Reading Recommendations: Romantic reads
FRANKLIN LIVING JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024
In the mood for a little romance? Northwest Shoals Community College library director Lori Skinner has these love-and-marriage-focused titles to recommend:
“Eligible”
By Curtis Sittenfeld
This delightful modern retelling of “Pride and Prejudice” finds the oldest daughters of the family, Liz and Jane, living in New York. Upon returning home to Cincinnati because of a health scare, they discover their home has become ramshackle, and their family is in chaos. Their younger sisters are too busy – Kitty and Lydia with dieting and Mary with her third online master’s degree – to do anything to support the family, and their mother has become obsessed with marrying off her daughters before Jane’s quickly approaching 40th birthday. When Dr. Bingley, a doctor who recently appeared on a huge reality TV dating show, arrives in town, he brings along his best friend, Dr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. This best-selling novel is a hilarious send-up that will have you laughing out loud as you ponder courtship and family.
“Veil of Night”
By Linda Howard
Alabama native and New York Times best-selling author Linda Howard’s humorous romantic suspense novel features the death of a bridezilla of mythic nastiness. Jaclyn Wilde is a top wedding planner in Atlanta and loves everything wedding related – until taking on Carrie Edwards as a client. When Carrie is brutally murdered after a physical altercation with Jacklyn, Jacklyn becomes a prime suspect amongst many people who wanted Carrie dead. Things get more complicated when the lead detective just happens to be the one-night stand Jacklyn had right before Carrie’s death. When the murderer sets his sights on Jacklyn, things heat up with the investigation – and with her hunky detective.
“The Secret Bridesmaid”
By Katy Birchall
When professional bridesmaid Sophie Breeze is hired by Lady Victoria Swann to act as bridesmaid to her daughter in the society wedding of the year, it is a chance to prove exactly how talented she is. However, things get complicated when the bride is a diva, she has an inconvenient attraction to the bride’s older brother, and a rival society wedding is announced for the same day. Hijinks ensue as Sophie endeavors to keep her true identity a secret and catch the eye of Lord Swann while getting a reluctant bride to the wedding on time.
“How I Planned Your Wedding: The All-True Story of a Mother and Daughter Surviving the Happiest Day of Their Lives”
By Elizabeth and Susan Wiggs
Planning weddings can be stressful, and Susan Wiggs proves that is also true for best-selling authors who write happily-ever-after love stories. Susan and her daughter Elizabeth share their experiences, both funny and poignant, in this relatable book full of realistic, helpful and well-thought out advice. This one is a great choice for both brides and their mothers.
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Lori Skinner is the head librarian for Northwest Shoals Community College. She can be contacted at 256-331-6288 or lori.skinner@nwscc.edu. NW-SCC Libraries are open to the public and look forward to serving your library needs. The library now has an app, Librista, available on android and Apple devices.
