What happens when a jilted groom becomes the boss of a runaway bride? A match made in hell.
LOGAN
Arrogant, cold, heartless—these are the things people say about me.
I wasn’t always like this. There was a time I had it all, or so I thought.
My wedding day was supposed to be the start of a new a new wife and a beautiful baby. Thank God I uncovered the truth just in time—my fiancée wasn’t pregnant. The engagement was a charade and the supposed pregnancy a ploy to exploit my fame and fortune.
Distracting myself with work is a piece of cake, but finding an assistant who can handle my grumpy demeanor? Now there’s a challenge.
From the moment she barged into my office, I knew she was trouble.
Flighty and feisty, she’s upending my carefully crafted image of a grumpy boss one sarcastic remark at a time.
Last time I trusted a woman, I got burned.
There won’t be a next time.
I’m almost certain of it.
LAYLA
When I uncovered my fiancé's dirty little secret, I fled, leaving him standing at the altar like a sad little penguin.
As a desperate bride on the run, I’m forced to take the job no one in their right mind assistant to the ego-inflated, billionaire owner of a luxurious resort.
Logan Blingwood—his name alone sends shivers down the spines of his employees. He's infuriatingly arrogant, and glaring at me is his new favorite pastime.
But beneath his grumpy façade and rock-solid chest, there’s a flicker of vulnerability and a (nearly indiscernible) thump of a beating heart.
His own heartbreaking story nearly destroyed him. I can't risk him discovering I left my fiancé at the altar, he'll hate me even more and I'll lose my job, my housing, and my career.
Keeping my runaway bride status secret will be hard—but keeping my hands off the “bosshole” will be harder.
CHASING THE WRONG BRIDE is a steamy romcom must read for fans of enemies-to-lovers, grumpy boss workplace romance, runaway bride, and billionaire hero tropes. It can be read as a STANDALONE, or enjoyed as part of a wider series and features on-page sizzle, a very happy ending and no cheating.
Logan Blingwood ( no, his dong does not sparkle, though that would've been cool and would've taken this one star read to two ) genuinely is just a dick and Layla his new hired employee is a huge doormat. Don't worry it's pertinent to this whole story. It actually isn't, I'm lying through my teeth. Logan after being left at the altar ( not by lovely whatever her name is ) becomes a hateful douchebag and wonders why everyone avoids him and why he has no friends other than his right hand and his bourbon. And Lelan( or whatever ) , really doesn't do anything of importance while weirdly being one of the main characters. I know, what a shit show. After shagging each other's brains out, their casual peace has been broken when his lovely ex shows up and * lê gasp * Layla has left a man at the altar and ugh, you know what, fuck this.
This book sucked. That is all. Would you believe me if I said my review was the only one star review? I FUCKING KNOW! What were the other people smoking?
Not a fan. The nicknames where cringey and off putting. Felt like the ending was rushed. You're telling me within 5 weeks of knowing each other he proposes and wants children after a fight where he though she was trying to trap him with a kid and use him for money...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay okay I read all the 1⭐️ reviews and still carried on because I needed a fun, cringy palate cleanser! Sometimes bad reviews can be a sign you will enjoy it, in an odd kind of way. This was not how the cookie crumbled for me this time around.
I should have listened to y’all ( I have been dying to use that word, English is not my first language, and I can only get away with it in writing. This is me taking advantage)😂
This is abominable 😂 it’s a dime store version of the Wolf Hotel series. At least that is what it feels like to me. Without the hot people.
I can’t exactly pin point why it’s so bad, which is unfair I guess, it’s just because there is so much to work with. Language, building of the surroundings, likeable people, relationship development etc.
Should you read it? Avoid. I came for cringe and I can take it. If you enjoy reading about cafeteria meals and so on, please enjoy 😊
‘no. you made me feel alive for the first time in as long as i can remember. even when we were at each others throats, fighting’
oh i do love me a work place romance (god this is me asking you when it’s my turn)
it broke my heart knowing that layla’s trauma was similar to logan’s and that when it came out.. it was going to be a disaster. and a disaster it was. it was so well written that i couldn’t pick a side. i felt so bad for both parties. but you know who i wanted to slap? dana. so so hard. god i hate her.
i’m so happy that layla had jessie and skyla. i love female friendships so much and it was so heartwarming to see them encouraging her, and being there for her. ugh <3
the ending was perfect. i’m so glad there was no time jump in the epilogue and that logan proposed. i’m so happy he fought for her, and she forgave him. their breakup scene HURT (i actually want to strangle dana for it)
i need to read the first book because i’m interested to see drew & skylas story. and i’m excited for the third book to see how the enemies to lovers storyline between jessie and tate pans out hehe.
to end the review with the best line of the book, ‘urgh. men! i swear we’d all be better off without them’ LOL
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
First off, I already knew that the book would be a light read, nothing too intense, and yet as a light read it was a huge disappointment. The premise set by the author was well done, but there were too many contradicting events in the book, too many forced scenarios, no good subplot, and no angst or romance buildup. Like the MMC was a billionaire, who could squeeze in the FMC's last minute desires to visit tourist places in NYC by his "connections", but wasn't billionaire enough to switch a room when the FMC accidentally booked the cheapest room of the resort. A bad, sad read. But I should've guessed that would be the case when bookstagram recommended it. I don't know why there are so less 1 star ratings for this book.
This is the second ROMCOM book in the Blingwood Billionaire series. Highly recommend reading book 1, Sorry, Not Sorry, first.
Logan is the CEO of Blingwood Beach Resort and needs a personal assistant asap. He is high demanding and needs someone competent to make his life easier.
Layla is a runaway bride who left her cheating fiance at the altar. She needs a job to make a little money before moving on to the next city. She finds herself as Logan’s assistant and boy are these two oil and water.
Logan needs a little fun in his life, and Layla is the perfect woman to rattle his feathers and get beneath his CEO feathers.
1.5 Awful. Horrible actually. Writing wasn’t good. Groveling at the end and the reconciliation was lacking. Many parts of the story lacking and not written well
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I enjoyed this book and while I loved their banter I do wish Logan was less of an asshole simply because he wanted her but didn't want to want her. I also wish he had to grovel a bit more because him being hurt in the past isn't reason enough for him to be forgiven so quickly. All in all it's a cute fun read and I'm excited to finally read Jessie and Tates story next especially since I'm a sucker for a secret baby romance.
This book gives wattpad energy. I loved Layla and her pov. The beginning when she meets Logan was a lil wild to me but Logan was so THIRSTY, I’d get annoyed. It was a quick read, they started to have more chemistry further into the book. The ending was rushed though :(
Big DNF. Yet another tiktok ad that resulted in me suffering through an MMC who believes his malicious ex over the FMC, and then an FMC who forgives him after one conversation that wasn't even that good of an apology. What do readers have to do to get authors to stop writing weak characters like this? I fear for yall's relationships irl for real.
Mi dispiace dare un voto così basso…ma la verità è che non sono riuscita a proseguire dopo il 75%… proprio non ci riuscivo. La storia di per se non è brutta ma i dialoghi sono veramente scontati…. Un po’ noioso. Aveva del potenziale
This book was pretty much a DNF for me. I did technically read to the end, but I skipped/skimmed from the 65% mark to the 85% mark. I had a pretty good idea what the 3rd act breakup was going to be about, and I wanted to see if the MMC finally stepped up and grovelled properly. He did not.
The MMC was incredibly unlikeable throughout the entire book, and I’m struggling to think of a single redeeming trait. The fact that he was so unlikeable made the FMC seem like a doormat, because she continued to put up with it.
The 3rd act breakup was predictable from the beginning of the book, and the MMC did basically no self reflection/grovelling, even though it was 99% his fault. The FMC had a backbone for .5 seconds, and then immediately back pedalled and apologized.
I am and will remain frustrated by this book forever.
Also- the nickname “sassy pants” took me out of the book every time. This may be because my parents used to call me this when I was 4, but also because who the hell calls someone that?
This was like one of those bad lifetime movies that you watch because you have nothing better to do. I didn’t hate it, but I was left wondering why the bar for my lazy day reads is so low.
i absolutely enjoyed and devoured this book within hours. could not put it down! if you're looking for a cute and funny rom-com, i would definitely recommend this one. you follow along Layla, a beautiful, independent, young woman who just left her narcissistic, cheating ex at the altar; and Logan, a grumpy, gorgeous, rich guy who was recently left at the altar by a self-serving woman who tried to trap him in a relationship under false pretenses when he was ready to give her the world. Layla runs off desperate to have a fresh start and a new job; Logan is desperately hiring for a personal assistant.
because of their recent experiences, they've both become indifferent at the idea of love and relationships. from the moment they meet, Logan and Layla press each others buttons. Logan likes a specific order to things and comes off arrogant and Layla challenges that. she just about calls him out on all his BS. there's bantering, arguing, hangry behavior, and a sandwich that gets sat on (LOL)... yet there's a palpable attraction between them.
Layla and Logan's story not only has an abundance of sexual tension, but there's so much humor, grief, and growth. you have two characters that on the surface are seemingly different and polar opposites from each other, but under the shells they protect themselves from... they complement and mirror the other so well. they test each other, but become better versions of themselves because of it. there are layers that peel back and these characters start to learn there's so much more to the other.
this book is well written and the story line is so easy to follow. you truly fall in love with Layla and Logan and how they navigate their professional and romantic relationship, but the supporting characters are lovable as well-- like Jessie, Skyla, and especially Logan's mom. you also have characters who you love to hate-- like Jonothan, Mike, Dana, and Layla's mom (she does have a pinch of a character arc at the end, but some of the things Layla mentions make her super toxic and just as bad as Dana imo).
there are a couple of possible minor discrepancies though. in chapter 30, Logan mentions Layla is wearing tight pants and a cami; but in chapter 31's spicy scene, which happens around the same time frame, Layla mentions Logan's hand sliding up her skirt and unbuttoning her shirt. i don't know why that stuck out to me, but i could be reading too much into that. it's nothing that changes or affects the story line, so it's easy to overlook and read past.
this was the first book i've read by Emily James, but will definitely look into more of their work and also look forward to their future releases. i know her previous novel is about Skyla and Drew, Logan's brother, and i fully intend on checking that out. her next one looks to be about Jessie and Tate, Logan's other brother. from the themes that seem to follow this series, i'm assuming Jessie will get a happy ending she deserves for her and her daughter. we'll have to wait and see!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
full disclosure: i received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review and do so voluntarily.
What a fun story! We have Layla, literally on the run from her awful fiance and overbearing mother on the day of her wedding when she discovers he was cheating on her. Her mad dash finds her at the doorstep of Blingwood Resorts, in her wedding dress, applying for the temporary position of assistant to the billionaire boss, Logan Blingwood. With an assist from another employee, Layla is able to ditch the dress and impress Logan enough to get hired on for the role, which includes room and board at the resort, perfect for her needs to separate herself from her previously life. But Logan is not the easiest of bosses, with a reputation for being quite unbearable at times, and Layla finds she has her work cut out for her - not to mention the insane attraction she feels.
Logan, meanwhile, is moving on from his previous relationship, which consisted of a money hungry, attention seeking socialite, a faked pregnancy, and being stood up at the alter. After a string of assistants have come and gone, Logan is once again finding himself with a new face to train, but this time, he finds himself attracted to her, and that’s the last thing he wants. And he doesn’t even know about her recent near-miss at the altar, or the baggage she is bringing to the table.
The characters and story are fun and interesting. Grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance. Plenty of angst. And the side characters add some additional fun dynamics to the mix. It’s definitely a slow burn, because Logan is stubborn and grouchy, but their chemistry is great and the spice is worth it. It’s a lighter rom com with the right amount of emotion to keep it real and engaging, and will have you rooting for their HEA.
Book two of the series, but can be read as a standalone.
This one I enjoyed a little more than the first, but it isn’t without its flaws. Logan a hot shot billionaire CEO turned grump, arrogant boss hole after finding out his ex fiancé tried to trap him, left him when they were supposed to be married, and put out a bunch of lies about him to make herself look better. He is happy that it ended, but has sworn off romance of any kind and is still quite bitter about the whole situation.
Layla, left her fiancé at the alter and fled when she found out he was cheating. She got in touch with Skyla (from the previous book) about the open assistant position and went to this whole new place to attempt to start over. Given her circumstances, those that knew, thought it best to not have Logan know about this event because of the hat he went through.
Their chemistry was apparent from the beginning. Both being attracted to each other, she has just got out of a relationship, and he didn’t want to pursue anything at that time. Their banter and back and forth was great. She didn’t let him walk all over her and eventually he began ease up and relax around her and others. Realizing how people see him since everything occurred.
Logan, however, was quite whiny. A grown man and he moaned and groaned more than my children do. Not to mention, when his ex came back around and told him about what she knew of Layla, he immediately flew off the handle without consulting with Layla first and automatically believing his ex.
There was no grovel and the ending was very rushed. That was my biggest downfall for this book: the ending. Went from point A to Z with no in between.
Other than all that, I couldn’t put it down and did enjoy reading it. A lighthearted romcom that keeps you drawn in.
There is not a book that this author writes that I won't read. Every book is a breath of fresh air and will make me smile every time. Emily James is this sweet girl who can create an amazing story that will hook you up. If you don't know her writing, I advise you to start reading now. Chasing the Wrong Bride is her latest release and it's the second book from the Blingwood Billionaires series and dayum, what a series. This series explores the lives of Logan and Layla. Logan has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He's determined to keep the memory of his father alive being the best in his field. He's a reserved person and a bit grumpy but has his heart in the right place. He needs an assistant asap and in comes Layla... Layla needs a change. After discovering that her soon-to-be husband cheated on her, she leaves in at the altar and gets away from home. When she accepts a temp job... Oh My Freaking GOD... This book was superb. Perfect plot, well written, super engaging, hot and so freaking funny. Loved the way the story progressed and loved even more how it could capture my attention that made it impossible to stop. Loved the chemistry between the main characters and the bickering. The sandwich scene...Priceless. And let's not talk about the laundry scene... I'm never gonna do it the same way...lol And the hot stuff...Jesus, hot as hell. Just grab a few changes of underwear. If you want a light read, full of love, funny moments, and a few infuriating as well, grab this book and get ready. Oh, Emily, you outdone it again. This book is perfection and I can't wait for the next one.
How did this book get a 3.78 average? Definitely a 5 star read for me.
This book was fast paced, well written, the banter was absolutely exquisite..... I laughed so hard at times that my tummy hurt. I recommend Chasing the wrong bride to anyone in a reading slump. If you've just a read a book that put you in a slump..... READ THIS. Its fun, its funny, its cute, its sometimes heartbreaking, there's love, he falls hard, there's grovelling... I could go on.
Logan is a grumpy owner of a holiday resort. After having had to cancel his wedding upon finding out his fiance was a conniving, scheming fruit loop he swears off dating. Marriage and commitment is definitely off the table and he now loathes all things "wedding" that includes the bride.
Layla is left destitute after having left her fiance at the altar on their wedding day. With no job, no clothes, no place to live she needs a plan and she needs it now. A job opening at a resort is available and she decides to apply for the position of PA to the CEO. Arriving in her wedding dress isn't exactly appropriate for an interview.... not to worry the resort staff help her out with her attire. They are desperate for Layla to get the job as the boss has been in a grizzly mood since his last PA resigned.
Logan cant quite seem to soften up in Laylas presence. The dark haired blue eyes bombshell has his stomach in all sorts of twists but can he get over the secret she keeps? Can he forgive her for what she is...... A runaway bride.
*"Chasing the Wrong Bride" by Emily James was an absolute rollercoaster for me! Right from the start, the tension between the leads was intense—it felt like a constant when will they finally give in? But as the story developed, it became so much more than just chemistry. The dynamic between the trio added so much fun, and I loved how the author made us genuinely care about each character.
I have no idea if there are books for Jessi and Skyla, but the way their personalities were built definitely made me want more! The story started with all the anger and shyness, but once the fun kicked in, it was such an enjoyable ride.
One of my absolute favorite moments was when the MLA’s mother named her dog after her son—Logi, which sounded like Yogi! That was hilarious. And then there’s Lyla—her independence was so refreshing. The way she reacted to that $20,000 dress just showed how real and down-to-earth some girls can be, yet she still found herself wrapped in this perfect cocoon of love.
Just when I thought there wouldn’t be any major heartbreak, boom—the runaway bride twist drops! Dana had been mean and spoiled throughout the book, and honestly, Logan made the right call in the end.
Overall, this book was such a fun read! It had tension, humor, and just the right amount of drama. Definitely a good one!"