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The Wedding Dress
He wasn't her idea of a guardian. Shortly after her father's death, Loraine found herself in the care of Paul Cardine, and living in the heady atmosphere of Paris. She landed a modeling job in the city's most acclaimed fashion house-and discovered her old friend, Philip Otway. But the romantic tangle that soon enveloped them made a jumble of Loraine's emotions. Did she love the delightfully charming Philip, or "Monsieur Cardine of the chilly manner and remote ways"?
- GenresRomance
Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
5 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Mary Burchell
162 books84 followersIda Cook was born on 1904 at 37 Croft Avenue, Sunderland, England. With her eldest sister Mary Louise Cook (1901), she attending the Duchess' School in Alnwick. Later the sisters took civil service jobs in London, and developed a passionate interest in opera. The sisters helped 29 jews to escape from the Nazis, funded mainly by Ida's writing. In 1965, the Cook sisters were honored as Righteous Gentiles by the Yad Vashem Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority in Israel.
As Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels by Mills & Boon since 1936. She also wrote some western novels as James Keene in collaboration with the author Will Cook (aka Frank Peace). In 1950, Ida Cook wrote her autobiography: "We followed our stars". She helped to found the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was its president from 1966 to her death on December 22, 1986.
As Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels by Mills & Boon since 1936. She also wrote some western novels as James Keene in collaboration with the author Will Cook (aka Frank Peace). In 1950, Ida Cook wrote her autobiography: "We followed our stars". She helped to found the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was its president from 1966 to her death on December 22, 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 28, 2015
3.5 stars
I was bored with Philip right from the start. He showed his character by his nonchalant attitude toward what his fiance did with Paul. I found both Philip and Paul kind of stupid for falling in love and becoming engaged to the Bitch aka the OW! Philip was just pure selfish so I could see him with her but it made me wonder about Paul's character. Especially after finding out he took his ex-fiance out again after Philip dumped her to see if they can reestablish their relationship.
I was bored with Philip right from the start. He showed his character by his nonchalant attitude toward what his fiance did with Paul. I found both Philip and Paul kind of stupid for falling in love and becoming engaged to the Bitch aka the OW! Philip was just pure selfish so I could see him with her but it made me wonder about Paul's character. Especially after finding out he took his ex-fiance out again after Philip dumped her to see if they can reestablish their relationship.
October 22, 2025
This was an average story with some hard to believe scenes. I found the heroine immature as she was only 18 year old the OM and OW were okish .The hero had less scenes compared to OM and he was the only likeable Character in the story.
More than the romance the fashion shows and dressings took up the majority of the story and I guess the designer Florian had more dialogues with the heroine than the hero.
The ending was also quite rushed up and the heroine out of nowhere suddenly realises she loves her guardian and not the OM and the hero is just waiting to embrace her.
All in all I found it a premature and pretty silly story and disappointing after reading some very nice stories by Mary Burchell.
More than the romance the fashion shows and dressings took up the majority of the story and I guess the designer Florian had more dialogues with the heroine than the hero.
The ending was also quite rushed up and the heroine out of nowhere suddenly realises she loves her guardian and not the OM and the hero is just waiting to embrace her.
All in all I found it a premature and pretty silly story and disappointing after reading some very nice stories by Mary Burchell.
August 10, 2020
There's very little Mary Burchell wrote for M&B/Harlequin that I don't rate, but 'The Wedding Dress' feels rather 'tokenistic' and somewhat forced - as though Alan Boon and his highly efficient editorial department compelled the author to write a threequel to the 'House of Florian' saga.
Unlike most Burchell novels, the characters in this one lack depth and humour - both Paul Cardine and Lorraine Darnell are cardboard-ish (I don't think we even learn what the hero does as a meaningful occupation) and the mutual attraction between the protagonists is absent right up until the final few pages of the book . The heroine's extreme youth - she's eighteen and fresh out of school - doesn't help with a backstory either (Lorraine is literally a blank slate).
In summary - I'd skip this Burchell and plump instead for Meet Me Again or Accompanied By His Wife, and if cannot get mitts on either of those would also recommend It's Rumoured in the Village or Reluctant Relation.
Unlike most Burchell novels, the characters in this one lack depth and humour - both Paul Cardine and Lorraine Darnell are cardboard-ish (I don't think we even learn what the hero does as a meaningful occupation) and the mutual attraction between the protagonists is absent right up until the final few pages of the book . The heroine's extreme youth - she's eighteen and fresh out of school - doesn't help with a backstory either (Lorraine is literally a blank slate).
In summary - I'd skip this Burchell and plump instead for Meet Me Again or Accompanied By His Wife, and if cannot get mitts on either of those would also recommend It's Rumoured in the Village or Reluctant Relation.
April 11, 2020
Not terribly bright heroine paired with a much, much older man. Not Burchell’s best.
April 25, 2019
Ugh. Another "guardian falls for his young ward" story. Not sure why Burchell was so fond of this theme. Also I never liked designer Florian, not even in his own romance.
Not one of Burchell's best.
Not one of Burchell's best.
March 25, 2025
This one was a surprise. The other books have had Florian in them, besides the two that are considered the Florian books, but this one is absolutely one as well. He appears throughout and is definitely an intricate part of the story.
Loraine is an 18-year-old girl whose father passed away. She is whisked off to Paris to be under the guardianship of her sort-of, maybe a remote cousin, Paul. Paul has just broken up with his fiancee, Elinor. Elinor is now the fiancee of Philip, the platonic special friend in Loraine's life, who has come to live in Paris, not knowing Loraine was in love with him. Add the Florians and Philip's mother and we have a story.
Loraine becomes Florian's latest discovery and is drawn into the world of high fashion by the most famous dress designer in the world. He is also an astute man, with a shrewd understanding of people. He has weighed both Philip and Paul in his mind, and Philip has come up wanting. But it takes a while for Loraine to see exactly who Philip is.
Again, there is quite an age gap between the characters. Most of MB's heroines are under 23, and the hero's are in their 30s. I wish I could have asked her why.
Don't read this book without reading at least Paris--and My Love and Under the Stars of Paris.
Loraine is an 18-year-old girl whose father passed away. She is whisked off to Paris to be under the guardianship of her sort-of, maybe a remote cousin, Paul. Paul has just broken up with his fiancee, Elinor. Elinor is now the fiancee of Philip, the platonic special friend in Loraine's life, who has come to live in Paris, not knowing Loraine was in love with him. Add the Florians and Philip's mother and we have a story.
Loraine becomes Florian's latest discovery and is drawn into the world of high fashion by the most famous dress designer in the world. He is also an astute man, with a shrewd understanding of people. He has weighed both Philip and Paul in his mind, and Philip has come up wanting. But it takes a while for Loraine to see exactly who Philip is.
Again, there is quite an age gap between the characters. Most of MB's heroines are under 23, and the hero's are in their 30s. I wish I could have asked her why.
Don't read this book without reading at least Paris--and My Love and Under the Stars of Paris.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews