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Sometimes you have to get lost before you can find yourself.
The Promise Harbor Wedding, Book 2
Greta Brewster McBain in a bind. Two, if she’s really counting. First there’s the can-barely-breathe, bridesmaid’s dress from hell. Second, the stranger who just carried her “perfect” brother’s fiancée out the church door has made it impossible to tell her own mother about her own divorce.
Rather than confirm her reputation as the family screw-up, Greta takes a drive to clear her head.
Trapped in a hole and unable to reach his cell phone, Hank Mitchell is resigned to becoming a permanent part of his own archeological dig when help arrives—in the form of a woman who looks like a Gone With The Wind refugee. Behind the ruffles and lace, though, is something he appreciates: a woman who isn’t afraid of a little dirt.
Their instant connection draws Greta into the eccentric world of the Hotel Grand, where she impulsively trades her hoopskirts for an apron. Soon things are getting hot, not only in the hotel kitchen, but in Hank’s arms...
Warning: Contains hot moonlit sex, a melancholy turtle, two wisecracking seniors, and the world’s ugliest bridesmaid dress.
The Promise Harbor Wedding, Book 2
Greta Brewster McBain in a bind. Two, if she’s really counting. First there’s the can-barely-breathe, bridesmaid’s dress from hell. Second, the stranger who just carried her “perfect” brother’s fiancée out the church door has made it impossible to tell her own mother about her own divorce.
Rather than confirm her reputation as the family screw-up, Greta takes a drive to clear her head.
Trapped in a hole and unable to reach his cell phone, Hank Mitchell is resigned to becoming a permanent part of his own archeological dig when help arrives—in the form of a woman who looks like a Gone With The Wind refugee. Behind the ruffles and lace, though, is something he appreciates: a woman who isn’t afraid of a little dirt.
Their instant connection draws Greta into the eccentric world of the Hotel Grand, where she impulsively trades her hoopskirts for an apron. Soon things are getting hot, not only in the hotel kitchen, but in Hank’s arms...
Warning: Contains hot moonlit sex, a melancholy turtle, two wisecracking seniors, and the world’s ugliest bridesmaid dress.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2013
18 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Meg Benjamin
39 books503 followersMeg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance. Her newest series, the Folk, is a paranormal series from Soul Mate Publishing set in Colorado. Meg’s Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing). Along with contemporary romance, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England Romance Writers, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers. Meg’s Web site is http://www.MegBenjamin.com. You can follow her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1), Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/megbenjamin/), Twitter (http://twitter.com/megbenj1) and Instagram (meg_benjamin). Meg loves to hear from readers—contact her at meg@megbenjamin.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 2, 2013
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 Stars
I’m having such fun with the Promise Harbor books! Meg Benjamin writes small towns well; her Konigsburg, Texas series is one of my all time favorites, so it’s no surprise she attacks this series with the same exuberance. I love her writing style it’s a unique blend of wit, snark, and eloquence and she always writes memorable characters. While the beginning of this story takes place in Promise Harbor, the majority of it takes place a few miles down the road in a much smaller town, Tompkins Corner. Bolted is book two in this series and it is every bit as delightful as the first book!
Greta isn’t in a wedding kind of mood and the fact that she’s forced to wear the bridesmaid dressfrom hell isn’t helping. But, it’s her “perfect” brother’s wedding so she’s trying to deal. When her brother’s soon to be bride is carried out of the church by her ex-boyfriend, she convinced that maybe she’s a bad wedding luck charm. After all her own marriage has fallen apart and she’s yet to tell her family. Deciding she needs some time to assess her life she heads for the coast but gets turned around and ends up rescuing an archeologist trapped in a hole.
Hank Mitchell is have a bad day, actually it is more like a colossal bad day. His intern didn’t show up for work, he’s trapped in a hole with his foot caught, and his cell phone is out of reach. He is grateful when a woman appears even if she does look like a Gone With The Wind refugee but when she doesn’t mind climbing down in a hole to help him out, he’s intrigued. He can’t help but wonder if she is in some kind of trouble when she acts like she has no place to go.
It was easy to love all the characters in this book from the start; even Greta’s ex-husband has some redeeming qualities. Greta is my kind of heroine; she can be snarky one minute and all sweetness the next. It is evident that she has some self esteem issues and is still beating herself up over some past bad decisions but, it was nice to see her come into her own and believe she has something to contribute.
Hank is just pure sex on a stick but in a nice guy kind of way. I don’t think he realizes what a hunk he is which makes me love him all the more. I like that he encourages Greta even when he knows he might lose out in the end. Then there are the Dubrovnik’s; Alice, Nadia, and Alice’s granddaughter, Hyacinth. These three add an extra layer to this story with their attitudes, questions, and words of wisdom.
As Greta is newly divorced she’s somewhat gun shy when it comes to Hank, yet she finds him hard to resist. He is equally enamored and it doesn’t take them long to give in to their attraction. While they do finally make it to a bed, there is no mistaking these two really enjoy the great outdoors and I’ll forever think of them when I hear owls!
Greta left without more than a quick text message to her mother, so things get somewhat interesting in Promise Harbor after she disappears especially when her ex-husband shows up to help locate her. She is in no hurry to return as she knows she will face endless questions and will have to endure the censure of her mother for her divorce. Hank slowly uncovers Greta’s background and I applaud him for helping her see things more clearly and gently helping her come to realize things aren’t as bad as she thinks they are.
I found this story to be an absolutely wonderful companion piece to Jilted, yet it could easily be read as a standalone book. It was easy to become immersed in the craziness that exists in Bolted and I dare you not to fall in love with these characters and feel the need to make reservations at Casa Dubrovnik! Busted is due out next and I am looking forward to the next installment in this fun series. Don’t forget to check out the Promise Harbor website there is a lot of cool information on it: http://www.promiseharborwedding.com/
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
I’m having such fun with the Promise Harbor books! Meg Benjamin writes small towns well; her Konigsburg, Texas series is one of my all time favorites, so it’s no surprise she attacks this series with the same exuberance. I love her writing style it’s a unique blend of wit, snark, and eloquence and she always writes memorable characters. While the beginning of this story takes place in Promise Harbor, the majority of it takes place a few miles down the road in a much smaller town, Tompkins Corner. Bolted is book two in this series and it is every bit as delightful as the first book!
Greta isn’t in a wedding kind of mood and the fact that she’s forced to wear the bridesmaid dressfrom hell isn’t helping. But, it’s her “perfect” brother’s wedding so she’s trying to deal. When her brother’s soon to be bride is carried out of the church by her ex-boyfriend, she convinced that maybe she’s a bad wedding luck charm. After all her own marriage has fallen apart and she’s yet to tell her family. Deciding she needs some time to assess her life she heads for the coast but gets turned around and ends up rescuing an archeologist trapped in a hole.
Hank Mitchell is have a bad day, actually it is more like a colossal bad day. His intern didn’t show up for work, he’s trapped in a hole with his foot caught, and his cell phone is out of reach. He is grateful when a woman appears even if she does look like a Gone With The Wind refugee but when she doesn’t mind climbing down in a hole to help him out, he’s intrigued. He can’t help but wonder if she is in some kind of trouble when she acts like she has no place to go.
It was easy to love all the characters in this book from the start; even Greta’s ex-husband has some redeeming qualities. Greta is my kind of heroine; she can be snarky one minute and all sweetness the next. It is evident that she has some self esteem issues and is still beating herself up over some past bad decisions but, it was nice to see her come into her own and believe she has something to contribute.
Hank is just pure sex on a stick but in a nice guy kind of way. I don’t think he realizes what a hunk he is which makes me love him all the more. I like that he encourages Greta even when he knows he might lose out in the end. Then there are the Dubrovnik’s; Alice, Nadia, and Alice’s granddaughter, Hyacinth. These three add an extra layer to this story with their attitudes, questions, and words of wisdom.
As Greta is newly divorced she’s somewhat gun shy when it comes to Hank, yet she finds him hard to resist. He is equally enamored and it doesn’t take them long to give in to their attraction. While they do finally make it to a bed, there is no mistaking these two really enjoy the great outdoors and I’ll forever think of them when I hear owls!
Greta left without more than a quick text message to her mother, so things get somewhat interesting in Promise Harbor after she disappears especially when her ex-husband shows up to help locate her. She is in no hurry to return as she knows she will face endless questions and will have to endure the censure of her mother for her divorce. Hank slowly uncovers Greta’s background and I applaud him for helping her see things more clearly and gently helping her come to realize things aren’t as bad as she thinks they are.
I found this story to be an absolutely wonderful companion piece to Jilted, yet it could easily be read as a standalone book. It was easy to become immersed in the craziness that exists in Bolted and I dare you not to fall in love with these characters and feel the need to make reservations at Casa Dubrovnik! Busted is due out next and I am looking forward to the next installment in this fun series. Don’t forget to check out the Promise Harbor website there is a lot of cool information on it: http://www.promiseharborwedding.com/
Review copy provided for an honest review.
April 20, 2013
Sweet book, but not closely connected to the other books in the series. I love this author but though this book was just meh.
April 25, 2013
I love wedding romances and have enjoyed Jilted by Kelly Jamieson, the introductory story to the Promise Harbor Wedding series, so of course I was very much looking forward to reading the next books. Bolted, which is the second novel in the series and features the maid of honour who vanishes after The Wedding That Wasn’t, was a wonderful and unexpected surprise.
Greta, the heroine and focal character of Bolted was also introduced in Jilted: she is the groom’s sister and the chief maid of honour, who disappears after the wedding disaster to hide away from her family so as she doesn’t have to share that she got divorced and has failed in her marriage as in most of the things in her life. I will honestly admit that I didn’t care much for Greta in Jilted, so it came as a surprise how much I enjoyed reading her story and getting to know her better. And the reason for that was Meg Benjamin’s witty and entertaining writing style.
Despite my feelings being rather lukewarm toward Greta in Jilted, I came to like her quite quickly in Bolted. I especially loved her snarky and sarcastic inner voice.
“You called Gavin the night before our wedding and told him you’d always love him?” Josh was staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. Allie licked her lips.
“Not exactly,” she said. “I didn’t tell him to come or anything. I didn’t say that I loved him.”
“Allie. We’re getting married,” Josh said flatly. “You don’t just change your mind at the last second about something like this.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Right. Greta wasn’t a lawyer, but she had a feeling that defense wasn’t going to fly.
Despite being the black sheep of the family and having lived a somewhat irresponsible life or rather a life full of failures as Greta feels, it was surprising to see that there was much more to Greta than met the eye: she had doubts and fears and an inner vulnerability that made her a character the reader could understand, sympathize with and grow to care for.
"She was a fascinating combination, Greta Brewster. Practical and fantastic. Sneakers and Gone With the Wind dresses. He wasn’t sure he’d ever run into anyone quite like her before."
"Hank rolled to his side, taking her with him, one hand tangled in her hair. “You can cook. You can rock a hoopskirt. And you’re sexy as hell. Maybe you should tell me about your flaws now before I decide you’re the ideal woman.”"
And besides Greta being a nuanced and well fleshed out character another detail that made me bond with her was her love and talent for cooking and baking. ;-) The scenes where she created the meals for the family were wonderfully written and besides making my mouth water made me picture her creations with ease.
“This is one of the most fantastic cakes I’ve ever tasted. You’re an artist, babe. The Chagall of cake pans.”
Bolted was full of a cast of secondary characters that not only made the reader chuckle out loud but grow very fond of them. It wasn’t only Greta who made new friends but I also felt like part of the small makeshift Dubrovnik family, and the events (=the simple meals) felt like scenes from a Tennenbaum movie ;-)
Hank was an endearing hero, he was kind and nice, the kind of man whose embrace gives you comfort and makes you smile. He was a hunk but completely unaware of his own handsomeness and his absent-minded professor thing just made you love him more. Although he was great, I felt that the story was mainly about Greta and her path to rediscovering and redefining herself and Hank was merely a standby alongside the other secondary characters like the Dubrovniks.
My personal “complaint” was that I would have preferred if the whole story was told through Greta’s POV and not switching between hers and her mother’s, but I understanding that this way we could see how Greta is perceived by her family and friends.
Verdict: Bolted was an unexpected and delightful surprise, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would at the end of Jilted, and it is all thanks to Meg Benjamin’s funny and witty writing that I grew to like Greta so quickly. She was a great heroine, her dry sarcastic narrative won me over in no time and with a set of wonderfully quirky secondary characters Bolted will sure remain a memorable story. I am grateful for having discovered a great new author and will definitely check out more of Meg Benjamin’s books, and until then I can’t wait to read the next Promise Harbor Wedding books!
Bolted was a funny and heart-warming story so I give it 4 stars!
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 10/10
Greta, the heroine and focal character of Bolted was also introduced in Jilted: she is the groom’s sister and the chief maid of honour, who disappears after the wedding disaster to hide away from her family so as she doesn’t have to share that she got divorced and has failed in her marriage as in most of the things in her life. I will honestly admit that I didn’t care much for Greta in Jilted, so it came as a surprise how much I enjoyed reading her story and getting to know her better. And the reason for that was Meg Benjamin’s witty and entertaining writing style.
Despite my feelings being rather lukewarm toward Greta in Jilted, I came to like her quite quickly in Bolted. I especially loved her snarky and sarcastic inner voice.
“You called Gavin the night before our wedding and told him you’d always love him?” Josh was staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. Allie licked her lips.
“Not exactly,” she said. “I didn’t tell him to come or anything. I didn’t say that I loved him.”
“Allie. We’re getting married,” Josh said flatly. “You don’t just change your mind at the last second about something like this.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Right. Greta wasn’t a lawyer, but she had a feeling that defense wasn’t going to fly.
Despite being the black sheep of the family and having lived a somewhat irresponsible life or rather a life full of failures as Greta feels, it was surprising to see that there was much more to Greta than met the eye: she had doubts and fears and an inner vulnerability that made her a character the reader could understand, sympathize with and grow to care for.
"She was a fascinating combination, Greta Brewster. Practical and fantastic. Sneakers and Gone With the Wind dresses. He wasn’t sure he’d ever run into anyone quite like her before."
"Hank rolled to his side, taking her with him, one hand tangled in her hair. “You can cook. You can rock a hoopskirt. And you’re sexy as hell. Maybe you should tell me about your flaws now before I decide you’re the ideal woman.”"
And besides Greta being a nuanced and well fleshed out character another detail that made me bond with her was her love and talent for cooking and baking. ;-) The scenes where she created the meals for the family were wonderfully written and besides making my mouth water made me picture her creations with ease.
“This is one of the most fantastic cakes I’ve ever tasted. You’re an artist, babe. The Chagall of cake pans.”
Bolted was full of a cast of secondary characters that not only made the reader chuckle out loud but grow very fond of them. It wasn’t only Greta who made new friends but I also felt like part of the small makeshift Dubrovnik family, and the events (=the simple meals) felt like scenes from a Tennenbaum movie ;-)
Hank was an endearing hero, he was kind and nice, the kind of man whose embrace gives you comfort and makes you smile. He was a hunk but completely unaware of his own handsomeness and his absent-minded professor thing just made you love him more. Although he was great, I felt that the story was mainly about Greta and her path to rediscovering and redefining herself and Hank was merely a standby alongside the other secondary characters like the Dubrovniks.
My personal “complaint” was that I would have preferred if the whole story was told through Greta’s POV and not switching between hers and her mother’s, but I understanding that this way we could see how Greta is perceived by her family and friends.
Verdict: Bolted was an unexpected and delightful surprise, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would at the end of Jilted, and it is all thanks to Meg Benjamin’s funny and witty writing that I grew to like Greta so quickly. She was a great heroine, her dry sarcastic narrative won me over in no time and with a set of wonderfully quirky secondary characters Bolted will sure remain a memorable story. I am grateful for having discovered a great new author and will definitely check out more of Meg Benjamin’s books, and until then I can’t wait to read the next Promise Harbor Wedding books!
Bolted was a funny and heart-warming story so I give it 4 stars!
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 10/10
April 18, 2013
How should I rate this? I'll decide later. Review to come.
UPDATED
5 stars
As I was expected earlier, this book indeed a good read. And it has a wonderful story in it. I loved it!
I loved books that made me laugh and Bolted is one of them. Greta, Hank and the Dubrovniks are people who have a great sense of humour. I enjoyed pretty much of their conversations which were very interesting. My, their banters were hilarious too! Even one of the minor characters, Marty, also showed his funny side. They are all amazing.
Despite it happened really fast, the romance was really good. I could feel the chemistry was bubbling, awaiting to explode when Greta and Hank first met with each other. They are two compatible people and really look good being together.
Greta is a kind of person I truly understand. Been there, done that. So, it was easier to have fast connection to her and understood her feelings. And, I was hungry all the time because Greta is a cook and there was food being mentioned a lot in the book. I was drooled, suffered with cravings from my imaginary food. Yum! As for Hank, I don't really know how to define him specifically but in general such like he's a very nice man. He has this happy expression planted on his face all the time and he's hot! He is even hotter to me because he doesn't even know he's hot!
Another hot man is Greta's ex-husband, Ryan. He is a big time jerk and I supposed to hate him for what he had done. The thing is I don't know why but something about him made me liked him. Greta said they are incompatible but why I felt otherwise though? He cheated, yes that was unforgivable but he sounded like he never intended it to happen. But then, there is no excuse for cheating. Poor Ryan for making a shitty choice that would make him forever regretting what he had lost.
That is all about this book. Busted has just released and I can't wait!
Recommended.
UPDATED
5 stars
As I was expected earlier, this book indeed a good read. And it has a wonderful story in it. I loved it!
I loved books that made me laugh and Bolted is one of them. Greta, Hank and the Dubrovniks are people who have a great sense of humour. I enjoyed pretty much of their conversations which were very interesting. My, their banters were hilarious too! Even one of the minor characters, Marty, also showed his funny side. They are all amazing.
Despite it happened really fast, the romance was really good. I could feel the chemistry was bubbling, awaiting to explode when Greta and Hank first met with each other. They are two compatible people and really look good being together.
Greta is a kind of person I truly understand. Been there, done that. So, it was easier to have fast connection to her and understood her feelings. And, I was hungry all the time because Greta is a cook and there was food being mentioned a lot in the book. I was drooled, suffered with cravings from my imaginary food. Yum! As for Hank, I don't really know how to define him specifically but in general such like he's a very nice man. He has this happy expression planted on his face all the time and he's hot! He is even hotter to me because he doesn't even know he's hot!
Another hot man is Greta's ex-husband, Ryan. He is a big time jerk and I supposed to hate him for what he had done. The thing is I don't know why but something about him made me liked him. Greta said they are incompatible but why I felt otherwise though? He cheated, yes that was unforgivable but he sounded like he never intended it to happen. But then, there is no excuse for cheating. Poor Ryan for making a shitty choice that would make him forever regretting what he had lost.
That is all about this book. Busted has just released and I can't wait!
Recommended.
April 17, 2013
This book never really grabbed me. It was well written and I wanted to like it because hello, hunky
archaeologist! But I wanted the hero and heroine to spend more time with each other. It seemed everything centered around the heroine and we never really got to know the hero that well.
archaeologist! But I wanted the hero and heroine to spend more time with each other. It seemed everything centered around the heroine and we never really got to know the hero that well.
January 23, 2017
I love Hank!!! And Greta is so funny!
February 1, 2018
Four to four and a half stars.
When Greta returns to Promise Harbor for her (older, responsible) brother Josh's wedding, her mom's so wrapped up in wedding preparations that Greta can't bring herself to confess that she herself is freshly divorced (from her cheating ex). When Josh's ceremony is interrupted by his fiancee's ex who whisks her off to parts unknown, Greta takes advantage of the ensuing chaos to slip away for a pressure-free/decision-free couple days as well...
Ms Benjamin does a lovely job with Greta's story, and she and the archaeologist she inadvertently rescues, Hank, both discover how you can find or be found when you aren't even looking :)
Greta and Hank are solid characters, and the supporting cast is warm and terrific.
Can't wait to keep reading this quartet!
When Greta returns to Promise Harbor for her (older, responsible) brother Josh's wedding, her mom's so wrapped up in wedding preparations that Greta can't bring herself to confess that she herself is freshly divorced (from her cheating ex). When Josh's ceremony is interrupted by his fiancee's ex who whisks her off to parts unknown, Greta takes advantage of the ensuing chaos to slip away for a pressure-free/decision-free couple days as well...
Ms Benjamin does a lovely job with Greta's story, and she and the archaeologist she inadvertently rescues, Hank, both discover how you can find or be found when you aren't even looking :)
Greta and Hank are solid characters, and the supporting cast is warm and terrific.
Can't wait to keep reading this quartet!
December 10, 2017
BLOG: WWW.adictaxictoxico.blogspot.com
Calificación: 2.5 estrellas
El primer libro de esta saga lo lei hace unos años *creo* y me gusto mucho y como encontré este me dije "tengo que leerlo" porque debe ser igual de bueno al primero.... Cosa que no sucedió. Es por ese motivo que no creo que lea los siguientes.
Calificación: 2.5 estrellas
El primer libro de esta saga lo lei hace unos años *creo* y me gusto mucho y como encontré este me dije "tengo que leerlo" porque debe ser igual de bueno al primero.... Cosa que no sucedió. Es por ese motivo que no creo que lea los siguientes.
December 21, 2018
Cute but not exactly memorable. The characters were decent enough but I didn't feel enough of a connection between the hero and heroine.
September 11, 2022
Cute story about following your dreams and not what your family thinks you should do.
July 12, 2013
Title: Bolted
Series: Promise Harbor Wedding bk 2
Author: Meg Benjamin
Genre: Contemporary
Sometimes you have to get lost before you can find yourself.
The Promise Harbor Wedding, Book 2
Greta Brewster McBain in a bind. Two, if she’s really counting. First there’s the can-barely-breathe, bridesmaid’s dress from hell. Second, the stranger who just carried her “perfect” brother’s fiancée out the church door has made it impossible to tell her own mother about her own divorce.
Rather than confirm her reputation as the family screw-up, Greta takes a drive to clear her head.
Trapped in a hole and unable to reach his cell phone, Hank Mitchell is resigned to becoming a permanent part of his own archeological dig when help arrives—in the form of a woman who looks like a Gone With The Wind refugee. Behind the ruffles and lace, though, is something he appreciates: a woman who isn’t afraid of a little dirt.
Their instant connection draws Greta into the eccentric world of the Hotel Grand, where she impulsively trades her hoopskirts for an apron. Soon things are getting hot, not only in the hotel kitchen, but in Hank’s arms...
Warning: Contains hot moonlit sex, a melancholy turtle, two wisecracking seniors, and the world’s ugliest bridesmaid dress.
Several years ago I discovered this new author named Meg Benjamin-well she was new to me-and I fell in love with her. So when I was asked to review this book which I was anxiously awaiting I leapt at the chance.
This book starts at the wedding that doesn't happen in Jilted. Greta is Josh the grooms sister, and she wants to be anywhere but at the wedding. When the opportunity presents itself during the bruwhah over her brothers wedding that didn't happen to disappear Greta takes it.
Greta is woman whose life is in limbo, her divorce is final and she has no idea what to do next. When she meets Hank and takes him back to his hotel for the summer her life takes a direction she hadn't planned. She meets a man who intrigues her, stimulates her, and finds herself doing all the cooking for the hotel.
This book spends most of it's time in Greta's POV which was fine by me as we got to see Greta come into her own and take charge of her life.
I loved this story and how Greta discovered who she was and what she wanted to with the rest of her life. The confidence she gains and the hot sex she has with Hank.
There are also some great secondary characters in this book who livened up the story and had me laughing out loud. We also get to see what's going on with Josh and Greta's mom. I'm curious to see how this story line pans out.
Over all this is a great read and I can't wait for the next book.
Grade A
Review by: Heather
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: Promise Harbor Wedding bk 2
Author: Meg Benjamin
Genre: Contemporary
Sometimes you have to get lost before you can find yourself.
The Promise Harbor Wedding, Book 2
Greta Brewster McBain in a bind. Two, if she’s really counting. First there’s the can-barely-breathe, bridesmaid’s dress from hell. Second, the stranger who just carried her “perfect” brother’s fiancée out the church door has made it impossible to tell her own mother about her own divorce.
Rather than confirm her reputation as the family screw-up, Greta takes a drive to clear her head.
Trapped in a hole and unable to reach his cell phone, Hank Mitchell is resigned to becoming a permanent part of his own archeological dig when help arrives—in the form of a woman who looks like a Gone With The Wind refugee. Behind the ruffles and lace, though, is something he appreciates: a woman who isn’t afraid of a little dirt.
Their instant connection draws Greta into the eccentric world of the Hotel Grand, where she impulsively trades her hoopskirts for an apron. Soon things are getting hot, not only in the hotel kitchen, but in Hank’s arms...
Warning: Contains hot moonlit sex, a melancholy turtle, two wisecracking seniors, and the world’s ugliest bridesmaid dress.
Several years ago I discovered this new author named Meg Benjamin-well she was new to me-and I fell in love with her. So when I was asked to review this book which I was anxiously awaiting I leapt at the chance.
This book starts at the wedding that doesn't happen in Jilted. Greta is Josh the grooms sister, and she wants to be anywhere but at the wedding. When the opportunity presents itself during the bruwhah over her brothers wedding that didn't happen to disappear Greta takes it.
Greta is woman whose life is in limbo, her divorce is final and she has no idea what to do next. When she meets Hank and takes him back to his hotel for the summer her life takes a direction she hadn't planned. She meets a man who intrigues her, stimulates her, and finds herself doing all the cooking for the hotel.
This book spends most of it's time in Greta's POV which was fine by me as we got to see Greta come into her own and take charge of her life.
I loved this story and how Greta discovered who she was and what she wanted to with the rest of her life. The confidence she gains and the hot sex she has with Hank.
There are also some great secondary characters in this book who livened up the story and had me laughing out loud. We also get to see what's going on with Josh and Greta's mom. I'm curious to see how this story line pans out.
Over all this is a great read and I can't wait for the next book.
Grade A
Review by: Heather
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
August 14, 2013
I finally read my first book by author Meg Benjamin which I loved. Bolted is book 2 of the Promise Harbor Wedding series and this one is about a secondary character who lives in this small town and what happened to her in the aftermath of the non-wedding. The prologue really captured my attention right from the beginning; scenes were written with wit and humor that had me chuckling the whole time. I really liked Greta and her sense of humor as she expressed her total disdain for the ""bridesmaid dress from hell" and her feelings on the "wedding that wasn't" for her "perfect" brother. I could not wait to see what the author had in store for Greta after the wedding fiasco.
Greta's story continues when she comes upon Hank who needs help getting his pinned foot out from under a rock while on an excavation and out of the hole he's now stuck in due to his injured foot. It was a "hoot" as you see Greta, in her "Gone With the Wind" bridesmaid dress from hell, climb down a ladder to reach Hank. Hank thought he was hallucinating LOL!!! And the fun continues as Greta has to push Hank's ass up a ladder to get out...lucky lady.
I liked the chemistry between Greta and Hank and the author did a great job developing their relationship as they explored their feelings for each other. Greta was still wary about opening up to Hank about her recent divorce and reasons for staying in Tompkins Corner, but Hank slowly chipped away at the wall she built around heart. Readers will see that they genuinely care about each other and have fun whenever they are together. Their sexy moments even had me giggling when their moans of pleasure was compared to an owl howling by an innocent child. The whole scene as she expressed what she thought she heard to her grandma and aunt one night was hilarious.
I enjoyed Greta's interaction with Alice, Nadia and Hyacinth (innocent child aforementioned ) as she tries to figure out what would make her happy. The one character that annoyed me was Greta's mother, Sophie. She just seemed too self-absorb and unsupportive of her children. All she seemed to care about was what people would think of her because of the aborted nuptials or how much time she had spent on planning it. Greta did not have a close relationship with Sophie and she was made to feel as if she was always impulsive and making wrong decisions with her life. But, this in turn led her to meeting Hank so something good came out of it for Greta and for readers who like a sweet, sexy and fun romance story.
Greta's story continues when she comes upon Hank who needs help getting his pinned foot out from under a rock while on an excavation and out of the hole he's now stuck in due to his injured foot. It was a "hoot" as you see Greta, in her "Gone With the Wind" bridesmaid dress from hell, climb down a ladder to reach Hank. Hank thought he was hallucinating LOL!!! And the fun continues as Greta has to push Hank's ass up a ladder to get out...lucky lady.
I liked the chemistry between Greta and Hank and the author did a great job developing their relationship as they explored their feelings for each other. Greta was still wary about opening up to Hank about her recent divorce and reasons for staying in Tompkins Corner, but Hank slowly chipped away at the wall she built around heart. Readers will see that they genuinely care about each other and have fun whenever they are together. Their sexy moments even had me giggling when their moans of pleasure was compared to an owl howling by an innocent child. The whole scene as she expressed what she thought she heard to her grandma and aunt one night was hilarious.
I enjoyed Greta's interaction with Alice, Nadia and Hyacinth (innocent child aforementioned ) as she tries to figure out what would make her happy. The one character that annoyed me was Greta's mother, Sophie. She just seemed too self-absorb and unsupportive of her children. All she seemed to care about was what people would think of her because of the aborted nuptials or how much time she had spent on planning it. Greta did not have a close relationship with Sophie and she was made to feel as if she was always impulsive and making wrong decisions with her life. But, this in turn led her to meeting Hank so something good came out of it for Greta and for readers who like a sweet, sexy and fun romance story.
July 14, 2017
My review cross-posted from Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/revie...
Greta Brewster really isn’t looking forward to coming home to Promise Harbor. Her mother sees her as a screw-up and she’s afraid news of her recent divorce will just cement that viewpoint. When her perfect brother’s wedding turns into a catastrophe after the bride runs off with another man, Greta can’t bear to stick around for the fallout, never mind tell her mother about the divorce. She bolts, going for a drive, armed with only a few credit cards and the bridesmaid’s dress from hell.
Archaeologist Hank Mitchell isn’t having the best day either. His foot is stuck and it looks like he’ll be spending his night in his dig site. Then a beautiful woman in a hideous dress comes along and rescues him from rocks and rainfall. The attraction between Hank and Greta is instantaneous, and when she decides to take a vacation from the chaos in Promise Harbor in order to work as a temporary chef at the worn-down Hotel Grand where Hank is staying, things only heat up. But what will happen when the week is up and Greta has to decide what she’s going to do with her life?
Bolted is a fun, light-on-its-proverbial-feet romance that I practically devoured in one sitting. I adored Greta, Hank, and the quirky cast of characters at the Hotel Grand, and just thinking about Bolted makes me smile.
Greta is a woman trying to break free of her past. Coming home puts a big dent in her self-esteem and she can’t help but be reminded of all the times she’s messed up in the past. I loved watching Greta come into her own both personally and professionally over the course of the story. As for Hank, he’s a smart, nice guy, the kind of hero who’s often underrated. He and Greta have stellar chemistry and the pages of their story flew by as the two fell in love. Add in a healthy dollop of good humor and the endearing Dubrovnik family at the Hotel Grand and there’s simply nothing not to love about Bolted.
Bolted is the second book in the multi-author Promise Harbor Wedding series, but it can be read as a standalone. There’s just enough information about the series’ other heroes and heroines to pique your interest, and if I hadn’t already been planning on reading the rest of the series, I definitely would be after enjoying Bolted. Greta and Hank’s book is the first story of Meg Benjamin’s I’ve read, but I’m looking forward to glomming up her backlist!
Greta Brewster really isn’t looking forward to coming home to Promise Harbor. Her mother sees her as a screw-up and she’s afraid news of her recent divorce will just cement that viewpoint. When her perfect brother’s wedding turns into a catastrophe after the bride runs off with another man, Greta can’t bear to stick around for the fallout, never mind tell her mother about the divorce. She bolts, going for a drive, armed with only a few credit cards and the bridesmaid’s dress from hell.
Archaeologist Hank Mitchell isn’t having the best day either. His foot is stuck and it looks like he’ll be spending his night in his dig site. Then a beautiful woman in a hideous dress comes along and rescues him from rocks and rainfall. The attraction between Hank and Greta is instantaneous, and when she decides to take a vacation from the chaos in Promise Harbor in order to work as a temporary chef at the worn-down Hotel Grand where Hank is staying, things only heat up. But what will happen when the week is up and Greta has to decide what she’s going to do with her life?
Bolted is a fun, light-on-its-proverbial-feet romance that I practically devoured in one sitting. I adored Greta, Hank, and the quirky cast of characters at the Hotel Grand, and just thinking about Bolted makes me smile.
Greta is a woman trying to break free of her past. Coming home puts a big dent in her self-esteem and she can’t help but be reminded of all the times she’s messed up in the past. I loved watching Greta come into her own both personally and professionally over the course of the story. As for Hank, he’s a smart, nice guy, the kind of hero who’s often underrated. He and Greta have stellar chemistry and the pages of their story flew by as the two fell in love. Add in a healthy dollop of good humor and the endearing Dubrovnik family at the Hotel Grand and there’s simply nothing not to love about Bolted.
Bolted is the second book in the multi-author Promise Harbor Wedding series, but it can be read as a standalone. There’s just enough information about the series’ other heroes and heroines to pique your interest, and if I hadn’t already been planning on reading the rest of the series, I definitely would be after enjoying Bolted. Greta and Hank’s book is the first story of Meg Benjamin’s I’ve read, but I’m looking forward to glomming up her backlist!
March 20, 2013
Bolted is the second book in the Promise Harbor Wedding series and I really loved the relationship between all the characters. I really like how it starts out with the wedding so you don’t have to read it in order to know what is happening, but in this story Greta tells us what happens.
Greta’s life is a total mess. She’s keeping a huge secret from her family, and now she’s stuck wearing an ugly bridesmaid’s dress while she watches her brother’s fiancée being carried out of the church by a man that is definitely not her brother Josh. After all that has just happened with the wedding how can she tell them about the mess her life is without them thinking she screwed up again? Not knowing what she can do for her brother she decides that she needs some time alone to think and heads out for a drive.
Hank is an archeologist who knows very well that you do not go on a dig alone, but it didn’t stop him from going down in a hole by himself. Now he’s trapped down there with no way to reach his cell phone to call for help. Thinking he will never be rescued he is surprised to see a woman at the top of the hole, and he knows he is surely hallucinating because she looks like she has stepped out of the past wearing the ugliest dress he has ever seen.
The attraction is very strong between them and Greta isn’t ready to break the news to her family, so she makes a trade of that ugly gown to become the cook for the hotel where Hank is staying. But Greta is heating up more than the hotel’s kitchen.
Greta’s life is a total mess. She’s keeping a huge secret from her family, and now she’s stuck wearing an ugly bridesmaid’s dress while she watches her brother’s fiancée being carried out of the church by a man that is definitely not her brother Josh. After all that has just happened with the wedding how can she tell them about the mess her life is without them thinking she screwed up again? Not knowing what she can do for her brother she decides that she needs some time alone to think and heads out for a drive.
Hank is an archeologist who knows very well that you do not go on a dig alone, but it didn’t stop him from going down in a hole by himself. Now he’s trapped down there with no way to reach his cell phone to call for help. Thinking he will never be rescued he is surprised to see a woman at the top of the hole, and he knows he is surely hallucinating because she looks like she has stepped out of the past wearing the ugliest dress he has ever seen.
The attraction is very strong between them and Greta isn’t ready to break the news to her family, so she makes a trade of that ugly gown to become the cook for the hotel where Hank is staying. But Greta is heating up more than the hotel’s kitchen.
December 27, 2016
Synopsis: Greta is a bridesmaid in a "wedding that wasn't" for her brother. Instead of telling her mother that her own divorce has become final, thus cementing her reputation of rushing in to things without thinking about them, Greta runs away. She finds and rescues Hank, an archaelogist who has been working by himself on a dig and been trapped by falling rocks. Greta takes Hank back to the small hotel that he has been staying at, and ends up staying there herself, rather than deal with the "I told you sos" that she thinks will be forthcoming. Unfortunately, the food is terrible, and in order to stay there, since the hotel doesn't take debit cards, she offers to do the cooking. As the days go on, Greta is coming to realize that she just might find herself.
What I liked: I liked the surrounding characters, and how the manipulated and manoeuvred to get Hank and Greta together, and to get Greta interested in going in to a business venture. I liked that Greta got closure with her ex, and that she found out who she wanted to be.
What I didn't like: Well, Greta. For someone who was supposedly an adult, she sure ran away from things that she didn't want to face.
What I liked: I liked the surrounding characters, and how the manipulated and manoeuvred to get Hank and Greta together, and to get Greta interested in going in to a business venture. I liked that Greta got closure with her ex, and that she found out who she wanted to be.
What I didn't like: Well, Greta. For someone who was supposedly an adult, she sure ran away from things that she didn't want to face.
April 5, 2013
Bolted by Meg Benjamin is the second book in The Promise Harbor Wedding Series. It is written from the perspective of Greta the grooms wayward impulsive sister and also the Matron of Honor.
Bolted starts off in the same manner as Book #1 Jilted. Josh and Allie's wedding is interrupted by Allie's ex-boyfriend. However you are seeing everything through Greta's eyes. Greta has come back to Promise Harbor with her own secrets. She has recently gotten divorced after finding out her ex-husband was cheating on her. Rather then tell her Mother and brother she holds onto her secrets so they won't continue to see her as a walking disaster.
This story follows Greta after the disaster that wasn't a wedding to her own escape. She decides to run away to a Decision Free Zone and meets archaeologist Hank Mitchell.
I adored this story. It showed that sometimes impulsive decisions can change your life for the better and that you have to learn to trust yourself and at times rely on others to lessen your own burdens.
An excellent second book in the Promise Harbor Series!
Bolted starts off in the same manner as Book #1 Jilted. Josh and Allie's wedding is interrupted by Allie's ex-boyfriend. However you are seeing everything through Greta's eyes. Greta has come back to Promise Harbor with her own secrets. She has recently gotten divorced after finding out her ex-husband was cheating on her. Rather then tell her Mother and brother she holds onto her secrets so they won't continue to see her as a walking disaster.
This story follows Greta after the disaster that wasn't a wedding to her own escape. She decides to run away to a Decision Free Zone and meets archaeologist Hank Mitchell.
I adored this story. It showed that sometimes impulsive decisions can change your life for the better and that you have to learn to trust yourself and at times rely on others to lessen your own burdens.
An excellent second book in the Promise Harbor Series!
May 19, 2014
The star rating given reflects my opinion within ‘the official goodreads rating system’. (Notice the two important words... OPINION and RATING)
1 star: Didn’t Like it
2 stars: It’s Okay
3 stars: Liked it
4 stars: Really Liked it
5 stars: It Was Amazing
I don’t really give a rat-fuck that there are some who think I ‘owe’ an explanation for my opinion. Nope, nada, and not sorry about it.
Sometimes I may add notes to explain what my opinions are based on, and sometimes I don’t. I do this for me, on my books, in my library and I don’t ‘owe’ any special snowflakes a thing. Fuck off if you don’t like it and stop reading my shit.
Particularly given the ‘modifications’ to reader’s personal content going on (and outright censorship), unless particularly motivated I will not comment in detail.
It would help if GR was forthcoming in the new ‘appropriate’ and would make a site-wide announcement delineating the new focus from a reader-centric site to one that is now for authors and selling.
1 star: Didn’t Like it
2 stars: It’s Okay
3 stars: Liked it
4 stars: Really Liked it
5 stars: It Was Amazing
I don’t really give a rat-fuck that there are some who think I ‘owe’ an explanation for my opinion. Nope, nada, and not sorry about it.
Sometimes I may add notes to explain what my opinions are based on, and sometimes I don’t. I do this for me, on my books, in my library and I don’t ‘owe’ any special snowflakes a thing. Fuck off if you don’t like it and stop reading my shit.
Particularly given the ‘modifications’ to reader’s personal content going on (and outright censorship), unless particularly motivated I will not comment in detail.
It would help if GR was forthcoming in the new ‘appropriate’ and would make a site-wide announcement delineating the new focus from a reader-centric site to one that is now for authors and selling.
March 14, 2014
Not bad...but not great either. Why? Mainly because we never see why the heroine likes her romantic interest. He's good looking, pleasant, and they have chemistry...but nothing more. And anyway, she's too swept up in her own life drama to really get to know him. Plus, the issue of the fact that his job in her town is only temporary, and then he is likely to move thousands of miles away isn't addressed at all. But...
The really big thing that bugged me was their clothing. It may sound dumb, but the outfits they wore to go out to dinner sounded like what a retired couple in Arizona would wear. Not a young couple in New England. Blech.
The really big thing that bugged me was their clothing. It may sound dumb, but the outfits they wore to go out to dinner sounded like what a retired couple in Arizona would wear. Not a young couple in New England. Blech.
May 26, 2013
This series is so intriguing. All the books start with the wedding that didn't happen, all seen thru the protagonist's point of view. Then the book goes into the individual situation. In this case, Greta, Josh's sister. She was just recovering from a broken marriage but didn't want to share with her family, cos she has this reputation of rushing into things too fast. So, she goes away to recoup and finds Hank, the archeologist, and the Dubrovniks. The book is fun, some situations are hilarious, and I loved how the romance is developed slowly.
June 30, 2013
A cute story, with engaging characters, but it never totally grabbed me. I think there were just too many handwaves as to how situations had happened (some of them may have seemed perfectly logical to US readers of course). On the other hand, I did like the secondary romance we kept seeing snippets of.
April 27, 2013
This was a lot of fun to read. The different characters, the food descriptions, how Greta grew up :D, how her Mom started relooking the impression she was giving her children. Looking forward to the next one.
January 5, 2014
3.5
An epilogue would have been awesome. Honestly I always want an epilogue with every book I read but I really want to know what happens when Hanks grant runs out. They never talked about it and it bothers me.
An epilogue would have been awesome. Honestly I always want an epilogue with every book I read but I really want to know what happens when Hanks grant runs out. They never talked about it and it bothers me.
April 13, 2015
La historia es entretenida. No sale de los lugares comunes e incluso el final es previsible y abrupto, en un momento la historia comienza a resolverse y plaf, no hay mas páginas para leer.
Pero en si, es entretenido si necesitas una lectura rápida y graciosa...
Pero en si, es entretenido si necesitas una lectura rápida y graciosa...
June 13, 2016
It was a nice read. But there were parts of the book I didn't care much about. Like appearance of ex-husband or rescuing that little girl. I guess it was meant to create some tension and plot twists but in the end, it was just distracting and redundant.
May 22, 2013
Great story about a woman trying to find her way in the world. The people she meets along the way help her find the true meaning of love and hope. Definitely recommended.
May 30, 2013
See the full review at: http://sizzlinghotbooks.com/bolted-by...
June 21, 2013
A cute & sweet read.
March 31, 2015
Really I liked so much! This story is funny, sweet and romantic. I need read more. ♡
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