The Ice King. The Trauma Cowboy. And a wedding so disastrous that it is going to require a surgical team to save the reception.
Maxwell York lives his life by a strict, six-page, colour-coded protocol. As a world-class cardiac surgeon, his 'Standard of Care' is more than a professional it is the only way he can navigate a world that has always inexplicably been too loud and too fast. But when his mother, Catherine, turns his wedding into a royal coronation, Max’s carefully maintained "Ice King" mask begins to shatter under the weight of 1,200 guests and a cathedral full of unpredictable variables.
Jax O’Connell is used to the noise. Between his years as an Afghanistan war medic and his current role as Chief of Trauma, he has built a life on hyper-vigilance and split-second decisions. He knows his fiancé is not he is just calibrated differently. But between a hijacked 747, an Enzo-designed "Tactical Tuxedo," and the ghosts of his own past, Jax is realizing that eloping might be the only way to keep them both from flatlining.
As the York family’s rigid legacy faces a hostile takeover, the chaos reaches a fever pitch. While Max and Jax battle sensory overload and PTSD triggers, Max’s father, Alistair, is hiding a secret of his own. His uncharacteristic behaviour and strange tropical interests are about to drop a sudden shock on the family at the worst possible moment.
When a long-buried secret about Max’s childhood reveals the lengths Catherine went to "sanitize" his history, the merger of the century becomes a mass casualty event for the social elite. Amidst triple vows and a flock of confused doves, Max and Jax must perform the ultimate life-saving building a future where they do not have to be "cured" to be whole.
Return to St. Jude’s Medical for the hilariously high-stakes third installment of the series. Wedding Manner is a steamy, "Own Voices" MM romantic comedy featuring a brilliant surgeon unmasking his truth, a veteran surgeon managing the echoes of war, and a happy ending that is strictly off-protocol.
Book three in the St Jude’s Medical series sees original couple, surgeons Max and Jax—the Ice King and the Trauma Cowboy—in the very chaotic and hilarious lead up to their wedding day.
They just want simple nuptials, no muss, no fuss, but when you’re the heir to a dynasty, like Max is, simple is never easy, especially when your mother is a narcissistic viper of a woman, determined to control every little detail, against every else’s wishes.
Thankfully, Max and Jax are stronger together, and they aren’t alone. With the help from brother Preston, a strategical genius at socialite warfare, his partner Luke, and (Luke’s mother) badass head nurse Mama Ortiz, Max and Jax have enough fire power on their side to thwart every move Catherine York attempts to make.
As usual, the York family antics are next-level mayhem and hilarity, making every group interaction an absolute hoot. Catherine is a character I definitely love to hate, and eccentric husband Alistair is just as fascinating in his unpredictability and ludicrousness.
I loved how formidable Mama Ortiz worked her dry, take-no-nonsense wit and attitude to square-off against Catherine time and again, always managing to out play the player and help the boys in their effort to have a peaceful, personal wedding of their design.
It was lovely to finally see Max and Jax reach their goals of marital bliss, but I think my favourite parts of this particular story were the scenes between Max and his brother Preston, whose relationship dynamic, in the face of an absolutely bonkers upbringing by two sociopathic parents, was a dynamic whose depth I wanted more of in the first two books, but finally got here.
Not recommended as a standalone, this book rounded out this quirky and chaotic M/M romance trilogy perfectly, bringing everyone and their character arcs full circle in a way that was at once amusing, poignant and deeply satisfying. I may still prefer Macington’s more serious stories, but this sure was a fun change of pace, and a reminder that, as a writer, there isn’t much Macington can’t do.
***A special thanks to the author and publishers (via Book Sirens) for providing an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wedding Manner is book three in the St. Jude’s Medical series by C.G. Macington. You will need to read this series in order. This book features the two main characters from book one. This book is chock full of chaos, mayhem and hilarity. But, at the same time, there were parts that broke my heart. This is the conclusion to this series BUT the author claims that he is not done with the York family yet!
Max and Jax are engaged and it’s time to plan their wedding. They want something small, preferably at the City Hall with a judge. But Catherine York has other plans. A huge binder full of plans. They are Yorks and any wedding will be a statement of power.
As things progress, some secrets are revealed. Some heartbreaking revelations regarding Max and also, some mysterious things regarding Max’s father, Alistair.
I loved that Preston and Max had some much needed brotherly bonding in this book. Preston really came through for his brother. I adore Max and Jax. Through all the crazy, these two stuck by each other, supported each other. They are the yin to the other’s yang. Max is structured, Jax is chaos. Together they balance each other. The new tailor, Enzo is a hoot! And, of course, Luke’s mom, Rosa! That woman scares me!!
You’ll need a seat belt for this one, and maybe a tissue. So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride. You’re going to love it.
jumping right into my arc of The Twin Clause(around 22% at the time of updating this hehe) will come back to write a full review.
what i will say - the way that Max finds out that he actually does have autism and everything that follows was done well. thank you.🥺 if you look in my highlights, you'll see some standout quotes. i'll probably add a couple to the review later.
another thing i want to mention: the matriarch of the York family plays a central role in this book. i find her character the most obnoxious and often hard to read (which i think might be done on purpose). things do end up working out for the best by the end of the book - loved alistair's ending (beginning? 😉) a lot - but the first bit with her is a lot. if you know Macington's OTT writing - the beginning is that for sure. i'm a fan of his books and writing style, saying that is not a bad thing for me. it's one of those things that iykyk.
btwwww: not one, not two, but three couples end up married by the end of this book.🦜🤭🤫
i'm a member of C.J. Macington's street team! what that means to me - i love their work enough to want to be a part of everything they do. not just one story but their writing and story-telling overall. Macington is an indie author and it's my pleasure to show my support however I can to help him grow! Hope you decide to check out this series. It starts with Max & Jax's book: Bedside Manner or jump over to his new series: Faking the Fiancé. (I was not asked to write anything like this, it was my choice to do so.💖☺️)
Chaos. Pure exaggerated, ridiculous as hell, dramatic, fun, and humorous chaos, and it was a truly delightful experience. I absolutely adored all these characters, including "Mother." It was an absolute rom-com, and even though there were some serious family problems, they were always accompanied by humor, so the book never felt emotionally heavy. It wasn't a deeply emotional book, but it still had its moments where we got to see the emotional baggage the characters were carrying.
My advice is to go into this series knowing that everything is exaggerated and that there are things that happen that are ridiculously insane, but I can guarantee that you'll have a good time enjoying the sweet romance, family drama, humor, and dramatic medical moments.
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Quotes:
“You are my Outlier. You are the data point that breaks the graph. You are the noise that makes the silence bearable. I promise to be your structure when you are chaotic. And I promise that no matter how loud the world gets... you will never be a blurry shape to me. You are my focal point.”
“Because love... love is the chaos! Love is the flavor! Love is the spice!"
technically, i wanted to rate this 3 stars, but my finger slipped on 4. i guess it’s fate.
this is hilarious. it has the same exact humor of the first two, and i loved it. until it became too much. i needed them to be serious for at least three seconds
This was so stupid. Like, I liked the first one enough, it was silly but in a way that I could get behind. Despite the fact that they squeezed every single damn trope into 200 pages, I was into the tropes enough that it didn't bother me too much. But this one???? Ridiculous. I can normally get behind a ridiculous book, but it was just so dumb. Everything was a farce and everyone was a caricature. Like, Catherine my lord get a f*cking grip of yourself. The dad? I liked in the first one, but this was just stupid. Marrying a guy younger than your son who you've been seeing for a decade?? Is that not creepy AF?? Everyone being gay? Normally I'm totally here for it. This time felt forced and weird. The triple gd wedding? INSANE. And AGAIN bc it was so bloody short you didn't get any real plot. Just weird childish hijinks for the ultra rich. There could have been some nuance and some depth - exactly what the first was missing, but this one was so much worse. You cannot fit enough plot into 200 pages. It read like a weird kids' TV show. And also the writing felt veeeeeery repetitive in this book. Everything smelt or looked like or sounded like "chaos and fear" or "caffeine and rage" "something and determination" etc etc ad infinitum. I hoped it would build on the first one, but it really didn't. And also all the medical bits felt very weirdly shoehorned in and added absolutely NOTHING. Give more character analysis next time please I'm begging. Everyone got over everything in 0.5 seconds like???? Am I crazy? Maybe I'm overthinking this lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was offensively sloppy. The characters were 2D caricatures at best, and were otherwise so inconsistent they might as well have been different people from chapter to chapter. And then there are so many frustrating plot holes within pages of each other. This has got to be AI. I just cannot believe this was written by a human being. It certainly wasn’t edited by one.
These are the kind of stories that bring me the most joy. These characters were beautifully chaotic & that makes them feel so real. 🥰 As an autistic individual..seeing representation and knowing there are people who don’t see us as burdens or broken, makes my little heart happy. I’m so thankful for the Trauma Cowboy defrosting his Ice King. 😍
And what a SPECTACULAR way to end the series. I won’t spoil it but bravo!👏👏👏 That wedding was one for the ages!! 🥳
I think Alistair has to be one of my most favorite side characters •ever•. His antics were unmatched & I simply adored him. So, I’m so so so incredibly happy he got the ending he rightfully deserved. 🦜🍍
Maxwell York and Jackson O’Connell are trying to organise their wedding. They want something meaningful and small. The head of the York empire, Catherine wants them to have a lavish affair, to keep up with their legacy. With the help of Preston, Luke and Mama Ortiz, they try to overpower Catherine and have the wedding they want. Max and Preston discover something that their mother has been hiding for years, and now they need to use the information to get what they want. Meanwhile their father, Alistair is also harbouring a secret, that he has held onto for years.
This laugh a minute book by C.G. Macington is the third book in the ‘St. Judes Medical’ series. The writing flows so well, as does the humour, which is mostly thanks to Alistair. He is hilarious and has such wonderfully extravagant stories in his past. I could read a book about all his shenanigans. Mama Ortiz is also a force of nature, and only wants to protect her boys. I loved how Preston and Luke featured heavily in this book, and in some ways the book is as much theirs as Max and Jax’s.
Oh I am so sorry that this is the last book in the series! I've loved getting to know the York's, Jax, Luke and Rosa Ortiz so much. This is the one where Max and Jax get married (and the Princess Bride bit was hysterical!). As you can imagine, with this cast of characters, the journey to the aisle was not smooth sailing.
I'm not going to spoiler this, just to say, you have to read this book. Although there was an odd bit at the end - but it's fiction, the author can do what he likes!
I'm pleased Alistair gets a happy ending and it's lovely to see the way Max and Preston bond.
Another great read, lots of fun and laughs, even with a little bit of sadness.
I liked Max in the first book. He came across as an OCD control freak, but in a fun cute way. You completely ruined him in this book. I understand autism and respect that.. but he wasn’t like that in the first book. You turned him into some kind of neurotic head case that’s walking around mumbling and calculating airspace and people ratios, the makeup of walls and fabrics. You just made him ridiculous and not in a good way at all. Just because you gave him a diagnosis of autism in this book shouldn’t all the sudden change him from the first book and start making him act like he has a very dysfunctional level of autism.
While reading this book I was convinced that I smoked something and I don't even drink or smoke. I have no clue what I just read because this book felt so out of place especially in the St. Jude's medical series. I'm pretty sure this book was created with A.I/edited with A.I and that's made me feel so stupid for reading this series, however I managed to get through this book fully. The first book was way better, whether it was created or edited with A.I, it still was readable and somewhat enjoyable, the second one was a pretty decent read too, I'm just biased when it comes to Jax and Max because I enjoy them as a couple way more, but it still was somewhat enjoyable. This book was all over the place but it had the potential to be good and to be a good ending to this series. My biggest complaints while reading this book was I felt some parts were dragged on, some parts were extremely confusing and some parts made this book feel completely out of place in the series. Some parts of this book were so boring and quite cringy too and overall really underwhelming, especially the wedding part which should've been the best part since it was the main focus and build up in the book. I also felt that the characters were different in comparison to the first book. I understand that this book and the first book are a few years apart however the characters felt like completely different people to me. Also the Tel Aviv comment, seriously? I hated that part. While reading this book I really wished that the readers got proper flashbacks from Jax and Max. I wished we got flashbacks from Max as a child which showcased his autism and showed how different he felt growing up in comparison to the other kids, I would've loved to have seen his inner monologue during childhood. I also wished we got a flashback of Jax in the army and how being in the army changed him and how he dealt with his PTSD before meeting Max. We did see Jax getting a flashback from being in the army but I felt as if it was brushed away and it didn't feel sincere and wasn't given a proper moment in the book. I wish we got flashbacks of them as it would allow the reader to understand these characters more and their complexity and that why their complexities allow them to be with one another and allow readers to end this series with a full understanding of these characters and why they make so much sense together. Another potential flashback could've been how Jax and Max came out and how they realized that they were gay, I feel like that would've been a good touch in the series and would've made their marriage more emotional and sweet. I also wished that Max's father coming out as gay was a more sincere moment in the book, it just felt as if it was a big joke and nobody seemed shocked or really cared as much. I feel like him coming at the wedding would've allowed a sweet moment with Max, Preston and their father and would've made their bond stronger. I felt in the book that Max and Preston only bonded with their dad when it came to making fun of their mother and her craziness. I understand that this book is a comedy but I do wish that we got some dramatic/emotional moments in the book especially since we got one in the first book when Jax was in that accident. I truly think that the plot of this series is an amazing plot and I hope this plot gets re-created into a proper book series with no A.I usage or developed into a movie or tv series WITHOUT ANY A.I EITHER, because this plot is truly amazing and has never been done before and has potential to be very successful. This book just felt all over the place and didn't end the story properly either in my opinion. If anything I would just recommend reading the first one alone and not bother with the other 2.
This book was a great way to finish the stories of Max, Jax, Preston and Luke. Plus some other characters that play a big role in the plot of their stories. I really enjoyed the way that Max and Preston came together. The way they supported each other through the tough times and were able to grow close. I also really enjoyed the growth of each of their relationships. Max and Jax had to really stand up for themselves when times got tough with Cathrine, but they had each other and they had Preston and Luke to help. The book mainly focuses on their relationship but when there are snippets in the book about Preston and Luke and how they are there for each other and mainly for Max and Jax it adds a really nice feeling of change to the air of the book. I also love the way the book ended and the outcome for each character. I feel that they all got the ending the they needed/ deserved. I would very much recommend this book/ trilogy to others. They are quick fun reads that just put a smile on your face and don’t take that long to read if you’re looking for something fast.
Max and Jax want to marry, step in sign the papers, step out, and voila, married! Maxwell’s narcissistic mother has different plans. BIG plans. She will invite the intimate circle (1200 people 😱), use the Notre Dame, or the Vatican, yes money can buy everything! And let’s not start with the last names.
"This is a York wedding!" Mother roars, her voice echoing off the glass roof. A few butterflies take flight, terrified. "It is a statement of power! We do not do comfortable! We do memorable!" That's the setting guys!!
Max and Jax tried to escape, sadly money can also buy an airline! At their wits' end, they approached Mama Ortiz, who is the one who can help.
To fight Max’s parents, especially his mother Catherine, they have to find something against them. Wait for it! My goodness!
Max’s brother, Preston, and his partner Luke from #2 are present. While it’s a rom-com, hilarious and super duper entertaining, there are serious moments! The author knows how to write! It’s all excellently executed.
Toujours dans la lignée des deux précédents, ce tome est centré sur le mariage de Max et Jax... et l'ingérence de la matriarche York.
Et j'avoue que même si j'apprécie le portnawak, là, c'était peut-être un poil trop pour moi : le personnage de la mère de Max et Preston a vraiment poussé le curseur à son maximum, même si le père n'est finalement pas si loin derrière.
J'ai pourtant apprécié la solidarité entre frères et entre beaux-frères, je me suis souvent bidonnée, mais j'ai levé un peu plus souvent les yeux au ciel dans ce tome... qui finit dans une explosion de grand n'importe quoi.
Mais ça ne m’empêchera pas de lire le suivant quand il sera traduit, le sujet promet aussi d'être assez grandiose.
Get tissues when you’re reading this, because you’re going to laugh so much, you’ll cry. And I still adore Alistair! He’s so absolutely ridiculous!!! I love seeing some of my favorite characters once again, in the most insane wedding of the century. I love watching weird videos of bridezillas and crazy MIL (Charlotte Dobre anyone?), and this takes the cake, and what a cake! I had to read it in chunks, not because it’s long, but my cheeks and abs needed a break. Thank you CG Macington for a great workout and a ton of extra laugh lines! It’s really funny, and it has so much heart… I can’t understand how the Yorks get away with so much, but I’m so glad that Jax and Max (I love how they rhyme!) are finally contractually bound for life, Monster in Law, shenanigans and encyclopedias worth of planning included. It is really funny, I loved it, and I wouldn’t mind a few more, because Mama Rosa is incredible, and I need to know more about Alistair, Elton John and any other secrets that have been hidden for too long.
"Wedding Manner" is book three in St. Jude's Medical by CG Macington. I honestly did not think that they could outdo books 1 and 2 but Oh My! There is a lot packed into this book but it is written so well that you do not get overwhelmed or lost. There are a lot of emotions in this story and a ton of laugh out loud moments. I really do hope we get to see some more of these guys in the future! I am looking forward to what is next from this author.
Absolutely loved this one. For me it was the best of the bunch. Jax and Maxwell are getting married and Mama Yorke is organizing the wedding. I was laughing throughout this. The boys had to draft in Mama Ortiz to help control Mama Yorke. I did feel sorry for Mama Yorke at the end but everybody ended with their own HEA , some of them maybe not what you would think.
This book gave me the full spectrum of emotions but mostly laughter and was a great and somewhat unexpected ending of the series. If you looked the first couple of books you’ll love this one. Definitely worth the read
The Yorks and their significant others are simply hysterical, and I adored every minute of this story! Preston will always be my favorite character, but I still greatly enjoy all of the other characters. I'm really glad that despite this final book being focused on Max and Jax again, you still get a lot of perspective from the rest of the family.
Also, Mama Ortiz is a boss. Period. Lol
Anyway, the spice is not the point of this book, but it is definitely there and enjoyable.
I loved every single moment of this series. I never wanted it to end. I loved the drama, the witty banter, the messy family dynamics, and the most amazing, unique characters. I’m already anticipating a reread and can’t wait to read more from this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ebook. This book started funny and I thought it had potential but the more i read the more mundane it became. I have too much on my tbr to waste time on a book that isn't entertaining me. Sorry to the author as I enjoyed the first 2 books but this one didn't work for me.
I’m not sure who edited this book but they let too much slide because everything was so outrageous and everyone felt like a caricature of themselves and it was just too much
I have loved this series from the moment I picked up the first book. And I am so sad that it is over. I love the York family and Saint Judes Hospital. Getting to follow along with Max and Jack’s planning their wedding was an absolute blast. Catherine is certifiably insane, Rosa is amazing, Alistair needs Jesus, I adore Preston, and Luke is just kind of the best. The chapter where they are looking for a reception venue had me laughing out loud. I will say the reception chapter was a little bit odd. But you just kinda had to go with it. I will miss these characters. I know C.G. Macington says there’s a potential for more stories, although I don’t know how you go on from here. I do know that these three books will always hold a special place in my heart.
This was a real slog to get through, enjoyed the first one but they’ve gotten worse with each sequel. There’s only so many times you can read about how much things cost, data and variables. There just seemed to be no consistency with characters and absolutely no humour or romance in the situations. On the plus side, at least I’ve finished the series now