The Unexpected Wedding Guest: Marry Me series, Book 2

This Romance is a nice "escape read"! Max and Suz have known each other forever. Suz is best friends with Max's little sister. At the sister's wedding, Max suddenly feels attracted to Suz, but he thinks of her as another sister and doesn't want to violate that role. We get to know several interesting characters as they work together on a renovation project, with many "close calls"...

Sometimes this book drags on too long. Ultimately though, the characters are likeable and I can relate to them. Crushes from youth always add a nice undercurrent and secondary characters add levity.

In Tobias, Wisconsin, Max Trevetti gives away his sister Annette in marriage (see THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY). Max has mixed emotions as he raised his younger sibling following the death of their mother yet knows her husband Steve is perfect for his little Annette.At the gala, Max talks with his sister's best friend and former business partner Suz Grant. To his shock, he thinks the little girl is beautiful and when she drives him home as he consumed a bit too much alcohol, he cannot stop himself from kissing her. With their successful business recently sold, Suz plans to stay in town awhile until she decides what she wants to do next. As she begins to help Max with his construction business while he recovers from a broken wrist, he falls in love with her, a feeling she has secretly had for him for years. While Suz must persuade her beloved she is an adult, Max must convince himself that he is good for the woman he loves.The second tale in Patricia McLinn's "Something Old, Something New" is a charming old fashioned contemporary romance that the audience will like because the lead couple are nice everyday people who deserve a loving relationship (like everyone does). Readers will especially be pleased that Max has found love. Several key support players provide the means to understand the motives of the stars, especially that of the male protagonist. Though somewhat simplistic, fans will relax with this warm loving tale.Harriet Klausner

For years Max Trevetti has treated his sister's friend Suzanna Grant as just another younger sister. But her return to Tobias, Wisconsin for his sister Annette's wedding leaves Max determined to fight his growing attraction. When a bit too much celebrating lowers inhibitions, Max suddenly sees Suz in her dynamite red dress. Suz does not leave town quickly, however, and Max soon finds himself confronting not only his feelings, but his own self-limitations. Suz and Max's sister Annette recently sold their joint business, leaving her life suddenly without direction. Unwilling to yield to family pressure to return to her hometown, Suz takes over Annette's responsibilities as Max's assistant while he is overseeing major renovations on a historical landmark. Yet her lack of self-confidence leaves Max determined to bolster her self-image. Neither Suz nor Max, however, are prepared for the consequences of their mutual concern for the other.New discoveries and life-altering decisions aid an growing romance in the "Something New" part of Patricia McLinn's wonderful miniseries. Once again McLinn demonstrates a dazzling gift for bringing together ordinary, and yet unforgettable characters in an endearing story readers will treasure. Picking up where THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY concludes, THE UNEXPECTED WEDDING GUEST begins with an unexpected yielding of inhibitions that allows passion to grow into something extraordinary. A heart-warming tale, THE UNEXPECTED WEDDING GUEST comes highly recommended.

As usual, Patricia McLinn delivers a wonderful romance. Suz is my favorite type of heroine: smart and savvy with a soft heart. A woman I would like to know and call a friend. Max is a hero to die for. Together they kept me reading and hoping they'd find a way to come together. I always enjoy Ms. McLinn's books and hope she never stops writing them.