"Marry in haste, repent at leisure" might be the motto of the hapless couple who tie the knot at the start of this uneven chick-lit offering by O'Flanagan (He's Got to Go
). The story begins promisingly, as Carey Browne and Ben Russell meet cute on a transatlantic flight from Dublin to New York City. After failing in an Internet venture, Ben is now the co-owner, with his sister, Freya, of a successful chain of health-food stores in the Irish capital; Carey is an air traffic controller with a penchant for fancy shoes. Initially, Carey doesn't want to get involved with Ben—she was recently burned by a relationship with a married man. But after a fun and boozy night out in Manhattan, Ben and Carey do the impulsive thing: they fly to Las Vegas and get married. Back in Dublin at a party to celebrate the newlyweds, former beaux show up and spoil the good times. At this point the author seems to lose interest in her main characters and their nonexistent chemistry, shifting the focus to Ben's sister, Freya, and her struggle to cope with the early onset of menopause. Though the Dublin setting makes for an occasional interesting detail or two, the novel suffers from erratic pacing and from the lack of spark between its protagonists, despite their instant romance. Agent, Carole Blake. (Dec.)
