The Best Man's Bride

By chance I decided to pick up this book to read. I am so happy I did. This is one of those unexpected treasures that will touch your hearts and one you will remember for a very long time. Hailey Miller is about to get married when she discovers her groom is otherwise engaged with the wedding planner. When she does an about face and leaves the ceremony, the best man, and her fiance’s partner goes after her. Neither ever suspecting that their lives would change forever. Hailey , who is also the event planner for Jace’s and Evan’s company is convinced by Jace to stay on board until their next event. As they spend together feelings develop but Jace’s past keeps him and his heart walled in. Will he let his childhood and feelings of abandonment rule his life and lose Hailey, or will he give love a chance? This touching at times heartbreaking as well as heartwarming story with complex and likable characters, is a reminder that our experiences during our childhood do in fact affect the adult we become. I can’t wait for the next book in this series by this very talented author. A special thanks to Tule Publishing for entrusting me this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Two and a half stars. Hailey runs out on her own wedding when she catches her fiancé Evan and her wedding planner in a passionate clinch on the morning of their wedding. Running away from the humiliation, she runs smack into Evan's business partner Jace. Although Hailey and Jace have never really hit it off, he offers to get her out of the pouring rain and take her to his nearby apartment as she is pretty conspicuous running around in a wedding dress. Somehow (can you feel my eyes roll), Evan has persuaded Hailey not to take on any other clients in the run up to their wedding so Hailey's only client is Jace and Evan's company Sun Tech. She's also given up her apartment in San Francisco to be with Evan in Houston, and agreed to put all the wedding expenses on her credit card until after the wedding when Evan will kindly reimburse her. So now Hailey is homeless, jobless, and massively in debt. Then Jace offers to double her fee if she will complete the work she is doing for Sun Tech to launch their Houston business (I have no idea what it was, something to do with property and technology? Not sure it was ever truly explained). Hailey counteroffers, she will complete the assignment, despite having a clause allowing her to cancel the contract, if Jace allows her to stay in his guest room for the duration. Jace is an ice-man and his apartment is cold and sterile. Hailey is a vivacious redhead with a love of colour and texture. Soon she is turning his cold empty soulless apartment into a home. But Jace can never allow himself to get close to anyone, because childhood stuff, so he pushes Hailey away just as much as he craves her warmth. Can he allow her to stay in his home without compromising his principles? For a brand new book this certainly has a dated feel. I thought we'd got past the mounds of creamy flesh and billionaires in their beautiful but sterile homes and childhood traumas after FSoG but clearly not (and that is the second time I have made that analogy today). In their own ways Jace and Evan are both broken because of 'stuff in their childhoods' which seems to give them carte blanche to push Hailey around and behave like jackasses. Overall, dated feel and a tropey-plot that didn't bring anything new to the table. I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher Tule in return for an honest review.

The Best Man’s Bride by Jamie Dallas, book one in her Hartman Brothers series, is a story of when things go wrong, you are unsure they can ever be right; especially with love. Hailey Miller caught her fiancé cheating on her, hours before their wedding. Fleeing from the venue, she is chased down by the best man, Jace Hartman, her ex’s business partner. About to expand their business in a new location, Jace refuses to loses the best event planner his company ever hired and will do anything to keep Hailey in Houston; even offering for her to stay in his guest room. Jace does not believe in love and although he’s been attracted to Hailey for years, has tried to keep his distance. He chemistry between these two is off the charts and despite it being too soon, Hailey is affected by Jace and the mutual attraction they share. As they prepare for the opening, things start heating up, Hailey’s ex becomes vengeful, Hailey is lost, and Jace is struggling with his feelings. Abandoned to live with his loving aunt, Jace was left by those who were supposed to love him, how could Hailey love him or he love her, in return? It would take some reflection and separation before Jace will go after what he wants and deserves. Ms Dallas wrote a wonderfully, sizzling and emotional story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with off the charts, sizzling chemistry, intense emotions, and charming secondary characters helping Hailey and Jace attain a future they desire. I highly recommend The Best Man’s Bride to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.