read on the beach, this one's it.

[Bridgit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll preface by saying that I am not a fan of Chick Lit. That said, I thought the first half of the book was horrible. The main character was whiny and annoying and generally a bitch to her fiance. It got a bit better by the end, but in no way was she a likeable character. I also find it so completely self-absorbed and selfish how obsessed she became with wedding planning. Wouldnt recommend.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This next installment in Tracey’s life does not disappoint. Following her through her wedding planning, which is always more hectic than previously anticipated, along with her best male friend canceling his own wedding because of his feelings for her, you feel like you’re right there with her. Once again, another book I couldn’t put down and I am slightly sad that the next book is the last.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracey Spadolini is getting married...finally! Unfortunately, she is still second guessing her relationships and herself. This latest addition in the Slightly series is an excellent, lightning fast read.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I read it on my honeymoon - I was looking for something light and fun. It was a little annoying at first, but by the end I really enjoyed the characters and thought it was a fun book about looking ahead instead of looking at the past.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! It was a great way to wrap up the series, and a quick fun read. I loved following Tracey through all of her wedding planning, and everything seemed very realistic. I was sucked in from the start and never wanted to put it down.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this entry in the series was better than the previous Slightly Engaged. I found it more real and I liked how it ended. Can't say much else without a spoiler. Tracey seemed like she could have been me or one of my friends. Her family added in some good laughs.

[Jane't Hamerter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was so fun. I liked how the main character was always trying to get more from her fiancee. She wanted more words and he had very little few. I liked at the end how she found out that his little words meant much more than she could have ever expected. This book was so cute.

[Celeste Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book! Turns out there are actually 4 in the series now. I keep finding out there are more and more. Unfortunately, the other two aren't available at my library right now --- so I'll just have to read something else until they come in. Bummer.