The Dream Wedding
Grade : A-

Intelligent, imaginative storytelling is an increasingly undervalued commodity in the romance genre, where regurgitation of the same stories is the norm and publishers seem to assume books need to be dumbed down for the lowest common denominator. Seeking an alternative, I inevitably turn to one of my very favorite romance authors, M.J. Rodgers. With her smart characters and creative storylines, her books simply seem to be operating on a higher level than most in the genre, especially these days. Even when working with familiar elements such as a bride (or is she?) with some amnesia (or is it?), Rodgers manages to create something utterly unique. This is certainly the case in The Dream Wedding, a clever, inventive and intelligent book that combines the complexity of the best mysteries with the heart of a good romance.

Deep in the Nevada desert, psychiatrist Michael Sands runs the Institute of Dreams, a facility devoted to dream research. His work is his life, leaving little room for romantic attachments. Then one night while leaving to attend a colleague's Christmas party, he finds a beautiful woman in an elaborate wedding dress asleep under the Institute's Christmas tree. Deciding this must be a prank from one of his friends who are always trying to set him up, he tries to rouse her, first by shaking her gently, and when all else fails, with a kiss.

One moment Briana Berry arrived in Las Vegas to attend an architectural convention. The next, she finds herself being kissed awake by a handsome stranger. She has no idea how she ended up at the Institute or why she's wearing a wedding dress. Even worse, when they investigate, none of the things she does remember seems to be real. Her hotel has no record of her or the convention, her firm back in Washington State doesn't seem to exist, and most disturbing of all, when she looks in the mirror, the face she sees staring back at her is not her own.

Is she crazy? It certainly seems like a possibility with each new piece of information they learn. The truth is complicated, and the situation only gets more puzzling before they get to the bottom of everything, with more than one baffling revelation along the way. With crisp prose and sharp dialogue, Rodgers smoothly tells an intricately plotted story that keeps both the characters and the reader on their toes.

Sometimes mystery writers will have their characters act in contrived ways to prolong the plot. That isn't the case here. These are smart people who make the right decisions and ask the right questions. The first thing they do is go to the police, only to find an unhelpful detective who, unable to verify any of Briana's outlandish story, threatens to throw her in jail for filing a false police report. They then proceed to a female colleague of Michael's to have Briana physically examined. Every step of the way they do exactly what they should, which makes them easy to respect and the challenges they face more compelling than if they were caused by their own stupidity.

But it's not just the mystery that's intellectually stimulating. Rodgers's creativity is also on display when it comes to Michael's work at the Institute of Dreams, which plays a key role in the story. As it goes along, Michael and Briana have fascinating conversations about the nature of dreams and the possibilities that exist within them. It's the kind of material I like most, smart people having interesting conversations that go beyond the requirements of the plot and are intriguing in their own right.

This is a plot-driven story where the mystery is the driving force, which may bother readers who want the love story to be the dominant element. As far as I'm concerned, it's exactly as it should be, because it's what makes sense. I know the prevailing attitude in romance novels is, "Well, I'm missing vital pieces of my memory and might be married. But what the heck! Do me!" But there are more pressing matters at hand here, plus some big obstacles to any relationship that the characters (for once) don't ignore. They don't know if Briana is somehow married, her mental health and identity are both at issue, and because Michael considers himself her therapist, however informally, he believes he needs to maintain some distance. When they do consummate their relationship, it's only when it makes sense and the circumstances are right.

As a result, the romance is subtle, slow-building, yet no less satisfying. In a genre increasingly dominated by instantaneous attractions and instant bed-hopping, there's something refreshing about a story where getting into each others' pants is not the main priority. As they try to uncover the truth, they get to know and appreciate each other in a way that has nothing to do with the physical. The relationship unfolds gradually, with small moments that speak volumes, as when Briana finds herself comforted by his presence:

"She didn't know how Michael had done it, but she already felt a whole lot better. She suspected that all he had really done was be Michael Sands. It felt good being around a man who didn't let worry control him. A man who saw silver linings, not clouds. A man who appreciated the moment. A man who lived what he believed.
A woman could be herself with such a man. No, a woman could be the best of herself with such a man."

There's also a wonderful moment late in the story where it's clear that when Michael looks at her, he sees her, not what she looks like, but who she is inside - "the intelligence, the strength, the warmth, the wit, the humor" - and how much do I love that intelligence is the first thing on that list?

Befitting this unique tale, there's also a character conflict that in a million other romance novels would be resolved one way. Here, it's resolved the other way, which is much more fitting for these characters and this story. I won't reveal it to avoid spoilers, but enterprising spoilerholics can do a search of AAR to find what Special Title Listing the book appears on if they really must know.

I picked up The Dream Wedding looking for a remedy to the very lousy reading year I've been having and all the weak romance novels, particularly series ones, I've endured. It was exactly what I needed. From the captivating opening scene to the perfect final line, this book has the imagination, the heart, and the intelligence I'm looking for in a book, all in a compelling and deftly rendered storyline. I hesitated before writing this review, never sure if AAR's readers would give a book with an apparent amnesia plot a chance. In the end, I decided it didn't matter. This is a wonderful book deserving of all the attention it can get and an easy choice for the Desert Isle. Nine years after its initial release, I fell in love with it all over again.

Reviewed by Leigh Thomas
Grade : A-
Book Type: Series Romance

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : November 2, 2006

Publication Date: 1997/12

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