But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.
I'm not surprised that a Christmas novel turned out to be feel-good fluff - I'm usually a fan of Christmas-themed feel-good fluff - but this one walks the fine line between fluff and unbelievable (but not in a good way). Gaby has four grown children that haven't been home for Christmas since their father died, so the idea of a surprise wedding on Christmas Day as a way to lure them home is a good start. Each of the four children are dealing with their own problems which added some needed complexity to the plot. And the easily attained solutions to the problems brings in the heartwarming happy ending expected of a holiday book. But every wedding needs a groom ...
Even in a Christmas-cheer-laden fictional world, the three potential grooms are either idiots or desperate. One man proposes and two more pop up and say "Hey, wait a minute. I was going to propose." She says yes to one of them but won't say which, so these three stooges good-naturedly agree to jointly help plan the wedding, rent tuxes and stand at the front of the church like Dating Game contestants and wait to see who the bachelorette chooses. Were there parting gifts for the losers? It was impossible to feel any connection to a heroine that treats marriage like a party game and suitors so shallow they shrug off rejection with a back-slap and an aw-shucks grin.
If you want a glittery holiday read, A Christmas Wedding, is sweet - just don't dig too deep. 3 out of 5 stars.
I'm not surprised that a Christmas novel turned out to be feel-good fluff - I'm usually a fan of Christmas-themed feel-good fluff - but this one walks the fine line between fluff and unbelievable (but not in a good way). Gaby has four grown children that haven't been home for Christmas since their father died, so the idea of a surprise wedding on Christmas Day as a way to lure them home is a good start. Each of the four children are dealing with their own problems which added some needed complexity to the plot. And the easily attained solutions to the problems brings in the heartwarming happy ending expected of a holiday book. But every wedding needs a groom ...
Even in a Christmas-cheer-laden fictional world, the three potential grooms are either idiots or desperate. One man proposes and two more pop up and say "Hey, wait a minute. I was going to propose." She says yes to one of them but won't say which, so these three stooges good-naturedly agree to jointly help plan the wedding, rent tuxes and stand at the front of the church like Dating Game contestants and wait to see who the bachelorette chooses. Were there parting gifts for the losers? It was impossible to feel any connection to a heroine that treats marriage like a party game and suitors so shallow they shrug off rejection with a back-slap and an aw-shucks grin.
If you want a glittery holiday read, A Christmas Wedding, is sweet - just don't dig too deep. 3 out of 5 stars.
Thanks for the review. I tend to stay away from Christmas "fluff" for the very reasons you named. Interesting how James Patterson can write such different genres, though.
ReplyDeleteI liked the story until I read the part about the three grooms that she would decide upon. Not a good way to start a marriage you think? Otherwise, the story line sounded like a good one! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeletebetty
I was reading about this one at Barnes & Nobel online. I want to read it. I like the fluff and only read romance novels.
ReplyDelete