Liked this a lot - especially the time period (just after the turn from the 19th to the 20th century.) Guhrke isn't afraid to take chances. Didn't much like the Big Misunderstanding and had a little bit of a stalker type vibe from the hero.

I have a hard time tolerating any behavior from a hero that would be unacceptable in a villain. I wasn't always best pleased with the heroine either.

Still a really good read. ( )

Don't let the cover fool you, this book doesn't take place in the 1980s as you might expect, but instead takes place in turn of the century England. The storyline follows a pretty classic romance novel storyline: boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl separate, girl moves on, boy returns, girl feels torn between safe new love and exciting old love. We all know what happens at the end of these books, but just in case you don't know, I won't spoil it for you here, but you'll learn after you get a few dozen romance novels under your belt. Like I said, we all know what will happen at the end of romances, but that isn't really the point, romances are all about he journey and the characters. The journey and the characters in Wedding of the Season aren't half bad. The two love interests are a little whitebread (the book needed a good villain, or something to spice it up a bit) but still good semi-interesting people you can root for. The setting of coastal England was gorgeous...

To read the full review over at The Book Buff, click here: http://thebookbuff.blogspot.com/2011/02/wedding-of-season.html

-Kate the Book Buff ( )

Disappointing book. Beatrice and Will were once engaged but the engagement was broken two weeks before the wedding when Will had the opportunity to go to Egypt to excavate (his life long dream). Will assumed Beatrice would go with him but she doesn't want to go so the engagement is broken. Years later Will returns to England to try to find money to continue the excavation. Beatrice is engaged to a new man at this point, a decent man that she does not love but cares for. Beatrice and Will run into each other and sparks begin to fly again.

I was disappointed with this book because I felt that Will was a very selfish character. He took his entire inheritance and spent it on an excavation and just left his estates to deal with themselves (he was a duke and inherited while he was in Egypt). This wasn't mentioned that much but I felt he had an obligation that he just ignored. Beatrice was more interesting. Because of her family history, she was afraid of taking a lot of risks and I really identified with her. She was trying to find her own life within the structure society had placed around her, which was pretty intriguing. I never really rooted for the romance between the two. There was a definite attraction but they didn't seem to have much in common. Neither ever really considered compromising or even talking with each other before making decisions. The ending felt very forced because the two got together in the last few pages of the book when everything wrapped up a little too neatly. ( )

WEDDING OF THE SEASON by Laura Lee Guhrke is a delightful historical romance set in 1900 England. It is the first in Abandoned at the Altar. It is well written with depth,details,fast paced,with twists and turns. It has passion, archeology,sweet sensuality, adventure, romance, forgiveness, trust, courage, responsibilities, and motorcars. The heroine, Beatrice, is beautiful, predictable,intelligent, charming, raised to be a Lady, has been in love with the hero,Will, since childhood, was engaged to him. Their engagement was broken when Will chose his lifetime dream of finding King Tut's tome in Egypt over Beatrice's dream of family and children in England. Will, handsome, adventurous, an archaeologist, a Duke, in love with Beatrice since childhood, believed she wanted the same thing as he with adventure and a love of archeology. But when she refuses to leave England,and her father to follow him to Egypt that dream is lost until he returns some six years later. Her father and his are dead, Beatrice is engaged to someone else.Although, they try to refuse their feelings for each other, it doesn't take long for Will to realize all may not be lost after all. He has returned to England to find additional funding for his dig in Egypt.Beatrice's fiancee is no love match,but based on respect, and mutual companionship. When Will and Beatrice are found in each other's embrace, the fiancee breaks off the engagement. What is left is a passion between Will and Beatrice. Will is determined to win Beatrice's heart again. But time is not on their side. For Will will have to leave England for Egypt sooner than he had expected. Beatrice still refuses to marry him or go to Egypt with him. Will the heart win over the brain? or will Beatrice be left behind again by Will? Love can conquer all if truly given the chance. This is a story of love from childhood through adulthood, the many sacrifices, hurts and longing. Will one man give up his dream of finding King Tut's tomb and Archeology in order to live his life with his one true love? and Will one woman give up her dream of a family of her own, her love of her country, and the land for the adventure of following her heart and her one true love?In order to find out you MUST read this book for it will capture your heart. I would recommend this book especially if you enjoy history, true love, passion and adventure. This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and details can be found at Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins and My Book Addiction and More. ( )