Vision in White

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Vision in White

Author Nora Roberts

Language English

Series Bride Quartet

Genre contemporary romance

Publisher Berkley Books

Publication date 2009

ISBN 978-0-425-22751-0
 Followed by Bed of Roses 

Vision in White is the first book of the Bride Quartet series of romance novels, written
by Nora Roberts. It spent two weeks atop the New York Times Bestseller List and
reached number 3 on the USA Today bestseller list, marking the first time one of
Roberts' books had become a bestseller in trade paperback format. A downloadable
casual-play computer game based on the book was introduced by I-Play in 2010.
In her thirty-year career, Roberts had published almost 200 novels. Vision in White was
one of ten Roberts novels published in 2009, including five new releases and five
reprints. When it was released on April 28, 2009, its cover premiered the use of a
special logo to differentiate her new releases from reprints of her past works.
The novel marked Roberts' return to contemporary romance. The new series revolved
around a wedding planning enterprise run by four childhood friends. This first story
featured the developing relationship between wedding photographer Mackensie "Mac"
Elliot and English professor Carter Maguire. Like several other Roberts novels, Vision in
White explored how a protagonist balanced a successful career with a dysfunctional
family environment. Although the hero is a fairly typical representation of the romance
novel archetype of the professor, the novel is slightly unusual for a romance in that the
hero must convince the heroine to take a chance on love.

Contents

 1Background
 2Plot summary
 3Analysis
 4Reception
 5Computer game
 6References
 7Sources

Background[edit]
Nora Roberts is a prolific author of romance and futuristic suspense novels.[1] From 1979
through 2008, almost 200 of her novels were published. On average, she completed a
book every 45 days. She does not outline the novels in advance or create character
biographies, preferring to develop the plot as she goes. [2]
According to Publishers Weekly, three of the top-ten bestselling mass market
paperbacks of 2008 were Roberts novels.[2] Her new releases focused primarily
on paranormal and fantasy romance. In 2009, Roberts returned to the
traditional contemporary romance subgenre with Vision in White.[3] The novel was the
first in her Bride Quartet, which also included Bed of Roses, Savor the Moment,
and Happy Ever After.[4] Each novel in the series focuses on the love story of a different
founder of Vows, a fictional wedding planning business. [1]
Vision in White was released by Berkley Books on April 28, 2009.[4] The novel was one
of ten Roberts books released that year. Five of the releases were paperback reprints of
books previously issued. Three were new hardcovers, including two published under the
pseudonym J. D. Robb. Vision in White and its sequel, Bed of Roses, were released
in trade paperback.[5] To help readers differentiate the new releases from the reprints,
the covers of the two trade paperbacks included a medallion with the initials NR. [5]

Plot summary[edit]
The novel follows the relationship of photographer Mackensie "Mac" Elliot and English
teacher Carter Maguire. Mac and her childhood friends Parker, Emma, and Laurel are
the founders of Vows, a fictional wedding planning company in Connecticut. While
accompanying his sister to a planning session at Vows, Carter renews his acquaintance
with Mac, and confesses that he had been infatuated with her since high school. She is
intrigued by his honesty and earnestness and decides to embark on a casual fling with
him.
After seeing her parents' numerous failed marriages, Mac does not trust the idea of
commitment. Her determination to avoid emotional intimacy is reinforced as she
struggles against her mother's continued tactics of emotional manipulation.
Their relationship progresses slowly through the book. Each protagonist receives much
advice from a large circle of friends and family. With the support of her friends and
Carter, Mac develops the courage to stand up to her mother. By the end of the novel,
she realizes that she does not have to relive her parents' mistakes, and chooses to
embrace her love for Carter.

Analysis[edit]

Author Nora Roberts

The four novels of the Bride Quartet share a strong emphasis on sisterhood. The
heroines of the books bonded as children and have become sisters by choice.
Throughout the series, they provide mutual support and acceptance of each other's
quirks. Focused on their careers, the heroines have little time for outside relationships,
and they rely heavily on each other for comfort, help, and distractions. [6] A similar theme
is seen in several of Roberts' other works; her In Death series, written as J. D. Robb,
has a heroine who has created a family from female friends and colleagues. [7]
According to critic Betsy Prioleau, Vision in White's hero is a typical representation of
one of the eight archetypes of a romance hero: the professor.[8] Several scenes in the
novel show him teaching students or in parent-teacher conferences. [7] Like most
intellectual romance heroes, Carter is a "sober good guy", and the heroine is attracted
to him primarily for his mind.[8] In an unusual twist for a romance novel, however, the
hero is the character who is ready for a commitment but must help the heroine
overcome her fears.[9] After seeing her mother divorce four husbands and discard
countless boyfriends, Mac prefers to avoid emotional intimacy rather than risk the
relationship splintering.[10] Carter provides reassurance that their relationship is built on a
solid foundation.[11]
Critic Mary Ellen Snodgrass calls Vision in White a story of the New Woman, with a
strong heroine who is extremely proud of her significant career accomplishments.
[12]
 Roberts uses the heroine's choices of how to pose or spotlight her photography
clients as pointed ways of celebrating both monogamy and "unconventional views of
femininity".[13] In one scene, Mac convinces a heavily pregnant woman to pose nude,
despite her feelings of awkwardness; through the resulting photos, the client comes to
believe that she is actually beautiful. [10][13] In another poke at traditional stereotypes, Mac
photographs a bride and groom posing together on a horse, evoking the metaphor of a
knight coming to rescue the princess—but the couple are equals. [13]
Roberts contrasts Mac's competence in business matters with her difficulties in dealing
with an extremely dysfunctional family, a theme Roberts had previously used in the
Chesapeake Bay Series (Rising Tides, Sea Swept, and Inner Harbor) and the Calhoun
Series.[12] In Visions in White, the family difficulties are caused by the heroine's mother,
who is essentially a cross between the mothers in Carolina Moon and Tribute.[12] Roberts
shows that, as a result of her family's dysfunction, Mac has chosen to distance herself
from deeper emotions.[14] The camera allows Mac to interact with other people's
happiness and lives without having to fully participate; as the book progresses, she
gradually develops the courage to come out of her shell and fully participate in life. [14]
The use of the wedding industry is, per Snodgrass, "a wry reprise of Roberts' career in
fictional matchmaking".[12] The novel celebrates the joy of a traditional wedding
ceremony,[14] including the playful ceremonies arranged by children playing dress-up.
Roberts' treatment of these themes "validates the dress-up game of playing bride as
both fantasy and a stabilizing preface on women's devotion to mate and family".
[12]
 Roberts included significant detail on the wedding planning industry, which Snodgrass
posits is meant to highlight and celebrate the success the female characters had at
niche marketing.[14]

Reception[edit]
Jill M. Smith in Romantic Times gave the novel four out of five stars, labeling it a
"wonderful and cozy read".[4] A Publishers Weekly review highlighted the "gentle humor
and likable cast" and predicted that readers would be eager to follow the characters
through the rest of the series.[9] In Booklist, John Charles called the novel "thoroughly
charming" and lauded the deep characterization and "sharp, clever writing" that
combined to celebrate "friendship and love". [3]
In a survey of readers, Snodgrass found mixed opinions. Many were delighted to see
Roberts return to traditional contemporary romances, minus the elements of fantasy and
magic that had woven through her more recent novels. Some praised the tight bonds of
sisterhood that Roberts created for the four founders of Vows, but other readers
complained that the character voices were too similar. A vocal minority pointed out
similarities between this novel and Roberts' Calhoun series. [15]
By February 2010, Vision in White and Bed of Roses had sold a combined 1 million
print copies.[16] Over 100,000 copies of Vision in White were sold in Canada alone
between May and October 2009.[1] The novel spent 32 weeks on the USA
Today bestseller list, peaking at number 3.[17] It was number 1 on the New York
Times Bestseller List for trade paperback fiction for two weeks. [18][19] It was the first of
Roberts' novels to be a bestseller in trade paperback format. [16]

Computer game[edit]
Within months of the novel's release, computer gaming company I-Play began
developing a downloadable casual-play game based on the story. [20] Roberts' input was
limited to approval of the graphics and the game's interpretation of the story line. The
game followed the general plot of the novel, from the perspective of the heroine. More
than 40 different locations from the book were featured, including Mac's office and
Carter's kitchen.[21] There were hidden-object tasks and several mini-games featuring
wedding-related activities, such as cake decorating and floral arranging. [20][21] Roberts was
pleased with the final product, remarking that "to have a story translated into a game
like this, it's tremendous fun for me. It's my initial vision, but I enjoy seeing how, when
you translate it into that other medium, how somebody else's vision manages to affect it
but keep the core of the story."[20] The game was released in February 2010. [22] According
to Roberts' website, game sales did not match the developer's expectations, and plans
for sequels to the game were cancelled. [23]

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:      Kopun, Francine (October 19, 2009),  "Nora Roberts, a
a b c

bestselling author rarely reviewed", The Toronto Star,

retrieved February 19, 2015
2. ^ Jump up to:a b Collins, Lauren (June 22, 2009),  "Real romance",  The
New Yorker, retrieved  June 10,  2015
3. ^ Jump up to:a b Charles, John (April 15, 2009), "Vision in White", Booklist,
retrieved February 19,2015
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c Smith, Jill M., "Vision in White", Romantic Times,
retrieved February 19, 2015
5. ^ Jump up to:a b Memmott, Carol (February 13, 2009), "Book a literary-
lovers room at Nora Roberts' romantic inn",  USA Today,
retrieved February 19, 2015
6. ^ Snodgrass (2010), p. 85.
 7. ^ Jump up to:    Snodgrass (2010), p. 86.
a b

8. ^ Jump up to:    Prioleau (2013), Chapter 5.

a b

9. ^ Jump up to:    "Vision in White", Publishers Weekly, May 2009,

a b

retrieved February 19, 2015
10. ^ Jump up to:a b Snodgrass (2010), p. 88.
11. ^ Snodgrass (2010), p. 89.
12. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Snodgrass (2010), p. 66.
13. ^ Jump up to:a b c Snodgrass (2010), p. 87.
14. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Snodgrass (2010), p. 67.
15. ^ Snodgrass (2010), p. 121.
16. ^ Jump up to:a b I-play launches Nora Roberts: Vision in White for PC, IGN,
25 February 2010, retrieved February 19, 2015
17. ^ "Vision in White", USA Today, June 21, 2013, retrieved February
19,  2015
18. ^ "Paperback trade fiction",  New York Times, May 17, 2009,
retrieved February 19, 2015
19. ^ "Paperback trade fiction",  New York Times, May 20, 2009,
retrieved February 19, 2015
20. ^ Jump up to:a b c Staskiewicz, Keith (December 8, 2009),  "Nora Roberts to
release a downloadable game based on her work",  Entertainment
Weekly, retrieved  February 19,  2015
21. ^ Jump up to:a b Molina, Brett; Saltzman, Marc (March 29, 2010), "Author
Nora Roberts on PC title 'Vision in White '",  USA Today,
retrieved February 19, 2015
22. ^ Raugust, Karen (April 19, 2010), "Publishers begin to embrace
digital storytelling",  Publishers Weekly, retrieved February 19, 2015
23. ^ "Frequently asked questions",  NoraRoberts.com, archived from the
original on February 20, 2015, retrieved  February 19,  2015

Sources[edit]
 Prioleau, Betsy (2013). Swoon: Great Seducers and Why
Women Love Them. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-
0-393-08991-2.
 Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2010). Reading Nora Roberts.
Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-
36294-1.
Categories: 
 2009 American novels
 American romance novels
 Contemporary romance novels
 Novels set in Connecticut
 Works by Nora Roberts
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