The Wedding Favor: A Save the Date Novel

I have to admit - I purchased this book by accident with my one click settings - but really enjoyed it! Loved the every cocky Ty and really strong Vicky!

I just totally enjoyed this book. It has complex characters, family dymanics, past ghosts, romance, hot steamy scenes, tender moments, and humor. The author does more than a sufficient job in developing the characters. She gives you an insight into their past, so you can totally understand their actions and feelings in this story.When the story starts, you can just feel the deep tension between the two main characters, Victoria and Tyrell.Victoria has many sides to her personality- an intelligent,snooty, uptight attorney,or an innocent, yet very sexy blond that is also a smartie-pants, or an aspiring actress working as a barista or a child-like woman that can never please her mother/boss, known as Cruella de Vil. I just fell "in like" with Vicky.Tyrell is a complex man- a Texan Cattle Rancher, and a grieving Widower that is still very bitter over the death of his wife by a drunk driver years ago, and a quick-temper hot-head, seductive cowboy with Texas drawl that could melt even a granny's panties, and a college professor, that is a very loyal friend. I just loved Ty!This story takes you from a courtroom in Texas, to a sexual tense flight over the Atlantic, to a Castle in France, and back to a ranch in Texas, and a college campus in NYC. It also takes your emotions all over the chart, while at times being down-right hilarious. I just loved the bantering between Vicky and Ty, as it was classic,with great one-liners. My favorite is the one about "Aren't you suppose to call a doctor if it lasts more than four hours?"Sure there are a couple of scenes that are just too silly and not all that realistic. The book also lost a little of its excitement after they leave France. Yet, that is true in real-life, once you return from a vacation, life can seem dull. But the author, picks up the volume with a few twists here and there.The cast of secondard characters are so entertaining. Lets see we have:The Bride, Isabelle- Ty's former lover and now his best friend.(Ty and Isabelle's past relationship would make a good novella,)The Groom, Matt- Vicky's protective brother.The mother of the Groom, Adrianna- aka "Cruella de Vil", is of course, Vicky's mother, as well as a partner at the firm that employs Vicky.The Ex-Boyfriend, Winston/Winnie- he is Vicky's cheating, jealous, ex.Add in a big-boobed stripper, a horney bestman, a celebrity couple, a loyal BBF, a theater troupe,a straight-up ranch foreman and a lonely neighbor, and you have a stayed up too late night, since you can not put the book down.I am looking forward to Vicky's friend story in the next book in this series, The Wedding Vows.

The second book in the Save the Date series.NOTE: This review might be considered as having SPOILERS. While I don't give much details away I do go over some parts of the story that might be considered as spoilers.Tyrell Brown lost his wife 7 years ago when she got hit by a drunk driver. Now the trial is almost over and while he doesn't feel any better since nothing will bring back Lissa at least he won't have to see the pretty but cold hearted attorney for the defense (better known to him as the "Bitch on Wheels") ever again. When the trial ends and he jumps into a plane to Paris, France for his best friend's wedding he's planning on a carefree mini vacation where he will be able to have some fun with some girls and not think about all that's tormenting him. But fate will throw a big curve to his plans and nothing will ever be as planned from this day forward.Victoria Westin is a woman with many insecurities. Never being enough to please her mother and having her cheating ex blame her for him banging her Secretary on her own desk can make you even worse. She has a hard mask on all the time and she's gotten so good at it that no one even realizes how truly scared and lonely she really is. Her mother set her up for failure with a trial that was a sure loss no matter what anyone did. What she hated the most was having to tear down a grieving man just to make sure that when he won they knew she did the best anyone could and the appeal wouldn't stick. Now she's on her way to her brother's wedding in Ambrose, France. But as fate will have it she'll have to deal with more than what she bargained for when the person sitting next to her on the plane is none other than the man she tore to shreds in court, Tyrell Brown. And he hates her guts, that much is clear on his face.Tyrell is a force of nature but nothing can stop fate when it wants something. What began after a few drinks on an overseas flight will be the beginning of a rollercoaster ride for them both. Finding out that they're in the same wedding party was just aggravating for Tyrell so getting ready for the worst they both agree to pretend to flirt for the sake of the bride and groom which are having a try at matching. The feelings they have for each other might not be the best but as they're forced to spend time together they start to see right into one another's facades to the real person inside. But what happens in France should stay in France.... right?Ty thought he'd be fine after the wedding and everything that went down with Vicky, after all he still loves his late wife Lissa. Then why can't he stop thinking about her, about what a dick he was to her after all that happened during the weekend?Vicky's heart is broken and all the yoga and meditation aren't working. Now that she lost everything in her life she must regroup and think about what to do with her life. She's always tried to please her mother, now it's time to think about herself. She gained so much in her trip to France. Even while she lost her heart she found herself, her own voice and now nothing can stop her. She'll stay away from men.... or so she thinks until Mr. Force of Nature shows up in NY and throws a big wrench in her plans to ignore him.I loved the whole story, the characters and the scenery. Vicky had insecurities but she kept Tyrell on his toes, giving as much as she was getting. He made her so angry at times on purpose but she retaliated with wit and that's why he did it. It was very entertaining, there were no boring moments.I can't wait for the next book in the series "The Wedding Vow."

Along with self-publishing came the demise of some old practices. Some of these, like planning how many sex scenes need to occur at which time, have been changed for the better. Some have not. The one thing this book has is a practice I really enjoy, the slow build-up.Ms. Connelly's writing is wonderful. The action is tight, the characters were well-developed and the dialogue was natural. The secondary characters felt real, giving credence to the story. But what I enjoyed the most was Ms. Connelly's use of the first three chapters to build up the story.By the time I finished the third chapter, I was so hooked I couldn't begin to think of putting down the book.Tyrell was perfect, arrogant, funny and human. His transformation was a real treat to watch. And sexy...mmm.Vickie was his perfect foil, clever, driven and dying to spread her wings, she matches his banter tit-for-tat. Leave it to Tyrell to push and push until she discovered her inner strength.And we can't forget Cruella de Ville!I can't wait to read more by this brilliant writer.