Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) [Kindle Edition]

Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) [Kindle Edition]

Janice Thompson (Author)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Bella Rossi may be nearing thirty, but her life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business, Bella is determined not to let them down. She quickly books a "Boot Scoot'n" wedding that would make any Texan proud. There's only one catch--she's a country music numbskull because her family only listens to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Where will she find a DJ on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his Keith Urban?
When a misunderstanding leads her to the DJ (and man) of her dreams, things start falling into place. But with a family like hers, nothing is guaranteed. Can the perfect Texan wedding survive a pizza-making uncle with mob ties, an aunt who is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and a massive delivery of 80 cowboy boots? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding?
Book one in the Weddings by Bella series, Fools Rush In is fun, fresh, and full of surprises. Readers will love the flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex, and the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

141 of 144 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny!, January 8, 2010

By

Trisha's Book Blog "Trisha" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) (Paperback)

This book was funny from the first page. I have never read a book with so much religion in it before, but that did not stop me from picking up this book. Just from reading the description on the back of the book, I knew that I had to read this. I love anything weddings, and a little bit of romance never hurts.
The book starts off with Bella's parents retiring from their wedding business. They have decided to give the business over to Bella, her first wedding is a boot scoot'n country wedding with cowboy boots as the centerpieces. There is only one problem, Bella is full blown Italian and her family has only ever done traditional weddings. But when Bella advertises that she is doing themed weddings she starts getting calls for some crazy weddings.
She meets DJ towards the beginning of the book when she hears a man talking about DJ on the phone, Bella thinks that this is a sign from God since she is looking for a deejay for the wedding she is planning. Get it, DJ is his name, she thinks he is a deejay. Let's just say that when DJ finds out that Bella wants him to be the DeeJay for the wedding, it turns into a very funny part of the book.
Bella's family is very close. They all live together, her Aunt, Uncle, Mom and Dad, and a couple siblings and are they funny! It reminds me of my family, there is always someone talking louder than someone else to be heard over everyone, and Holidays are even louder.
This is a must read for anyone who likes a little romance, and the love of family in a book.

A Light Hearted Fun Read, November 27, 2010

By

Kara Isaac (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella Series #1) (Paperback)

After reading all the glowing reviews here I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps too high!
First the good. As other reviewers have commented the Rossi family form a cast of lively, quirky and very funny laugh-out-loud characters. They swoop you up in one big embrace and carry you along the story as you flip the pages.
So why the three stars? Firstly, I found the book a little difficult to get into. I've owned if for over a year and after three failed attempts finally managed to crack my way past page 50. Personally, I think this was because I found those first fifty a little too much backstory, introspection and introductions and not enough action.
*Possible semi spoiler*
Secondly, I think I've realised I like my romances to have a few more obstacles. While trying not to spoil anything for future readers, if the feature romance had had a little more conflict and tension it would have definitely had me a bit more engaged. It was all just a little too easy and left me wishing they'd had to fight a little bit harder.
However, this is a lovely lighthearted read if that it what you're looking for.

Delicioso!, September 18, 2009

By

Mocha with Linda (Texas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) (Paperback)

What do you suppose happens when the Bella of a passionate & noisy Italian clan meets a Texas cowboy? Mamma mia! Something's bound to be cooking, and I don't just mean the pizza and BBQ!
Twenty-nine and single, Bella Rossi has taken over the management of her family's wedding facility and bridal consulting business and immediately changes its focus from traditional to themed weddings. The only flaw is that it's less than two weeks before her first event, a Boot-Scootin' western wedding, and she still has to lasso a deejay (along with a few other minor details, such as music, food, and centerpieces). That seems to be a daunting task until she overhears a customer at her uncle's pizzeria talking to a deejay and convinces him to give her his number (the deejay's, not the customer's). After Dwayne (or Duh-wayne, as he pronounces it!) arrives and the initial meeting with her and the couple getting married takes an unexpected turn, Bella falls for him - literally, in a fainting heap at his feet.
As plans proceed and then the event itself occurs, Bella tries to find the balance between giving her all to prove her capability and relying on God to guide her steps. There are plenty of amusing - and horrifying! - mishaps along the way, as well as lots of family drama. Will Dwayne "head for the hills" or will he add a little flavor of his own to her family? And what will happen when her rowdy relatives meet Dwayne's own down-home, small-town family? This humorous and engaging tale adds sparks and gives new meaning to the term "melting pot". And it made me hungry! I look forward to Bella's next adventure as she

Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1)

Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) [Kindle Edition]

Janice Thompson (Author)

---

Digital List Price:$6.99

Print List Price:$14.99

Kindle Price:$0.00 includes free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

You Save:$14.99 (100%)

 

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Bella Rossi may be nearing thirty, but her life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business, Bella is determined not to let them down. She quickly books a "Boot Scoot'n" wedding that would make any Texan proud. There's only one catch--she's a country music numbskull because her family only listens to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Where will she find a DJ on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his Keith Urban?
When a misunderstanding leads her to the DJ (and man) of her dreams, things start falling into place. But with a family like hers, nothing is guaranteed. Can the perfect Texan wedding survive a pizza-making uncle with mob ties, an aunt who is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and a massive delivery of 80 cowboy boots? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding?
Book one in the Weddings by Bella series, Fools Rush In is fun, fresh, and full of surprises. Readers will love the flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex, and the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.

From the Inside Flap

EXCERPT FROM CATALOG: I glanced out of the window, my sights falling on a black Dodge 4 x 4 complete with chrome, mud flaps, oversized running boards, and those big tires that looked as if they were made merely for recycling as multi-person flotation devices. Not unusual in Texas, but more than a little out of place in our neck of the woods. I held my breath as the door swung open and Dwayne Neeley stepped out. "Whoa." My imagination hadn't done him justice. Tall. Check. Burly. Check. Five o'clock shadow. Check. I stopped checking after that, worried I might lose track of the reason for his visit. He drew a bit closer, and I took note of the fact that Sophia--who'd been sitting on our veranda next door--was now on her feet, giving him a solid once-over. Watch yourself, girl. As Dwayne ambled up the drive, the pointed toes of his boots moving in perfectly timed steps, my heart seemed to beat along in sync. After a few seconds of staring at his broad shoulders and rugged good looks, I sprinted to the front door, pausing only to double-check my appearance in the front-hall mirror before stepping out onto the veranda. Once there, I did my best to look calm and unassuming. A smile lit my cowboy deejay's handsome face as he climbed the stairs to meet me on the porch. My, but the boy was tall. "Dwayne Neeley?" I managed. "The one and only." He extended his right hand. I took it, but found it difficult to focus, because, now that we were within hand-shaking distance, something else stood out, something that totally threw me. His clothes were, well, dirty. And he had that same wet puppy smell Nick's boys always got when they'd been playing in the summer sun too long. And I was pretty sure he had--what was that, sawdust?--in his hair.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1919 KB
• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002LE87RQ

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

137 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny!, January 8, 2010

By

Trisha's Book Blog "Trisha" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1) (Paperback)

This book was funny from the first page. I have never read a book with so much religion in it before, but that did not stop me from picking up this book. Just from reading the description on the back of the book, I knew that I had to read this. I love anything weddings, and a little bit of romance never hurts.
The book starts off with Bella's parents retiring from their wedding business. They have decided to give the business over to Bella, her first wedding is a boot scoot'n country wedding with cowboy boots as the centerpieces. There is only one problem, Bella is full blown Italian and her family has only ever done traditional weddings. But when Bella advertises that she is doing themed weddings she starts getting calls for some crazy weddings.
She meets DJ towards the beginning of the book when she hears a man talking about DJ on the phone, Bella thinks that this is a sign from God since she is looking for a deejay for the wedding she is planning. Get it, DJ is his name, she thinks he is a deejay. Let's just say that when DJ finds out that Bella wants him to be the DeeJay for the wedding, it turns into a very funny part of the book.
Bella's family is very close. They all live together, her Aunt, Uncle, Mom and Dad, and a couple siblings and are they funny! It reminds me of my family, there is always someone talking louder than someone else to be heard over everyone, and Holidays are even louder.
This is a must read for anyone who likes a little romance, and the love of family in a book.

A Light Hearted Fun Read, November 27, 2010

By

Kara Isaac (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella Series #1) (Paperback)

After reading all the glowing reviews here I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps too high!
First the good. As other reviewers have commented the Rossi family form a cast of lively, quirky and very funny laugh-out-loud characters. They swoop you up in one big embrace and carry you along the story as you flip the pages.
So why the three stars? Firstly, I found the book a little difficult to get into. I've owned if for over a year and after three failed attempts finally managed to crack my way past page 50. Personally, I think this was because I found those first fifty a little too much backstory, introspection and introductions and not enough action.
*Possible semi spoiler*
Secondly, I think I've realised I like my romances to have a few more obstacles. While trying not to spoil anything for future readers, if the feature romance had had a little more conflict and tension it would have definitely had me a bit more engaged. It was all just a little too easy and left me wishing they'd had to fight a little bit harder.

The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1)[Kindle Edition]

The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1)[Kindle Edition]

Suzanne Woods Fisher (Author)

---

Digital List Price:$14.99

Print List Price:$14.99

Kindle Price:$0.00 includes free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

                                                                            You Save: $14.99 (100%)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The newest entry to the growing ranks of bonnet fiction writers is Fisher, who has written Amish nonfiction (Amish Peace). This Lancaster County tale centers on Carrie Weaver, who marries an Amish man for convenience though her heart is committed to another. Carrie struggles to care for her hemophiliac younger brother as she lives with the consequences of her own choices. The outline is promising, but the execution flawed. An intriguing heroine shows the author's potential, but major problems compromise the book's overall merit. The plot creaks too loudly; a few too many characters die to complicate the action, and the character who poses the biggest threat is more a caricature than credible villain. Minor characters—an oversized lovable ex-con, a harpy stepmother—likewise mostly serve plot rather than populate a convincingly drawn world. The language can get adjective-laden and trite (The air had grown thick and heavy). Bonnet fiction devotees might be able to overlook some problems, but this is not a strong new offering in the subgenre. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

With a vibrant, fresh style Suzanne Woods Fisher brings readers into the world of a young Amish woman torn between following the man she loves--or joining the community of faith that sustains her, even as she questions some of the decisions of her elders. Her choice begins a torrent of change for her and her family, including a marriage of convenience to silent Daniel Miller. Both bring broken hearts into their arrangement--and secrets that have been held too long.
Filled with gentle romance, The Choice opens the world of the Amish--their strong communities, their simple life, and their willingness to put each other first. Combined with Fisher's exceptional gift for character development, this novel, the first in a series, is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God.

 

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2328 KB
• Print Length: 308 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800733851
• Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002Z1367G

 

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

stars Great read, February 1, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1) (Paperback)

I'm a guy, and guys probably aren't supposed to read Amish romance books - but oh well. If I did what everyone else thought I should do, or not do, I'd never have any fun. I have read a few in my lifetime. One of my favorite vacation spots, second only to The Outer Banks, is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, so I do enjoy books that take place there, such as this one.
I haven't read a lot of Amish books of this type, but I do think it is one of the best I have read. Move aside, Beverly Lewis, you have some new competition!
There is a lot of Amish beliefs/traditions in the book, but through one of the characters, there is also shown grace, and a side of God the Amish don't normally see - and I am afraid some of us non-Amish never see - the God of love and grace. The book is a good story - very likable characters, and it has its low places and high, sad and happy - but among the great story is the message that we can know we are going to Heaven, and God does love us and want a relationship with us - not just a far off worship of fear.
This is Suzanne Woods Fisher's first novel, and I would say she hit one out of the ballpark with this one.

 

emotionally amazing, February 27, 2010

By readaholic (Canada) -

This review is from: The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1) (Paperback)

sooo Good!
lol I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I would. I've never read Amish fiction before, but Suzanne Woods Fisher made me fall in love with it! This incredible book just had my heart thumping and my eyes watering! So engaging, I couldn't put it down!
The story is basically this girl falls in love with a boy, but he decides to leave the group while he is on his rumspringa (their time when they get to experience the outside world if they want to before comitting to the church) and she ends up marrying someone else... it goes through love, forgiveness and about the choices we make that it's never too late to find ourselves with God... I even cried, and it takes a lot of me to cry in a book!
Whether your Amish or not this book has a lot to offer, the characters show depth and the emotions run raw in this book. I loved how much turmoil the main character when through and yet she learnt from it. So often we wonder why we go through things and we learn about forgiveness and God's real grace through it all.
It was sort of ironic that one of the books I just finished, Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris started off with the discussion of rumspringa, so the bit I had been learning about the Amish fit in nicely to this book and gave it more flavor for me.
If I could give a story 6 cherries I would! She'll be on my top author's list!

The Choice, December 31, 2009

By Lollipops "lollipops5" (Arkansas) -

This review is from: The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1) (Paperback)

THE CHOICE is the first book in Ms. Fisher's Lancaster County Secrets series. I couldn't help but fall in love with Carrie as she struggles to find herself among many sudden, shocking changes, but I think Carrie definitely came out ahead, learning to lean more and more on God as each event unfolds.
Some of the events in the first third of the book were quite unexpected and broke my heart. But while I would have liked to not have read about some of the events that transpired, the book ultimately had a happy ending, and I was sad that it ended. I thoroughly enjoyed reading THE CHOICE and am looking forward to Ms. Fisher's second book in the series, The Waiting, coming in October 2010.