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Everything But...Series #1
Everything But a Groom
Every Hungarian grandma knows that words have power. Nana Salo never meant the words she said in anger to become a family curse, but that's just what happened. Her granddaughter Vancy is just the newest victim. Vancy's fiance has left her at the altar, and now the press is after a hot grandma-curses-granddaughter's-wedding story. Vancy doesn't believe in the Salo Family Wedding Curse, but when her groom ditches her and the press is hot on her heels, she's not quite so sure anymore. She's hiding out with Matt Wilde, owner of the Everything Wilde landscaping business, helping out with his two newly-inherited nephews as she figures out what to do. Matt doesn't believe in curses either, but he seems cursed with thoughts of Vancy Salo that he just can't seem to shake. A hoard of reporters, a guilty grandma, a gaggle of other family members, and two four-year-olds prone to stealing hearts and wreaking havoc: it's not exactly a classic situation for falling in love...but that's just what may be happening for Vancy and Matt.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
272 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Holly Jacobs
177 books281 followersHolly Jacobs leads a life full of romance and adventure. From skydiving to jet-setting around Europe, from snorkeling in coral reefs to writing while wearing beautiful silk peignoir sets and popping chocolate bonbons, Holly Jacobs leads a life that is the epitome of romance...
Well, my fictional life sounds more interesting, but not better than my real life. Really, I'm the happily married mother of four. I cook a lot, garden and weave baskets! I write for Montlake Romance and Harlequin. My books range from lighthearted comedies to more serious dramas...but at heart, they're all stories of love.
You can visit me at
http://www.HollyJacobs.com.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HollyJacobsA...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HollyJacobs1
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/hollyjacobs1/
I don't always set out to write a series of books, but seem to find myself gravitating to them. Because so many people have asked, I've posted lists of all my series in order at www.hollyjacobs.com/bookseries.html. I really try to make each story stand alone, but many of my readers enjoy reading the series in order. Hope this helps!
Thank you to everyone who's picked up a single book, or more of them. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by so much support!
Holly
Well, my fictional life sounds more interesting, but not better than my real life. Really, I'm the happily married mother of four. I cook a lot, garden and weave baskets! I write for Montlake Romance and Harlequin. My books range from lighthearted comedies to more serious dramas...but at heart, they're all stories of love.
You can visit me at
http://www.HollyJacobs.com.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HollyJacobsA...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HollyJacobs1
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/hollyjacobs1/
I don't always set out to write a series of books, but seem to find myself gravitating to them. Because so many people have asked, I've posted lists of all my series in order at www.hollyjacobs.com/bookseries.html. I really try to make each story stand alone, but many of my readers enjoy reading the series in order. Hope this helps!
Thank you to everyone who's picked up a single book, or more of them. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by so much support!
Holly
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 12, 2017
This was a fun sweet G rated romance....
Vanci is busy planning the perfect wedding, trying to break her grandmother's curse that nobody in the family will have a perfect wedding... i'm sure by reading the title you can guess what happens, but this is actually a blessing in disguise.... Vanci ends up hiding out at the home of her landscaper Matt with him and his newly acquired adorable twin nephews... implausible, yes, but it worked... and these twins were so cute, they said the cutest and the most heartbreaking things.... if you are in the mood for just a short sweet fluffy read definitely pick this book up, I will definitely be reading more in this series....
Vanci is busy planning the perfect wedding, trying to break her grandmother's curse that nobody in the family will have a perfect wedding... i'm sure by reading the title you can guess what happens, but this is actually a blessing in disguise.... Vanci ends up hiding out at the home of her landscaper Matt with him and his newly acquired adorable twin nephews... implausible, yes, but it worked... and these twins were so cute, they said the cutest and the most heartbreaking things.... if you are in the mood for just a short sweet fluffy read definitely pick this book up, I will definitely be reading more in this series....
October 17, 2012
Fun book. I've already read books three and four of the series since I found them first. I've been looking for the first two for at least a couple years and finally got them. I loved the storyline. Vancy's grandmother is a good Hungarian who, in a fit of temper, managed to curse her own family. Now she's trying to undo it, but things aren't going her way. When Vancy's groom stands her up at the altar and the press gets involved, Vancy needs to get away. Matt has been blindsided by the arrival of two nephews he didn't know he had. So Vancy offers to help him in exchanged for hiding out at his place. I loved all the characters in this book. Matt knew nothing about his nephews but fell in love with them as soon as he saw them and was determined to take good care of them. He was thrilled that Vancy agreed to help him and found himself in awe at her abilities. Until the boys and Vancy happened to him he hadn't realized just how empty his life had been. It didn't take long for him to feel like Vancy belonged with him forever, but he was afraid it was too soon after her aborted wedding. I liked the way that they became friends first. I also liked the way that he made sure that the boys knew that he loved them and would always have him in their lives. Vancy was awesome too. I liked the way she realized quickly that she'd had a close call with her almost wedding. She knew pretty quickly afterwards that she hadn't really loved Al the way she should have. I really enjoyed seeing her with the boys and how much she came to love them. I loved some of the things that she had to cope with, like the whole volcano thing. She had a wonderful way of relating to them. She also had a great relationship with her family. I enjoyed seeing her try to explain them to Matt, and then the way she dealt with them when they all came to dinner at Matt's house. She fell for Matt pretty quickly and realized that what she felt for him was completely different than what she had felt for Al. The secondary characters were great too. Nana is inundated with guilt and trying to fix the curse. She also can't really help interfering, but she's so much fun nobody seems to mind. Matt's dad and stepmother were great, and her dealing with the reporters was hysterical. I also loved the whole dinner scene with the whole family.
June 28, 2017
Every Hungarian grandma knows that words have power. Nana Salo never meant the words she said in anger to become a family curse, but that's just what happened. Her granddaughter Vancy is just the newest victim. Vancy's fiance has left her at the altar, and now the press is after a hot grandma-curses-granddaughter's-wedding story. Vancy doesn't believe in the Salo Family Wedding Curse, but when her groom ditches her and the press is hot on her heels, she's not quite so sure anymore. She's hiding out with Matt Wilde, owner of the Everything Wilde landscaping business, helping out with his two newly-inherited nephews as she figures out what to do. Matt doesn't believe in curses either, but he seems cursed with thoughts of Vancy Salo that he just can't seem to shake. A hoard of reporters, a guilty grandma, a gaggle of other family members, and two four-year-olds prone to stealing hearts and wreaking havoc: it's not exactly a classic situation for falling in love...but that's just what may be happening for Vancy and Matt.
Another good kindle unlimited find. This was a quirky and good book. I enjoyed it and really look forward to reading the next book!
Another good kindle unlimited find. This was a quirky and good book. I enjoyed it and really look forward to reading the next book!
September 12, 2021
Pleasant surprise!
A perfectly sweet & low angst story with a wonderful cast of characters. Closed door. The perfect pick me up after reading a "dud".
A perfectly sweet & low angst story with a wonderful cast of characters. Closed door. The perfect pick me up after reading a "dud".
July 22, 2009
Hmmmm. This is the start of a three-part series that focuses on a supposed curse placed mistakenly by a grandmother on the family - the books feature each of her three grandchildren but are painfully short. There's hardly any characterization, and each book follows the same path in what feels like word-for-word plot lines.
"Oh, no! You can't love me, it's too soon after I've been ditched at the altar!"
"Oh, but I do! You're perfect for me! How could I not have seen this sooner? I smex you!"
EXCEPT THERE'S NO SMEX. NOTHING. ZIP. NADDA. A chintzy plotline that doesn't even follow through with satisfying erotic moments? Gasp! HORROR! I certainly don't mind a lovely romance without sex (hey, I said that without gasping for air!), but not one like this. If I'm going to waste my time on all three novellas, I demand compensation.
"Oh, no! You can't love me, it's too soon after I've been ditched at the altar!"
"Oh, but I do! You're perfect for me! How could I not have seen this sooner? I smex you!"
EXCEPT THERE'S NO SMEX. NOTHING. ZIP. NADDA. A chintzy plotline that doesn't even follow through with satisfying erotic moments? Gasp! HORROR! I certainly don't mind a lovely romance without sex (hey, I said that without gasping for air!), but not one like this. If I'm going to waste my time on all three novellas, I demand compensation.
November 30, 2014
What a great story of love at first sight, family, and curses. Vancy curses Bela's children and grandchildren to never have big fancy weddings because she didn't get hers when he didn't show up for their wedding. And the curse seems to be effective! The problem is that later she found out why Bela didn't show up for their wedding and married him anyway. Which means she cursed her own children and Grandchildren.
Now her granddaughter Vancy is left at the alter. In order to escape the media, she ends up helping Matthew Wilde, her landscaper, with his two nephews in exchange for somewhere to hide from the media.
Now her granddaughter Vancy is left at the alter. In order to escape the media, she ends up helping Matthew Wilde, her landscaper, with his two nephews in exchange for somewhere to hide from the media.
July 18, 2016
I am so hungover today. This book was a literary cheeseburger. I knew I wouldn't feel great about reading it but I did it anyway. I need Advil.
August 10, 2016
A must read
A great romantic comedy about finding your true love and breaking the family curse. I just loved reading about Ricky and Chris those twins were just adorable!
A great romantic comedy about finding your true love and breaking the family curse. I just loved reading about Ricky and Chris those twins were just adorable!
June 25, 2017
My Musings
Cute story. I liked Vancy and Matt. They came together through his nephews, and as they cared for Chris and Rick, they fell in love. This is a sweet, clean romance with a cute twist involving a curse.
If you enjoy a quick read with great characters, one that will put a smile 😃 on your face, then you will love this book. Happy ☺reading 📚!
Cute story. I liked Vancy and Matt. They came together through his nephews, and as they cared for Chris and Rick, they fell in love. This is a sweet, clean romance with a cute twist involving a curse.
If you enjoy a quick read with great characters, one that will put a smile 😃 on your face, then you will love this book. Happy ☺reading 📚!
July 6, 2017
Great read
The story of Matt and Vancy is just a really great read. As is often the case with romances the plot is pretty straightforward, but it's still interesting and the characters have some depth, and are human enough to be engaging. A nice sweet clean romance.
The story of Matt and Vancy is just a really great read. As is often the case with romances the plot is pretty straightforward, but it's still interesting and the characters have some depth, and are human enough to be engaging. A nice sweet clean romance.
August 18, 2017
Laughter And Romance
This is a book with a lot of laughter and breathtaking romance with adorable characters and some heartbreaking moments too but love and laughter will bring you love in the end if you truly believe in love and family.
This is a book with a lot of laughter and breathtaking romance with adorable characters and some heartbreaking moments too but love and laughter will bring you love in the end if you truly believe in love and family.
January 2, 2019
Feel good read.....
Love that it’s part of a bigger group of stories. Also that it has audible narration so I can listen as I do my chores round the house .... they pass so much more nicely.
Love that it’s part of a bigger group of stories. Also that it has audible narration so I can listen as I do my chores round the house .... they pass so much more nicely.
May 18, 2017
Sweet
Found this book by accident but enjoyed listening to the kindle audio version. There was no surprises, but it turned out to be a good sweet clean romance.
Found this book by accident but enjoyed listening to the kindle audio version. There was no surprises, but it turned out to be a good sweet clean romance.
July 3, 2017
Cute storyline
I loved Vancy and Matt and especially the twins. Looking forward to reading the entire Salo series it's a nice clean story.
I loved Vancy and Matt and especially the twins. Looking forward to reading the entire Salo series it's a nice clean story.
July 29, 2017
Everything But a Groom review
Everything But a Groom is the first cute romantic book in the Everything But series written by author Holly Jacobs.
Everything But a Groom is the first cute romantic book in the Everything But series written by author Holly Jacobs.
September 3, 2017
Enjoyed it
This book was fun to read, the couple in this book meet under convenient circumstances. Great read loved the bond between family.
This book was fun to read, the couple in this book meet under convenient circumstances. Great read loved the bond between family.
October 14, 2017
This was a very wonderful story!!!
I loved this story so very much that I read it in one day!! I'm so very glad that I found it!!! What a good job this author did!!!!
I loved this story so very much that I read it in one day!! I'm so very glad that I found it!!! What a good job this author did!!!!
January 3, 2018
Predictable, but a cute short story.
August 14, 2018
Sweet story
Like a Hallmark channel movie the story of love at first sight. This was a great story about love and family. I enjoyed this book very much.
Like a Hallmark channel movie the story of love at first sight. This was a great story about love and family. I enjoyed this book very much.
August 18, 2018
A lovely story
What a great story of family and love. Nicely done and room for more stories about this family to look forward to reading.
What a great story of family and love. Nicely done and room for more stories about this family to look forward to reading.
February 15, 2019
Great book
I loved this book, heartwarming and a really good read, I loved the characters and can’t wait to start on the next book.
I loved this book, heartwarming and a really good read, I loved the characters and can’t wait to start on the next book.
July 30, 2019
Fun read!
Good story, keeps you going. You’ll fall in love with Rick and Chris, along with Matt, Vancy, and Nana Vancy!
Good story, keeps you going. You’ll fall in love with Rick and Chris, along with Matt, Vancy, and Nana Vancy!
July 26, 2021
Honest review
Love the family tradition in this book even though “the curse” is not the best of them. Love the stories and the love a family.
Love the family tradition in this book even though “the curse” is not the best of them. Love the stories and the love a family.
January 15, 2024
Nice little fairy tale read.
January 23, 2017
This was basically a good story with bits of humor to add some comic relief.
August 2, 2013
Many years ago in Hungary, Vancy Bashdale was the most beautiful girl in her village and she was determined to marry the handsome Bela Salo. She had everything planned for her wedding but the groom failed to appear. In her heartbreak, Vancy cursed his descendants so that they would never have a big, fancy wedding until they understood that love triumphs over pageantry. The groom reappears with a good excuse and she marries him, regretting her hasty curse. Now her granddaughter Vancy is getting married and won't listen to her Nana and elope. Vancy has everything under control. She sees the wedding as a business opportunity for both her and the groom. However, the groom fails to appear and sends word that he ran off with some waitress he had just met. When the media gets a hold of the dual stories of Nana's curse and the runaway groom, they stalk Vancy. Matt Wilde, owner of Everything Wilde landscaping business has just discovered he has two young nephews he has never met. His twin brother abandoned the twins' mother and the mother in turn left the children to her mother who has dumped them on Matt. Rather than see them as an inconvenience, Matt falls in love with the boys at first sight. His path crosses Vancy's and he offers her a place to hide from the media. Vancy becomes a surrogate mother to Matt's nephews. She loves the charming twins despite their propensity for mischief, and she loves her domestic role. She realizes that her wedding to Alvin was just a wedding and not a true marriage. Matt realizes he loves Vancy but feels it's too soon after her failed wedding to make a move. Their families think otherwise and wonder if Vancy and Matt will ever realize their feelings for each other. Perhaps if they help things along a bit it will happen and Vancy will break the family curse.
This is a light, fluffy novel that can be read in one sitting and promptly forgotten. I expected more of a family comedy but it's more of a 1950s domestic story than anything else. The dialogue is terrible and the introspective moments are too soon and too frequent. Vancy and Matt are stock characters and I could not relate to her or like her much at all. Likewise, Matt is too saintly to be realistic. The romance is sweet though. If you like clean, sweet romances and heartwarming stories more than a well-written book, this one is for you.
This is a light, fluffy novel that can be read in one sitting and promptly forgotten. I expected more of a family comedy but it's more of a 1950s domestic story than anything else. The dialogue is terrible and the introspective moments are too soon and too frequent. Vancy and Matt are stock characters and I could not relate to her or like her much at all. Likewise, Matt is too saintly to be realistic. The romance is sweet though. If you like clean, sweet romances and heartwarming stories more than a well-written book, this one is for you.
February 3, 2017
3.5 stars
This is a super quick read. There are a lot of characters to meet and thing that happen in the less than 200 pages, but the author pulls it off. I believe this is my first book by Holly Jacobs although I run across her books all the time and have wanted to give them a try for some time. I can’t say that I was disappointed; Ms. Jacobs knows how to spin a yarn. But it was missing a bit of sizzle for me. I don’t mean there has to be sex, but there does have to be more chemistry. And to be perfectly clear, the PG rating is due to the subject matter (kids being abandoned by their parents). The adult interactions are pretty G rated.
Vancy and Matt are actually perfect for each other. They fall into rhythm of each other’s lives with no great problem. In fact, with no problem at all. Maybe that was the issue I had? There was a bit of heat missing although I rooted for them to be together. Could be that a bit of conflict between them and not just outside issues would have spiced things up a bit. I’m going to be confusing and contradictory now by saying it’s always nice to have a book without tons of conflict between the hero and heroine though. It’s just that I knew there wasn’t going to be a stupid misunderstanding, which the reader finds ridiculous, causing a fight. Sometimes authors go too far trying to find conflict. I appreciate the fact that the author didn’t do that here.
I thoroughly enjoyed Vancy’s family and some of the issues that were hinted at on that end. Even without a full-out inferno raging between the main characters here, I enjoyed the writing quite a bit and am looking forward to reading more in this series.
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c...
This is a super quick read. There are a lot of characters to meet and thing that happen in the less than 200 pages, but the author pulls it off. I believe this is my first book by Holly Jacobs although I run across her books all the time and have wanted to give them a try for some time. I can’t say that I was disappointed; Ms. Jacobs knows how to spin a yarn. But it was missing a bit of sizzle for me. I don’t mean there has to be sex, but there does have to be more chemistry. And to be perfectly clear, the PG rating is due to the subject matter (kids being abandoned by their parents). The adult interactions are pretty G rated.
Vancy and Matt are actually perfect for each other. They fall into rhythm of each other’s lives with no great problem. In fact, with no problem at all. Maybe that was the issue I had? There was a bit of heat missing although I rooted for them to be together. Could be that a bit of conflict between them and not just outside issues would have spiced things up a bit. I’m going to be confusing and contradictory now by saying it’s always nice to have a book without tons of conflict between the hero and heroine though. It’s just that I knew there wasn’t going to be a stupid misunderstanding, which the reader finds ridiculous, causing a fight. Sometimes authors go too far trying to find conflict. I appreciate the fact that the author didn’t do that here.
I thoroughly enjoyed Vancy’s family and some of the issues that were hinted at on that end. Even without a full-out inferno raging between the main characters here, I enjoyed the writing quite a bit and am looking forward to reading more in this series.
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c...
February 12, 2015
I'm not typically a romance reader, but I received the full set of this series after meeting the author a couple of years ago. With Valentine's Day coming up, I thought this would be the perfect time to knock off the romance book read from my 2015 Reading Challenge list... I was not disappointed!
I fully admit that I am biased towards this book before I even opened it based on what a lovely person the author is, and the fact that it is set in my old hometown. The little details that were thrown in, like mentioning going down Peach Street to get to Target, brought me eight hundred miles back to Erie and made me smile throughout the reading process.
But that's not enough to make a book good. What I liked about it overall was the simplicity. Aside from the twists that set up the plot to begin with, there are not a lot of unexpected bends and turns in this book, just a gentle, affectionate love story. I loved how the family vibe was captured, too: reading about the Salos, I was able to envision some of my own relatives. Neither family was perfect, but in the end, they were just that: family. They took care of each other, they butted heads, they made each other crazy, and they were right there with a helping hand. To use the cliché, it was heart-warming.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I'm interested to see where the rest of the series takes us!
I fully admit that I am biased towards this book before I even opened it based on what a lovely person the author is, and the fact that it is set in my old hometown. The little details that were thrown in, like mentioning going down Peach Street to get to Target, brought me eight hundred miles back to Erie and made me smile throughout the reading process.
But that's not enough to make a book good. What I liked about it overall was the simplicity. Aside from the twists that set up the plot to begin with, there are not a lot of unexpected bends and turns in this book, just a gentle, affectionate love story. I loved how the family vibe was captured, too: reading about the Salos, I was able to envision some of my own relatives. Neither family was perfect, but in the end, they were just that: family. They took care of each other, they butted heads, they made each other crazy, and they were right there with a helping hand. To use the cliché, it was heart-warming.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I'm interested to see where the rest of the series takes us!
October 21, 2013
Everything But A Groom is a cute story about what happens when a Hungarian grandma unintentionally curses her own family. Granddaughter, Vancy, is left at the alter, causing yet another ruined wedding ceremony for the family. When the media starts hounding the former bride and her family, Vancy finds protection and shelter with her landscaper and his recently discovered twin nephews. What started out as a curse, ultimately becomes A blessing when Vancy and Matt discover love, and a family that neither knew they were missing.
The story is cute, with plenty of crazy family members to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, Vancy gets repetitive when talking, or thinking, about her ruined wedding and ex- fiancé. I think the story would have benefitted from the author expanding on the subject; instead of just repeating, almost word for word, Vancy's thoughts on her failed relationship.
A sweet story with no sex scenes, Everything But A Groom would be a great read for anyone interested in clean romance. It would also be appropriate for older teens who've moved past normal teen-angst romances, but not yet read for "adult" situations.
The story is cute, with plenty of crazy family members to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, Vancy gets repetitive when talking, or thinking, about her ruined wedding and ex- fiancé. I think the story would have benefitted from the author expanding on the subject; instead of just repeating, almost word for word, Vancy's thoughts on her failed relationship.
A sweet story with no sex scenes, Everything But A Groom would be a great read for anyone interested in clean romance. It would also be appropriate for older teens who've moved past normal teen-angst romances, but not yet read for "adult" situations.
March 31, 2016
It's harmless fun, but only if you make a concerted and sustained effort to quell the questions that surface as the plot advances.... Would you really choose to 'lay low' at the home of a man you barely know? Would you not have other things to do as an independent career woman than instantly agree to look after his nephews? Would these circumstances really not bother your (otherwise) enormous and protective family? Is lust/love on the rebound really that easy? These bothersome questions don't really disappear and pop up as often as the irritating grandmother who allegedly started the amusing family curse etc etc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews