Opening Sentence of the first short story: ‘…Hattie McCoy smoothed the front of her flowing white dress and sat down by an adjacent tree…’

This anthology of nine short stories looks at weddings – always fraught with drama for us mortals – but how do you think it would go for the supernatural world?

“Spellbound” by L.A. Banks. Banks is usually (for me) associated with vampires – so this tale was a surprise as she has turned her hand to voodoo. Odelia Hatfield and Jefferson McCoy are in love and want to get married. However, they are plagued by the hatred stemming from the old Hatfield/McCoy feud over land. Unfortunately both families are magical – so the loved up couple have quite a challenge to both reach the altar.

“Something Borrowed” by Jim Butcher (the sole male contributor) features his well-known and much-beloved character, Harry Dresden. Harry, a wizard, is about to be best man for his friend, Billy the werewolf, when he realizes there is some faerie interference happening. Harry and the long-suffering Lieutenant Murphy must rescue the real bride before people start dying.

“Dead Man’s Chest” by Rachel Caine. Ian wishes to marry Cecilia, though she can’t quite believe the gorgeous man really loves her. She is right to be suspicious – he knows something she doesn’t – and love has nothing to do with the rushed ceremony. The venue for the wedding? A pirate ship. What Ian doesn’t know is that the ship, and her crew, are cursed. Twists and turns abound.

P.N. Elrod’s “All Shook Up” reveals the magic of Elvis. Frankie Foster is catering for a huge celebrity wedding when she meets the tribute artist who bears an uncanny resemblance to the long-dead Elvis. There is instant attraction between the two – but first some magic has to be spread.

“The Wedding of Wylda Serene” by Esther M. Friesner. Wylda Serene wants her wedding to be held at The Club. Unfortunately, The Club has a mythological legacy that tends to create major problem. Every time a major event is scheduled there supernatural beings show up unannounced – and throw a major spanner in the works.

Lori Handeland’s “Charmed By The Moon” was one of my favourite reads. Werewolf hunter Jessie McQuade, and the love of her life,Will Cadotte, are getting married in a few hours. Jessie is having pre-wedding jitters when she discovers a love charm. Will and Jessie have to venture back into the unknown to determine if their love is real or if they were simply “Charmed By The Moon”.

“Tacky” by Charlaine Harris was another favourite of mine – it looks at what could happen when a werewolf and a vampire decide to have a wedding. Vampire Dahlia Lynley-Chivers explores wedding traditions to help her nest mate, Taffy, marry the werewolf, Don. She anticipate trouble because of the long-standing animosity between the two races – but the best man is a real hunk. See what happens in this very non-traditional wedding!

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s “A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher” is the story of how Dark-Hunter Rafael Santiago finds his love match. Didn’t like this one very much – I am a Kenyon fan, but this one missed the mark for me.

Susan Krinard’s “… Or Forever Hold Your Peace” is an alternate reality story set in Victorian England in which magical talents are part of the norm. Did not finish this one – just didn’t interest me.

As with any anthology – there are always some stories that are better than others – over all this was an enjoyable but mostly average read – light and fluffy. Only one stinker, some excellant tales and a couple that weren’t quite up to scratch. ( )

What happens when you combine a wedding with the supernatural? Open the pages of MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING to see how some of the finest writers answered this question....

MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING opens with 'Spellbound' by L.A. Banks. Odelia Hatfield and Jefferson McCoy are in love and want to get married. However, they are plagued by the hatred stemming from the old Hatfield/McCoy feud over land. See what happens when these two defy family tradition as their families resort to any magical means necessary to stop the wedding.

L.A. Banks is perhaps best known for her Vampire Huntress series so it is surprising to read a story by her without vampires. Ms. Banks twist on the Hatfield/McCoy saga is certainly an unusual one, mixing many elements of spells using roots. Her grasp of the dialect is simply astounding and breathes life into even the secondary characters!

Jim Butcher's 'Something Borrowed' features his well-known and much-beloved character, Harry Dresden. Harry, a wizard, is about to be best man for his friend, Billy the werewolf, when he realizes things are awry regarding the bride, Georgia. Harry calls on Lieutenant Murphy, who heads up the Special Investigations Department. Together, they must resolve the matter quickly as lives are once again in danger.

Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series is a favorite of this reviewer and 'Something Borrowed' doesn't disappoint! Mr. Butcher does a fabulous job at allowing Harry's personality to shine through while maintaining the level of action one expects from this series. Besides, who can't help but love a series with an enemy appropriately named Jenny Greenteeth? Jim Butcher delivers once again in this fantastic tale that only serves to remind fans just how much Harry Dresden is loved.

'Dead Man's Chest' by Rachel Caine tells the story of Cecilia Welles and her experience with marriage aboard a pirate ship. Cecilia has doubts about Ian Taylor's wedding plans but who can resist a man who looks like the cover of a romance novel? Cecilia learns a lesson about true love and its amazing power in this pirate's tale.

Rachel Caine fans know always to expect the unexpected with her works and 'Dead Man's Chest' is no exception. The twists and turns this tale takes will keep the reader happily flipping the pages while marveling at what a devious mastermind Rachel Caine truly is. You don't have to be a pirate fan to enjoy 'Dead Man's Chest' as Rachel Caine is sure to make fans of even those who hate pirate stories with this very creative twist on the theme!

P.N. Elrod's 'All Shook Up' revives the mystique of Elvis. Frankie Foster is catering for a huge celebrity wedding when she meets the tribute artist who bears an uncanny resemblance to the long-dead Elvis. What happens when Frankie is 'All Shook Up' by this Elvis look-alike?

P.N. Elrod's love for Elvis is very apparent in this clever tribute to the King. One can feel just a bit of the excitement that Elvis must have generated while reading 'All Shook Up'. Ms. Elrod's entry just oozes with mesmerizing appeal! Resisting the King is not an easy task and Frankie has her work cut out for her in 'All Shook Up'.

'The Wedding of Wylda Serene' by Esther M. Friesner surrounds the wedding of Wylda Serene at The Club. Unfortunately, The Club has a mythological legacy that tends to create problems every time a major event is scheduled there as supernatural beings have a habit of showing up unannounced. Will things go awry at 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene'?

Esther M. Friesner's stories are always a hoot! 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene' is a surprisingly strong entry in an anthology packed with many of this reviewer's favorite authors. The deceptively cultured writing voice of the narrator accentuates the sheer outlandish humor and is certain to produce laughter in those appreciative of this style of humor. Esther M. Friesner is a master at creating humor in unlikely places and she demonstrates this fully in 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene'.

Lori Handeland's 'Charmed By The Moon' is yet another addition to her Nightcreature series featuring the Jager-Suchers. 'Charmed By The Moon' returns to the story of Jessie McQuade and Will Cadotte (previously in BLUE MOON) and takes place on their wedding day. Jessie is having doubts about the entire concept of marriage when she discovers a love charm. Will and Jessie have to venture back into the unknown to determine if their love is real or if they were simply 'Charmed By The Moon'.

Lori Handeland is one of the best authors out there at mixing werewolves and romance. 'Charmed By The Moon' is a bit of a departure for her as the Jager-Suchers are only briefly mentioned in the story. Instead, Ms. Handeland has crafted a very charming romantic story fused with the paranormal elements with which she does so well. Fans of the series will enjoy revisiting Jessie and Will, but it is not necessary to have read BLUE MOON to enjoy their story here.

'Tacky' by Charlaine Harris demonstrates what happens when a werewolf and a vampire decide to have a wedding. Dahlia Lynley-Chivers explores wedding traditions to help her friend, Taffy, marry the werewolf, Don, despite Dahlia's reservations about vampires and werewolves marrying due to a long-standing animosity between the two races. See what happens in this very non-traditional wedding!

Charlaine Harris has a gift for creating likeable vampires. While the marriage of Taffy and Don is the central focus of the story, Dahlia is actually the main character. Readers will appreciate Dahlia's tough side which contrasts so well with her desire to not be caught in a bridesmaid's dress that is 'Tacky'.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's 'A Hard Day's Night-Searcher' is the story of how Dark-Hunter Rafael Santiago finds his love match. Rafael's Squire, Jeff, has published a thinly-veiled story about the Dark-Hunters and the Council now wants to see him. The Squire, Celena, is sent to collect Jeff but Rafael makes a deal with Celina in exchange for Jeff's freedom. Can Rafael break through the safety barriers erected by Celena?

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series is arguably one of the best vampire series in print today. Fans will enjoy this quick visit with the Dark-Hunters. However, the short format lacks the depth Kenyon fans have grown to love and expect from her novels. This is not to say that Ms. Kenyon's story is by any means weak or lacking depth as it is still a very strong entry in the anthology. However, compared to her novels, 'A Hard Day's Night-Searcher' pales in comparison and adds little, if anything, to the ongoing series. However, this reviewer holds out hope that this is merely a teaser for a longer format in which more is explored regarding this fascinating couple.

Susan Krinard's '... Or Forever Hold Your Peace' is an alternate reality story set in Victorian England in which magical talents are part of the norm. At the wedding of Lady Emma Wakefield and Lord Edward Parish, a mysterious stranger objects to the wedding- only to drop dead from magical means. Lady Olivia Dowling and Christopher 'Kit' Meredith agree to assist when Lady Emma disappears, only to find that supernatural forces are at work.

Susan Krinard's entry actually presents as more of a supernatural mystery than a romance and is a nice change of pace in the anthology. The Talents manifested by the various characters are simply fascinating and Ms. Krinard does an excellent job at tying all of the various story elements together. The surprising twists and turns taken in '... Or Forever Hold Your Peace' keep the suspense level high.

MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING is a superb compilation by some of the best writers out there. Fans of the genre will enjoy this excellent anthology which teases the reader with tidbits from the various worlds crafted by the authors. MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL is an excellent addition to this reviewer's keeper shelf!

This book was like a gift from the fiction gods for me, containing stories from almost every one of my current favorite paranormal and dark fantasy writers. All the stories were degrees of good or great, but the best surprise was from my old fandom friend Rachel Caine (Roxanne Conrad), a twisty-fun pirate romp called "Dead Man's Chest", an awesome homage to the Pirates of the Caribbean and how much we all want to jump Captain Jack Sparrow no matter what we say in public. *G*Well worth the cost of admission! ( )

Some good and some bad ( )

Needed to be longer. Good beginning development, but the conclusion happens too quick. And not enough of the middle story is told. ( )