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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Book 1)

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

Janice Thompson


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

By Trisha's Book Blog "Trisha" (USA) -

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

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) -

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 plans a medieval-themed wedding in Swinging on a Star, due out in January.

Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1)

Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1)[Paperback]

Virginia Smith

List Price:$13.99

Price:$8.74 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shippingon orders over $25.

You Save:$5.25 (38%)      In Stock.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Smith (Just As I Am) provides all the standard elements of inspirational chick lit in this first installment of the Sister-to-Sister series. Joan has been dumped by her long-term boyfriend, lives at home, has an unexciting job and can't quite figure out what to do with her life, until a single doctor (who is of course terribly good-looking and very serious about his faith) moves in next door. As the title suggests, Joan is the middle daughter and feels dwarfed by her older sister's happy family and her younger sister's beauty and success. She struggles with feeling abandoned by her father and angry that her mother forced him to leave when she was young. She wonders if there's more depth to her faith than she initially thought, and learns more about God from her new doctor friend. And she tries hard to take care of her elderly grandmother to prevent her from being sent to an assisted living home, though that may prove to be the best place for her after all. Naturally, this is the realm of happy endings, and readers won't be disappointed. The sisters are spirited and fun, and if the story takes a while to get going, it soon quickens the pace and entertains. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement. That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut.
Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Revell; Reprinted edition (February 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0800732324
  • ISBN-13: 978-0800732325
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

169 of 175 people found the following review helpful:

 Virginia Smith lives up to her newly won title of Writer of the Year (Mount Herman Writer's Conference) in Stuck In The Middle,March 25, 2008

By Susan Sleeman "Host of The Christian Suspense... -

This review is from: Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) (Paperback)

Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut.
As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning.
This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it.
Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message.
Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

Beware : overly christian content, December 1, 2010

By North (Canada) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(

This review is from: Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) (Kindle Edition)

Joan, the middle sister, feels overshadowed by her two, more succesful sisters. She still lives with her grandmother and her mother, does a job that bores her and has been jilted by her fiance. Also, she still misses her father, gone since her parents' divorce.
The grandmother is getting old and there is talk of moving her to a assisted-living facility, something Joan is vehemently against.
A young doctor, Ken Fletcher, moves next door. Joan is interested in him but so is her younger sister. Who will he choose ?
I am sure that the christian content (some of the book is about Joan's seach for God) will be appreciated by some. For me, it was just too much of a good thing. I don't want to preached to when I'm reading romance novels.
But mainly, I found Joan really annoying. She spends most of the book complaining (about her name, the fact that she is quiet, her job, and even her relationship with God) and feeling sorry for herself. Ken is not much better. He almost rejects Joan because she does not seem religious enough. I found the scenes where the two sisters flirt and buy new clothes to attrack Ken corny and childish. You should'nt have to gilt the lily to be appreciated. I kept waiting for Joan to get a grip and grow-up.
I'm happy I got it free and would not pay for other novels by the same author.

Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1)

Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1)[Kindle Edition]


Digital List Price:$6.99

Print List Price:$30.95

Kindle Price:$0.00 includes free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save:$30.95 (100%)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Smith (Just As I Am) provides all the standard elements of inspirational chick lit in this first installment of the Sister-to-Sister series. Joan has been dumped by her long-term boyfriend, lives at home, has an unexciting job and can't quite figure out what to do with her life, until a single doctor (who is of course terribly good-looking and very serious about his faith) moves in next door. As the title suggests, Joan is the middle daughter and feels dwarfed by her older sister's happy family and her younger sister's beauty and success. She struggles with feeling abandoned by her father and angry that her mother forced him to leave when she was young. She wonders if there's more depth to her faith than she initially thought, and learns more about God from her new doctor friend. And she tries hard to take care of her elderly grandmother to prevent her from being sent to an assisted living home, though that may prove to be the best place for her after all. Naturally, this is the realm of happy endings, and readers won't be disappointed. The sisters are spirited and fun, and if the story takes a while to get going, it soon quickens the pace and entertains. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Product Description

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement. That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut.
Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling

Product Details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 1799 KB
  • Print Length: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Revell (February 1, 2008)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English

 

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

By Susan Sleeman "Host of The Christian Suspense...

This review is from: Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) (Paperback)

Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut.
As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning.
This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it.
Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message.
Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

Characters Sparkle in "Stuck in the Middle", August 21, 2008

By Keep Smiling "Smilie1" (Utah) -

This review is from: Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) (Paperback)

Viginia Smith does it again in "Stuck in the Middle". Her characters are realistic, artfully crafted, and endearingly flawed (aren't we all?) and will pull you right into the story from page 1. Here's a warning, though -- don't give the book as a gift unless you're prepared for trouble. Now I have several friends calling to complain that they're chomping at the bit to read the next installment in the series. Please bring us book 2 soon!!!

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