Enter to Win 1 of 2 eBook copies of Dating the Guy Upstairs
By: Amanda Ashby
Releasing:
January 9, 2017
Entangled Bliss
Entangled Bliss
In Falling for the Best Man (Sisters of the Wishing Bridge Farm #1) by Amanda Ashby, wanting to keep Wishing Bridge Farm in her family; the farm that she inherited with her two sisters, Emmy Watson is planning her first wedding as a wedding planner to be hosted at the farm. But with a hysterical bride, the groom's brother being a handful and the best man being her house-guest; a guest she'd rather not have, Emmy doesn't know whether she can pull it off or not.
Christopher Henderson can't believe that the woman he hooked up with two years ago is the wedding planner for his best friend's wedding. Either it's his lucky day or his worst nightmare, depending on her reaction to his news that he needs a fake girlfriend to land his dream job. Yet, when Emmy starts interfering in his chance at finding a fake girlfriend amongst the women guests at the wedding, he begins to realize that Emmy herself may just be the perfect woman woman for the job. Can he convince her to give him another chance, or will their second chance at forever after slip away?
This is the first book I've read by Ms. Ashby, and I've got to say that I absolutely loved it. Not only because it's a second chance romance, but because Emmy and Chris are two fantastic characters that hooked me from the moment they came face-to-face again for the first time in two years. Will she be able to handle the fact that he's the best man and will be staying with her at the farm? Will Chris be able to forgive her for the past when he learns the truth of why she deserted their plans?
As for the dialogue, it was intense due to what happens to Emmy's sister, and of course, the main characters back stories, especially that of the hero. He's an adventurer, never sticking to the one location very long, for fear he'll end up as bitter and unhappy with his life as his father was with his. He's also hard-working, confident and I liked how determined he was to find the woman that can help him achieve his newest career dream. Although, Emmy is good at thwarting his plans and those moments when she did made me laugh. While Emmy, she was a wonderful heroine. She's strong and brave with how she handles everything thrown her way. She's also hard-working and I liked how determined she was to achieve her dream and prove to her sisters that the farm is important. That they should keep it in the family, instead of selling it. But what I liked most about the hero and heroine was the playful banter between them. Any time they conversed increased the sexual tension, which spilled over onto the pages sweetly In other words, closed bedroom intimacy.
Overall, Ms. Ashby has penned a really good read in this first story of her Wishing Bridge Farm series, which has me looking forward to reading Emmy's sisters stories when they're released. As both Bec and Piper, Emmy's sisters have returned for their own reasons; reasons that I desperately want to know what they are. The way this story ended made me want to scream at Emmy. Why couldn't she have both Chris and her dream? Yet, in saying that, I liked how she made things right with the hero. Because it was the only way they both could fathom how serious the other was about their relationship and that there's no way they'll let the other get away a second time. I would recommend Falling for the Best Man by Amanda Ashby, if you enjoy the second chance romance trope or have read and enjoyed books by authors Marissa Clarke, Boone Brux or Teri Anne Stanley.
OVERALL RATING:
BLURB:
He’s the best man and her secret fling—who said being a wedding planner was easy?
He’s the best man and her secret fling—who said being a wedding planner was easy?
What's
worse than running into your ex-hookup at the airport? When said 'hookup"
is the best man for the most important wedding of your career, and he's on the
hunt for a fake girlfriend. Between a hysterical bride and a wedding party gone
wild, wedding planner Emmy Watson can’t afford any more disasters if she wants
to save her beloved Wishing Bridge Farm. Which is why she puts the best man on
lockdown. Unfortunately, he also happens to be the one guy who can make her
forget everything except the way his kisses make her feel.
All
Christopher Henderson needs is a fake girlfriend to convince his bosses that
his bad boy reputation is a thing of the past so he can land his dream job.
What better place to find said companion than at a wholesome vintage wedding.
The only thing he didn't count on was seeing Emmy, the woman who dumped him.
The one he hasn’t been able to get off his mind.
There's no
denying the spark between them, but he’s a globetrotter and she’s a homebody,
and falling in love is something neither of them has in their plans.
“Emmy,”
he countered, trying not to be distracted by the delectable sight of her chest
rising and falling. “One dance. That’s all I’m asking. For old time’s sake.”
Emmy’s
lips twitched, and Christopher could almost see the two sides of her battling
before the carefree smile he recognized from their time together in New York
appeared. It changed the shape of her face and brought everything about their
first meeting slamming into his mind. She stood up, so close that his skin
prickled with desire.
“Fine.
One dance.”
“Great.”
He led her to the small wooden dance floor to the left of where the jazz band
was playing. Lewis and Miranda were in the middle, and fanned out all around
them were the rest of the bridal party, but all Christopher could see was Emmy.
The
music pulsated around them, and even the pale yellow moon above swayed to the
beat. He sucked in a breath and pulled her toward him. It was a mistake, and
his lungs were filled with the smell of her freshly washed hair and the evening
clematis climbing up the crumbling brickwork of the courtyard walls. His arms
tightened around her waist, and her bunched, tense muscles seemed to relax as
she melted into him. The rest of the world disappeared, and all he was
conscious of was her pounding heart as it pressed against his.
This
was the woman he’d met two years ago.
And it seems I’m just as helpless
around her as I ever was. Which is either a good thing, or a very, very bad
one. The verdict’s still out.
As
if reading his mind, she turned her face up to him, a soft, suggestive smile
tugging at her full mouth. Desire flared through him, and if they were anywhere
else he would’ve kissed her without a second’s hesitation. He forced himself to
return her smile and simply enjoy the way her body molded his.
It
wasn’t until the lead singer announced the name of the next song Christopher
even realized the music had stopped. Emmy was the first to recover, and she
stepped away, her face flushed and her eyes not quite meeting his.
“Um.”
She licked her lips. “I’m not sure that was such a good idea.”
“I
hate to disagree with you, but I think it was an excellent idea. And one that
should definitely be repeated. You can’t deny that there’s still something
between us.” Christopher tried to pull her closer as the next song started, but
she folded her arms firmly in front of her. Ironically, it highlighted the soft
curves of her body.
At this rate I’m going to need a
fire engine to cool me down.
“I’m
serious,” she insisted before letting out a soft sigh. “You’re right. There is still something between us, but
there’s nowhere it can go. I want to save the farm, and you want to go visit
every strange nook and cranny in the universe. Don’t you see? Nothing’s
changed.”
“My
hair’s longer,” Christopher said, but it was obvious by the way Emmy had pushed
her lips into two compact lines, she wasn’t in the joking mood. “I know you
like to be organized, and I get that, but aren’t you over thinking this? I
mean, shouldn’t we be having the fun first and then move on to the serious conversations about why it would never
work?”
“I’m
sorry.” The muscles around her jaw tightened. “I think we should just be
friends.”
“Friends that do friendly things together?
Like dancing?” he asked in a hopeful voice.
“How
about friends that help other friends ensure the groom’s brother doesn’t do
anything he might regret?” she countered.
Christopher
winced. Ouch. He’d been friend-zoned. Logically, she had a point. She hadn’t
changed her mind, and he wouldn’t change his, which meant it was for the best.
If only someone could inform my body
of the situation.
Amanda
Ashby was
born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young
adult and middle grade books. She also works in a library, owns far too many
vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging
the furniture.
She has
a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is
married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times
Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed in the New
York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age.
Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the
name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her
Netflix schedule.
I'll have to check this book out. Second chances is one of my favorite tropes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your wonderful review!
ReplyDelete