May 4 2009
REVIEW: Vision in White by Nora Roberts
Dear Ms. Roberts:
While I haven’t read all of your books, I’ve read a great many of them and I think I can safely say that Vision in White is one of the funniest books you’ve penned in a long time. I thought Carter Maguire, the clumsy, blushing, tweed wearing, Yale educated, English lit teacher was adorable; and Mackenzie Elliott was a dynamo.
Vision in White is the first of four books featuring the best friend owners of Vows, a full service wedding event business. Parker inherited a mansion with a ballroom and together with Lauren, the cake decorator; Emma, the florist; and Mackenzie, the photographer, the four have created the place for weddings in Connecticut. Vision features the romance of Mackenzie and Carter.
This is a straight contemporary romance with nary a hint of serial killers or stalkers. The focus is straight on the burgeoning attraction between Carter and Mackenzie which is complicated by Mackenzie’s fear of commitment. Mackenzie had a shitty childhood. Her mother is an emotional vampire who is constantly laying on the guilt to get Mackenzie to support whatever bad habit her mother is into at the moment.
The funny mostly comes from scenes in which Carter is advised on dating by his friend Bob, the math teacher. Carter has had a long crush on Mackenzie, since high school, and the idea of dating and then having sex with his crush, well, it makes even picking out flowers a challenge.
They were colorful, he thought with some resentment. They smelled nice. A couple of those big gerbera daisies were mixed in, and they struck him as a friendly flower. None of the dreaded roses, he mused, which, according to the Law of Bob, meant he’d basically be asking Mackensie to marry him and bear his children.
So, they should be safe.
Maybe they were too safe.
The kind-eyed cashier gave him a quick smile. "Aren’t those pretty! A surprise for your wife?"
"No. No. I don’t have a wife."
"Oh, for your girl then."
"Not exactly." He fumbled out his wallet as she rang them up. "Just a . . . Could I just ask you if you think these are appropriate for a date? I mean to give to the woman I’m taking out to dinner.”
"Sure they are. Most everybody likes flowers, don’t they? Especially us girls. She’s going to think you’re real sweet, and thoughtful, too."
"But not too . . ." Stop while you’re ahead, Carter told himself.
She took the money, made the change. "Here you go now." She slid the bouquet into a clear plastic bag. "You have a real good time tonight."
"Thank you." More relaxed, Carter walked back to his car. If you couldn’t trust the checker in the express line at the supermarket, who could you trust?
Another laugh out loud scene for me was when Carter was trying not to get advice from Bob after screwing up royally with Mackenzie
“You have two women after you. Two. Man, Carter, you’re a dog. You’re the big dog."
"For God’s sake, Bob, you’re completely missing the point."
"Not me, pal." The slack jaw had morphed into a grin of pure admiration. "The point is two hot chicks got it for you….” Bob’s eyes went bright with fantasy. "You’re the big, bad dog."
"I don’t want to be the dog." There was a reason he’d kept the incident to himself through the workday. But what madness had overtaken him to make him believe he could get reasonable advice out of Bob anywhere, anytime? "Try to stay with me on this, Bob.
"I’m trying, but I keep getting flashes of the girl fight. You know, with the rolling around on the floor and ripping each other’s clothes." Bob lifted his skinny cinnamon latte. "It’s pretty vivid."
The romance between Carter and Mackenzie unwraps slowly despite what seems like a compressed time space. They ruminate; they spend time together; they rehash their dates with their friends. It’s authentic, funny, and charming. The parts of the story that lacked realism for me was the relationship Mackenzie had with her mother. Early on in the story, Mackenzie receives a phone call from her mother asking for $3,000 to pay for a spa package, something Linda must have in order to recover from her latest breakup. Mackenzie forks it over with very little resistance and then berates herself for doing so.
I didn’t understand Mackenzie’s complicated dynamic with her mother at this point of the book (and really for most of it). I could see maybe paying your mother’s rent or food or something, but a $3,000 spa package? It just seemed outrageous and I didn’t get why Mackenize so easily succumbed to her mother’s manipulations. I wish I had been provided greater insight regarding that. It was an important issue and impediment to Mackenzie’s relationship with Carter but I felt it was the least fleshed out issue.
I loved the girl power relationship Mackenzie had with her three friends. I also appreciated that they fought and made up. It wasn’t halcyonic storybook friendship, but real and authentic. Again, it was Carter, blushing, sweet, earnest and hot Carter, and his hilarious conversations that made the story for me.
B-
Best regards,
Jane
This book can be purchased in mass market from an independent bookstore or ebook format from the Sony Store and other etailers.
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May 04, 2009 @ 16:40:53
Oooh, can’t to get into this one. God, I love the funny Nora.
Thanks for the review.
May 04, 2009 @ 18:21:30
I really enjoyed this book. I love Nora’s straight contemps and have missed them desperately. Nobody does friendships like Nora Roberts. And guy inner monologue.
I’m very much looking forward to the next one in the series.
May 04, 2009 @ 18:23:28
I just got the book the other day. I can’t wait to see if I agree or disagree with your review after I finish the book.
I have always maintained that some of Nora’s best books were set in the area of Maryland where she lives and Baltimore. It will be interesting to see what she does with a Connecticut setting.
May 04, 2009 @ 18:31:05
I’d rate it a bit higher, but I agree with all your points. I’m more than a little in love with Carter – he’s such a nice change from all those alpha male super-studs running around out there.
I’d also like to mention that this is a physically beautiful book: the paper is high quality with deckled edges like a wedding invitation – it’s simply a joy to hold and to read.
May 04, 2009 @ 18:33:36
Wasn’t this great? A nice change of pace from – as you said – “serial killers or stalkers”. It was so refreshing to read a straight love story again, without the sub plots or paranormal aspects (and I love those too!). And a hero that wasn’t super buff and suave but awkward and geeky? Perfect! Can’t wait for the next three books in the series.
May 04, 2009 @ 18:33:40
*sigh*
I just loved this book. I DEVOURED it in about 4hrs. I think I was in serious Nora withdrawal.
I was afraid I’d miss the para and the mystery and the excitement of her other thrilogies. *g* But I didn’t. I loved this book.
I didn’t even mind the mommy issues. For me, I understood them. Not because my mom is like that…NOT EVEN CLOSE…But I get that her mom is like a spoiled child. That she perpetuated that and hated herself for it.
But it was Carter and his unwavering geekdome, sweetdome and holy kissalicious abilities that made this book come alive. I love me an Alpha, but Carter’s the guy I’d probably end up with.
I’m DYING for December for the next book. *sigh* And it was my virgin purchase for my Sony Reader. ;) LOL I also bought one from WalMart for Mom. It’s a must read for a Nora reader. Great dialogue and family dynamic of a different kind.
The family of gf’s. JUST what I needed last week.
May 04, 2009 @ 18:50:49
Can I just say I loved this book!?
Carter *sigh* is such a “real” guy. Not big, macho, or rockin’ hot. Mac and her friends are so real that I’ve heard those conversations ( with variations of course) in my own life.
I count on Nora to give me a good, funny heartfelt read. I’m very rarely disappointed.
This NOT one of those times. She rocked again.
My only problem is that I have to wait for the next one.
Thanks Nora!
May 04, 2009 @ 18:52:14
I just finished this one, and I enjoy it. I think one of Nora’s best things – the thing that has me coming back to her books again and again – is the secondary relationships. The friendships and the interplay are so engaging.
Very much enjoyed this, and I’m really looking forward to Bed of Roses.
E
May 04, 2009 @ 19:21:43
Add me to the list of readers who enjoyed this book. My favorite funny line was another one of Bob's “It's the triangle of fate inside the circle of life! You can't argue with math, Carter.â€
Waiting 6 months for book 2 is a bummer. I’m trying not to think about the fact that it will be 18 months until the final book is released.
May 04, 2009 @ 20:29:24
I’ve thought for a long time now that Nora does beta heroes better then anyone. I thought Ford from Tribute was my all-time favorite but now he has taken second place to Carter.
(Roarke of course is in a category and stratosphere all his own)
May 04, 2009 @ 21:00:19
Heh. I’d rate it a good bit higher – but I think everyone nailed it. It isn’t that I dislike either drama or even a bit of melodrama. I like stray ghosts, fairies, serial killers, cops, ancient evils, etc. (Pauses to admire that array of concepts.)
But I enjoyed the fact that is just a straightforward story of people getting to know each other, and friendship and love.
May 04, 2009 @ 21:33:41
Thanks for the review! I think I need to get this one. The trade size totally threw me off, I thought it was a chick-lit type book. And I should know by now to not judge a book by it’s cover, or, uh, size. :p Never doubt Nora Roberts.
May 04, 2009 @ 22:01:49
I just picked it up from the library. Sounds like this is one for the “Save the Contemporary” campaign!
May 05, 2009 @ 04:39:50
I agree with all of the above! LOVED IT!!!!!!
May 05, 2009 @ 04:57:35
Saw it in Borders, looks good; am putting it on my to read list.
May 05, 2009 @ 05:17:48
Thanks for the review, Jane. Glad you liked it.
The comments re Carter are much appreciated, too. I fell for him pretty hard myself.
May 05, 2009 @ 06:21:26
As a contemporary writer myself, I’m delighted to see Nora bringing back the straight contemporary. And it’s thrilling to see all the excitement the comments show for books such as this one that are just about a love story, with no paranormal elements or serial killers. Let’s hope the contemporary is back to stay! I bought this one the other day and can’t wait to read it!
May 05, 2009 @ 07:41:49
I always enjoy reading Nora’s heroes, especially the interaction with their friends/family. She really brings her characters to life, and I almost always heave a few happy sighs before the end (and then wonder where I can get my hands on a guy like that!) I also agree with Elise :-) regarding her secondary characters – by the time I finish her series books, I am chomping at the bit to get the next one, asap!
Thanks for the review – another book to buy!
May 05, 2009 @ 09:29:58
Yay, the Nora Roberts contemporary back again (no suspense, no futuristic, no special powers or fantasy influence). This is what made me fall in love with her books in the first place – basically longer length in depth genre romance which stands and falls with the characters and their interaction without any outside threat or set-up (I have as much of the backlog as can be gotten reprinted) set wherever.
The Born In – series has been my favourite of this branch of her creativity so far (or the MacGregors if we’re talking category), happily looking forward to see where to place these four books.
I look forward to buying the next J.D. Robb, as well, of course ^^.
May 05, 2009 @ 09:32:52
Chalk me up as another reader excited that this is a straight contemporary. It’s sitting on my TBR pile right now.
May 05, 2009 @ 09:35:33
Like some of the other comments, I think I’d rate it a bit higher. The mommy issue didn’t bother me, largely because I have a friend who is a bit like the mother. But it was, without a doubt, Carter who sold me. I have to say that he’s probably my favorite romance hero to date, and he reminded me a good bit of my own guy, which didn’t hurt. I also loved the straight-up contemporary romance, as well as the friendships. Fantastic read that I couldn’t put down.
May 05, 2009 @ 09:54:45
I can’t wait to get this one. I have loved every book of hers that I’ve read.
May 05, 2009 @ 10:18:18
I did like the friendships, both male and female. And I think the role reversal of commitment-phobic heroine against the perfectly patient hero was at least interesting.
But Mac’s moods were too schizophrenic for me. Carter seemed was slightly stalker-ish, with is his file folder of things Mac likes. I also had a hard time embracing a hero who is constantly taking shots to the head. Although I guess that explains why he had to keep a file folder. It’s a wonder he can remember anything with the number of concussions he’s had.
I was frustrated at the number of scenes that cut away just when things started to get interesting, only to be summarized in a conversation with friends later-the family dinner, for example.
Also, It also seemed like the H/h spent more time apart than they did together.
I suspect La Nora just isn’t my cup of tea.
May 05, 2009 @ 11:11:30
I Loved the book for many reasons but theses are the two reasons that really stood out for me.
1. The descriptive writing. Could you not totally picture the photo’s she describes? How amazing that a clear photo would pop in my head.
2. The fact that I would find myself smiling while reading the book. Not just the lol moments (and there were many) but the absolute sweetness in the story.
It was a beautiful book by design and content.
Thank you Nora!
May 05, 2009 @ 11:54:05
I really enjoyed this book and am happy that NR has returned to her earlier contemporary romance roots. It felt good not to have a vampire or killer in sight.
I thought Carter was a nice change of pace from the usual alpha hero. His klutziness was somehow endearing when matched with his earnestness. I also liked Mac and the rest of the women.
NR ususally has three h/h, so it’s easy to see which characters will be matched together. Since there are four women here, however, it’s more of a guessing game to see who gets Jack and Del. Another nice change of pace.
Last, I also liked the cover design that resembles an invitation and the crinkle cut pages. It went well with the whole wedding theme.
May 06, 2009 @ 12:00:20
Great review! I love that it is a straight contemporary romance. The whole series looks great.
May 06, 2009 @ 13:52:34
Vision in White hit the spot for me. It’s been a while since I read a straight romance book by Nora Roberts. no intrigue, no murders, no paranormals with this one. Very realistic and I can imagine myself falling for Carter. In a way, my husband is Carter!
I loved how good a Beta male can be just as strong as an Alpha male. I loved it when Mac was detailing how good Carter made her feel – like he only has eyes for her, she was his world.
All 3 girls – Laural, Parker, and Emma- sighed. I did it too with them. =)
And that’s why Nora Roberts is amazing. She makes me feel the emotion and understand it. I have a horrible relationship with my mom. And I felt how cornered Mac was.
May 08, 2009 @ 12:15:39
I wish I could describe my response to Vision in White. I liked the book (really I did), thought the format was gorgeous, and the writing was really pretty (weird statement, I know, but the whole time I was reading, I felt like I was in a swirly colored flower-in a good way!). But I found myself not really invested in the characters. I was never really worried about them. I had zero emotional interest in the storyline. I really really wish I could explain why (huh, wonder why I’m not a reviewer).
As for Mac’s mother-I totally got that part of the story. Not because my mom is like that, but because I have friends who have really really manipulative parents, and that shit is REALLY hard to overcome. Often it IS so much easier to give them what they want so they go away. So, Mac’s behavior towards her mother read true, for me. I, too, loved the geeky Carter. Usually it’s the heronie is clumsy (as part of her quirky personality), but Nora did a really good job showing us a smart clumsy guy. Totally adorable.
I’ll still be buying the rest (though I have to say: TOTALLY looking forward to Black HIlls!!!) Seriously, wildlife biologist? South Dakota? I’m sooooo hoping for some ferrets.
May 13, 2009 @ 06:52:06
I just finished this as well. I agree with Randi about the emotional buy into the book. I enjoyed the reading the book and really look forward to the next one, but it was truly light reading. It was my first NR contemporary and it won’t be my last.
May 13, 2009 @ 12:05:19
Keri,
You just opened the Nora Roberts suggetion box! LOL.
My first ever NR was a contemp called Northern Lights-and it’s still my all time favorite. While there are a bazillion NR books I could recommend, I’m just going to do the one. Hopefully, others will pipe up with their favs.
May 14, 2009 @ 11:02:08
Carnal Innocence, Divine Evil, and True Betrayals are some of my all time favorites. I have my favorite trilogies too of course, but these are my favorite stand alones.
May 26, 2009 @ 21:00:09
I read this book and found it, though captivating in some strange way, to be completely unbelievable. Two words: “wishful thinking”. A woman wishes to believe that men like Carter exist. She also wants to believe that “commitment issues” can be as much a woman’s problem as it seems to be for many of the men. But it simply isn’t true.
Have you ever met a charming, well educated, nice man with a sense of humor who’d be so completely shy and insecure? Who’d give so much power to a woman? Who’d be ready to wait for her for ever and ever? Well call me a loser, but I haven’t. Have you ever met a woman who’d be afraid to marry a man she actually was in love with? Well call me a loser, but…
This novel is about a relationship that’s completely reversed, and that’s why it’s completely improbable. I can well understand why we women would want it to be possible. But do grow up, people. It’s not.
May 28, 2009 @ 12:49:54
Marina,
with all due respect, nice men and commitment phoebic women are not fiction. Men, like women, often have visions of themselves that differ from how other people see them. So, to have a guy who is
, is neither unheard of, nor out of the ordinary. Just because other people might see you (general you, not Marina) as [fill in positive comment here], doesn’t mean that one sees oneself that way. Take beauty, for example. Many many people are good looking, but a lot of people don’t see themselves that way, male or female.
My point is,
is quite probable, imo.
However, my opinion is based on knowing a lot of different people that show quite a few personality characteristics that have nothing to do with gender. Being female doesn’t make one automatically commitment oriented, nor does being male automatically make one secure and gregarious.
Also this:
is a bit patronizing. You may not have meant it that way, but that’s how it came off to me. I liked the book (see comment above thread) and that doesn’t make me a child. Clearly the book didn’t work for you, not every book works for every reader, but there’s no need to tell people to “grow up”.
May 28, 2009 @ 15:19:15
Thanks Randi and Catherine for the suggestions I might just have to check some of them out. :-)
May 28, 2009 @ 19:42:31
Wow, that’s harsh. I think you may need to find another genre my friend, because, hey that’s romance.
Now, excuse me while I try to go and grow up somewhere. Hmmm…
May 29, 2009 @ 01:12:06
@Bonnie:
Thanks, I’d probably be better off sticking to fantasy… at least it’s not supposed to look like real life in any way. :-)
Sorry about the “grow up” phrase, though. It seems to be offensive, judging from how people reacted. Wasn’t meant that way, though. I might miss some finer points of English, because I’m Russian. :-)
May 29, 2009 @ 01:13:33
@Randi:
What I said above as to the “grow up comment” goes to you, too, Randi.
May 29, 2009 @ 08:45:38
@ Marina: Hey, no problem! That’s why I said,
It’s that whole lack of intonation deal that causes so many problems in the intertubes. ;)
I’m still interested in why you think that men can’t be shy but charming and smart and funny; and why women can’t be commitment phoebic or have intimacy issues. I’d also be more interested in your philosophy about romance versus real life. It seems to me, based on your comments (few though they are), that you want your romance to be just like real life (yeah, because everyone is a gorgeous, thin, white chick and all guys are hunky alpha males, and you always, always, come together!).
You also said you liked the book but found it totally unrealistic. I found the characters to be fairly realistic (Nora, imo, has a pretty amazing talent for writing real people), and the situations to be pretty life-like. So, I’m interested in how you found the book unrealistic.
romance novel blogs
May 29, 2009 @ 17:18:51
[...] Jane from Dear Author said: I loved the girl power relationship Mackenzie had with her three friends. I also appreciated that they fought and made up. Â It wasn’t halcyonic storybook friendship, but real and authentic. Â Again, it was Carter, blushing, sweet, earnest and hot Carter, and his hilarious conversations that made the story for me. [...]
May 31, 2009 @ 08:35:05
@Randi:
The answer is simple: I’ve never seen such people, nor heard of anyone like that – ever. I see a lot of women around me who have a very different problem which is always one and the same – they can’t find a partner in life, a person willing to be around, to love and cherish, to protect and support and so on. And they’re not ugly or stupid or anything. They’re just lonely.
I understand that a lot of books had already been written on how an-unhappy-but-good-and-nice-and-pretty-cinderella-finds-a-prince. And maybe Nora Roberts just got tired writing happy-end stories about damsels in this exact kind of distress. Still, most of the unhappy people – women – I see around are lonely. And really, really want to find a partner for life. Hell, what I myself wouldn’t give for it…
The answer is the same… I just can’t imagine this kind of situations. When a woman would literally bolt from a warm and, needless to say, very pleasant bed because she got frightened that everything was too good… The mother too – she’s just too much, it seems to me…
By the way, it’s offtopic, but I only found out that such business really exist after I read this novel. I mean, wedding agencies like that, covering every detail of a “perfect wedding”. Tell me, what kind of people throw such weddings – I mean, is it for the middle-class, or upper-middle-class, or really, really wealthy people? I don’t think many people use such services here in Russia… but the demand seems to be increasing. Maybe someday it’ll be nothing out of the ordinary, but as yet, I think, only a few of the families can afford it.
Jun 27, 2009 @ 13:03:32
There are certain tics in Nora Roberts’ writing that pop me right out of the story — the head hopping, some of the sentence structure, etc — but despite that I really enjoyed this story. There was a lot of subtle/dry humour in it, which I wasn’t expecting and so was pleasantly surprised to find.
I liked the characters, most of whom were genuinely likeable. I like the slow relationship development between Mac and Carter; I like that they seem to like one another as much, if not more than, how attracted they are to each other.
I like the friendships between the four women. (It might be the Deadpool in my brain talking, but there was something about them that reminded me a little of The Golden Girls.) I like each individual woman, as well, and how they were different from one another without being too extreme, like they only had one defining trait. I also like how balanced their views on marriage felt, somewhere between complete cynic and hopeless romantic, like most people, I suspect.
I did not think Mac’s relationship with her mother was unrealistic — my impression was that it had been building for some time and this – the $3000, the car + Mac’s friends being supportive of her, while discouraging her from enabling her mother – was the breaking point, finally, in part because the requests were getting so outlandish. I like that even after Mac learned to say no to her mother (projecting here, but I find it very difficult to say no to my own mother, though she’s not as emotionally manipulative as Linda), their relationship remained strained.
I like Carter, too, in all his adorable awkward geekiness. I’m not so enamoured with Bob, because of how he talks about women and the terrible advice he gives Carter, which is amusing, but buys into certain stereotypes (I’m not saying *Bob* is a stereotype, but his views men, women and relationships are that way). The romance industry – and the world – needs more people (heroes) like Carter (and Mac’s friends, who I believe also pass the Bechdel test! awesome!). It would be great if his version of strong and being truly a nice guy (not a Nice Guyâ„¢) were seen as an ideal.
Jun 27, 2009 @ 13:55:22
Yay for beta heroes!
As for this:
Um yes, I have. He’s in the next room. Quite a few nice, charming, well-educated, witty men who are introverts, or are not particularly at ease with women, have self-esteem issues. Especially if they think that the alpha hero type is what women really go for, and that a woman would somehow be settling for less if she chose the nice guy. That’s one reason I love to see heroes who aren’t the alpha stereotype, because I love an intellectual man — on paper and in real life.
I thank my lucky stars every day that his feelings for me endured so many years and so many obstacles.
May 11, 2011 @ 13:32:24
This book was TERRIBLE…a couple meet, date, there are commitment issues and mommy issues…
So boring…I would be bored if a girlfriend told me this story over coffee
Jul 27, 2012 @ 13:07:34
I love this book so much! Keep up the good work! :) amazing read!
Nov 24, 2012 @ 07:06:16
stonecoldjz wrote a fantastic post today on Vince Carter is Vain Here’s ONLY a quick extarctIt has been said before that the only person Vince Carter cares about is Vince Carter and I think you will find this video clip to be a testament to that statement. How in the blue hell do you not know that newly acquired Devin Harris
Feb 25, 2013 @ 10:08:37
Have just finished Happy Ever After which was supposed to be part of a Quartet series but has an incomplete ending. Has there been another book added to this series which I am not aware of.