- SYNOPSIS -
The
bridesmaids and groomsmen for hire at Sweetheart, California’s
Something Borrowed have the cure for celebrity wedding headaches. But
even a job that’s strictly business can lead to the real thing . .
.
RULE #2: DON’T UPSTAGE THE BRIDE AND GROOM
Rylie Templeton had big dreams, until she quit culinary school to take care of her father and signed on with Something Borrowed. Suddenly years have gone by and she’s still a bridesmaid-for-hire, with her idea to open a gourmet bakery on the back burner. Scoring a high-profile wedding could help turn her life around, if only she didn’t have to share the spotlight with her coworker, the insufferable—and undeniably gorgeous—Dustin Kent.
Instructed
to make it work, Rylie plunges into the wedding festivities with
Dustin by her side. If only she could convince him to turn his
spectacular charm on someone else! But the enigmatic, reformed
playboy has his own ideas about romance, and they all include Rylie.
As the nuptials get closer, Rylie realizes that Dustin’s wooing is
actually working, and that the two of them might make a good team in
more ways than one . . .
- MY THOUGHTS -
I
was first introduced to Dustin in the first book in the Something
Borrowed series, DON'T CALL ME SWEETHEART and honestly, I wasn't very
intrigued by the idea of him finding love. He was an arrogant,
entitled millionaire who was more than a bit of a manwhore. Some bits
of that jackassery can still be found in the beginning of KISS ME,
SWEETHEART, but when you start to see what has made him the way he is
and the way in which he grows to care for Rylie, you kind of fall for
the whole package anyway. You see a very different side of Dustin –
one with deep scars and a kind, generous heart. And somehow, the
progression from jerk to book boyfriend seems incredibly natural. He
won me over more and more with every sweet thing he did for Rylie and
his flirtatious attitude became much more adorable when he stopped
being indiscriminate with his attention and realized the only woman
he wanted to get closer to was Rylie.
Some
characters might think of Rylie as a doormat who puts up with abuse
and lets people walk all over her because she wants people to like
her. I wouldn't characterize her in that way at all. She's kind and
loving but she doesn't let Dustin's charm or good looks go to her
head like most women in town. She has serious dreams she wants to
accomplish and a future she's trying to build. Yes, she was in an
abusive relationship but she made the decision on her own that it was
time to leave, not knowing where she was going to live. I think
that's incredibly brave. She isn't afraid to speak up for her
creative ideas with clients and even defends herself physically when
she needs to. I think Rylie has too much flair to ever be considered
a doormat.
I
loved that there was a bit of conflict thrown into the story to help
bring the characters together. It wasn't just emotional scars and
insecurities being used over and over again to create drama like you
find in some novels. That push and pull between the lovers can become
a bit exhausting if it's reused too often. Rylie and Dustin have a
lot going on in their lives which keeps things interesting but it
always feels natural and like it really fits into the story and who
they are. It's not just tacked on as filler. I totally misjudged the
twist in the story and was actually still genuinely surprised by who
was creating all the drama.
I
seriously loved reading Dustin and Rylie's story. I still think that
the idea for a series that revolves around a bridesmaid rental
service is a brilliant one and offers infinite possibilities. I loved
getting to see Rylie and Dustin work together on the planning process
and being forced to live with each other as well. It gave you so many
opportunities to see them interact and grow closer, which I think is
part of what made the transition in their relationship so seamless.
If
you're looking for a sexy contemporary romance but love 'the reformed
rake' trope, KISS ME, SWEETHEART has your name written all over it.
It's sweet, fun and an absolute pleasure to read. I couldn't put it
down and I'm seriously hoping that this will become an eight book
series. At the moment I'm really excited to see Charlie, Dustin's
brother, fall in love and fall hard. Can you please get on
that, Codi?
- LINKS TO PURCHASE -
Amazon | B & N | Kobo | Google Play
- ADD TO GOODREADS -
An obsessive bookworm, CODI GARY likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.
- AUTHOR INFO -
An obsessive bookworm, CODI GARY likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.
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