Daisy Bellamy was fortunate to be surrounded by people she loved and who loved her, yet she still searched for the great love of her life. There are times when you have to settle for safe and steady even though tempted by fiery and risky. Daisy's life seemed shaped by mistakes made over the years. Having Charlie as a teenage unwed mother was a whopper but never regretted. Charlie was the focus of all her love and her life. The fact that Logan, Charlie's biological father, turned out to be a pretty great dad who uprooted his life to spend time with his son and share parenting duties made him a central figure in her life. Logan wanted to be more than just Charlie's dad and dependable baby sitter. He wanted Daisy. As the reader, you want Daisy to find love and happiness but at the same time a part of you somehow wants to keep her separate from Logan. She appears happy with him but you wish something more for her.

Julian Gastineaux was the love of Daisy's life, the boy who added sparkle to a rather unspectacular, albeit Manhattan, life style. Julian's dare devil antics often landed him in trouble, but Daisy relished the time they spent together and the way he challenged her to step out of her comfort zone and take risks. Let's face it we don't choose who to fall in love with, if we did we'd go the easiest safest route possible -- right? So don't ask Daisy why Julian was the love of her life. She'd just shake her head in bemusement. They were the epitome of the odd couple -- the boy with dreadlocks and the uptown blond girl. Julian encouraged her to follow her dream of art photography and not just settle for being an event photographer. By capturing life's happiest moments she figured out a way to find her own. The sight of happy couples actually made her cry, in private of course as she would never let anyone see how vulnerable she really was. Daisy in turn encouraged Julian to use his talents and intelligence and focus them toward something positive. So it seemed natural that Julian would choose a life in the military. Theirs was a great friendship built on mutual trust and need which led to an enduring love that seemed destined to self-destruct. Their love was really palpable even if never consummated. And as life took a terrible turn, it certainly looked as though they were truly star crossed lovers.

Susan Wiggs takes us on an adventure with MARRYING DAISY BELLAMY, at times merry and oft times heart breaking but never dull. Like a roller coaster ride, this story takes us through some high moments and some very deep declines while keeping us involved in the lives of these people whose expectations of a life together doesn't make sense and yet keeps the optimist in all of us alive. Still another reason to love Wiggs.