Four Steps to the Altar

Stone continues her Second Chances series, chronicling four 40-something pals whose unique wedding planning business targets second-marriage brides, with this innocuous fourth installment. This time around, the spotlight falls on shallow but well-meaning Lily Beckwith as she deals with the possibility of marriage to her boyfriend, Frank Forbes. Romantic to the core but pragmatic to a fault, Lily wants to accept Frank's proposal only if she can hang on to late husband Reginald's $50 million estate. Unfortunately, her spinster ex-sister-in-law, Antonia Beckwith, controls the family fortune. Meanwhile, the other three pals deal with their own issues: Jo is trying too hard to be the perfect stepmother to hubby Andrew's 12-year-old daughter; Elaine is afraid of losing her newfound independence by marrying Martin; and Sarah still keeps boyfriend Sutter at arm's length. Stone's latest will please her fans, but newcomers may find themselves treading water to stay afloat in the nearly stagnant plot. (July)