The Wedding Cake War (Harlequin Historical) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lynna Banning (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harlequin Historical | Publication Date: November 1, 2004

Extra! Extra! Mail-Order Brides Compete To See Who Can Deliver!

That should be the headline in the Gazette, Lolly Mayfield swore. Here she'd gotten up the gumption to answer an ad, only to find herself competing for bride status against two other women, with Kellen Macready as the extremely eligible—and very masculine—prize!

If it weren't for charity, Kellen Macready would never have agreed to be the grand prize in a public matchmaking contest. But then he'd never have met Lolly Mayfield—sassy, direct, outrageous and the one woman in the competition, or out of it, able to make his slumbering heart wake up and sing!

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373293305
• ISBN-13: 978-0373293308
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,661,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Oregon, raised in northern California (Watsonville) and attended Scripps College. Married; worked as an editor; divorced; worked as a high school English and journalism teacher; re-married; worked as an editor for aerospace firm.
Took early retirement and started writing historical romance fiction;
widowed 1999. Still writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wacky contest--with a bridegroom as the prize, October 27, 2004

By 

Shauna S. Roberts (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wedding Cake War (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)

Mail-order bride Lolly leaves behind everyone she knows to marry a stranger. But the path to love is not easy. The town's Ladies Helpful Society is staging a contest--and Lolly must compete against two other determined brides-to-be to win the prize: the groom. I enjoyed this light-hearted fun book for its resourceful heroine and her relationships with the other two "brides." All the women are fully realized, with strengths and weaknesses and sympathetic qualities. Contrary to real life, everyone gets what she deserves in this book, so one finishes reading with a sigh of satisfaction.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEFINITELY A BIT OF ROLICKING FUN!, February 27, 2005

By 

M. Hartmann "abayyan" (Milan, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wedding Cake War (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)

Forty three year old bachelor, Kellen Macready is getting on in years and allows himself to be talked into a bridal contest.

He is willing to get married but not willing to engage his heart in the pursuit of a female.

"Lolly" Leora Mayfield, 29 nearly 30, has uprooted herself from Kansas to answer an ad for a bride wanted. Only to show up, with cold feet, and find that there were two more contenders.
Opps! Her trunk and clothes took a round trip ride leaving her to improvise her wardrobe with disturbing results.

Careen Gundersen, a local young lady, that has been "in love" with the Colonel since she was four years old.
Miss Fleurette LeClair, from New Orleans, a blond beauty and another youngster in pursuit of a husband.

Definitely got a kick out of Miss Fleurette trying to explain the "athletic" part of man and woman encounter.

The three women had to take part in a treasure hunt, a kiss-off, and a cake bake-off. Hilarious!

Colonel Macready found the contest entertaining until he started to have some hormonal response to Lolly. He was not going to put himself into a situation of losing his heart and having it broken again.

The heckling of Hank Morehouse was entertaining. And the slight involvement of the two gentleman, Sol Stanton and the editor of the Golden Valley Gazette, Mr. Orven Tillotsen.

Thoroughly entertaining - for an older couple - [guess I like a bit more shoot-um up]
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- Well worth reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical Romance meets Reality Dating Show, December 7, 2004

By 

M. Jones (Metro-Atlanta, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wedding Cake War (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)

The plot of this book takes us into the fundraising scheme of the "Ladies of the Maple Falls Helpful Society"... they plan to raise the funds to build a new schoolhouse by holding a contest to win the hand of the most eligible bachelor in Maple Falls.

Our heroine, Lolly, proves to be quite resourceful and entertaining throughout the contest. The events for the "brides" are quite humorous and the brides themselves are great characters, each with her own strengths and weaknesses (which are showcased nicely with out overdoing it).

I do agree with the other reviewer who said that a conflict near the end is resolved much too easily. You can also see it coming from a mile away if you're halfway paying attention, so when it is suddenly resolved you feel a little unfulfilled.

I like this book for it's light-hearted comedy and romance. It's a great read and is very entertaining.