Staying Single

Staying Single is a wonderful blend of romance and comedy. Our leading lady, Francie, seems to find herself at the alter on quite a few occasions (three!), but can't seem to go through with getting married. After leaving her third beau at the alter, Francie decides to get away for awhile to avoid another talking-to from her mother. Enter Mark, a photographer and step-brother of the third man Francie left at the altar. Mark has decided that he is going to teach Francie a lesson. He plans to sweep her off her feet, ask her to marry him, and then leave her at the altar! The last thing on Mark's mind is that he actually may be attracted to Francie... Staying Single was a fun book to read and had me laughing out loud in a few spots. A five star book all the way!

When she leaves her third groom standing at the altar, Francie Morelli knows her mother will dole out yet another guilt trip. Rather than endure, she flees for two weeks to the destination selected by her roommate Leo. While Niagara Falls might be the last place her mother will look for her, it is also the last person Francie really wants to be. All those couples remind Francie of what she really wants in a man, including a man with chemistry and fire. Little does she suspect that she will find just that combination in the one man who is determined to secretly teach her a lesson.When his brother is left at the altar, Mark Fielding decides to give the jilting bride a taste of her own medicine. With deferent last names and a completely different look than his step-brother, Mark knows that Francie will never suspect his connection to her former fiancé. So Mark springs for an extended vacation for this brother and parents, sending them to Hawaii and makes his plans. But he does not expect to be genuinely attracted to Francie, or for his plans to backfire. Fans of Millie Criswell's THE TROUBLE WITH MARY and WHAT TO DO ABOUT ANNIE will cheer the debut of Harlequin's Flipside line with STAYING SINGLE. Criswell has established herself as memorable with her strong heroines and meddlesome mommas. Certainly STAYING SINGLE showcases her talent with wonderfully realized hero and heroine, but I confess that Francie's huge family and gay roommate add the zest that characterizes Criswell's work. Hilarious antics outrageous characters make STAYING SINGLE a stunning debut for Flipside. Very highly recommended.

Francie Morelli just could not make that walk down the aisle so she left the groom standing at the alter - and he's the third man she's done this to. It's just a coincidence, but it seems she has a problem with guys whose names begin with the letter `M', the latest being Matt Carlson. The poor grooms have all loved Francie and were humiliated and hurt, Matt maybe even more than the others.Matt's brother Mark (another `M' name) is really angry and plots revenge. He was Matt's best man and late to the `almost' wedding and hasn't met Francie, but he's going to stick around, seduce her and make her fall in love with him. Then he's going to drop her at the aisle to give her a taste of what she's been dishing out to these poor guys.He's going to teach her a lesson alright - HA! He hasn't met her yet and has no ideawho he's dealing with . I found Francie Morelli a little too much on the `flaky' side to be realistic, but maybeit's my background and environment talking. She's gorgeous, sexy, and passionateand is so sweet she draws Mark to her like a bee to honey. True, her Italian mammais a steamroller who has weddings planned before Francie even meets the prospectivegroom and she doesn't hear Francie saying No, No, No! I think after two trips to the altar though Francie could have asked her mamma what part of No she doesn't understand and refused to take the walk a third time. After this third time she vows never again - She is staying single!! What is it they say about never say never? Hmmm ... Francie will soon find out.Mark Carlson is a great leading character; smart, handsome, great sense of humor, loyal to his family, loving, and rich. Secondary players introduced are not what you call youreveryday folks and are on the outrageous side, all of which make STAYING SINGLE a fun, sensuous read that will bring chuckles throughout the story. It will remind Ms. Criswell's fans of her `Little Italy' series with the dialogue and culture. It's a great debut to introduce Harlequin's new line called Flipside, which is replacing the current Duet line. Watch for it this month and take it home for a fun time.Carol Carter - As posted at Romance Reviews Today

Francesca Morelli has an overbearing mother and a growing list of ditched-at-the-alter grooms. Mark Fielding's brother was the last man she'd love and left hanging. He's out for revenge. But his thoughts turn to something else entirely as he grows to know Francesca...could it be love?Millie Criswell's Staying Single is the fun first in Harlequin's new comedy line, Flipside.

At St. Mary's Catholic Church, Matt waits for his fiancée Francie Morelli to walk down the aisle. However, Francie stops short, realizes she cannot do it and for the third time jilted a groom. She flees to Niagara Falls where her gay roommate Leo set up her if she needed an escape. Matt's stepbrother arrives having flown in from the Philippines as Francie flees. When photojournalist Mark Fielding learns what happened, he feels for Matt and vows vengeance.While Matt and their parents are in Hawaii, Mark begins the plan of seducing Francie, proposing marriage, and jilting her. He arrives at Ted Baxter Promotions where Francie works as a public relations specialist to hire the firm to promote his first book. As he and Francie begin dating, her honesty and her remorse for hurting her three fiancés shock him. Soon Mark loves Francie and she reciprocates, but he knows he must first tell her the truth, that is after he breaks the news to Matt.The opening of a new imprint has to be a duel edged sword, as the writer must feel honored yet fearful of flipping the audience out before the line gains credibility. However, Flipside obviously knew what it was doing when it chose Millie Criswell to launch a lighthearted look at romance, relationships, and love. STAYING SINGLE stars a delightful protagonist, who keeps saying yes due to pressures from a boy friend and her mother the Terminator to marry. Though Mark seems too intelligent to implement the plan he concocted (most sensible people would dream of doing it), fans will enjoy this cheerful contemporary tale.Harriet Klausner