After she is kidnapped and subsequently released because she is the "wrong sister," First-Daughter Darcy Jensen is put into hiding.  Her hideout is an unusual destination, the Marcelli Vineyards in California.  She expects to hate being placed under heavy security, but the family takes her in and makes her one of their own.  It's hard to hate people who treat you as an equal instead of royalty.

Lieutenant Commander Joe Larson of the Navy SEALs is not thrilled when he learns his next mission will involve acting as the liaison between his newly discovered family and the President's daughter.  It's bad enough that the Marcelli family gave him up for adoption when he was an infant, he's not yet over the shock, but to have to spend measurable amounts of time in the vineyard he is trying to avoid, well that's just mean.  However, Joe is not about to quit his job by refusing an assignment.

As Joe and Darcy spend more and more time together, both discover that love sneaks up on you when you least expect it.  The problem is that neither Joe nor Darcy feels they can afford to be in a romantic relationship at this point in their lives.  Despite the desperate matchmaking by Joe's meddling family.

Personally, THE MARCELLI BRIDE tops my list of potential romance of the year novels.  The characters are exceptionally developed.  Each has his or her strengths, but weaknesses are also broached in a realistic manner.  The author builds a delightful character-driven romance that kept me up until the wee hours.  As this is the third novel in a series, I have some serious catching up to do.  THE MARCELLI BRIDE is easy read as a stand-alone novel, but I cannot imagine passing up the chance to spend time with the other Marcelli family members.  Susan Mallery's book is like a tall glass of ice water on a hot summer's day--soul quenching.