Happy Ever After

Nora Roberts

Parker Brown is the linchpin of Vows, a wedding provider company. Parker is the organizer, bookkeeper, and timekeeper. If a bride has any problem or question, Parker gets the phone call. She may be helping a bride choose a dress, talk her out of last minute changes, and calm family issues that could ruin a wedding day. Mac is the photographer, Emma is the florist, and Lauren is the pastry chef for Vows. Parker, Mac, Emma, and Lauren have been best friends since they were young.

Malcolm Kavanaugh is a local mechanic and a friend of Parker's brother. After being run off the road, Parker has two flat tires. Mal is the man who comes to rescue her. In the last few months she and Mal had kissed twice - once to throw off her brother and once to throw off her. After the rescue, they kiss again. This one, though, is not short and becomes very passionate.

Parker is too busy for a relationship. Even though the wedding season is winding down, she's busy organizing Mac's December wedding and preparing for the weddings scheduled for next year. Mal is persistent. They start dating. Mal deals with Del when he becomes protective older brother. He starts helping with the weddings when he's around. But he can't talk about his past with Parker. He has become a remarkable man, but can't discuss the past that shapes the present man.

Happy Ever After is Nora Roberts' final book in the Bride Quartet series. Despite Mal's reluctance to talk, there isn't any real conflict in this novel. Instead it builds well and concludes nicely. I enjoyed the book, but my favorite part is at the end before and after Mac's wedding. The three men from the previous books, Carter, Jack, and Del, all talk about the importance of the woman they love and their relationships. Do men really talk that way to each other? I don't know, but I'd like to believe so.

Yes, Happy Even After is romantic fluff. But the characters are strong and Nora Roberts does romance so well. You don't need to read the first three books before reading this one, but it's nice to read them in order.

Notice:  Strong sexual content

Vision in White
Bed of Roses
Savor the Moment
Happy Ever After