Dating, Dining, and Desperation (A Dear Daphne Novel)

I'm actually going to buy this series (exceedingly rare for me), even though the first was an accidental purchase (& recommended lock, stock & over a a barrel beginning rework has a decent faux-end with elimination of a suitor & nice dear reader section imho). Many writers are swapping to sub-characters for next-in-series now-days.Loved this second one as it explored faith more, inverse anxiety/control relationship & thoroughly adored everything in Mabel section. Would actually read it again.Read sample for book 3 & WHOOPS there's a fix (easy to do in ebooks, thankfully):Book 2 & 3 clash in that Mabel/Vera's home is dubbed a rental/cleared to storage in 2, then flips in book 3 to owned, filled with junk again. This would be something an awesome writer critique group would catch. Wish I had one myself ;).Dear reader section seems abrupt on this one (esp. since I thought it was a 2 book set (suggest add that to title line/rework a good exit paragraph while updating it to say the set of 4 is complete now).Another cool sales approach I've seen on one set of is Amazon popping up a "buy all 3" option for a few dollars less after completing the first free/e-book. Then everyone knows there's 4 & not continually deciding whether to read/but on. Particularly if pricing higher at 7.99 vs standard $4-5.I hope you see this & it helps to disappear that plot glitch & maybe help out your sales.God Bless,a learning-to-be-kinder editor ;)

The story was ok, as far as it went, though not one I'd be wanting to read again. But I was very disappointed to get to the end and find it just stopped, and I'd have to buy another book, maybe 2, to find out what happened in the end. Very unsatisfying :-(

I enjoyed the unusual premise in book one, and was looking forward to the second installment.I was disappointed.Daphne now has a southern belle neighbor who is semi-obsessed with appearances, and she drags Daphne along on a few "girl-time" outings. These felt silly to me, and frankly like the author was just trying to fill time/pages.Daphne then manages to connect with a sweet little girl who's already experienced significant loss in her life -- sadly, though, again this just came off as another "awwwwww" plot point ("Oh, she has a heart for children! How sweet!") and the development of their relationship is very rushed.The book ends with a note from the author sharing that the last two books in the series will be released in e-book format (and possibly print as some point), and that there *will* be a wedding in the end. Seriously, this is dragging out for TWO more books?! The question of who Daphne ends up with simply doesn't matter to me anymore (although it seems pretty predictable) and I won't be reading any more in this series.

Melody Carlson is a master in the art of storytelling. Her gift is enjoyed by school age children all the way to older adults. I've been reading her books for many years and I enjoyed her latest just as much as I enjoyed her first. She is a Christian writer who doesn't bludgeon you with her faith. Her stories are character driven and each character exhibits a full range of emotions.This is the second book in the Dear Daphne series and you will enjoy it more if you read the first, Lock, Stock and Over a Barrel. Aunt Dee has died and left all of her possessions to her niece Daphne. There is one stipulation: Daphne must marry within a year to keep it all including the wonderful, old Victorian house she is now living in. There are a few marriage prospects but Daphne's love life is stalled. Right now she is more focused on her young neighbor, Mabel whose grandmother just died. Daphne would like to adopt the 8 year old Mabel but there is an uncle on his way to meet his niece.Melody tells us the third and fourth books will be available soon as e-books but she hopes to have some paperbacks on the shelves as well. Whatever the form the next two books are published in, I will buy them as soon as they become available. That should tell you how much I like her writing

Book 2 of the Dear Daphne series picks up right where Lock, Stock, and Over a Barrel left off. In Dating, Dining, & Desperation, Daphne is continuing her search for a husband! A Southern belle new neighbor, Sabrina, certainly makes things more interesting. While Jake & Ricardo are still in the picture, Daphne meets several other bachelors in this story. Dating, Dining, & Desperation includes a wedding, big news from Olivia, and a few new characters in Daphne's life.I loved the second installment in the Dear Daphne series! Carlson's writing once again allowed me to become completely immersed in the story. Sabrina adds more fun to the book, and it's balanced out by the addition of some more serious characters. I find myself rooting for and against potential husbands for Daphne. The final 2 titles in this series are set to be released as ebooks in the near future. I can't wait to see what happens next with Daphne, Sabrina, Mabel, & the rest of Appleton!

I liked characters and plot of first book. This one not as much. Author writes characters friend as man-crazy. She is annoying trying to hook up main character with every single guy. Not even considering getting to know person or letting life play out. Sabrina and Olivia seem to think it only takes 24 hrs to meet, fall in love, get proposed to, and the its on to -- seemingly the reason for it all -- A Big Wedding. Boring. If I hadn't already bought the 3rd one I'm not sure I would continue. There's nothing of 2016 in the main female characters. Their written like a bad novel from the 40s.

After reading the 1st book by ms Carlson,it just left me hanging in the end. I order her 2nd book $9.98 because i wanted to know the out come,but to my surprise she ended again,saying in the future her 3rd book would coming out. I was spitting nails when she took me for a fool .I still was left not knowing as she hadn't written the end as yet.... I wasted my time reading and I will never buy any of her books again . I will also tell my friends not to bother with any thing she writes

An excellent second book. Can't wait for books 3 and 4. The book leaves you with a cliffhanger as to who, if at all, Daphne will marry.

A wonderful escape. Be aware that it is part 2 of a series of 4 in the Dear Daphne series, otherwise you will be disappointed with the ending. I'm currently reading Book 3 and have Book 4 ready on the bookshelf, ready to go. Have found them delightful- characters are very likable and a new main character gets added each book to keep it interesting.I love Melody Carlson's style of writing.

I liked this book. I like romance novels, but I especially like them spiced with a good sense of humor. Melody Carlson writes a humorous, romantic tale.

I enjoyed this book because it gave me a rest by reading the simple story lineI was very disappointed to be told the next two books will be on hold for some reason of the publisher, to me this seemed to be a very bad decision to halt a series in the middle of it.