Speechless

March 1, 2004
Libby McIsaac has just caught her 13th bridal bouquet, and, at 33, she's lost faith in the idea that the guy who catches the garter might be her soul-mate--until Tim Kennedy catches the garter and her eye. She's a bit dismayed when she learns he already has a girlfriend, but she's more focused on her new job as a speechwriter for Clarice Cleary, Canada's minister of culture. Under Margo, the minister's vindictive tyrant of an assistant, the job is little more than a glorified secretary position, and the minister seems more concerned with her makeup than in the quality of her speeches. But Libby perseveres and finally convinces Clarice to allow her to write speeches, even though she's still expected to lug Clarice's purse around. And Libby soon has two men--the newly single Tim and a sexy British consultant named Richard--vying for her affections. Collins and Rideout's debut novel takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's an engaging and funny romp.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)