To Have and to Hold

A Novel

By: Jane Green

Narrated by: Elizabeth Sastre

What happens when your Prince Charming turns out not to be so charming after all? In To Have and To Hold, bestselling author Jane Green offers a sizzling, highly entertaining look at romantic relationships after we say “I do.”

Alice knows she should be happy. A charming twenty-eight-year-old with a successful catering business, she’s always dreamed of a rose-covered cottage in the English countryside, filled with children and animals and home-cooked meals. Her favorite attire is comfy jeans, her best manicure features garden dirt under the nails. But when her teenage crush—the wealthy, dashing man-about-town Joe Chambers—wants to make her his bride, Alice is more than willing to play Cinderella to Joe’s prince. Never mind that he wants her to change—a diet, ice-blond highlights, stilettos, snooty gallery openings—and that he’s allergic to nature and kids. She tells herself she’s happy to sacrifice for love, and besides, with Joe’s stunning good looks and high-profile career at a top financial firm, every woman in London wants to be in her shoes.

But that’s just the problem. Despite Alice’s efforts to be the perfect wife, Joe soon reveals a penchant for being hopelessly unfaithful. When a notorious indiscretion with a female colleague forces Joe to transfer to New York, Alice’s life turns upside down. As Joe continues to sneak around, and her best friend’s beau offers a tempting glimpse of what real love could be like, Alice must decide how much Cinderella she can take before her deepest desires win out—and if she can summon up the courage to find real happiness on her own.

Delicious, witty, and packed with sparkling sex appeal, To Have and To Hold is an unputdownable read that will have you rooting out loud for its endearing heroine. A #1 bestseller in Britain, this latest tale from the beloved, utterly winning Jane Green proves that the search for true love doesn’t always end when someone dons a veil, and offers a lively, refreshing take on modern marriage.©2004 Jane Green; (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Tremendous!

Jane Green is my favorite author!! I so enjoy the ease with which the stories are told! I am always quickly captivated, and enjoy the ride throughout the entire book!

Jane Green is amazing as always.

Loved the story, but not the narration. Would have been more enjoyable had the narrator not sounded bored.

Adorable as are all Green's Books

I enjoyed this tale of a woman finding her own strength and following her dreams. I only wish I had selected the unabridged version so that I could enjoy it for longer.

a bit rushed

The story is OK, it's what you expect buying a book with such a cover, though It takes a long time for the heroine to stand up for herself and it could be a bit more on the funnier side.
As I needed a "short" listen I took the abridged version. It is a bit rushed, the story jumps quite often from one event to the next without introduction or transition, however, this helps to keep your interest up and omits all boring passages.

Disappointing

I have read all of Jane Green's books and adore them all, with the exception of this one. Alice just wasn't a female character that I could root for (in fact, none of the characters in this book were) - she is pretty much her husband's door mat and never really seems to stand up for herself.