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BRIDE NEEDS GROOM

Bride Needs Groom, October 2005
Chickalini #1
by Wendy Markham

Warner Forever
Featuring: Dominick Chickalini; Mia Calogera
368 pages
ISBN: 0446614548
EAN: 9780446614542
Paperback
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"Immensely entertaining storyline of self-realization - great characters, too."

Fresh Fiction Review

BRIDE NEEDS GROOM
Wendy Markham

Reviewed by Morgan Chilson
Posted September 7, 2005

Romance Chick-Lit

Mia Calogera needs a husband if she's to maintain the lifestyle to which she's currently accustomed (and it's a pretty darned nice lifestyle!) and avoid marrying the man her grandfather picks out for her. Determined to marry (though she's professed many times that she's not the marrying kind) she flies to Las Vegas to meet the man she's been chatting with online. His name is Derek and he at least shares her passion for orchids.

But on the plane ride from New York to Sin City, Mia starts thinking about sinning with her seatmate, the beautiful Dominick Chickalini. During the long ride, the two share life stories and it's clear they're two of a kind -- footloose, fancy-free, scared to death of marrying. Of course, Mia has to explain why she's wearing a full bridal ensemble and Dominick can't believe she's marrying to secure a fortune. Or, he privately admits, that he's jealous of the unknown bridegroom.

When Mia gets to Vegas and leaves Dominick, she tries to convince herself that she's romanticizing their attraction. But when she compares Derek to Dominick, well, there's just no way she can go through with her plan. Facing some of her own faults, Mia finally admits that maybe she should tell her grandfather she refuses to marry right now and if he must take all her money away, then that's the way it goes. She's an adult, she can work.

Yeah, yeah. When Derek, in a fury, drives off with her purse, Mia goes to Dominick's hotel, hoping he'll loan her money for a plane ticket home. Their overwhelming attraction leaps out, shocking them both and landing them very comfortably in bed.

And once more, Mia dons her wedding gown, this time marrying someone she's starting to care about. But can they meet each other's demanding families, adjust from their pretty self-concerned lifestyles and make a marriage work? It's going to be a close call...

I loved this book! There's some great self-realization (read that maturing) by both lead characters, and meanwhile, they're just hugely entertaining. What a fun read!

Learn more about BRIDE NEEDS GROOM

SUMMARY

Things to do before Grandpa Junie turns eighty-fiveโ€ฆand I'm disinherited:

  • Find a guy to marry (preferably a stranger of my own choosing, not Grandpa's)

  • Tell the groom it's only temporary (and platonic, naturally)

  • Tie the knot ASAP!

  • Untie the knot ASAP!
  • Queens-born-and-bred Mia Calogera needs a husband-like, yesterday. Eloping with her Internet pen pal Derek sounds like a plan. Which is why Mia's dressed in a beaded gown and white satin shoes, headed for Vegas.

    Advertising dynamo Dominic Chickalini has vowed to be the last single man standing. Then he spies the gorgeous bride-to-be in the aisle seat of the plane. The sexual sparks fly, but this woman's already spoken for. Or is she? When Mia's wedding plans go south, she makes Dom an offer that's hard to refuse. It's not like it's forever. It's not like they're even in love. So why does her heart pound at the thought of looking into his eyes and saying "I do"?

    EXCERPT

    No excerpt available.

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