Search - It Had to Be You (Weddings by Bella, Bk 3)

IT HAD TO BE YOU
By Janice Thompson
Publishhed by
ISBN#978-0-8007-3344-5
330 Pages

Back Cover: Bella couldn't be happier that her long-feuding Aunt Rosa and Uncle Lazarro have finally admitted their love for one another and are getting married. Their forties-style wedding is sure to be a night to remember. But when the Rossi house begins to fill up with family from Italy--and an old mobster from New Jersey--life starts to get complicated. Will Lazarro's friend from the past drive the happy couple apart once more? And will Bella ever have time to think of her own rapidly-approaching wedding amidst the chaos? Full of laugh-out-loud humor, plenty of Italian passion, and a bit of Texas gumption, It Had to Be You is the satisfying conclusion to an entertaining series.

REVIEW: Love is in the air, and not just for Bella the wedding planner, and her boyfriend DJ, in It Had to Be You. Love brings families together with Italian passion and food. The family is celebrating the marriage of Rosa and Lazarro. Bella grew up with her favorite Aunt Rosa and Uncle Lazarro, and since this is such a huge event, everything had to be just right. Bella hoped to bring to life Aunt Rosa’s dream wedding and reception, and make her aunts’ dream come true. Of course, Aunt Rosa has to help and Bella can’t keep her out of the kitchen. By the sounds of the reception menu, I would love to attend this wedding with the great food and big band swing dancing.

Sparks start to fly - not only in the love department and in the planning of Rosa and Lazarro’s wedding, but between family members as they start arriving from Italy to join the celebration. There are many surprises and things to catch up on!

It Had To Be You is the third book in the 'Wedding by Bella' series. Janice Thompson has captured the essence of the Italian-American family in this series full of love, respect, fun, food and music. Thanks to your books Janice, I've been taken away from the worries of the day and swept into Bella's world, with her and her family, and all the incredible weddings she was contracted to do. It can’t get any better than that...fun, family, food and dancing. I’m there!! Thanks for the memories Janice, great R&R and the spiritual thread that ran through all three books. Janice talked about God, how to love well and how to get close to Him and each other. This spiritual thread radiated in a fun but powerful way in this series. I had so much fun. I can’t wait to see where Janice Thompson will take me in her next series.

Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
Finding Hope Through Fiction
www.psalm516.blogspot.com

***contains spoilers for those of you that haven't read books 1 and 2***

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading this series, you really don't know what you're missing! I am so glad I decided to give it a try, as I have seriously fallen head-over-heels in love with the Rossi clan. Let me tell you though, Fools Rush In is my absolute fave book of the series. I like the fact that it focuses on just a few characters, mainly the Rossi family, whereas the other two books are much more hectic.

Go ahead and buckle up, because you're in for a roller coaster ride with It Had to Be You. My emotions were all over the place with this one. One minute, I'm on top of the world, celebrating with Laz and Rosa -- then, I'm ready to knock some sense into Sal's head for causing such an uproar right before the big day.

There were times when I really didn't like some of the Rossi family members, especially when it felt like they were completely ignoring Bella, and seemingly overlooking HER big day. Everything worked itself out in the end, but it was an emotional ride for me (and her!).

It was wonderful making new friends -- I really liked getting to know Gordy, Lilly, and the Band of Gold. Finally meeting 'Uncle Sallie' was great, too. There is so much love in the air, it was all I could do to keep up with who was doing what! Multiple weddings, an elopement, a birth, multiple engagements, and the list goes one. :) I won't say anymore -- I'll let you experience it all for yourself, when you get a copy of your own to enjoy.


To find out more about Janice Thompson, and/or her books, be sure to visit her at:
* Her website
* Her blog


Available May 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

*** Thanks to Donna @ Revell Publishing for providing my review copy. ***