Just One of the Groomsmen

I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion. 4.5 stars — This was exactly the book I needed and didn’t know I was looking for. I was honestly starting to wonder if I was in a bit of a slump, and I was starting not to trust my feelings about books. But this book and THESE characters were just so endearing and easy to connect with, I ended up LOVING Addie and Tucker’s story. So much so, this review is likely not going to be very helpful and just fluffy fangirling, but since I’m feeling overwhelming relief over that, you’ll just have to bear with me. Addie was sassy and strong-willed, and yet so full of insecurities. My heart broke for her and the conflict she felt between loving who she was, and constantly being nagged about not being a girl. I loved that she experienced that dichotomy, because everyone always talks about loving yourself and that being enough…but you can love yourself and still feel the hurt of other’s opinions. Tucker broke my heart in equal amounts with the way his childhood had shaped him and his beliefs about love and marriage and security. He had his own struggle to work through who he was deep inside versus who others wanted him to be. I loved the compromises he came to, and his new “law firm.” While I felt all of their emotions and ached for them, at the same time I wanted to smack them both…though I will admit moreso with Tucker. I was able to relate to some of Addie’s insecurities, so I kinda understood her stubborn refusal to see the truth more. The chemistry between Tucker and Addie was beyond awesome, from the obvious best friendship, to the development of attraction and feelings. The progression of their relationship was steady and believable, and I was fully invested in them as a couple. And I will admit I loved the resolution. So much of the strength of this story lies in the strong set of secondary characters, the outside friendships, the quirky townspeople and of course family. I ADORED the friendship between Addie and her boys. It felt real, and I loved how each one of them brought something different to the table. I loved the friendship that developed with Lexie. I LOVED Nonna Lucia, she was hilarious. And there were so many hilarious characters in the town, it really brought the setting to life. I can’t wait to find out who the next book is about. I can’t wait to return to these characters. I know I will be rereading this one in the future when I need a guaranteed feel-good story.

This book was pure perfection of a friends to lover's story. Addison "Murph" Murphy spent her teenage years hanging with a group of guys who are still her best friends. Even though she loves all of her guys the same, Addie was always closest to Tucker Crawford. When the group gets summoned together by Shep to tell them he is getting married to his girlfriend, Lexi, he informs the "guys" that he wants them all as his groomsmen....well technically Murph will be a groomsmen but she will have to wear a dress and stand by the other girls. Murph isn't thrilled with the whole girly thing, especially the dress part, but she will do it for one of her best friends. When Tuck ends up quitting his big city lawyer job to move back to his home town, Addie and him start spending a lot more time together and start to see each other in a different light. Both of them want to throw caution to the wind and see if what they are each feeling is real, but they also don't want to ruin the best friendship they have. When they finally give in to their feelings, their world explodes....who knew it could be so right. Just when it looks like things are ending up perfect, their world implodes. It will take a huge leap of faith to get these two back on track to their perfect ending but they finally do get it. I just adored this book. Addie was such a fun, non-girly girl. Tuck was just a perfect balance for Addie and together they were perfect. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this story....I laughed, cried and swooned.

JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN is the first instalment in Cindi Madsen’s contemporary, adult GETTING HITCHED IN DIXIE romance series focusing on a tight knit group of friends from Uncertainty, Alabama. This is physical therapist Addison Murphy, and attorney Tucker Crawford’s story line. Told from dual third person perspectives (Tucker and Addison) JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN follows the best friends to lovers relationship between physical therapist Addison Murphy, and attorney Tucker Crawford. Addison Murphy is the only woman in her tight knit group of friends from home but being the only woman has made her a target of innuendo and speculation especially when she is unwilling to conform to society’s and small town expectations of femininity and womanhood. The upcoming wedding of one of their own, finds Addison in the unenviable position as one of the groomsmen, but a groomsmen that is expected to help out the bride. Enter attorney Tucker Crawford, Addison’s lifelong best friend, and the man with whom Addison is secretly in love. What ensues is the building romance and love between Addison and Tucker, and the potential fall-out when Addison is offered a position out of town, a position that may break down the relationship between our leading couple. Tucker Crawford struggled with his most recent position as a big city lawyer but returning to his hometown of Uncertainty, Alabama brought closure and a familiarity along with friends and the woman with whom he will fall in love. Addison Murphy is one of the boys: a beer drinking, football playing, poker playing physical therapist who is more at home in overalls than heels but finds herself on the outside looking in when her femininity and sexuality are called into question by the people she loves. As the wedding of Will Shepherd and Lexi approaches, Addison finds herself wondering is she is truly just ‘one of the guys’. The relationship between Addison and Tucker is a best friends to lovers romance wherein Tucker tries to keep their affair on the down-low. Believing herself to be Tucker’s ‘dirty little secret’ Addison struggles with the possibility that their relationship is only a temporary thing. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to Will Shepherd and his fiancé Lexi, Easton, and Ford: Addison’s sister Alexandria,; their Nonna Lucia, dentist Davis Nelson as well as a large assortment of busy-bodies and town gossips who relish in spreading secrets and lies. JUST ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN is a story of family and friendships; misunderstanding and miscommunication; struggle, hardship, acceptance and love. The premise is engaging and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are colorful, energetic and fun.