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Bad Boys & Wallflowers #3.6
At The Billionaire's Wedding
A stately home in the English countryside seems the ideal place for a bad boy billionaire and his bride to tie the knot. Until the Internet fails. And the oven breaks. And paparazzi invade. And police crash the bachelorette party. And four unlikely couples discover that passion never waits for perfection, and happily ever after is just an “I do” away.
"The Best Laid Planner" by Miranda Neville
Arwen Kilpatrick gets her big break when she’s hired to organize the wedding of an old friend—to a billionaire. Arwen doesn’t have time for romance, not even with the sexy hotel handyman, Harry Compton. But putting on the wedding of the year means dealing with one surprise after another, including the discovery that Harry is so much more than he seems.
"Will You Be My Wi-Fi?" by Caroline Linden
All Natalie Corcoran wants is peace and quiet while she writes her cookbook. The lavish wedding party at the hotel next door is driving her crazy—especially the sexy lawyer who wants her wi-fi password. But Archer Quinn is swamped with work and will do anything to convince her to take a chance on him… first with her wi-fi, then with her friendship, and then with more. But he only has a week to persuade her they'll be scrumptious together…
"The Day It Rained Books" by Katharine Ashe
Swept away by a mysterious benefactor to the wedding of the year, librarian Cali Blake is living a fairytale. The only thing missing is Prince Charming. Instead the guests include the last man she wants to see—her archenemy, millionaire playboy Piers Prescott. Piers is determined to conquer Cali’s resistance to him, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her. As long as she can remember it’s just for one week, could he be the perfect wedding fling?
"That Moment When You Fall In Love" by Maya Rodale
Sassy reporter Roxanna Lane might be falling for her date, sexy media mogul Damien Knightly, who just happens to be her boss. But he ruins everything by asking her to report on her best friend’s wedding. Damien Knightly is definitely falling for Roxanna, but thanks to an impulsive wager he must choose between losing the crown jewel of his media empire...or the woman he loves.
"The Best Laid Planner" by Miranda Neville
Arwen Kilpatrick gets her big break when she’s hired to organize the wedding of an old friend—to a billionaire. Arwen doesn’t have time for romance, not even with the sexy hotel handyman, Harry Compton. But putting on the wedding of the year means dealing with one surprise after another, including the discovery that Harry is so much more than he seems.
"Will You Be My Wi-Fi?" by Caroline Linden
All Natalie Corcoran wants is peace and quiet while she writes her cookbook. The lavish wedding party at the hotel next door is driving her crazy—especially the sexy lawyer who wants her wi-fi password. But Archer Quinn is swamped with work and will do anything to convince her to take a chance on him… first with her wi-fi, then with her friendship, and then with more. But he only has a week to persuade her they'll be scrumptious together…
"The Day It Rained Books" by Katharine Ashe
Swept away by a mysterious benefactor to the wedding of the year, librarian Cali Blake is living a fairytale. The only thing missing is Prince Charming. Instead the guests include the last man she wants to see—her archenemy, millionaire playboy Piers Prescott. Piers is determined to conquer Cali’s resistance to him, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her. As long as she can remember it’s just for one week, could he be the perfect wedding fling?
"That Moment When You Fall In Love" by Maya Rodale
Sassy reporter Roxanna Lane might be falling for her date, sexy media mogul Damien Knightly, who just happens to be her boss. But he ruins everything by asking her to report on her best friend’s wedding. Damien Knightly is definitely falling for Roxanna, but thanks to an impulsive wager he must choose between losing the crown jewel of his media empire...or the woman he loves.
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First published October 30, 2014
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About the author
Maya Rodale
46 books1,621 followersMaya Rodale is the best-selling and award-winning author of funny, feminist fiction including historical romance, YA and historical fiction. A champion of the romance genre and its readers, she is also the author of Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels, Explained. Maya reviews romance for NPR and has appeared in Bustle, Glamour, Shondaland, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and PBS. She began reading romance novels in college at her mother’s insistence and has never been allowed to forget it.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.mayarodale.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 6, 2014
The Lady Authors have invited us to a modern fairy-tale wedding which takes place in an old English county estate.
Romance writer Jane Sparks and her technology billionaire fiancé Duke Austen have planned a private wedding at Kingstag Castle in Dorset, England.Things are going along smoothly until Jane learns that Kingstag castle has burned down! After an Internet search, Duke saves the day and locates an alternate site for the wedding . The wedding venue is now Brampton House, an older family home which is being renovated into a hotel. Duke writes a large check to speed up the construction process. Jane sends her wedding planner Arwen Kilpatrick to check out Brampton house.
The cast of characters is amazing. Each person adds to the story and makes an appearance or two in the other chapters in the book. Kudos to the Lady Authors for continuity in this well plotted, romantic anthology.
The Best Laid Planner--author Miranda Neville
Miranda Neville sets the stage for the book with her characters of Harry, the charming handyman and Arwen, the no nonsense wedding planner. Their conversations made me laugh out loud and smile at the same time! Harry gives Arwen a tour of Brampton house and the grounds. Harry has a quick answer to all of Arwen’s questions about the guest rooms not having mini bars or fridges and the lack of wait staff. Arwen notices that there is no cell reception or Wi-Fi anywhere in the house or outside on the grounds. Harry dodges her question by suggesting that she walk a quarter of a mile up a hill to the family mausoleum for cell service (everyone walks up a hill to use their cell phone and laptop, right?)
Will Harry the handyman be able explain to Arwen that the hotel doesn't have a hotel manager? Or a commercial kitchen license? That the Internet won’t be working until after the wedding? And that he’s really not a handyman?
Will You Be My Wi-Fi? --author Caroline Linden
Caroline Linden's depiction of over worked corporate attorney Archer Quinn is spot on. Archer misses the familiar buzz of the incoming mail signal on his laptop and is desperate to download his email and check his voicemail.He is stressed because he can't work while he is on vacation! Archer searches for a signal and happens upon a cottage with a strong Wi-Fi signal. He immediately annoys chef Natalie Corcoran who is living at the cottage while writing a cookbook. I loved this career focused couple who have had little time for a social life. The story was sweet, sexy and so fun to read!
Natalie tempts Archer with her desserts--will the lack of internet force Archer to take a day off from work and spend time with Natalie?Can Archer fix the old computer in Natalie's cottage and restore the Wi-Fi? After the hotel refrigerator breaks ruining all of the desserts, can Arwen convince Natalie to bake the rehearsal cake and provide the dinner desserts in an afternoon?
The Day It Rained Books by Katharine Ashe
I loved this Cinderella story which has modern social themes sprinkled through the story. Cali and Piers's story included issues such as literacy, workplace harassment and corporate take overs. The hardworking Cali appealed to me. I understood why she wanted to leave her troubles behind her and enjoy herself at the wedding. Who wouldn't want an all expenses paid trip to England to a Billionaire's wedding? Piers is such a great hero. He has everyone's best interests at heart although he makes a huge miscalculation.Can Cali overcome her fears and forgive Piers? Will Cali's mysterious benefactor be revealed? When Cali returns home will she meet the man in the park? The ending of this story was not what I expected and was a bit of a nail biter-- and so worth it!
The Moment When You Fall In Love by Maya Rodale
Damien Knightley is in trouble. He's been challenged by a competitor to print exclusive pictures of the top secret Jane Sparks and Duke Austen wedding. And he's bet his family's newspaper.
He's got an in.....he's dating Roxanna Lane, the maid of honor. Damien doesn't like to lose.
Jane's bachelorette party is a riot. Maya Rodale had me laughing out loud during this chapter. Roxanna presents Jane with a sash with the words The Future Mrs Austen on it. Mimosas are served with breakfast and the party begins.The scene in the bar with Jane and her bridal party is hysterical-- laugh out loud funny and sweet and old fashioned -- all at the same time.Can Roxanna get Jane out of the bar before the bride gets arrested? Does Roxanna have enough time to write her rehearsal speech?Will Damien keep his newspaper? Will Damien open his heart to Roxanna?
Enjoyed this book so much that I bought the three books in Maya Rodale's series about Jane and Duke's love story. Looking forward to the next Lady Authors anthology...romance writing at it's best1!!
Romance writer Jane Sparks and her technology billionaire fiancé Duke Austen have planned a private wedding at Kingstag Castle in Dorset, England.Things are going along smoothly until Jane learns that Kingstag castle has burned down! After an Internet search, Duke saves the day and locates an alternate site for the wedding . The wedding venue is now Brampton House, an older family home which is being renovated into a hotel. Duke writes a large check to speed up the construction process. Jane sends her wedding planner Arwen Kilpatrick to check out Brampton house.
The cast of characters is amazing. Each person adds to the story and makes an appearance or two in the other chapters in the book. Kudos to the Lady Authors for continuity in this well plotted, romantic anthology.
The Best Laid Planner--author Miranda Neville
Miranda Neville sets the stage for the book with her characters of Harry, the charming handyman and Arwen, the no nonsense wedding planner. Their conversations made me laugh out loud and smile at the same time! Harry gives Arwen a tour of Brampton house and the grounds. Harry has a quick answer to all of Arwen’s questions about the guest rooms not having mini bars or fridges and the lack of wait staff. Arwen notices that there is no cell reception or Wi-Fi anywhere in the house or outside on the grounds. Harry dodges her question by suggesting that she walk a quarter of a mile up a hill to the family mausoleum for cell service (everyone walks up a hill to use their cell phone and laptop, right?)
Will Harry the handyman be able explain to Arwen that the hotel doesn't have a hotel manager? Or a commercial kitchen license? That the Internet won’t be working until after the wedding? And that he’s really not a handyman?
Will You Be My Wi-Fi? --author Caroline Linden
Caroline Linden's depiction of over worked corporate attorney Archer Quinn is spot on. Archer misses the familiar buzz of the incoming mail signal on his laptop and is desperate to download his email and check his voicemail.He is stressed because he can't work while he is on vacation! Archer searches for a signal and happens upon a cottage with a strong Wi-Fi signal. He immediately annoys chef Natalie Corcoran who is living at the cottage while writing a cookbook. I loved this career focused couple who have had little time for a social life. The story was sweet, sexy and so fun to read!
Natalie tempts Archer with her desserts--will the lack of internet force Archer to take a day off from work and spend time with Natalie?Can Archer fix the old computer in Natalie's cottage and restore the Wi-Fi? After the hotel refrigerator breaks ruining all of the desserts, can Arwen convince Natalie to bake the rehearsal cake and provide the dinner desserts in an afternoon?
The Day It Rained Books by Katharine Ashe
I loved this Cinderella story which has modern social themes sprinkled through the story. Cali and Piers's story included issues such as literacy, workplace harassment and corporate take overs. The hardworking Cali appealed to me. I understood why she wanted to leave her troubles behind her and enjoy herself at the wedding. Who wouldn't want an all expenses paid trip to England to a Billionaire's wedding? Piers is such a great hero. He has everyone's best interests at heart although he makes a huge miscalculation.Can Cali overcome her fears and forgive Piers? Will Cali's mysterious benefactor be revealed? When Cali returns home will she meet the man in the park? The ending of this story was not what I expected and was a bit of a nail biter-- and so worth it!
The Moment When You Fall In Love by Maya Rodale
Damien Knightley is in trouble. He's been challenged by a competitor to print exclusive pictures of the top secret Jane Sparks and Duke Austen wedding. And he's bet his family's newspaper.
He's got an in.....he's dating Roxanna Lane, the maid of honor. Damien doesn't like to lose.
Jane's bachelorette party is a riot. Maya Rodale had me laughing out loud during this chapter. Roxanna presents Jane with a sash with the words The Future Mrs Austen on it. Mimosas are served with breakfast and the party begins.The scene in the bar with Jane and her bridal party is hysterical-- laugh out loud funny and sweet and old fashioned -- all at the same time.Can Roxanna get Jane out of the bar before the bride gets arrested? Does Roxanna have enough time to write her rehearsal speech?Will Damien keep his newspaper? Will Damien open his heart to Roxanna?
Enjoyed this book so much that I bought the three books in Maya Rodale's series about Jane and Duke's love story. Looking forward to the next Lady Authors anthology...romance writing at it's best1!!
November 19, 2014
Best wedding I've ever been to!
THE BEST LAID PLANNER by Miranda Neville
Arwen Kilpatrick has landed the wedding of the century and all she has to do is make sure it comes off without a hitch and stays as private as possible. Of course, the English estate where it’s originally planned burns down, then when she goes to check out the private English manor procured by Duke Austen himself, she discovers it needs a lot of work and has virtually no cell signal or wi-fi, which just won’t do at all. However, it does have a very sexy handyman. Now, if she can just stay focused.
I loved THE BEST LAID PLANNER by Miranda Neville. It is a delightfully sweet and a very steamy start to this wedding anthology. Miranda writes with humor, and realism while creating a setting in which you can almost feel you’re there. Of course, Miranda has a way of doing this anyway but this time, I could almost smell the wildflowers. I love how it has a WEDDING DATE meets THE HOLIDAY feel to it while being true to itself without effort. Through Arwen and Harry, we meet a bevy of characters who we will get to know better as we progress through the anthology as we attend the wedding of Jane Sparks to her billionaire, Duke Austen. Let the fun begin...
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden
Natalie Corcoran hoped for some peace and quiet so she could think, and work on a cookbook, which is actually just an excuse to escape everything stressful back home at the restaurant and with her brother – the know it all. Borrowing a friend’s cottage in the English countryside seemed like the best plan until the noise and trucks trekking back and forth on the road become more than a distraction, they become an annoyance. As if the noise wasn't enough, now she has strangers wandering around her patio and even one couple having sex out there. What was going on next door? It seems there’s a wedding happening, and now one of the guests – albeit a very handsome one – wants to pay her to use her Wi-Fi for work. He is very handsome, and very charming – and he says he’ll stay on the patio and out of her way. Then again, maybe she doesn’t really want him to stay on the patio…
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden continues the wonderful feel of this exciting week in the English countryside started by Miranda in the first story. Then she pumps it up with sexual tension dipped in dabbles of chocolate, blueberry juice, and all kinds of sweet treats. The heat in Natalie’s kitchen rises major degrees when Archer treats her to some kitchen magic against a particular pantry door. Natalie and Archer are a delight and it’s a good thing he learns how talented she is in the kitchen – oh, and she can bake yummy goodies too. The wedding festivities continue…
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe
Cali Blake has a crush, and she doesn’t even know him. She’s never even seen his face, but it’s a crush all the same. He’s hat man, and he’s there in the park every Friday when she brings her bookmobile to that corner of the park. She provides him books, and he leaves her notes. One day, she receives an envelope with a ticket to England, and enough money to buy a dress, pay for a nurse for her sister, and anything else she needs so she may attend the wedding of the year. She thought she had to pass on being a bridesmaid in her friend Jane’s wedding until a mysterious benefactor provides her the means to go. Was it her friends? Or does she actually have a fairy godmother somewhere? Thrilled she’s attending the fairytale wedding in the English countryside, the last thing she expects is to meet up with the man whose foundation turned down her proposal for the bookmobile in the first place. However, he is very sexy and he seems to follow her wherever she goes, and would a wedding fling with Philadelphia’s own bad boy millionaire be such a terrible thing?
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe might be my favorite in this anthology but since I enjoyed them all so much, it’s truly hard to say for sure. There is such a modern day twist on the Cinderella story in this one that I can’t help but enjoy it all the more. The story is steeped in secrets and as each one is revealed to Cali, the budding romance between her and Piers becomes more, and more complicated. Piers wants only to win her trust, her love, and her heart but with each passing day, Cali becomes more distrustful of Piers’ true intentions. Is it just a fling or can a wedding romance become more with the man she wishes was her real Prince Charming? If books can lead her to the man she loves then perhaps, books can help her believe him as well. Back to the wedding of the year...
THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE by Maya Rodale
Roxanna Lane is thrilled to be part of her best friend’s wedding, and to be spending the week with her boss, Damien Knightly. But, instead of relaxing and enjoying time together in the English countryside, he’s asked her to do the one thing which will either destroy her friendship or any chance of a relationship developing between her and the man who makes her knees weak. He wants her to betray Jane and Duke by getting first pictures for him to post online. This goes against everything Jane wants for her wedding and the deal Duke made with People magazine to have exclusive rights to the pictures. Once she discovers Damien’s real reason for wanting the pictures, she teams up with Jane to resolve both problems, but will it work or will it end in disaster? Her feelings for Damien become deeper and she suspects his are too, but will things be over even before they can get started? Why do weddings have to be so troublesome?
In THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE, Maya Rodale brings us to the moment when Jane and Duke get their happily ever after and Roxanna and Damien learn what being in love really means. Roxanna started her friend’s romantic fairy tale love affair with her online antics, but now she’s worried she could bring her own to an end even as she begins to believe in the magic of love. Roxanna and Damien are wonderful together. They think alike, they strategize alike, and they deny their feelings for each other with the same level of stubbornness, only to succumb to what they both intend to fight – their love for each other. They are passionate together whether in bed, or putting their heads together to solve their problem. Damien proves himself a true hero even as he tries to win a wager which may ruin Jane and Duke’s plans to keep the wedding private. When he springs the ultimate romantic surprise on Roxanna, you can almost imagine him rising from the pond soaking wet like that Austen character about whom we all love to fantasize.
I highly recommend the anthology AT THE BILLIONAIRE’S WEDDING, to everyone who loves weddings, steamy sweet romance, and laughable antics from creating the perfect wedding to drunken fun at hen and stag parties, to swoon-worthy moments in Regency-style fancy salons, to falling down libraries, delicious smelling kitchens, and surprise destinations. If you’ve read Maya Rodale’s Bad Boy Billionaire novellas, you will thrill for sure but truthfully, even if you haven’t you’ll still enjoy the most incredible wedding you’ll ever attend.
Be sure to read the thank you notes at the end. Sweet secrets are revealed. Although I'm still trying to figure out which couple was having sex on a lawn chair and in the woods.
***eARC provided by The Lady Authors in exchange for an honest and unscripted review. Thank you, my darlings!
THE BEST LAID PLANNER by Miranda Neville
Arwen Kilpatrick has landed the wedding of the century and all she has to do is make sure it comes off without a hitch and stays as private as possible. Of course, the English estate where it’s originally planned burns down, then when she goes to check out the private English manor procured by Duke Austen himself, she discovers it needs a lot of work and has virtually no cell signal or wi-fi, which just won’t do at all. However, it does have a very sexy handyman. Now, if she can just stay focused.
I loved THE BEST LAID PLANNER by Miranda Neville. It is a delightfully sweet and a very steamy start to this wedding anthology. Miranda writes with humor, and realism while creating a setting in which you can almost feel you’re there. Of course, Miranda has a way of doing this anyway but this time, I could almost smell the wildflowers. I love how it has a WEDDING DATE meets THE HOLIDAY feel to it while being true to itself without effort. Through Arwen and Harry, we meet a bevy of characters who we will get to know better as we progress through the anthology as we attend the wedding of Jane Sparks to her billionaire, Duke Austen. Let the fun begin...
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden
Natalie Corcoran hoped for some peace and quiet so she could think, and work on a cookbook, which is actually just an excuse to escape everything stressful back home at the restaurant and with her brother – the know it all. Borrowing a friend’s cottage in the English countryside seemed like the best plan until the noise and trucks trekking back and forth on the road become more than a distraction, they become an annoyance. As if the noise wasn't enough, now she has strangers wandering around her patio and even one couple having sex out there. What was going on next door? It seems there’s a wedding happening, and now one of the guests – albeit a very handsome one – wants to pay her to use her Wi-Fi for work. He is very handsome, and very charming – and he says he’ll stay on the patio and out of her way. Then again, maybe she doesn’t really want him to stay on the patio…
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden continues the wonderful feel of this exciting week in the English countryside started by Miranda in the first story. Then she pumps it up with sexual tension dipped in dabbles of chocolate, blueberry juice, and all kinds of sweet treats. The heat in Natalie’s kitchen rises major degrees when Archer treats her to some kitchen magic against a particular pantry door. Natalie and Archer are a delight and it’s a good thing he learns how talented she is in the kitchen – oh, and she can bake yummy goodies too. The wedding festivities continue…
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe
Cali Blake has a crush, and she doesn’t even know him. She’s never even seen his face, but it’s a crush all the same. He’s hat man, and he’s there in the park every Friday when she brings her bookmobile to that corner of the park. She provides him books, and he leaves her notes. One day, she receives an envelope with a ticket to England, and enough money to buy a dress, pay for a nurse for her sister, and anything else she needs so she may attend the wedding of the year. She thought she had to pass on being a bridesmaid in her friend Jane’s wedding until a mysterious benefactor provides her the means to go. Was it her friends? Or does she actually have a fairy godmother somewhere? Thrilled she’s attending the fairytale wedding in the English countryside, the last thing she expects is to meet up with the man whose foundation turned down her proposal for the bookmobile in the first place. However, he is very sexy and he seems to follow her wherever she goes, and would a wedding fling with Philadelphia’s own bad boy millionaire be such a terrible thing?
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe might be my favorite in this anthology but since I enjoyed them all so much, it’s truly hard to say for sure. There is such a modern day twist on the Cinderella story in this one that I can’t help but enjoy it all the more. The story is steeped in secrets and as each one is revealed to Cali, the budding romance between her and Piers becomes more, and more complicated. Piers wants only to win her trust, her love, and her heart but with each passing day, Cali becomes more distrustful of Piers’ true intentions. Is it just a fling or can a wedding romance become more with the man she wishes was her real Prince Charming? If books can lead her to the man she loves then perhaps, books can help her believe him as well. Back to the wedding of the year...
THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE by Maya Rodale
Roxanna Lane is thrilled to be part of her best friend’s wedding, and to be spending the week with her boss, Damien Knightly. But, instead of relaxing and enjoying time together in the English countryside, he’s asked her to do the one thing which will either destroy her friendship or any chance of a relationship developing between her and the man who makes her knees weak. He wants her to betray Jane and Duke by getting first pictures for him to post online. This goes against everything Jane wants for her wedding and the deal Duke made with People magazine to have exclusive rights to the pictures. Once she discovers Damien’s real reason for wanting the pictures, she teams up with Jane to resolve both problems, but will it work or will it end in disaster? Her feelings for Damien become deeper and she suspects his are too, but will things be over even before they can get started? Why do weddings have to be so troublesome?
In THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE, Maya Rodale brings us to the moment when Jane and Duke get their happily ever after and Roxanna and Damien learn what being in love really means. Roxanna started her friend’s romantic fairy tale love affair with her online antics, but now she’s worried she could bring her own to an end even as she begins to believe in the magic of love. Roxanna and Damien are wonderful together. They think alike, they strategize alike, and they deny their feelings for each other with the same level of stubbornness, only to succumb to what they both intend to fight – their love for each other. They are passionate together whether in bed, or putting their heads together to solve their problem. Damien proves himself a true hero even as he tries to win a wager which may ruin Jane and Duke’s plans to keep the wedding private. When he springs the ultimate romantic surprise on Roxanna, you can almost imagine him rising from the pond soaking wet like that Austen character about whom we all love to fantasize.
I highly recommend the anthology AT THE BILLIONAIRE’S WEDDING, to everyone who loves weddings, steamy sweet romance, and laughable antics from creating the perfect wedding to drunken fun at hen and stag parties, to swoon-worthy moments in Regency-style fancy salons, to falling down libraries, delicious smelling kitchens, and surprise destinations. If you’ve read Maya Rodale’s Bad Boy Billionaire novellas, you will thrill for sure but truthfully, even if you haven’t you’ll still enjoy the most incredible wedding you’ll ever attend.
Be sure to read the thank you notes at the end. Sweet secrets are revealed. Although I'm still trying to figure out which couple was having sex on a lawn chair and in the woods.
***eARC provided by The Lady Authors in exchange for an honest and unscripted review. Thank you, my darlings!
November 30, 2014
A stately home in the English countryside seems the ideal place for a bad boy billionaire and his bride to tie the knot. Until the Internet fails. And the oven breaks. And paparazzi invade. And police crash the bachelorette party. And four unlikely couples discover that passion never waits for perfection, and happily ever after is just an “I do” away.
"The Best Laid Planner" by Miranda Neville: Arwen Kilpatrick gets her big break when she’s hired to organize the wedding of an old friend—to a billionaire. Arwen doesn’t have time for romance, not even with the sexy hotel handyman, Harry Compton. But putting on the wedding of the year means dealing with one surprise after another, including the discovery that Harry is so much more than he seems.
"Will You Be My Wi-Fi?" by Caroline Linden: All Natalie Corcoran wants is peace and quiet while she writes her cookbook. The lavish wedding party at the hotel next door is driving her crazy—especially the sexy lawyer who wants her wi-fi password. But Archer Quinn is swamped with work and will do anything to convince her to take a chance on him… first with her wi-fi, then with her friendship, and then with more. But he only has a week to persuade her they'll be scrumptious together…
"The Day It Rained Books" by Katharine Ashe: Swept away by a mysterious benefactor to the wedding of the year, librarian Cali Blake is living a fairytale. The only thing missing is Prince Charming. Instead the guests include the last man she wants to see—her archenemy, millionaire playboy Piers Prescott. Piers is determined to conquer Cali’s resistance to him, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her. As long as she can remember it’s just for one week, could he be the perfect wedding fling?
"That Moment When You Fall In Love" by Maya Rodale: Sassy reporter Roxanna Lane might be falling for her date, sexy media mogul Damien Knightly, who just happens to be her boss. But he ruins everything by asking her to report on her best friend’s wedding. Damien Knightly is definitely falling for Roxanna, but thanks to an impulsive wager he must choose between losing the crown jewel of his media empire...or the woman he loves.
This was a very fun read – the characters all have issues and are just plain funny. The first story, “The Best Laid Planner” kicked everything off and I have to say, was my favorite. I did not get that Arwen was a character from Tolkein books and of course had to Wikipedia it, but I loved the chemistry between her and Harry the owner of Brampton House. The next story, “Will you be my WiFi?” was sweeter and a bit slower, but enjoyable still. I love the title of this story – so hilarious given the circumstances of their meeting. The next two stories were by my favorite authors, Katharine Ashe and Maya Rodale, and were good as well. I did not read Maya Rodale’s Bad Boy Billionaire series which introduced Duke Austen and Jane Sparks but I didn’t need to read it ahead of time, however, I want to read them now. I loved that Jane got a Regency wedding which melded the Historical and Contemporary romance genres which is good for me as I prefer Historicals. But, after reading this, I’ll need to be more open to Contempories!
"The Best Laid Planner" by Miranda Neville: Arwen Kilpatrick gets her big break when she’s hired to organize the wedding of an old friend—to a billionaire. Arwen doesn’t have time for romance, not even with the sexy hotel handyman, Harry Compton. But putting on the wedding of the year means dealing with one surprise after another, including the discovery that Harry is so much more than he seems.
"Will You Be My Wi-Fi?" by Caroline Linden: All Natalie Corcoran wants is peace and quiet while she writes her cookbook. The lavish wedding party at the hotel next door is driving her crazy—especially the sexy lawyer who wants her wi-fi password. But Archer Quinn is swamped with work and will do anything to convince her to take a chance on him… first with her wi-fi, then with her friendship, and then with more. But he only has a week to persuade her they'll be scrumptious together…
"The Day It Rained Books" by Katharine Ashe: Swept away by a mysterious benefactor to the wedding of the year, librarian Cali Blake is living a fairytale. The only thing missing is Prince Charming. Instead the guests include the last man she wants to see—her archenemy, millionaire playboy Piers Prescott. Piers is determined to conquer Cali’s resistance to him, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her. As long as she can remember it’s just for one week, could he be the perfect wedding fling?
"That Moment When You Fall In Love" by Maya Rodale: Sassy reporter Roxanna Lane might be falling for her date, sexy media mogul Damien Knightly, who just happens to be her boss. But he ruins everything by asking her to report on her best friend’s wedding. Damien Knightly is definitely falling for Roxanna, but thanks to an impulsive wager he must choose between losing the crown jewel of his media empire...or the woman he loves.
This was a very fun read – the characters all have issues and are just plain funny. The first story, “The Best Laid Planner” kicked everything off and I have to say, was my favorite. I did not get that Arwen was a character from Tolkein books and of course had to Wikipedia it, but I loved the chemistry between her and Harry the owner of Brampton House. The next story, “Will you be my WiFi?” was sweeter and a bit slower, but enjoyable still. I love the title of this story – so hilarious given the circumstances of their meeting. The next two stories were by my favorite authors, Katharine Ashe and Maya Rodale, and were good as well. I did not read Maya Rodale’s Bad Boy Billionaire series which introduced Duke Austen and Jane Sparks but I didn’t need to read it ahead of time, however, I want to read them now. I loved that Jane got a Regency wedding which melded the Historical and Contemporary romance genres which is good for me as I prefer Historicals. But, after reading this, I’ll need to be more open to Contempories!
June 30, 2018
Billionaire Duke Austen and librarian Jane Sparks are getting married. Mere weeks before the wedding, there is a fire in their selected venue, and they, along with their wedding planner, have to find another location. They come up with Brampton House, a stately English manor, which is shortly scheduled to begin operations as a posh hotel and event center. A variety of guests from different walks of life will attend the wedding, many finding romance along the way.
This collection of novellas is stellar, all of them solid and quality reads. These are authors who I'm familiar with, but as writers of historical romance. This is a modern story with modern themes, and the passion happens quickly, and is steamy. I expected one of the stories to be about the couple getting married, but that's not the case - Jane and Duke's story happened previously in a trilogy by Maya Rodale. I enjoyed this entertaining , sizzling, and sometimes amusing collection greatly.
THE BEST LAID PLANNER by Miranda Neville - Wedding planner, Arwen, is scrambling to fit a last minute venue change for her high school friend's wedding. Jane is marrying a billionaire, and this wedding has to be perfect. Arwen travels to England to be sure the as yet unopened hotel is up to the task. Her contact is Harry, and the handyman / jack-of-all-trades is knowledgeable, helpful, and so very handsome. This couple acts upon their immediate attraction, but what will happen when Arwen finds out that her handyman is really the owner and heir to a title?
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden - Natalie escapes to the English countryside after a bitter fight with her brother about their family's restaurant. Wanting peace and quiet to write her cookbook, Natalie is constantly disturbed by heavy traffic to and from Brampton House, as well as guests of the hotel using her patio for illicit encounters and her cottage's wi-fi signal. Attorney Archer was more or less coerced into attending this wedding, and needs to keep up with his busy schedule while away. When the hotel's internet goes out, he tracks a nearby signal to Natalie, and pleads with her for the password, and to let him sit on her patio to work. Will this couple's attraction last when they both return home to Massachusetts, or is it a fleeting fling?
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe - Librarian Cali Blake is Jane's college friend, and is struggling financially to support herself and her injured sister. When a mysterious benefactor supplies the funding for Cali's passionate project, a bookmobile, she's overjoyed. She also receives the funding to cover her expenses to attend the wedding in England, though none of her friends will admit to being the generous benefactor. Piers is Duke's college roommate, and works for his cutthroat family business. He observed Cali from afar, watching her every Friday, as she supplies books, and brings sunshine to the lives of those who come to the bookmobile. Piers wants to know her, and to understand someone who is so different from the sharks he's accustomed to dealing with. They meet at the wedding, and soon, they too are acting on the strong attraction they feel for each other. Cali is wary, though, and sure that someone like Piers could never be serious about someone like her. She's determined to keep this as just a wedding hookup, while Piers is wanting to hold on to the strongest love he's ever felt.
THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE by Maya Rodale - Roxanna is Jane's roommate and maid-of-honor, and is attending the wedding with her boss and lover, Damien. This couple is working very hard to keep their relationship casual and undefined. Damien owns several websites, one of which is "Jezebel," which is for news and gossip, and this is the one Roxanna writes for. Damien is in a serious bind, and needs to be the first to publish wedding pics from the hush-hush wedding, which Jane and Duke are adamantly opposed to. Roxanna is put in the position of betraying her friend's trust, or allowing her lover to suffer a serious loss. Add to that, this determinedly non-committed couple finds themselves unthinkingly falling in love.
This collection of novellas is stellar, all of them solid and quality reads. These are authors who I'm familiar with, but as writers of historical romance. This is a modern story with modern themes, and the passion happens quickly, and is steamy. I expected one of the stories to be about the couple getting married, but that's not the case - Jane and Duke's story happened previously in a trilogy by Maya Rodale. I enjoyed this entertaining , sizzling, and sometimes amusing collection greatly.
THE BEST LAID PLANNER by Miranda Neville - Wedding planner, Arwen, is scrambling to fit a last minute venue change for her high school friend's wedding. Jane is marrying a billionaire, and this wedding has to be perfect. Arwen travels to England to be sure the as yet unopened hotel is up to the task. Her contact is Harry, and the handyman / jack-of-all-trades is knowledgeable, helpful, and so very handsome. This couple acts upon their immediate attraction, but what will happen when Arwen finds out that her handyman is really the owner and heir to a title?
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden - Natalie escapes to the English countryside after a bitter fight with her brother about their family's restaurant. Wanting peace and quiet to write her cookbook, Natalie is constantly disturbed by heavy traffic to and from Brampton House, as well as guests of the hotel using her patio for illicit encounters and her cottage's wi-fi signal. Attorney Archer was more or less coerced into attending this wedding, and needs to keep up with his busy schedule while away. When the hotel's internet goes out, he tracks a nearby signal to Natalie, and pleads with her for the password, and to let him sit on her patio to work. Will this couple's attraction last when they both return home to Massachusetts, or is it a fleeting fling?
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe - Librarian Cali Blake is Jane's college friend, and is struggling financially to support herself and her injured sister. When a mysterious benefactor supplies the funding for Cali's passionate project, a bookmobile, she's overjoyed. She also receives the funding to cover her expenses to attend the wedding in England, though none of her friends will admit to being the generous benefactor. Piers is Duke's college roommate, and works for his cutthroat family business. He observed Cali from afar, watching her every Friday, as she supplies books, and brings sunshine to the lives of those who come to the bookmobile. Piers wants to know her, and to understand someone who is so different from the sharks he's accustomed to dealing with. They meet at the wedding, and soon, they too are acting on the strong attraction they feel for each other. Cali is wary, though, and sure that someone like Piers could never be serious about someone like her. She's determined to keep this as just a wedding hookup, while Piers is wanting to hold on to the strongest love he's ever felt.
THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE by Maya Rodale - Roxanna is Jane's roommate and maid-of-honor, and is attending the wedding with her boss and lover, Damien. This couple is working very hard to keep their relationship casual and undefined. Damien owns several websites, one of which is "Jezebel," which is for news and gossip, and this is the one Roxanna writes for. Damien is in a serious bind, and needs to be the first to publish wedding pics from the hush-hush wedding, which Jane and Duke are adamantly opposed to. Roxanna is put in the position of betraying her friend's trust, or allowing her lover to suffer a serious loss. Add to that, this determinedly non-committed couple finds themselves unthinkingly falling in love.
November 10, 2014
“At the Billionaire’s Wedding" - Four Novellas
Novella Number One: “The Best Laid Planner” - Miranda Neville
Duke Austen, a young billionaire who made his fortune in the tech industry and Jane Sparks, well known historical romance author, are planning the perfect wedding. Their first choice of venue, Kingstag Castle, Dorset England, has just been damaged by a fire. So when wedding planner, Arwen Kilpatrick, discovers Brampton House it sounds perfect. It is a home that has not always been lived in and thus part of it is in the middle of being renovated. Ah, but the beautifully furnished rooms and antique furniture make up for a few rooms still being worked on. When Duke and Jane arrive for their week of wedding festivities, Duke is chagrined to find that cell service is either spotty or non-existent. This is bad news for a tech guy, however, it is Jane’s dream wedding so he is content with whatever makes her happy.
Behind the scenes, Arwen is working closely with Harry, the man she assumes is the caretaker of the house and guru in charge of the renovations. For a man who appears to be simply an employee, he certainly seems to be very knowledgeable about the estate and the two of them find themselves very attracted to one another. Who is Harry? Considering the glitches that can occur when an estate is undergoing renovation, can the wedding go off as faultlessly as Jane wants?
This first novella sets the stage perfectly for the story of Duke and Jane’s wedding.
“At the Billionaire’s Wedding” - Four Novellas
Novella Number Two: “Will You Be My Wi-Fi?” - Caroline Linden
Archer Quinn is the attorney for, and good friend to Duke Austen, owner of Project-TK Industries with a net worth of nearly twenty billion dollars. So, when he receives an invitation to the wedding of Duke and his fiancee, author Jane Sparks, he is undecided about attending. His practice is very busy and for him to take any time off would be a difficult undertaking. However, he realizes he has not had a vacation in a very long time and decides to go. He knows he can keep up with things at the office via his computer and phone. Or maybe not. When he arrives at Brampton House and discovers the no internet situation, he is flabbergasted. Knowing that there are certain hot spots around the property, he takes off following the bars on his phone. What he finds is a cottage on the edge of the property with no only great cell service but a lovely woman inside baking!
Natalie Corcoran is renting a home looking for peace and quiet while she works on a cookbook. Her family’s restaurant is very well-known but after an over-the-top argument with her brother about the family business, she decides to take a sabbatical from the restaurant.
When Archer asks Natalie if he can use the cell service and only sit on the patio not bothering her, she finally agrees. As the time passes and Archer keeps smelling the lovely things that Natalie is baking, they communicate more and he begins to taste some of these delicious creations. Turns out, he’s not just interesting in tasting her desserts but other things as well. Ahem.
As they meet each morning on her patio, their attraction grows. Just before the wedding, an emergency arises which leaves the wedding desserts ruined. Will Natalie be able to help save the day? Will Archer and Natalie’s attraction last after the wedding is over?
I enjoyed this novella very much. The clever dialogue between Archer and Natalie is sweet and very romantic.
“At the Billionaire’s Wedding” - Four Novellas
Novella Number Three: - “The Day It Rained Books” - Katharine Ashe
Cali Blake drives a Bookmobile in Philadelphia. Of all of the jobs she has had with the Library, this is her favorite. She has gotten to know many of the locals and ensures that she has books on the Bookmobile that will suit their tastes. She fights hard to keep the Bookmobile when a family foundation grant was rejected. However, an unknown donor stepped in and provided the funds to keep it going. When she receives an invitation to the wedding of her old friend and co-worker at the Library, Jane Sparks, she is pleased and sad at the same time. Jane is so happy for Jane and her new-found fame and wonderfully rich fiancee. However, the reality of not being able to afford to buy appropriate clothes and a plane ticket hits her. In addition, she has the responsibility to care for her sister who was severely burned in a fire.
Piers Prescott was Duke Austen’s roommate at Stanford, and is the grandson to Jacob Taylor Vaughan Prescott, the most powerful man in Philadelphia. Piers and his grandfather have been at odds for years. Piers is interested in making things better for the people, whereas his grandfather is interested in making even more money and he doesn’t care who suffers from his endeavors.
When Cali receives a plane ticket and money for some new clothes and for a caregiver for her sister, she finally decides to accept this anonymous gift and go to Jane’s wedding. When will she ever have a chance like this again to let her hair down and maybe even meet a hot guy.
At Brampton House, Cali and Piers are quickly drawn to one another and the fun begins!
This novella portrays a very strong and proud young woman and a man who truly cares.
“At the Billionaire’s Wedding” - Four Novellas
Novella Number Four: “That Moment When You Fall In Love” - Maya Rodale
Roxanna Lane is a good friend of Jane Sparks and has been invited to her wedding. Roxanna writes celebrity gossip for Jezebel.com. Her boyfriend, Damien Knightly, is a wealthy English aristocrat and owner of Jezebel.com plus many other investments. Theirs is sometimes a love-hate relationship as Damien is always trying to get Roxanna to do some unethical things to promote the website. When the two of them arrive at Brampton House as wedding guests, Roxanna is furious when Damien asks her to leak pictures and other wedding information. She refuses. There is an agreement that if Roxanna ensures that Jane’s wedding photos and other wedding particulars are not leaked, a large donation will be given to Little Paws Rescue to aid kittens and puppies.
The appearance of the paparazzi hiding in the bushes around the estate ignites a sneaky plan in the mind of Jane and Roxanna to deter the paparazzi. The plan works perfectly and Jane and Austen’s wedding ends up being perfect but not without many little roadblocks along the way.
Will Roxanna and Damien be able to resolve their differences about the privacy of the wedding or will they end up going their separate ways?
This last novella wrapped up the story to a lovely conclusion.
Novella Number One: “The Best Laid Planner” - Miranda Neville
Duke Austen, a young billionaire who made his fortune in the tech industry and Jane Sparks, well known historical romance author, are planning the perfect wedding. Their first choice of venue, Kingstag Castle, Dorset England, has just been damaged by a fire. So when wedding planner, Arwen Kilpatrick, discovers Brampton House it sounds perfect. It is a home that has not always been lived in and thus part of it is in the middle of being renovated. Ah, but the beautifully furnished rooms and antique furniture make up for a few rooms still being worked on. When Duke and Jane arrive for their week of wedding festivities, Duke is chagrined to find that cell service is either spotty or non-existent. This is bad news for a tech guy, however, it is Jane’s dream wedding so he is content with whatever makes her happy.
Behind the scenes, Arwen is working closely with Harry, the man she assumes is the caretaker of the house and guru in charge of the renovations. For a man who appears to be simply an employee, he certainly seems to be very knowledgeable about the estate and the two of them find themselves very attracted to one another. Who is Harry? Considering the glitches that can occur when an estate is undergoing renovation, can the wedding go off as faultlessly as Jane wants?
This first novella sets the stage perfectly for the story of Duke and Jane’s wedding.
“At the Billionaire’s Wedding” - Four Novellas
Novella Number Two: “Will You Be My Wi-Fi?” - Caroline Linden
Archer Quinn is the attorney for, and good friend to Duke Austen, owner of Project-TK Industries with a net worth of nearly twenty billion dollars. So, when he receives an invitation to the wedding of Duke and his fiancee, author Jane Sparks, he is undecided about attending. His practice is very busy and for him to take any time off would be a difficult undertaking. However, he realizes he has not had a vacation in a very long time and decides to go. He knows he can keep up with things at the office via his computer and phone. Or maybe not. When he arrives at Brampton House and discovers the no internet situation, he is flabbergasted. Knowing that there are certain hot spots around the property, he takes off following the bars on his phone. What he finds is a cottage on the edge of the property with no only great cell service but a lovely woman inside baking!
Natalie Corcoran is renting a home looking for peace and quiet while she works on a cookbook. Her family’s restaurant is very well-known but after an over-the-top argument with her brother about the family business, she decides to take a sabbatical from the restaurant.
When Archer asks Natalie if he can use the cell service and only sit on the patio not bothering her, she finally agrees. As the time passes and Archer keeps smelling the lovely things that Natalie is baking, they communicate more and he begins to taste some of these delicious creations. Turns out, he’s not just interesting in tasting her desserts but other things as well. Ahem.
As they meet each morning on her patio, their attraction grows. Just before the wedding, an emergency arises which leaves the wedding desserts ruined. Will Natalie be able to help save the day? Will Archer and Natalie’s attraction last after the wedding is over?
I enjoyed this novella very much. The clever dialogue between Archer and Natalie is sweet and very romantic.
“At the Billionaire’s Wedding” - Four Novellas
Novella Number Three: - “The Day It Rained Books” - Katharine Ashe
Cali Blake drives a Bookmobile in Philadelphia. Of all of the jobs she has had with the Library, this is her favorite. She has gotten to know many of the locals and ensures that she has books on the Bookmobile that will suit their tastes. She fights hard to keep the Bookmobile when a family foundation grant was rejected. However, an unknown donor stepped in and provided the funds to keep it going. When she receives an invitation to the wedding of her old friend and co-worker at the Library, Jane Sparks, she is pleased and sad at the same time. Jane is so happy for Jane and her new-found fame and wonderfully rich fiancee. However, the reality of not being able to afford to buy appropriate clothes and a plane ticket hits her. In addition, she has the responsibility to care for her sister who was severely burned in a fire.
Piers Prescott was Duke Austen’s roommate at Stanford, and is the grandson to Jacob Taylor Vaughan Prescott, the most powerful man in Philadelphia. Piers and his grandfather have been at odds for years. Piers is interested in making things better for the people, whereas his grandfather is interested in making even more money and he doesn’t care who suffers from his endeavors.
When Cali receives a plane ticket and money for some new clothes and for a caregiver for her sister, she finally decides to accept this anonymous gift and go to Jane’s wedding. When will she ever have a chance like this again to let her hair down and maybe even meet a hot guy.
At Brampton House, Cali and Piers are quickly drawn to one another and the fun begins!
This novella portrays a very strong and proud young woman and a man who truly cares.
“At the Billionaire’s Wedding” - Four Novellas
Novella Number Four: “That Moment When You Fall In Love” - Maya Rodale
Roxanna Lane is a good friend of Jane Sparks and has been invited to her wedding. Roxanna writes celebrity gossip for Jezebel.com. Her boyfriend, Damien Knightly, is a wealthy English aristocrat and owner of Jezebel.com plus many other investments. Theirs is sometimes a love-hate relationship as Damien is always trying to get Roxanna to do some unethical things to promote the website. When the two of them arrive at Brampton House as wedding guests, Roxanna is furious when Damien asks her to leak pictures and other wedding information. She refuses. There is an agreement that if Roxanna ensures that Jane’s wedding photos and other wedding particulars are not leaked, a large donation will be given to Little Paws Rescue to aid kittens and puppies.
The appearance of the paparazzi hiding in the bushes around the estate ignites a sneaky plan in the mind of Jane and Roxanna to deter the paparazzi. The plan works perfectly and Jane and Austen’s wedding ends up being perfect but not without many little roadblocks along the way.
Will Roxanna and Damien be able to resolve their differences about the privacy of the wedding or will they end up going their separate ways?
This last novella wrapped up the story to a lovely conclusion.
June 21, 2018
I’ve received an eARC at no cost to the authors.
It’s been a while since I’ve read contemporary romances, so I was a bit afraid of how this was going to go. But in the end, I had no reason to be afraid. The titles of each novella were so funny that I couldn’t help but giggle and imagine how much fun I would have while reading them.
Out of the four authors, I had already read two of them: Caroline Linden and Katharine Ashe. The other two are authors I have been meaning to read but hadn’t had the chance yet – what a great way to start my love for their books!
I really liked how everything fitted together, how the wedding of Duke and Jane was kept together by everyone, not just being the line tying every story but actively being a part of each novella and its characters.
The first one was my least favourite story (maybe a 3/3.5 stars?), but the rest were all strong 4 star stories. All had delectable characters, a touch of true love and happy endings, some with a bit of trouble in the middle, others just fitting together almost perfectly. Just what I needed and was promised by this anthology.
It was very enjoyable and entertaining and I laughed out loud several times, and felt emotionally connected to the characters which made me love the book even more. I recommend it to all the fans of happy endings and especially to those incurable romantics, like me.
It’s been a while since I’ve read contemporary romances, so I was a bit afraid of how this was going to go. But in the end, I had no reason to be afraid. The titles of each novella were so funny that I couldn’t help but giggle and imagine how much fun I would have while reading them.
Out of the four authors, I had already read two of them: Caroline Linden and Katharine Ashe. The other two are authors I have been meaning to read but hadn’t had the chance yet – what a great way to start my love for their books!
I really liked how everything fitted together, how the wedding of Duke and Jane was kept together by everyone, not just being the line tying every story but actively being a part of each novella and its characters.
The first one was my least favourite story (maybe a 3/3.5 stars?), but the rest were all strong 4 star stories. All had delectable characters, a touch of true love and happy endings, some with a bit of trouble in the middle, others just fitting together almost perfectly. Just what I needed and was promised by this anthology.
It was very enjoyable and entertaining and I laughed out loud several times, and felt emotionally connected to the characters which made me love the book even more. I recommend it to all the fans of happy endings and especially to those incurable romantics, like me.
November 2, 2021
I think this collection is especially fun to read after reading Maya Rodale's Bad Boy Billionaire novellas, as those characters are an essential part of the story (it's Duke and Jane's wedding). The four different stories blend really well together, weaving in the setting and bits of the other stories' characters. And yet each stands on its own as well. Light, humorous, and fun.
June 7, 2015
Another great anthology from this lot. Maybe even better than their previous one.
This lot of authors tend to write Historical Romance. They succeed in writing contemporary, while still maintaining the same great voices they have in the other sub-genre. - So, as with At the Duke's Wedding, I'd say this is a great way to get to get a taste of these authors.
Shoutout to Caroline Linden for the most fantastic phrase in the book, "purred like a vibrator" to describe her cat.
I give this a 5 since it's so well tied together; it's delightful to read the Epiloguve as a wind-down and follow-through for all the narratives and hopes and desires throughout the book.
Maya Rodale's book was nice.
It was quite cute to see a legacy of the characters from her "Seducing Mr Knightly". And I think cool to see the another instance/iteration of the same character, in another narrative.
I feel bad that I didn't realise what the Jane Spark's married name would be before reading this story.
I can't say all of it suited my taste.
KAshe's novella certainly got my attention.
KAshe is a poet. Her writing here I'd call audacious, in that it's a homage to Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". As for how well she pulls this off, YMMV. I wasn't sold by it; though I think she does a good job of emphasising that classism isn't something society has left behind.
Yet, where the author is overt about her social views, I think the narrative is bogus. The Heroine is a poor woman who had an alcoholic father, a sister who suffers chronic burns, a low paying job where she's harassed by a creepy boss. It's narrated in such a tone that I'm surprised the author didn't decide to emphasise the character's skin colour, and to add an abusive ex-boyfriend who suffered mental illness, etc. The tone is along the lines of "woe, we righteous oppressed", and dichotimitises everyone who she likes as "good", and emphasis how against her the world is. The Hero's benevelent stalking is okay, also; because he's handsome and his intentions are good which makes it totally not creepy, also.
Where this opinion bleeds into the narrative, it's not so great. You have a Hero who is charming, rich, handsome, sexy. The conflict is that he comes from the Big Bad and Obviously Evil company. (This conflict, again, somewhat lame given that the Hero cares every bit as much as the social issues as the Heroine. HOW WILL THE HEROINE EVER OVERCOME SUCH A STRONG PREJUDICE?). The Heroine, likewise, isn't a great character: she's perfect in every way imaginable; *obviously* very smart, despite constantly rejecting the hot guy asking her out because "omg, he's so hot, there's no way he could love me" or so. It's self-fulfilled prophecy bordering on TSTL, and rather uninteresting.
This is all rather annoying.
Yet, despite this, the final chapter finishes the story strongly. It's sweet.
And while I found it a drudge to get through the poet's ridiculous attitudes, it was clearly a more engaging narrative, provoking more thought (and more words) than the other stories. It's quite cool to see the poet so rawly narrate in the story. (Although quick remarks about social attitudes are hardly rare to the genre).
This lot of authors tend to write Historical Romance. They succeed in writing contemporary, while still maintaining the same great voices they have in the other sub-genre. - So, as with At the Duke's Wedding, I'd say this is a great way to get to get a taste of these authors.
Shoutout to Caroline Linden for the most fantastic phrase in the book, "purred like a vibrator" to describe her cat.
I give this a 5 since it's so well tied together; it's delightful to read the Epiloguve as a wind-down and follow-through for all the narratives and hopes and desires throughout the book.
Maya Rodale's book was nice.
It was quite cute to see a legacy of the characters from her "Seducing Mr Knightly". And I think cool to see the another instance/iteration of the same character, in another narrative.
I feel bad that I didn't realise what the Jane Spark's married name would be before reading this story.
I can't say all of it suited my taste.
KAshe's novella certainly got my attention.
KAshe is a poet. Her writing here I'd call audacious, in that it's a homage to Austen's "Pride and Prejudice". As for how well she pulls this off, YMMV. I wasn't sold by it; though I think she does a good job of emphasising that classism isn't something society has left behind.
Yet, where the author is overt about her social views, I think the narrative is bogus. The Heroine is a poor woman who had an alcoholic father, a sister who suffers chronic burns, a low paying job where she's harassed by a creepy boss. It's narrated in such a tone that I'm surprised the author didn't decide to emphasise the character's skin colour, and to add an abusive ex-boyfriend who suffered mental illness, etc. The tone is along the lines of "woe, we righteous oppressed", and dichotimitises everyone who she likes as "good", and emphasis how against her the world is. The Hero's benevelent stalking is okay, also; because he's handsome and his intentions are good which makes it totally not creepy, also.
Where this opinion bleeds into the narrative, it's not so great. You have a Hero who is charming, rich, handsome, sexy. The conflict is that he comes from the Big Bad and Obviously Evil company. (This conflict, again, somewhat lame given that the Hero cares every bit as much as the social issues as the Heroine. HOW WILL THE HEROINE EVER OVERCOME SUCH A STRONG PREJUDICE?). The Heroine, likewise, isn't a great character: she's perfect in every way imaginable; *obviously* very smart, despite constantly rejecting the hot guy asking her out because "omg, he's so hot, there's no way he could love me" or so. It's self-fulfilled prophecy bordering on TSTL, and rather uninteresting.
This is all rather annoying.
Yet, despite this, the final chapter finishes the story strongly. It's sweet.
And while I found it a drudge to get through the poet's ridiculous attitudes, it was clearly a more engaging narrative, provoking more thought (and more words) than the other stories. It's quite cool to see the poet so rawly narrate in the story. (Although quick remarks about social attitudes are hardly rare to the genre).
September 17, 2015
Duke Austen, internet billionaire, and Jayne Sparks, romance writer, are getting married. Except the castle that they're supposed to get married in has burned down. They've found a last minute replacment, but will the wedding go off as planned?
The Best Laid Planner by Miranda Neville
It's up to planner Arwen Kilpatrick to head overseas and see whether or not Brampton House is going to be up to snuff. She encounters a man she takes to be the caretaker. Of course, he's not. A familiar trope but done okay. Three stars.
Will you be my Wi-fi? by Caroline Linden
Archer Quinn needs the internet. And not just the hopelessly slow download that everyone else is using up the hill. He tracks a faint signal to a nearby cottage where Natalie Corcoran is trying to write a cookbook (and avoid family drama). As they spend some time together, they start to find out just how much they have in common. I wouldn't quite give it the A- that Amanda from Smart Bitches gave it, but a solid three stars.
The Day it Rained Books by Katharine Ashe
Hot librarian (not really, according to the story she works in a library, which is also made plain in the story is a difference worth noting) is running a bookmobile but doesn't know that the mysterious benefactor of said bookmobile is the hot stranger who she sees in the park each Friday. Nor does she realize that he is the one footing the bill so she can go to her best friend's wedding. Creep stalker = true love? At least he realizes he's being creepy. Two and a half stars.
That Moment when You Fall in Love by Maya Rodale
This story was just a little too smug for me. We're constantly reminded that Maya Rodale wrote the book that brought Duke and Jayne together and Jayne's supposedly written a book that was actually written by Rodale... oh, and her pen name is Maya Rodale.
Supposedly this story is about a writer for Jezebel and her boss but it was fairly disjointed and never really came together. Two stars.
The Best Laid Planner by Miranda Neville
It's up to planner Arwen Kilpatrick to head overseas and see whether or not Brampton House is going to be up to snuff. She encounters a man she takes to be the caretaker. Of course, he's not. A familiar trope but done okay. Three stars.
Will you be my Wi-fi? by Caroline Linden
Archer Quinn needs the internet. And not just the hopelessly slow download that everyone else is using up the hill. He tracks a faint signal to a nearby cottage where Natalie Corcoran is trying to write a cookbook (and avoid family drama). As they spend some time together, they start to find out just how much they have in common. I wouldn't quite give it the A- that Amanda from Smart Bitches gave it, but a solid three stars.
The Day it Rained Books by Katharine Ashe
Hot librarian (not really, according to the story she works in a library, which is also made plain in the story is a difference worth noting) is running a bookmobile but doesn't know that the mysterious benefactor of said bookmobile is the hot stranger who she sees in the park each Friday. Nor does she realize that he is the one footing the bill so she can go to her best friend's wedding. Creep stalker = true love? At least he realizes he's being creepy. Two and a half stars.
That Moment when You Fall in Love by Maya Rodale
This story was just a little too smug for me. We're constantly reminded that Maya Rodale wrote the book that brought Duke and Jayne together and Jayne's supposedly written a book that was actually written by Rodale... oh, and her pen name is Maya Rodale.
Supposedly this story is about a writer for Jezebel and her boss but it was fairly disjointed and never really came together. Two stars.
May 25, 2015
Followed the Caroline Linden story to this anthology and really wish I hadn't. Too many unlikeable characters and tired clichés to make this worth the effort.
•“The Best Laid Planner”-DNF at 65%. I despised pretty much every well-worn trope used here and could not bring myself to get to the end of the story.
•“Will You Be My WiFi?”- My first contemporary Caroline Linden story. I liked this to an extent but I much prefer her historicals, but lots of bonus points for the food talk and a fairly calm, sensible couple.
•“The Day it Rained Books” - DNF at 90%. A promising premise dragged down by a heroine who is not only not as smart or observant or capable as we’re told she is, but is – to be perfectly blunt – kind of a dick. The hero is a socially inept stalker who uses his money instead of his words... and he still comes off as the nicer of the two of them. Bleugh. I couldn't force myself to read the last few pages.
•“That Moment When You Fall in Love” – Didn’t read. When you DNF 2 out of 4 stories in an anthology, there’s little motivation to read them all.
•“The Best Laid Planner”-DNF at 65%. I despised pretty much every well-worn trope used here and could not bring myself to get to the end of the story.
•“Will You Be My WiFi?”- My first contemporary Caroline Linden story. I liked this to an extent but I much prefer her historicals, but lots of bonus points for the food talk and a fairly calm, sensible couple.
•“The Day it Rained Books” - DNF at 90%. A promising premise dragged down by a heroine who is not only not as smart or observant or capable as we’re told she is, but is – to be perfectly blunt – kind of a dick. The hero is a socially inept stalker who uses his money instead of his words... and he still comes off as the nicer of the two of them. Bleugh. I couldn't force myself to read the last few pages.
•“That Moment When You Fall in Love” – Didn’t read. When you DNF 2 out of 4 stories in an anthology, there’s little motivation to read them all.
November 6, 2014
What happens when 4 superstars of Regency romance get together again and write contemporary? Magic! Maya the Magnificent concludes her Bad Boy Billionaire series with Jane and Duke’s wedding, at last! And lo and behold, Miranda Neville, Caroline Linden, and Katharine Ashe are totally up to Maya’s Standards!
Those ladies shine at historical romance and they’re as brilliant at contemporary! Even if you don’t know Jane and Duke, you will love this book: you have all the love and shenanigans you would expect when the Bad Boy Billionaire gets hitched! It’s funny, sexy, superbly written of course. And Queen Katharine’s novella even holds a surprise! But you have to read it to see what it will be! Enjoy!
Those ladies shine at historical romance and they’re as brilliant at contemporary! Even if you don’t know Jane and Duke, you will love this book: you have all the love and shenanigans you would expect when the Bad Boy Billionaire gets hitched! It’s funny, sexy, superbly written of course. And Queen Katharine’s novella even holds a surprise! But you have to read it to see what it will be! Enjoy!
November 15, 2014
This is a fun and sweet romance book by four fantastic authors.
The Best Laid Planner by Miranda Neville
Will you Be My Wi-Fi by Caroline Linden
The Day It Rained Books by Katharine Ashe
The Moment When You Fall in Love by Maya Rodale
These four historical romance authors did a great job in this fun contemporary romance book.
The Best Laid Planner by Miranda Neville
Will you Be My Wi-Fi by Caroline Linden
The Day It Rained Books by Katharine Ashe
The Moment When You Fall in Love by Maya Rodale
These four historical romance authors did a great job in this fun contemporary romance book.
November 28, 2014
It had its moments, but a lot of the characters were not very likeable...
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December 1, 20151 December 2015: $1.99 on Kindle
July 5, 2018
At The Billionaire’s Wedding
by Miranda Neville, Caroline Linden,Katherine Ashe, Maya Rodale
My Review
A fantastic set of stories that intertwine with each other four novellas that is a complete book by four amazing romance writers!
Will You Be My Wi-Fi
by Caroline Linden
This was a witty funny story, I loved the quirkiness of the characters. I think we can all relate with weak internet and no service on our devices, it’s incredible how dependant we’ve all become with our electronics, even on vacation they seem to be attached to us, as was the case with Archer Quinn. So wrapped up in his job that even on his time away from his hectic schedule, he’s looking for the strongest signal.
Natalie Corcoran has escaped to a friend’s cottage to concentrate on writing her cookbook, away from restaurant and the stress of her domineering brother bossing her around. Until all the noise she thought she left behind had come to her door. Even a very annoyingly sexy lawyer pestering her about her wi-fi.
Natalie and Archer have electrifying chemistry that just smoulders and sizzles.
I loved the way he just poured on the sugar to get her password and realized that she’s more than her wifi password.
This was fabulous, four very talented authors complimented the others work.I received a complimentary copy from the author this is my honest unbiased opinion.
by Miranda Neville, Caroline Linden,Katherine Ashe, Maya Rodale
My Review
A fantastic set of stories that intertwine with each other four novellas that is a complete book by four amazing romance writers!
Will You Be My Wi-Fi
by Caroline Linden
This was a witty funny story, I loved the quirkiness of the characters. I think we can all relate with weak internet and no service on our devices, it’s incredible how dependant we’ve all become with our electronics, even on vacation they seem to be attached to us, as was the case with Archer Quinn. So wrapped up in his job that even on his time away from his hectic schedule, he’s looking for the strongest signal.
Natalie Corcoran has escaped to a friend’s cottage to concentrate on writing her cookbook, away from restaurant and the stress of her domineering brother bossing her around. Until all the noise she thought she left behind had come to her door. Even a very annoyingly sexy lawyer pestering her about her wi-fi.
Natalie and Archer have electrifying chemistry that just smoulders and sizzles.
I loved the way he just poured on the sugar to get her password and realized that she’s more than her wifi password.
This was fabulous, four very talented authors complimented the others work.I received a complimentary copy from the author this is my honest unbiased opinion.
June 15, 2018
1. Best Laid Planner-Miranda Neville
4 stars
I liked the story. Our hero is very likeable and I can see that he really liked the h. I had a hard time liking her. I'm thinking it was all the stress with the wedding planning that made her not be 100% into the relationship.
2. Will you be my wi-fi?-Caroline Linden
5 stars
I really enjoyed this one. Both the h and H were likeable characters. I liked that they both realize that they need to know each other better before taking that important step. It was a slow-burn romance that ended with sexy times.
3. The Day it Rained Books-Katherine Ashe
5 stars
The h works in a library and loves P&P. The hero is a sexy millionaire who plays Darcy to the heroine's Elizabeth. Weeks passed before they had their HEA. How he finally gets her is so romantic.
4. The moment when you fall in love-Maya Rodale
3.5 stars
We meet our main characters in the middle of an "unnamed" relationship. Throughout the story you see them trying to put a name to what they have with each other. It was an okay romance but it was not my type of story.
*Book was given by one of the authors for an honest review*
4 stars
I liked the story. Our hero is very likeable and I can see that he really liked the h. I had a hard time liking her. I'm thinking it was all the stress with the wedding planning that made her not be 100% into the relationship.
2. Will you be my wi-fi?-Caroline Linden
5 stars
I really enjoyed this one. Both the h and H were likeable characters. I liked that they both realize that they need to know each other better before taking that important step. It was a slow-burn romance that ended with sexy times.
3. The Day it Rained Books-Katherine Ashe
5 stars
The h works in a library and loves P&P. The hero is a sexy millionaire who plays Darcy to the heroine's Elizabeth. Weeks passed before they had their HEA. How he finally gets her is so romantic.
4. The moment when you fall in love-Maya Rodale
3.5 stars
We meet our main characters in the middle of an "unnamed" relationship. Throughout the story you see them trying to put a name to what they have with each other. It was an okay romance but it was not my type of story.
*Book was given by one of the authors for an honest review*
February 8, 2021
Sweet, Witty and Sexy…
Regency Era and Modern Day meet in a romance series featuring dashing rogues and the wallflowers who love them.
Librarian Jane finds herself engaged via Facebook Status Update to a man to whom she has yet to be properly introduced – the wickedly arrogant and devastatingly sexy tech bad-boy billionaire Duke Austen.
What starts out as pretend soon becomes more unaccountably real than anything that either of them have known before...
Regency Era and Modern Day meet in a romance series featuring dashing rogues and the wallflowers who love them.
Librarian Jane finds herself engaged via Facebook Status Update to a man to whom she has yet to be properly introduced – the wickedly arrogant and devastatingly sexy tech bad-boy billionaire Duke Austen.
What starts out as pretend soon becomes more unaccountably real than anything that either of them have known before...
~ Deanaera's Bloggy Book Bites
March 24, 2021
It's review time 🎧
Warning ⚠️: part of a series , quite if a fairy tale, a burned house, a few stories, a lot of authors.
Narrator score🎧 ; the narrator was very good she nailed it. Her voice is beautiful and very pleasant to listen to. I loved her performance.
Level of steam🔥: each story was different but I think that overall the level of steam was ok to each story, it wasn't too much (and we know i don't like too much sex in a book) and it was according to each story.
Level of anxiety and sadness0😱😢: I don't think any story in that bundle was sad, some of them were gery funny they were light and not heavy at all.
The book itself📖: I think that each story brought the lightness i need in my life right now, the stories were sweet I loveeed the first one. It was a great listen and I enjoyed it very much.
Warning ⚠️: part of a series , quite if a fairy tale, a burned house, a few stories, a lot of authors.
Narrator score🎧 ; the narrator was very good she nailed it. Her voice is beautiful and very pleasant to listen to. I loved her performance.
Level of steam🔥: each story was different but I think that overall the level of steam was ok to each story, it wasn't too much (and we know i don't like too much sex in a book) and it was according to each story.
Level of anxiety and sadness0😱😢: I don't think any story in that bundle was sad, some of them were gery funny they were light and not heavy at all.
The book itself📖: I think that each story brought the lightness i need in my life right now, the stories were sweet I loveeed the first one. It was a great listen and I enjoyed it very much.
June 11, 2023
I didn’t like the MCs in the first story. The male MC came off a little skeevy eying the fem MC up like that in the beginning. We all know it’s common for members of the male species to ogle women, especially in romance books, but there was nothing sultry about it, and while the MCs did an awful lot of talking, there wasn’t any character development/elaboration so his drooling wasn’t back by any real charm. The fem MC did come off as a bit of a bitch, glad they addressed that. There was just nothing interesting or compelling about the characters themselves. They boinked and had lots of “sexual tension” (didn’t feel it cause I’m not really sure why they were attracted to each other in the first place beyond the physical) but there was no depth. No emotion (besides righteous anger when the fem MC found out the male MC’s secrets). It was eh.
Think I’m going to skip the other stories.
Think I’m going to skip the other stories.
June 8, 2018
This was an amazing set of authors who wrote this book together. My favorite was “Will You Be My Wi-Fi?" by Caroline Linden. Which is about Natalie Corcoran who just wants to write her cookbook in peace and quiet, it the wedding party at the hotel next door is making that difficult. A lawyer named Archer Quinn is wanting her wi-fi password because he is swamped with work but he has only one week to convenience her to give him a chance. I really enjoyed this set of stories.
April 16, 2020
This is a fun collection of short stories. Novellas 1,2 & 4 were sweet and sexy and went down easy. Then there's story #2: The Day It Rained Books by Katharine Ashe. This story is perfect. I'm serious. It takes the Cinderella trope and makes it WAY better than I've ever seen. I wanted to weep, it was so good. Henceforth, I will be reading, all of Katharine Ashe's other books.
May 6, 2020
This was a cute book, it featured 5 different couples whom fall in love. Jane and Duke are getting married but want to have the ideal English regency wedding. With the help of her wedding planner Arwin, and the owner of the house Harry, can they pull of the best wedding ever. Lovely story about different backgrounds and everyone’s thoughts and feelings.
December 19, 2021
THE BEST LAID PLANNER by Miranda Neville: 3 stars.
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden: 3.5 stars.
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe: Was going to be 4 stars, but the heroine was increasingly irrational and annoying as the story went on. 3 stars.
THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE by Maya Rodale: 3 stars.
WILL YOU BE MY WI-FI? by Caroline Linden: 3.5 stars.
THE DAY IT RAINED BOOKS by Katharine Ashe: Was going to be 4 stars, but the heroine was increasingly irrational and annoying as the story went on. 3 stars.
THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE by Maya Rodale: 3 stars.
April 3, 2021
Miranda Neville’s 3.5 stars
Caroline Linden’s 4 stars
Katharine Ashe’s 5 stars — novel sized feels
Maya Rodale’s 2.5 stars — weakest for me
Narrator was ok. I did not like the voices used in the prologue for the groom and bride, but they were not the focus of any of the novellas so it worked
Caroline Linden’s 4 stars
Katharine Ashe’s 5 stars — novel sized feels
Maya Rodale’s 2.5 stars — weakest for me
Narrator was ok. I did not like the voices used in the prologue for the groom and bride, but they were not the focus of any of the novellas so it worked
November 28, 2018
A wonderful book from four very talented ladies! I hope they collectively write more contemporary novels soon. I look forward to reading their next books.
March 28, 2019
I liked the second and third stories best.
June 5, 2020
Just plain fun!!!
Romance, friends,food and everything else you want a wedding story to hold. A light hearted read we all need with the world as crazy as it is.
Romance, friends,food and everything else you want a wedding story to hold. A light hearted read we all need with the world as crazy as it is.
March 15, 2021
Love it couldn’t but it down Another fantastic anthology with these all great Collection of authors
June 9, 2023
*2.5
I enjoyed this for the most part. Romance short stories are always a gamble. But then I hit a reading funk a few months ago and didn't finish. Can't even really remember what it's about now.
I enjoyed this for the most part. Romance short stories are always a gamble. But then I hit a reading funk a few months ago and didn't finish. Can't even really remember what it's about now.
April 18, 2025
This was so much fun. Clever, sophisticated characters having a romp. The Day It Rained Books was my favorite. It felt like a fully realized story with a great payoff. Will you be my wi-fi was my least favorite which was strange because I usually enjoy Caroline Linden. I’m guessing the short form is not her cup of tea.
Been trying to find more contemporary rom-com with smart, worldly characters but it’s a pretty barren wasteland of really formulaic superficial stories out there.
This one was the fun, LOL gift that made it worth the while.
Been trying to find more contemporary rom-com with smart, worldly characters but it’s a pretty barren wasteland of really formulaic superficial stories out there.
This one was the fun, LOL gift that made it worth the while.
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