Rating: 
Summary: As good as it gets
Review: Ten years ago, Matt Starr jilted Lily at the altar because he feared commitment. While she waited for his arrival at the church, he drove off on his motorcycle and with no capital began the now very successful Digitech. Forty-nine weeks ago, he joined much of the firm on an Extreme Vacation where the guide turned out to be Lily. Matt immediately decides that he wants Lily at his side forever and begins a campaign to regain her trust. Three weeks from now, Matt and Lily will marry in Natchez, Mississippi because they never stopped loving each other.History repeats itself and Matt fails to show up again. However, this time three thugs abduct Matt. However, Matt's dog Gracie convinces Lily that this time Matt did not flee on his Harley. With normal and paranormal help, Lily begins searching for the missing groom. CHARMING LILY is a charming contemporary romantic suspense that is fun to read as amateur sleuths battle with amateur kidnappers with Matt being the prize. The cast makes the story line work to include an unnecessary but quite entertaining side bar into the paranormal that Fern Michaels cleverly fits into the main plot. Ms. Michaels charms her audience with this enticing novel. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: My Vacation Read
Review: The cottage I rented on my vacation held a copy of "Charming Lily" in it's very full bookcases. Why did I chose this over the great library in the Summer vacation house?
I knew the name Fern Michaels vaguely, and I had never read any of her books before. I figured it would be a light, easy to read and follow book that I could read in the five days I was there. Fern Michaels, I quote, "likes to write about strong women". The "Lily" of the title is a woman of small stature(from her description) but large on determination. I don't know about strength. The end of the story doesn't make her out to be such a strong woman. his is the one and only book I will read by Michaels just because of her quote because I don't agree with her at all that Lily was a strong woman. She was a kind hearted, and broken hearted woman who buckles under loves strap. Lily is stood up at the altar by the male romantic lead in the story, Matt Starr(a perfect male romantic lead name), she vows never to get involved again and moves on. Her and Sadie, her best friend since childhood, both embark on careers as Survival Camp Counselors. Matt is among one of the group Lily is leading in the beginning of the story, and it's been a few years since he blew her off at the altar.
The get involved again, and chaos ensues. Matt is kidnapped by three brothers who sound like something out of a gangster movie. He is saved after days of real "survival" by Lily, Sadie, and Matt's best friend, Dennis. Eventually it all ends tragically happy, like most romance novels. A charm called a "wish keeper" is worn around Lily's neck throughout most of the story, and she has the "seizures" that make her see the future and see things that are happening. That is how they all find Matt Starr. The secondary story aside from ooey gooey love kept me interested enough to keep reading.
Every character in the story gets what they eventually deserve depending on their circumstances throughout the story. It's a perfect book for people who like a nicely wrapped up ending, those that want closure are far below their reading level here. But at least you get form of closure.
The love story of this is very predictable, but like I said, it was light reading for summer vacation that was easy to get through in five days. Recommended for vacation read! Eileen Famiglietti
Rating: 
Summary: Totally wooden with really unattractive characters
Review: The dialogue in this book easily has to be the worst I have ever read. It is the sort you hear on really bad sci fi programs like the old Star Trek, where everything is explained in a really long winded fashion to give you the background information on who these character are and what their situation, likes and dislikes. Endless comments about wine, his clothes, prime rib being Matt's favorite meal, and the hole in the big toe of his sneaker are just not romance worthy and bog down an already dull book. His whole dumping her at the altar and second chance and engagement to Lily in the wilderness survival course, should have been shown, not told in a paragraph or two. Let alone dumping her at the altar again. Tedious. This author breaks every rule of good story telling and is really starting to show her sell by date. I am heartily sick of pseudo paranormal stuff in supposedly mainstream contemporary fiction. Is this really the only way they can solve the messes they put their characters in?
And not especially interesting characters at that? Where is heat, sensuality? I am also sick of books where the characters are rarely ever in the same room with each other, and only ever fighting most of the time even when they are. Also, if they are already in love then where is the romance? This novel fails on every level a romance needs to function, and it is total fluff so can't be labelled women's fiction. I would give it minus stars if I could, it is so mediocre.
Rating:
Summary: An absolutely charming story! Very highly recommended
Review: Thirty years old, Lily Harper has been left at the altar twice by the same man! Lily thinks that she should've known that Matt Starr would leave her at the altar again. All the signs had been there. She hadn't seen him in a month. He'd missed Christmas, barely called, and then put a million he put in her bank account for the kiss-off. Suits and ties are for others, and although he's the CEO of Digitech, Matt has no qualms about looking like a vagabond even though he has millions tucked in various accounts. Matt can't wait to marry the love of his life. When he leaves the Digitech offices on New Year's Eve, Matt plans to drive to Natchez along with his dog Gracie. Ten years ago he left Lily at the altar, but on New Year's Day, he's finally going to place his ring on her finger. Or so he thinks. But when Matt stops at an ATM on the edge of town, the nefarious activities of three well-dressed thieves results in his being kidnapped, drugged, and missing on his wedding day. Again. Best man and business partner Dennis finds it strange that no one picked him up at the airport. Closer to Matt than most brothers, Dennis staunchly believes Matt would never repeat his mistake of ten years ago. So when the beautiful Matt's dog mysteriously turns up nearly starved and obviously neglected, Dennis joins forces with Lily and best friend Sadie to find Matt. As tangled as the plot becomes, the subplot becomes even more fun as a necklace comes to Lily's hands. The "wish keeper" brings about extraordinary events, lending an element of magic to an already entrancing tale. Indeed, Fern Michael's charming storytelling becomes an absolute delight, weaving just the right elements of magic to create a memorable tale of love. The depth of characterizations, not only in the main characters but also the secondary characters and even the animals, results in remarkable novel that you won't be able to put down. CHARMING LILY is very highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: An absolutely charming story! Very highly recommended
Review: Thirty years old, Lily Harper has been left at the altar twice by the same man! Lily thinks that she should've known that Matt Starr would leave her at the altar again. All the signs had been there. She hadn't seen him in a month. He'd missed Christmas, barely called, and then put a million he put in her bank account for the kiss-off. Suits and ties are for others, and although he's the CEO of Digitech, Matt has no qualms about looking like a vagabond even though he has millions tucked in various accounts. Matt can't wait to marry the love of his life. When he leaves the Digitech offices on New Year's Eve, Matt plans to drive to Natchez along with his dog Gracie. Ten years ago he left Lily at the altar, but on New Year's Day, he's finally going to place his ring on her finger. Or so he thinks. But when Matt stops at an ATM on the edge of town, the nefarious activities of three well-dressed thieves results in his being kidnapped, drugged, and missing on his wedding day. Again. Best man and business partner Dennis finds it strange that no one picked him up at the airport. Closer to Matt than most brothers, Dennis staunchly believes Matt would never repeat his mistake of ten years ago. So when the beautiful Matt's dog mysteriously turns up nearly starved and obviously neglected, Dennis joins forces with Lily and best friend Sadie to find Matt. As tangled as the plot becomes, the subplot becomes even more fun as a necklace comes to Lily's hands. The "wish keeper" brings about extraordinary events, lending an element of magic to an already entrancing tale. Indeed, Fern Michael's charming storytelling becomes an absolute delight, weaving just the right elements of magic to create a memorable tale of love. The depth of characterizations, not only in the main characters but also the secondary characters and even the animals, results in remarkable novel that you won't be able to put down. CHARMING LILY is very highly recommended!
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