Customer Reviews

Suddenly Single (Harlequin Flipside)

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Inspite of it being a flipside, this was supposed to be a romance story and yet, there was hardly any interaction between the central characters Alex and Lisa for the first 100 pages! For a book which is only 220 pages in length, I thought that was a big let down. Instead, it was all about Lisa and her antics and how she tries to get by without her husband. Very BORING! I liked Alex's character when he finally shows up but I never liked Lisa which doesn't say a lot about the book. Skip this one!

I loved this book. The heroine showed a depth of emotional growth, and along the way, she fell in love. The hero is well drawn and I thought the plot was engaging. The humor is classic Criswell. I don't think fans will be disappointed. I sure wasn't!

Ne'er do well middle child Lisa shocked her parents and flew to Vegas with a man she barely knew and got married. After three months of living with his stuffy wealthy parents, she flees back to Philly and struggles to find work (despite no marketable skills) and a new life without Alex. After several weeks, Alex decides to woo his woman back and became the type of bad boy she goes for. Off with the Brooks Brothers suits and on with the Levi's. Adding intrigue is her controlling Italian mother.

I love Millie Criswell, but this book just didn't cut it for me. There is no real chemistry between the leads, in fact, Alex is doesn't make an appearance in the book until half way through. And the controlling mother is a little too similar to the smothering Italian mother in her Baltimore series of books ("The Trouble with Mary"). With a stale plot and no real chemistry, this one is for real fans only.

Suddenly Single is an enchanting book.

Lisa Morelli fell in love with Alex Mackenzie in a heartbeat. She always was a fly by the seat of her pants kind of girl. Lisa wasn't prepared for the move to Florida to live with Alex's conservative, rich family. So she ran back home and started to figure out what direction her life should go.

Alex realized he handled things all wrong at this parent's home. He follows his runaway bride and sets out to prove they belong together. Lisa isn't ready at first to take Alex back. But Alex is set on wooing his wife back into his arms. Lisa and Alex are two people made for each other, they both have to admit their mistakes and try again.

Suddenly Single revisits characters from Staying Single. Momma Josephine is back in fighting form and is fun to watch the sparks fly. Millie Criswell has writing a sweetheart of a book.

Suddenly Single by Millie Criswell
Harlequin Flipside # 21 - August 2004
Morelli Sister #2

After watching Francie go through the nightmare of four weddings planned by their mother, Lisa decides when it's her time she's going to elope. And she does; exactly when Francie finally makes it to the alter; Lisa is on her way to Vegas to marry the love of her life of three weeks, Alex. But when Alex takes her to Florida to live with his snobby parents, Lisa isn't prepared to suddenly become the Stepford wife that seems to be expected of her. So she runs home determined to get a divorce. But Alex likes being married to Lisa, and he follows her, and when she won't speak to him, he has to recruit Momma Morelli to his cause.

It was fun to read more of the Morelli family and friends from Ms. Criswell's earlier book. I liked the fact that even though Lisa was right to feel hurt by Alex's parent's treatment of her, she did grow up and understand that they truly thought they were looking after Alex's best interests. Alex is a hoot as he tries to woo his "runaway bride" back into his arms.

see also ... Staying Single by Millie Criswell for Francie Morelli's story.

It's hard to believe that readers will find much pleasure in the antics of this dim-bulb heroine. "Immature" doesn't even come close to describing 27-year old Lisa, who lives at home, can't hold a job, has no marketable skills, and marries a man she has known for a whopping three weeks. Alex, the estranged husband, labors mightily to win back his bride, but the biggest question has to be, "Why bother?" Reading about the antics of a woman determined to be a screwup is a waste of time. Stereotypical mothers-in-law and a plot that goes nowhere make this a disappointing effort.

Unable to cope with her husband's snooty family and his inability to be more than a wimpy mama's boy, Lisa Morelli walks out on Alex Mackenzie to return to her family. Her sister and mother object because they fear the twenty-seven year old is heading to spinsterhood and to give up a hunk like Alex is lunacy. Stunned by the collapse of his marriage in record time, Alex misses his wife and decides to follow her in order to court her so as to re-win her hand.

Alex shocks Lisa by showing up as she figured his mama would want an annulment to rid the Morelli taint from the Mackenzie elite. She is further stunned when he removes his banking suit for a leather jacket and switches from a classic car to a motorcycle as Alex will do anything to regain Lisa at his side forever.

This is an amusing contemporary romance due to the desperate turn around by Alex to prove to his beloved that she is first in his life, not his mother; Lisa is an independent individual who cannot understand why mama has so much influence on the intelligent Alex so she decides to go the single route. Though readers will wonder whether the effort Alex makes is worth the time, fans will laugh out loud by this comedic romp.

Harriet Klausner