Return of the Runaway Bride / Donna Fasano

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Romance

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Availability 
Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: NO
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Author:

Under her own name and the pen name Donna Clayton, Donna Fasano has written over thirty published novels with sales in excess of 3.5 million copies. Many of these novels have gone out of print with the rights reverting to Fasano. She is giving them a facelift and republishing them for your favorite eReader. Return of the Runaway Bride was originally published in 1994.

Fasano has two grown sons and lives with her husband on the eastern seaboard of the United States. For more, visit her website.

Description:

Before Julia Roberts starred as Maggie Carpenter in the movie Runaway Bride there was Savanna Langford. Already in her wedding dress, Savanna tells her Mother, “I can’t do this.” She flees the wedding and Fulton, her small hometown. Six years later and now a successful businesswoman, Savanna buys her parents house after they retire to warmer climes. She returns, claiming she is there to fix up her new investment as a rental property and hopefully make peace with those she abandoned when she left.

Appraisal:

In the author’s note, Fasano says this book was inspired by an elevator ride she shared with a bride-to-be and her mother who had just picked up a bridal gown. The daughter told her mother, “I just don’t think I can go through with this” and Fasano took it from there. With the pressure of wedding preparations, the commitments implied, and what they might be giving up, getting cold feet on the cusp of the wedding is common.

Although acting on those concerns is rare, Savanna’s reasons made sense. She felt going from her parent’s care straight to marriage, especially to someone like her fiancé Danny who is on the verge of joining his father’s law practice, would preclude her from ever becoming independent. If only she’d thought of this sooner. Of course, had she done that, we wouldn’t have much of a story.

What I enjoyed about Return of the Runaway Bride was the premise, since it is something many have considered, and an exploration of the potential repercussions. Although it does have the required happily-ever-after ending, getting there is far from easy. It also depicts the advantages of small town life, with their extensive informal support systems, and the disadvantages due to gossip and everyone knowing your business.

FYI:

Although implied rather than explicit, Return of the Runaway Bride has some sexual content. It is most suitable for ages 17 and up.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars