P.N. Elrod brings together nine well-known writers of the fantasy/paranormal world for the raucous My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, a short story collection with a crazed look at how wacky a wedding can be…especially when magic is involved.

Spellbound: L.A. Banks
A Hatfield marrying a McCoy? An old celibacy curse keeps a young couple apart, but the hilarious spell/counterspell is no match for the oldest magic of all: love. Review: Imaginative take on the old feud. A little hard to translate the language, but with a little country roots in your family tree, you’ll do just fine.

Something Borrowed: Jim Butcher
When Jim Butcher’s wizard detective becomes best man at a werewolf’s wedding, you just know something will go awry. With all the makings of a fairy tale – including an evil faerie – it’s a last minute race to save the prin…err, bride. Review: funny, fast-paced, and left me wishing for more of Harry Dresden’s exploits. Remind me to re-read the Dresden Files.

Dead Man’s Chest: Rachel Caine
When Cecilia and Ian set out to marry on board a ship, it’s not really what she had in mind…especially the marriage part. As it turns out, the wedding party consists of a band of bloodthirsty pirates, and the ship is cursed. Once on board, Cecilia finds out her Ian isn’t what he seems, and the only thing that can save her is love – just in the nick of time. Review: This turns romance novels on their heads. Ian is a Fabio look-alike because that’s how things are done. But Cecilia is no great beauty. The pirates are…well, they’re pirates. Even though this does follow the usual themes, the huge twist makes this my second favorite in the collection.

“All Shook Up”: P.N. Elrod
Frankie Foster is in the middle of catering a high-profile wedding when her Gift is tested to its limits. She knows the not-so-happily married couple is headed for a fall, and the wedding singer…he’s just a little too close to reality for Frankie’s taste, but dazzling all the same. Is he the man of fame, or is he just a regular guy with an uncanny ability? And will Frankie be headed to Heartbreak Hotel? Review: Being a fan, you can put anything Elvis in front me and chances are I’ll love it. This didn’t disappoint. The characters are believable, even when the unbelievable happens.

The Wedding of Wylda Serene: Esther M. Friesner
Snobbish, well-educated bluebloods gather for the wedding of the season at The Club, but legend has it that something terrible may happen. True to form, it does – and the surprise is something straight out of Greek mythology. Review: I have a great distaste for the Yankee patriarchal society, so I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their enclave being turned upside down. The rapid shift between highborn language and lowbrow mayhem made this one quite a romp.

Charmed by the Moon: Lori Handeland
On the day of their wedding, werewolf hunters Will Cadotte and Jessie McQuade find a pair of Native American talismans among their belongings. Further investigation reveals they are love charms! Is their love for real, or the result of Ojibwa magic? Review: does it matter? It’s inevitable poor Will is stuck with the rude, dislikeable Jessie McQuade. She’s just as obnoxious in this story as when I first encountered her at the beginning of this series, which I suppose is a good mark for the author for continuity. Like the full-length novels, it’s overwrought and every other page mentions how much danger they’re in (or faced), how tough she is, what monsters these werewolves are etc. etc. Whatever. Total waste of my time.

Tacky: Charlaine Harris
Centuries-old fashion plate Dahlia is the maid of honor at the most scandalous supernatural wedding of the season: her vampire friend is marrying a werewolf. Dahlia has a bad habit of looking down her nose at everyone and everything, trying hard to change her friend’s mind…until her world gets a jolt when she meets handsome Todd, the best man. Review: Wonderful to watch the snob getting taken down a peg or two, and her rigid standards taken apart one page at a time. Best of this collection, but it’s a biased opinion given my love for this author’s world of vampires and werewolves.

A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Per the insert description…what happens when a Dark Hunter and a Squire accidentally crash a vampire wedding? Review: I have no idea. I skipped this one since it’s part of the Dark Hunter series.

“…Or Forever Hold Your Peace”: Susan Krinard
The adventure begins with the wedding of a good friend, and ends in the death of a young man on the steps of the church after interrupting the proceedings. When Emma, the bride-to-be, makes a hasty departure the following day, Lady Olivia Dowling and Kit Meredith use their magical Talents to find the lass and solve a very puzzling situation. Review: Set in an alternate Victorian England called Albion, this is an amazing, sly, and complicated mystery. This first experience with Kit and Olivia leaves me hoping there is a full-length novel in the works.

Overall, an excellent addition to the bookshelf for fans of fantasy and the paranormal (and those unfortunate souls saddled with a Bridezilla of their own.)

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Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (October 3, 2006)
ISBN: 0312343604
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