Once Upon a Blind Date

Rating:
Summary: What a Waste of the Chickalini Name!!
Review: Having read The Nine Month Plan first and absolutely loving it, I got online the next day and purchased Once Upon A Blind Date. I enjoy reading Wendy Markham's writing style making this the 4th book of hers I've ever read. I also knew Dom Chickalini's character from the "Plan" and wanted to continue reading about a family I had already gotten to know. (If you know what I mean.)

Well, I hate to be the one to tell you but don't waste your money!!

I was completely disappointed on both counts. Let me just say that I didn't even read past page 72 except to skim thru. Yes, I know the story is mainly about Maggie and Charlie but I purchased the book thinking that as a sub-plot I would find out if Dominic lived happily ever after in his own little world. Hell, I think I wanted to find out if Dominic ever grows up to be the responsible adult he should be. With Maggie trying to hook him up with Julie because she thinks it's what Dom needs, you are never get a chance to find out what Dominic WANTS! When she finally succeeds in getting Dom and Julie together for a one-on-one date we as the reader have to hear about in through conversation with Dom and Maggie and also Charlie and Julie later on in the story. We're not even privy to the date itself!! But, Dominic never grows up, he's just a playboy who in difference to what you were led to believe in the "Plan" doesn't manage the pizza place anymore since Nina decided to. Obviously Nina knew he couldn't handle the responsibility! But if you're going to include a character from a previous book at least let them be a character in the book. She would have been better off just making up a new character instead of leading the Chickalini fans on like that.

But, now on to Maggie...she's an uptight bitch. For her not to even realize that Julie and Dom don't get along just shows how much she has invested in that friendship. Then she spends all her time saying why she can't be with Charlie. I've had friends who have done this before and as they sit there and talk about him you just know that she's completely in love no matter what she says! Dom shows himself as being a better friend than Maggie when he keeps pointing it out to her!

Overall I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

*Mini-Spoiler*
If you're only interested in the Chickalini family and that's why you're picking up this book...all you need to know follows! Dom doesn't manage the pizza place, Nina does! He doesn't fall in love and he's still completely irresponsible. Nina and Joe finally go on their honeymoon to Europe (they take the kids with them). The little sister is pregnant and whining about everything like the brat she is. And the younger brother is in college. Nina and Joe have adopted his little kid and are raising it for him. (What a family!)

Rating:
Summary: A fun tale with a humorous matchmaking twist.
Review: In New York City, Dominic Chickalini and Maggie O'Mulligan are best buddies even if she becomes upset when he wants her to do wifely things like picking up his cleaning. She informs her pal that he needs a spouse and decides to find him one.

In lower Manhattan, Charlie Kennely and Julie Purello are best buddies. As a relationship advice columnist Charlie believes that Julie's life is all work and no fun since an engagement ended. He informs his pal that she needs a spouse and decides to find her one.

Maggie and Charlie complete the questionnaire for their respective pals at Matchmocha asking for mates in Manhattan, the boroughs except for the dangerous Bronx and too far away Staten Island. The matchmaking company pairs Dominic and Julie. They are accompanied by their matchmaker when they meet at Madison Square Garden. This is love at first sight except not for Dominic or Julie. They have nothing in common including no spark. On the other hand, Maggie and Charlie, who respectively filled in the likes and dislikes for their pals, go at it from the first moment as enemy combatants falling in love.

Though her friend's acceptance of Maggie's insistent pushing of Julie on Dominic seems out of character for a person who easily would tell her to bug off, fans will enjoy this amusing matchmaking romance gone awry. The key to this Manhattan (and somewhat Queens) madness is that the four characters seem real with unique personalities. ONCE UPON A BLIND DATE is a fun tale with a humorous matchmaking twist.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A fun tale with a humorous matchmaking twist.
Review: In New York City, Dominic Chickalini and Maggie O'Mulligan are best buddies even if she becomes upset when he wants her to do wifely things like picking up his cleaning. She informs her pal that he needs a spouse and decides to find him one.

In lower Manhattan, Charlie Kennely and Julie Purello are best buddies. As a relationship advice columnist Charlie believes that Julie's life is all work and no fun since an engagement ended. He informs his pal that she needs a spouse and decides to find her one.

Maggie and Charlie complete the questionnaire for their respective pals at Matchmocha asking for mates in Manhattan, the boroughs except for the dangerous Bronx and too far away Staten Island. The matchmaking company pairs Dominic and Julie. They are accompanied by their matchmaker when they meet at Madison Square Garden. This is love at first sight except not for Dominic or Julie. They have nothing in common including no spark. On the other hand, Maggie and Charlie, who respectively filled in the likes and dislikes for their pals, go at it from the first moment as enemy combatants falling in love.

Though her friend's acceptance of Maggie's insistent pushing of Julie on Dominic seems out of character for a person who easily would tell her to bug off, fans will enjoy this amusing matchmaking romance gone awry. The key to this Manhattan (and somewhat Queens) madness is that the four characters seem real with unique personalities. ONCE UPON A BLIND DATE is a fun tale with a humorous matchmaking twist.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: reads like a movie
Review: Lately I've been in a "reading rut" and decided to branch outside of my box. I've never read a romance novel so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explore this genre. I've read this author under the name of Wendy Corsi Staub and loved each book. This book did not disappoint me.

It's a romantic comedy about finding love when you least expect it. While reading this book I could picture the characters in my head and have been trying to figure out which actors/actresses could play the parts.

If you're looking for a light, fast read, this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: reads like a movie
Review: Lately I've been in a "reading rut" and decided to branch outside of my box. I've never read a romance novel so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explore this genre. I've read this author under the name of Wendy Corsi Staub and loved each book. This book did not disappoint me.

It's a romantic comedy about finding love when you least expect it. While reading this book I could picture the characters in my head and have been trying to figure out which actors/actresses could play the parts.

If you're looking for a light, fast read, this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent representative of the romance genre
Review: ONCE UPON A BLIND DATE is an excellent representative of the romance genre. The genre itself has certain limitations, most particularly, the obvious and linear happy ending to which these stories all lead. Largely for this reason, most romance novels prove boring and predictable.

Still, within the formula, author Wendy Markham does an excellent job with ONCE UPON A BLIND DATE. Her writing is sprightly and interesting.

As a snapshot of time and place, Markham gets her premise perfectly. The moment is the cutting edge of the present, with the blind date being arranged through an Internet matchmaking service.

The place is New York and, as a native myself, I can assert that Markham gets the scene exactly right, so much so that I could taste that pizza.

I will be pleased to read Wendy Markham's other books and, about a romance writer, that is not something which is said easily.

Rating:
Summary: I've read better, I've read worse
Review: Once Upon a Blind Date is my first book by Wendy Markham. In the end analysis I would say I've read better, I've read worse. The premise of the story grew thin after a while and I'm not sure how much I really liked Maggie. She was so domineering. But then, she did make realistic changes as the story went on.

I'm sure I'll read more by her but I will get to other authors first.

Rating:
Summary: Once Upon Reading...
Review: Since "The Nine Month Plan" was awesome, I decided to pick up and read this book. For some reason, I thought it was a sequel?? It's not (really). Sure it has Dom in it from the "Plan" but other than mentioning a few lines about the others... there is no true connection! If I had just picked this up and read it out of the blue... it would have been a good love story! Has a great story line, wonderful characters, but does drag a little. Other than being disappointed that it isn't a true sequel, it was a good read!

Rating:
Summary: Matchmakers become the matchees in this caper.
Review: _Once Upon A Blind Date_ was truly a joy to read. Maggie O'Mulligan decides to find her best friend, Dominic, the wife he (sort of) wants. He is a fabulous catch but the sparks just aren't there for the two of them. Meanwhile across town, Charlie Kennelly thinks his favorite neighbor, Julie, could stand to get back into the dating scene. She's an amazing pastry chef that would be perfect for some guy...just not Charlie. Charlie was practically left at the alter and has decided that he doesn't want to settle down. He writes the `Bachelor at Large' column for a women's magazine.

Maggie completes Dom's profile (as a `old fashioned' guy looking for an `old-fashioned' girl) on an online dating service, and then she starts contacting other singles. Charlie and Julie review the first batch of responses to the profile Charlie filled out for her. Poor Julie is a little put off by all the nuts that respond. Until she sees Dom's. Charlie convinces her to plan on the two of them meeting in a public place and they can each bring a friend. Dom wants to go with the guys to the Knicks game but Maggie schedules his date for that night. Julie (at Charlie's suggestion) sends over the tickets for where they are supposed to meet up...the Knick's game. Never mind that Julie doesn't know or care for Basketball; Charlie knows this is how she can score points with him. Dom and Maggie get the tickets while they are at work. Dom is excited since the seats are better than where his friend's were and Maggie is confused why an `old-fashioned' girl would plan a first meeting at a basketball game.

Needless to say once everyone meets up, it's obvious that two chaperones have more in common than Dom and Julie. The story flows from one fatal date to another as the matchmakers refuse to give up. Somewhere along the way, they start spending personal time together and boy do the sparks fly!!!! Maggie and Charlie ride a roller coaster on the way to end of the story. It's fun to take the ride with them. Not once did I think, "enough already or get to the good stuff." I felt like the whole story was the good stuff.

Wendy Markhan has a nice writing style that flips between the characters seamlessly. It's frustrating when an author tries to write from the various points of view with a bias towards one character. In _Once Upon..._ there wasn't any awkward transitions. None of the characters were dislikeable which is a breath of fresh air. Not every story needs a witch or jerk to make a character appreciate their "true" love. Sometime people just don't mesh.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading _The Nine Month Plan_, which is sitting on my bookcase.

Rating:
Summary: Matchmakers become the matchees in this caper.
Review: _Once Upon A Blind Date_ was truly a joy to read. Maggie O'Mulligan decides to find her best friend, Dominic, the wife he (sort of) wants. He is a fabulous catch but the sparks just aren't there for the two of them. Meanwhile across town, Charlie Kennelly thinks his favorite neighbor, Julie, could stand to get back into the dating scene. She's an amazing pastry chef that would be perfect for some guy...just not Charlie. Charlie was practically left at the alter and has decided that he doesn't want to settle down. He writes the 'Bachelor at Large' column for a women's magazine.

Maggie completes Dom's profile (as a 'old fashioned' guy looking for an 'old-fashioned' girl) on an online dating service, and then she starts contacting other singles. Charlie and Julie review the first batch of responses to the profile Charlie filled out for her. Poor Julie is a little put off by all the nuts that respond. Until she sees Dom's. Charlie convinces her to plan on the two of them meeting in a public place and they can each bring a friend. Dom wants to go with the guys to the Knicks game but Maggie schedules his date for that night. Julie (at Charlie's suggestion) sends over the tickets for where they are supposed to meet up...the Knick's game. Never mind that Julie doesn't know or care for Basketball; Charlie knows this is how she can score points with him. Dom and Maggie get the tickets while they are at work. Dom is excited since the seats are better than where his friend's were and Maggie is confused why an 'old-fashioned' girl would plan a first meeting at a basketball game.

Needless to say once everyone meets up, it's obvious that two chaperones have more in common than Dom and Julie. The story flows from one fatal date to another as the matchmakers refuse to give up. Somewhere along the way, they start spending personal time together and boy do the sparks fly!!!! Maggie and Charlie ride a roller coaster on the way to end of the story. It's fun to take the ride with them. Not once did I think, "enough already or get to the good stuff." I felt like the whole story was the good stuff.

Wendy Markhan has a nice writing style that flips between the characters seamlessly. It's frustrating when an author tries to write from the various points of view with a bias towards one character. In _Once Upon..._ there wasn't any awkward transitions. None of the characters were dislikeable which is a breath of fresh air. Not every story needs a witch or jerk to make a character appreciate their "true" love. Sometime people just don't mesh.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading _The Nine Month Plan_, which is sitting on my bookcase.