Kiss the Bride

Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Vickie McDonough, Carrie Turansky
Barbour Publishing (2006)
ISBN 1597893536
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (9/06)

“Kiss the Bride” is a compilation of four contemporary romances written by four different authors, but all are intertwined.   Four young women become fast friends at the National Restaurateurs’ Convention in Dallas, Texas, when the hotel elevator gets stuck.  Angel, Haley, Allison and Monica learn they have several things in common besides all attending the same convention and being in the restaurant business.  All the young women are single and have high hopes of meeting Mr. Right in the not-too-distant future.  In varying degrees, the young women trust God and know he has a plan for each of their lives.  All the women vow to remain friends and to reunite at the next convention.  Will any of them be able to share success stories of finding Mr. Right?

“Angel Food” and the Epilogue is written by Kristy Dykes and tells the story of Angel Morgan and her struggle to find patrons at her new restaurant, the Rue de France in the small town of  Nine Cloud, Florida.  “Just Desserts” by Aisha Ford tells the story of Monica Ryan and her family-owned business in Missouri called The Pie Rack.  A “Recipe for Romance” by Vickie McDonald finds Haley Tannehill in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a hostess at her brother’s restaurant called Tannehills and working at her parent’s business, The Cowpoke Café.  And “Tea for Two” by Carrie Turansky tells of Allison Bennett and her sister who are opening Sweet Something Tea Shop in Princeton, New Jersey.

Since all the stories have food and a restaurant as common traits, we find that each story shares with the reader a special dessert that in some way has brought success for its preparer.  Each dessert is known in that particular story for its popularity and “heavenly” taste.  At the end of each story, the recipe is included for the reader to try at home.  Being able to prepare a dessert that we have just read so much about makes the reader feel a greater connection to the story.

“Kiss the Bride” is refreshing, upbeat, and clever.  Four authors were able to put their talents together and show their individuality, but they also successfully show their ability to work together as a team. The common thread of a special traveling apron, purchased at the convention and then passed along to all the women, appears in each story.  The authors obviously worked together to bond this element among the four stories.  If you like Christian romance and cooking, you should thoroughly enjoy this compilation.  I highly recommend this book!

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