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Father of the Bride
Originally a short story in the anthology With this Ring
A New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Delinsky has received the Romance Writers of America Golden Leaf and Golden Medallion, and "Romantic Times" Magazine's Special Achievement Award (twice), Reviewer's Choice Award and Best Contemporary Romance Award.
Russ Shaw was returning to St. Louis for the first time in twenty-five years - at the request of his daughter. Diane wanted him to give her away at her wedding, but Diane's mother strongly objected. When the bride's parents confronted each other, the problem was obvious: their love had burst into flame once more.
A New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Delinsky has received the Romance Writers of America Golden Leaf and Golden Medallion, and "Romantic Times" Magazine's Special Achievement Award (twice), Reviewer's Choice Award and Best Contemporary Romance Award.
Russ Shaw was returning to St. Louis for the first time in twenty-five years - at the request of his daughter. Diane wanted him to give her away at her wedding, but Diane's mother strongly objected. When the bride's parents confronted each other, the problem was obvious: their love had burst into flame once more.
119 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Delinsky
309 books4,364 followersI was born and raised in suburban Boston. My mother’s death, when I was eight, was the defining event of a childhood that was otherwise ordinary. I took piano lessons and flute lessons. I took ballroom dancing lessons. I went to summer camp through my fifteenth year (in Maine, which explains the setting of so many of my stories), then spent my sixteenth summer learning to type and to drive (two skills that have served me better than all of my other high school courses combined). I earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. The motivation behind the M.A. was sheer greed. My husband was just starting law school. We needed the money.
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 5, 2015
Deadbeat dad thinks that establishing a relationship with his college-aged daughter makes him a great guy. I didn't agree. As far as a love story goes, "doing it all night long" doesn't convince me that there is a true and lasting love there. Fell flat for me.
October 7, 2014
A wonderful story with a beautiful ending. This book was short and sweet. An easy,quick and pleasant read.
January 4, 2021
It should always be noted, that when the back of a book contains quotes from previous books, then it is a fair bet of one of two things. Either critics had not read it, or they had nothing nice to say about it. And I can see why.
The catalyst is a daughter's wedding, bringing her mother and father- the latter left the family for reasons that he has to repeat several times.
Brevity gives the story a pace, back story is present , and there are no real surprises in it . If you are looking for something that required very little thinking as you flick through the pages, and can avoid cringing at some of the metaphor and simile ("...his arousal heavier than the humidity..."), this will be a enjoyable single session reading experience.
The catalyst is a daughter's wedding, bringing her mother and father- the latter left the family for reasons that he has to repeat several times.
Brevity gives the story a pace, back story is present , and there are no real surprises in it . If you are looking for something that required very little thinking as you flick through the pages, and can avoid cringing at some of the metaphor and simile ("...his arousal heavier than the humidity..."), this will be a enjoyable single session reading experience.
September 21, 2017
Cute book nothing that got my heart pounding but sweet.
March 23, 2018
Short and sweetly satisfying read reminiscent of the old harlequin silhouette novels from the 80's and 90's.
June 18, 2018
I started and finished this book in one day. I’m a sucker for romance novels and i couldn’t put it down.
September 29, 2018
Quick easy feel good read. Predictable but enjoyable.
January 5, 2020
short but good - and predictable
January 16, 2026
Jan 2026
August 2, 2018
What a waste of ink. Sorry~ The reviews on the back made me think it might be interesting.
It was very predictable.
Sigh.
Don't bother.
It was very predictable.
Sigh.
Don't bother.
June 14, 2009
It was like a piece of traditional wedding cake: sweet and predictable. No big revelations and not that long, some quick reading.
January 23, 2010
Did not like hero for a decision he had made (he was such a wimp).
January 29, 2010
was a real quick read. Simple sweet story, no surprises. was a bit did disappointed. It did not compare at all to the outstanding story of "The Vineyard" by the same author.
January 9, 2011
Sweet romance - this is the daughter's dream, right? Her parents getting back together and all because of her getting married. Fast read with no surprises. Just a sweet romance for fun.
March 9, 2014
Short, sweet story, but not one I could identify with. Still, it was entertaining.
November 14, 2014
This was a quick fast read. I found them a bit too goody-goody, but then that seems to be a Delinsky trope. Thankfully the grandmother was a bit of bitch which helped verisimilitude.
February 13, 2015
I listened to this on tape. It was a good story. Definately a LOVE story. Quick easy read. Leisure reading....
December 10, 2016
Previous to Goodreads I kept a book log. I am updating ratings based on my log. My rating system is 1 - 10. I gave this book an 5.0.
April 5, 2017
Really old fashioned and dated. Probably good in its time but not one of her best.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews