• 
• 
• 

A Fireproof Home for the Bride
by Amy Scheibe

Set in the Midwest in the 1950's, "A Fireproof Home for the Bride" is a story of 18 year-old Emmaline Nelson, the eldest child of a Lutheran farming family. Her pious, ultra-traditional and secretive mother encourages her to accept the attentions of a wealthy neighbor boy Ambrose to whom Emmy was betrothed as a child. They have grown up together as playmates, and she feels she knows all there is to know about him. However, under the influence of a biased racist Mr. Davidson, whom Ambrose greatly admires, the young man has become a disciple of a group similar to the Ku Klux Klan. At the same time, Emmy has become the object of the attention of an Irish Catholic lad, Bobby Doyle, whom her mother forbids her to see. Both suitors exert immense pressure on her, and eventually something happens that leads Emmy to reject the option of marrying young.

Although the book starts slowly, at the end there is a lot of action, including assault, abuse, pregnancy, kidnapping, drugging, arson, and prejudice-based violence. Parts are difficult to follow, particularly the biological relationship between some of the characters. Although it is rather lengthy and requires attention to details, it was recommended in a recent issue of People magazine which caught my attention.


The Wedding Dress
by Rachel Hauck

As is obvious from the title "The Wedding Dress", this novel focuses on one very exquisite, handmade wedding gown first designed in 1912 and worn by society bride Emily Canton in Birmingham, Alabama. There are two problems, however. Although the dress is exactly what Emily wants for this important day, it is the work of a black seamstress; and for that reason her parents deem it inappropriate for their desire for upward mobility. After all she will be marrying Philip Saltonstall, the son of a very prominent Southern family. In fact, Philip has forbidden her to wear the dress.

Her more significant conflict, however, involves a former beau and best friend, Daniel Ludlow, who returns after an absence of six months. Daniel's sudden arrival stirs up uncertainty regarding her choice of a husband. I will leave it to the reader to learn how Emily handles her dilemma and also how the gown finds its way to the second bride.

Mary Grace is married in it in 1939 to her beau immediately before he is shipped off to combat. This is an entirely second plot which the author seamlessly works into the story by way of the wedding dress. After Mary, Hillary follows in her wedding in 1968. In total the dress will be worn by four brides over the span of a century.

The last girl, Charlotte Malone, will come across it accidentally in an old trunk she purchases at an auction. The lid of the trunk has been soldered to the base so that it is no easy task to get it open. Eager to know its contents, she calls upon her best friend Tim, despite the fact that they have recently broken up as a couple. Together they will be amazed and puzzled to find inside, this timeless pearl-encrusted satin wedding dress as fresh as the day it was made, as well as military dog tags enclosed in a small sachet pouch. Now will begin the mystery of the gown's history. This is a carefully woven tale of four brave and determined women separated by years, but all of whom have had their share of doubt, disappointment, conflict, and tragedy. Moreover, it is a romantic story about the difficulty of finding true love, but its abiding endurance once found.


The Rumor
by Elin Hilderbrand

The setting is Nantucket where all the islanders know each other. Best friends, author Madeline King and Grace Pancik share their time together as well as and their deepest secrets. Grace's husband "Fast Eddy" is a real estate developer whose business is doing badly although he temporarily maintains their lavish lifestyle and has given Grace permission to embark on a very expensive landscape garden project, which becomes the focus of her attention. Enter Benton, the renowned horticulturist whom they hire, who also becomes the focus of Grace's attention. Their behavior together starts tongues wagging and, as in any small town, gossip brews.

This is not the only "news" of the summer. Madeline, suffering severe writer's block and feeling pressure to make her publisher's deadline for a new book, rents an apartment downtown, believing that the time away from her busy household will provide the necessary quiet and inspiration to come up with something fresh. When town-folk observe "Fast Eddy" entering Madeline's temporary residence, more eyebrows are raised.

There are other sub-plots involving Madeline's son Brick and Grace's daughter Allegra, both teenagers. Their friends are also talking about Allegra's cheating and other outrageous behavior with another boy. Moreover, to make up for his flagging business, Fast Eddie will embark on an illegal and scandalous money-making scheme. The main conflict in this novel, however, is when Madeline resorts to using the gossip about her friend Grace and the landscaper Benton for the plot of her new novel.

Despite personal distress and feelings of betrayal, Madeline continues the book to completion when her agent, very pleased with the results, is eager to publish it. This, she knows, will end her most treasured friendship with Grace, since the characters in her book are very thinly veiled. This is a good summer read, light and gossipy.

Donna DeLeo Bruno is a native Bristolian and a retired teacher of writing and literature. She now splits her time between Bristol and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where she gives book reviews at the local library as well as at book clubs and women's clubs. Her book "One Who Reads Is Always Booked" is scheduled to be released in fall 2016, with a second title coming out in winter 2016.