Once Upon A Blind Date
By Wendy Markham

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match. Find me a find. Catch me a catch." (Bock/Harnick; “Fiddler on the Roof”)

      Margaret O'Mulligan is a goal-oriented young woman; every move she makes is a calculated step toward a successful life in the big city, a promotion in her advertising career, and marriage to the doctor she's been dating. When her best friend mentions that it might be time for him to settle down, Maggie makes finding his future wife her personal mission.

      Since being jilted at the altar, Charles Kennelly III has made a comfortable living by writing a column for confirmed bachelors. He still believes in love and marriage, just not as part of his future. When his best friend decides she's ready for a lifetime commitment, Charlie is more than happy to help her find a suitable husband.

    Maggie and Charlie escort their respective best friends on their first blind date, but Cupid's aim is off. The unwanted attraction that erupts between the polar opposite chaperones leads to an undeniably effervescent fling. Will the return of Maggie's almost fiancé put an end to the flirtation? Will Charlie ever overcome his apprehension toward wedlock?

    Once Upon a Blind Date is a lighthearted portrayal of Internet dating gone wrongfully right. One can't help but cheer for Charlie and Maggie to open their eyes to the love they both strive to deny. Ms. Markham's well-rounded characters are persuasive; the men are all male, the women stylishly contemporary. The well-developed plot flows naturally without overt manipulation. Setting descriptions are not overdone and remain where they belong--in the background. Unpretentious dialogue and ample action makes Once Upon a Blind Date a fast-paced story that is delightfully entertaining. If you share this one with friends, you'll want them to return it so you can read it again and again.