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St. Jude's Medical #3
Wedding Manner
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.
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.
First published March 27, 2026
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April 12, 2026
4 Stars
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.
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.
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March 31, 2026
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.
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.
March 28, 2026
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 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
April 13, 2026
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'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.
April 2, 2026
I don’t understand how one single short book can have so much energy but this is jam-packed with OTT drama and chaos and I loved every second of it.
I definitely want more Max, Jax, Preston, and Luke in the future. I love them so much from these silly little books.
I definitely want more Max, Jax, Preston, and Luke in the future. I love them so much from these silly little books.
April 2, 2026
I really enjoyed stepping back into this madcap world! So fun!🤩
April 1, 2026
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.
April 2, 2026
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.
April 3, 2026
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.
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.
March 28, 2026
Hilarious
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.
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.
March 31, 2026
"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.
April 1, 2026
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.
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.
May 14, 2026
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.
This has got to be AI. I just cannot believe this was written by a human being. It certainly wasn’t edited by one.
April 1, 2026
love is chaos and chaos is love
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
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
April 15, 2026
Ekkk! It was hilarious and everyone and I mean everyone gets their HEA.
Mama Ortiz to the rescue! I loved seeing her put Catherine in her place.
The chaos of wedding planning and Alistair's big 🦜 secret reveal sucked me in and didnt let me go until the very end!
Mama Ortiz to the rescue! I loved seeing her put Catherine in her place.
The chaos of wedding planning and Alistair's big 🦜 secret reveal sucked me in and didnt let me go until the very end!
March 29, 2026
Love, Love, Love This Book!!
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.
10/10! No notes. Highly recommend!!
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.
10/10! No notes. Highly recommend!!
March 30, 2026
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.
April 29, 2026
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.
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.
May 7, 2026
I've had my suspicions since the first book in this series that there was some kind of AI going on, and this book has vindicated me. The absolute moment I saw that there was a Dr Aris in there, I knew that I wasn't imagining things. I genuinely feel like an awful person writing this review out, for the record, but I want to save people time. I spent enough time seeing those "something is off, seems like AI" reviews, but here's a wall of text backing that up.
The entire novel reads like every concept was taken to its most illogical extreme, and I'm rather bummed that I was right about something being fishy here, especially given the commitment to no AI usage at the front of the book.
For a short book, it seems to drag. There is no depth to anything there. Development feels heavy-handed and lacks nuance, and is swiftly undone. It loses track of itself and feels like a bingo card of tropes. But, like, it's a 64x64 bingo card, and none of the tropes has room to develop properly because we're darting around POVs at 90mph.
To sum up my suspicions:
The use of epithets ("Ice King"/"Trauma Cowboy"/"Heir"/"Spare"/"Warlord") is somehow even more jarring in this book. Between books one and two it's very clear that there are enough similarities between both couples and their characters that it's a struggle to parse who is who. In this book, the struggle is even more obvious because they're interacting outside of their couples
(Essentially: the characters were 'tagged' by the model, and this was left in. It's easier to track a character by archetype versus name, ESPECIALLY when the names that begin to appear in this book are well-known flags for AI use. If you read the preview for the next book by this author, you're also going to find another name that flags: Arjun.)
In risque scenes, especially, the text tends to turn to this very technical description that makes no sense. Heck, even outside of those scenes, we're seeing the structural integrity of a pretzel discussed. Repeatedly. This is the first book where it's truly broken down, and it is this specific book that makes me believe Gemini was used. The Dr Aris issue is widespread across multiple LLMs. The tech jargon? Very specific to Gemini.
(Again, structural integrity, systems, reboots, all of that. The second I saw that name, everything flagged for me.)
There is no reasonable escalation. Frankly, it makes crackfics look grounded. Everybody is a walking, talking stereotype. It genuinely feels like caricatures all the way down, and I only continued to read so I could give a proper review.
Finally, there's a human authorship badge at the start of this book. That means the author has signed something declaring this piece was at least 90% created by them. Even if it wasn't 100% AI generated, it wasn't 'just' guided by an LLM. The human behind it has guided the LLM. There were occasional errors in it that probably were human, but if I had to say which had more bearing on the book, I'd say it was AI.
I can't say if the cover is human-made or not. At a glance, probably? Hopefully? But the book certainly isn't.
The entire novel reads like every concept was taken to its most illogical extreme, and I'm rather bummed that I was right about something being fishy here, especially given the commitment to no AI usage at the front of the book.
For a short book, it seems to drag. There is no depth to anything there. Development feels heavy-handed and lacks nuance, and is swiftly undone. It loses track of itself and feels like a bingo card of tropes. But, like, it's a 64x64 bingo card, and none of the tropes has room to develop properly because we're darting around POVs at 90mph.
To sum up my suspicions:
The use of epithets ("Ice King"/"Trauma Cowboy"/"Heir"/"Spare"/"Warlord") is somehow even more jarring in this book. Between books one and two it's very clear that there are enough similarities between both couples and their characters that it's a struggle to parse who is who. In this book, the struggle is even more obvious because they're interacting outside of their couples
(Essentially: the characters were 'tagged' by the model, and this was left in. It's easier to track a character by archetype versus name, ESPECIALLY when the names that begin to appear in this book are well-known flags for AI use. If you read the preview for the next book by this author, you're also going to find another name that flags: Arjun.)
In risque scenes, especially, the text tends to turn to this very technical description that makes no sense. Heck, even outside of those scenes, we're seeing the structural integrity of a pretzel discussed. Repeatedly. This is the first book where it's truly broken down, and it is this specific book that makes me believe Gemini was used. The Dr Aris issue is widespread across multiple LLMs. The tech jargon? Very specific to Gemini.
(Again, structural integrity, systems, reboots, all of that. The second I saw that name, everything flagged for me.)
There is no reasonable escalation. Frankly, it makes crackfics look grounded. Everybody is a walking, talking stereotype. It genuinely feels like caricatures all the way down, and I only continued to read so I could give a proper review.
Finally, there's a human authorship badge at the start of this book. That means the author has signed something declaring this piece was at least 90% created by them. Even if it wasn't 100% AI generated, it wasn't 'just' guided by an LLM. The human behind it has guided the LLM. There were occasional errors in it that probably were human, but if I had to say which had more bearing on the book, I'd say it was AI.
I can't say if the cover is human-made or not. At a glance, probably? Hopefully? But the book certainly isn't.
April 20, 2026
I love this author, I laugh and giggle the whole way through these books. The York family is a delight, even mom in her controlling, snooty, always judgmental ways , Alistair as he flits in and out of the picture with his overshared memories, and oh, the responsibilities of being the Heir and the Spare for Max and Preston as they try to meet Catherine’s expectations. That’s not even counting the expectations for those the Heir and the Spare choose to join their lives! What a family dynamic! Thank Heavens Max and Jax had Mama Ortiz in their corner. If anyone could control this tsunami, it is her.
When Preston and Max found the paperwork from when Max was a child, I joined the other characters in their anger, and I gave a mental fist-bump with the reveal, but I didn’t expect the motive behind it all - Catherine did actually have a heart after all. And the reveal of the “M” in Alistair’s life was quite a surprise, too.
What was so unusual for me was that everyone got something out of the whole affair. Alistair got his ending, Max and Jax got theirs, Mama Ortiz will get her wish eventually, Preston and Luke had an unexpected decision, and even Catherine came out of it all with something she had wanted. The York family may never be the same, but it was a heck of a ride for the planning leading up to the wedding. There are so many priceless moments, you will just need to experience them for yourself if you choose to read this delightful, entertaining rom-com with the most unusual, but memorable, upper-crust family I have ever come across.
Read the whole series, you won’t be disappointed. I challenge you not to smile, grin and giggle as you experience the planning for the wedding to meet Catherine’s standard's, and see Max come into his own!
(I would love to see this as a movie! I would go in a heartbeat!❤️😁)
I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review.
When Preston and Max found the paperwork from when Max was a child, I joined the other characters in their anger, and I gave a mental fist-bump with the reveal, but I didn’t expect the motive behind it all - Catherine did actually have a heart after all. And the reveal of the “M” in Alistair’s life was quite a surprise, too.
What was so unusual for me was that everyone got something out of the whole affair. Alistair got his ending, Max and Jax got theirs, Mama Ortiz will get her wish eventually, Preston and Luke had an unexpected decision, and even Catherine came out of it all with something she had wanted. The York family may never be the same, but it was a heck of a ride for the planning leading up to the wedding. There are so many priceless moments, you will just need to experience them for yourself if you choose to read this delightful, entertaining rom-com with the most unusual, but memorable, upper-crust family I have ever come across.
Read the whole series, you won’t be disappointed. I challenge you not to smile, grin and giggle as you experience the planning for the wedding to meet Catherine’s standard's, and see Max come into his own!
(I would love to see this as a movie! I would go in a heartbeat!❤️😁)
I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review.
Review of advance copy
Welcome back to the fun, chaotic, and joyful world of St. Jude's Medical. This is the culmination of Max and Jax’s love story when McSteamy and McDreamy smooch and commit forever and ever to one another. Wait, that is my fantasy 😉...this is practically the same difference since this is the "Ice King" and the "Trauma Cowboy" finally getting married. ❤️
Everyone from the previous two books is involved and invited; it's a wedding and the gang is all here!!!💕 Luke, Preston, Catherine, Alister, and of course Max and Jax, even Mama Oritz is here and I loved her!! Especially when she goes up against Catherine, it's laugh out loud comedy that always seemed to involve crushed wedding dreams, the world's thickest binders, and York family drama.
Of course right off the top, Catherine was going to be her rich, uppity self, but with everyone surrounding the grooms, there was a sweet protection that Max never felt before. His brother, Preston, for one and Jax was the man he never knew he needed, but now couldn't live without. It was lovely to watch the four men bond as they navigated the awful suggestions that Catherine believed would be an ideal wedding ceremony under the York name, but as each suggestion seemed to grow more outrageous, the bond between brother, friend, and lover only seemed to deepen. It's wonderful to have a common enemy, which is sometimes required to unlock the invisible chains. 🥰
This really is a fun, lol, and sweet wrap up to the St. Jude's Medical series that covered everyone, but still allowed a possibility in the future for more. Personally, I'd love more from this family, since I'm like Mama Ortiz and think babies would be fun. Especially if Catherine had to face being a grandmother. 😂 Just saying.
Thank you to Booksirens for the advanced review copy and all opinions are my own.
Everyone from the previous two books is involved and invited; it's a wedding and the gang is all here!!!💕 Luke, Preston, Catherine, Alister, and of course Max and Jax, even Mama Oritz is here and I loved her!! Especially when she goes up against Catherine, it's laugh out loud comedy that always seemed to involve crushed wedding dreams, the world's thickest binders, and York family drama.
Of course right off the top, Catherine was going to be her rich, uppity self, but with everyone surrounding the grooms, there was a sweet protection that Max never felt before. His brother, Preston, for one and Jax was the man he never knew he needed, but now couldn't live without. It was lovely to watch the four men bond as they navigated the awful suggestions that Catherine believed would be an ideal wedding ceremony under the York name, but as each suggestion seemed to grow more outrageous, the bond between brother, friend, and lover only seemed to deepen. It's wonderful to have a common enemy, which is sometimes required to unlock the invisible chains. 🥰
This really is a fun, lol, and sweet wrap up to the St. Jude's Medical series that covered everyone, but still allowed a possibility in the future for more. Personally, I'd love more from this family, since I'm like Mama Ortiz and think babies would be fun. Especially if Catherine had to face being a grandmother. 😂 Just saying.
Thank you to Booksirens for the advanced review copy and all opinions are my own.
April 6, 2026
Fast, funny conclusion of a series about the York Family Dynasty of physicians in New York. The series originated with the unlikely, opposite attraction between the heir to the hospital, top cardio thoracic surgeon Maxwell York and former combat trained trauma specialist Jackson O’Connell. One born of wealth and privilege, one a survivor of foster care and military service, these 2 were forced to co-exist within shared office space while hospital renovations were schedule, and discovered an unspoken, needed communication and performance in the emergency room handling worst case disasters. Gradually, the mutual respect, appreciation, and attraction intensify uniting the two in an almost life-saving ways.
The second book in series focuses on second son, the spare heir. While his older brother Maxwell has always been regarded as a genius, young Preston is equally advanced, yet ignored an unexpected genius, relegated to administrative tasks. While Maxwell York is often been perceived as cold, indifferent, and aloof because of his misunderstood and unacknowledged neural divergent learning (Asperger-like), Preston has been the snarky, dare-to-be ignored challenger. Preston, on a dare, completes med school at an unprecedented pace beginning at an early age and becomes somewhat of another medical prodigy, albeit an unorthodox, rule-breaking, authority-challenging intern. Just as Maxwell discovered a comfort, assurance in his medical path of surgery, Preston discovers his calm, albeit in the chaos and madness of an emergency room. Like Max, Preston also discovers his undeniable love at the hospital. For Preston, his chief resident in emergency room, provides the guidance, control, and security long desired.
In this final book, the wedding between Maxwell and Jackson ignites a war between the couple and the matriarch of the York Family dynasty. To say that this matriarch is a powerful force is a vast understatement. When the couple attempt to elope to Vegas for a hasty ceremony rather than endure the elaborate pageantry Catherine York has in store, she thwarts their plans, mid flight, by purchasing the airline forcing a restriction from landing* necessitating their return to New York.
Extreme, extreme, to preposterous, this conclusion spares no reality, just comic relief. Less a romance, more a madcap adventure, the conclusion provides a resolution as unique as it is complete.
The second book in series focuses on second son, the spare heir. While his older brother Maxwell has always been regarded as a genius, young Preston is equally advanced, yet ignored an unexpected genius, relegated to administrative tasks. While Maxwell York is often been perceived as cold, indifferent, and aloof because of his misunderstood and unacknowledged neural divergent learning (Asperger-like), Preston has been the snarky, dare-to-be ignored challenger. Preston, on a dare, completes med school at an unprecedented pace beginning at an early age and becomes somewhat of another medical prodigy, albeit an unorthodox, rule-breaking, authority-challenging intern. Just as Maxwell discovered a comfort, assurance in his medical path of surgery, Preston discovers his calm, albeit in the chaos and madness of an emergency room. Like Max, Preston also discovers his undeniable love at the hospital. For Preston, his chief resident in emergency room, provides the guidance, control, and security long desired.
In this final book, the wedding between Maxwell and Jackson ignites a war between the couple and the matriarch of the York Family dynasty. To say that this matriarch is a powerful force is a vast understatement. When the couple attempt to elope to Vegas for a hasty ceremony rather than endure the elaborate pageantry Catherine York has in store, she thwarts their plans, mid flight, by purchasing the airline forcing a restriction from landing* necessitating their return to New York.
Extreme, extreme, to preposterous, this conclusion spares no reality, just comic relief. Less a romance, more a madcap adventure, the conclusion provides a resolution as unique as it is complete.
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars
I hadn’t known that starting on C.G. Macington’s journey with ‘Bedside Manner’ would eventually lead to this: a York wedding, with Max and Jax whose planned simple wedding at the courthouse but it has inevitably and unsurprisingly been hijacked by Catherine who wants it to be most pretentious and pompous ceremony in human history.
Think of the most outrageous things (and more) to happen in the York family and this is it. The wedding planning process sucks the York boys and their partners into the fray. Each step is more unhinged, ridiculous and hilarious than the previous one in a way that will take anyone’s mind off reality for a few hours at least for quite a few laughs.
And it’s meant to be way OTT I think—though I do miss the more down-to-earth tone (it’s got more realism injected into it) in Macington’s first book on Max/Jax nonetheless—, but I did like how Max’s neurodivergence was finally addressed, as well as the wrap-up of Alastair’s/Catherine’s drama that can only lead to a conclusion that should have been coming a long time ago.
‘Wedding Manner’ is a short one that culminates in a somewhat unbelievable and explosive HEA for all involved, and thankfully doesn’t devolve too much into farce when all is (mostly) restored by the final chapter. Still, I’ve liked this series though and love that Max/Jax and Preston/Luke have all gotten their fitting send offs.
*ARC by the author via Booksirens
I hadn’t known that starting on C.G. Macington’s journey with ‘Bedside Manner’ would eventually lead to this: a York wedding, with Max and Jax whose planned simple wedding at the courthouse but it has inevitably and unsurprisingly been hijacked by Catherine who wants it to be most pretentious and pompous ceremony in human history.
Think of the most outrageous things (and more) to happen in the York family and this is it. The wedding planning process sucks the York boys and their partners into the fray. Each step is more unhinged, ridiculous and hilarious than the previous one in a way that will take anyone’s mind off reality for a few hours at least for quite a few laughs.
And it’s meant to be way OTT I think—though I do miss the more down-to-earth tone (it’s got more realism injected into it) in Macington’s first book on Max/Jax nonetheless—, but I did like how Max’s neurodivergence was finally addressed, as well as the wrap-up of Alastair’s/Catherine’s drama that can only lead to a conclusion that should have been coming a long time ago.
‘Wedding Manner’ is a short one that culminates in a somewhat unbelievable and explosive HEA for all involved, and thankfully doesn’t devolve too much into farce when all is (mostly) restored by the final chapter. Still, I’ve liked this series though and love that Max/Jax and Preston/Luke have all gotten their fitting send offs.
*ARC by the author via Booksirens
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly I must say thank you for my ARC of this book. This was another 5 star read that I devoured from the very first word to the very last and then went back over to read parts again. C.G. Macington is now officially my favorite M/M author whose books I absolutely cannot wait for. This again was a hysterical, unhinged fantastic journey from beginning to end. In this book I continued to adore Max and Jax'x coupling and also Preston and Luke's. What I never saw coming were the other couples that we would learn about by the end of the book. This was such a humorous read that I found myself laughing out loud to the point of tears. These men are absolutely beautiful inside and out and I only wish I could find myself a doctor remotely like even one of these. I remember a medical drama where the male charge nurse of the ER was named mama and was loved and feared. Mama Ortiz reminds me of a female version of him and I absolutely adore her. So much more about this book that I could say but I don't want to give anything away. I will say there were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming and each one had me shouting hurrah! I believe that fans of this author will love this book and like me, will be sad that it is the last of this little series. However, knowing this amazing author he has something else that he is getting ready for us to binge on. If you are a fan of M/M romances then this is a must read. C. G. Macington writes them like no other. Please enjoy.
March 29, 2026
"For twenty minutes, we are a single organism. Jax is the muscle, the engine keeping the blood moving. I am the brain, calculating the drug interactions, the metabolic acidosis, the reversible causes."
Max and Jax getting married, planning their wedding and the chaos that follows.
This is surreal to read that the characters from Book 1 is getting married. I saw book 1 cover, and immediately decidede to read it. Plot sounded interesting. And honestly, book 1 is still my favorite.
The author wrote this with the sense of humor not everyone will get, but not me because I got it. I laughed out loud on some scenes with the amount of absurdness it entails.
"I am not broken. I am simply a system that was forced to run on the wrong operating system for thirty years."
I love seeing the culmination of the relationship between Max and Jax. They are great characters to follow especially Max. I love the added scenes of Preston and Luke (from book 2) here and they also had their happy ending.
The added trauma and mom issues here resonate with me though not as much as Max but I did see how that had a great layer and made the whole book deeper. It's a romcom but it had some substance.
"You’re grieving, Max. You’re grieving the mom you deserved but didn't get."
Max and Jax getting married, planning their wedding and the chaos that follows.
This is surreal to read that the characters from Book 1 is getting married. I saw book 1 cover, and immediately decidede to read it. Plot sounded interesting. And honestly, book 1 is still my favorite.
The author wrote this with the sense of humor not everyone will get, but not me because I got it. I laughed out loud on some scenes with the amount of absurdness it entails.
"I am not broken. I am simply a system that was forced to run on the wrong operating system for thirty years."
I love seeing the culmination of the relationship between Max and Jax. They are great characters to follow especially Max. I love the added scenes of Preston and Luke (from book 2) here and they also had their happy ending.
The added trauma and mom issues here resonate with me though not as much as Max but I did see how that had a great layer and made the whole book deeper. It's a romcom but it had some substance.
"You’re grieving, Max. You’re grieving the mom you deserved but didn't get."
May 7, 2026
my boys getting MARRIED (and i mean all my boys, omg triple gay wedding?), i read this book on a 8 hour flight to orlando & it was soooo good. as an autistic person myself, i am not at all surprised by max’s diagnosis & i love the representation in him. fuck catherine BIG TIME tho,,,, that “masking” shit don’t work god i wish it did.
even though we saw them in conflict of interest, i missed max & jax so much (especially their pov). i loved the relationship between max, jax, preston & luke (the core 4 fr) - the opening scene with them trying to get to vegas was actually the funniest thing ever. i will say the way some scenes are written bc of the pov’s make it confusing as to who is present for what scenes & what convos as even pov’s where the character is not present we still hear what happened outside the room (max & catherine in the chapel & preston and luke at the bar for example), however it doesn’t take u out too much.
also,,, i love this v gay family omg ALISTAIR, i was crying so hard with laughter at him and miguel, like wdym whole ass family gay 😭😭😭
anyways, this series was so silky goofy and also deeply serious and i loved it - this one was definitely closer to 4* than 3.5* but similar vibe to the other books (also published so quickly omg wdym 3 books in 3 months? bitches be working HARD)
even though we saw them in conflict of interest, i missed max & jax so much (especially their pov). i loved the relationship between max, jax, preston & luke (the core 4 fr) - the opening scene with them trying to get to vegas was actually the funniest thing ever. i will say the way some scenes are written bc of the pov’s make it confusing as to who is present for what scenes & what convos as even pov’s where the character is not present we still hear what happened outside the room (max & catherine in the chapel & preston and luke at the bar for example), however it doesn’t take u out too much.
also,,, i love this v gay family omg ALISTAIR, i was crying so hard with laughter at him and miguel, like wdym whole ass family gay 😭😭😭
anyways, this series was so silky goofy and also deeply serious and i loved it - this one was definitely closer to 4* than 3.5* but similar vibe to the other books (also published so quickly omg wdym 3 books in 3 months? bitches be working HARD)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2026
Thank you to BookSirens for an ARC of Wedding Manner by C G Macington. I received this copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the 3rd in the St. Jude's Medical series and if you haven't read the first two this one won't make a whole lot of sense. Definitely not a standalone.
In the first book in the series we meet Maxwell and Jackson. Both doctors at St Jude's who could not be more different. By the end of the book they are madly in love which leads us to Wedding Manner, and all the craziness surrounding their wedding.
This one is a bit more chaotic than the previous two. Along with Max and Jax, Preston (Max's younger brother ) and his love, Luke we have the York matriarch and patriarch and of course, Mama Ortiz in tow to keep things in line.
It's a fun, quick romp and there's only one real hospital scene in this one. We're treated to the planning of the most lavish wedding NYC has seen in a long time and I enjoyed the parts where they try to pick out a venue, and cake, and get fitted for suits.
Again, it's important to read the first two for this to make any sense!
This is the 3rd in the St. Jude's Medical series and if you haven't read the first two this one won't make a whole lot of sense. Definitely not a standalone.
In the first book in the series we meet Maxwell and Jackson. Both doctors at St Jude's who could not be more different. By the end of the book they are madly in love which leads us to Wedding Manner, and all the craziness surrounding their wedding.
This one is a bit more chaotic than the previous two. Along with Max and Jax, Preston (Max's younger brother ) and his love, Luke we have the York matriarch and patriarch and of course, Mama Ortiz in tow to keep things in line.
It's a fun, quick romp and there's only one real hospital scene in this one. We're treated to the planning of the most lavish wedding NYC has seen in a long time and I enjoyed the parts where they try to pick out a venue, and cake, and get fitted for suits.
Again, it's important to read the first two for this to make any sense!
April 4, 2026
4/5⭐
I can't believe it's over! I'm going to really miss these crazy characters.
This book was leaning more heavily on the comedic and OTT side than the romance, but we still got some sprinkles of it. Especially the ending with both couples was so heartwarming.
Seeing Max and Preston finally bond and having some heart to heart conversations was amazing, I was waiting for this since book 1. It was nice to see Preston having Max's back after all the revelations.
Catherine was pissing me off for most of the book. As was shown, money can get you anything, but the most important things in life. And I think she eventually realized that and didn't want to loose her son forever. She still is my least favourite character, but she's trying to change in her own way by the end.
Alistair's revelation was funny, but not very surprising. Not sure about the age gap, but I'm glad he got his version of happy ending as well. And I really liked how he was with his son's in this book, finally taking their side and showing real emotions.
Rosa is the real hero here, probably one of my favourite characters.
I really love the author's writing style and can't wait for all the new releases!
I can't believe it's over! I'm going to really miss these crazy characters.
This book was leaning more heavily on the comedic and OTT side than the romance, but we still got some sprinkles of it. Especially the ending with both couples was so heartwarming.
Seeing Max and Preston finally bond and having some heart to heart conversations was amazing, I was waiting for this since book 1. It was nice to see Preston having Max's back after all the revelations.
Catherine was pissing me off for most of the book. As was shown, money can get you anything, but the most important things in life. And I think she eventually realized that and didn't want to loose her son forever. She still is my least favourite character, but she's trying to change in her own way by the end.
Alistair's revelation was funny, but not very surprising. Not sure about the age gap, but I'm glad he got his version of happy ending as well. And I really liked how he was with his son's in this book, finally taking their side and showing real emotions.
Rosa is the real hero here, probably one of my favourite characters.
I really love the author's writing style and can't wait for all the new releases!
April 9, 2026
I absolutely loved Wedding Manner and it was such a perfect, chaotic, emotional follow up! I’m SO happy we got Max and Jax’s wedding story.
The biggest standout for me was Max’s journey, especially the discovery about his autism. It made so much sense for his character, but it also broke my heart that he spent so long thinking he was broken. The way Jax showed up for him by constantly reminding him that he’s loved exactly as he is was just everything. Their relationship felt even deeper and more meaningful here.
I also really loved the family dynamics. Max and his dad, Alistair, had such a great arc, and I didn’t expect to end up liking him as much as I did but that redemption was so well done. Even the resolution with his mom felt earned and long overdue, which made it really satisfying.
And the wedding chaos was absolutely hilarious. The over the top drama, the Vatican aspect, all the ridiculous, high stakes moments were so fun and perfectly balanced with the emotional depth.
This was so funny, sweet, and full of love in every sense. Such a beautiful continuation of Max and Jax’s story, and the perfect mix of chaos and heart!
The biggest standout for me was Max’s journey, especially the discovery about his autism. It made so much sense for his character, but it also broke my heart that he spent so long thinking he was broken. The way Jax showed up for him by constantly reminding him that he’s loved exactly as he is was just everything. Their relationship felt even deeper and more meaningful here.
I also really loved the family dynamics. Max and his dad, Alistair, had such a great arc, and I didn’t expect to end up liking him as much as I did but that redemption was so well done. Even the resolution with his mom felt earned and long overdue, which made it really satisfying.
And the wedding chaos was absolutely hilarious. The over the top drama, the Vatican aspect, all the ridiculous, high stakes moments were so fun and perfectly balanced with the emotional depth.
This was so funny, sweet, and full of love in every sense. Such a beautiful continuation of Max and Jax’s story, and the perfect mix of chaos and heart!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"I have taken the liberty of putting a hold on the Cathedral."
"St. Patrick’s?" Jax asks.
"Notre Dame,"
And with that, the shenanigans commence.
I expected them, and it's on me for not knowing they'd start less than a minute into the story.
I don't even think I can fully explain how much I hate Catherine. Something's really wrong with that woman. Luke described it best.
"It’s high-functioning sociopathy with an unlimited budget."
From all-glass venues to tailors that should be on a sex offender watch list to wedding cakes that embody 'the weight of commitment', it's all here.
A fitting, if over the top send off to Jax and Max. Answers for what Alistair has really been up to all along and a long awaited showdown with Catherine.
And yet, I'm glad this chapter is over and yearn for the days when people died in Macington books. By the hundreds💀
I'm excited for the next book nonetheless, because the MC gets told, "You have the bedside manner of a Victorian ghost, Dr. Kapoor," and you know what, Arjun?
I like you already, you creep.
"St. Patrick’s?" Jax asks.
"Notre Dame,"
And with that, the shenanigans commence.
I expected them, and it's on me for not knowing they'd start less than a minute into the story.
I don't even think I can fully explain how much I hate Catherine. Something's really wrong with that woman. Luke described it best.
"It’s high-functioning sociopathy with an unlimited budget."
From all-glass venues to tailors that should be on a sex offender watch list to wedding cakes that embody 'the weight of commitment', it's all here.
A fitting, if over the top send off to Jax and Max. Answers for what Alistair has really been up to all along and a long awaited showdown with Catherine.
And yet, I'm glad this chapter is over and yearn for the days when people died in Macington books. By the hundreds💀
I'm excited for the next book nonetheless, because the MC gets told, "You have the bedside manner of a Victorian ghost, Dr. Kapoor," and you know what, Arjun?
I like you already, you creep.
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