The Wedding War

Friends turned enemies are forced to reconcile when their children announce their engagement to each other in this heartwarming tale from Talley (the Morning Glory Series). Tennyson O’Rourke and Melanie Layton were best friends, until Melanie started dating Tennyson’s ex-boyfriend and Tennyson ruined their eventual wedding by spilling a secret about Melanie’s family. Now 20-some-odd years later, Tennyson’s son, Andrew, is marrying Melanie’s daughter, Emma, and the women are going to be reluctant in-laws. Arriving in Shreveport, La., for the ceremony, the women clash amid the wedding planning chaos. But their fights are the least of Melanie’s worries: her sister is ill, her marriage is crumbling, and she can’t escape the reach of her overbearing mother. The strife may just be enough to drive her to seek comfort from her oldest friend. The subplot about Melanie’s marriage ratchets up the tension as Tennyson’s romance with a police officer adds steam, but, wisely, Talley mostly keeps the focus on the relationship between her strong female protagonists. More women’s fiction than romance, this fast-moving story of friendship and forgiveness will appeal to fans of Jamie Beck. Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary. (Apr.)