It Had to Be You by Janice Thompson

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 
Bella couldn't be happier that her long-feuding Aunt Rosa and Uncle Lazarro have finally admitted their love for one another and are getting married. Their forties-style wedding is sure to be a night to remember. But when the Rossi house begins to fill up with family from Italy--and an old mobster from New Jersey--life starts to get complicated. Will Lazarro's friend from the past drive the happy couple apart once more? And will Bella ever have time to think of her own rapidly-approaching wedding amidst the chaos? Full of laugh-out-loud humor, plenty of Italian passion, and a bit of Texas gumption, It Had to Be You is the satisfying conclusion to an entertaining series.


FROM THE BACK COVER
Get ready for a double dose of wedding frenzy!
Bella couldn't be happier that two of her long-feuding relatives have finally admitted their love for one another and are getting married. Their forties-style wedding is sure to be a night to remember. But when the Rossi house begins to fill up with family from Italy--and an old mobster from New Jersey--life starts to get complicated. Will a friend from the past drive the happy couple apart once more? And will Bella ever have time to think of her own rapidly approaching wedding amid the chaos?
Full of humor, plenty of Italian passion, and a bit of Texas gumption, It Had to Be You will have you laughing out loud and wiping a tear from your eye.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 
Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over fifty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).  She is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, “Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer” (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at www.janiceathompson.com or www.freelancewritingcourses.com.


INTERVIEW WITH JANICE

SUPERMOM: Hi Janice, thanks for taking a few minutes with us today! Will you start by telling us something interesting about you that most of your readers wouldn't know?

JANICE: Most of my readers don't know that I often get called on to bake wedding cakes. It started pretty innocently. My second-oldest daughter got married just four months after my first daughter (back in '04). I'd paid $600 for cake for wedding #1 and half the cake was left! Seemed like such a waste. I knew I could bake one cheaper than that. So, I baked a four tiered cake for my second daughter's wedding and a couple friends helped me decorate it. Turned out great! Since then I've baked probably half a dozen wedding cakes.  

SUPERMOM: Where do your story ideas come from?

JANICE: I consider myself a really creative person! I've always got a story brewing. I get my stories from all sorts of places, but mostly from watching how people interact with each other. I also like to take stories from various periods/times in my life. For example, the book I'm currently writing (Love Finds You in Camelot Tennessee) came as a result of being in the play "Camelot" when I was in college in Tennessee!

SUPERMOM: You, just like the main character, Bella, are a wedding planner? How did you get started in that and how long have you done that? What do you like most about helping brides with her big day?

JANICE: I have four daughters between the ages of twenty-five and thirty. All four got married within a four year period. (Can you imagine?) We had an Italian-themed wedding, a garden-themed wedding, a Hawaiian wedding and a traditional wedding. Because we were doing the weddings on a budget, we pretty much coordinated them ourselves (with a little help from friends). After my youngest got married, I guess people thought I'd learned enough to actually coordinate weddings. I've helped out with several since, and have recently signed on to be the wedding coordinator at my church, as well. 

SUPERMOM: If your Weddings by Bella series was going to be on the big screen, who would you have play the characters?

JANICE: Good question! I think Jennifer Garner might make a good Bella, but her hair would have to be curly. Maybe Matthew McConaughey for DJ? 

SUPERMOM: Anymore books in the Weddings by Bella series?

JANICE: Sadly, "It Had to be You" is the last in the series. It might be fun to re-birth Bella and the gang in a new series - one where she and DJ are raising a houseful of kids! (Can you imagine how much fun that would be, especially with Rosa and Laz married and playing a role in the lives of the kids?)

SUPERMOM: What you working on now? And when can we expect to see it in stores?

JANICE: I'm currently writing "Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee," which I mentioned above. It should be out in the fall. My next book to release will be a book with the new Summerside "When I Fell in Love" line. It's called "Love Me Tender" and is set in Laguna Beach California in 1957 (in a soda shop). It was great fun to write! I'm SO excited about my next Revell book, "Stars Collide," which releases in December. I honestly believe it's my best book so far. 

SUPERMOM: Last but not least, your mother, how was your Mother's Day this past weekend? What wonderful things did your kids do for ya?

JANICE: My Mother's Day was great! I created a blog entry as a tribute to my mom:   Two of my four daughters live near me (in the Houston area). We went to church together, then went to my daughter Megan's house for lunch. Afterwards, we played Yahtzee. We had a blast. I always love spending time with my kids and grandkids!

 Janice, thanks so very much! I look forward to more late nights curled up with your awesome books!

 MY REVIEW
Janice has become a favorite author of mine. She makes the top 5 list easily! (She's #3!) Ranking up there as Dee Henderson as #1 and Robin Jones Gunn as #2! So I place Janice among the top dogs of Christian fiction. (You can put the check in the mail Janice! ~LOL)

Weddings by Bella series has come to close. Sad as it may be. I enjoyed becoming part of the Rossi family. I could smell the garlic and taste the pasta whenever I read Janice's series.

The third book in the series, It Had to Be You, was a a great read. Quirky, humorous, light hearted with a twist of Jesus, romance and LOTS Aunt Rosa's to-die-for cooking.



The twist with her BFF, Jenna, that was a good one, though I felt it coming!

"Aunt Francesca" was an awesome character in the fact that Janice was able to touch on women's true feelings and struggles. I know as a woman and wife I struggled for a long time (especially after gaining weight after having kids) that my hubby had would have had second thoughts about marrying me if he knew I would go from a tiny size 7 to a plus size woman. My hubby has worked retail for many years and who is the majority of workers and shoppers in the clothing stores? WOMEN! I always compared myself to the women he worked with and secretly wondered which one he wished I was.

But just like Laz and Papa reassured their women, my hubby reminds me daily that he loves me and has eyes for only me.

Janice hit an excellent point that helps women everywhere realize that they are not the only one struggling with that insecurity! Awesome job Janice!

My only complaint is that the last four or five chapters went by so fast with such vital information that I felt it was a bit rushed. I thought to myself that either Janice had to keep it within her page limit of she was cutting it short on her deadline so she had to rush through the end.


POSSIBLE SPOILER:
SCROLL DOWN TO READ IT!

I was not a fan of all the proposals. To me it was a lot much. I know, I know, it's fiction!!! But I think it can sometimes be over done and I think this one was with the many proposals that happened all so quickly. If they had happened throughout the whole book I don't think it would have been such a big deal, but I caught myself rolling my eyes after the first couple happening.



 

 The Legal Stuff: This book was provided by Revel and the author.