I Do with You

Maple Creek #1

by Lauren Landish

A runaway bride rushes headlong into true love in a funny, flirty, and empowering romance by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Landish.

Hope Barlowe is a vow away from a lakeside wedding to her high school sweetheart. Next, check off her follow-up two kids, a dog, a home, and a happy ever after. But suddenly, ever after seems like a very long time. Instead of saying I do, Hope thinks I can’t and bolts for the woods—right into the unpredictable life of a handsome tattooed hiker.

Days into a three-week getaway, struggling musician Ben Taylor is in search of inspiration. He never thought he’d find a bride stumbling through the bramble. Right away her sweet baby blues, confounding dilemma, and spirited independence strike a chord. Ben has found his muse, and he’s falling fast. Hope is finding something just as important—herself.

Soon enough Hope and Ben have all of Maple Creek talking—and divided. Where do they go from here? If Hope has learned anything, it’s that happiness is more than a checklist, and dreams can change in a heartbeat.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Rom Com, Small Town Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Lauren Landish is a WALL STREET JOURNAL & USA TODAY bestselling author and her books have garnered a legion of praise from her readers.

When she’s not plotting about how she will introduce you to your next sexy as hell book boyfriend, you can find her deep, deep in her writing cave, furiously tapping away on her keyboard, writing scenes that would make even a hardened sailor blush.

Lauren, who lives in NC with her boyfriend and fur baby, warmly invites you to her worlds of rock hard abs, chiseled smiles, and men with deep, fat pockets…but beware! These stories are guaranteed to have you addicted and needing your next fix!

Visit Lauren's Website at: http://www.laurenlandish.com/
Join the Mailing list at: http://www.subscribepage.com/w1h8x6
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lauren.landish
Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenlandish

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 4 out of 5]

•



Small town Girl meets big town musician

Hope Barlowe and sheriff’s son (Roy) are getting married today! Well at least that’s the plan

Hope and Roy have planned out their life together since she was a sophomore in high school

She was one of those people that planned out their life with a huge checklist, For example …. They Finish high school:. Go to college: — Hope getting her dental hygienist degree , and Roy, a business degree… So that’s how she became a runaway bride on her wedding day

Benjamin Taylor, most people call him Ben ….. he is twenty-seven, grew up in California in a town most people have never heard of, to a single mom who was doing her best to keep a leash on a wild child like him

Ben is a struggling musician, with a laundry list of issues that go along with being a musician…. So, Ben decides to go on a vacation to Clear his Head, and hopefully so that he can focus back on his writing and everything that goes along with it

I just loved the whole Barlowe clan…..Joy is hope’s twin … and Lord have mercy, both Shepherd and Joy are trouble….. I love their parents to pieces

Now don’t get me started on how much I dislike the spoiled sheriff’s baby boy who was self-centered and just all around and asshat in my opinion



Now as for Sean, Ben had described him as his brother…but Idk he was bit rough around the edges

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think a lot of people will like this one, but it didn’t work for me completely. Although I liked the way it started out, I actually ended up feeling bad for the ex. His high school sweetheart left him at the altar in front of the whole town. Also, it seemed more like she had a midlife crisis than fell into true love. It was just too instant. She was literally in bed with another guy after just running out on her wedding?

I felt she was a little immature throughout the book. And to be honest, I think I realized the “leaving someone at the altar” thing isn’t for me. It made me not like the FMC. Or maybe I just didn’t fully like her personality in general. But to me, no matter what the person has done, I feel like it should be solved before that moment of being at the altar.

I also didn’t really like Ben completely.. idk I feel like this one just fell short for me due to my own personal feelings about right vs wrong. It wasn’t horrible, but it just wasn’t anything I am screaming “you guys gotta read this” about.

I think that a lot of people will enjoy this one, because it is a story of new beginnings and going after what you want your life to look like.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Allison • Alli’s Fairy Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine you’re in the middle of saying your vows (albeit half-hearted and not well thought out in the least) and your bride runs away from the altar.

Sounds like a very intriguing story, doesn’t it??

And it was………. at the beginning. This book however lost its steam shortly after that and fell into a very surface-level insta-love story. There was an attempt to bring depth into the plot but the characters were so underdeveloped there was nothing that could really help elevate the insta-love.

I wanted more from this plot. For example, I would have loved if the story dove into the FMC learning more about herself and what caused her to suddenly feel like she was in a situation where she was feeling trapped. Discovering her own self-confidence to stand up for herself and express the things she needs in life. And then LATER ON (I mean maybe months or at least weeks later, not seconds/minutes) she finds the love of her life.

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and Lauren Landish for allowing me to review this ARC to supply my honest review. 🧚

[Shannon Mayhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book and it was a fun listen. The narrators did great. I did feel bad for the man left at the altar because even though he had his faults it still must have sucked to see her parading around town with another man. I felt like the author was trying too hard to make that seem ok, but in reality it was pretty messed up.

If you put that to the side the book was good and def worth a read or listen.

[sonja ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5! ⭐️ This book was alright but it just didn’t work for me unfortunately.

While I appreciated the character growth of Hope and Ben, I struggled to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Their relationship felt too much like “insta-love” to me, which made it hard to believe in their connection.

One of the biggest challenges I had with the story was how quickly Hope moved on from her long-term fiancé to Ben. I understand that Ben was meant to be different and bring something new to her life, but the speed at which their relationship developed gave me a sense of whiplash. It felt unrealistic for someone to shift so quickly from a years-long relationship to falling for someone they’d just met.

I can see potential in the rest of the series. The glimpses of future couples were interesting, and I’d be interested in seeing how their stories develop. While this particular story wasn’t for me, I think fans of fast-paced romances with lots of drama might enjoy it more.

Overall, I Do With You wasn’t my favorite, but I’m curious to see where the Maple Creek series goes next.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of I Do With You made me want to read it. I've read several romances, but in all of that I haven't had the chance to read one about a runaway bride. It seemed like an original, fun idea; however, I do not think that this was well executed.

The backstory for the main, male character was well thought out and provided context into his current career and what took him to the town of Maple Creek, but I feel as though he was the only well thought out character in this. The main, female character felt very repetitive of other female characters in other romances.

I feel that this book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately fell flat for me. I was unable to connect with the characters and did not believe them to have chemistry. A lot of the dialogue felt forced and it felt obvious to me that I was reading a book, instead of allowing me to "escape" into the scene.

I think that a lot of this could have been solved by having the meet-cute be more genuine. Runaway bride I can understand, and while it's reasonable to let a stranger who's in distress use your phone, it's not reasonable to let said stranger stay with you in your hotel. The unrealistic start to this book might be what made me disconnect from the rest it.

I also REALLY disconnected from this when the term "vajayjay" was used seriously.

Again, I felt that it was a great premise, but the execution needed more thought to make it seem more organic and genuine. But if you are looking for a low stakes, happy ending guaranteed book, then this is it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this to provide a review.

[Sabrina Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

After running out of her wedding mid-vow, Hope escapes with the help of a stranger and ends up on a journey of self-discovery, finding not only herself, but an unexpected partner and new path in life. 👣

This one started strong for me and fizzled out as it went. Things started great – I loved the meet-cute, our leads had great chemistry, and the humor hit. I also loved how supportive our MMC, Ben, was of our FMC, Hope, and her journey of finding out who she was after having been in the same relationship since high school and outgrowing the expectations she (and everyone else) had for her future. The story was told in alternating POVs between both Ben and Hope which I also liked. Midway through the book is where I started to struggle, as it felt like the forward momentum began to stall and everything started to feel repetitive. Hope started to grate on me too, because it started to feel like all she did was bring drama everywhere she went. The third-act break-up also annoyed me, and it will annoy you too if you’re not a fan of someone finding out a secret and then ghosting any attempts to actually allow for discussion or explanation. 🙄 Even though I was definitely ready to be done as I neared the end of the book, I do plan on continuing the series because I really liked Hope’s sister, Joy, who book two will focus on.

My thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 11/12/2024.

[Bianca C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay … runaway bride, meets new guy during escape and falls in love in a week. Please be so for real, stay single and find yourself. Lmao annoyingggggggg

[NJS Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook 🎧

This was my first time reading Lauren Landish and I already cannot wait to go back to Maple Creek.

Hope is running from her wedding and Ben is escaping from his life as a rock musician. They have an interesting meet-cute in the middle of the woods and form an instant connection. Ben agrees to help Hope run from her life for a few days and stays with him in his rental. It’s not long until sparks fly and Hope’s rebound turns into something so much more.

I love these two so much. Hope seems to have lost herself a bit when trying to please her fiancé. Ben helps her build back her self confidence and discover her true self again. After being with Ben for only a few days, Hope quickly realises how she should be treated.

Ben has a lot of baggage and a troubled past. I loved how he this didn’t stop him from trusting and opening up to Hope. I loved his lyrics throughout the book.

Sean’s character is a bit crazy. I hope he gets a book in this series. It could be a wild ride.

Such a cute, fun and quick read. Cannot wait to read more of this series.

- Meet Cute
- Runaway Bride
- Hidden Identity
- Small Town
- Wounded Hero

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one!! This book was a smoldering slow burn. It all starts with a runaway bride bumping into the hard wall of a rugged, tattooed and bearded man in the woods.

I loved the innocence and inexperience of Hope. She is a sweet small town girl that had her life planned since high school. When she gets cold feet and realizes she is making a big mistake. She runs.

Ben, a musician who is visiting the small town of Maple Creek is there to try to figure things out. He and his partner have had a disagreement that they can’t seem to get over. However, when he meets Hope, something shifts and begins to change.

The emotions were intense, the flirting was hot and the love is all consuming. This was an all around fantastic love story and I hope we see more of these characters in future Maple Creek stories.

Now let’s talk audio:
The narrators both did a wonderful job at portraying these loving characters. It’s definitely a must!! You won’t want to miss this one.

[Ju (NO POLLS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm too tired and words are not wording so my review is:

Good, fun book. Loved the journey of the characters. Wish more time was spent on solving Ben's conflict instead of just "solving" it during one paragraph in the epilogue. Definitely think it was better than the second book. And that's it 🙇🏽🙇🏽

[Sorina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Hope and Ben, a runaway bride and a singer.

The meet cute in the woods was really funny. You could see that there is chemistry between them from the beginning.

There is some drama because Hope’s ex wants her back but I liked her development as a character. Ben’s story was also emotional. Even if their love story progressed fast, it is clear that they are good for each other.

What I don’t like in romances is the 3rd act break up, especially when it is because of miscommunication.

The audiobook is narated by Stella Hunter and Ryan West that really brought to life the characters. Stella is one of my favorite narators and Ryan’s voice is exactly how I think Ben whould sound like.

I also liked Hope’s sister Joy, that will have a book that comes out next year (The Pucking Proposal).

Thank you Lauren, Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for the advance digital and audio copies of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[What.Nikki.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Runaway Bride
Insta
Hidden identity
DRAMA
Open door
Third act breakup

Thank you brilliance audio, netgalley and Lauren for this ALC

[Mallory Moureau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Lauren Landish for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ok so this one was interesting - I enjoyed the book but can also acknowledge that Hope leaving her fiancé at the alter and running away is a shitty thing to do. But you know…denial, panic, terrible vows, etc make people do wild things.

This book was really good at describing the emotions and issues with the way the relationship evolved. It made it easier to understand her behavior and how over Ray she was.

However, I wish the timeline was a little longer. I understand Hope and Ben had an intense week or two but it was love too quick for my liking.

I’m excited to read Joy’s story.

Open door.
Stranger to friend to lover.
Caretaking.
Rebound.
I’ll protect you.

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit, I was worried about this book. Any story that has a runaway bride, especially one from her childhood sweetheart, was going to be questionable for me. You would think if they were together so long, they would have a good relationship. The author was great in the way she justified why Hope left her fiance at the altar. I accepted her reasoning but I did also feel that she bounced on very quickly despite her situation and met someone else faster than expected. To me, this seemed unrealistic. I did enjoy the romance once it got heated though and especially loved the ending. Hope's family were fantastic supporting characters as well. 

[Michelle Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the beginning. The way the two main characters met was not traditional and she literally fell into his path after running away from her ex fiancé. These characters were so lovable and you can’t help but root for them. The tension in the beginning of the book was *chefs kiss*. It had me wanting more from Hope & Ben. I loved that Ben never pressured Hope for more till she was ready but was there for all her character growth. I did not necessarily love the inevitable third act breakup but it made sense. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape from real life. It’s a quick, easy, and faced paced read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

[Paperbacksandplottwists Christy Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Do With You🥂
By Lauren Landish❇️

Review🩵

This was a lovely romance in which the female character meets her love interest while fleeing her wedding. Although romance is an important aspect of this book, it is also about self-discovery and understanding your worth. I truly enjoyed both characters, and the chemistry was clear right away. It gave off a small-town vibe, and the supporting characters truly added to the plot. Overall, a lovely novel.

Romance💘
Run away bride👰🏻‍♀️
Undercover musician👨‍🎤
Sweet & spicy🌶️
Small town🏘️

4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Livelyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh!! Where should I start? I loved this book to bits like really adored it. It got me out of the book slump I was in since last few weeks and I'm so happy for that.
Ben and Hopes story was intriguing and so entertaining that I couldn't get enough of it. It was inspiring, funny, full of drama and they both had great chemistry.
Few seconds away from saying I do to her highschool sweetheart Hope literally runs away from the altar and does a sprint into woods where she stumbles upon a stranger named Ben.
Ben never imagined to run into a runaway bride on his hike. He is in a small town to get inspired for his next album and to get his head sorted.
I loved thier meet cute it was interesting and a page turner for me. I also loved how they both helped each other sorting out thier lives and made each so much better.
It's a must read and I can't wait to read the second book in this series.

[Melissa Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Hope arrives at her wedding, she is uncertain. But when her groom Roy says his vows, Hope knows it not what is right for her and bolts away. Running into the forest she runs into a man, Ben who takes her back to his cottage.

As Hope explains what she did, Ben doesn’t think she did anything wrong. He supports what she did and encourages her to contact her sister.

However Roy isn’t happy about what happened and is looking for Hope. Hope knows she is doing what’s right.

However, the feelings the Ben gives her while she stays with him definitely shows she is right. And what happens behind those doors definitely feel really right for Hope and Ben too.

Moving forward for them has some issues that pop up but they are both strong and determined to live their lives the way it should be.

I received a copy of this book from #netgalley for a honest free review of this book.

[Sierra · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNFd. I think I made it to the halfway point before finally giving up. I feel this book has a cute premise, but I think it was poorly executed. Everything happens very fast and the “romance” is just the two main characters inner monologues about how much they want to bang. Also, the smut felt very over the top and the wording choices weren’t for me at all. If you’re looking for a fast VERY smutty read then add it to your list, but personally I’m not a fan. Overall rating 2.75. Usually I’d round up but I already feel as if this rating is overly generous.

Thank You To NetGalley & the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben is such a good man. He never filters in taking care and holding Hope up while she finds herself. The bond these two form is so sweet and I loved how it developed
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope ran away from her dream wedding and literally ran into the lead singer of a metal band trying to find his pieces together in her sweet small town. But hold on, Ben is far from usual Rockstars. He is very real and very relatable with his own fear, pain and insecurities. It was so easy for Hope to fall in love because this incredible man showed her at every step that she is amazing. At a point of time when she was lost and vulnerable, a complete stranger stood by her side and lifted her spirits and healed her soul.

✔️ small town
✔️ runaway bride
✔️ good girl- bad boy


It's hard to be a metal rock band lead singer and have performance anxiety at the same time. Ben comes from a sh1tty background and music is his escape. But it's getting tiring and hurtful too because of his growing distance with his best friend and band mate Sean. That's why he went to Maple Creek. To get his head at right place. And his path collided with Hope. He became instantly obsessed with her.

Hope was a mess. She spent whole life carefully crafting a perfect future with her high school boyfriend. But as the wedding day came closer, she realised she is trapped. Her fiance doesn't love her like she wanted. It's a status. It's a trophy. But not happiness and contentment. She didn't expect to trust Ben so easily but he made her safe. He held her hands as she faced the furious fiance and the gossiping small town. His little but meaningful gestures made her feel appreciated and adored. It was fast but it was like two Souls clicking together. But Ben's real identity was a secret and it almost destroyed them.

Ben looked at Hope and saw a beautiful and sweet and sassy and absolutely amazing woman. He fell in love with her and that removed his darkness. Hope thought she wanted perfect and sweet but she actually needed raw and intense, someone like Ben.

Ps Sean's story will be amazing.

PPS I hope that's with Hope's sister.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I took my friend's advice and listened to this romance! I've always had a soft spot for runaway bride stories, and this one truly drew me in. From the start, it had a perfect mix of adventure and surprising twists that kept me hooked.

The chemistry between the main characters felt real and unforced, and I loved seeing how their lives connected at just the right time—it was like everything really does happen for a reason. The warm, cozy tone of the story was wonderful, and the side characters brought so much charm, adding depth and humor to the romance.

This forbidden love story was such a satisfying escape, with memorable characters and so many heartwarming moments along the way.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope, a runaway bride and Ben, an undercover rockstar with stage fright, fall in love in this first book in a new dual POV, steamy small town romance series. This was fun, had emotional depth and great chemistry between the leads.

I didn't love the miscommunication trope but I did love how Hope takes control of her life before just agreeing to go along with what everyone was expecting. Good on audio narrated by Stella Hunter and Ryan West and perfect for fans of authors like Lucy Score.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! Looking forward to what comes next in the Maple Creek series!

[Kayla B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romance was so unique. A main character who is the lead singer of a metalcore band? I’m so in. A run away bride just happens to run into this band member in the woods, except she doesn’t know who he is. No one does.

The romance in this book smolders and builds slowly, but when it ignites its burns hot. Watching Hope grow into her femininity was so cool. Women are often taught to be quiet and demure, to go along with the stereotypical dream of becoming a wife and mother. Hope finds herself reinventing herself along the journey of this book, I loved it. Like I’ve said before, I love bad ass women.

[Lisa Hoak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a refreshing story ~ This isn't your typical runaway bride book. Hope's future doesn't look as perfect as she had planned it. In the middle of their vows, Hope makes a beeline into the woods to save herself. She runs into a mystery man, Ben, who is a little lost himself. I really enjoyed this book and Ben's secret is certainly unique. I cannot wait to dive into more Maple Creek!

[Summer Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great work!

This author uses a variety of figurative language and poetic analogies to captivate the reader in. It’s packed with lots of humor and the characters’ development flows through out the book.

The recorded audio was another bonus! Get narration from Hope and Ben.

This was a great read, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, entertaining read. Ben and Hope are interesting, wounded, complex, relatable, intriguing, complicated, strong, likable, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. These two are fun to spend time and I loved their meet cute. The secondary characters – particularly Sean and Hope’s family – added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story had quirky moments and relatable ones that added to the overall enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Paula Bothwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I Do, With You—DNF
I got 1/3 of the way in, saw exactly where things were headed, and stopped
Violence:
Language: 210 fbombs and that’s enough
Sex: not as of 30% in …
Runaway Bride runs into heavy metal heartthrob who “schools” her on what she’s been missing.