Rating: 3.5 stars.This book was a fun read. The story line was entertaining, very humorous and it kept me interested right up until the very end. The biggest let down for me was the sexual content. Most readers in today's society would probably laugh and disagree with me, not thinking much of it, but for me, it spoilt an otherwise well written and enjoyable story.Hallie McCarthy was a successful graphic designer and business woman. She was turning thirty and thought it was time to find herself a husband and start a family. Her best friend Donnalee had been married in her late teens and was emotionally scarred by divorce. She too thought it was time for her and her friend to find themselves committed partners to share their lives. So they both started searching for men to date. Hallie met some very interesting characters resulting in some very funny dating situations.Steve Marris was a 35 year old handsome, athletic, divorced father of two young children. He was still very much in love with his ex-wife Mary Lynn, who had also been his first love. He bought the condominium next to Hallie's and his children stayed with him on weekends. He was a devoted father and held onto hope that he would one day reunite with his wife. He never wanted the divorce but when his ex-wife announced she would re-marry, he reluctantly had to learn to let her go. Steve developed a special friendship with Hallie, and his children learned to love and trust her. Hallie and Steve were falling in love without either of them realizing it. There were some laugh out loud moments between the two of them. I found the characters very real. I could relate to Hallie and some of her experiences and emotions. Her obsession with her weight was spot on - that is how most women feel about themselves (unfortunately). Steve was both likeable and frustrating. Likeable because he was a "one woman" kind of man. He had wanted to stay married and take care of his family. He was always there for his children too. He was not on the prowl for one night stands. I liked that about him. He was frustrating because of his stubbornness and (understandable) fear of another commitment.Overall, the book was a fun read. If the sex scenes and frequent sexual references were omitted, I would have given this book a 4.5 stars.
If you enjoy humor in your romance novels, this is a good one. Quite a few disasterous situations + Ms. Too Nice To Fight Back = hilarity. I got a little fed up with the protagonist's never-ending quest to lose 10 pounds, however. Do we really need a FEMALE writer telling us that we're not good enough? I know, I know...it all works out and Mr. KISA (Knight In Shining Armor) doesn't understand her obsession with weight. But does he ever tell her that? NOOO, he just thinks it to himself as she continues to fixate on ten measly pounds. I much prefer to read romances that leave me feeling like a princess as opposed to feeling like I have to put down the book and do an extra 20 sit-ups.
The very first Debbie Macomber book that I read...it was some time in 2005, I think, and the technology wasn't that impressive as it is today. I thought that this book was fabulously done and a lot of women can relate to it. As of today, I have read practically ALL of her books! We even have an entire shelf full of her books! Debbie Macomber is one of the finest writer in women's fiction/literature! She even had her books turned into TV movies, one of them is the Cedar Cove series which will be shown by June 2013. It is always a pleasure to read and collect Ms. Debbie Macomber's books!
—jenniangel
This Matter of Marriage is the 60th stand-alone novel by Debbie Macomber. Hallie McCarthy suddenly finds herself, at almost thirty, a career woman who wants to have a family. So she sets out to achieve that, like she does in her successful business. First she loses weight, then she starts dating. But the dates are disasters: lucky she has her new next-door-neighbour, Steve Marris, to commiserate and, occasionally, come to the rescue. She gets on well with his kids and counts herself lucky to have him as a friend. Anyway, he’s not her type, and he’s still hung up on his ex-wife. This is a light-hearted romantic comedy, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as well as a few lump-in-the-throat ones. Debbie Macomber is the mistress of feel-good romance and this is no exception.
—Marianne
My Take:Sometimes there’s a novel you just enjoy, and you have no idea why. This Matter of Marriage was exactly that for me. The writing style was more women’s fiction than romance, which usually turns me off of a book, and I can’t remember anything particularly special about it, but damn, I sure did enjoy it. Perhaps what had me hooked from the start was my mental image of the protagonists. For one thing, they were realistic, which was a breath of fresh air. As much as I love my over the top kn
—D.L.
