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Save the Date
You are cordially invited to the wedding of the year with the most unlikely bride and groom. Save the date . . . and say your prayers.
When funding for Lucy's non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir to Sinclair Enterprises—the primary donor to Lucy's non-profit organization.
Both Lucy and Alex have something the other desperately wants.
Alex has it all . . . except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn't quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart—and her future—on the line.
Save the Date is a spunky romance that will have readers laughing out loud as this dubious pair try to save their careers, their dreams . . . and maybe even a date.
When funding for Lucy's non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir to Sinclair Enterprises—the primary donor to Lucy's non-profit organization.
Both Lucy and Alex have something the other desperately wants.
Alex has it all . . . except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn't quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart—and her future—on the line.
Save the Date is a spunky romance that will have readers laughing out loud as this dubious pair try to save their careers, their dreams . . . and maybe even a date.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2011
76 people are currently reading
3329 people want to read
About the author
Jenny B. Jones
31 books2,191 followersFour-time Carol Award winner Jenny B. Jones writes contemporary romance with wit, sass, and Southern charm. Since writing for both women and teens leaves her with very little free time, she believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits, such as watching E!, going to the movies and inhaling large buckets of popcorn, and writing her name in the dust on her furniture. www.jennybjones.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
April 4, 2018
Save the Date is a cute rom-com. The writing is super fun. Lots of sarcastic wit. It was almost too much during the first third of the book but as the characters grew on me it evened out and kept the story hopping along. Alex is charming and sexy. I will miss him. :)
October 26, 2017
Totally awesome novel!!! Can't wait to read more of her books!!
Official Review:
I found my new favorite author! Wow, Jenny B. Jones is an awesome writer. Everything about her writing style is great. I didn’t ever want to put this book down.
Lucy and Alex were the perfect couple. Both were great and I really, dare I say it, “connected” with them. And, no, I do not mean the whole weird connection. I just really understood them. Jenny made them like real life people.
And, there was one really cool part about this book! Well, there was more than just one good part about this book. But, all the Star Wars references! I mean, when Lucy’s friend tells her, “May the force be with you,” you know that it will be an awesome book! And, oh my, some of the regular quotes were just as great. I was laughing so hard throughout this book!
The one negative thing about this book is the cover. I do not like it at all. Okay, so I do like the blurred guy in the background, because it doesn’t show the face, but that is the only thing I like about it. The dress on the woman is not at all flattering, definitely not for her. And, it is weird (ish) pose. It kind of overwhelms the picture. I am going to give the cover 1 star. But, oh well, the cover didn’t take away from the contents of the book.
Save the Date deserves 5 stars. I loved it!!! I will definitely be reading more of Jenny’s books! And, instead of saving the date, you will have to save the weekend. You won’t want to put it down!
Title: Save the Date
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Author’s Website: http://www.jennybjones.com/
Reading Resolution: #13 (I have had this on my “to-read” list for the longest time! Maybe even for a year or two.)
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
Official Review:
I found my new favorite author! Wow, Jenny B. Jones is an awesome writer. Everything about her writing style is great. I didn’t ever want to put this book down.
Lucy and Alex were the perfect couple. Both were great and I really, dare I say it, “connected” with them. And, no, I do not mean the whole weird connection. I just really understood them. Jenny made them like real life people.
And, there was one really cool part about this book! Well, there was more than just one good part about this book. But, all the Star Wars references! I mean, when Lucy’s friend tells her, “May the force be with you,” you know that it will be an awesome book! And, oh my, some of the regular quotes were just as great. I was laughing so hard throughout this book!
The one negative thing about this book is the cover. I do not like it at all. Okay, so I do like the blurred guy in the background, because it doesn’t show the face, but that is the only thing I like about it. The dress on the woman is not at all flattering, definitely not for her. And, it is weird (ish) pose. It kind of overwhelms the picture. I am going to give the cover 1 star. But, oh well, the cover didn’t take away from the contents of the book.
Save the Date deserves 5 stars. I loved it!!! I will definitely be reading more of Jenny’s books! And, instead of saving the date, you will have to save the weekend. You won’t want to put it down!
Title: Save the Date
Author: Jenny B. Jones
Author’s Website: http://www.jennybjones.com/
Reading Resolution: #13 (I have had this on my “to-read” list for the longest time! Maybe even for a year or two.)
This review is written in my own opinions and words.
June 21, 2012
Lucy Whiltshire returned to Charleston determined to make a difference, founding Saving Grace, a home for girls who've graduated from the foster care system but are not yet equipped or unable to make the transition to adulthood and caring for themselves. She's determined to prove to the society blue-bloods that rejected and marginalized her during her own teenage years that she and the girls she's desperate to save are more than the sum of their antecedents. But when funding for her non-profit is unceremoniously pulled, Lucy stands in danger of failing her girls and joining them on the streets. Desperation drives her into the arms of Alex Sinclair, heir to the very firm that pulled her financial support and one of the Charleston blue-bloods that excelled at making Lucy feel so very inferior as a teen. Locked in a heated Congressional race, Alex desperately needs to shake his former playboy image if he hopes to win over voters -- and a relationship with Lucy might just do the trick. He makes a shocking proposal -- in exchange for posing as his girlfriend and eventual fiancee, he'll provide Lucy with the money she needs to save her girls home. Despite his movie star-looks, Alex couldn't be farther from Lucy's romantic ideal -- but with the future of her girls on the line, she agrees to play the doting girlfriend. With both their futures riding on a romantic con, under the glare of a media spotlight two individuals who can't stand each other confront the truth that there's more to each other than first meets the eye -- and the irresistible sparks that fly when opposites attract.
Save the Date is without a doubt one of the best romance novels I've read in ages -- it marries all of the comfortable trappings of a romantic comedy with unexpectedly, well-meted powerful moments of spiritual truth. I've long been a fan of the author's blog, where one can appreciate her well-drawn sense of humor and wit, but I've yet to dive into her novels -- an error I hope to soon rectify. Save the Date is replete with Jones's trademark humor and pop culture references. Despite their disparate backgrounds, Alex and Lucy prove worthy sparring partners -- Lucy, sure in her certainty that Alex is nothing more than a pretty face who could never forsake his playboy-ways, while for his part Alex quickly learns to love baiting his fake fiancee, enjoying her easily-riled temper. But beneath their surface differences and wildly disparate upbringings, Lucy and Alex discover in each other a fellow wounded soul in desperate need of grace. While the arrangement Alex proposes is at first blush extreme, and worthy of the lightest-weight Hollywood blockbuster, the manner in which Jones uses the tropes of an arranged marriage (in this case, fake engagement) to force her two protagonists together masks the real heart of the novel -- accepting God's freely-given grace.
I love it when God brings a book across my path that reinforces current experiences and/or study -- and in this case I was powerfully struck by Lucy and Alex's respective spiritual arcs and how they related to my pastor's recent sermon on "living declared," secure in the knowledge that as believers God looks at us and sees beloved children, instead of constantly focusing on where we fail. Though the life experiences that formed Alex and Lucy couldn't be more different -- Alex, the son of privilege and money, Lucy, the daughter of a struggling single mom -- both have bought into what I would posit is one of the most insidious lies -- that no matter who you are, what you do, where you've come from, it's never enough. In what is probably one of the best examples of incorporating a faith message into a novel that I've come across, Lucy's out-going youth pastor friend Chuck lays bare the lie that salvation, God's grace, must be earned over and over. In a society that idolizes perfection, Jones strips the lie that we must live burdened by pasts filled with fear and regret, when all that is required is accepting God's grace, freely offered, and resting in the knowledge that in Him alone are we made perfect.
Lucy and Alex's unexpected love story is just part of this novel's considerable charm. I adored watching Alex and Lucy fall for each other -- Jones pens some lovely, sizzling moments of romantic tension! But she also peoples her storyline with a host of unforgettable, amusing, well-drawn supporting players. I loved that Lucy was a sci-fi geek who had regular meetings with like-minded friends (a.k.a. "The Hobbits") who shared her love of all things Star Trek and Doctor Who-related. Lucy's prickly, recently discovered grandmother Claire is a gem, and Claire's fledgling faith coupled with her secretary Julian's sarcastic commentary provide some of the novel's best moments.
Save the Date is a laugh-out-loud, frothy, warm-hearted confection of a novel that packs an unexpected emotional punch. Filled with unforgettable, wonderfully flawed characters, Jones proves she's a master at spinning a thoroughly enjoyable, escapist romance laced with spiritual truths. Very well done.
Save the Date is without a doubt one of the best romance novels I've read in ages -- it marries all of the comfortable trappings of a romantic comedy with unexpectedly, well-meted powerful moments of spiritual truth. I've long been a fan of the author's blog, where one can appreciate her well-drawn sense of humor and wit, but I've yet to dive into her novels -- an error I hope to soon rectify. Save the Date is replete with Jones's trademark humor and pop culture references. Despite their disparate backgrounds, Alex and Lucy prove worthy sparring partners -- Lucy, sure in her certainty that Alex is nothing more than a pretty face who could never forsake his playboy-ways, while for his part Alex quickly learns to love baiting his fake fiancee, enjoying her easily-riled temper. But beneath their surface differences and wildly disparate upbringings, Lucy and Alex discover in each other a fellow wounded soul in desperate need of grace. While the arrangement Alex proposes is at first blush extreme, and worthy of the lightest-weight Hollywood blockbuster, the manner in which Jones uses the tropes of an arranged marriage (in this case, fake engagement) to force her two protagonists together masks the real heart of the novel -- accepting God's freely-given grace.
I love it when God brings a book across my path that reinforces current experiences and/or study -- and in this case I was powerfully struck by Lucy and Alex's respective spiritual arcs and how they related to my pastor's recent sermon on "living declared," secure in the knowledge that as believers God looks at us and sees beloved children, instead of constantly focusing on where we fail. Though the life experiences that formed Alex and Lucy couldn't be more different -- Alex, the son of privilege and money, Lucy, the daughter of a struggling single mom -- both have bought into what I would posit is one of the most insidious lies -- that no matter who you are, what you do, where you've come from, it's never enough. In what is probably one of the best examples of incorporating a faith message into a novel that I've come across, Lucy's out-going youth pastor friend Chuck lays bare the lie that salvation, God's grace, must be earned over and over. In a society that idolizes perfection, Jones strips the lie that we must live burdened by pasts filled with fear and regret, when all that is required is accepting God's grace, freely offered, and resting in the knowledge that in Him alone are we made perfect.
Lucy and Alex's unexpected love story is just part of this novel's considerable charm. I adored watching Alex and Lucy fall for each other -- Jones pens some lovely, sizzling moments of romantic tension! But she also peoples her storyline with a host of unforgettable, amusing, well-drawn supporting players. I loved that Lucy was a sci-fi geek who had regular meetings with like-minded friends (a.k.a. "The Hobbits") who shared her love of all things Star Trek and Doctor Who-related. Lucy's prickly, recently discovered grandmother Claire is a gem, and Claire's fledgling faith coupled with her secretary Julian's sarcastic commentary provide some of the novel's best moments.
Save the Date is a laugh-out-loud, frothy, warm-hearted confection of a novel that packs an unexpected emotional punch. Filled with unforgettable, wonderfully flawed characters, Jones proves she's a master at spinning a thoroughly enjoyable, escapist romance laced with spiritual truths. Very well done.
March 16, 2011
Original post at One More Page
I wasn't sure what to expect with Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones because if I were to judge this book by its cover, it didn't give me the chick lit vibe. It gave me a romance novel vibe, sure, but not really chick lit. Am I the only one getting that? I want chick lit, but I'm not entirely sure if I wanted a romance novel -- if you get what I mean. Nevertheless, I requested this from NetGalley because the blurb seemed interesting despite its familiarity, and I heard good stuff about the author on Twitter.
Maybe it's the leftover February air that made me start reading this, and once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Save the Date starts with Lucy Wiltshire dancing around her kitchen, preparing a meal for her boyfriend Matt, expecting a proposal coming very soon. However, she was crushed when Matt says he's choosing his job over her, and he had to move away, just as when Lucy can't leave her hometown because she was about to open her foster home for adolescent girls, Saving Grace.
Fast forward two years later, Lucy seems to be doing well, until life decided to throw her a curve ball: she loses funding for her foster home and she needs money, quick. Enter old schoolmate and rich boy Alex Sinclair who was running for Congress. A chance encounter between the two gave Alex a good image for the election, so he proposes to Lucy: they would pretend to be a couple and get engaged to boost Alex's image, and Lucy gets paid to be his fake fiancee, enough to fund Saving Grace for years to come. Left with no choice, Lucy says yes, praying that she wasn't making a mistake. As they play along with the lie, demons from the past surface and they find out that God's plans are higher than our plans and He can work His purpose even in our flimsy human plans.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. This had the same vibe as A Billion Reasons Why but it has less of the Southern drawl and more of real and sympathetic characters. I liked Lucy from the start -- she's a darling, but she was far from a weakling. She's been toughened up by the hardships she experienced in her life and even if she suffers from a big inferiority complex, her heart is always in the right place. I admire her passion for the girls she's caring for and her fierce loyalty to what she believes in, even if sometimes it comes off as stubbornness. While I'm not much taken by Alex's described good looks and his charisma, I thought he was good for Lucy. He is far from perfect which I really appreciated, and I'm sure his faults and his growth in the story is something that other people have experienced. I liked how their relationship developed and how they saw each other in a better light despite the lie that they have built for their image. I lost count at how many times I sighed and wished that they'd realize that they were perfect for each other, and that one of them would make a move that would break the the pretend relationship they have so they could move into something real. Their banter was refreshing and witty, none of the gooey, over the top exchanges that didn't feel natural. I liked that even if it seemed like an outrageous story, everything in the story still felt real, like it could happen to anyone.
This modern-day Cinderella/The Princess Diaries-like story by Jenny B. Jones is definitely worth the read. I can't relate 100% with everything, but Save the Date shares important lessons on love, compassion, forgiveness and allowing God to work in our lives, and I think those concepts are pretty universal, anyway. While there's nothing really new in the premise, the characters, their voices and the author's humor shines through in the story, making this a very, very good read. :) I look forward to reading more of Jenny B. Jones' books.
I wasn't sure what to expect with Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones because if I were to judge this book by its cover, it didn't give me the chick lit vibe. It gave me a romance novel vibe, sure, but not really chick lit. Am I the only one getting that? I want chick lit, but I'm not entirely sure if I wanted a romance novel -- if you get what I mean. Nevertheless, I requested this from NetGalley because the blurb seemed interesting despite its familiarity, and I heard good stuff about the author on Twitter.
Maybe it's the leftover February air that made me start reading this, and once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Save the Date starts with Lucy Wiltshire dancing around her kitchen, preparing a meal for her boyfriend Matt, expecting a proposal coming very soon. However, she was crushed when Matt says he's choosing his job over her, and he had to move away, just as when Lucy can't leave her hometown because she was about to open her foster home for adolescent girls, Saving Grace.
Fast forward two years later, Lucy seems to be doing well, until life decided to throw her a curve ball: she loses funding for her foster home and she needs money, quick. Enter old schoolmate and rich boy Alex Sinclair who was running for Congress. A chance encounter between the two gave Alex a good image for the election, so he proposes to Lucy: they would pretend to be a couple and get engaged to boost Alex's image, and Lucy gets paid to be his fake fiancee, enough to fund Saving Grace for years to come. Left with no choice, Lucy says yes, praying that she wasn't making a mistake. As they play along with the lie, demons from the past surface and they find out that God's plans are higher than our plans and He can work His purpose even in our flimsy human plans.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. This had the same vibe as A Billion Reasons Why but it has less of the Southern drawl and more of real and sympathetic characters. I liked Lucy from the start -- she's a darling, but she was far from a weakling. She's been toughened up by the hardships she experienced in her life and even if she suffers from a big inferiority complex, her heart is always in the right place. I admire her passion for the girls she's caring for and her fierce loyalty to what she believes in, even if sometimes it comes off as stubbornness. While I'm not much taken by Alex's described good looks and his charisma, I thought he was good for Lucy. He is far from perfect which I really appreciated, and I'm sure his faults and his growth in the story is something that other people have experienced. I liked how their relationship developed and how they saw each other in a better light despite the lie that they have built for their image. I lost count at how many times I sighed and wished that they'd realize that they were perfect for each other, and that one of them would make a move that would break the the pretend relationship they have so they could move into something real. Their banter was refreshing and witty, none of the gooey, over the top exchanges that didn't feel natural. I liked that even if it seemed like an outrageous story, everything in the story still felt real, like it could happen to anyone.
This modern-day Cinderella/The Princess Diaries-like story by Jenny B. Jones is definitely worth the read. I can't relate 100% with everything, but Save the Date shares important lessons on love, compassion, forgiveness and allowing God to work in our lives, and I think those concepts are pretty universal, anyway. While there's nothing really new in the premise, the characters, their voices and the author's humor shines through in the story, making this a very, very good read. :) I look forward to reading more of Jenny B. Jones' books.
April 12, 2011
Blast you, Jenny Jones! Don't you know I have stuff to do? How am I supposed to get anything done when you write books like this? I woke up worried about Lucy last night and have been reading every spare minute today. My laundry is piled up around me. The dishes are fermenting in the sink. The coffee pot is drained. Sigh.
Thanks a lot.
By the way, where's book two?
Thanks a lot.
By the way, where's book two?
August 29, 2016
My all time favorite! ♥ ♥
May 17, 2019
Cute chick lit book. Nothing ground breaking but a decent story with engaging characters.
July 23, 2011
Ok I’ll admit it, I’m not someone who is easily amused. I truly wish I was the person that laughed at the drop of a hat, but I’m not. With that being said, I want to share that I laughed out loud numerous times when reading this book. Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones at first glance looks like a classic, cute, chick- lit kind of book. I’m thinking, it will be sweet, charming, and a nice read. There is nothing wrong with that, but as I got into the book, I discovered much, much, more- funny, great characters and a “deeper than meets the eye” storyline.
Our heroine, Lucy Wiltshire is sort of a modern day Cinderella. Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina with a mother who earned her living as a maid did not give her social status at the prominent Montrose Academy where she attended as a child, and as a result endured teasing and bullying there. Fast forward to the present and Lucy is the founder of Saving Grace, a home for foster girls aged 18-21 making the transition to adulthood with her help and guidance. A major problem erupts- one of her biggest backers has pulled the plug on their contributions by a significant amount. She is in danger of losing the home and panicked about her girls, where will they go. Poor Lucy, what’s a girl to do?
Well, the hero of the story has the answer to that query- enter Alex Sinclaire- a former attendee of Montrose Academy and famous former professional football player as well. He has decided to run for a Congressional seat and Alex needs a little help overcoming his somewhat “Playboy” public perception problem. So after a cthance meeting at a local gathering where both are present and pictures are taken of them together, he finds that his approval points have skyrocketed. It seems that the public likes a good Cinderella story and he hatches a plan- a staged romance with a win-win scenario- Alex gets a steady girl on his arm for public events and Lucy gets the funding she needs to keep Saving Grace open. Sounds like a no-brainer for everyone, but add in Lucy’s social awkwardness and propensity towards clumsiness and you get some really hilarious situations.
There is so much more going on in this story than the general romance between these two characters. Alex is dealing with grief and guilt over his twin brothers disappearance and probable death. Lucy struggles with feelings of great inferiority and worth as she describes herself at one of the many social events as “ a cubic zirconia in a sea of diamonds”. They truly go on a journey together in dealing with their respective “stuff”. Their chemistry and banter between each other is fun and amusing in one moment and truly deep and probing in the next. Add in Lucy’s love of all things science fiction, specifically Star Trek and the book just gets better and better. I couldn’t go into detail on the supporting characters here, but they are well written and really, really, funny. When a well know socialite winds up at one of Lucy’s gatherings of her sci-fi friends and is asking questions about Star Trek, I about bust a gut.
It truly is rare for me to find a book where I am laughing uproariously in one moment and shedding tears the next, while seeing great spiritual elements in the whole thing. Elements like our struggles with our worth and figuring out the whole man-pleasing versus God-pleasing dilemma. I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed and I will be keeping my eye on Jenny B. Jones in the future. I know this is a Niagara Falls kind of review- much gushing- but I still stand by it. Great book, great characters and great read!
I was graciously provided a digital copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through the NetGalley program. All opinions expressed were my own and I was not obligated to write a positive review.
Our heroine, Lucy Wiltshire is sort of a modern day Cinderella. Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina with a mother who earned her living as a maid did not give her social status at the prominent Montrose Academy where she attended as a child, and as a result endured teasing and bullying there. Fast forward to the present and Lucy is the founder of Saving Grace, a home for foster girls aged 18-21 making the transition to adulthood with her help and guidance. A major problem erupts- one of her biggest backers has pulled the plug on their contributions by a significant amount. She is in danger of losing the home and panicked about her girls, where will they go. Poor Lucy, what’s a girl to do?
Well, the hero of the story has the answer to that query- enter Alex Sinclaire- a former attendee of Montrose Academy and famous former professional football player as well. He has decided to run for a Congressional seat and Alex needs a little help overcoming his somewhat “Playboy” public perception problem. So after a cthance meeting at a local gathering where both are present and pictures are taken of them together, he finds that his approval points have skyrocketed. It seems that the public likes a good Cinderella story and he hatches a plan- a staged romance with a win-win scenario- Alex gets a steady girl on his arm for public events and Lucy gets the funding she needs to keep Saving Grace open. Sounds like a no-brainer for everyone, but add in Lucy’s social awkwardness and propensity towards clumsiness and you get some really hilarious situations.
There is so much more going on in this story than the general romance between these two characters. Alex is dealing with grief and guilt over his twin brothers disappearance and probable death. Lucy struggles with feelings of great inferiority and worth as she describes herself at one of the many social events as “ a cubic zirconia in a sea of diamonds”. They truly go on a journey together in dealing with their respective “stuff”. Their chemistry and banter between each other is fun and amusing in one moment and truly deep and probing in the next. Add in Lucy’s love of all things science fiction, specifically Star Trek and the book just gets better and better. I couldn’t go into detail on the supporting characters here, but they are well written and really, really, funny. When a well know socialite winds up at one of Lucy’s gatherings of her sci-fi friends and is asking questions about Star Trek, I about bust a gut.
It truly is rare for me to find a book where I am laughing uproariously in one moment and shedding tears the next, while seeing great spiritual elements in the whole thing. Elements like our struggles with our worth and figuring out the whole man-pleasing versus God-pleasing dilemma. I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed and I will be keeping my eye on Jenny B. Jones in the future. I know this is a Niagara Falls kind of review- much gushing- but I still stand by it. Great book, great characters and great read!
I was graciously provided a digital copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through the NetGalley program. All opinions expressed were my own and I was not obligated to write a positive review.
April 22, 2021
Good!!
I wish I could have a job as such as Lucy's .. I loved her heart behind Saving Grace..
The way she went out all through to save The Foster Home.
Her past was pretty sad but nothing can stop God's grace and love to shine it's light in our lives.. whatever we went through He is always for Us..
As for Alex.. hmmm . I'm didn't like him initially but going on after I knew for certain His change and pain . I'm tempted to get charmed by Him but no. 😂😂
It was a fun read
I wish I could have a job as such as Lucy's .. I loved her heart behind Saving Grace..
The way she went out all through to save The Foster Home.
Her past was pretty sad but nothing can stop God's grace and love to shine it's light in our lives.. whatever we went through He is always for Us..
As for Alex.. hmmm . I'm didn't like him initially but going on after I knew for certain His change and pain . I'm tempted to get charmed by Him but no. 😂😂
It was a fun read
April 23, 2011
Looking for fun, faith, football and some knock-off designer pumps? look no further than Jenny B. Jones's Save the Date. I absolutely loved every word of it. From the first zinger dished out by sassy Lucy to the tender moments with her "Han Solo" I was hooked. Lucy's a bit insecure, she's clumsy, she's a Trekkie and she's a size twelve (a ten if anybody asks). I challenge you to find a real girl who isn't at least one of these things...yeah doubtful. Lucy is a great heroine in a world where so much emphasis is placed on looks and not much else.
For me Christian fiction doesn't get much better than this. I was laughing the entire time and not a second of it was cheesy. In a word, Save the Date is brilliant. At times I wanted to pull my hair out and I even said out loud, "Just admit that you like each other already!" That is the best kind of story though, right? After that first moment when Alex and Lucy realize there could be more to their relationship than the show they are putting on for the public it just gets better and better.
If you're a true sucker for romance I'm sure you will agree that this is one of the better love stories out there. Save the Date is a light, entertaining read. I can't wait for There You'll Find Me which features Alex's baby sister, Finley! October 2011 are you here yet?
For me Christian fiction doesn't get much better than this. I was laughing the entire time and not a second of it was cheesy. In a word, Save the Date is brilliant. At times I wanted to pull my hair out and I even said out loud, "Just admit that you like each other already!" That is the best kind of story though, right? After that first moment when Alex and Lucy realize there could be more to their relationship than the show they are putting on for the public it just gets better and better.
If you're a true sucker for romance I'm sure you will agree that this is one of the better love stories out there. Save the Date is a light, entertaining read. I can't wait for There You'll Find Me which features Alex's baby sister, Finley! October 2011 are you here yet?
February 14, 2011
I expected big things from this book.
Every single one was fulfilled to the utmost! The hero is hunky, the heroine, a bit clutzy, but how she sees the world, gives it a skewed, humorous tint. The plot is perfectly laid out and when I thought the author had used her bag of tricks right away to make it worse, something happened to put Lucy and Alex more at odds.
I love marriage of convenience stories, but this was an engagement of convenience. Great angle! You just about can’t get a better contemporary hero than Alex, my goodness I just about swooned while reading. The emotional tug-a-war between Lucy, Alex and her old boyfriend Matt was played perfectly and without clichéd drama. The dialogue- wowza! Snappy, quick witted and oh so good. I wanted to read it over just to taste the emotion again.
I don’t know what was up between Clare and Julian, but I got more than one chuckle out of those two, my favorites! Clare’s “bucket list” and Julian’s snarky comments wouldn’t be able to fly in any other book, but was perfect here in just the right situation. I plain loved it.
I’m a fan of Jenny B. Jones. Pass the back list, because I intend to go read more!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.
Every single one was fulfilled to the utmost! The hero is hunky, the heroine, a bit clutzy, but how she sees the world, gives it a skewed, humorous tint. The plot is perfectly laid out and when I thought the author had used her bag of tricks right away to make it worse, something happened to put Lucy and Alex more at odds.
I love marriage of convenience stories, but this was an engagement of convenience. Great angle! You just about can’t get a better contemporary hero than Alex, my goodness I just about swooned while reading. The emotional tug-a-war between Lucy, Alex and her old boyfriend Matt was played perfectly and without clichéd drama. The dialogue- wowza! Snappy, quick witted and oh so good. I wanted to read it over just to taste the emotion again.
I don’t know what was up between Clare and Julian, but I got more than one chuckle out of those two, my favorites! Clare’s “bucket list” and Julian’s snarky comments wouldn’t be able to fly in any other book, but was perfect here in just the right situation. I plain loved it.
I’m a fan of Jenny B. Jones. Pass the back list, because I intend to go read more!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.
January 19, 2011
Save the Date was a fun, light romance. I think with some of my other reviews, I’ve said that many times those types of books are the ones that ends up on my favorites list. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book! I loved how quirky Lucy is. She’s very clumsy and loves any and all science fiction. She even has a group of friends called “The Hobbits.”
I think my favorite characters ended up being Clare and Julian. I found myself laughing out loud at many of their scenes. And of course, with the pregnancy hormones, it’s official. I can’t read a book without crying! This story was just so incredibly sweet at times, I couldn’t help it.
I was very happy with the ending. Books that I’ve read lately all seem to have the same trend going with a “surprise” ending. I actually expected that from this book, but I liked the way the author takes this story.
And I know the cover has nothing to do with how good a story is, but I LOVE the cover of this book and Just Between You and Me. The girls are just so cute and real. It’s refreshing, for me, anyway.
I had fun reading Save the Date, and I can’t wait to read more from Jenny B. Jones.
I think my favorite characters ended up being Clare and Julian. I found myself laughing out loud at many of their scenes. And of course, with the pregnancy hormones, it’s official. I can’t read a book without crying! This story was just so incredibly sweet at times, I couldn’t help it.
I was very happy with the ending. Books that I’ve read lately all seem to have the same trend going with a “surprise” ending. I actually expected that from this book, but I liked the way the author takes this story.
And I know the cover has nothing to do with how good a story is, but I LOVE the cover of this book and Just Between You and Me. The girls are just so cute and real. It’s refreshing, for me, anyway.
I had fun reading Save the Date, and I can’t wait to read more from Jenny B. Jones.
November 6, 2012
Lucy is trying to save her home for troubled girls and the answer falls into her lap when a guy from her past, Alex, who is a former pro football player and is now running for Congress, comes up with a deal--he'll give her the money if she'll pretend to be his fiancee. Little did she know, this deal would soon become more than she bargained for.
Lucy's mother died and she never knew her father and she really relied on her sci-fi group of friend, The Hobbits--they are quirky and fun. The supporting characters are a riot--I think my favorites are Clare and Julian, especially the latter. He had me laughing. I really loved the banter between Lucy and Alex. He's every girls' dream, yet Lucy really gets in and gets to know the real him. Lucy is far from perfect, yet Alex finds that she really stands out. I'll definitely be looking for more of this author's works.
Content: no language or violence; some innuendos, but otherwise clean.
Lucy's mother died and she never knew her father and she really relied on her sci-fi group of friend, The Hobbits--they are quirky and fun. The supporting characters are a riot--I think my favorites are Clare and Julian, especially the latter. He had me laughing. I really loved the banter between Lucy and Alex. He's every girls' dream, yet Lucy really gets in and gets to know the real him. Lucy is far from perfect, yet Alex finds that she really stands out. I'll definitely be looking for more of this author's works.
Content: no language or violence; some innuendos, but otherwise clean.
February 12, 2011
This book was stinking hilarious.
There were so many things I loved about it, the snarky banter between the leads, the quirky supporting cast, the romance- oh my stars the romance!
But one thing really stood out after I put the book down. I found Lucy's come to Jesus moment to be fresh and original. It was powerful without being heavy handed and some of the most organic writing I've seen in Christian fiction.
There were so many things I loved about it, the snarky banter between the leads, the quirky supporting cast, the romance- oh my stars the romance!
But one thing really stood out after I put the book down. I found Lucy's come to Jesus moment to be fresh and original. It was powerful without being heavy handed and some of the most organic writing I've seen in Christian fiction.
February 15, 2019
Julian is one of the best minor characters bc u needed to know
also he reminds me of Kronk no idea why
WILLLLLL *coughcough* I may be recovering from a character that WASN'T EVEN IN THE BOOK
also he reminds me of Kronk no idea why
WILLLLLL *coughcough* I may be recovering from a character that WASN'T EVEN IN THE BOOK
April 30, 2015
I love the cuteness of this story. I love the humor, and the emotion, and the beauty, and the love. So sweet and light. This adorable story had me laughing and crying. This was a classic chick book.
This is the second book I've read by Jenny B. Jones and I loved it, just as I did the other one (There You'll Find Me , which is actually supposed to come after this one).
I immensely enjoyed the humor. Lucy and Alex's sarcastic quips and teases were unbelievably adorable. That was too cool how they always knew just what to say. So light-hearted and fun.
The romance was awesome as well. I loved how it was portrayed with the varying emotions and the true love. It was so... so... sigh-worthy.
The faith was great as well. It didn't have a Gospel message unfortunately but there were some good messages in there. There was one thing that annoyed me though. The preacher never used the Bible. I mean, he had it there as he preached, but he never opened it. There was no Scripture recited. Motivational message or not, it doesn't mean anything without God's Word.
Honestly, I really don't like the cover. Two stars maybe. I like the idea with the girl up close and the guy faded out. And the rest of the design is fine. I mostly don't like what they did to the model. First, she doesn't look like Lucy. Second, the dress she's wearing does not look very flattering and her makeup is even worse. Pretty as she is, the makeup and silly expression do not help in any way.
(*SPOILER ALERT!!!*)
Lucy was the classic girl. She had the normality with her hesitancy to step out of her comfort zone, her quirkiness with her love for science fiction and all things fantasy, her good with trying to save girls and help people, her insecurity with her varying feelings for Alex. She was totally the traditional girl that I could relate to. I really enjoyed that.
Alex was just to awesome for his own good. Too handsome. Too romantic. Too sweet. Too charming. Too funny. Too cute. He was just too everything. I loved seeing his pain, once he finally opened up. He was just so sweet and sad. And that beautiful moment in the rain with Finley was just adorably sweet. If I hadn't already been desperately in love with him, I would've fallen then.
Clare was actually really sweet. At first she seriously annoyed me and I thought she was a jerk. But then I saw part of her, not just Lucy's delusion of her, and she was just a dear old woman who was desperate for forgiveness of past wrongs and acceptance from her granddaughter. She was really great.
Julian was... weird. Like really weird. But he was so funny too. His whole role as Clare's ridiculously hilarious sidekick was simply too amusing. At times I wasn't really sure he was all there, because he seemed awfully strange for a guy. But maybe they're just different in Charleston.
Marinell was sweet too. Her façade of the ungrateful, cynical teen was so abruptly peeled away with her concern for her little brother and her mother and father. They were all such a great family. I'm glad they can now live in peace and that Carlos is all right.
Matt was a good guy. Really bad for Lucy, but still a nice guy. I was seriously getting annoyed with his whole remind-Lucy-that-she-loves-me-and-not-Alex thing. That was getting on my nerves.
Alex's family was wonderful. His parents were so sweet and kind and sensitive to his needs. And Finley was just waiting for him to show that he loved her in the slightest way. How he kept pushing them away was so utterly heart-breaking.
Morgan and Chuck were really sweet. Their support and humor was greatly appreciated. All of Lucy's Hobbit friends were just too funny. So nerdy and fun and weird.
Yep, this'll be one I read again. Eventually. After I tackle my 50 foot long TBR pile, Alex-Sinclair-style. ;)
This is the second book I've read by Jenny B. Jones and I loved it, just as I did the other one (There You'll Find Me , which is actually supposed to come after this one).
I immensely enjoyed the humor. Lucy and Alex's sarcastic quips and teases were unbelievably adorable. That was too cool how they always knew just what to say. So light-hearted and fun.
The romance was awesome as well. I loved how it was portrayed with the varying emotions and the true love. It was so... so... sigh-worthy.
The faith was great as well. It didn't have a Gospel message unfortunately but there were some good messages in there. There was one thing that annoyed me though. The preacher never used the Bible. I mean, he had it there as he preached, but he never opened it. There was no Scripture recited. Motivational message or not, it doesn't mean anything without God's Word.
Honestly, I really don't like the cover. Two stars maybe. I like the idea with the girl up close and the guy faded out. And the rest of the design is fine. I mostly don't like what they did to the model. First, she doesn't look like Lucy. Second, the dress she's wearing does not look very flattering and her makeup is even worse. Pretty as she is, the makeup and silly expression do not help in any way.
(*SPOILER ALERT!!!*)
Lucy was the classic girl. She had the normality with her hesitancy to step out of her comfort zone, her quirkiness with her love for science fiction and all things fantasy, her good with trying to save girls and help people, her insecurity with her varying feelings for Alex. She was totally the traditional girl that I could relate to. I really enjoyed that.
Alex was just to awesome for his own good. Too handsome. Too romantic. Too sweet. Too charming. Too funny. Too cute. He was just too everything. I loved seeing his pain, once he finally opened up. He was just so sweet and sad. And that beautiful moment in the rain with Finley was just adorably sweet. If I hadn't already been desperately in love with him, I would've fallen then.
Clare was actually really sweet. At first she seriously annoyed me and I thought she was a jerk. But then I saw part of her, not just Lucy's delusion of her, and she was just a dear old woman who was desperate for forgiveness of past wrongs and acceptance from her granddaughter. She was really great.
Julian was... weird. Like really weird. But he was so funny too. His whole role as Clare's ridiculously hilarious sidekick was simply too amusing. At times I wasn't really sure he was all there, because he seemed awfully strange for a guy. But maybe they're just different in Charleston.
Marinell was sweet too. Her façade of the ungrateful, cynical teen was so abruptly peeled away with her concern for her little brother and her mother and father. They were all such a great family. I'm glad they can now live in peace and that Carlos is all right.
Matt was a good guy. Really bad for Lucy, but still a nice guy. I was seriously getting annoyed with his whole remind-Lucy-that-she-loves-me-and-not-Alex thing. That was getting on my nerves.
Alex's family was wonderful. His parents were so sweet and kind and sensitive to his needs. And Finley was just waiting for him to show that he loved her in the slightest way. How he kept pushing them away was so utterly heart-breaking.
Morgan and Chuck were really sweet. Their support and humor was greatly appreciated. All of Lucy's Hobbit friends were just too funny. So nerdy and fun and weird.
Yep, this'll be one I read again. Eventually. After I tackle my 50 foot long TBR pile, Alex-Sinclair-style. ;)
July 10, 2017
Once again Jenny B. Jones had me in tears- either because I was laughing so hard or because one of her messages really spoke to me. How does she do it?! Loved this book so much!
Read
November 11, 2016This wasn't my thing. I wasn't in the mood for a rom-com. Those seem to often be misses for me anyway so don't let the fact this book wasn't for me keep you from trying it. The writing was good if you enjoy these types of books.
Do be aware that this book has heavy religious themes and tone alongside the rom-com for those that don't enjoy that. That was likely part of the disconnect. Though I don't usually mind religious undertones, it seemed a weird hybrid to me and just wasn't for me
One reason rom-coms don't resonate is the way the characters are drawn with such heavy hands. I prefer subtlety. The heroine is the typical clumsy, awkward girl who grew up poor amidst spoiled rich people. Everything about the situation and events she gets into are heavy handed to go with the rom-com feel.
Do be aware that this book has heavy religious themes and tone alongside the rom-com for those that don't enjoy that. That was likely part of the disconnect. Though I don't usually mind religious undertones, it seemed a weird hybrid to me and just wasn't for me
One reason rom-coms don't resonate is the way the characters are drawn with such heavy hands. I prefer subtlety. The heroine is the typical clumsy, awkward girl who grew up poor amidst spoiled rich people. Everything about the situation and events she gets into are heavy handed to go with the rom-com feel.
November 16, 2024
Where do i start?? 10/5 stars.
I read this book last year, at the start of my book obsession (pre kindle days). I fell in love with the way this author wrote about love. It’s a faith based book so obviously love is done correctly. Aside from that, the way Jenny wrote these two love interest’s dialogues is STILL unmatched. The way they flirt, make fun of each other, and the SARCASM is my favorite to this day. I grin the whole time. I cry, i laugh. I thought reading it again now a year later i might find it more cheesy, but it’s honestly even better after realizing how much filth is written about these days. It was published in 2011…. Yet it is timeless.
ALSO the 4 other story plot points that are going on while there’s a FAKE DATING/ ENEMIES TO LOVERS trop (my two FAVORITE) makes this my favorite book (in romance genre) of all time. With rich powerful characters, and non profit workers, and family trauma, it checks every box.
That’s all. ~Plz make this a movie Christian companies~
I read this book last year, at the start of my book obsession (pre kindle days). I fell in love with the way this author wrote about love. It’s a faith based book so obviously love is done correctly. Aside from that, the way Jenny wrote these two love interest’s dialogues is STILL unmatched. The way they flirt, make fun of each other, and the SARCASM is my favorite to this day. I grin the whole time. I cry, i laugh. I thought reading it again now a year later i might find it more cheesy, but it’s honestly even better after realizing how much filth is written about these days. It was published in 2011…. Yet it is timeless.
ALSO the 4 other story plot points that are going on while there’s a FAKE DATING/ ENEMIES TO LOVERS trop (my two FAVORITE) makes this my favorite book (in romance genre) of all time. With rich powerful characters, and non profit workers, and family trauma, it checks every box.
That’s all. ~Plz make this a movie Christian companies~
July 23, 2018
For a book centered around a fake engagement and a couple falling in love for real, there was virtually no bantering or chemistry. I liked Alex more than Lucy, who I found somewhat whiny and annoying. I just didn’t see a connection between the two of them. I liked Lucy’s mission to help young girls who turn 18 and are no longer eligible for foster care and the storyline about Alex’s brother.
I liked Julian and Clare a lot, especially Julian with his snarky sense of humor.
I had high hopes for this one because I love fake relationships that turn into something real, but I didn’t end up liking it as much as I thought I would.
I liked Julian and Clare a lot, especially Julian with his snarky sense of humor.
I had high hopes for this one because I love fake relationships that turn into something real, but I didn’t end up liking it as much as I thought I would.
July 31, 2017
I loved this book! I've never read anything by Jones before, so wasn't sure what to expect. At first, I thought it was going to be the same ole Christian chick lit. But it soon developed into more, and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the characters and their growth throughout the story. The wit and humor was perfect. And the love story was sweet and real. I'm excited to read more by this author!
July 10, 2023
I read this with my mom and it was cute :’)
January 15, 2024
Jenny B. Jones is the perfect author if you want an easy to read Rom-Com. I loved how much she included Lucy’s relationship with God.
January 22, 2011
When I first started reading this book I was unaware that it was a Christian Romance, but after reading it I'm glad I didn't know ahead of time. If I had known this it might have turned me off from reading the book, because I am not over-religious and didn't want a book to be solely about Christian beliefs and have me trying to believe them too. While this book did mention Christian beliefs a lot and almost all of the characters are extremely religious there was no forcing of the beliefs. Lucy is a very religious character but that is only one small aspect of her. She just wants a family, and at one time she thought she could have that but now it seems that in order to keep the dream she has built she might have to sacrifice some of her future.
Alex is a former pro football player who is now running for a seat in Congress when he and Lucy talk one night at his family's party and a photographer catches a picture of them together he starts to catch up in the polls. He devises a plan where he will help Lucy keep her dream (her 18 and older house for girls freshly out of foster care with no where to go) if she will pose as his girlfriend and later his fiance. Lucy is skeptical but desperate and she will do anything for her girls so she agrees. They both agree to this arrangement because they both believe that the other person is the last person they could ever fall in love with especially since they are both so focused on their careers. So neither of them are prepared are or ready to face these new feelings they each begin to have.
Alex was a great complex character he had lost a brother who he believed to be the better of them and he feels extreme guilt over that. He can barely look at his family without feeling this guilt so he drives himself to win this election. He wants to be a better person and help people in memory and honor of his brother. He doesn't see that he pushes people away and that he might just be focusing on the wrong thing to lead a happy successful life.
Lucy constantly feels inadequate, as a child she went to a rich prep school where her mother was a maid and she was on scholarship. She has never fit in with the rich crowd and doesn't want to but she must beg for their money to keep her girls home afloat. Even though Lucy is a success and doing something she loves she feels shame and humiliation whenever she is at rich functions. She is also lonely the one man she saw her future with walked away from her, and her dreams of having a family are put away. Each of these characters was great, they had such depth that they seemed extremely realistic. It was a great story and made me feel a spectrum of emotions, from humor, to sympathy, to sadness, to happiness, and everything in between.
Alex is a former pro football player who is now running for a seat in Congress when he and Lucy talk one night at his family's party and a photographer catches a picture of them together he starts to catch up in the polls. He devises a plan where he will help Lucy keep her dream (her 18 and older house for girls freshly out of foster care with no where to go) if she will pose as his girlfriend and later his fiance. Lucy is skeptical but desperate and she will do anything for her girls so she agrees. They both agree to this arrangement because they both believe that the other person is the last person they could ever fall in love with especially since they are both so focused on their careers. So neither of them are prepared are or ready to face these new feelings they each begin to have.
Alex was a great complex character he had lost a brother who he believed to be the better of them and he feels extreme guilt over that. He can barely look at his family without feeling this guilt so he drives himself to win this election. He wants to be a better person and help people in memory and honor of his brother. He doesn't see that he pushes people away and that he might just be focusing on the wrong thing to lead a happy successful life.
Lucy constantly feels inadequate, as a child she went to a rich prep school where her mother was a maid and she was on scholarship. She has never fit in with the rich crowd and doesn't want to but she must beg for their money to keep her girls home afloat. Even though Lucy is a success and doing something she loves she feels shame and humiliation whenever she is at rich functions. She is also lonely the one man she saw her future with walked away from her, and her dreams of having a family are put away. Each of these characters was great, they had such depth that they seemed extremely realistic. It was a great story and made me feel a spectrum of emotions, from humor, to sympathy, to sadness, to happiness, and everything in between.
August 28, 2013
Alex and Lucy... Lucy and Alex... Two people who appear to have nothing in common. Except they each can give the other what they want the most.
Lucy Wiltshire runs Saving Grace - a home for young adult women who have aged out of the foster system and have nowhere else to go. Except now Sinclair Hotels has informed her they are cutting funding by 40%... which will mean she will have to shut down Saving Grace, and the 13 young women who live there will have nowhere to go. Lucy is desperate for funding to keep the home going.
Alex Sinclair is the golden child. Now that his NFL career has been cut short he is running for Congress. His reputation of being a lady's man and a party-going celebrity athlete is hurting his voter approval ratings. When pictures of Alex and Lucy show up in the paper along with made up stories of their romance, his approval ratings start to skyrocket!
Lucy needs Alex... Alex needs Lucy! But they really need each other so much more than they realize at first! Alex wasn't supposed to be charming, intelligent, funny, and kind to others... but he was! I love how Lucy didn't magically become a confident, poised, supermodel when they started dating. She makes faux pas after faux pas, and instead of ditching her for a more "perfect" girlfriend (which she begs him to do), Alex falls in love with her goodness and her realness!
I loved Alex and Lucy, but I also loved the great supporting characters in this book! Clare Deveraux and her assistant Julian added a lot of fun and flavor! I was glad to see that Alex's younger sister, Finley, gets her own book "There You'll Find Me" - I'm definitely adding that to my "Want to Read!"
Clean Christian Romance - with very mild innuendos
Lucy Wiltshire runs Saving Grace - a home for young adult women who have aged out of the foster system and have nowhere else to go. Except now Sinclair Hotels has informed her they are cutting funding by 40%... which will mean she will have to shut down Saving Grace, and the 13 young women who live there will have nowhere to go. Lucy is desperate for funding to keep the home going.
Alex Sinclair is the golden child. Now that his NFL career has been cut short he is running for Congress. His reputation of being a lady's man and a party-going celebrity athlete is hurting his voter approval ratings. When pictures of Alex and Lucy show up in the paper along with made up stories of their romance, his approval ratings start to skyrocket!
Lucy needs Alex... Alex needs Lucy! But they really need each other so much more than they realize at first! Alex wasn't supposed to be charming, intelligent, funny, and kind to others... but he was! I love how Lucy didn't magically become a confident, poised, supermodel when they started dating. She makes faux pas after faux pas, and instead of ditching her for a more "perfect" girlfriend (which she begs him to do), Alex falls in love with her goodness and her realness!
I loved Alex and Lucy, but I also loved the great supporting characters in this book! Clare Deveraux and her assistant Julian added a lot of fun and flavor! I was glad to see that Alex's younger sister, Finley, gets her own book "There You'll Find Me" - I'm definitely adding that to my "Want to Read!"
Clean Christian Romance - with very mild innuendos
May 10, 2011
Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones gets 5 stars and goes on the keeper shelf!
Lucy Wiltshire is a social worker with a barely funded home for young girls who age-out of the foster care system and have nowhere else to go. Her girls are her passion, her life, her reason for living. So when funding for her home, Saving Grace, gets pulled by the main donor, Lucy does the only thing she knows to do, she heads to a charity ball with a plan to talk to all the board members and change their minds. Alex Sinclair, former hot-stuff quarterback, son of the money-pulling donor, and current congressional candidate, has only one agenda when he first lays eyes on Lucy at the ball - to keep her away from his father's board members. But when Lucy has a little shrimp-cocktail-meets-key-board-member incident on the dance floor and runs from the room in humiliation, Alex follows her just to make sure she's alright. A few paparazzi and some pictures taken out of context later, and Alex's poll ratings start to climb. This girl might just be good for his career. So they make a plan, she'll pose as his fiancée just until the votes are in, and he'll give her the money she needs to save her girls' home. What neither one of them planned on was falling in love on the journey.
The author does an excellent job of combining humor and truth with romance that doesn't pull any punches. Add in a sassy grandma and her crazy assistant, a reading group called The Hobbits, and a teenage girl who just doesn't want to follow the rules, and you have a can't-put-it-down story. I recommend you give this one a read.
Lucy Wiltshire is a social worker with a barely funded home for young girls who age-out of the foster care system and have nowhere else to go. Her girls are her passion, her life, her reason for living. So when funding for her home, Saving Grace, gets pulled by the main donor, Lucy does the only thing she knows to do, she heads to a charity ball with a plan to talk to all the board members and change their minds. Alex Sinclair, former hot-stuff quarterback, son of the money-pulling donor, and current congressional candidate, has only one agenda when he first lays eyes on Lucy at the ball - to keep her away from his father's board members. But when Lucy has a little shrimp-cocktail-meets-key-board-member incident on the dance floor and runs from the room in humiliation, Alex follows her just to make sure she's alright. A few paparazzi and some pictures taken out of context later, and Alex's poll ratings start to climb. This girl might just be good for his career. So they make a plan, she'll pose as his fiancée just until the votes are in, and he'll give her the money she needs to save her girls' home. What neither one of them planned on was falling in love on the journey.
The author does an excellent job of combining humor and truth with romance that doesn't pull any punches. Add in a sassy grandma and her crazy assistant, a reading group called The Hobbits, and a teenage girl who just doesn't want to follow the rules, and you have a can't-put-it-down story. I recommend you give this one a read.
April 21, 2013
Oh goodness! I LOVED this book. Jenny B. Jones is a master of comedic dialogue. There were parts in the book that had me laughing so hard that I had to calm myself before moving on.
Lucy could possibly be my kindred spirit. We are totally on the same page. I just absolutely love that she's a Trekkie. She would be my friend in the real world and we would watch Star Trek and Star Wars and just be cool and nerdy together. Jenny B. Jones has portrayed a female character that didn't annoy or frustrate me... not even once. Which is huge because I usually get frustrated with female characters at least once in just about every book I read... but that's just normal.
Alex. Alex. Alex. Oh me, oh my. I mean, come on, really? Now I've read my fair share of dreamy heroes... there's the tough Scottish Highlander (my fav), the sensitive aspiring "fill-in-the-blank", and your average Joe (the ones I root for the most... gotta love the underdog), but I just have such a soft spot for athletes. Or former athlete in Alex's case. I loved how funny his character was. He was quite witty for a former football player... a personal favorite quality of his. I found myself quickly reading through parts of the story that didn't include Alex just so I could get to a part where he graced the pages with his Adonis-ness (if that's even a word... which I'm positive it isn't). He's definitely among my favorite heroes ever written.
Jenny B. Jones is hilarious. Love the story. LOVE the characters. Love the humor. And LOVE Julian!
Lucy could possibly be my kindred spirit. We are totally on the same page. I just absolutely love that she's a Trekkie. She would be my friend in the real world and we would watch Star Trek and Star Wars and just be cool and nerdy together. Jenny B. Jones has portrayed a female character that didn't annoy or frustrate me... not even once. Which is huge because I usually get frustrated with female characters at least once in just about every book I read... but that's just normal.
Alex. Alex. Alex. Oh me, oh my. I mean, come on, really? Now I've read my fair share of dreamy heroes... there's the tough Scottish Highlander (my fav), the sensitive aspiring "fill-in-the-blank", and your average Joe (the ones I root for the most... gotta love the underdog), but I just have such a soft spot for athletes. Or former athlete in Alex's case. I loved how funny his character was. He was quite witty for a former football player... a personal favorite quality of his. I found myself quickly reading through parts of the story that didn't include Alex just so I could get to a part where he graced the pages with his Adonis-ness (if that's even a word... which I'm positive it isn't). He's definitely among my favorite heroes ever written.
Jenny B. Jones is hilarious. Love the story. LOVE the characters. Love the humor. And LOVE Julian!
February 19, 2011
At first I wasn't sure what to think of this pairing of opposites, but I could see where it would make for some fun times that are totally Jenny B. Jones signature humor. This story started to grow on me, and while their relationship was based on a lie, the "fake" relationship humor was hilarious and I ended up hooked. As is typical with Miss Jones, there is always a much deeper level that she delves into beyond the light-hearted humor. And those kisses were amazing!
I loved how the author used their "fake" engagement to bring out their issues and their insecurities. In some ways this novel reminded me of "A Walk to Remember" because neither them expected to develop feelings for the other. This story is a great example of how to take a potential unlikeable hero (womanizer history, arrogant, stuck on himself, etc) and make him into a dashing and wonderful example of manliness coupled with godliness. I was thoroughly impressed.
Save the Date was just one of those books that I was almost willing to skip church to finish reading. Sad, but true. I was fully invested in the outcome of this story. As usual, the characters will stick with me a long time. Another great read and a fun ride on a very romantic roller coaster. The spiritual thread was deeper than I'd expected, too, but that just made the book even better in my opinion. This is a keeper.
I loved how the author used their "fake" engagement to bring out their issues and their insecurities. In some ways this novel reminded me of "A Walk to Remember" because neither them expected to develop feelings for the other. This story is a great example of how to take a potential unlikeable hero (womanizer history, arrogant, stuck on himself, etc) and make him into a dashing and wonderful example of manliness coupled with godliness. I was thoroughly impressed.
Save the Date was just one of those books that I was almost willing to skip church to finish reading. Sad, but true. I was fully invested in the outcome of this story. As usual, the characters will stick with me a long time. Another great read and a fun ride on a very romantic roller coaster. The spiritual thread was deeper than I'd expected, too, but that just made the book even better in my opinion. This is a keeper.
June 9, 2012
Save the Date is my first Jenny B Jones chicklit. I don't usually dig this subgenre of romance so my 5 star rating shows you this book is worth reading whether you like chicklit OR NOT!
Our heroine is the brave underdog Lucy Wiltshire. Though the daughter of a single unmarried mom, Lucy endured a high society high school. In her adult life, she runs a non-profit in Charleston, SC, Saving Grace, for girls who have aged out of the foster system but haven't finished high school. The plot revolves around a deal she strikes with the hero Alex Sinclair. She will get Saving Grace funded if she poses as his fiancee for his political campaign. Yes, I know it sounds like a Made for TV movie. And it may end up one. A very interesting secondary character Clare Devereaux who for some reason wants to claim Lucy as her granddaughter. Is Lucy her granddaughter and if she disowned her before what does she want with her now? A thoroughly enjoyable and touching read. A Romance Writers of America RITA finalist this year too~!
Our heroine is the brave underdog Lucy Wiltshire. Though the daughter of a single unmarried mom, Lucy endured a high society high school. In her adult life, she runs a non-profit in Charleston, SC, Saving Grace, for girls who have aged out of the foster system but haven't finished high school. The plot revolves around a deal she strikes with the hero Alex Sinclair. She will get Saving Grace funded if she poses as his fiancee for his political campaign. Yes, I know it sounds like a Made for TV movie. And it may end up one. A very interesting secondary character Clare Devereaux who for some reason wants to claim Lucy as her granddaughter. Is Lucy her granddaughter and if she disowned her before what does she want with her now? A thoroughly enjoyable and touching read. A Romance Writers of America RITA finalist this year too~!
July 31, 2017
5 stars!
This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it jus as much the second time. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in less than 24 hours!!! I've said it once, and I'll say it again, I love books with characters that dislike each other at first and have witty banter back and forth. This book had all that and more! Another book that literally had me laughing out loud over and over again! One of my favourites! If you like chick-lit, romantic-comedy type books than this is DEFINITELY the one for you!! I really wish this book would be made into a movie ( I think I have said that before too).
This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it jus as much the second time. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in less than 24 hours!!! I've said it once, and I'll say it again, I love books with characters that dislike each other at first and have witty banter back and forth. This book had all that and more! Another book that literally had me laughing out loud over and over again! One of my favourites! If you like chick-lit, romantic-comedy type books than this is DEFINITELY the one for you!! I really wish this book would be made into a movie ( I think I have said that before too).
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