LINDA RANDALL WISDOM
Mr. & Mrs. . . . & Mrs.?
Rated 3.5
ISBN# 0-373-16681-8
Copyright 6/97
Reviewed 7/4/97 by Pam T.
"Mr. & Mrs. . . . & Mrs.?" was a very unique reading experience. It is well known that authors try to impress us with trips into new territory and unusual plots. Ms. Wisdom succeeded in that goal.
Cassandra Daniels-Larson, Ph.D., is off on another research expedition in the jungle. Jonathon Larson, her husband, isn't too excited about her going off on this new venture. They have things to work out and the last place she should consider going is in the jungle.
The story then jumps to three years later. Cassandra is assumed dead as all the members of the expedition had never been found. Jonathon is at the alter, marrying Nan, the rich daughter of the owner of Xavier Electronics. Nan needs a husband to ensure the business will survive after her fathers' death. Norton is "ill" and wants to be sure the business will go on. Being from the old school, Norton feels Nan's husband should be the one to run the business. So, Jonathan and Nan enter into a marriage of convenience.
Well, in the last three years Cassandra, who now calls herself Cassie, and Jonathon, who now calls himself Jack, have both undergone tremendous changes. Each is shocked at the person the other has become. The attraction is there, more than it ever was before, but Jack's new wife is definitely in the way.
My opinion: this story was strange. Cassie walks in right after Jack and Nan have said "I do" and what does she do, calls herself Jack's sister. There the pretense begins and I just wanted them to say "hey, we've had some major misunderstanding here." But of course, Jack doesn't want to upset Norton being he is so "ill" and he certainly doesn't want to look the fool to Nan. So they all just go along, living in the same house, (Cassie's in the guesthouse) until everyone finally gets smart.
I liked Cassie and then I didn't. One minute I laughed at the way she goes about distracting Nan and Jack from their wedding night and then I thought Cassie was too much of a tease. She would flirt like crazy and then slap the hands of the man who tried to go where he thought her teasing was going.
Jack was a pretty good guy. He didn't want to hurt his new wife, cause his "father-in-law" any pressure to add to his heart problems, and he did try to act like the big brother to Cassie.
All-in-all, the story was cute, but at times a little too strange to me. I've read a
Linda Randall Wisdom story before and enjoyed it very much. I will give her
another try though. Every author is allowed a second chance.
"Do You Take This Man . . ." by Linda Randall Wisdom is one of three
stories in the exciting trilogy "Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?"
What an entertaining story.
Dru St. James is marrying Kevin on her 30th birthday and the 4th of July. He proposed to her, but it wasn't really out of love. They were compatible in the business world. He knew that and he knew Dru would make him a suitable wife. She's aware of the faces they are both wearing on their wedding day, but she is having jitters and is afraid of what they might mean. Second thoughts??
Sam Winslow is a divorced father of three and a writer of computer games. He is dating attorney Carolyn. He enjoys his visits with his kids and Carolyn would make a good wife. But does he love her?
Dru stops into the local store to pick up a pair of hose - what a day to get a run in your stocking's - on the way to the church for her wedding. No sooner than she gets them on in the changing room the lights and power go out, locking every exit out of the store.
Sam runs into the local store so his daughter can buy a bra. Her strap broke on their way to a BBQ at Carolyn's. The kids are to be introduced to Carolyn that day, and the announcement of the upcoming wedding will also be told. So he and kids are stuck in the store along with many other people when the lights go out.
The backup systems have failed and the maintenance men are working to repair the system, but there is no indication of how long they will all be locked in the store.
Everyone feels bad for Dru missing her wedding, but Dru isn't so sure she feels as bad as she should.
A relationship grows between Dru and Sam's children as well as between Dru and Sam. Sam and Dru are both torn between the attraction the feel for each other and the loyalty they should hold for their significant others.
This is a charming story. Funny to boot, and romantic as can be.