Friday, September 18, 2009

Fools Rush In

Some novels transport the reader through time, either historically or futuristically. Others are based in contemporary settings. And some are so current you almost expect to run into the characters if you are in or near the city in which they reside. Such is the case with Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson. Set in Galveston, Texas as the city is rebuilding from last year's Hurricane Ike, the book is peppered with references to real landmarks, such as the historical Strand, Moody Gardens, and Seawolf Park, among others. Since Galveston is one of our favorite get-away spots, those references made the story practically jump off the pages and really added to my enjoyment. But for those in distant states for whom Galveston is only a periodic news item during hurricane season, never fear - this entertaining story is also full of wonderful characters and flavor!

And speaking of flavor, what do you suppose happens when the Bella of a passionate & noisy Italian clan meets a Texas cowboy? Mamma mia! Something's bound to be cooking, and I don't just mean the pizza and BBQ!

Twenty-nine and single, Bella Rossi has taken over the management of her family's wedding facility and bridal consulting business and immediately changes its focus from traditional to themed weddings. The only flaw is that it's less than two weeks before her first event, a Boot-Scootin' western wedding, and she still has to lasso a deejay (along with a few other minor details, such as music, food, and centerpieces). That seems to be a daunting task until she overhears a customer at her uncle's pizzeria talking to a deejay and convinces him to give her his number (the deejay's, not the customer's). After Dwayne (or Duh-wayne, as he pronounces it!) arrives and the initial meeting with her and the couple getting married takes an unexpected turn, Bella falls for him - literally, in a fainting heap at his feet.

As plans proceed and then the event itself occurs, Bella tries to find the balance between giving her all to prove her capability and relying on God to guide her steps. There are plenty of amusing - and horrifying! - mishaps along the way, as well as lots of family drama. Will Dwayne "head for the hills" or will he add a little flavor of his own to her family? And what will happen when her rowdy relatives meet Dwayne's own down-home, small-town family? This humorous and engaging tale adds sparks and gives new meaning to the term "melting pot". And it made me hungry! I look forward to Bella's next adventure as she plans a medieval-themed wedding in Swinging on a Star, due out in January.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and native Texan. An experienced wedding coordinator herself, Thompson brings the everyday drama and humor of getting married alive in her books. She lives in Texas.




Fools Rush In is available directly from the publisher, as well as Amazon and Christianbook.com.



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5 comments:

quilly said...

This one sounds fun! I am going to9 have no time to blog if I get all of these books!

Mel said...

ooooohhhhhh sounds lovely

Unknown said...

Linda, thank you SO much for the sweet review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. I think you'll like the second one, too. In that one, Aunt Rosa gets a gig with The Food Network!

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

This sounds fun! I'm going to see if I can find it on Kindle!

Xandra

Kim said...

And what about that parrot??!! This was hilarious and entertaining and just plain fun to read! I've shared my copy with the ladies in the office, and they are loving it!