Staying Single (Harlequin Flipside) [Mass Market Paperback]

Millie Criswell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harlequin Flipside | Publication Date: October 1, 2003

STAYING SINGLE is the launch title for Harlequin's new FLIPSIDE category line--romantic comedy with an attitude.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...innovative blend of chick lit and traditional romance...I absolutely love...Criswell's new voice in this fresh...novel...." -- Diana Risso, Romance Reviews Today, A Perfect 10

"...romantic comedy...absolutely hilarious. I eagerly look forward to more of Millie's books and...more of the Flipside line!" -- Kathy Boswell, TheBestReviews.com

"STAYING SINGLE has it all: it's funny, witty, fast-paced... the best of both Chick Lit and Romance." -- Debora Hosey, The Romance Readers Connection, 4 plugs

"This launch title of Harlequin's new Flipside line was a...fun book....Some of the characters are hilarious...." -- Tammie Ard, Reviewer, Old Book Barn Gazette & The BestReviews.com

From the Publisher

Welcome to Harlequin Flipside! If you love a dash of with and cleverness with your romance, then this is the line for you. These stories are for readers who appreciate that, if love makes the world go around, the ride is a lot more fun with a few laughs along the way.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373441754
• ISBN-13: 978-0373441754
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,196,926 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Revenge gone awry, December 4, 2003

By 

Anza Carrillo "heavenlyanza" (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staying Single (Harlequin Flipside) (Mass Market Paperback)

Francesca had been engaged three times, and each time was a disaster - she ended up leaving each groom at the altar as she literally ran away. After standing up her third prospective groom, Francesca has decided that she's staying single, no matter how her mother tries to push her into another marriage! The third groom, however, has a step-brother who wants to serve up a little revenge to Francesca. If Mark Felding, a photographer for the AP, has his way, Francesca will become engaged once more, except this time, SHE will be the one left at the altar!

I loved the idea behind the book - if this had happened to our relatives (or heaven forbid, happened to us), who wouldn't fantasize about a little revenge? I don't know anyone irl who would go THROUGH with it, but in the book, Mark was determined to try! The thing that bothered me most about the book, however, was how Francesca just let her mother bowl her over and bully her into a decision as monumental as marriage. You'd think after the first, or even the second time, around, she'd tell her mother that it was her life and she would live it the way she wanted and marry who she wanted, if she married at all. I never liked Francesca, because she never really thought about the consequences of her actions, and she seemed like an airhead. Personally, I would have liked it better if Mark really had ditched her at the altar ;)

Nevertheless, I did get a few laughs out the book, and things all turned out happily in the end. Still, the book warrants three stars only in my opinion, and I'm not keeping this book around.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars My first Harlequin, May 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Staying Single (Harlequin Flipside) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've been looking for something different to read and stumbled across The Harlequin Flipside series. Never one to read books like this, I decided may be this is what I've been looking for. The book reminded me of Runaway Bride at the beginning, but soon took a turn to become more original. Parts of the book seemed far-fetched, but overall I was not disappointed. I plan to continue reading more of the Flipside books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very highly recommended, December 10, 2003

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Staying Single (Harlequin Flipside) (Mass Market Paperback)

When she leaves her third groom standing at the altar, Francie Morelli knows her mother will dole out yet another guilt trip. Rather than endure, she flees for two weeks to the destination selected by her roommate Leo. While Niagara Falls might be the last place her mother will look for her, it is also the last person Francie really wants to be. All those couples remind Francie of what she really wants in a man, including a man with chemistry and fire. Little does she suspect that she will find just that combination in the one man who is determined to secretly teach her a lesson.

When his brother is left at the altar, Mark Fielding decides to give the jilting bride a taste of her own medicine. With deferent last names and a completely different look than his step-brother, Mark knows that Francie will never suspect his connection to her former fiancé. So Mark springs for an extended vacation for this brother and parents, sending them to Hawaii and makes his plans. But he does not expect to be genuinely attracted to Francie, or for his plans to backfire.

Fans of Millie Criswell's THE TROUBLE WITH MARY and WHAT TO DO ABOUT ANNIE will cheer the debut of Harlequin's Flipside line with STAYING SINGLE. Criswell has established herself as memorable with her strong heroines and meddlesome mommas. Certainly STAYING SINGLE showcases her talent with wonderfully realized hero and heroine, but I confess that Francie's huge family and gay roommate add the zest that characterizes Criswell's work. Hilarious antics outrageous characters make STAYING SINGLE a stunning debut for Flipside. Very highly recommended.