While others may describe divorce attorney Harper James as somewhat bitter, cynical and decidedly unromantic, she herself claims that she is realistic and practical and her job allows her to help her clients, usually in miserable relationships have the best possible lives after their divorces. Her mother packed up and left Harper and her father on Harper’s thirteenth birthday, and Harper’s own marriage didn’t even last six months, but she doesn’t really feel that those things in any way influenced the woman she is today.
Successful and good at her job, Harper has been dating a guy for several years now, and as she’s about to turn thirty-four, the same age her mother was when Harper last saw her, she feels that now would be a good time for them to take their relationship to the next level. Sure, Dennis still lives with his parents, tends to call her ‘dude’, has a very annoying rat tail that he refuses to get rid of, but he’s tall, extremely handsome and works as a firefighter, saving lives! Harper has even bought her own engagement ring and seems very surprised when Dennis appears reluctant to agree to her fine list of bullet points on why they should get married. Her rather awkward proposal attempt is interrupted by a phone call from her younger step-sister, joyfully announcing that she’s getting married. In two weeks’ time. As her sister’s been married twice before already, Harper thinks this may be extremely foolish and impulsive, but nevertheless agrees to be the maid of honour.
Complications arise once they get to the Montana wilderness retreat where the marriage is taking place. It turns out the best man is Harper’s ex-husband, Nick Lowery, because her little sister is marrying his younger brother, after they’ve barely had a chance to get to know one another. Harper obviously brings along her hunky boyfriend, but it’s quite clear from the moment they meet again, that there is still tons of chemistry between Nick and Harper. While Nick may think Harper never really loved him and was determined to see the marriage fail from the moment they tied the knot, Harper did actually have her heart thoroughly broken and still feels that Nick was caring and attentive until he actually made her his wife, and then turned into a neglectful workaholic.
When it’s time for everyone to leave, Harper’s flight is cancelled due to technical difficulties, and she ends up accepting an offer from Nick to drive with him part of the way home, until they can get her on a plane back to Martha’s Vineyard. During this several day road trip, they get lots of time to talk things through, and slowly start to find some common ground again.
Full review here.