Synopsis: Mackensie “Mac” Elliot is happy to be behind the camera. She is a wedding photographer who works with her three best friends putting on weddings in Connecticut. Mac is focused on her career, and maybe a fling every now and then, but she doesn’t need the same love she photographs everyday. But a serendipitous moment might change that forever. Carter Maguire, an acquaintance from high school, stumbles into Mac’s life and the two start a romance that could change her mind on love, if she can finally get out of her own way. 

My Thoughts: One of my favorite authors and inspirations to write is Neil Gaiman. He often talks about the importance of reading widely, a.k.a reading more than just your favorite genre, if you want to improve as a writer. Inspired by this idea I headed straight to the Romance section and searched for something that looked interesting. It was…overwhelming. Finally I saw the title Vision in White and picked it up. Once upon a time I worked in a wedding venue helping plan and hold weddings and to find a story set in that world was exciting. I tossed the book in the cart with every intention to read it straight away. That was about nine months ago. All I can say is I feel cheated that I waited so long to enjoy this book. 

I am someone who loves love, and getting to read an entire book dedicated to two people falling in love was a delight. The characters are a bit two dimensional but in this story it works because each represents a different part of a person falling in love. Mackensie is closed off after watching her parents’ marriages fall apart. She likes to stay safe behind the camera and document other people’s love. She self-sabotages at every turn because she feels she isn’t worth loving and that she’ll mess up eventually anyway.  Anyone who has been in a relationship longer than five minutes can relate to these feelings of inadequacy and fear they will continue the pattern their parents set. 

At the same time Carter represents every man when he is met with someone who takes over his mind. He dreams about her, asks his friends for dating tips, rethinks every word that comes out of his mouth, and generally tries too hard. He’s been hurt by a past relationship and is haunted by the hurt but also by the nagging thought that maybe they should get back together. He doesn’t know how to talk about this old flame and so he doesn’t talk about it at all, and in doing so almost ruins his budding romance with Mac. Male or female, everyone brings baggage to a relationship and everyone struggles to not let it affect their future love. 

Together, Mackensie and Carter show us the good and the bad in those early days of falling in love. I loved reading this book, I loved getting to know all the characters, and I can’t wait to get the next book in the quartet. For those who avoid romance so they don’t have to read graphic sex, you’ll be happy to know that while there is some sexual content in the book it is tame and only takes up a couple of lines on the page.