Customer Reviews

Bridal Favors

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Upon reading a book of this caliber, I regret all the 5 stars which have gone before -
Squandering spangles upon novels which have been less decorated that I might fully impress upon you, the reader, this tomes glorious worth!!

Young Evie encounters Justin first at her parents houseparty, launching her older sister. Enterprising lass that she is, upon bumping into him emerging from an older (married) ladies room she strikes a deal of silence which will leave him in her debt.

She makes other unfortunate entrances also at this houseparty, and overhears some unkind ladies disparging her looks to the extent that she feels she must be terribly ugly - golem like in fact. This instance shapes her to the point that when she seeks out Justin 10 years later, Evie has entirely lost interest in her appearance and dresses in most a most utilitarian style.

Calling upon the old IOU, Evie requests usage of Justins ancestral home, in order to host a wedding for a client. (Various strategems are imployed here, to make this necessary - Evie has taken on the family business which pads their modest income).

In a well employed change from the much travelled theme of Regency England, the story is set in late Victorian times, where the glory of nobility has tarnished somewhat and the chaperonage is not quite as strict.

Justin is soon revealed as a secret agent, and there are all sorts of comings and goings in the night which add to the atmosphere and create many an interesting byline.

The delightfully entertaining exchanges between our leads make for delicious banter, whilst the tender love making scenes ought to be an inspiration to all writers. Without being crude, the author graciously depicts wonderfully sensual moments and brings sizzle AND the butterflies to the scenes which for once I find ENHANCE the book rather than bringing the romance down.

The first Connie Brockway novel I have read, and most certainly not the last, I felt it held up to the standards set by Eloisa James, possibly surpassed a Stephanie Laurens, and was a delightful successor to Patricia Veryan and Loretta Chase.

Having most recently read Jo Beverleys My Lady Notorious which had a promising beginning only to sink a great deal with salicious raunchiness midway, Bridal Favors swims and sizzles through challenges which others fail.

kotori 2005

I just read "Bridal Favors" back to back with "McClairen's Isle: The Passionate One" - and frankly, I am amazed that the same person wrote them both. McClairen's Isle was so dark and intense; Bridal Favors is full of light and air and cheer. Brockway writes both sorts with, apparently, equal aplomb.

I totally adored Justin and Evelyn. They both stand out as individuals; Justin's glib tongue is endlessly amusing and Evelyn's determination and practicality are so poignantly woven in with her desire to please and vulnerability. They're both fundamentally good people, too, also independent and responsible.

The ensemble is just delightful. Beverly the butler, Merry the dressmaker, Stow the spymaster...there's so much quirk and wit and froth, but at the same time, the plot is never thin and Justin is a pretty believable spy.

This was a *fun* read - I smiled and laughed all through. I have to say, I am quite impressed by Brockway. I think I'm going to have to read all her other books now, too.

While I enjoyed this book and liked the characters of Evie and Justin well-enough, it probably won't end up on my keeper-shelf. I liked the spoof on espionage that seems to be a staple of historical romances right now and the characters were likable. I suppose what was missing was passion. There was never any doubt that the two characters were going to get together and I didn't quite buy that Evie was an ugly-duckling or all-consumed with failure. This book is certainly better than many I have read lately and if you are looking for a nice, gentle read this one is for you.

Justin Powell never reneges on a favor - and this fact proved propitious to wedding planner Evelyn Cummings Whyte who stumbled upon him walking out of Mrs. Underhill's bedroom covertly a decade later. Evie who now steers the business after her aunt's elopement has a client who requested the use of Justin's ancestral abbey for her conjugal venue. She desperately needs this opportunity to prove herself to the public. Unknown to her, the sedate Justin with his guise as an ornithologist is a British spy who is instructed by his mentor Beverly to expect the arrival of a diabolical machine stolen from other countries. What both of them did not expect was a even greater hoax to make Justin the bait....

Amidst the deluge of romance novels today with similar espionage plot, Bridal Favors prominently stands out refreshingly with its well-executed twists. Yet what makes Bridal Favors such an explosion of sheer joy and bliss is Ms. Brockway's creation of a subdued and complexed hero with intellectuals and her charmingly vulnerable Evie who despite her average looks fascinates with her ingenuous mix of innocence and wits. The couple evokes tender feelings and chaste romance that has long faded away from the explicit romance nowadays we have come to expect.

This frothy enchanting tale under the magnificent ensemble of secondary characters like Lady Boughton, the fashion consultant Merry and the cantankerous Beverly is whimisical with Ms. Brockway's wry humour. Though some parts of the espionage plot comes out occasionally too clever for me to hook on, it is partly because I am swept away languorously by the oddball pair to their march up the altars.

I'm delighted that Connie Brockway continues the excellence of THE BRIDAL SEASON in this second installment of the ill-fated Whyte's Wedding Planning Agency. With the same sharp, droll humor and insightful attention to social detail she exhibited in that earlier work, Brockway brings to life little over-compensating, domineering Evie and her perfect foil, Justin. The story races along involving a really decent little mystery, a wonderful cast of supporting characters, and enormous physical as well as intellectual magnetism between the leads. A fun, fun read and well worth the effort of seeking out.

Oh I Loved this book, it was a nice light read with two worthy people who fall in love. Justin and Evie were splendid together. I loved all the little things in this book that made it so great.

Justin is such a worthy hero. Smart, handsome , slightly dishevled, funny - you get the point.

Evie is just a wonderfull, insecure, sweet, smart and in love with Justin but thinking shes not pretty enough.

I love the scene where they are in the bedroom in front of the mirror and Justin is explaining how ravishing he thinks Evie is.

The the scene at the dinner party where he does not recognize her with her new look. So sweet!

This was a wonderfull book I highley recommend reading it.

This book was so much fun! The verbal sparring between Justin and Evie had me laughing out loud, as well as Justin's misogynistic, ever-suffering butler Beverly. But humor is not the only reason why I appreciate this book as much as I do. I absolutely fell in love with Justin and Evie--they are both such great characters. He is so adorably unwolfish, with his chameleon wit and ability to see beyond Evie's physical defenses. Evie is a wonderful heroine; I think many women can relate to her. She believes herself to be physically unattractive, but she has become a highly-competent, intelligent woman nevertheless through a staunch sense of honesty and strength of character. Justin was truly a hero, in that he finally forced Evie to see past her self-image, and to realize that she has worth beyond being competent and intelligent. And finally, Bubo Formosa Plurimus, Minor...that will always get me, everytime.

The characters were terrific together. Justin seemed a better match for Evelyn than Elliot was for Letty. He's a more complex character, too. While Evelyn is less original than Letty, she has charms aplenty. Justin's butler is a riot.

The spy mystery is well-done with enough red herrings to keep you guessing even though you think you know who the spy is. There are some very funny scenes, including Justin trying not to be seduced by Evelyn. The book's very sensual as well, with Justin and Evelyn setting chemical fires all over the place.

Oh did I LOOOOVE this book!! The story was fun and the setting as well, but what really got me were the characters...especially Justin!! He was so unbelievably adorable, sexy as hell and appealingly rumpled!! I just wanted to eat him up!! I loved witnessing his and Evie's exhanges..all of their delightful bantering!! This book had some fantastic dialogue..Im telling you this is going on my keepers list for sure...Girls, DONT PASS THIS ONE UP!!!

Over on one of the review sites they asked if Connie Brockway can
write such wonderful, witty dialogue and a action packed story AND have it be a great romance, too, why can't Hollywood? I agree completely. This book was wonderful! You could *see* and *hear* everything happening. In fact, you almost felt like you were at a great movie while you were reading it because everything swept you up and totally immersed you into that world. Sexy sexy sexy hero and a really fun heroine . Run out and grab this book if you want to smile.