Love To Behold [Paperback]

Sammie Ward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2005

Bridal salon owner, Valencia Hill is a wedding planner, but has never planned her own wedding. When one of her clients invites her to a party, Valencia is introduced to a hansome,professional baseball player, Michael Gomez's girlfriend. Though it's not true, Valencia can't deny her attraction and wouldn't mind making the revelation true, but Michael Gomez has a past of not being able to settle down with one woman. Will Valencia be able to change Michael's philandering ways? In the short story, "What Are Girlfriends For?" it's Layla Mill's birthday,but her boyfriend, Jonathan Carr seemed to have forgotton, but when her best friend/co worker, Shauna Summer offers to take her out to celebrate, it's a night Layla will remember the rest of her life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Valencia Hill fell in love and was about to commit her life to Malcolm until he stood her up at the altar. Against her parents' blessing, she quit her high profile accountant position to start her own bridal consultant firm and spends all of her time arranging weddings for the elite in and around the Washington, D.C. area.

Autumn was a high profile client who invited Valencia to the gala event of the year. That is where Valencia and Michael met. Michael would spend the rest of the season hitting home runs and teaching Valencia the game of baseball and love.

"Love To Behold" was a touching and engaging short stories in a collection.  Hopefully, Ms. Ward will grace us with a full novel from one of these short stories soon.

M.Bruner (Reviewer)
Affaire de Couer
http://www.affairedecoeur.com

Tender hearts beware!! Ms. Sammie Ward's "Love to Behold", is a heart-thumping, whirlwind love story!

"Love to Behold" by Ms. Sammie Ward is romance in a tidy, little package and a reminder (for those of us who need it) that sometimes it's alright to let your heart take its chances.

~~Tori Pearson
Literary Wonder!
Editor and Reviewer
http://www.literarywonders.com

In LOVE TO BEHOLD, Ms. Sammie Ward has constructed a boy-meets-girl, boy-marries-girl novella that shows how ove can conquer all, even in women who have given up on men. It's a nice, easy read for a snowy afternoon.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ  Reviewers
http://www.rawsistaz.com

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Lady Leo Publishing (March 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976355418
• ISBN-13: 978-0976355410
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,710,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sammie Ward has written over fifty short stories in her literary career. A fiction and nonfiction writer. She has written for Black Romance, Black Confessions, Black Secrets, Bronze Thrills, Jive, True Black Experience, and True Confessions Magazine. Born and raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She's the author of, In The Name of Love, Love To Behold, 7 Days. It's In The Rhythm, and Lace & Honor.She's also the CEO/Founder of Lady Leo Publishing and independent electronic/print publishing company.

You can visit Lady Leo Publishing at www.ladyleopublishing.org. She loves to hear from fans. Drop her an email at: [e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Love To Behold- A Good Read, December 1, 2005

By 

Cles Wilson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love To Behold (Paperback)

What happens when a strong-willed Wedding Planner meets a determined Baseball player, who knows who and what he Wants? In Love To Behold Ms. Sammie Ward pens a delightfully enchanted love story I had a hard time putting down. Well done, Ms. Sammie

3.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Tori Pearson, October 19, 2005

By 

Literary Wonders! "Literary Wonders!" (Piedmont Triad) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Love To Behold (Paperback)

Tender hearts beware!! Ms. Sammie Ward's "Love to Behold", is a heart-thumping, whirlwind love story! Valencia Hill is young, single, vibrant, beautiful, and a successful entrepreneur. Valencia is a top-notch bridal consultant and the owner of New Beginnings, a bridal consulting firm. She has planned weddings for many well-known, affluent people from politicians to star athletes. And to top it all off: Valencia absolutely loves what she does. She couldn't be happier. Or could she? She is content with planning other people's weddings. Or is she?

Cornered into attending a gala thrown by Autumn, one of her clients, Valencia prepares for the event with many reservations about the evening and attends reluctantly. Autumn's soon-to-be husband is Andre Bowman, professional baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles. Valencia almost immediately crosses paths with Michael Gomez, Andre's teammate, and minutes later is surprisingly introduced as Michael's girlfriend.

Continuing the charade throughout the gala, Valencia secretly relishes the attention she is receiving from this incredibly handsome man, yet hesitation bubbles up when he asks her to call him. Fortunately, Michael is persistent, and Valencia relents. Despite the undeniable attraction, Valencia judges Michael to be a player based on the lone fact that he is a professional athlete. Even though Valencia blames her hesistancy on the notion that Michael is a ladies' man, she fails to tell Michael that she is afraid to get her heartbroken as she had so cruelly once before. And Michael has his own unresolved issues (read: females) to deal with that just might prove Valencia's point.

Will Valencia let Michael into her heart and put her past behind her? Will Michael tell Valencia the truth and prove his love for her?

"Love to Behold" by Ms. Sammie Ward is romance in a tidy, little package and a reminder (for those of us who need it) that sometimes it's alright to let your heart take its chances.

~~Tori Pearson
Literary Wonder!
Editor and Reviewer

3.0 out of 5 stars Boy meets girl, August 13, 2005

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love To Behold (Paperback)

Valencia Hill, self-employed Bridal Consultant, plans the most fabulous weddings. At the wedding of a good friend of hers, she meets a fantastically handsome, professional athlete who shows a great deal of interest in her, but she can't be bothered. Two years ago at her own wedding, her groom-to-be stood her up at the altar and she has had nothing to do with men since. But there is something about baseball player, Michael Gomez that eventually gets through the tough armor she has erected to protect her fragile feelings. With much coaching from her friends, Valencia finally drops her guard and agrees to date Michael. Will she be able to lay her fears to rest and experience some of the marital joy she has arranged for so many others?

In LOVE TO BEHOLD, Ms. Sammie Ward has constructed a boy-meets-girl, boy-marries-girl novella that shows how love can conquer all, even in women who have given up on men. The story was predictable from the beginning to the end and unfortunately, didn't generate much excitement. As uninviting as it may seem, a few glitches in the walk to the altar might have added that necessary tension that would have dragged the reader into the action. It's a nice, easy read for a snowy afternoon.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers