NEVER ON A SUNDAE

Author: Wendy Markham, Lynn Messina and Daniella Brodsky ISBN: 9780425218679 2/2008 Publisher: BERKLEY

An irresistible look at three women on the verge of happily ever after--from three hot new voices in fiction. It's the best spot in Manhattan for a sinfully delicious ice cream sundae. And it's where three young women come to soothe their troubles and treat themselves to a little taste of heaven. Lucky in friendship, not always so lucky in love, these women know that just a few spoonfuls of ice cream can sweeten everything from a date gone sour to a workday from hell. But before they can say "extra whipped cream," they're going to discover that there's more to life than hot fudge—and that making their dreams come true is the real cherry on top.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

NEVER ON A SUNDAE proves that life can be like a bowl of ice cream: cold, with warm toppings and crunchy bits that just make it easier to appreciate the smooth parts. Every bit of this anthology is yummy, and wonderfully satisfying.

What You Wish For by Wendy Markham begins with cleaning out an apartment just prior to a wedding. But while Delaney is buying garbage bags and taking stock of her “stuff” she’s wondering if Bob is really the guy for her. She’s had endless fittings in the beaded white wedding gown and retrieved a key from the garbage, but until the coat tree dilemma is solved, she’s just not sure about Bob. Well-written, witty and introspective, this story is the perfect first layer to this anthology.

Lola Was Here by Lynn Messina brings the retro diner where she meets her friend Ginger to life. Lola’s back in the City, and while she’s not nearly as flamboyantly dressed as Ginger, she is still feeling very much on display. Sixth Avenue holds its share of excitement and trepidation for Lola. She wonders if she’s up to any of it. I liked this story because Lola is other-worldly, yet realistic. While her profession is somewhat exotic, she harbors very recognizable feelings. It is easy to see inside Lola’s head and heart.

The final story in this is called The Waitress by Daniella Brodsky and is the cream on the ice cream sundae. Kate, the waitress at Sundae’s, is surrounded by married people. Even her friend Stacey is getting married, and Kate is game enough to have tried on over a hundred dresses in order to find the perfect one for the wedding. Kate does have her eye on a man who comes into the diner, but Glenn has a wedding ring on his finger. With everyone she knows deep in wedded bliss, Kate fears it’s her destiny to remain single forever. I won’t give away the ending to this story, but I will say I laughed out loud when I read it. There is a wonderful twist to it, the perfect ending to a very satisfying trio of stories.

These ladies can write, and anyone who enjoys fast, contemporary romance, and especially Manhattan with all its trimmings, will enjoy this book. NEVER ON A SUNDAE is pure entertainment.

Kay James