An Event to Remember or Forget by Melissa Baldwin Blog Tour & Review
An Event to Remember... or Forget
Sienna Harris is a girl with a plan. Her days of slaving away at Carrie’s Classic Events and More are numbered as she is on the brink of launching her own event planning company. Her relationship with Luke Price is headed in the right direction and they are approaching their one-year mark. The future is looking bright and she knows that life could not get any better . . . That is until her perfectly planned world is thrown upside down by the unexpected arrival of someone from Luke’s past. She receives the shock of her life on the night of the biggest event of her career. Sienna will now have to pull it all together without a list or a plan. The question is, can she do it?
My Review:
So An Event to Remember or Forget is a good story and I liked the gist of it. Sienna was a fun character and her friends and co-workers had equally great personalities! However, my biggest problem with the book is how it reads. While I enjoy reading in the present tense I felt like the entire story was being told to me. It didn't flow like it should and some sentences were very short and should have been combined with the next sentence. This lack of flow and details left me bothered. I am usually an easy to please reader, but having the feeling like I was there watching the entire story unfold was missing completely for me and I personally felt a huge disconnect from the story. Baldwin has a really good story here, it just needs more sensory details and editing in my opinion.
EXCERPT:
I made it to spinning class two mornings in a row; I’m on fire. It’s 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Craig, Nicole, and I are waiting at Bonjour for Carrie to arrive. “Let’s take bets on if she actually comes, twenty bucks she’s a no-show,” Craig demands. Bonjouris the most adorable little breakfast café, and the food is amazing. We sit at the same table, and the staff always takes very good care of us. “Sienna?” says a voice behind me. Oh no, it’s Luke. This is pretty awkward considering we haven’t spoken since I let him have it the other night. I don’t count the few “I’m really sorry” and “I love you” texts he sent. He is with a few co-workers that I recognize but don’t really know well. “Are you having a work meeting?” he asks. He waves to Craig and Nicole. They both say hi, looking very curious about our obvious awkwardness. I’m sure they will force me to explain it before I leave this meeting. “Yeah, we are just waiting on Carrie as usual.” I roll my eyes. “Ah yes, the infamous Carrie. I still can’t believe that I’ve never met her, only heard the stories,” he says, laughing. “Well, considering she’s hardly ever in town, that’s not surprising,” I reply. Coincidentally, at that very moment, the front door flies open and there she is in head to toe designer couture. “So sorry I’m late, had to take a call. I need a double espresso,” she calls as she saunters over to our table. Luke and I are still engaged in our awkward conversation. Carrie approaches and pulls off her Prada sunglasses staring directly at Luke. Excerpt #2- “Sienna, I want you to meet some of my co-workers. Ladies, this is Sienna Harris. She is the genius behind all of this,” says Abby, coming toward me. “Do you have any business cards?” asks the first woman. “Yes, I do! I am still with Carrie’s Classic Events and More, but I am launching my own company very soon,” I say as I hand out a few cards. All of a sudden, I feel like I am being chased by the paparazzi. They all start talking at once; questions are flying at me from every direction. “You work for the Carrie Anderstone?” “Is it true what they say about her?” “Does she still run that company?” “I have heard some crazy stories.” “I heard she had an affair with the mayor at his son’s graduation party. Were you at that event? Did you see anything?” “How much plastic surgery has she really had?” “Do you get along with her?” “Where does she travel to so much?” I’m not sure how to answer their questions. This is not the first time I’ve been asked all about the sordid details of Carrie’s life. I quickly decide to handle it in the best way I know how . . . I lie and change the subject. Excerpt#3- The waiting area is full of big, cushy love seats, and the décor is very Mediterranean with rich shades of gold, red, and brown. It is so warm and inviting. I have to text Madison, so I tell Luke I need to use the restroom and check my makeup. I’m sure he knows I’m lying, but who cares. There is a very sweet attendant handing out hot hand towels in the restroom, which is probably the size of my apartment. It has so many products that it could very well be a beauty supply store. I pull out my phone to text Madison. BEST PLACE EVER! I put my phone back in my Tory Burch clutch purse (a small splurge, but I bought it at the outlets), check my makeup and hair, and head back to Luke. As I am walking back to him, I notice that he is talking to someone. His body language says it all; he does not like this person. I walk up and stand beside him to see who this person is. I think my heart stops beating for a minute. I look up to see the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life; he smiles at me and his eyes actually sparkle. I am NOT KIDDING! I feel like I have landed in a Disney movie. “Luke, who is this beautiful woman standing here?” he asks with the hottest Australian accent I have ever heard. “Good for you, mate!” “Hello, I am Ace Eckelund. I am Luke’s mate from our summer of soccer in Europe. I am sure he has mentioned me?” How do I answer this? “Um, yes he has briefly. I am Sienna, Luke’s . . . girlfriend.” Why did I just hesitate? I am on an anniversary date with my boyfriend. “It’s nice to meet you.” I reach out to shake his hand, and I swear my stomach does a backflip. Excerpt #4- I hear my phone ringing from somewhere on my desk. I shift some stuff to find it and see it’s Carrie calling me. “Hello?” “Sienna, I sent over the remainder of the paperwork I needed to sign. I will be away for the next few days and unreachable. I also wanted to tell you that I am very impressed with how well you have handled this event.” I think I’m hallucinating again. First of all, she seems a teeny, tiny bit interested in this event, and secondly, she gave me a compliment. I now have no doubts that she is up to something. I’m about to say something but she continues. “I also saw that Mr. Eckelund and his firm are listed as a sponsor. No doubt you had something to do with that. I’m sure you were extremely persuasive in securing that, and I have to say WELL DONE. I suppose I have taught you a lot.” Wait, what? Is she implying what I think she is? “Carrie, I can assure you that there was no persuasion involved in that sponsorship. I had simply mentioned the event in passing, and he scheduled a meeting with Mr. Canton. To be honest, I am offended you even suggested that.” “Come now, love, don’t be coy. It was just an observation from the other evening. That is a very good relationship to build, professionally of course. I’m very aware of who he is and his connections. Surely, we can add him to our clientele. Next time you see him you should mention that. Will you be seeing him again soon?”
Author Melissa Baldwin
Melissa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications; she has always had a love for writing. An avid journal keeper, she fulfilled her dream with her debut novel, An Event To Remember . . . Or Forget. Melissa resides in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and young daughter. She is a master at organization and multi-tasking. Her daily jobs include mother, chauffeur, wife, PTA President, Fitness Trainer, and now Author. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, fitness, decorating, fashion, and taking a Disney Cruise every now and then.
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