Thursday, June 10, 2010

Here Come the Brides: Bed Of Roses

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts (F ROB Main & Avoca)
Reviewed by Doris

Four little girls who are inseparable and whose favorite game is “Wedding,” grow up to form Vows, the premiere wedding planning company in Greenwich, Connecticut. Each girl has unique talents to bring to Vows. Parker is the detail person who manages everything and everyone. Emmaline is the floral genius whose bouquets and arrangements are the heart of the events. Lauren’s cakes and pastries are masterpieces that defy description, and MacKensie’s photographs bring together all the elements into the “perfect day.” All four women are smart, beautiful, funny, and successful—the perfect Nora Roberts heroines. Each will be the central character in one book of the Bridal Quartet series.

Bed of Roses, the second book in the series, showcases Emma and her quest for the man who will set her spark-o-meter ablaze. What she doesn’t realize is that he is right there under her nose and has been for years.


Emma is the sweetheart every man wants. She is exotic, gorgeous, loving, giving, smart, and she loves Vows. Though the hours are long and sometimes the brides are crazy, Emma loves working with her flowers and her designs set the tone for each event. But something is missing from her life. In her heart-of-hearts she wants a man to adore and children to love as her parents have always loved her. When MacKensie becomes engaged, the hole in Emma’s heart feels just a bit bigger. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be anyone with who she feels that major “spark” she needs. At least that’s what Emma keeps telling herself as her thoughts keep coming back to Jack Cooke. A friend for ten years, Jack is a player where women are concerned. In all the time Emma has known him, Jack has shown no interest in a relationship that lasts longer than a couple of months. Besides, he is a friend of all the Vows women, best friend to Parker’s brother, and treats all the girls like his sisters. One just does not get involved with a friend. Then again, Jack is handsome, sexy as all get out, a successful architect, and the one guy who has always lurked just off the edge of Emma’s radar. When she gives in to the urge to kiss him one night, the ole spark-o-meter hits the stratosphere and Emma faces a lot of complicated choices.


Jack is caught off guard as much as Emma by the amazing chemistry between them. With major commitment issues due to his parents’ brutal divorce when he was young, Jack also knows if he hurts Emma he might as well leave town because all the Vows women and Del will be coming after him. He tries to keep things light but soon finds that Emma has stolen her way into his heart, his apartment, and his life. Then things come apart with a vengeance, and all the bad things Jack knew would happen if he hurt Emma explode around them. Will their friends choose sides? What happens if Emma leaves Vows when she receives a great job offer? Can Emma and Jack find the path they need to a future together? Come on, people, it is a Nora Roberts book, and she does not write unhappy endings. Just sit back and enjoy the journey!

"Brides Quartet":
Book One: Vision in White (F ROB Main & Avoca; SSB F ROB Main)
Book Two: Bed of roses (F ROB Main & Avoca)
Book Three: Savor the Moment (F ROB Main & Avoca; SSB F ROB Main)
Book Four: Happy Ever After (not yet published, due out in November 2010)

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