Kathleen Eagle
Once Upon a Wedding (2002)
Author: Kathleen Eagle
Genre: Romance/Contemporary
Plot Summary:
Rosemary, Camille, and Jordan are three generations of the DeLonga family and are living under the same roof because grandmother Rosemary has cancer and can't live on her own and Rosemary's granddaughter, Jordan, has dropped out of school and can't afford to live alone on her teacher's aide salary. At Camille's best friend's daughter's wedding, Jordan reconnects with James, whom she had a crush on as a child. Quickly, Jordan and James become involved and get engaged. Camille must now plan a wedding. As part of the wedding, Jordan's father, a Lakota named Creed, comes back to Minnesota. Camille and Creed's marriage didn't last long, but neither has gotten remarried. As Camille plans Jordan's wedding, she is thrown together with Creed and it becomes clear the passion that led them to fall in love is still there. Her two best friends have opposite opinions on what to do about Creed; one says to go for it while the other, going through a painful divorce, says not to trust him. As Jordan's wedding gets closer, Camille finds herself struggling against her head, her heart, and her friends when it comes Creed.
Geographical Setting: small town Minnesota
Time Period: present day
Appeal Characteristics:
The novel is an easy read, though it does deal with issues like cancer and divorce. The romance "formula" is there, but with a twist, in two storylines. Camille met Creed, they liked each other, got married, had Jordan, then the marriage fell apart. They've been divorced for many years and now that their daughter is getting married, they have reconnected. The book doesn't say they will live happily ever after, but you get the feeling that because they're older and wiser that maybe they can work it out this time. There's also a romance "formula" in the storyline of Jordan and James. Jordan had a crush on James when they were younger and it turns out, James, at least, has fond memories of Jordan as a child. They reconnect at James's sister's wedding, thrown together as bridesmaid and groomsman. Sparks fly and quickly, they are engaged. They do have one small fight in the story, but it's clear they love each other and may live happily ever after, having learned something from their parents' mistakes. This story might appeal to older readers because Camille is not a young or buxom woman. She is well into her 40s and admits that she's gained some weight since she was married. She is independent, making her living as an artist. She lives with her daughter and mother for financial and physical reasons, respectively, and that unconventional life, which is becoming more conventional in society, might appeal to readers. This is a character-driven story with lots of dialogue. The main characters and their relationships with each other are very well-written and realistic. The story isn't just about romantic love; it deals with familial and friendship love so it is emotionally engaging on more than one level. Though it's clear that Camille and Creed will end up together, it doesn't happen all at once which makes the story somewhat compelling to read. There are fun aspects of the book: the planning of the first wedding in the story impacts the planning of Jordan's wedding. There are some funny scenes with the wedding planner and with the bridemaids' dresses. There are also touching scenes with Creed and Rosemary and Creed and Jordan.
Read-alikes: Kathleen Eagle is married to a Lakota Sioux and her novel What the Heart Knows features two lovers, Helen, a white woman, and Reese, a Sioux Indian, similar to the characters of Camille and Creed in Once Upon a Wedding facing a challenge that has kept them apart for years, but it might be overcome and allow them to be together. Another of Eagle's books, A View of the River, follows another interracial couple. Rochelle and Birch knew each other as youngsters, but lost touch. Rochelle and Birch are thrown together when Birch is asked by Rochelle's aunt to cleanse a home of spirits. This story has mysticism that Once Upon a Wedding didn't have, but still has older characters reconnecting for a chance at love. Readers that enjoyed the occasionnally funny event that is planning a wedding might enjoy Otherwise Engaged by Suzanne Finnamore which features a bride overwhelmed by her plans. This is a lighthearted, humorous tale, featuring a main character who is realistic and successful. Another humorous story is I Do, (But I Don't) by Cara Lockwood. The main character is a divorced wedding planner who hasn't been lucky in love lately. She meets a man and sparks fly, but she finds out that he is one of the grooms she's planning a wedding for. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks is about a man helping to plan his daughter's wedding while realizing that he might be losing his wife and the rekindling of a romance may appeal to readers who liked Eagle's Camille and Creed.
Red Flags: There are a few curse words and one suggested sex scene.
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