Bed of Roses

Love blooms in the second novel in Nora Roberts's celebrated Bride Quartet series.

As little girls MacKensie, Emma, Laurel, and Parker spent hours acting out their perfect make believe "I do" moments. Years later their fantasies become reality when they start their own wedding planning company to make every woman's dream day come true. With perfect flowers, delicious desserts, and joyful moments captured on film, Nora Roberts's Bride Quartet shares each woman's emotionally magical journey to romance.

In Bed of Roses, florist Emma Grant is finding career success with her friends at Vows wedding planning company, and her love life appears to be thriving. Though men swarm around her, she still hasn't found Mr. Right. And the last place she's looking is right under her nose.

But that's just where Jack Cooke is. He's so close to the women of Vows that he's practically family, but the architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. When Emma returns his passion—kiss for blistering kiss—they must trust in their history…and in their hearts.

In the second installment of Nora Roberts latest series, The Bride Quartet, we find the ladies of Vows very busy with a series of weddings, rehearsals, and anniversaries. They're also busy planning the first of their own weddings. Spring is in the air and although she's busy with work and an active dating life she wants to find her own Mr Right. And she's surprised when Mr Right just may be her long time friend Jack.

I'm not the biggest fan of friends to lovers theme, mainly it's because I know that eventually there will a conflict about their feelings and it can (and it will) get ugly. I found that the theme in this book didn't bother as much as I thought it would, although I did have a problem with the reaction of the other girls to the major argument that Jack and Emma had towards the ending. I thought they were making to much of it, and it felt rushed as well.

Emma and Jack come from different families. Emma's parents are still happily in love and married and Jack comes from a broken home, where both his parents have a second family. Emma is ready and looks from love everywhere, she's a true romantic. Jack although he loves women he is very protective of his own self, he has commitment issues. But with help from their friends and their sizzling tender moments you just have hope their relationship will last.

I cannot wait for the next installment...Savor The Moment.

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts (4/5) Contemporary Romance; Published: Berkley Trade (10/09); Series: # 2, The Bride Quartet; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (150);