Wedding Proposal

by Sue Moorcroft

[Leah]

You know those books where fate in the form of silly incidents and hilarious events conspire to keep the hero and heroine apart? This isn’t one of those. That’s not to say it is devoid of humour, but it is the sort — far harder to write but much more emotionally satisfying to read — where every barrier to happy-ever-after is psychological, where he and she have to grow in order to understand not just each other but themselves. In this instance Elle has little self-worth. She has accepted responsibility for a history she has so far managed to keep hidden, and has to learn to trust Lucas enough to believe that he won’t judge her by the mistakes of her past. Mistakes that led to her running from him after his proposal several years before. Lucas too has to become less suspicious, more willing to admit and accept fault, before he can accept Elle.

Of course their forced proximity is instrumental in making sure this happens, but there are plenty of misunderstandings and opportunities for them to see the other at their best – and worst. However, in the end, it is time and acceptance and growth that moves them on – just as in real life there is no one moment that you can point to and say ‘it was then he/she knew for certain that it had to be.’ The only obvious change of heart resulting from a single incident is that of Lucas’ mother towards Elle, but that happens quite near the end and involves giving away far too much plot for me to say anything now – so you see, even that is really as messy and tangled as reality.

What feels less real, at least to me sitting here writing this by a window that reveals wet pavement and a more uniformly grey sky than we deserve on an August Bank Holiday, is the glamour of the yachts along the Ta’Xbiex waterfront and the colours of the Maltese town. Yes the quarters may be cramped and, even in harbour, it gets a bit uncomfortable when the waves are up, but the descriptions of both are a stunning backdrop and fabulous escapism.

There is a huge cast of secondary characters: Lucas’ family, Elle’s ex-husband, her employers Loz and Davie, and the people at the drop-in centre where she volunteers — calm Joseph, creepy Oscar and little Carmelo among others. As ever with Sue Moorcroft, even those who don’t seem to be directly pushing Elle and Lucas together (or keeping them apart), are not cardboard cut-outs who appear just to provide light relief or a story of their own, but show us things about the main characters and become important in their lives.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the title, but I’m supposed to be having a no-moan day so I shall spare you the reasons. Of course I was also jealous of Elle — falling on her feet in such a sunshiny way after losing her job and getting everything to work out with the man she really wanted all along — but that sort of ‘if only’ is why we read romance, isn’t it?

Reviewed by CatherineThis review was originally posted on Girls Love To Read