Runaway Groom by Sally Clements

Title:  Runaway Groom

Series: N/A

Author:  Sally Clements

Genre:  Romance

Blurb:  Seven years ago, Matthew Logan ran out on his wedding to June Leigh.

Life is good for fledgling dress-designer April Leigh. She couldn’t be happier that her sister has found a new love, and is excited about her very first commission, June’s wedding dress.

On learning June has invited runaway groom Matthew Logan to the wedding, April has to intervene. Matthew’s presence will ruin everything – her father hates him, and just the sight of him in the church might give her mother a heart attack.

Matthew Logan has no intention of going to June’s wedding, but intriguing April’s arrival on his doorstep sparks his interest and he can’t resist getting to know her better. When a disaster forces them together neither can deny the passion that combusts into a red-hot affair.

Discovering the truth about the past shifts April’s feelings from lust to love, but bitter experience has taught Matthew to guard his heart.

When it looks as though Matthew will lose her forever, will he fight or flee?

Thoughts:  Again, this is just one of those books that was hard to finish for me.  One of the main points of contention for me is the way the characters behaved.  It was hard for me to believe that June would invite this guy to her wedding to her new husband to start off with when we believed the worse from him.  And even when we (as readers) discover the truth, I still don’t get why she would invite him.  I understand the concept, but considering she never once in those seven years told her family the truth – did she really think she was doing what was right?  Why re-open old wounds for everyone, when your too much of a coward to tell people what really took place?

And why would Matthew go to the wedding?  Even considering his newfound interest in April, I just couldn’t see someone in that situation actually even contemplating going to that event.  And the inexplicable actions of the characters throughout this story just got more and more outlandish and ridiculous.

I had a hard time buying the whole story, and an even harder time connecting with the characters because of it.

Rate:  C-