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The Wedding Season #1
The Unexpected Wedding Guest
Getting caught in her wedding dress by her drop-dead-gorgeous ex-husband is Reese Michael’s worst nightmare. Especially when her perfect-on-paper fiancé then cancels their wedding! Reese has spent years trying to forget how her marriage to Mason Hicks crashed and burned – yes, their chemistry was incredible, but a girl can’t live on lust alone! And what’s a jilted bride supposed to do when the one man she could never forget is back in her life, as irresistible as ever? Mason might be her own personal brand of Kryptonite, but surely life is meant to be lived a little dangerously…?
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2013
62 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 4, 2013
Really enjoyed this second chance at love story because both the characters come to see that they both were at fault. The heroine grew up spoiled and even when she got married she ran to her parents for everything while the hero was independent and coming back from war changed him. Lack of communication ended their marriage and the heroine moved on with some difficulty.
Now she is engaged to the perfect man, having a dream wedding when the hero comes back for what he says is closure. What Reese doesn't know is that Mason almost died and his psychiatrist sent him to her. What happens is her fiancee postpones the wedding, saying that Reese needs to clear her head and Mason stays because he made the mess.
After all the anger and resentment is set aside honest communication happens. And I liked how time had matured Reese and she came to see that her fiancee was just another man she had leaned on, so this time she fights for what she wants instead of walking away.
Now she is engaged to the perfect man, having a dream wedding when the hero comes back for what he says is closure. What Reese doesn't know is that Mason almost died and his psychiatrist sent him to her. What happens is her fiancee postpones the wedding, saying that Reese needs to clear her head and Mason stays because he made the mess.
After all the anger and resentment is set aside honest communication happens. And I liked how time had matured Reese and she came to see that her fiancee was just another man she had leaned on, so this time she fights for what she wants instead of walking away.
April 6, 2017
It has been a while since I read the prequel story, but that was all right because it was only mentioned in passing near the end of the book. That being said, I wasn't that impressed with this story.
Reese was so self-centered and spoiled that she really ruined the book for me. However, Mason was almost as bad as Reese, because it was all about his needs from his injuries! I couldn't connect with either of them, and I had a hard time getting a connection with any of the other members of the "Awesome Foursome".
The plot was mediocre at best, and mostly about salvaging Reese's pride. I found it to be mostly forgettable.
I am hesitant to continue the series, and will definitely avoid this author in the future.
Reese was so self-centered and spoiled that she really ruined the book for me. However, Mason was almost as bad as Reese, because it was all about his needs from his injuries! I couldn't connect with either of them, and I had a hard time getting a connection with any of the other members of the "Awesome Foursome".
The plot was mediocre at best, and mostly about salvaging Reese's pride. I found it to be mostly forgettable.
I am hesitant to continue the series, and will definitely avoid this author in the future.
May 11, 2013
Being lucky enough to fall in love get married and have your happy ending sounds perfect! Finding it twice is almost unbelievable. But when your about to embark upon your second chance of happiness and in walks your past, and out the door goes your future, then life can get turned up side down quicker than you can say the words " Yes I' ll marry you".
In the new Aimee Carson read this is however exactly what happens to Reese, she is standing in her wedding dress thinking I will be happy and in walks her absolutely drop dead gorgeous I -have-and-can-make-you-burn-time-and-time-again-for-only-me ex husband Mason.
To make matters worse her brand spanking new husband to be, Dylan cancels the wedding, after all if you see your wife still looking at her ex husband likes he's dinner and all she wants is him served on a bed of oysters would you stick around to take the walk to I do?
The characters were all very well written and I enjoyed that the author kept Dylan in the background as it created a great ' I want you and I will get you back and he is never going to be me" element and made for terrific moments of love vs lust vs he can never be both unless he changes.
Which made the read a really interesting one. I was very anxious to see how Reese would make the choice between love and security vs lust and a wild ride.
I did however not like Reese too much as a character, I found that she has certainly grown in the last ten years since her marriage to Mason but the author does not fully bring this into play for me, I just never got the full sense that Reese is now smarter and stronger than before.
I did love that Mason has issues but is willing to work on them to have Reese back in his arms on a permanent basis, the author showed that we must be willing to chance for the ones we love but at the same time not everything about ourselves as we will then be no more than a carbon copy of the perfect dream lover our imagination creates.
The backdrop settings were nicely written and the dialogue was a fun and spicy one . I adored the moments of conflict, some lines had be laughing out loud and others had me wanting to cry.
This is a very nice and fun romantic read for those who like reads about old lovers reuniting with fiery hot passion. And seeing how pure lust turns into love of the forever kind.
4.5 star review
" He had her once and he will have her again"
In the new Aimee Carson read this is however exactly what happens to Reese, she is standing in her wedding dress thinking I will be happy and in walks her absolutely drop dead gorgeous I -have-and-can-make-you-burn-time-and-time-again-for-only-me ex husband Mason.
To make matters worse her brand spanking new husband to be, Dylan cancels the wedding, after all if you see your wife still looking at her ex husband likes he's dinner and all she wants is him served on a bed of oysters would you stick around to take the walk to I do?
The characters were all very well written and I enjoyed that the author kept Dylan in the background as it created a great ' I want you and I will get you back and he is never going to be me" element and made for terrific moments of love vs lust vs he can never be both unless he changes.
Which made the read a really interesting one. I was very anxious to see how Reese would make the choice between love and security vs lust and a wild ride.
I did however not like Reese too much as a character, I found that she has certainly grown in the last ten years since her marriage to Mason but the author does not fully bring this into play for me, I just never got the full sense that Reese is now smarter and stronger than before.
I did love that Mason has issues but is willing to work on them to have Reese back in his arms on a permanent basis, the author showed that we must be willing to chance for the ones we love but at the same time not everything about ourselves as we will then be no more than a carbon copy of the perfect dream lover our imagination creates.
The backdrop settings were nicely written and the dialogue was a fun and spicy one . I adored the moments of conflict, some lines had be laughing out loud and others had me wanting to cry.
This is a very nice and fun romantic read for those who like reads about old lovers reuniting with fiery hot passion. And seeing how pure lust turns into love of the forever kind.
4.5 star review
" He had her once and he will have her again"
December 17, 2015
Reese Michaels pernah gagal dalam pernikahan pertamanya, ketika ia masih sangat muda dan masih begitu naif.
Maka dari itu, pernikahannya kali ini dengan Dylan haruslah sempurna. Di hari keenam menuju pernikahannya, Reese sudah berada di Bellington Estate, mempersiapkan semuanya.
Harusnya Reese tau, untuk semua calon pengantin di dunia ini, pasti akan ada 'cobaan' yang datang. Pada siang hari di Bellington, masih dengan gaun pengantinnya, Mason Hicks, datang. Mantan suaminya yang tak pernah ia temui sejak perceraian mereka, sepuluh tahun lalu.
Mason datang 'pada awalnya' bukan untuk merusak pernikahan Reese. Menurut psikiater-nya, ia butuh bicara dengan Reese guna 'menyelesaikan apa yang terjadi di masa lalu', agar insomnia dan kegelisahannya selama ini berangsur menghilang.
Namun pembicaraan seperti yang diharapkan psikiater-nya tidak terjadi. Yang ada, Dylan malah memutuskan untuk membatalkan pernikahannya dengan Reese. Karena menurutnya, Reese masih ragu tentang dirinya. Dan Reese memang butuh untuk bicara dengan Mason.
Demi harga dirinya, Reese memutuskan melanjutkan pesta-yang-bukan-pesta-pernikahan tersebut. Bersama Mason yang khawatir akan kelakuannya, Reese menyiapkan pesta tersebut. Saat itulah, memori masa lalu terus bermunculan di antara mereka dan rahasia keduanya mulai terungkap....
***
Sebenernya aku jarang baca novel CR begini. Hehehe. Awalnya, tertarik karena novel ini adalah salah satu dari serial The Wedding Season di mana keempat heroine-nya saling bersahabat. Mereka berempat sejak kuliah dijuluki Foursome Awesome. Dan, ternyata seri ini ditulis oleh empat penulis yang berbeda. Makanya aku penasaran, hehehe.
Di bagian awal kita disuguhi tentang persiapan pernikahan Reese yang tiba-tiba jadi kacau karena sang mantan suami tiba-tiba datang. Ditambah lagi dengan calon suaminya yang pada hari itu juga, memutuskan untuk membatalkan pernikahan mereka.
Bayangkan, dilema dan sakit hatinya Reese. Sudah mantannya datang, pernikahannya dibatalkan, pula!
Reese takut dengan yang namanya kegagalan, maka pada akhirnya, ia memutuskan untuk tetap menjalankan pesta. Yang tentu saja ditentang banyak pihak.
Di sini kita dibuat gemas dengan tingkah tokohnya. Mason bukan orang yang verbal, yang bisa bicara dengan lancar dan normal seperti orang biasa. Terbiasa menghadapi bom, membuat dia merasa menjinakkan bom lebih mudah daripada bicara dengan siapa pun--termasuk dengan mantan istrinya. Reese pun bukan tokoh yang tegar-tegar (?) banget kok. Dibesarkan dan dimanja oleh keluarganya, membuat dia rapuh. Namun seiring bertambahnya usia dan pengalaman pahitnya dengan Mason dulu, ia jadi 'nekat' dalam beberapa hal. Misalnya, menerima Dylan sebagai calon suaminya dan meneruskan pesta pernikahannya.
Dalam rentang enam hari, Mason dan Reese menjalani hari bersama. Mason berniat baik, membantu Reese mengatur ulang semuanya sambil meminta kesempatan untuk meluruskan apa yang dulu pernah terjadi di antara mereka. Reese sendiri dilema. Sepuluh tahun bukan waktu yang sebentar, tetapi Reese tidak pernah bisa melupakan Mason.
Tapi Reese selalu teringat bagaimana sakitnya ketika Mason meninggalkannya, bahkan tak mendebat sama sekali ketika Reese tidak tahan dengan sifat Mason dan mengajukan cerai.
Masa pernikahan mereka hanya satu tahun. Dan tidak berjalan lancar. Mason merasa dikucilkan karena Reese yang manja dan naif masih saja bergantung pada orangtuanya--yang tidak menyukai Mason. Reese merasa bukan apa-apa dalam kehidupan Mason, karena sepanjang pernikahan mereka, Mason tidak pernah mau bicara tentangnya dan seakan-akan menyimpan rahasia.
Sepanjang aku membaca novel ini, aku dibawa menyelami pergulatan batin masing-masing tokoh. Bagaimana mereka mencegah untuk kembali menyayangi hanya karena takut kegagalan mereka terulang lagi. Apalagi ditambah dengan apa yang terjadi kepada Mason di dua tahun terakhir ini, hal yang menyebabkan dia pergi ke psikiater dan berakhir di Bellington.
Dari novel ini, kita belajar dari tokoh-tokohnya. Bahwa kegagalan memang seringkali menghadang kita--baik dalam pekerjaan maupun hubungan. Namun, kegagalan tidak boleh menjadi penghalang bagi kebahagiaan kita.
Overall, aku suka dengan novel ini. Dan bersiap lanjut ke buku keduanya! Girl Least Likely to Marry.
Maka dari itu, pernikahannya kali ini dengan Dylan haruslah sempurna. Di hari keenam menuju pernikahannya, Reese sudah berada di Bellington Estate, mempersiapkan semuanya.
Harusnya Reese tau, untuk semua calon pengantin di dunia ini, pasti akan ada 'cobaan' yang datang. Pada siang hari di Bellington, masih dengan gaun pengantinnya, Mason Hicks, datang. Mantan suaminya yang tak pernah ia temui sejak perceraian mereka, sepuluh tahun lalu.
Mason datang 'pada awalnya' bukan untuk merusak pernikahan Reese. Menurut psikiater-nya, ia butuh bicara dengan Reese guna 'menyelesaikan apa yang terjadi di masa lalu', agar insomnia dan kegelisahannya selama ini berangsur menghilang.
Namun pembicaraan seperti yang diharapkan psikiater-nya tidak terjadi. Yang ada, Dylan malah memutuskan untuk membatalkan pernikahannya dengan Reese. Karena menurutnya, Reese masih ragu tentang dirinya. Dan Reese memang butuh untuk bicara dengan Mason.
Demi harga dirinya, Reese memutuskan melanjutkan pesta-yang-bukan-pesta-pernikahan tersebut. Bersama Mason yang khawatir akan kelakuannya, Reese menyiapkan pesta tersebut. Saat itulah, memori masa lalu terus bermunculan di antara mereka dan rahasia keduanya mulai terungkap....
***
Yang tidak bisa kupahami adalah kenapa aku tak bisa berhenti memikirkan hubungan kita dulu."
- Halaman 150 -
Sebenernya aku jarang baca novel CR begini. Hehehe. Awalnya, tertarik karena novel ini adalah salah satu dari serial The Wedding Season di mana keempat heroine-nya saling bersahabat. Mereka berempat sejak kuliah dijuluki Foursome Awesome. Dan, ternyata seri ini ditulis oleh empat penulis yang berbeda. Makanya aku penasaran, hehehe.
Di bagian awal kita disuguhi tentang persiapan pernikahan Reese yang tiba-tiba jadi kacau karena sang mantan suami tiba-tiba datang. Ditambah lagi dengan calon suaminya yang pada hari itu juga, memutuskan untuk membatalkan pernikahan mereka.
Bayangkan, dilema dan sakit hatinya Reese. Sudah mantannya datang, pernikahannya dibatalkan, pula!
Reese takut dengan yang namanya kegagalan, maka pada akhirnya, ia memutuskan untuk tetap menjalankan pesta. Yang tentu saja ditentang banyak pihak.
Di sini kita dibuat gemas dengan tingkah tokohnya. Mason bukan orang yang verbal, yang bisa bicara dengan lancar dan normal seperti orang biasa. Terbiasa menghadapi bom, membuat dia merasa menjinakkan bom lebih mudah daripada bicara dengan siapa pun--termasuk dengan mantan istrinya. Reese pun bukan tokoh yang tegar-tegar (?) banget kok. Dibesarkan dan dimanja oleh keluarganya, membuat dia rapuh. Namun seiring bertambahnya usia dan pengalaman pahitnya dengan Mason dulu, ia jadi 'nekat' dalam beberapa hal. Misalnya, menerima Dylan sebagai calon suaminya dan meneruskan pesta pernikahannya.
Dalam rentang enam hari, Mason dan Reese menjalani hari bersama. Mason berniat baik, membantu Reese mengatur ulang semuanya sambil meminta kesempatan untuk meluruskan apa yang dulu pernah terjadi di antara mereka. Reese sendiri dilema. Sepuluh tahun bukan waktu yang sebentar, tetapi Reese tidak pernah bisa melupakan Mason.
Tapi Reese selalu teringat bagaimana sakitnya ketika Mason meninggalkannya, bahkan tak mendebat sama sekali ketika Reese tidak tahan dengan sifat Mason dan mengajukan cerai.
Masa pernikahan mereka hanya satu tahun. Dan tidak berjalan lancar. Mason merasa dikucilkan karena Reese yang manja dan naif masih saja bergantung pada orangtuanya--yang tidak menyukai Mason. Reese merasa bukan apa-apa dalam kehidupan Mason, karena sepanjang pernikahan mereka, Mason tidak pernah mau bicara tentangnya dan seakan-akan menyimpan rahasia.
Sepanjang aku membaca novel ini, aku dibawa menyelami pergulatan batin masing-masing tokoh. Bagaimana mereka mencegah untuk kembali menyayangi hanya karena takut kegagalan mereka terulang lagi. Apalagi ditambah dengan apa yang terjadi kepada Mason di dua tahun terakhir ini, hal yang menyebabkan dia pergi ke psikiater dan berakhir di Bellington.
Dari novel ini, kita belajar dari tokoh-tokohnya. Bahwa kegagalan memang seringkali menghadang kita--baik dalam pekerjaan maupun hubungan. Namun, kegagalan tidak boleh menjadi penghalang bagi kebahagiaan kita.
Overall, aku suka dengan novel ini. Dan bersiap lanjut ke buku keduanya! Girl Least Likely to Marry.
June 17, 2013
My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2013/06...
They say it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress, but what do they say when it’s your ex-husband who walks in on your fitting? Reese Michael doesn’t know, but she wants Mason Hicks gone. It’s been nine years since she last saw Mason and his showing up a few days before her wedding starts a chain of events that cause Reese’s perfect life to crash down around her ears. Now her fiancé has cancelled the wedding and it’s Mason who’s sticking around, offering to help Reese with the fallout. Reese doesn’t want to be distracted by her ex’s gorgeous body or the way her long-buried feelings for him seem to be resurfacing. But the longer she’s around her unexpected wedding guest, the closer Reese comes to falling for her first love all over again.
True love gets a second chance in The Unexpected Wedding Guest . I was captivated by Reese and Mason’s romance and it took all of my willpower not to start re-reading The Unexpected Wedding Guest as soon as I finished it the first time.
Mason and Reese are a couple that dashed into love the first time when they were too young and not ready to deal with the troubles their marriage would face. Loving each other wasn’t the problem; living with one another was. I love how author Aimee Carson shows the initial attraction between Reese and Mason and slowly reveals why it is they didn’t work the first time around. Both Reese and Mason needed to grow up before they were truly ready to be together, and now that they have, it’s clear they have what it takes to make it as a couple. Though there’s heartache on the road to happily ever after, Ms. Carson had me cheering for these two, and I finished their story a well-satisfied reader.
The Unexpected Wedding Guest is the first book in the multi-author Wedding Season quartet and I’m really looking forward to reading The Girl Least Likely to Marry, Maid of Dishonor, and Last Groom Standing. Reese’s three best friends from college — aka the future Wedding Season heroines — play supporting roles and I find myself intrigued by each of them, particularly Gina. In addition, Ms. Carson wrote a prequel novella, The Wedding Dress Diaries, which features Reese’s half-brother, Parker. While he isn’t a major character in The Unexpected Wedding Guest , it was a delight to see Parker and his heroine, Amber, make cameos in this story. The only niggle I had about The Unexpected Wedding Guest was how quickly Reese’s nice guy fiancé backed out of the wedding, but I expect that will be explained down the line when it’s time for his book.
The Unexpected Wedding Guest is the perfect story to curl up with when you want something fun, sexy, and heartwarming. I loved it and I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Carson’s work!
They say it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress, but what do they say when it’s your ex-husband who walks in on your fitting? Reese Michael doesn’t know, but she wants Mason Hicks gone. It’s been nine years since she last saw Mason and his showing up a few days before her wedding starts a chain of events that cause Reese’s perfect life to crash down around her ears. Now her fiancé has cancelled the wedding and it’s Mason who’s sticking around, offering to help Reese with the fallout. Reese doesn’t want to be distracted by her ex’s gorgeous body or the way her long-buried feelings for him seem to be resurfacing. But the longer she’s around her unexpected wedding guest, the closer Reese comes to falling for her first love all over again.
True love gets a second chance in The Unexpected Wedding Guest . I was captivated by Reese and Mason’s romance and it took all of my willpower not to start re-reading The Unexpected Wedding Guest as soon as I finished it the first time.
Mason and Reese are a couple that dashed into love the first time when they were too young and not ready to deal with the troubles their marriage would face. Loving each other wasn’t the problem; living with one another was. I love how author Aimee Carson shows the initial attraction between Reese and Mason and slowly reveals why it is they didn’t work the first time around. Both Reese and Mason needed to grow up before they were truly ready to be together, and now that they have, it’s clear they have what it takes to make it as a couple. Though there’s heartache on the road to happily ever after, Ms. Carson had me cheering for these two, and I finished their story a well-satisfied reader.
The Unexpected Wedding Guest is the first book in the multi-author Wedding Season quartet and I’m really looking forward to reading The Girl Least Likely to Marry, Maid of Dishonor, and Last Groom Standing. Reese’s three best friends from college — aka the future Wedding Season heroines — play supporting roles and I find myself intrigued by each of them, particularly Gina. In addition, Ms. Carson wrote a prequel novella, The Wedding Dress Diaries, which features Reese’s half-brother, Parker. While he isn’t a major character in The Unexpected Wedding Guest , it was a delight to see Parker and his heroine, Amber, make cameos in this story. The only niggle I had about The Unexpected Wedding Guest was how quickly Reese’s nice guy fiancé backed out of the wedding, but I expect that will be explained down the line when it’s time for his book.
The Unexpected Wedding Guest is the perfect story to curl up with when you want something fun, sexy, and heartwarming. I loved it and I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Carson’s work!
August 2, 2013
The Unexpected Wedding Guest by Aimee Carson
Imagine you are just a few days away from your dream wedding, you are in your wedding gown having your last adjustments when who should walk in … your ex husband. Reese the intended bride is upset but you can tell right from the start that these two have unfinished business. Soon the groom to be has called off the wedding.
Reese and Mason had married 10 years ago. They met and fell in love within one week and were married soon after. While the sex was amazing, the marriage ended after just one year.
Mason Hicks had been severely injured in an IED explosion which almost killed him. Now he suffers from debilitating migraines, insomnia, short term memory issues and a missing sex drive. Being back with Reese has helped with one of those issues. I truly felt for this character. With everything he went through in the war and with Reese.
I don’t think I cared that much for Reese’s character. And I came away wondering if she truly knew what real love was. Yes she was finally there for Mason when he suffered a migraine, but she was also worried about getting the names out of the ice sculptures.
It was a fun read and I enjoyed it. It had some really good passionate scenes and a few scenes that had me laughing but I thought it could have been better.
4/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine you are just a few days away from your dream wedding, you are in your wedding gown having your last adjustments when who should walk in … your ex husband. Reese the intended bride is upset but you can tell right from the start that these two have unfinished business. Soon the groom to be has called off the wedding.
Reese and Mason had married 10 years ago. They met and fell in love within one week and were married soon after. While the sex was amazing, the marriage ended after just one year.
Mason Hicks had been severely injured in an IED explosion which almost killed him. Now he suffers from debilitating migraines, insomnia, short term memory issues and a missing sex drive. Being back with Reese has helped with one of those issues. I truly felt for this character. With everything he went through in the war and with Reese.
I don’t think I cared that much for Reese’s character. And I came away wondering if she truly knew what real love was. Yes she was finally there for Mason when he suffered a migraine, but she was also worried about getting the names out of the ice sculptures.
It was a fun read and I enjoyed it. It had some really good passionate scenes and a few scenes that had me laughing but I thought it could have been better.
4/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2013
My view
I am glad I read book #2 in the series The Girls Less Likely to Marry first. I think this plot was not strong enough to open the series. The beginning was slow and it was easy to put the book aside without much consideration.
The author tried to build up the characters with a lot of description and showing most of their physical and facial gestures, but sometimes it felt artificial. The reaction from the groom to be was far of from reality, as well as the visit from the ex-husband.
Overall, the book needed something else than past relationships to anchor the story. The passion between the main characters was present, but never felt compelling enough to fall in love with them. On the other hand, the book provides more inside about the characters that will complete the series.
What I liked the most
I liked getting more information about the Awesome Foursome.
I wanted more of
I wanted more of everything. The story felt incomplete and with not enough drama.
Who should read it
Anyone looking for book #1 in the series
Rate
3.5 out of 5
I am glad I read book #2 in the series The Girls Less Likely to Marry first. I think this plot was not strong enough to open the series. The beginning was slow and it was easy to put the book aside without much consideration.
The author tried to build up the characters with a lot of description and showing most of their physical and facial gestures, but sometimes it felt artificial. The reaction from the groom to be was far of from reality, as well as the visit from the ex-husband.
Overall, the book needed something else than past relationships to anchor the story. The passion between the main characters was present, but never felt compelling enough to fall in love with them. On the other hand, the book provides more inside about the characters that will complete the series.
What I liked the most
I liked getting more information about the Awesome Foursome.
I wanted more of
I wanted more of everything. The story felt incomplete and with not enough drama.
Who should read it
Anyone looking for book #1 in the series
Rate
3.5 out of 5
May 27, 2013
The Unexpected Wedding Guest was a fun, enjoyable read and is easily my favorite of the Harlequin KISS books. If you're looking for a light and quick read, this book is for you!
Thank you, Harlequin via NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book for review purposes.
Thank you, Harlequin via NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book for review purposes.
August 12, 2013
I liked the premise of this and probably three quarters of the execution. I just needed a little bit more to help me believe that the problems that drove them apart wouldn't do it again.
July 7, 2019
Every character was burying their head under a rock.
July 12, 2013
Title: The Unexpected Wedding Guest
Series: N/A
Author: Aimee Carson
Genre: Romance
Blurb: "Surprised to see me?"
Getting caught in her wedding dress by her drop-dead-gorgeous ex-husband is Reese Michael's worst nightmare. Especially when her perfect-on-paper fiancé then cancels their wedding!
Reese has spent years trying to forget how her marriage to Mason Hicks crashed and burned-yes, their chemistry was incredible, but a girl can't live on lust alone! And what's a jilted bride supposed to do when the one man she could never forget is back in her life, as irresistible as ever? Mason might be her own personal brand of Kryptonite, but surely life is meant to be lived a little dangerously...?
Thoughts: Reese is preparing for her wedding - which is only days away - when her ex-husband barges back into her life. Eager to get him out the door, and out of her life, she is shocked at her fiancée's suggestion that he stay. Unfortunately, there is no changing her fiancée's mind on the matter - and even more unfortunately, Mason is as sexy as ever! By the time her wedding arrives, will Reese go through with her marriage? Or go back to the bad-boy husband she's always loved?
I was a bit disappointed when I first started the book, because Mason does not seek out Reese because he has realized how much he still loves her and he doesn't want her to marry anyone else. He sought her out under the advice of his therapist - who recommended that he needed "closure" on that part of his life. That sucked a bit of the romance out of it for me. Not only that though, it was really hard to feel anything between the couple other than desire. I didn't feel any deep emotional connection...no love for one another. At least not for me. However, there was a sweet emotional scene when Reese stepped up to take care of Mason when he was sick that really stuck out in my mind. I just would have liked to see a little more depth, a little more real connection between the two. The fiancée really didn't play much of a role in the book either. He was really nothing but a footnote to the book.
I also thought the reasons for their divorce were rather silly. Reese thought he was 'distant' and refused to talk to her about what he was experiencing after he came back from deployment - and she was furious when he signed up to go back out on deployment again. Number one, the guy is in the military - what did she think was going to happen here? And number two, while I can understand being upset at his reticence, it was not something that couldn't be worked through. The reasons just weren't good enough, especially considering Reese's level of sheer anger at Mason. You would have thought he had cheated on her or something.
However, I really enjoyed the way the author portrayed Mason and his disabilities after the accident. Not only are these types of things rarely addressed in novels, but when they are, most are miraculously cured in the end. The fact that instead Mason must learn to adjust his life to deal with his disorder, I thought really brought the story more to life for me.
I thought the book was good, but could have been a lot better.
Rate: B-
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: N/A
Author: Aimee Carson
Genre: Romance
Blurb: "Surprised to see me?"
Getting caught in her wedding dress by her drop-dead-gorgeous ex-husband is Reese Michael's worst nightmare. Especially when her perfect-on-paper fiancé then cancels their wedding!
Reese has spent years trying to forget how her marriage to Mason Hicks crashed and burned-yes, their chemistry was incredible, but a girl can't live on lust alone! And what's a jilted bride supposed to do when the one man she could never forget is back in her life, as irresistible as ever? Mason might be her own personal brand of Kryptonite, but surely life is meant to be lived a little dangerously...?
Thoughts: Reese is preparing for her wedding - which is only days away - when her ex-husband barges back into her life. Eager to get him out the door, and out of her life, she is shocked at her fiancée's suggestion that he stay. Unfortunately, there is no changing her fiancée's mind on the matter - and even more unfortunately, Mason is as sexy as ever! By the time her wedding arrives, will Reese go through with her marriage? Or go back to the bad-boy husband she's always loved?
I was a bit disappointed when I first started the book, because Mason does not seek out Reese because he has realized how much he still loves her and he doesn't want her to marry anyone else. He sought her out under the advice of his therapist - who recommended that he needed "closure" on that part of his life. That sucked a bit of the romance out of it for me. Not only that though, it was really hard to feel anything between the couple other than desire. I didn't feel any deep emotional connection...no love for one another. At least not for me. However, there was a sweet emotional scene when Reese stepped up to take care of Mason when he was sick that really stuck out in my mind. I just would have liked to see a little more depth, a little more real connection between the two. The fiancée really didn't play much of a role in the book either. He was really nothing but a footnote to the book.
I also thought the reasons for their divorce were rather silly. Reese thought he was 'distant' and refused to talk to her about what he was experiencing after he came back from deployment - and she was furious when he signed up to go back out on deployment again. Number one, the guy is in the military - what did she think was going to happen here? And number two, while I can understand being upset at his reticence, it was not something that couldn't be worked through. The reasons just weren't good enough, especially considering Reese's level of sheer anger at Mason. You would have thought he had cheated on her or something.
However, I really enjoyed the way the author portrayed Mason and his disabilities after the accident. Not only are these types of things rarely addressed in novels, but when they are, most are miraculously cured in the end. The fact that instead Mason must learn to adjust his life to deal with his disorder, I thought really brought the story more to life for me.
I thought the book was good, but could have been a lot better.
Rate: B-
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
October 1, 2013
For more book reviews, Please check out: www.readingtsinoy.blogspot.com
My Summary:
An ex-husband showing up while a woman is in her bridal dress is never a good sign…even though they’re not at an actually wedding….yet. Reese didn’t think fitting her beautiful gown 4 days before walking down the aisle would be eventful. But lo and behold, her ex-marine ex-husband walks in for no reason other than to talk about their past. What’s worse, her wonderful fiancée suggests to postpone the wedding just so Reese can figure out who she really wants!
Mason only wants closure with Reese…plus his doctor encouraged him to speak to people from his past, thinking it might help jog his memory as he suffers from short term memory loss from a bomb explosion that nearly killed him during his tour of duty.
Sexual tension and animal attraction aside, Reese decides to ignore her leftover feelings for Mason seeing that she already has the perfect fiancée, one that her filthy rich parents finally approve of. It took years to get over mason, and him showing up is merely reminding her of all that she has lost, including self esteem from a marriage that crumbled because he closed himself off from her and everyone else.
But what if she never lost her feelings for Mason? What if, after all these years, all he really had to do, was come back to her? Will her head give in to her heart?
My Review:
The tension between these two characters was thick enough to slice. So much so that I couldn’t read fast enough to see if they would or would not get back together. Though of course, knowing that this is a lighthearted romance, I already knew coming in the ending would be happy. But it is written well enough that I still had doubts about its finality. So kudos to the author for the really good build up.
I like both main characters Reese and Mason. Reese is a sweetheart, a Southern belle type born into money whose parents had grand expectations about. Mason was…. Mason. A simple man who just wants his wife and serve his country as best he could. The other characters, the three best friends of Reese, were likable characters as well (the very ones we should watch out for in this series). And I love Dylan, the fiancée. He has very few scenes devoted to him yet you already know the good and gentle man that he is. I hope he serves as one of the main characters in the series’ follow up books.
Passionate and Hot. The sex scenes are scorching. However is it believable that within four short days a woman would jump from her wonderful fiancée back to an ex husband? Realistically speaking, I’m not sure, but this author sure made me believe it. Overall, this is a fun read. Well enough that it may make you believe that a second chance at love can be a good thing.
My Summary:
An ex-husband showing up while a woman is in her bridal dress is never a good sign…even though they’re not at an actually wedding….yet. Reese didn’t think fitting her beautiful gown 4 days before walking down the aisle would be eventful. But lo and behold, her ex-marine ex-husband walks in for no reason other than to talk about their past. What’s worse, her wonderful fiancée suggests to postpone the wedding just so Reese can figure out who she really wants!
Mason only wants closure with Reese…plus his doctor encouraged him to speak to people from his past, thinking it might help jog his memory as he suffers from short term memory loss from a bomb explosion that nearly killed him during his tour of duty.
Sexual tension and animal attraction aside, Reese decides to ignore her leftover feelings for Mason seeing that she already has the perfect fiancée, one that her filthy rich parents finally approve of. It took years to get over mason, and him showing up is merely reminding her of all that she has lost, including self esteem from a marriage that crumbled because he closed himself off from her and everyone else.
But what if she never lost her feelings for Mason? What if, after all these years, all he really had to do, was come back to her? Will her head give in to her heart?
My Review:
The tension between these two characters was thick enough to slice. So much so that I couldn’t read fast enough to see if they would or would not get back together. Though of course, knowing that this is a lighthearted romance, I already knew coming in the ending would be happy. But it is written well enough that I still had doubts about its finality. So kudos to the author for the really good build up.
I like both main characters Reese and Mason. Reese is a sweetheart, a Southern belle type born into money whose parents had grand expectations about. Mason was…. Mason. A simple man who just wants his wife and serve his country as best he could. The other characters, the three best friends of Reese, were likable characters as well (the very ones we should watch out for in this series). And I love Dylan, the fiancée. He has very few scenes devoted to him yet you already know the good and gentle man that he is. I hope he serves as one of the main characters in the series’ follow up books.
Passionate and Hot. The sex scenes are scorching. However is it believable that within four short days a woman would jump from her wonderful fiancée back to an ex husband? Realistically speaking, I’m not sure, but this author sure made me believe it. Overall, this is a fun read. Well enough that it may make you believe that a second chance at love can be a good thing.
September 5, 2013
I have been a fan of Mills & Boon romances since I was a teenager and they always hit the spot when I'm looking for a fun, sexy read that is going to leave me with a smile on my face. So when I was offered review copies of the books in their new Modern Tempted range I jumped at the chance to read them. I always love a good second chance romance so I was looking forward to The Unexpected Wedding Guest and it was an enjoyable story.
Reese and Mason married young and neither of them were fully prepared for the trials of marriage. Mason spent most of their short time together on tour in Afghanistan and Reese missed him like crazy. When he came back suffering with PTSD and acting like a completely different man she didn't know how to help him and she was devastated when he pushed her away. She has spent years trying to put her past behind her and is finally ready to move on with her perfect fiancé who is just the kind of guy her parents always wanted her to marry. When Mason turns up looking for "closure" and her fiancé walks away just days before their wedding Reese is forced to face up to the fact that she never got over Mason but will she be brave enough to give him another chance?
I think what I loved most about this one is that both Reese and Mason had made mistakes in the past and they were willing to look at things from each other's perspectives to figure out exactly why their marriage ended the way it did. They were both able to own up to the part they played in the breakup and were willing to discuss things like adults which made me believe that they could build a future together. Both of them have done a lot of growing up in the last 10 years but Reese in particular has gone from a spoiled, pampered princess to a woman who can stand on her own two feet and is willing to fight for what she wants. She is forced to face a few uncomfortable home truths but she does it with dignity and is determined to make changes in her life. It didn't hurt that they both had fabulous chemistry too!
The Unexpected Wedding Guest is the first book in a linked series featuring four best friends who were room mates in college. It was interesting to see the dynamics between Reese, Gina, Cassie and Marnie and I'm looking forward to getting to know them all better as we read their individual stories. All four books have been written by different authors with Girl Least Likely to Marry by Amy Andrews also released this month (I'll be reading that one very soon so keep an eye out for my review). The next two books, Maid of Dishonor by Heidi Rice and Last Groom Standing by Kimberly Lang, will be published in October and I'm already looking forward to getting my hands on them.
Reese and Mason married young and neither of them were fully prepared for the trials of marriage. Mason spent most of their short time together on tour in Afghanistan and Reese missed him like crazy. When he came back suffering with PTSD and acting like a completely different man she didn't know how to help him and she was devastated when he pushed her away. She has spent years trying to put her past behind her and is finally ready to move on with her perfect fiancé who is just the kind of guy her parents always wanted her to marry. When Mason turns up looking for "closure" and her fiancé walks away just days before their wedding Reese is forced to face up to the fact that she never got over Mason but will she be brave enough to give him another chance?
I think what I loved most about this one is that both Reese and Mason had made mistakes in the past and they were willing to look at things from each other's perspectives to figure out exactly why their marriage ended the way it did. They were both able to own up to the part they played in the breakup and were willing to discuss things like adults which made me believe that they could build a future together. Both of them have done a lot of growing up in the last 10 years but Reese in particular has gone from a spoiled, pampered princess to a woman who can stand on her own two feet and is willing to fight for what she wants. She is forced to face a few uncomfortable home truths but she does it with dignity and is determined to make changes in her life. It didn't hurt that they both had fabulous chemistry too!
The Unexpected Wedding Guest is the first book in a linked series featuring four best friends who were room mates in college. It was interesting to see the dynamics between Reese, Gina, Cassie and Marnie and I'm looking forward to getting to know them all better as we read their individual stories. All four books have been written by different authors with Girl Least Likely to Marry by Amy Andrews also released this month (I'll be reading that one very soon so keep an eye out for my review). The next two books, Maid of Dishonor by Heidi Rice and Last Groom Standing by Kimberly Lang, will be published in October and I'm already looking forward to getting my hands on them.
December 22, 2015
"Kelihatannya kau lebih fokus pada cara agar acara pernikahan ini terlaksana dengan benar dibandingkan masa depan kita bersama." – halaman 64-65
Seminggu menjelang hari pernikahannya, Reese Michaels mendapatkan tamu tak terduga. Dia adalah Mason Hicks, mantan suaminya yang seorang mantan Marinir. Pernikahan mereka yang hanya berusia satu tahun berakhir tidak baik sehingga Reese menyimpan kebencian yang sangat besar pada Mason. Dylan, tunangan Reese, malah menganggap kedatangan Mason sebagai cara agar Reese bisa lepas dari masa lalu dan siap menyambut masa depan. Oleh karena itu, Dylan memutuskan untuk menunda pernikahan. Reese jadi stres berat. Tapi dia masih mengizinkan Mason untuk menginap satu malam. Untuk Mason sendiri, dia berusaha berdamai dengan Reese, yang terbukti cukup ampuh mengobati trauma yang dialaminya di medan perang. Kehadiran Mason itu cukup berguna untuk membantu Reese membereskan perlengkapan pernikahan yang tidak terpakai dan menyulapnya menjadi sebuah pesta yang mewah. Dalam kerjasama tersebut, Reese dan Mason sedikit demi sedikit teringat kenangan hubungan mereka dulu.
---
Premis novel adult romance biasanya sudah banyak dipakai dan punya akhir yang predictable. Tapi perjalanan menuju halaman terakhir itu sering kali menarik dan cukup membekas. Itu juga yang aku harapkan dari The Unexpected Wedding Guest. Di bagian awal, konfliknya sudah muncul dan membuat Reese dan Mason ‘berduaan’ saja di kastel megah. Mereka saling membenci, namun di sisi lain saling membutuhkan. Banyak momen yang asyik untuk diikuti. Belum lagi ketertarikan seksualnya cukup mengebu-gebu, sesuatu yang sudah kuduga sebelumnya.
Lama-lama ceritanya jadi soal fisik dan mengesampingkan masalah utama yang membuat mereka pisah. Baik Reese dan Mason sempat menyinggung masalah utama mereka. Tapi fokus mereka gampang teralihkan dan lebih senang mengagumi tubuh pasangannya. Pelitnya detail membuatku bingung lalu ujung-ujungnya jadi bosan. Pembahasan dan penyelesaian masalah itu baru muncul lagi di bagian akhir. Saaaangat singkat. Cerita Reese dan Mason pun berakhir. Nggak ada epilog atau bagaimana hubungan mereka kedepannya. Masih untung sih masalah di masa lalu mereka terjawab. Masalah itu ternyata tidak seserius yang kuduga tapi cukup penting lah.
Baca review selengkapnya di http://dhynhanarun.blogspot.com/2015/... ;D
Seminggu menjelang hari pernikahannya, Reese Michaels mendapatkan tamu tak terduga. Dia adalah Mason Hicks, mantan suaminya yang seorang mantan Marinir. Pernikahan mereka yang hanya berusia satu tahun berakhir tidak baik sehingga Reese menyimpan kebencian yang sangat besar pada Mason. Dylan, tunangan Reese, malah menganggap kedatangan Mason sebagai cara agar Reese bisa lepas dari masa lalu dan siap menyambut masa depan. Oleh karena itu, Dylan memutuskan untuk menunda pernikahan. Reese jadi stres berat. Tapi dia masih mengizinkan Mason untuk menginap satu malam. Untuk Mason sendiri, dia berusaha berdamai dengan Reese, yang terbukti cukup ampuh mengobati trauma yang dialaminya di medan perang. Kehadiran Mason itu cukup berguna untuk membantu Reese membereskan perlengkapan pernikahan yang tidak terpakai dan menyulapnya menjadi sebuah pesta yang mewah. Dalam kerjasama tersebut, Reese dan Mason sedikit demi sedikit teringat kenangan hubungan mereka dulu.
---
Premis novel adult romance biasanya sudah banyak dipakai dan punya akhir yang predictable. Tapi perjalanan menuju halaman terakhir itu sering kali menarik dan cukup membekas. Itu juga yang aku harapkan dari The Unexpected Wedding Guest. Di bagian awal, konfliknya sudah muncul dan membuat Reese dan Mason ‘berduaan’ saja di kastel megah. Mereka saling membenci, namun di sisi lain saling membutuhkan. Banyak momen yang asyik untuk diikuti. Belum lagi ketertarikan seksualnya cukup mengebu-gebu, sesuatu yang sudah kuduga sebelumnya.
Lama-lama ceritanya jadi soal fisik dan mengesampingkan masalah utama yang membuat mereka pisah. Baik Reese dan Mason sempat menyinggung masalah utama mereka. Tapi fokus mereka gampang teralihkan dan lebih senang mengagumi tubuh pasangannya. Pelitnya detail membuatku bingung lalu ujung-ujungnya jadi bosan. Pembahasan dan penyelesaian masalah itu baru muncul lagi di bagian akhir. Saaaangat singkat. Cerita Reese dan Mason pun berakhir. Nggak ada epilog atau bagaimana hubungan mereka kedepannya. Masih untung sih masalah di masa lalu mereka terjawab. Masalah itu ternyata tidak seserius yang kuduga tapi cukup penting lah.
Baca review selengkapnya di http://dhynhanarun.blogspot.com/2015/... ;D
August 5, 2013
The Deal: With her wedding just a few days away, the last thing Reese Michaels wants is for her ex husband Mason to show up at her wedding venue and claim he wants closure about the marriage that imploded almost ten years ago.
But it all turns even worse when Mason strikes a quasi friendship with Reese's fiance Dylan, and Dylan agrees they both need closure and that they should use the next few days to find it.
Mason really just wants to set some things right between him and Reese, knowing that ten years ago they hurt each other very much, and that fixing that might help him find a new path in life. A former marine, Mason is still trying to adjust to civilian life, and dealing with the consequences of a traumatic head injury that put an end to his career and left him with a crappy short time memory.
Not that he's willing to admit that to Reese just now. Even if the chemistry between them is as strong as ever.
My Thoughts: Well, I really wanted to like The Unexpected Wedding Guest, it sounded kind of fun and I do like the second chance stories, but this one never finished making much sense. The more I found out about Reese and Mason's marriage the more I understood why they screwed it up and the less sure I was that the should be together... and the less I liked them.
Plus, they didn't have much in common (other than sex) and they acted very annoying. Oh and don't even get me started on Reese's friends, they drove me up the wall - there is this whole subplot of Reese and her three friends from college reuniting after years of not seeing each other that I just didn't care for, nor did I like any of the other girls.
Also, Reese's fiance was very much a cold fish, who seemed not to care either way what was going on between the ex-couple. And calmly accepted everything.
So, yeah, this one isn't a winner for me, but I kind of like the idea of the Kiss line anyway, so I guess I'll keep trying.
But it all turns even worse when Mason strikes a quasi friendship with Reese's fiance Dylan, and Dylan agrees they both need closure and that they should use the next few days to find it.
Mason really just wants to set some things right between him and Reese, knowing that ten years ago they hurt each other very much, and that fixing that might help him find a new path in life. A former marine, Mason is still trying to adjust to civilian life, and dealing with the consequences of a traumatic head injury that put an end to his career and left him with a crappy short time memory.
Not that he's willing to admit that to Reese just now. Even if the chemistry between them is as strong as ever.
My Thoughts: Well, I really wanted to like The Unexpected Wedding Guest, it sounded kind of fun and I do like the second chance stories, but this one never finished making much sense. The more I found out about Reese and Mason's marriage the more I understood why they screwed it up and the less sure I was that the should be together... and the less I liked them.
Plus, they didn't have much in common (other than sex) and they acted very annoying. Oh and don't even get me started on Reese's friends, they drove me up the wall - there is this whole subplot of Reese and her three friends from college reuniting after years of not seeing each other that I just didn't care for, nor did I like any of the other girls.
Also, Reese's fiance was very much a cold fish, who seemed not to care either way what was going on between the ex-couple. And calmly accepted everything.
So, yeah, this one isn't a winner for me, but I kind of like the idea of the Kiss line anyway, so I guess I'll keep trying.
May 5, 2013
This book is part of an intertwined series, The Wedding Season, that features four college roommates: Reese, Gina, Marnie and Cassie. The Unexpected Wedding Guest is Reese's story and what a complicated plot for this slim romance to pull off: Reese and Mason feel in love through a whirlwind courtship during her college days but the "Park Avenue Princess" and her Marine hottie broke it off. Now, ten years later, Reese is getting fitted for her picture-perfect wedding to Dylan, a Park Avenue-approved prince, only to see Mason in her fitting mirror.
Sounds complicated enough already, doesn't it? It gets more so as the book develops. There are all sorts of revelations about Reese, Mason and Dylan that emerge during the book. Not all of them are completely handled: I was a bit disappointed in not seeing some more evidence of the maturity and independence Reese realized she hadn't really displayed during her youthful marriage. And Mason had some unresolved issues as well. Nevertheless, their attraction to each other was beautifully articulated as well as their willingness to work on their relationship despite the many obstacles they faced. Sexy and a little bit serious as well as romantic? Aimee Carson deserves a round of applause for crafting such a compelling couple.
The plot of turning the blowout wedding into a blowout party strained credulity at more than one point but it's clear that the authors of the four different volumes will need that party to pull together the other happily-ever-afters we're awaiting, so I'm willing to give it a pass, too.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Sounds complicated enough already, doesn't it? It gets more so as the book develops. There are all sorts of revelations about Reese, Mason and Dylan that emerge during the book. Not all of them are completely handled: I was a bit disappointed in not seeing some more evidence of the maturity and independence Reese realized she hadn't really displayed during her youthful marriage. And Mason had some unresolved issues as well. Nevertheless, their attraction to each other was beautifully articulated as well as their willingness to work on their relationship despite the many obstacles they faced. Sexy and a little bit serious as well as romantic? Aimee Carson deserves a round of applause for crafting such a compelling couple.
The plot of turning the blowout wedding into a blowout party strained credulity at more than one point but it's clear that the authors of the four different volumes will need that party to pull together the other happily-ever-afters we're awaiting, so I'm willing to give it a pass, too.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 17, 2013
5 stars ~ favourite
I am so overwhelmed! With everything. This book is a wonderful read and I was close to tear up. Love is beautiful but love at the second chance is even more.
Reese was about to get married but not until her ex-husband showed up a day before. Well, his presence changed everything. I liked this kind of turn out because it guaranteed a lot of interesting stuffs about to happen. From what I read, they both didn't part on good terms ten years ago. They separated because Reese was a spoiled rich girl and Mason didn't say what he had to say. I was so angry after I learned that because their love was beautiful and they chose to kill it.
Thank goodness although they didn't belong to each other for ten years, they can't help from loving each other. The love is there, in the bottom of their hearts and that is when things started to get so interesting. The attraction between has been died. Interesting talks suddenly surfaced and most things said finally made sense. The present Reese is marvelous I loved her because she turned into a sophisticated matured woman. Reading Mason who is finally opened up is also refreshing.
I especially in happy bubble and awe when Reese was taking care of Mason. There is one chasing moment I found so cheesy, so cliche but I would do the same thing if such melodramatic to happen in my life because you wouldn't let someone you love running away from you, right? And I got all in mushy when Reese determined and decided to fight for their love, to never let Mason walking away from her again, and to stay with him through good and bad. See, I cannot not love this book.
Dear author,
Your writing is awesome. Thumbs up!
Recommended.
I am so overwhelmed! With everything. This book is a wonderful read and I was close to tear up. Love is beautiful but love at the second chance is even more.
Reese was about to get married but not until her ex-husband showed up a day before. Well, his presence changed everything. I liked this kind of turn out because it guaranteed a lot of interesting stuffs about to happen. From what I read, they both didn't part on good terms ten years ago. They separated because Reese was a spoiled rich girl and Mason didn't say what he had to say. I was so angry after I learned that because their love was beautiful and they chose to kill it.
Thank goodness although they didn't belong to each other for ten years, they can't help from loving each other. The love is there, in the bottom of their hearts and that is when things started to get so interesting. The attraction between has been died. Interesting talks suddenly surfaced and most things said finally made sense. The present Reese is marvelous I loved her because she turned into a sophisticated matured woman. Reading Mason who is finally opened up is also refreshing.
I especially in happy bubble and awe when Reese was taking care of Mason. There is one chasing moment I found so cheesy, so cliche but I would do the same thing if such melodramatic to happen in my life because you wouldn't let someone you love running away from you, right? And I got all in mushy when Reese determined and decided to fight for their love, to never let Mason walking away from her again, and to stay with him through good and bad. See, I cannot not love this book.
Dear author,
Your writing is awesome. Thumbs up!
Recommended.
September 9, 2013
This book tell the story of Reese, who is few days away from being married to her fiancé, found herself to be confronted with her ex husband Mason. It was never Mason’s intention to make trouble for Reese but rather for them to clear the air of what have happened to them 10 years ago resulted in their divorce as encourage by his psychologist. Reese who never expected to see him anymore was stunt to him. To make thing worse, her fiancé came face to face with him and seeing them together, have decided to cancel their wedding and asked Reese to reconsider and reevaluate her true feeling. Having two shocks of her life at the same time is rendered speechless and seeing her in an incoherent state, Mason offered to stay with her until her girlfriends arrived. During the days that Reese stayed with Mason, they have a chance to rediscover each other and the understanding of what really happened ten years ago.
It was really uncustomary for me to like not the main character of the book the most but rather Reese’s fiancé for his understanding and selfishness. Back to Reese, she always feel that Mason have failed her and that their marriage was a sham from the beginning without realizing that she was also contributor to the failure of their marriage. Mason, despite his entire fault, is a caring person. He is willing to let go of Reese despite that his feeling for her. Overall, this book is warmth story to read and I enjoyed reading it very much.
It was really uncustomary for me to like not the main character of the book the most but rather Reese’s fiancé for his understanding and selfishness. Back to Reese, she always feel that Mason have failed her and that their marriage was a sham from the beginning without realizing that she was also contributor to the failure of their marriage. Mason, despite his entire fault, is a caring person. He is willing to let go of Reese despite that his feeling for her. Overall, this book is warmth story to read and I enjoyed reading it very much.
September 10, 2013
When I first heard that some of my fave authors were involved in a continuity series I felt two things. First, very excited! And second, curious to see how it turns out. This is the opening book to 'The Wedding Season' series from Modern Tempted/Harlequin KISS and it starts the series off, if not with a bang but definitely with a pop and fizzle.
Aimee Carson has penned a really nice reunion story. Her Hero and Heroine have grown over their years apart, or perhaps grown-up would be a better phrase. The author makes no attempt to give excuses for her characters past failings in their relationship, happily admitting that they were just two young at the time and not ready for the full and total commitment it takes to make a marriage work. And that's OK, and the book displays that attitude, which, you know, is honest and really refreshing to read.
While I do feel that the dialogue at times felt a little forced and there was a little too much focus on the physical rather than emotional, as well as a lot going on in the background of the story, overall the story pulled me in right from the start and kept me invested in hoping the two would get their second chance.
The sizzle-factor is here, in spades, as well as some light, fun moments with a tantalising glimpse into the characters waiting for their stories to get told.
Very enjoyable.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
Aimee Carson has penned a really nice reunion story. Her Hero and Heroine have grown over their years apart, or perhaps grown-up would be a better phrase. The author makes no attempt to give excuses for her characters past failings in their relationship, happily admitting that they were just two young at the time and not ready for the full and total commitment it takes to make a marriage work. And that's OK, and the book displays that attitude, which, you know, is honest and really refreshing to read.
While I do feel that the dialogue at times felt a little forced and there was a little too much focus on the physical rather than emotional, as well as a lot going on in the background of the story, overall the story pulled me in right from the start and kept me invested in hoping the two would get their second chance.
The sizzle-factor is here, in spades, as well as some light, fun moments with a tantalising glimpse into the characters waiting for their stories to get told.
Very enjoyable.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
June 15, 2013
Review to come on HarlequinJunkie.com
Another KISS title that didn't fail to keep me entertained! This is the first book in the Wedding Season Quartet.
Reese had a privileged life. Aware but slightly ignorant about her family and how she was treated, she had nothing to complain about. In college, she met and bonded with three other women, and they were dubbed "The Awesome Foursome". Read More
Another KISS title that didn't fail to keep me entertained! This is the first book in the Wedding Season Quartet.
Reese had a privileged life. Aware but slightly ignorant about her family and how she was treated, she had nothing to complain about. In college, she met and bonded with three other women, and they were dubbed "The Awesome Foursome". Read More
January 10, 2014
Aimee Carson kicks off the Wedding Season with a bang.
Drop dead gorgeous (and slightly tortured ex marine)...CHECK.
So funny I pulled a muscle...CHECK
Feisty heroine I want as my best friend...CHECK
Enough sexual tension to have me panting, even when the characters weren't between the sheets...triple CHECK.
A fab read that I'd highly recommend!
Drop dead gorgeous (and slightly tortured ex marine)...CHECK.
So funny I pulled a muscle...CHECK
Feisty heroine I want as my best friend...CHECK
Enough sexual tension to have me panting, even when the characters weren't between the sheets...triple CHECK.
A fab read that I'd highly recommend!
September 12, 2017
This was a DNF for me. I loved the synopsis and couldn't wait to read it. I enjoyed the concept, and always like these kind of books, but The characters just didn't speak to me. I found myself losing interest about half way into it.
I have read one of her other books, The Wedding Dress Diaries and LOVED it! Which means, this is an awesome author, this just maybe wasn't the right book for me.
I have read one of her other books, The Wedding Dress Diaries and LOVED it! Which means, this is an awesome author, this just maybe wasn't the right book for me.
May 2, 2013
Was surprised by how much I ended up liking this and am looking forward to the next book by Aimee Carson.
Review to come closer to publication date.
June 4, 2013
Mason/Reese's relationship had some unique issues that often aren't dealt with in romance novels.
I can't wait for the rest of the series!
I can't wait for the rest of the series!
February 23, 2019
Dört kız arkadaşın hikayesini anlatan serinin ilk kitabı.
Her kitabı farklı yazar yazmış.Ben galiba bir tanesini okudum öncesinde ama hatırlamıyorum. :D
İlk kitap, Reese Michael'in gelinlik provası yaparken eski kocasının çıkıp gelmesi ve nişanlısının düğünü iptal ettiğini söylemesi ile başlıyor.
Eski kocası Mason Hicks ile üniversite zamanında evlenmişler ve bu evlilik kısa sürmüş.
Reese 'nin bakış açısıyla baktığımız zaman evlilikleri bir felaket olmuş ve bunda da kocasının hatası var.Oysaki Mason'un bakış açısıyla baktığımızda Reese'de suçlu.Bana göre de suçun büyük kısmı onda.Sen zenginsin belki ama adam değil ve en ufak problemde eşinle konuşmak yerine ailene söylemen ve onlarında anında sorunu çözmesi bir kocası nasıl bir duruma sokar.Üstelik bu bir değil iki değilken...
Adamda çareyi evden uzaklaşmakla bulmuş,gitmiş asker olmuş.
Yıllar sonra psikolojisi bozuk olarak döndüğünde ise psikologunun tavsiyesiyle eski eşini görmeye gidiyor ama gittiği gün biraz kaoslu bir gün. :D
Nişanlısı düğünü iptal edince Reese'de düğün yemeğini partiye çevirmeye karar veriyor ve bu yönde hazırlık yapmaya başlıyor.Mason'da kalede kalıp ona yardımcı oluyor.Tabi bu arada çiftimiz yeniden yakınlaşıyor ve geçmişte konuşmadıklarını konuşup sorunlarını çözmeye başlıyor.
En nihayetinde Mason Reese için en iyisini istediği için nişanlısıyla evlenmesinin daha iyi olacağını düşünüp gitmeye karar verirken Reese'de Mason'dan vazgeçemeyeceğine karar veriyor.Eh sonunda çiftimiz mutlu sona ulaşıyor tabi. :D
Her kitabı farklı yazar yazmış.Ben galiba bir tanesini okudum öncesinde ama hatırlamıyorum. :D
İlk kitap, Reese Michael'in gelinlik provası yaparken eski kocasının çıkıp gelmesi ve nişanlısının düğünü iptal ettiğini söylemesi ile başlıyor.
Eski kocası Mason Hicks ile üniversite zamanında evlenmişler ve bu evlilik kısa sürmüş.
Reese 'nin bakış açısıyla baktığımız zaman evlilikleri bir felaket olmuş ve bunda da kocasının hatası var.Oysaki Mason'un bakış açısıyla baktığımızda Reese'de suçlu.Bana göre de suçun büyük kısmı onda.Sen zenginsin belki ama adam değil ve en ufak problemde eşinle konuşmak yerine ailene söylemen ve onlarında anında sorunu çözmesi bir kocası nasıl bir duruma sokar.Üstelik bu bir değil iki değilken...
Adamda çareyi evden uzaklaşmakla bulmuş,gitmiş asker olmuş.
Yıllar sonra psikolojisi bozuk olarak döndüğünde ise psikologunun tavsiyesiyle eski eşini görmeye gidiyor ama gittiği gün biraz kaoslu bir gün. :D
Nişanlısı düğünü iptal edince Reese'de düğün yemeğini partiye çevirmeye karar veriyor ve bu yönde hazırlık yapmaya başlıyor.Mason'da kalede kalıp ona yardımcı oluyor.Tabi bu arada çiftimiz yeniden yakınlaşıyor ve geçmişte konuşmadıklarını konuşup sorunlarını çözmeye başlıyor.
En nihayetinde Mason Reese için en iyisini istediği için nişanlısıyla evlenmesinin daha iyi olacağını düşünüp gitmeye karar verirken Reese'de Mason'dan vazgeçemeyeceğine karar veriyor.Eh sonunda çiftimiz mutlu sona ulaşıyor tabi. :D
May 24, 2020
The Unexpected Wedding Guest
She was just a week away from getting married when in walks in her ex husband. It has been ten years since they were divorced. He is back only due to injuries that he has. He needs to figure out why they divorced and see if he can move forward. But the more they remember the last the more they realize that they belong together. Will it be enough for them this time?
She was just a week away from getting married when in walks in her ex husband. It has been ten years since they were divorced. He is back only due to injuries that he has. He needs to figure out why they divorced and see if he can move forward. But the more they remember the last the more they realize that they belong together. Will it be enough for them this time?
October 4, 2022
This is enjoyable. I found the main characters persuasive, and their acknowledgement of shared responsibility for the outcome of their marriage is lovely. Also, I was afraid this would commit the deep sin of having love heal TBI, but thankfully, it does not.
Some flaws include the necessary clunkiness of setting up future books in the series, and some repetitiveness, especially their intense drooling over each other's bodies. But all in all, a fun, quick little love story.
Some flaws include the necessary clunkiness of setting up future books in the series, and some repetitiveness, especially their intense drooling over each other's bodies. But all in all, a fun, quick little love story.
April 24, 2023
Masih penasaran sama reaksi orangtua si Reese, tapi yaaa okelah.
Dibanding sama bukunya Nina Harrington yang porsi dialog sama narasinya bikin pusing (kayak baca skenario tapi format novel njir), buku ini jadi penyegaran banget. Pace-nya oke, cuma bagian soal Mason ngasih tau penyakitnya dan respons Reese singkat banget, kayak diburu-buru.
But I love this series dan seinget gue, buku ini yang bikin gue suka sama novel-novel adult romance-harlequin.
Will read the next book~ I
Dibanding sama bukunya Nina Harrington yang porsi dialog sama narasinya bikin pusing (kayak baca skenario tapi format novel njir), buku ini jadi penyegaran banget. Pace-nya oke, cuma bagian soal Mason ngasih tau penyakitnya dan respons Reese singkat banget, kayak diburu-buru.
But I love this series dan seinget gue, buku ini yang bikin gue suka sama novel-novel adult romance-harlequin.
Will read the next book~ I
November 11, 2013
It lives up to the Harlequin Kiss promise in an interesting and fulfilling way. See, I enjoy Ugly Betty and Meg Cabot as much as the next girl (listed on Kiss Harlequin’s submission page as equivalents), but I have to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the new line, which launched February 2013. Kiss describes itself like this:
“You think of flirting as an art form! Harlequin KISS stories are all about the delirium of a potential new romance—where fun-loving heroines and irresistible heroes just can’t get enough of each other.”
I don’t think of flirting as an art form, and I don’t generally buy romances focused on the potential of a new romance. I want solid people and solid stories and solid love. (You can tell I buy mostly historicals, right?) So wasn’t I surprised when Aimee Carson and the first book in the Wedding Season series made me do some rethinking? This couple has some history. Yet Reese and Mason are seeing each other after a long separation. More than that, neither is sure if they can risk their hearts to the sexual heat that always burns when they’re near each other. With this set-up, Carson satisfies very kind of reader. Whether you like fun and flirty or serious and sentimental The Unexpected Wedding guest will leave you giddy. It will also make you a Carson fan and a Kiss convert..
It has psychological realism. While a happy ever after is guaranteed in a romance, love never comes easily. Growing up on tales of misdirection, miscommunication, or the problems associated with an Alpha-males refusal and supposed inability to communicate, I am thrilled that writers are now sharing stories where real-life emotional struggles are impediments to love. Carson delivers an Alpha hero who wants to share, who wants to be enough, but who can’t . . . really can’t.
“There was a question in her gaze that he couldn’t answer. Which was way he’d never turned on the lights last night. As much as he’d wanted to feast on the site of her naked body, especially after dreaming of her for so long, he just couldn’t stomach seeing the look in her eyes. The questions he knew that would follow. And he was no closer to the answers than he’d been ten years ago. So, instead, he’d avoided the inevitable inquiry and poured himself into making love to Reese.”
As the characters and the reader struggle with Mason’s “pathology,” the author tackles tough issues: post-traumatic stress, war, and how to build love when your past seems too ugly and too stacked against you. I loved that Carson was willing to talk about war in a way rarely seen in romance. We all need more stories about strong men who don’t find war to be the best place to exercise their super-Alpha maleness. And no one needs those stories or models more than the men at war themselves. I also loved that everyone can relate to this story. Anyone who has ever felt there was too much bad blood, too much water under the bridge to carry on–wait, isn’t that everyone?–will enjoy this book and experience a real benefit when reading it.
It has thrilling sexy times! I am a sexy-times snob, but Aimee Carson impresses. I just love the way she phrases things, the way she makes (often obligatory) sexual desire fresh:
“A familiar feeling settled low in Reese’s stomach–a funny combination of heat and expectant anticipation that left her heart trying to outdo its previous record. Every time Mason crossed her mind, which was pretty much every 2.5 seconds, that same sensation rolled through her chest. Making her feel happy and hopeful and hungry to hold him again [...] The fiercely intense way he took her left her both shattered and reborn. Every time.”
Achieving a balance between desire and intimacy, Carson mixes description, emotion, and point of view to great effect:
“Reese arched against him, and he decided he didn’t care how the hell they’d wound up here. He was just glad they had. Out of place and time, the cabin dark, the night beyond darker still. And as he dropped one hand to her thighs, sliding her skirt up to her waist, he knew they were going to make love. [...] And the urge to take her burned too bright, too hot for such a short acquaintance. It was as if he’d been here hundreds of times before, yet it felt like the first time, too.”
It is part of a series that reaffirms your faith in love. I loved this quote from Cassie, the super geek and the heroine of book two: “In a world with billions of people, meeting The One is a statistical improbability.” And who doesn’t agree with that? So how come couple after couple after couple in romance seem to manage it so easily? Well, the answer is . . . they don’t. It’s not easy. And the odds aren’t in their favor, but they make it work anyway. Reese and Mason have a lot of problems, a lot of bad memories, and a struggle with Mason’s short-term memory loss. It’s a quagmire, and when the book ends, you know they’re going to be together forever. And you know they’re going to be happy. But you aren’t sure if they’re going to be blissfully happy for every moment that follows. Yet you have faith that they’re going to keep working at it. They’re going to keep forgiving. They’re going to keep kissing and making love. They’re going to hold on to The One and find a way to make the dream a reality. And what’s not to love about that?
Disclaimer: An ARC copy was provided.
“You think of flirting as an art form! Harlequin KISS stories are all about the delirium of a potential new romance—where fun-loving heroines and irresistible heroes just can’t get enough of each other.”
I don’t think of flirting as an art form, and I don’t generally buy romances focused on the potential of a new romance. I want solid people and solid stories and solid love. (You can tell I buy mostly historicals, right?) So wasn’t I surprised when Aimee Carson and the first book in the Wedding Season series made me do some rethinking? This couple has some history. Yet Reese and Mason are seeing each other after a long separation. More than that, neither is sure if they can risk their hearts to the sexual heat that always burns when they’re near each other. With this set-up, Carson satisfies very kind of reader. Whether you like fun and flirty or serious and sentimental The Unexpected Wedding guest will leave you giddy. It will also make you a Carson fan and a Kiss convert..
It has psychological realism. While a happy ever after is guaranteed in a romance, love never comes easily. Growing up on tales of misdirection, miscommunication, or the problems associated with an Alpha-males refusal and supposed inability to communicate, I am thrilled that writers are now sharing stories where real-life emotional struggles are impediments to love. Carson delivers an Alpha hero who wants to share, who wants to be enough, but who can’t . . . really can’t.
“There was a question in her gaze that he couldn’t answer. Which was way he’d never turned on the lights last night. As much as he’d wanted to feast on the site of her naked body, especially after dreaming of her for so long, he just couldn’t stomach seeing the look in her eyes. The questions he knew that would follow. And he was no closer to the answers than he’d been ten years ago. So, instead, he’d avoided the inevitable inquiry and poured himself into making love to Reese.”
As the characters and the reader struggle with Mason’s “pathology,” the author tackles tough issues: post-traumatic stress, war, and how to build love when your past seems too ugly and too stacked against you. I loved that Carson was willing to talk about war in a way rarely seen in romance. We all need more stories about strong men who don’t find war to be the best place to exercise their super-Alpha maleness. And no one needs those stories or models more than the men at war themselves. I also loved that everyone can relate to this story. Anyone who has ever felt there was too much bad blood, too much water under the bridge to carry on–wait, isn’t that everyone?–will enjoy this book and experience a real benefit when reading it.
It has thrilling sexy times! I am a sexy-times snob, but Aimee Carson impresses. I just love the way she phrases things, the way she makes (often obligatory) sexual desire fresh:
“A familiar feeling settled low in Reese’s stomach–a funny combination of heat and expectant anticipation that left her heart trying to outdo its previous record. Every time Mason crossed her mind, which was pretty much every 2.5 seconds, that same sensation rolled through her chest. Making her feel happy and hopeful and hungry to hold him again [...] The fiercely intense way he took her left her both shattered and reborn. Every time.”
Achieving a balance between desire and intimacy, Carson mixes description, emotion, and point of view to great effect:
“Reese arched against him, and he decided he didn’t care how the hell they’d wound up here. He was just glad they had. Out of place and time, the cabin dark, the night beyond darker still. And as he dropped one hand to her thighs, sliding her skirt up to her waist, he knew they were going to make love. [...] And the urge to take her burned too bright, too hot for such a short acquaintance. It was as if he’d been here hundreds of times before, yet it felt like the first time, too.”
It is part of a series that reaffirms your faith in love. I loved this quote from Cassie, the super geek and the heroine of book two: “In a world with billions of people, meeting The One is a statistical improbability.” And who doesn’t agree with that? So how come couple after couple after couple in romance seem to manage it so easily? Well, the answer is . . . they don’t. It’s not easy. And the odds aren’t in their favor, but they make it work anyway. Reese and Mason have a lot of problems, a lot of bad memories, and a struggle with Mason’s short-term memory loss. It’s a quagmire, and when the book ends, you know they’re going to be together forever. And you know they’re going to be happy. But you aren’t sure if they’re going to be blissfully happy for every moment that follows. Yet you have faith that they’re going to keep working at it. They’re going to keep forgiving. They’re going to keep kissing and making love. They’re going to hold on to The One and find a way to make the dream a reality. And what’s not to love about that?
Disclaimer: An ARC copy was provided.
July 11, 2018
Tadinya gak minat banget baca kisahnya Reese n Mason. Tapi berhubung penasaran akan sosok Dylan, akhirnya baca juga deh.
Haha...malah paling seneng pas baca part-part yang ada Dylan-nya. Bagian-bagian yang lain dibaca sambil lalu ajah.
Abis ini malah penasaran sama ceritanya Tuck+Cassie. Ya ampuuunnn...ni bacanya bener-bener nyegleng coz langsung dari buku ke-3.
Haha...malah paling seneng pas baca part-part yang ada Dylan-nya. Bagian-bagian yang lain dibaca sambil lalu ajah.
Abis ini malah penasaran sama ceritanya Tuck+Cassie. Ya ampuuunnn...ni bacanya bener-bener nyegleng coz langsung dari buku ke-3.
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