Author: Ivy Layne
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781947567047
Category : Large type books
Languages : en
Pages : 343
Book Description
She thinks she's not his type. He's determined to prove her wrong.Leigha Carmichael is used to the quiet life. A junior accountant by day, she knows girls like her don't have exciting lives. She's smart, shy and her curvy body doesn't fit in among the beauty queens of Las Vegas. Still reeling from her ex-boyfriend's betrayal, Leigha's sworn off all men. Except she has a huge problem, and only the right man can solve it.The moment he sees her across a crowded bar, Dylan Kane knows he wants her. And Dylan Kane always gets what he wants. Especially when the object of his desire is sitting in his own casino. She's nothing like the skinny, overly made up women he's used to. From her clear gray eyes to her luscious curves, Leigha is the real thing. Exactly the change of pace he's been looking for. And even better, she needs something from him. With the bargain he has in mind, they'll both get exactly what they want.In the few days she's his, Dylan plans to take control of every delectable inch of Leigha's body. But when the weekend is over, will he be able to let her go?
The Wedding Rescue
Author: Ivy Layne
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781947567047
Category : Large type books
Languages : en
Pages : 343
Book Description
She thinks she's not his type. He's determined to prove her wrong.Leigha Carmichael is used to the quiet life. A junior accountant by day, she knows girls like her don't have exciting lives. She's smart, shy and her curvy body doesn't fit in among the beauty queens of Las Vegas. Still reeling from her ex-boyfriend's betrayal, Leigha's sworn off all men. Except she has a huge problem, and only the right man can solve it.The moment he sees her across a crowded bar, Dylan Kane knows he wants her. And Dylan Kane always gets what he wants. Especially when the object of his desire is sitting in his own casino. She's nothing like the skinny, overly made up women he's used to. From her clear gray eyes to her luscious curves, Leigha is the real thing. Exactly the change of pace he's been looking for. And even better, she needs something from him. With the bargain he has in mind, they'll both get exactly what they want.In the few days she's his, Dylan plans to take control of every delectable inch of Leigha's body. But when the weekend is over, will he be able to let her go?
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781947567047
Category : Large type books
Languages : en
Pages : 343
Book Description
She thinks she's not his type. He's determined to prove her wrong.Leigha Carmichael is used to the quiet life. A junior accountant by day, she knows girls like her don't have exciting lives. She's smart, shy and her curvy body doesn't fit in among the beauty queens of Las Vegas. Still reeling from her ex-boyfriend's betrayal, Leigha's sworn off all men. Except she has a huge problem, and only the right man can solve it.The moment he sees her across a crowded bar, Dylan Kane knows he wants her. And Dylan Kane always gets what he wants. Especially when the object of his desire is sitting in his own casino. She's nothing like the skinny, overly made up women he's used to. From her clear gray eyes to her luscious curves, Leigha is the real thing. Exactly the change of pace he's been looking for. And even better, she needs something from him. With the bargain he has in mind, they'll both get exactly what they want.In the few days she's his, Dylan plans to take control of every delectable inch of Leigha's body. But when the weekend is over, will he be able to let her go?
Rescued in a Wedding Dress
Author: Cara Colter
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426848188
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
Charity worker Molly Michaels can't resist trying on a donated wedding dress. It's her dream to be a bride draped in satin and silk—but not for the zipper to get stuck moments before meeting her new boss! Self-made entrepreneur Houston Whitford can't ignore a damsel in distress or a wedding dress! As long as she knows he's here for business, to make dollars and dimes—and not for romance….
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426848188
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
Charity worker Molly Michaels can't resist trying on a donated wedding dress. It's her dream to be a bride draped in satin and silk—but not for the zipper to get stuck moments before meeting her new boss! Self-made entrepreneur Houston Whitford can't ignore a damsel in distress or a wedding dress! As long as she knows he's here for business, to make dollars and dimes—and not for romance….
The Wedding Wager
Author: Eva Devon
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
ISBN: 1649371950
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
All Lady Victoria Kirby wants is to dig in the dirt, take notations, and record history. What she doesn’t desire is having to bumble through ballrooms and tolerate the ton’s sly insinuations about her less-than-acceptable appearance. Victoria wasn’t certain what her rather reckless father has in mind for her future. But she certainly isn’t expecting him to gamble her hand in marriage—and lose. After all he witnessed as a child, the Duke of Chase cannot bear to see a woman misused. So when the marquess wagers away his daughter to a lecher of a man, he has no choice but to step in and rescue her. Lady Victoria has a reputation for being as tart as a lemon. He might just have found the perfect wife to keep his age-old promise to never sire an heir. Surely he’d never be tempted to take this lady to bed... Then the duke meets the wild, witty, and intelligent young lady he’s bound to marry. Now trouble is certainly headed his way, and she won’t just threaten the very vow he swore to keep...she might just undo his heart, too. Each book in The Wedding Wager series is STANDALONE: * The Wedding Wager * The Duke's Accidental Bride
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
ISBN: 1649371950
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
All Lady Victoria Kirby wants is to dig in the dirt, take notations, and record history. What she doesn’t desire is having to bumble through ballrooms and tolerate the ton’s sly insinuations about her less-than-acceptable appearance. Victoria wasn’t certain what her rather reckless father has in mind for her future. But she certainly isn’t expecting him to gamble her hand in marriage—and lose. After all he witnessed as a child, the Duke of Chase cannot bear to see a woman misused. So when the marquess wagers away his daughter to a lecher of a man, he has no choice but to step in and rescue her. Lady Victoria has a reputation for being as tart as a lemon. He might just have found the perfect wife to keep his age-old promise to never sire an heir. Surely he’d never be tempted to take this lady to bed... Then the duke meets the wild, witty, and intelligent young lady he’s bound to marry. Now trouble is certainly headed his way, and she won’t just threaten the very vow he swore to keep...she might just undo his heart, too. Each book in The Wedding Wager series is STANDALONE: * The Wedding Wager * The Duke's Accidental Bride
The Great Sex Rescue
Author: Sheila Wray Gregoire
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN: 1493428802
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
What if it's not your fault that sex is bad in your marriage? Based on a groundbreaking in-depth survey of 22,000 Christian women, The Great Sex Rescue unlocks the secrets to what makes some marriages red hot while others fizzle out. Generations of women have grown up with messages about sex that make them feel dirty, used, or invisible, while men have been sold such a cheapened version of sex, they don't know what they're missing. The Great Sex Rescue hopes to turn all of that around, developing a truly biblical view of sex where mutuality, intimacy, and passion reign. The Great Sex Rescue pulls back the curtain on what is happening in Christian bedrooms and exposes the problematic teachings that wreck sex for so many couples--and the good teachings that leave others breathless. In the #metoo and #churchtoo era, not only is this book a long overdue corrective to church culture, it is poised to free thousands of couples from repressive and dissatisfying sex lives so that they can experience the kind of intimacy and wholeness God intended.
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN: 1493428802
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
What if it's not your fault that sex is bad in your marriage? Based on a groundbreaking in-depth survey of 22,000 Christian women, The Great Sex Rescue unlocks the secrets to what makes some marriages red hot while others fizzle out. Generations of women have grown up with messages about sex that make them feel dirty, used, or invisible, while men have been sold such a cheapened version of sex, they don't know what they're missing. The Great Sex Rescue hopes to turn all of that around, developing a truly biblical view of sex where mutuality, intimacy, and passion reign. The Great Sex Rescue pulls back the curtain on what is happening in Christian bedrooms and exposes the problematic teachings that wreck sex for so many couples--and the good teachings that leave others breathless. In the #metoo and #churchtoo era, not only is this book a long overdue corrective to church culture, it is poised to free thousands of couples from repressive and dissatisfying sex lives so that they can experience the kind of intimacy and wholeness God intended.
The End of the Fairy-tale Bride
Author: Cornelia Powell
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
ISBN: 9781505514889
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 290
Book Description
Wedding folklorist and costume historian Cornelia Powell, along with her insightful way of looking at the life of Princess Diana, forms a captivating view into the world of brides and ceremony, of fairy tales and princess myths. "The End of the Fairy-Tale Bride: For Better or Worse, How Princess Diana Rescued the Great White Wedding"—this first volume of irresistible stories—combines bridal mythology, fashion history, goddess legends, royal ceremonies, and a bit of cosmic mystery with the life of the world's most famous celebrity and the ultimate princess bride. The author has a singular perspective on Princess Diana's influence on weddings including their complement of womanly rituals. On the gilded wave following Diana's royal wedding in 1981—reinventing an outdated bridal industry and bringing weddings back into high-style—Cornelia created a store for the new woman emerging that decade…a design haven for this "grown-up bride." And her invitation over the years to all those brides-to-be, “don't settle for being a princess for a day, be a goddess for a lifetime,” shapes the heart of this book. Called “such an intimate experience from which the reader emerges transformed,” the book wraps its narrative inside the heart-opening legacy of an archetypal princess who changed our notion of 'happily ever after', who ended the myth of the fairy-tale bride, and who opened a tender pathway to love for those she left behind.
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
ISBN: 9781505514889
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 290
Book Description
Wedding folklorist and costume historian Cornelia Powell, along with her insightful way of looking at the life of Princess Diana, forms a captivating view into the world of brides and ceremony, of fairy tales and princess myths. "The End of the Fairy-Tale Bride: For Better or Worse, How Princess Diana Rescued the Great White Wedding"—this first volume of irresistible stories—combines bridal mythology, fashion history, goddess legends, royal ceremonies, and a bit of cosmic mystery with the life of the world's most famous celebrity and the ultimate princess bride. The author has a singular perspective on Princess Diana's influence on weddings including their complement of womanly rituals. On the gilded wave following Diana's royal wedding in 1981—reinventing an outdated bridal industry and bringing weddings back into high-style—Cornelia created a store for the new woman emerging that decade…a design haven for this "grown-up bride." And her invitation over the years to all those brides-to-be, “don't settle for being a princess for a day, be a goddess for a lifetime,” shapes the heart of this book. Called “such an intimate experience from which the reader emerges transformed,” the book wraps its narrative inside the heart-opening legacy of an archetypal princess who changed our notion of 'happily ever after', who ended the myth of the fairy-tale bride, and who opened a tender pathway to love for those she left behind.
That Wedding
Author: Jillian Dodd
Publisher: Jillian Dodd
ISBN: 0985008601
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 432
Book Description
The gorgeous engagement ring on my finger mimics my happiness. I feel so sparkly, glittery, and full of promise, because I absolutely know he's that boy. The boy I want to marry. My prince. My happily ever after. But then our pastor starts asking lots of questions. His parents say I haven’t dealt with my past. I have horrible wedding disaster dreams. I can’t find the perfect dress. I have to manipulate him to get my way. An old boyfriend asks me to run away with him. My best friend says I'm going to ruin everything. And forever starts to sound like a really long time. Which totally freaks me out and makes me question everything I know. Should best friends get married? Will my past affect our relationship? Are my horrible dreams a warning? Will I ever find a dress? Could his sexiness be clouding my judgment? Am I going to ruin everything? Or is it just a case of cold feet? And then I have to decide. Am I willing to give up on true love forever, or am I going to listen to my heart and marry him? Wedding, Romance, Family Life, Contemporary Romance, Friendship Books, Sweet Romance, Sports Romance, Romance Marriage, Romance Drama Love Story Books, Books Love Stories, Romance Contemporary, Sports Romance books, Football Romance, Literary Romance, College Football Romance, Love That Boy, That Boy Jillian Dodd, Jillian Dodd Love, Contemporary Romance Fiction, Jillian Dodd, Jillian Dodd That Boy, That Boy Series, Love That Boy Book, Jillian Dodd Kindle Books, Family Saga Romance, Sweet Romances, Friend to Lover, Friend to Lovers Romance, Neighbor Romance, The Boy Next Door Romance, Contemporary Adult Romance, Small Town Series Romance, Wedding Romance, Happily Ever After, Wedding Romance, Drama Romance Books, Romance and Drama Books, Romantic Comedy Ebook, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy Novels, Wedding Fiction, wedding Romance Books, The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window, Literature and Fiction, Contemporary, Boy Best Friends, Best Friends since Childhood, Books by Jillian Dodd, Jillian Dodd Love, Sagas, Literary Fiction, Friendship, Best Friend Romance, Wedding, Family Life, Friends to Lovers, Boy Next Door, New Adult, Boy Next Door Romance, Lighthearted Romance, Light Romance, Heartwarming, Hear-warming, Family, Quick Read, Romance Fiction Books, Contemporary Crush, Series, USA Today, USA Today Bestseller, Romance Series, Romance Books, Hot Guy, Love, Love Books, Kissing Books, Long Series, Long Romance Series, Swoon, Loyalty, Rich, Serial, Story, Stories, Love Story, Romance Love
Publisher: Jillian Dodd
ISBN: 0985008601
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 432
Book Description
The gorgeous engagement ring on my finger mimics my happiness. I feel so sparkly, glittery, and full of promise, because I absolutely know he's that boy. The boy I want to marry. My prince. My happily ever after. But then our pastor starts asking lots of questions. His parents say I haven’t dealt with my past. I have horrible wedding disaster dreams. I can’t find the perfect dress. I have to manipulate him to get my way. An old boyfriend asks me to run away with him. My best friend says I'm going to ruin everything. And forever starts to sound like a really long time. Which totally freaks me out and makes me question everything I know. Should best friends get married? Will my past affect our relationship? Are my horrible dreams a warning? Will I ever find a dress? Could his sexiness be clouding my judgment? Am I going to ruin everything? Or is it just a case of cold feet? And then I have to decide. Am I willing to give up on true love forever, or am I going to listen to my heart and marry him? Wedding, Romance, Family Life, Contemporary Romance, Friendship Books, Sweet Romance, Sports Romance, Romance Marriage, Romance Drama Love Story Books, Books Love Stories, Romance Contemporary, Sports Romance books, Football Romance, Literary Romance, College Football Romance, Love That Boy, That Boy Jillian Dodd, Jillian Dodd Love, Contemporary Romance Fiction, Jillian Dodd, Jillian Dodd That Boy, That Boy Series, Love That Boy Book, Jillian Dodd Kindle Books, Family Saga Romance, Sweet Romances, Friend to Lover, Friend to Lovers Romance, Neighbor Romance, The Boy Next Door Romance, Contemporary Adult Romance, Small Town Series Romance, Wedding Romance, Happily Ever After, Wedding Romance, Drama Romance Books, Romance and Drama Books, Romantic Comedy Ebook, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy Novels, Wedding Fiction, wedding Romance Books, The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window, Literature and Fiction, Contemporary, Boy Best Friends, Best Friends since Childhood, Books by Jillian Dodd, Jillian Dodd Love, Sagas, Literary Fiction, Friendship, Best Friend Romance, Wedding, Family Life, Friends to Lovers, Boy Next Door, New Adult, Boy Next Door Romance, Lighthearted Romance, Light Romance, Heartwarming, Hear-warming, Family, Quick Read, Romance Fiction Books, Contemporary Crush, Series, USA Today, USA Today Bestseller, Romance Series, Romance Books, Hot Guy, Love, Love Books, Kissing Books, Long Series, Long Romance Series, Swoon, Loyalty, Rich, Serial, Story, Stories, Love Story, Romance Love
How I Planned Your Wedding
Author: Susan Wiggs
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426884443
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 241
Book Description
Bestselling author Susan Wiggs literally wrote the book on happily-ever-after love. But orchestrating her daughter Elizabeth's real-world wedding turned into a different story altogether, and one that takes two to tell—the mother and the bride. Here is the all-too-true tale of a mother and daughter collaborating on life's ultimate celebration—a dream wedding. Often poignant, sometimes irreverent and always hilarious, this charming book is also packed with useful advice from both ends of the cupcake-tasting table. Join mother and daughter as they wade through the trenches of flowers and favors, grueling gown decisions…and the cold, cruel realities of a budget. With luck, love and loads of patience, they come out on the other side, bloodied but unbowed, replete with life lessons—and closer than ever before.
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426884443
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 241
Book Description
Bestselling author Susan Wiggs literally wrote the book on happily-ever-after love. But orchestrating her daughter Elizabeth's real-world wedding turned into a different story altogether, and one that takes two to tell—the mother and the bride. Here is the all-too-true tale of a mother and daughter collaborating on life's ultimate celebration—a dream wedding. Often poignant, sometimes irreverent and always hilarious, this charming book is also packed with useful advice from both ends of the cupcake-tasting table. Join mother and daughter as they wade through the trenches of flowers and favors, grueling gown decisions…and the cold, cruel realities of a budget. With luck, love and loads of patience, they come out on the other side, bloodied but unbowed, replete with life lessons—and closer than ever before.
The Nurse's Wedding Rescue
Author: Sarah Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 142687877X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 177
Book Description
The moment gorgeous Dr. Oliver Hunter seesHelen Forrester at his sister's wedding he falls headover heels. Trouble is, Helen is nursing a broken heartand is about as against men and marriage as youcan be.…Oliver is used to mending all things broken and hesoon has Helen working with him on dangerousmountain rescues! Oliver knows that when lifeis on the line, you make every secondcount…and right now what counts is thathe persuades Helen he's her Mr. Right!
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 142687877X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 177
Book Description
The moment gorgeous Dr. Oliver Hunter seesHelen Forrester at his sister's wedding he falls headover heels. Trouble is, Helen is nursing a broken heartand is about as against men and marriage as youcan be.…Oliver is used to mending all things broken and hesoon has Helen working with him on dangerousmountain rescues! Oliver knows that when lifeis on the line, you make every secondcount…and right now what counts is thathe persuades Helen he's her Mr. Right!
The $5 (dog) Wedding
Author: Lilly Smartelli
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781724167743
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 213
Book Description
When a doctor told Lilly Smartelli lung disease would cut her life short, she realized she may never have the big Italian wedding she always dreamed about. While she traveled, worked as a nurse, and even donated a kidney to a friend, she never found the man of her dreams. Then, she realized the man of her dreams wasn't actually a man at all! Her faithful companion, Bernie the resuce dog, was the only guy she knew she could always count on and who loved her unconditionally. She started dreaming up fanciful wedding scenairios where Bernie stood in for the groom. Her imaginative wedding visions inspired this heartwarming book about life, love, and true friendship. While the book wedding stories are imaginary, Lilly hopes Bernie will stand in as the groom in a real wedding celebration soon!
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781724167743
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 213
Book Description
When a doctor told Lilly Smartelli lung disease would cut her life short, she realized she may never have the big Italian wedding she always dreamed about. While she traveled, worked as a nurse, and even donated a kidney to a friend, she never found the man of her dreams. Then, she realized the man of her dreams wasn't actually a man at all! Her faithful companion, Bernie the resuce dog, was the only guy she knew she could always count on and who loved her unconditionally. She started dreaming up fanciful wedding scenairios where Bernie stood in for the groom. Her imaginative wedding visions inspired this heartwarming book about life, love, and true friendship. While the book wedding stories are imaginary, Lilly hopes Bernie will stand in as the groom in a real wedding celebration soon!
The Real Thing
Author: Ellen McCarthy
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345549708
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 215
Book Description
From a Washington Post weddings reporter who’s covered more than two hundred walks down the aisle comes a warm, witty, and wise book about relationships—the mystery, the science, and the secrets of how we find love and make it last. Ellen McCarthy has explored the complete journey of our timeless quest for “The One,” the Soul Mate, the Real Thing. This indispensable collection of insights—on dating, commitment, breakups, weddings, and marriage—gives us a window into enduring romance: • Go Online Already—“It’s a major time suck and a black hole of rejection and ambiguity and lies. But you know what? It also works.” • Keep It Confidential—“If you have to get something off your chest, pick someone whose wisdom you really trust, and who isn’t likely to spread the gossip to all your mutual acquaintances.” • Be Nice—“Brewing the morning coffee, touching the small of your partner’s back, filling their car with gas. These things add up to more relationship satisfaction than a fancy dinner on Valentine’s Day ever could.” The Real Thing features many more nuggets of wisdom, valuable information from the latest studies on commitment, candid testimonials from a variety of couples, and the personal story of McCarthy’s own search for “the keeper”—which begins, ironically, with a breakup the very same day she started as the Post’s full-time weddings reporter. Whether you’re looking for love or looking to strengthen your relationship, this book is a wonderful and clear-eyed map to the human heart. Praise for The Real Thing “A wise and compassionate look at how we love, along with some gentle suggestions for how we could get a little better at it . . . McCarthy has done something rare: She has written an optimistic book about love that is clear-eyed and unsentimental.”—The Washington Post “What a charming and captivating book this is! We never stop learning about love, and so many great lessons are within these pages.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love “My readers often say to me, ‘If we lived next door to each other, we'd be best friends.’ That is precisely what I wanted to say to smart, funny, self-effacing Ellen McCarthy after I finished reading The Real Thing. I loved every lesson laid out in a book that wouldn’t dare to call itself a field guide to marriage but amounts to as much on every page. This is a deeply useful little book.”—Kelly Corrigan, author of Glitter and Glue “Upbeat and sweet . . . This rich collection of stories charms and edifies, is filled with quotes from couples as well as experts in the field, and serves as not just stories to sigh over but lessons to apply.”—Booklist (starred review) “A fun read full of wonderful stories . . . McCarthy delivers a welcome combination of cynicism and poignancy in this account, which reads with the ease and accessibility of a self-help book.”—Library Journal “A comforting, realistic, and endearing portrait of modern relationships . . . This book will not only charm those in decades-old marriages, but also inspire those afraid love will never arrive for them.”—Publishers Weekly “Straight-talking . . . dating advice for adults of all ages.”—Kirkus Reviews
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345549708
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 215
Book Description
From a Washington Post weddings reporter who’s covered more than two hundred walks down the aisle comes a warm, witty, and wise book about relationships—the mystery, the science, and the secrets of how we find love and make it last. Ellen McCarthy has explored the complete journey of our timeless quest for “The One,” the Soul Mate, the Real Thing. This indispensable collection of insights—on dating, commitment, breakups, weddings, and marriage—gives us a window into enduring romance: • Go Online Already—“It’s a major time suck and a black hole of rejection and ambiguity and lies. But you know what? It also works.” • Keep It Confidential—“If you have to get something off your chest, pick someone whose wisdom you really trust, and who isn’t likely to spread the gossip to all your mutual acquaintances.” • Be Nice—“Brewing the morning coffee, touching the small of your partner’s back, filling their car with gas. These things add up to more relationship satisfaction than a fancy dinner on Valentine’s Day ever could.” The Real Thing features many more nuggets of wisdom, valuable information from the latest studies on commitment, candid testimonials from a variety of couples, and the personal story of McCarthy’s own search for “the keeper”—which begins, ironically, with a breakup the very same day she started as the Post’s full-time weddings reporter. Whether you’re looking for love or looking to strengthen your relationship, this book is a wonderful and clear-eyed map to the human heart. Praise for The Real Thing “A wise and compassionate look at how we love, along with some gentle suggestions for how we could get a little better at it . . . McCarthy has done something rare: She has written an optimistic book about love that is clear-eyed and unsentimental.”—The Washington Post “What a charming and captivating book this is! We never stop learning about love, and so many great lessons are within these pages.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love “My readers often say to me, ‘If we lived next door to each other, we'd be best friends.’ That is precisely what I wanted to say to smart, funny, self-effacing Ellen McCarthy after I finished reading The Real Thing. I loved every lesson laid out in a book that wouldn’t dare to call itself a field guide to marriage but amounts to as much on every page. This is a deeply useful little book.”—Kelly Corrigan, author of Glitter and Glue “Upbeat and sweet . . . This rich collection of stories charms and edifies, is filled with quotes from couples as well as experts in the field, and serves as not just stories to sigh over but lessons to apply.”—Booklist (starred review) “A fun read full of wonderful stories . . . McCarthy delivers a welcome combination of cynicism and poignancy in this account, which reads with the ease and accessibility of a self-help book.”—Library Journal “A comforting, realistic, and endearing portrait of modern relationships . . . This book will not only charm those in decades-old marriages, but also inspire those afraid love will never arrive for them.”—Publishers Weekly “Straight-talking . . . dating advice for adults of all ages.”—Kirkus Reviews