Calamity Rayne—fiancée of very sophisticated and powerful billionaire-hottie Hale Davenport—has a wedding to plan!
With no clue how she managed to out-Darwin a bazillion other women and land one of the world’s most desirable bachelors, Rayne Meyers (soon to be Davenport) becomes the paparazzi’s newest target. After a crash course in charm school and wedding etiquette, she rejects tradition in favor of The Lazy Bride's Guide to Catastrophes and Chaos in this laugh-out-loud, opposites-attract, billionaire romantic comedy from bestselling author Lydia Michaels.
Here comes the awkward bride—with a heap of poor judgment and way too much tequila on the side!
Lydia Michaels is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than forty novels. She writes heart-clenching, unpredictable romance with dark elements and high heat. Her work is character-driven and bursting with broken heroes and badass females. With a sweet spot for overbearing, territorial types, her deeply emotional books are spicy, emotionally satisfying, and guaranteed to leave readers with many book hangovers.
Lydia is the consecutive winner of the 2018 & 2019 Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media and the recipient of the 2014 Best Author Award from the Courier Times. She has been featured by USA Today, Romantic Times Magazine, the Women in Publishing Summit, and more.
Michaels has been a recognized presence in the author community since starting her career in 2007. She is the CEO of LMC Consulting and a certified author coach specializing in characterization and plot development. She takes great joy in hosting author events celebrating diversity within the book industry. She has bridged connections among many authors since founding renowned events such as the East Coast Author Convention and the Annual Behind the Keys Author Retreat. However, the gem of her work is, by far, her extensive backlist (see LydiaMichaelsBooks.com).
She is happily married to her childhood sweetheart. Her favorite things include cooking Italian cuisine, hosting extravagant dinner parties, sipping martinis, listening to her husband play piano, and escaping to her coastal home on the Jersey Shore. She’s an LGBTQ ally, a BLM supporter, and a firm believer that the patriarchy must burn (women’s rights are human rights).
You can follow Lydia on Instagram, TikTok, & Facebook! Instagram: @lydia_michaels_books Facebook: @LydiaMichaels TikTok: @LydiaMichaels
I have enjoyed this series and the different plots for each book but I was just so absolutely annoyed with Rayne in this book. She allowed herself to be a doormat to her best friend and dad. I just wanted her to grow more as a character and stop running in the opposite direction every time something was a challenge. It made me just cringe and want to stop reading. I don’t know if I can continue the series if she doesn’t gain some depth as the MFC. Very disappointed!
I really did enjoy the overriding storyline in this book. It is sweet and funny in a completely believable way (well most of it.. see below). Some of the stuff Rayne said and thought had me laughing out loud, and believe me, I rarely do that when reading.
Just two things stopped it from rating much higher.
1. SO much sex, so little actual story. 2. The absolutely ridiculous, unbelievable, silly, stupid turn near the very end involving Rayne and Barrett (her almost bro-in-law). I can’t even wrap my head around why. It was as if the author threw in every night-before-the-wedding stereotype super dumb act into one huge dump.
SOPE, there ya have it. Now you get to decide what to do with it!
This was an enjoyable laugh-out-loud story that we enjoyed we loved the characters who could not be more different. Rain is a hot mess Hale was and is an all-round great guy.
The story itself had characters who had ups and downs and at times struggled and it was filled with emotion and characters who had wonderful chemistry. We love it when opposites attract. Their sexy times are steamy.
We normally don't read a lot of romcoms and we loved that we branched out and read something different and enjoyed it and we haven't read anything like this thus far which made the story all the more enjoyable.
It's nice to see how this couple dealt with the issues at hand and that Rayne finally worked through her issues as the process was not always easy. As a reader this story reminded us of being on a rollercoaster ride, it was fun and made you laugh but, on the other hand, you wanted to cry, and it made you feel so many different emotions all the while hoping that Hale and Rayne would get a happily ever after.
Rayne has never felt this badly. She has no memory of how she got in this strange room and feels like she was run over by a truck and she is burning up. When she finally wiggles herself out of Hale's embrace she screams... and he screams. That is NOT Hale and she doesn't know how she will explain this calamity to Hale. He calling the wedding off for sure this time!
I loved this book! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. This series is intended to be read in order, but don't dispair because Rayne is finally getting her happily-ever-after!
Rayne had no social graces. She doesn't know the etiquette that was ingrained into Hale since birth. Forks gave her hives. She was so scared that Hale would see what they saw and change his mind. He was so perfect and she was one calamity from total disaster.
She was so excited to marry Hale. She would be happy with a small intimate ceremony with family and close friends. That she could handle. But no... Hale wanted a roof top wedding. Not just any rooftop... The roof of a NY skyscraper!!! With over 300 guests.
Even the tabloids knew she wasn't cut for this lifestyle. But did they have to be so mean about it? And then the worst calamity of all time happens. She wakes up and has a total blackout.
I was laughing so hard I could hardly breathe and then crying from the emotional impact of Rayne realizing she is leaving her old life behind. This book has all the feels and will definitely take you through an emotional wringer.
If you want an action-packed, smoking-hot rom-com look no further! Highly recommend.
This was the first Calamity Rayne book for me despite it being the third one in the series and, if I’m being completely honest, I struggled to see what the billionaire hottie Hale Davenport saw in Rayne. She came across as being a complete mess, lurching from one disaster to another all the while stuffing her face as she did so. I also didn’t think she was a very good friend to her supposed bestie Elle and was completely unsupportive but complained when she didn’t fall into place and worship at the feet of her blushing bride to be. I did enjoy the overall story and the opening chapters had me intrigued enough that I had to find out just how Rayne had ended up in that particular predicament and more to the point how she was going to get herself out of it and still end up with the prize of calling herself Mrs Hale Davenport. I loved the other character, it was just Rayne that I couldn’t take to. Perhaps if I’d read the previous books and seen her development over the series, I might have been able to see her as quirky but after this book I just felt she was self centred and not very likeable so I can only give this book 3.5 stars.
More chaos and more Hale… that’s all I needed and it’s what Lydia Michaels delivered! Rayne and Hale are on their way to their HEA, but things get a bit… rocky. From first chapter, I was immediately saying, “WTF”! Hale… I loved seeing more of his protectiveness and love for Rayne. He’s such a protector and provider and it was hard for her to grasp that concept. And Rayne, as always was a hot mess, but I wouldn’t have her any other way!
Warning: This is book three in the series, and it is worth noting that I hadn't read the previous books in the series and didn't feel lost in the plot. But if you want to avoid spoilers on the previous books, don't read this review.
It is very clear early on that Rayne Meyers is a bit of a hot mess. Waking up in a random hotel next to her soon-to-be brother-in-law, who is naked, would be the first hint. That's the intro to this book, which quickly changes to the months leading up to this forgetful morning.
The bulk of the story focuses on Rayne's upcoming wedding to Hale Davenport, who is handsome, beyond wealthy, and an all-around good guy. So, what is he doing with Rayne? That doubt is something Rayne struggles with on a daily basis, and given Hale's wealth, is a constant discussion on social media. I felt for the girl, but any scene she shared with Hale, it was obvious how much he loved her. She is a very lucky woman.
On top of being plagued with doubt, she is overwhelmed with the process of preparing for her wedding of the century. For most girls, this is a dream come true with what appears to be an unlimited budget. However, Rayne struggles with the whole process. Well, maybe not the cake tasting part.
While Rayne has a very small social circle, she has great connections with all of Hale's family, in some cases, stronger than Hale's own connection. I particularly loved her bond with Elara, Hale's daughter, sort of (it's complicated). Those connections make up for the lack of support from her maid-of-honor and her father, both were huge disappointments.
This story had a good balance of humor, touching moments, and sexy times, and I loved how Rayne and Hale eventually got past the drama to celebrate their special day. Yes, this one has a HEA, with a promise of more to come in book four. Overall, a great Rom Com read. If you want the full Calamity Rayne experience, start with book one (as I should have).
This book has made me laugh. After a long day at work, this was just what I needed. Oh Rayne, how you have made my day. Hale and Rayne are getting to their day, their wedding day. But off course, things don’t go so easily. They have some bumps in the road, but they will get there. I would recommend starting with the first book in this series, so you can follow Hale and Rayne’s full story to where they are now. And there is more to come after this one, so be on the lookout for that one as well.
I absolutely loved coming back to this world. It started out with quite a shock and definitely kept me at the edge of my seat Raten really struggled in this one with both secrets, friendship, and her relationship as she planned for her wedding. I loved seeing her figure all of this out and even though some things may not have gone as planned but the ending was still great :)
This wasn’t what I was expecting when I first read the blurb to this book, but that’s not a bad thing…. This isn’t like anything I have read before, to be honest, and that’s not the first time I’ve said that about one of Lydia’s books lol. She has a way of bringing the shock factor into her stories and she does it so well too! This was DIFFERENT, a very unique storyline and was an enjoyable read. It had me laughing my head off through half the book and then almost on the verge of crying in the other half. It was a roller coaster of emotions and Lydia brought her A game with ALL THE FEELS!
Highly recommend giving this series a read! You won't be disappointed!
I want to thank Lydia Michaels for giving me an ARC for an honest review.
This is the third book in the Calamity Rayne series. I recommend reading the first two books so you won't be lost like I was, now I'm going to read the first two to see how Rayne Meyers and Hale Davenport came to be together.
The first chapter is taken place in the not so distant future and is filled with utter delightful chaos that makes you wonder what on Earth is going on. All chapters after that take place in the past and will lead up to that chapter which is towards the end of the book.
The story takes us on a journey with Rayne and Hal in what is their preparation for their very soon to be coming wedding. Hal basically wants tons of guest, the best location, the best everything and Rayne is willing to go with his ideas. Planning a wedding is totally out of our girls element and she finds herself having to plan this wedding without Hal since he is out on business a lot. Our girl is also an overthinker and doesn't know how to express her thoughts when something bad goes down.
There's so many laughs throughout the book with tons of pop culture references. Not only is there laughs but more chaos and also heart break in the story. There's also plenty of spice that will leave you wanting more. I would say every character learns a little something about the other and also learns a little something about themselves throughout the story and I am sure throughout the series.
So if you looking for a romantic comedy book, this one is for you. Happy reading.
This book is the third book in this series, and I would highly recommend reading them first because I didn't and I'm not going to lie, it took me awhile to catch up but I did, eventually .
This book tells the story of Rayne and Hale and their preparations for their wedding day that is fast approaching.
The first chapter is a little unexpected, even for someone who has no idea who these characters are. However, the next chapters are all set in the past, which leads up to chapter one, giving us an insight into what really happened. This book, I have to say, is a lot of fun, it is funny, witty and is very real! The characters are likeable, relatable, and overall amazing characters.
The only reason I am giving this 4 stars and not 5 is because at times, I did find it a little slow and repetitive, BUT I really enjoyed it. At times, the repetitive nature was almost beneficial for someone who hasn't read the previous books!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it.
A massive thank you to the author for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The book is a delight! The first chapter sets the tone and will have you wondering what the actual he!! is going on!! I wasn’t sure how to feel….i was laughing, worried about Rayne and knew this book was going to be an adventure.
There is so much humor in this book but also some tough moments….realizing things are not as they appear, having to come to terms with change and accepting what the future entails.
I feel there’s a little bit of Rayne in all of us…self doubt, not wanting to take advantage, thinking the best of others and being a good, genuine human being. She faces a lot of challenges in this book but as in true Rayne style she prevails and comes out on top of the world.
Hale is such a good man but he’s got himself going in 1000 different directions. He has to work through his jealously, fear of losing Rayne and have a deep look at his family relationship. I love Hale but he also needs to chill out! Lol
I felt so anxious while reading this book…my heart went out to Rayne, I was nervous for Rayne and Hale’s relationship and I wanted everything to be perfect for their wedding day. In Lydia style, we get an amazing HEA, amazing antics, so many emotions and a delightful story they will have you laughing out loud.
If anything can go wrong on a wedding day it would happen on Rayne's wedding day. Calamity Rayne always has the craziest things going on in her life but Hale loves her even more because of her craziness. Rayne is caught up with all the wedding stuff, while raising her beautiful daughter, meeting her father for the first time and having problems communicating with her best friend, what else could possibly go wrong? With Rayne everything so how does she keep the problems at bay while she walking down the aisle? Check out Calamity Rayne gets hitched and be prepared to laugh your pants off. Or is that just something that Hale seems to do to Rayne.
This book is witty and, in its own ways, relatable! This is the third book in this series, and I do suggest reading the others first to keep from being confused.
Czytanie o przygotowaniach do ślubu i uroczystości weselnych w świecie amerykańskich elit, rozciągnięte na kilkaset stron, mocno mnie wymęczyło. Na tego typu „tradycyjny” cyrk nalegał Hale Davenport, co poważnie osłabiło moją do niego sympatię. Panna młoda, czyli narratorka serii Rayne Meyers wolałaby skromną uroczystość, ale ulega. A przy tym w kilkumiesięcznym procesie organizacji spektaklu uwidoczniają się wszystkie cechy jej rozwichrzonej osobowości, co omal nie prowadzi do katastrofy, z udziałem młodszego brata Hale’a, Barretta. Zwłaszcza że przedślubny stres Calamity Rayne sięga apogeum, kiedy zawód sprawiają dwie osoby, na które bardzo liczyła.
Wybudzona ze śpiączki jej najlepsza przyjaciółka, Elle, która wcześniej była podporą Rayne w jej trzydziestoletnim życiu a teraz ma być jej pierwszą druhną, okazuje się zazdrosną, wredną suką, gotową nie tylko na zrujnowanie ich długoletniej przyjaźnie, ale rownież - przynajmniej w opinii Rayne - na zaprzepaszczenie szans na własne szczęście w miłosnym związku z młodszym Davenportem. Jeszcze większy zawód sprawia Rayne jej biologiczny ojciec. Po dwudziestoletnim milczeniu reaguje co prawda na jej zaproszenie na ślub lecz ostatecznie do ołtarza jej nie poprowadzi. Bez żenady bowiem daje upust swym złodziejskim instynktom i jedyne, czego można by oczekiwać to, że poniesie za to zasłużoną karę. Ciekawe, czy tak się stanie?
W końcu oczywiście dochodzi do ślubu i wesela na Manhattanie - z udziałem trzystu gości Davenportów i jedenastu zaproszonych przez Rayne Meyers - a ukoronowaniem całej imprezy jest opis nocy poślubnej w osobnym, darmowym bonusie. Relacjonować jej nie będę, mimo że ma swój tytuł: Calamity Rayne Veiled & Railed (Calamity Rayne, #3.5). A to dlatego, że w porównaniu z wcześniejszymi scenami erotycznymi specjalnie nic nowego nie wnosi. No, może jedynie jeszcze większą intensywność, ponieważ kilka tygodni przed ślubem Rayne zarządziła seksualną wstrzemięźliwość, na co Hale bardzo niechętnie, ale się zgodził.
Lydia Michaels delivers another unforgettable installment in the Calamity Rayne series with Calamity Rayne Gets Hitched. While the wedding may be the centerpiece of the story, this book is about so much more than saying "I do."
As Calamity prepares to marry billionaire Hale Davenport, she finds herself caught between two worlds: the unfiltered woman she's always been and the polished image everyone expects her to become. Watching her navigate wealth, media scrutiny, family expectations, and her own insecurities made her feel incredibly real and relatable.
What stood out most to me was the exploration of trust. The discovery of a hidden prenuptial agreement creates emotional tension that forces both Calamity and Hale to confront their fears and past wounds. Their relationship isn't perfect, and that's exactly what makes it so compelling. Their love is tested by secrets, misunderstandings, and the complicated reality of building a future together.
I also loved the emotional depth surrounding Calamity's search for closure with her estranged father. Those scenes were heartbreaking, honest, and beautifully written. The storyline reminds us that sometimes healing isn't about getting the answers we want—it's about accepting the truth and moving forward.
The friendship struggles between Calamity and Elle added another layer of realism. Michaels captures the way friendships evolve, especially when life takes people in different directions.
At its core, this book is about authenticity. It's about choosing your own voice over everyone else's expectations and learning that perfection is far less important than genuine connection.
Funny, emotional, messy, and deeply human, Calamity Rayne Gets Hitched is my favorite kind of romance—one that makes you laugh, cry, and reflect long after you've finished reading.
Highly recommend for fans of romantic comedy, billionaire romance, and character-driven stories with heart.
Rayne and Hale have set their date, and it’s closer than most people would want for a wedding that big. Good thing money talks. But Rayne gets overwhelmed quickly as Hale still has business to attend to. Friendships get tested, trust is questioned, and at the end of the day, it seems like a storm may knock out their ceremony location. At the end of the day, love wins out.
This is book three of Hale and Rayne’s adventure and comes with a bonus epilogue that I highly recommend getting as well.
I thought planning a wedding during college finals was stressful, but this takes the cake. It was heartbreaking watching Rayne lose one relationship in her life and be disappointed by another, yet again. I do love the bonds she created with Hale’s siblings, though, and with Remington. Though I do have to wonder what the natural-born Davenport children think of that. It will be interesting to see what these two actually get up to on their honeymoon, as I predict they won’t leave their room very much.
I received a review copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Holy chaos batman! In true Rayne fashion, the journey to her wedding day is of course pure chaos.
When jumped into chaos right from the first chapter and we went on this journey of Rayne and Hale planning a huge wedding in a very short time frame. No big deal, money talks, right? Of course, a wedding of this magnitude and the timeline overwhelm Rayne and Hale has business to attend to so she's handling more alone than she would like to.
I do feel like she regressed a bit in her maturing and I wish she would have just talked to Hale and not held things in for so long. I may have been yelling at her as I was reading, but I do feel for her with all of the things that kept happening. Some of those things were super relatable to me and I know they weren't easy to deal with. Hale though...protective and loving as always and he always seems to know what she needs more than she does. Both of them still have their struggles though...
We definitely go on an adventure in this one! Can't wait to see where the story goes next!
it’s supposed to be about the wedding, which it is… but it’s only the beginning stuff and then like 20 pages of actual wedding when the rest of the book is 540 pages? bruh. also the dad 🙃 but i love remmington. kinda hate the elle plot rn.
This book was my first experience with "Calamity" Rayne - she lived up to that name. I read this on a plane - made the trip quick...I was well-distracted and loved it! My seatmate got a few laughs as well. I will circle back and read the earlier books.
So many laughs...this line sums it all up ---- "Bless his overbearing, bossy heart, the man loves my catastrophic soul to a fault."
I will think of this book when I am having "one of those days" and will now refer to it as a "Rayne Day".
A well written story with relatable characters. The story line hooked me from the first page. The characters had up and downs. It was great to see how they were together and worked through their struggles.
This is the first time I’ve read Lydia Michaels and I have to say that I very much enjoyed this book. It wasn’t until I read the book that I realized that this was book 3 of a series but I never felt that I had missed out in any way while reading. This book was great with plenty of laugh out loud moments but also tugged at the heartstrings too. One thing that was clear throughout the book was that Rayne Meyers and Hale Davenport were clearly insatiably in love.
Let’s just say that this book started of with a great big bang! Rayne is waking up with the biggest hangover of her life with no memories of the night before. Furthermore, she wakes up in bed with whom should be Hale only to find out it’s her future BIL, Banner!! And to make it even worse he is sans clothing!! But things continue to get even worse for Rayne when she realizes that Hale is on his way to pick her up now. Yet what will happen when Hale finds his naked brother in the room with her? At this point, the book goes back in time to fill us in on it all!!
First off the Rayne and Hale are total opposites. Hale comes from a very wealthy family, is GQ handsome, and is one of the nicest men you could meet. Rayne on the other hand is a “hot mess”… for what she is lacking in etiquette- she has in having the biggest heart, at time overly anxious and frequently her own worst enemy, but she is just so loveable you can’t help but love her. One of the most endearing things about her besides her love for Hale was how she was so attached and motherly to Hale’s daughter, Elra. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for that baby too!!
Most of the book is centered on the wedding to be and preparations for it. What Rayne and Hale have in mind are two different things. Since Hale had come from an affluent family he wants the big wedding of the century style wedding top level of a NY skyscraper with tons of folks there. On the other hand Rayne would love none other than a small, intimate wedding with family and close friends. Yet this was something that Rayne would acquiesce on and agree to Hale’s big plans. Even if this made her more anxious.
Things were hard for Rayne, due to her lack of confidence. She never professed to be someone she wasn’t but her lacking in high society social skills made her the topic of frequent fodder by tabloids. And to her defense, Hale was with her every step of the way to remind her he loved just how she was… one of the things I loved about this book. One of my favorite parts of the book was when the full-scale wedding plans got underway and Hale’s sister Seraphina stepped up and guided Rayne through the process. She became even more important to Rayne as her BFF, Elle flaked out on her.
I also loved the way Hale’s family had accepted Rayne into the family just as she was. And I especially loved the relationship that Hale’s dad, Remmington had with Rayne too. He was like the dad she never had and loved her as much as his own too. Plus, I loved how you could feel the love from Remmington had for Rayne and was also able to convey words of wisdom with her too.
Needless to say, the book has a fairytale ending with both Rayne and Hale in total wedded bliss… and me with a big smile on my face!!
When the run – up to ‘I Do’ isn’t straightforward…
Rayne Meyers cannot believe that she is actually engaged. And not to just any man, but to billionaire Hale Davenport. She knows how (in)famous the Davenports are, but Rayne never expected to become the paparazzi’s newest target, and not in a good way. While trying to plan the big wedding, Rayne becomes more insecure than ever, resulting in once again catastrophes she is known for causing. Catastrophes, alcohol – induced decisions and insecurities which make you wonder if Rayne and Hale will ever reach their “I Do’s”. So here we are again, ready for Rayne and all her disasters in life!
Although I have to admit that from the previous books, we have already seen how much she has grown and matured, and how she has found love unexpectedly with Hale Davenport.
Even if previously things haven’t gone all that straightforward, I loved seeing Rayne in this position, where everything has fallen into perfect place, or rather almost perfect… Because Rayne wouldn’t be Rayne if somehow, things would spiral.
In this book, all I could feel for Rayne was a kind of pity. Not that Rayne isn’t happy in this book, but all the curveballs she has having thrown at her, how much more can she possibly take? And yes, sometimes she gets herself into situations that could have been avoided, but there are also events that are completely out of her hands…
However, no matter what is happening in this book, the love she has for Hale, and how much Hale loves is, is absolutely a no – brainer. The pair has grown so much throughout the series, and the same can be said of their love for each other.
They both known each other’s strengths but also their weaknesses (if we can call them that…) and they accept each other just the way they are, and when needed, assure each other, but also show them when they are wrong.
I didn’t like how she is made doubting of herself by others. Everyone, especially people who don’t know her, judge her by her appearance, thinking that Hale could do much better. But as often, those strangers don’t see the real Rayne, how looks (though she looks amazing just the way she is! 😊) aren’t everything but what matters is the heart.
Perhaps, I was a bit angry at Hale in this book. While he is absolutely and deeply in love with Rayne, and he reassures her, I also felt that there were moments that it seems that he has left Rayne at her own devices. And his jealous streaks, not a side that I really liked about Hale…
Another thing that I didn’t like, was how Elle changed. We know what happened previously to her, and the change makes sense in that aspect. However, her complete change of behaviour, her dismissiveness and even rudeness towards Rayne was something I couldn’t grasp. So however painful it is for Rayne, the choice she makes towards the end, is the only right one.
And then there is another betrayal, perhaps the biggest one and one that broke even my heart…
Now, it may seem this book is all darkness and gloom. But it truly isn’t, because I had so many laughs in this book. With Rayne, at Rayne. Not only because Rayne is still the calamity she always has been and always will be, but she is just a hilarious (but also kind, loving, generous) character.
There are so many moments where Rayne shows just how amazing she truly is, even when she doesn’t realize it. We see her loyalty, her care, her understanding, her willingness towards all the people she loves. And that makes it obvious how deeply a man, so strict as Hale, can fall for the chaos that Rayne is.
The love also sparks from all the pages. Not only the love between Rayne and Hale, but also the motherly feelings Rayne has for Elara, how the Davenports truly are now also Rayne’s family.
I had the best of times reading how Rayne is taking the next step in her life, even if she is doubting herself yet never losing the essence that makes her uniquely Rayne. Once again this is a hilarious book, a chaotic one, a warm one, a disappointing one (because of other characters!) and also as always a steamy one! Lydia Michaels put so many different emotions in this book, letting her characters go through hell but also to heaven. A wonderful reading session, making me eager to pick up the next book and see what next disaster – sorry, I mean adventure 😊 – is waiting for Rayne!
I must start with a disclaimer. I accepted this ARC without realizing it is part of a series, and I don’t believe the book works well as a standalone. That said, Lydia Michaels is a talented writer, and I will look for other books by her in the future.
What I liked:
Some funny scenes made me laugh out loud. I can sit with a good romantic comedy and zip the story. A few scenes also touched my heart and made me a little teary, especially with Rayne and her father. There are a wide variety of characters; some I liked and some not so much. For me that is a good book, as it is close to real life.
Rayne’s relationship with Remmington, her future father-in-law, is special. She is devoted to him, and he treats her as someone special. He supports her relationship with Hale. I’m sure there is much information about him in the previous books, but I understand him a little.
What didn’t work too much for me:
The intro chapter put me in the wrong headspace. I don’t like dishonesty or cheating. As the story progresses, we go through the three months prior to the progue and the run. Michaels tries to explain why Rayne is in the room with Barret, but at one point, we are told that Rayne and Barret have never talked about the event since that night. Why? What really happened? They told Hale they would never betray him, and I believe that is true, but something is fishy.
Elle is selfish and should never be the maid of honor. Rayne needed to replace her with Seraphina. I understand that Rayne was trying to hang onto her best friend, but is it necessary? Seraphina was there to help Rayne every step of the way. Elle not so much.
Hale took over the wedding to make it what he wanted. If Hale loves Rayne, let her do the wedding she wants. I understand he is wealthy, but many wealthy people don’t need their big day in the papers. Maybe this is explained in one of the previous books, but reading this one alone, it feels like Hale wants what Hale wants and too bad for Rayne.
Finally, Rayne and Hale are getting married, but she can’t be honest with him about the credit card. What kind of foundation are they building their forever life on? BTW, billionaires don’t have credit limits on their AMX cards. That whole reason for running was childish and didn’t work for me.
I know this sounds more negative than positive, which isn’t how I feel. This is a decent romantic comedy. It could be on the Hallmark Channel. I really believe if I had read the previous books and not been thrown into the disastrous first chapter, I would have had a very different experience with this book.
CALAMITY RAYNE GETS HITCHED brought more chaos from Rayne Meyers and swoonworthy sophistication from her fiancé Hale Davenport. The lead up to their big day was a combination of chaos, emotion, family, friendship, and love. Lydia Michaels has once again ensure plenty of laughs, yet she hasn't forgotten the stress and anxiety that exists when planning a wedding. Emotions are big in this installment, and Rayne and Hale have plenty to sift through.
The opening chapter had me wondering what on earth was going on. How did Rayne find herself in that situation? Instead of giving an explanation, Lydia takes her readers back to three months earlier and all the events leading up to the circumstances of Rayne's biggest disaster. Could she lose Hale because of her actions?
Lydia's humour is magical, her timing is absolute perfection. leaving me in tears from laughing so much. Wedding planning is stressful for Rayne, even more so because Hale is often away due to business. She sometimes appears lost, unsure of herself, yet as the story progresses Rayne begins to grow and develop a strength and confidence, even she didn't know she possessed. Oh, don't get me wrong, she still lives up to her name of Calamity Rayne! Hale continues to be his swoonworthy, confident, and supportive self, but he does have to contend with his anger and ealousy, which was amazing to witness. Not everything goes as planned, but Rayne and Hale's love for each other is the one constant that remains steadfast.
CALAMITY RAYNE GETS HITCHED was a wonderful, hilarious, and emotional read. A story of friendship, family, loyalty, trust, and love. I adored the relationships Rayne had with Barrett and Seraphina, Hale's brother and sister, they enable her to see herself as the woman she was always meant to be. (They also need their stories to be told.) My heart broke with the struggles Rayne had with her best friend Elle and her missing 'father'.
Another laugh out loud addition to this hilarious MUST READ read series.
Quick Summary I loved how this book opens with a what the F moment just two days before the wedding before jumping back three months to show us how everything unfolds. I honestly wasn’t sure this book could live up to the previous two, but wow, I was so surprised by how gripping it was. The depth of character development was brilliant once again, making the story feel rich and emotional, and Hale somehow just keeps getting hotter with every book (I cannot get enough). Rayne also goes through some incredibly tough challenges, and I loved how authentic and true to her character her journey felt…it was raw, real, and so well done.
While Reading Thoughts 📒Loved the first chapter that sets up a major problem 2 days before wedding and then the book goes back 3 months to see how we get to this point. 📒I honestly was unsure how this book was going to be as good as the last 2 but wow was I surprised. I was so hooked with the turn of events throughout this book 📒The depth of character development that we still experienced throughout this book was brilliant 📒Hale just gets hotter and hotter in these books and I cannot get enough 📒Rayne has to go through some really tough challenges in this book and I love that her process is so authentic and true to her character.
Words that linger 🍷“Baby, they’re intrigued by our chemistry. Let them obsess over what they can’t possibly understand. You get it and I get it. That’s all that counts.” 🍷“It’s you, baby. I’m far from perfect, and no one expects you to be perfect, but you and me…” He kissed my hands bundled in his. “We’re perfect for each other.” 🍷He was the well-mannered tortoise to my spastic hare. 🍷His obsession was my drug of choice. I got high off his need to have me and I loved feeling so deeply wanted. His addiction had become my own. 🍷You’re soft when it matters, but resilient where it counts.”
Tropes 👰♀️Billionaire 👰♀️RomCom 👰♀️Found family 👰♀️Opposites attract 👰♀️Sassy FMC