Doug Llewellyn is attending his cousin’s weeklong bridal celebrations only because his mother wrangled a promise from him that he would. A forty-year-old bachelor, his motto is date ‘em young and remain unattached. He hasn’t even arrived before he’s planning his escape route – unaware that life as he knows it is about to change beyond recognition. His first impression of Rosie Kilgannon is that she is one stunningly superb kisser – an impression that hardly changes as he comes to know her. Oddly drawn to her, it doesn’t occur to him that she could be the one woman with the power to clip his wings. At least, not until he’s been drawn into her schemes and concern for others, finding himself involved in situations he would have avoided like the plague before he’d met her.

Rosie does all that she can to help others, whether they are aware that they need help or not. Her lips first meet Doug’s when she uses him to escape an unwanted admirer set upon her by Bettie, the mother of the bride and matchmaker extraordinaire. Learning Doug is to be one of Bettie’s other victims, they decide to stick together for the week. Neither foresees anything more than a weeklong fun-filled fling. Certainly they didn’t expect to develop any long-lasting feelings for one another…nor the need for them to break up the wedding. At least Rosie is doing her best to get Doug to help her stop the wedding. But why? Will they succeed? And will they succumb to love gracefully, or go down fighting all the way?

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie is a fun and madcap tale full of laughter, great characters, and a dash of intrigue. Kasey Michaels has penned a huge spectrum of characters. The serious, staid and commitment allergic Doug. The quirky, concern-filled (and commitment phobic) Rosie. The overbearing mother of the bride, Bettie – and her steamrolled daughter, Lilli-Beth. The bought-and-paid-for-groom and his mafia-like friends. There’s even an overanxious wedding planner and an ill-used would-be groom waiting in the wings. Such a varied cast I rarely come across, but Kasey Michaels has pulled it off with aplomb, grace, and much laughter to be had by the reader. The plot is an intricate one, but is easy to follow, smooth flowing, and enjoyable the whole way through. There is intimacy between Rosie and Doug, but descriptions are not graphic and the scenes are quite tender. Though I have only read Kasey Michael’s historical novels, Everything’s Coming Up Rosie has ensured I shall be looking into her other works – the sooner the better.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth