Saturday, April 10, 2010

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts


My thoughts:
This is the second book in Nora Roberts Bride Quartet (the first was Vision in White). The third book comes out at the end of this month on the 27th. It was so nice to read a self selected book, lately I’ve been mostly reading books for review and, while I have enjoyed almost all of them, there is just something about picking a book to read just because I felt like it right now. Today it is back to some review books but I am trying to be more selective so I can do more of my own selecting!


I read the first book in this series in the fall, it focused on one of four women who have been friends since they were children. Together they have built a business called Vows which handles all aspects of planning and having a wedding. They live and work on the estate which was part of Parker Brown’s family with each woman having an integral part in planning wonderful weddings. Mac is the photographer who was featured in the first book when she met and fell in love with a history professor. Emma is the florist who works wonders with bouquets, outside plants and indoor decorating with swags and flowers. She and Jack have been friends for years and Jack is the architect who has planned much of the renovating that has been done on the grounds of the Brown estate to convert the carriage house and guest house into Mac and Emma’s homes and work spaces. Parker and Laurel live in wings of the main house above the areas used for weddings.


Jack and Emma have been attracted to each other for years but never acted on it due to the close friendships they share within their group and some misperception of prior romances. They have great chemistry and a lot of fun together but run into some snags along the way, like Jack’s reluctance to sharing his personal space.

It was nice to revisit Mac and Carter to see how their relationship is progressing and to see Jack and Emma work through the early kinks of getting to know each other romantically. The business the four women run planning and holding weddings was so inspiring, wouldn’t it be lovely to have a job you loved working with your best friends and making people happy with a very special occasion?
Since I also reviewed Vision in White in October her is the link to the review if you are thinking about starting the series: http://bookbookseverywhere.blogspot.com/2009/10/vision-in-white-by-nora-roberts.html

Product Details
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback, 358pp
Sales Rank: 413
Series: Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet Series, #2
ISBN-13: 9780425230077
ISBN: 0425230074

Synopsis
Since she was a little girl, Emma Grant has always loved romance. So it’s really no surprise that she has found her calling as a wedding florist. She gets to play with flowers every day and work with her three best friends in the process. She couldn’t ask for a better job.

And on the surface, Emma’s love life seems to be thriving. Slim and sultry, she brings color into every room she enters, just like the arrangements she creates. Men swarm around her, yet she still hasn’t found Mr. Right. And the last place she’s looking is right under her nose.

But that’s just where Jack Cooke is. He’s been best friends with Parker’s brother for years, which makes him practically family. The architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. And when Emma returns his passion — kiss for blistering kiss—things start to get complicated at Vows.

Jack has never been big on commitment. Emma yearns for a lifelong love affair. If the two are to find common ground, they must trust in their history — and in their hearts…

2 comments:

  1. I almost bought this the other day! Her books are usually pretty good. Glad you posted this!

    Kelly

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  2. Part 3 comes out at the end of the month and I'm on hold for it -- am wondering if I'll be able to wait till I get to the front of the line or if I'll give in and buy it! I love this series. I don't know why I love it so much more than some of her other recent stuff. Maybe because there's no paranormal junk in it: just a good old-fashioned love story. I'll tell you, though, I have an incredible amount of respect for florists after this one! (As far as that goes, my respect for Nora Roberts has grown, too -- she puts an incredible amount of research into these things!)

    Just a great, satisfying story.

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