Reviews: Two Weddings and a Baby (3)

This authoress usually writes a Christmas themed story( which I eagerly await each xmas!!) This time she surprises us with a summer read, a what a sizzler!! Scarlett delivers EVERY time!. This story will have you gripped until; the end and has abit of everything in it, Romance, intrigue and a mystery threading throughout the book. It should be a MUST on everyone''s summer reading list!

Review: so exciting to have a summer release from Scarlet Bailey this year. I don't know how the queen of Christmas managed to squeeze it in but she has done it again! This is an awesome story, completely addictive and something that everyone must read. One of the best things about this story is that it carries on from where we left Poldore in this authors latest Christmas work and so we get to catch up with old friends, in particular the loveable Buoy who saves the day constantly and of course, the lovely Alex who I'm sure you'll have fallen in love with if you've read the previous novel. If you are planning on reading Just For Christmas and haven't already, then you should read that first because this book will be full of spoilers. If you don't want to read Just For Christmas (although you should-it's awesome) then this works perfectly as a stand alone novel. If, like me, you've been excited about this novel since you read Just For Christmas, then you won't be disappointed by the turnout in this fab story!

There is drama galore in this book. We have storms destroying towns, lost babies, but who is the mother? Wedding dresses that have to be created at the drop of a hat and warring siblings who may or may not make it up by the big day! And that's just in the first chapter! Honestly, if you're looking for a book with more twists and turns than the Monaco racetrack then you've found it here! At no point though, do you feel as if anything is unrealistic or simply sensationalist, all of the events in this book could have happened, and as you get deeper into the storyline, gasping at each page turn, you will be so absorbed in the story that of course you'll know that the vicar is going to have a whole cupboard full of dirty secrets that form a key to one of the plot twists!

The characters in the novel are great. As well as the old favourites from the previous book we get to meet the sexy new vicar who is also a dab hand at changing nappies. Tamsyn who has just returned to Poldore from Paris and who has a complete personality transfer over the course of the book. The verger Catriona Merryweather (what an awesome name!) who has some serious secrets of her own and of course baby Mo who you will instantly fall in love with. These guys merge really well with the other characters in the novel and each play a major part in tying the whole story together.

You honestly won't be able to put this book down, so keen will you be to find out what happens next. There is a storing message of friendship and family that runs throughout the novel and of course there is the wonderful setting in Poldore which will have you aching for the sea! You will gasp, you will laugh and you will find yourself willing two characters to hurry up and get it on already. A fab book for summer from the wonderful Scarlet Bailey!

I have to hold up my hands and admit that I've not read any of the previous Scarlett Bailey novels, but I do adore the books that she writes under her real name of Rowan Coleman. I'm not sure how I've missed these books before, I'm guessing that it's because they've all been Christmas themed and although I always intend to read themed books in December, I rarely get around to it. I'm sorry Scarlett/Rowan, I'll do my best to catch up, I promise!

Two Weddings and a Baby features the cast from one of the previous novels; Just For Christmas. I didn't realise that, and it certainly doesn't matter - this is easily read as a standalone story.

Tamsyn Thorne has returned to her home town of Poldore in Cornwall for her brother's wedding. It's clear that there is some bad feeling between them and the reader soon learns why. Tamsyn is a strong character, she says exactly what pops into her head, pulling no punches and often offending .... but I liked that .... I especially loved the conversations between Tamsyn and her twin four-year-old nephews.

"What do you want from me? I've got no sweets, no toys, no money, nothing. I'm no good to you."
"To be honest, I'd rather wear something nylon and with an elasticated waist than go anywhere near your sleeping bag. You have the personal hygiene habits of, well, a four-year-old boy, to be fair."

Tamsyn's return to Poldore is the beginning of a warm, funny and very entertaining read. Expertly paced, the writing flows so well and the characters are really vivid and recognisable as real human beings - warts and all.

As Tamsyn arrives home, so does a violent and quite terrifying storm that affects the whole town, also making an appearance is a sexy and fairly mysterious vicar and a one-day-old baby girl who floats upon the floodwater in a Moses basket.

I'm not going to go over the plot, but suffice to say it contains a little bit of everything and works very well; there are family relationships, romances, rivalries and jealousies, old scores, new loves, storms, babies and oh those twins!

Two Weddings and a Baby is a story with a bit of a wallop and I enjoyed every excellently written page, I hope that Scarlett Bailey decides to write more about the residents of Poldore - I'd love to find out more.