Cancel the Wedding: A Novel (P.S.)

Image of Cancel the Wedding: A Novel
Author(s): 
Release Date: 
August 5, 2014
Publisher/Imprint: 
Harper Paperbacks
Pages: 
416
Reviewed by: 

“Written in the first person, sharing intimate details and emotions, Cancel the Wedding draws the reader into the sequence of events as though this is our own story. Twists and turns make this as intriguing as a treasure hunt . . .”

Many keep secrets from their past to cover regrets, guilt, or sorrow, but no one tries harder to obliterate her younger days than Janie Rutledge. Janie's daughters, Georgia and Olivia, stopped questioning her as children after Janie let it be known she would not talk about her childhood.

When Janie passes away, her last instructions prove bewildering. Her request is to scatter her ashes—half over plot 34B at the Huntley cemetery, and the rest into Lake Huntley, Georgia, a place the girls have never visited let alone heard of.

The one-year anniversary of Janie's passing is celebrated at Georgia's home with her family, Olivia, and Olivia's fiancée Leo. Leo announces he set a wedding date, panicking Olivia enough for her to decide to travel to Georgia to dig into her mother's past. She leaves the next day with Georgia's 14-year-old daughter, Logan, and after an 11-hour drive, they arrive at an Inn in Tillman, the largest town in Huntley County, GA.

Logan, glued to her phone, texting friends—a typical teen—comes to attention when they reach their destination. The young valet, piquing her interest, makes her decide to contribute to help with the research.

Meanwhile, Olivia's mind races over Leo's desire to marry, and she has second and third thoughts. Not only that, she is stressed by her job and needs a break. She hopes her getaway to learn information regarding her mother's past will help to set her mind straight.

At the local coffee shop, Olivia and Logan run into a charming man named Elliot Tate who owns the newspaper. From him, they learn Lake Huntley was built in the 1960s by the TVA and flooded the town, which is now underwater.

With Elliot's help, the three delve into the archives and old news clippings piecing bits and pieces of Janie's past, together finding answers to the puzzling mystery of her younger life. Meanwhile, entranced by her findings, Olivia decides to stay in town longer and rents a small cottage. Along with her research, she knows she must deal with her feelings regarding her future, her job, and her relationship with Leo.

Olivia finds herself drawn to Elliot, not only for the assistance he offers, but for his charming and easygoing manner. Logan also becomes close to Graham, the young valet, who is Elliot's nephew, and between them and the information they collect, they unearth a tragedy. But who will make it right?

Cancel the Wedding exposes family secrets, too painful and heartbreaking for some to share. Lessons in learning how to discover one's true self while dealing with the expectations of others are given great weight for the sisters and Logan. This is not only a study into the human condition, this is also a highly involved novel offering mystery, adversity, and acceptance.

Written in the first person, sharing intimate details and emotions, Cancel the Wedding draws the reader into the sequence of events as though this is our own story. Twists and turns make this as intriguing as a treasure hunt while several different plots are interwoven through the uplifting conclusion.