Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Delightful and entertaining Review: At St. Mary's Catholic Church, Matt waits for his fiancée Francie Morelli to walk down the aisle. However, Francie stops short, realizes she cannot do it and for the third time jilted a groom. She flees to Niagara Falls where her gay roommate Leo set up her if she needed an escape. Matt's stepbrother arrives having flown in from the Philippines as Francie flees. When photojournalist Mark Fielding learns what happened, he feels for Matt and vows vengeance.While Matt and their parents are in Hawaii, Mark begins the plan of seducing Francie, proposing marriage, and jilting her. He arrives at Ted Baxter Promotions where Francie works as a public relations specialist to hire the firm to promote his first book. As he and Francie begin dating, her honesty and her remorse for hurting her three fiancés shock him. Soon Mark loves Francie and she reciprocates, but he knows he must first tell her the truth, that is after he breaks the news to Matt. The opening of a new imprint has to be a duel edged sword, as the writer must feel honored yet fearful of flipping the audience out before the line gains credibility. However, Flipside obviously knew what it was doing when it chose Millie Criswell to launch a lighthearted look at romance, relationships, and love. STAYING SINGLE stars a delightful protagonist, who keeps saying yes due to pressures from a boy friend and her mother the Terminator to marry. Though Mark seems too intelligent to implement the plan he concocted (most sensible people would dream of doing it), fans will enjoy this cheerful contemporary tale. Harriet Klausner
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Delightful and entertaining Review: At St. Mary's Catholic Church, Matt waits for his fiancée Francie Morelli to walk down the aisle. However, Francie stops short, realizes she cannot do it and for the third time jilted a groom. She flees to Niagara Falls where her gay roommate Leo set up her if she needed an escape. Matt's stepbrother arrives having flown in from the Philippines as Francie flees. When photojournalist Mark Fielding learns what happened, he feels for Matt and vows vengeance. While Matt and their parents are in Hawaii, Mark begins the plan of seducing Francie, proposing marriage, and jilting her. He arrives at Ted Baxter Promotions where Francie works as a public relations specialist to hire the firm to promote his first book. As he and Francie begin dating, her honesty and her remorse for hurting her three fiancés shock him. Soon Mark loves Francie and she reciprocates, but he knows he must first tell her the truth, that is after he breaks the news to Matt. The opening of a new imprint has to be a duel edged sword, as the writer must feel honored yet fearful of flipping the audience out before the line gains credibility. However, Flipside obviously knew what it was doing when it chose Millie Criswell to launch a lighthearted look at romance, relationships, and love. STAYING SINGLE stars a delightful protagonist, who keeps saying yes due to pressures from a boy friend and her mother the Terminator to marry. Though Mark seems too intelligent to implement the plan he concocted (most sensible people would dream of doing it), fans will enjoy this cheerful contemporary tale. Harriet Klausner
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Revenge gone awry Review: Francesca had been engaged three times, and each time was a disaster - she ended up leaving each groom at the altar as she literally ran away. After standing up her third prospective groom, Francesca has decided that she's staying single, no matter how her mother tries to push her into another marriage! The third groom, however, has a step-brother who wants to serve up a little revenge to Francesca. If Mark Felding, a photographer for the AP, has his way, Francesca will become engaged once more, except this time, SHE will be the one left at the altar! I loved the idea behind the book - if this had happened to our relatives (or heaven forbid, happened to us), who wouldn't fantasize about a little revenge? I don't know anyone irl who would go THROUGH with it, but in the book, Mark was determined to try! The thing that bothered me most about the book, however, was how Francesca just let her mother bowl her over and bully her into a decision as monumental as marriage. You'd think after the first, or even the second time, around, she'd tell her mother that it was her life and she would live it the way she wanted and marry who she wanted, if she married at all. I never liked Francesca, because she never really thought about the consequences of her actions, and she seemed like an airhead. Personally, I would have liked it better if Mark really had ditched her at the altar ;) Nevertheless, I did get a few laughs out the book, and things all turned out happily in the end. Still, the book warrants three stars only in my opinion, and I'm not keeping this book around.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Revenge gone awry Review: Francesca had been engaged three times, and each time was a disaster - she ended up leaving each groom at the altar as she literally ran away. After standing up her third prospective groom, Francesca has decided that she's staying single, no matter how her mother tries to push her into another marriage! The third groom, however, has a step-brother who wants to serve up a little revenge to Francesca. If Mark Felding, a photographer for the AP, has his way, Francesca will become engaged once more, except this time, SHE will be the one left at the altar! I loved the idea behind the book - if this had happened to our relatives (or heaven forbid, happened to us), who wouldn't fantasize about a little revenge? I don't know anyone irl who would go THROUGH with it, but in the book, Mark was determined to try! The thing that bothered me most about the book, however, was how Francesca just let her mother bowl her over and bully her into a decision as monumental as marriage. You'd think after the first, or even the second time, around, she'd tell her mother that it was her life and she would live it the way she wanted and marry who she wanted, if she married at all. I never liked Francesca, because she never really thought about the consequences of her actions, and she seemed like an airhead. Personally, I would have liked it better if Mark really had ditched her at the altar ;) Nevertheless, I did get a few laughs out the book, and things all turned out happily in the end. Still, the book warrants three stars only in my opinion, and I'm not keeping this book around.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: A New Comedy Line Debuts Review: Francesca Morelli has an overbearing mother and a growing list of ditched-at-the-alter grooms. Mark Fielding's brother was the last man she'd love and left hanging. He's out for revenge. But his thoughts turn to something else entirely as he grows to know Francesca...could it be love? Millie Criswell's Staying Single is the fun first in Harlequin's new comedy line, Flipside.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: A New Comedy Line Debuts Review: Francesca Morelli has an overbearing mother and a growing list of ditched-at-the-alter grooms. Mark Fielding's brother was the last man she'd love and left hanging. He's out for revenge. But his thoughts turn to something else entirely as he grows to know Francesca...could it be love? Millie Criswell's Staying Single is the fun first in Harlequin's new comedy line, Flipside.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Revenge Can Be Sweet Review: Francie Morelli just could not make that walk down the aisle so she left the groom standing at the alter - and he's the third man she's done this to. It's just a coincidence, but it seems she has a problem with guys whose names begin with the letter 'M', the latest being Matt Carlson. The poor grooms have all loved Francie and were humiliated and hurt, Matt maybe even more than the others. Matt's brother Mark (another 'M' name) is really angry and plots revenge. He was Matt's best man and late to the 'almost' wedding and hasn't met Francie, but he's going to stick around, seduce her and make her fall in love with him. Then he's going to drop her at the aisle to give her a taste of what she's been dishing out to these poor guys. He's going to teach her a lesson alright - HA! He hasn't met her yet and has no idea who he's dealing with . I found Francie Morelli a little too much on the 'flaky' side to be realistic, but maybe it's my background and environment talking. She's gorgeous, sexy, and passionate and is so sweet she draws Mark to her like a bee to honey. True, her Italian mamma is a steamroller who has weddings planned before Francie even meets the prospective groom and she doesn't hear Francie saying No, No, No! I think after two trips to the altar though Francie could have asked her mamma what part of No she doesn't understand and refused to take the walk a third time. After this third time she vows never again - She is staying single!! What is it they say about never say never? Hmmm ... Francie will soon find out. Mark Carlson is a great leading character; smart, handsome, great sense of humor, loyal to his family, loving, and rich. Secondary players introduced are not what you call your everyday folks and are on the outrageous side, all of which make STAYING SINGLE a fun, sensuous read that will bring chuckles throughout the story. It will remind Ms. Criswell's fans of her 'Little Italy' series with the dialogue and culture. It's a great debut to introduce Harlequin's new line called Flipside, which is replacing the current Duet line. Watch for it this month and take it home for a fun time. Carol Carter - As posted at Romance Reviews Today
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Sweet, romantic revenge! Review: Francie Morelli will have Julia Roberts make a run for her money. She has become the proverbial Runaway Bride -- and she has done it for the third time. But Mark Fielding won't let her get away with hurting his jilted stepbrother. He has a plan of seduction that will lure Francie to the altar... and then he will turn the tables on the heartless witch. However, things don't go as smoothly as he had planned... Millie Criswell's Staying Single has all the right ingredients for a lighthearted romantic comedy -- humor, wit and, of course, tender romance. This book is quite the entertaining little gem -- another winner from Harlequin Flipside. I highly recommend this to all romance enthusiasts.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: My first Harlequin Review: I've been looking for something different to read and stumbled across The Harlequin Flipside series. Never one to read books like this, I decided may be this is what I've been looking for. The book reminded me of Runaway Bride at the beginning, but soon took a turn to become more original. Parts of the book seemed far-fetched, but overall I was not disappointed. I plan to continue reading more of the Flipside books.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: A funny and sweet romance Review: Staying Single is a wonderful blend of romance and comedy. Our leading lady, Francie, seems to find herself at the alter on quite a few occasions (three!), but can't seem to go through with getting married. After leaving her third beau at the alter, Francie decides to get away for awhile to avoid another talking-to from her mother. Enter Mark, a photographer and step-brother of the third man Francie left at the altar. Mark has decided that he is going to teach Francie a lesson. He plans to sweep her off her feet, ask her to marry him, and then leave her at the altar! The last thing on Mark's mind is that he actually may be attracted to Francie... Staying Single was a fun book to read and had me laughing out loud in a few spots. A five star book all the way! A Harlequin Dreamers review by Sandra Sherman
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