When wedding planner Anne Hawthorne meets George Laurence, she thinks she's found the man of her dreams. But when he turns out to be a client, her "dream" quickly turns into a nightmare. Will Anne risk her heart and career on this engaging Englishman? George came to Louisiana to plan his employer's wedding and pose as the groom. But how can he feign affection for a supposed fiancee when he's so achingly attracted to the wedding planner? And what will happen when Anne discovers his role has been Stand-In Groom only? Will she ever trust George again? Can God help these two believers find a happy ending?
Dacus's characters are amusing, and her plot is captivating, making the book nearly impossible to put down, wondering what will happen next.
Dacus pulls off a delightful story that places readers in the heart of the South with the debut of the Brides of Bonneterre series. readers will enjoy this look at how lives are transformed through devastating events and how forgiveness is the key to a promising future. Nothing is as it seems in this heartwarming story.
Stand-In Groom is a unique story that is full of humor, angst and Southern flair. Kaye Dacus has thrown a proper Englishman into the heart of Louisiana with a wedding planner, her large family, and a healthy serving of Dino and Frank fill the book, too. If you love stores that throw obstacles at the couple you know should be together, and you love the idea of weddings and details involved in weddings, or delight in Southern fiction, romance or Englishmen, then check out Stand-In Groom.
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
8 of 19 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Rebecca Abel (Rocky Mount, NC), November 26, 2009
Great book! This is an easy, fun-to-read book whether at the end of a busy day with your feet propped up or while relaxing at the beach. I liked it so much that I bought several to give as gifts. And if you enjoy this book, you'll enjoy the next book in the series, Menu for Romance....I know I did! They will make great Christmas gifts.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Ebany Bischoff (Durban,), October 21, 2009
Another great book in her series. Am anxiously waiting for the next book. A great read.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by MJ @ Creative Madness (Porterdale, Georgia), July 10, 2009
This is quite the romance. Some could call it predictable, but I would not necessarily say that because one could not foresee all the twists and turns that are to occur before the outcome. I only think people will predict how they want it to end and just assume they will get it right. As I have said dozens of times before, I am not much a fan of contemporary romances, but I liked this one. That said, I did not necessarily love it. But I think that is because my heart is just stronger in the realm of historical fiction. (Definitely recommend Kaye Dacus' historical series The Ransome Trilogy!!)
Some elements of a large family and good food were parts of this story that I am not used to reading in a book that I quite enjoyed. As well as imagining the scenes and hearing the British or Southern accents play through in the characters vernacular. This is my first contemporary experience with reading this author and it will not be my last. I do recommend this book, and look forward to reading the sequel soon in a few days.
Things happen in life to get you where you need to be, and the hardest part is dealing with a painful event and believing that you will get past it. God knows what he is doing, and the part to remember is that things are best in his time and not in our own. I feel very uplifted from this book and the characters experiences. It makes me think over things from my own past and see more of God in them than I ever would have realized at the time.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by A Reader (NC), June 11, 2009
This first book by Kaye Dacus will certainly NOT be my last. It was a good romance with just the right amount of affection without going overboard. The main characters actually spent time with God in a growing relationship with Him and didn't just depend upon a prayer they prayed years ago. That being said we know they read their Bibles, attend church, and pray without every sermon being written out in the book. I appreciated that. The sub-characters were just as interesting and well written as the main characters. I went away wanting to be friends with these people. I'm definitely reading the final two books in this series.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christine Howard (Ridgecrest, CA), May 20, 2009
My first book by Kaye. Other than too many "happy endings", I enjoyed her writing. I'm hoping for a dose of realism with those characters that are suppose to be "bad". Kaye selected a very innovative topic and weaves a good tale.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by rose mccauley (cynthiana, KY), April 05, 2009
I highly recommend Kaye Dacus's heart-warming story Stand-In Groom, the first book of The Brides of Bonneterre series.
Although this is Kaye's debut novel, the writing is so great that it reminds me of Liz Curtis Higg's contemporary books with characters who seem like people you know or would like to know, a plot-line with many turns and twists, and emotion-packed scenes filled with humor and pathos.
The main character, wedding planner Anne Hawthorne, is introduced to a man by her cousin. George Laurence and Anne share a mutual attraction--until Anne discovers he is the groom-to-be in a wedding she has been hired to plan. But, things are not always as they seem. You'll enjoy the highs and lows of this roller-coaster journey as you travel the path to the altar with Anne and George and the other characters. A delightful read!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by k harris (USA), March 29, 2009
Kaye Dacus' debut novel, Stand-In Groom, is full of fun and flavor with a potpourri of plot twists and a simmering romance between two, almost "star-crossed" lovers.
Anne Hawthorne is a celebrity caterer in the town of Bonneterre, LA, who falls head over heels (quite literally at one point) with a stoic, yet sensitive, Englishman. Anne decides quickly that George Laurence is perfect for her. There's only one problem, he's already engaged. At least, that's what she thinks. The truth is, George is only committed to doing his job--acting as the ruse for his employer as a "stand-in groom".
When George shows signs of returning Anne's feelings, the problems that ensue are a recipe for romantic disaster. Both Anne and George are desperate to maintain their moral integrity, despite some precarious situations. But their dedication to doing the right thing only makes them fall deeper in love.
As the story unfolds, Anne and George seek forgiveness for their past mistakes, rely on faith to get them through each day, and look to the future with hope. And, in the end, love prevails. There is no substitute for love.
And now abideth faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:13
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Karen Eve (Williamson Cnty, TN), March 25, 2009
Kaye Dacus has spun a wonderful story with her debut novel of love, morality, deception, forgiveness, family, and friends. "Stand-In Groom" may be a romance novel, but it has some surprising twists and turns that are more common in suspense novels and kept me turning the pages and made for some late nights. And the family - I haven't seen such a family since "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Top this off with the romantic setting in Bonneterre, LA, lots of humor, and excellent cuisine, and you can’t go wrong. I am so looking forward to the next book in the series or anything that Ms. Dacus writes. She’s truly an excellent story teller.
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Author: Kaye Dacus
Located in: Nashville, TN
Submitted: August 16, 2008
Tell us a little about yourself. I am an author, professional copy editor, and freelancer who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. Pursuing my passion for writing, I earned a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in 2006. I am a long-time member and former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and a founding member of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. I live in Nashville, Tennessee, and write contemporary and historical romances.
What was your motivation behind this project? The idea for this story came from watching a movie a few years ago about a wedding planner who falls for a client. I didn't like the message of that story, so I came up with my own spin on it!
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? A couple of the themes of this story are forgiving someone for past mistakes and facing deeply seated fears---both of which can be done only with God's help.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? To get deeply into the characters' heads, I had to dig deep into my own personality and figure out how I would deal with the situations they're faced with. It made me re-evaluate exactly what my morals and ethics are and what fears I have that I need to face up to.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? My philosophy of writing (and my tagline) is: "Inspired by Life, Molded by God." I draw inspiration for my fiction from all aspects of life--from singing at a senior-adult dinner to watching the Olympics to going through personal tragedy like loss of a job or a loved-one. I learn from it, grow closer to God, and then work it into my fiction.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: God is in control, and His timing is perfect!
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